Aguero to punish tired Everton

[sake]

Our team preview Saturday's Premier League games with Manchester City expected to see off Everton in the evening.


2pts both teams to score in QPR v Burnley at 19/20

1pt Newcastle and Chelsea to draw at 100/30

0.5pt e.w. Joleon Lescott to score first v Hull at 33/1

2pts Sergio Aguero to score in a Man City win at 2/1

Newcastle v Chelsea (1245 GMT)

Chelsea are back in the north east one week on from a 0-0 draw with Sunderland and, unsurprisingly, they return the other side of 1/2. Prior to the Sunderland game, Jose Mourinho's side were 2/5 to secure another three points on their way to what looks like another title, but those who took such odds were given a harsh reminder that to do so in this division is always dangerous. Even at 8/15, I'm not sure there will be a great rush among punters to go in again especially when you consider that the league table confirms this should be a stiffer test. Whether Newcastle are as well-drilled at the back as Sunderland were I'm not sure, but equally I'm convinced they offer a substantially bigger threat going forward. It's also worth noting that while Chelsea remain unbeaten, their recent away form in the league isn't up there with the 6-3 demolition they produced at Everton in August nor a recent 5-0 stroll at Schalke in the Champions League, although draws at both Manchester clubs aren't to be sniffed at. Even so, one-goal wins over Crystal Palace and Liverpool suggest that if you do fancy an away win the best value is in 5/2 that it's just by the minimum margin. However, I don't want to back Chelsea and there are a couple of key reasons. First and foremost is the absence of Nemanja Matic, ever-present and outstanding in his role as shield of the defence. The Serb is suspended having picked up his fifth yellow card of the season against Tottenham on Wednesday and while a rest is no bad thing in the long run, he will be sorely missed. There also must be some doubt as to the sharpness of likely replacement John Obi Mikel, whose 15 minutes on Wednesday night represented his first football since October. Matic's absence will be exacerbated if Gary Cahill misses out having been brought off with a head injury but Mourinho did seem confident he'd be fine for this game. The other thing to note here is that Newcastle have won the last two renewals of this fixture and that has to count for something - there will be a great atmosphere and I think they'll have a crack at Chelsea from the off. The negatives in opposing Chelsea are that they haven't lost this season and that Diego Costa will return having been suspended for a convincing win over Spurs, and truth be told I do find it hard to see Newcastle inflicting a first defeat upon them. But with Matic absent and Newcastle having options in attack - as we saw when Remy Cabella came on to change the game at Turf Moor in the week - the hosts could be good enough to secure a point and that's the value call at upwards of 3/1.