Pools tips and best bets for weekend of Jan 10-11

Ten draws: Burnley v Queens Park Rangers, Crystal Palace v Tottenham, Manchester United v Southampton, Bolton v Leeds, Cardiff v Fulham, Ipswich v Derby, Reading v Middlesbrough, Oldham v Doncaster, Carlisle v Cambridge, Stevenage v AFC Wimbledon.

Best draws: Burnley v Queens Park Rangers, Manchester United v Southampton, Ipswich v Derby, Reading v Middlesbrough, Oldham v Doncaster.

Best weekend away bets: Manchester City, Liverpool, Watford, Sheffield Wednesday, MK Dons, Inverness.

Best weekend home bets: Arsenal, Chelsea, Leicester, Birmingham, Brentford, Crewe, Leyton Orient, Burton, Brechin, Annan.


Pick of the draws: Queens Park Rangers have lost all nine of their Premier League away games this season. That wretched sequence has to end sometime and I believe QPR will salvage a point at Burnley, who are three places lower and two points worse off. Southampton's recent dip in form was only a blip and not the start of a decline. Normal service seems to have been resumed and I fancy them to get a point at Manchester United, who are being hit hard by injuries. Ipswich (2nd) v Derby (3rd) should be one of the best Championship matches of the season. Ipswich's home record is formidable but if any team can put a dent in it it's Derby, who are shrewdly managed by former England boss Steve McClaren. Reading looked more like their old selves when knocking Huddersfield out of the FA Cup last Saturday and can prevent promotion-chasing Middlesbrough from gaining maximum points. Oldham, mid-table in League One, have had a rotten time of it lately but I expect them to halt their slide against Doncaster, who have the same number of points and equal goal difference.

Away days: Manchester City are right back in the Premier League title race and could even find themselves top if they win at Everton on Saturday. I'm banking on the champions collecting all three points against a side whose confidence has disappeared and are only four points off the relegation zone. Liverpool appear to be on the upgrade and are recommended at Sunderland, who are short of firepower and have only one league win at the Stadium of Light. Championship promotion hopefuls Watford show no inferiority complex when playing away and should be too good for Huddersfield, who could easily be sucked into a relegation battle. Sheffield Wednesday's hopes of a lucrative FA Cup third-round replay were dashed by Manchester City's late winning goal at the Etihad last Sunday but their away form has held up well. They must fancy their chances of beating Nottingham Forest, who are slithering down the table. Although MK Dons, fourth in League One, had an indifferent Christmas, that should not deter you from backing them at Crawley, who are favourites for relegation. Inverness are worth a punt at inconsistent Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership.

Homes sweet homes: There's a good chance Arsenal will have some of their injured players back when they host Stoke on Sunday. They will also be keen to avenge their defeat at Stoke last month and I think they will do just that. Their home form since losing to Manchester United has been exemplary. Bottom club Leicester have not won at home in the Premier League since defeating Manchester United in September. They have a wonderful opportunity of improving that record against a lacklustre and goal-shy Aston Villa. Crewe, third from last in League One, took seven points from nine over Christmas and a predicted win over fellow strugglers Gillingham will probably take them out of the relegation zone. Leyton Orient's poor home record has contributed to their lowly position but I believe they will start to put that right against Fleetwood, whose promotion challenge seems to be fading.

Pools info: Luton v Shrewsbury (No 40 on coupon) is void. Coventry v Swindon (27) and Hamilton v Dundee United (47) will be decided by the pools panel.