Betting.Betfair

[u]Arsenal v Southampton[/u] The Gunners go into this weekend's game on the back three clean sheets and a total of seven points from three games played. Southampton, on the other hand, are pointless and have allowed their opponents more shots on target (19) than any other team this season. At odds of 1.4 in the Match Odds market Arsenal look slightly over-priced and are worth a back. While the 2.6 available on Under 2.5 goals also looks a solid punt if Arsene Wenger's main can maintain their defensive frugality. [u]Aston Villa v Swansea[/u] Aston Villa host Swansea this Saturday looking to end a run of 13 Premier League games without a win. Despite Paul Lambert's appointment in the summer The Villans have picked up where they left off last season under Alex McLeish and they ...

[u]Stoke, v Dynamo (Live on ITV4) [/u] Stoke are top of Group E with ten points from four matches. A draw at home to Dynamo Kiev this week will take them over the line and into the knockout stages. Dynamo really need to win, but that's not something they've done on English soil before (W0-D1-L9 in previous games). Tony Pulis' team beat Blackburn 3-1 at the Britannia on Saturday, ending a run of four league defeats, but they are not in the class of Dynamo's previous English opponents. Stoke's last eight games in all competitions have finished with three goals or more, while two of Dynamo's four European away matches this season have been similarly high-scoring. Pulis has said he will play his newly demoted No. 2 keeper, Asmir Begovic, and this too suggests there's value in backing...

[b]Liverpool and Chelsea are two of the most successful clubs in Carling Cup history, but Michael Lintorn isn't convinced that either will be in the quarter-final draw this year.[/b] [b]Stoke v Liverpool[/b] (19:45) Tony Pulis' side have tasted defeat just once in 21 games in 2011, and that was when they had little to play for at home to Wigan on the final day of last season. Factor into the equation their cup prowess - Manchester City are the only team in 18 matches over the last 19 months to have seen them off in 90 minutes, and they have won six of their first seven in the Europa League - and Liverpool's 2.22 favourite status appears rather bewildering. The Reds have been to the [b]Britannia Stadium[/b] four times since Stoke's promotion without success, heading home empty-handed...

[u][b]Stoke v Maccabi Tel Aviv, KO: 20:05, Live on ITV 4[/b] [/u] In a tough-looking group Stoke have made a fine start to their Europa League campaign and will look to strengthen their position when bottom club Maccabi Tel Aviv visit the Britannia Stadium. The Israeli outfit currently sit second in their domestic league but suffered a disappointing 2-1 away loss at the weekend, and they now must visit one of the most difficult grounds to win at in English football. Tony Pulis' side are unbeaten on home soil this term, defeating Liverpool and Fulham and drawing with Premier League giants Chelsea and Manchester United, whilst in this competition they've already seen off decent outfits Hajduk Split, FC Thun and Besiktas. Defender Robert Huth and striker Kenwyne Jones are set to start...

[u]Birmingham 2.26 v Nacional 3.75; The Draw 3.4 [/u] I shared a drink with a few Birmingham fans ahead of their Championship game at Middlesbrough last Sunday, and they were as baffled as I was that Chris Hughton fielded his strongest team available for the game in Portugal last week. I then watched Boro ease past the same Brum team in the second half as a few tired legs and minds definitely appeared to set in. Credit to Hughton for taking this competition seriously then, but with 46 Championship games, Carling Cup and FA Cup fixtures to be played, then I would have thought the last thing Birmingham need is another six groups games in a competition they are not going to win. Six more games is what they might get though, especially if defenders Liam Ridgewell, Steven Caldwell and Curtis...