The acca didn’t quite pan out as expected last week, with Nicolas Otamendi’s own goal for Huddersfield and Sheffield United’s inability to beat a mediocre Birmingham City side compounding our frustration.
But with a new approach to picking our legs – opening our mind to European possibilities – we are confident of a return to form this time out.
So who makes up our football accumulator tips this week?
- Brighton vs Liverpool: Liverpool to Win (4/9)
- Bournemouth vs Southampton: Southampton +0.25 Asian Handicap (7/10)
- Birmingham City vs Wolves: Wolves to Win (3/4)
- Derby County vs Burton Albion: Derby to Win (2/5)
- Bayern Munich vs Hannover: Bayern -1 Handicap (2/5)
- Acca Odds: 7.57/1
Brighton vs Liverpool: Liverpool to Win
It has been an excellent first four month for Brighton as a Premier League proposition, and all at the club can be proud of what they have achieved.
The Seagulls have been particularly impressive at home – they’re unbeaten in six – but there has to be a caveat noted: all of those have been against bottom-half sides.
Their task will be all-together more difficult on Saturday when they take on a Liverpool side that is playing joyous attacking football at present.
The Reds are capable of outscoring any side right now, and against an outfit that has netted just eight times in seven starts in front of their own supporters we have to assume they will do likewise once again.
Bournemouth vs Southampton: Southampton +0.25 Asian Handicap
Southampton displayed an attacking joie de vivre absent from their game mostly this season, and it’s no coincidence that the 4-1 win over Everton coincided with the return to the starting eleven of Charlie Austin, who bagged a brace.
Bournemouth were excellent in the 4-0 win over Huddersfield in their penultimate start, but they were outplayed by a hapless Swansea side last time out. It’s an inconsistency that must have Eddie Howe tearing his hair out.
The Saints have been at worst economical this season, and last week showed a real vibrancy. Will the real Saints stand up….and earn at least a point in this South Coast derby.
Birmingham City vs Wolves: Wolves to Win
The fact that this is a fierce local derby has confused the bookmakers somewhat, but be under no illusions these two teams could be playing two divisions apart next season.
Wolves are destined for the Premier League; their stylish brand of football a sight to behold, and it’s one that is getting results too with the men in gold winning each of their last five outings at a goal difference of +13.
They will come up against a Birmingham City side determined to derail their charge in front of their own supporters, but you just sense the Blues – for all their endeavour – really lack the quality to trouble their West Midland rivals.
Derby County vs Burton Albion: Derby to Win
Since beating their East Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest, Derby have gone from strength to strength with six victories in their last nine to propel them back into the thick of the play-off mix.
That run includes a fantastic 3-0 win at Middlesbrough, and while the 0-1 defeat to Ipswich last time out was curious to say the least, the general consensus is that the Rams are in a good place right now.
Not so Burton, who have won just one of their last ten (W1 D2 L7). Further compounding their misery is a complete inability to put the ball in the net: they’ve scored just three times in nine away outings.
Bayern Munich vs Hannover: Bayern -1 Handicap
Bayern lost 1-2 to Borussia M’gladbach last time out, but we don’t see that as a sign of anything sinister: prior to that they had won five on the bounce with four covering this -1 handicap line.
Indeed, five of their seven matches at the Allianz Arena have witnessed the hosts win by two goals or more, and on Saturday they welcome a Hannover side who are without a win in three and who were pasted 0-4 by a very average Werder Bremen outfit in their penultimate game.