Football Betting: Weekend Premier League fixtures

Portsmouth host Everton in the Premier League and although they have had to prepare for this fixture amid the turmoil of their manager Harry Redknapp getting arrested, they still should be too good for the Toffees. Quotes of odds-against at home seem odd for a team who, in their last eight games have won six and drawn two and the 5/4 with Bet Direct looks good value. Despite the problems of Redknapp going down to the police station for a little chat, the gaffer welcomes back Nigerian international Kanu, who has been off for three weeks due to a thigh injury. The man with huge feet gives Redknapp another headache though as Kanu presents the option of reverting to 4-4-2 alongside Benjani up front from the 4-5-1 that was successful in the 2-0 victory at St Andrews last week. Newcastle have never been the best defenders at the best of times and with the stoppers Steven Taylor, Abdoulaye Faye and Claudio Cacapa looking likely to miss out, Blackburn look a solid bet at 10/11 with Paddy Power. Although lethal weapons Damien Duff and Michael Owen miss out due to foot and thigh injuries respectively, it still may pay to go high on the goal line with Bet365 at 11/10. As mentioned above, the Toon are have a weakened rearguard but both teams have featured in high-scoring games recently and the odds-against quote is probably the better bet in this fixture. Both Arsenal and Aston Villa are currently enjoying a purple patch with Martin O'Neill's men finally clicking. They are searching for their fifth successive victory, but Arsenal are on a similar hot streak with 20 points in their last eight games and will not go down easily. Villa Park will see the return of leading scorer Gabriel Agbonlahor alongside Stiliyan Petrov and with Arsenal losing Cesc Fabregas to a hamstring injury, Villa can hold out for a draw despite not recording a stalemate at home all season. Those who really want to go for it should factor in the scorecast and go Agbonlahor to score first with a final scoreline of 1-1. Verdict: 1pt Portsmouth @ 5/4 (Bet Direct); Over 2.5 goals Blackburn v Newcastle (Bet365); Agbonlahor to score first, 1pt Villa v Arsenal to finish 1-1 @ 50/1 (Bet365)