Hayley O’Connor takes on the might of the JOE sports team each week in a Premier League betting challenge. We’re dearly hoping the international break has helped us find some form.
After four weeks, our win totals look like our bank account four weeks after payday; empty. You can’t see Hayley and JOE’s faces but trust us, they’re redder than a tomato on a sunbed.
In our defence (yes, we have one) this has been the most topsy-turvy Premier League season we can remember and no team seems to be reliable, with Chelsea the worst offenders, repeatedly scuttling accumulators for both of us. Jose is definitely off the Christmas card list.
Now, as we face into Week 5, we are faced with a brutally tough slate of games to make picks from. With derbies bookending the weekend, most of the games in between are almost perfectly matched, so if we manage to break our respective ducks this weekend, we will truly have found our form.
Wish us luck…
Here’s Hayley’s picks for Week 5:
Everton to beat Liverpool, 7/4
The Merseyside derby hasn’t been that kind to the blue half of late but I reckon that will change at Goodison on Saturday.
Arsenal to beat Southampton, 8/13
Southampton have been the story of the season so far, but I think they will come unstuck against Wenger’s boys.
Manchester United to beat Cardiff, 4/6
Fresh off beating Arsenal, and with a well rested RVP, the Red Devils should shoot down the Bluebirds.
That treble comes in at almost exactly 15/2, so for Hayley’s €100 bet, a potential €750 return awaits.
And here’s JOE’s picks:
Arsenal to beat Southampton, 8/13
Probably the most attractive game of the weekend, we’re hoping that Arsenal will have the Man United defeat out of their system and find a way to unlock the solid Saints defence.
Stoke to draw with Sunderland, 21/10
The sort of match that should be on pay-per-view, as in you’d have to pay us to watch it. This just has to be a turgid 0-0, right?
Manchester City to beat Spurs, 3/4
Man City have been almost as infuriating to back as Chelsea this season but at home they are brilliant. Five wins from five, with 20 goals scored and only two conceded, they should be able to see off the less than lethal threat offered by Tottenham.
With this treble worth just over 17/2, JOE is hoping for a very tidy profit come Monday morning.
We’ll know for sure next week so check back then for an update, when the win-o-meter hopefully won’t look so bare… 
