WhoScored Tipster: Premier League Big Match Betting

There are a number of big clashes this weekend but in the Premier League two stand out in particular. In the early kick-off on Saturday Andre Villas-Boas faces his old employers Chelsea for the first time since leaving the club as Spurs look to stretch their impressive winning streak. On Sunday, all eyes will be on the North East, where the fierce Tyne-Wear derby sees Sunderland play host to Newcastle.

Tottenham vs Chelsea - Match Preview

In a derby of sorts, as Chelsea make the trip across the capital to North London, much of the hype has surrounded a certain ex-Blues boss, though Villas-Boas insists he is not on a revenge mission this weekend. Nevertheless, you can bet on similarly wild celebrations from the Portuguese displayed when Spurs beat United earlier in the season if he could get one over on his former assistant Roberto Di Matteo.

Though the bookies aren't taking bets on such an eventuality, there are a few eye-catching trends that could be exploited on Saturday, and we start with our most likely tip for the afternoon kick-off. The odds on both teams to score at 1.57 are pretty low, but understandably so as the two sides have both netted in 6 of their previous 7 meetings at White Hart Lane. Tottenham have scored in every game they have played under Villas-Boas so far, and with Chelsea only failing to strike in one league game, the trend is likely to continue this weekend.

If you do fancy Tottenham's much maligned coach to get the better of his former club, the odds on a home win are pretty tempting at 2.50. With Spurs looking to make Chelsea pay for an FA Cup semi-final thumping last term and The Blues having taken their Champions League spot, the hosts have incentives galore to go for the throat. The Whites are currently hitting their stride nicely, with 4 successive wins, and are unbeaten in their last 6 home league matches against their opponents on Saturday.

Our long shot tip for this game lies in the goal times market, with Tottenham getting off to strong starts in recent match-ups between these two sides. Indeed, in 4 of the last 5 league matches in which the two have come to blows, Spurs have netted inside the first 20 minutes. On three of said occasions, their opener has come between the 11th and 20th minutes, and if you fancy either side to open the scoring in that time bracket, the odds are tasty at 4.75.

Sunderland vs Newcastle - Match Preview

While one is more reserved when calling the Spurs-Chelsea game a derby, the same couldn't be said when Newcastle travel to rivals Sunderland on Sunday. A game synonymous with the real blood and thunder of a local clash, the Tyne-Wear derby is rarely a subdued affair and although Black Cats skipper Lee Cattermole is already suspended, the majority will look towards the cards market for this one, rather than goals.

We, however, start with the latter, though the likelihood of this being a goal fest isn't great. There has, in fact, been under 2.5 goals scored between the sides in 6 of their last 8 meetings (75%) and the trend goes back even longer than that. Indeed in the last 15 Tyne-Wear derbies, there has only been over 2.5 goals on 4 occasions, so the odds of 1.72 on the unders market form our likely bet in this one.

With the game set to be officiated by Martin Atkinson this weekend, the likelihood of each side ending with a full compliment of players may be unlikely. The referee has handed out the most red cards over the last two seasons, including 3 in the last 4 games he has been in charge of in which Newcastle have played. There have been 26 yellows between the sides in the previous 4 encounters, so the odds on over 5.5 this time out are reasonable at 1.83.

One of the more interesting statistics that arises when looking at recent match-ups between the sides is Newcastle's tendency to net a solitary goal at The Stadium of Light. The visitors have scored once in 7 of their last 8 matches away to their rivals, and with a tight game widely predicted, the punt on a low scoring draw is certainly tempting. With Sunderland having drawn 4 games already this season (and Newcastle 3), the odds of 6.00 on a 1-1 tie should be enticing enough.