English Premiership: Weekend preview and picks
By SHAWN YOUNG
The soccer season is in full swing and we've enlisted the help of a former European oddsmaker. Shawn Young is back with his weekly picks for the pitch.



SUNDAY

PORTSMOUTH vs. MANCHESTER CITY (-0.5 -150, or -1 +130)

League Cup midweek: Portsmouth beat Hereford 4-1 on Tuesday; Man City defeated Palace 2-0 away on Thursday.

It’s been a wild week for Portsmouth. They fell 4-1 to Arsenal , reversed the score against Hereford Tuesday and somewhere along the way Sulaiman Al-Fahim has apparently bought the club. With CEO Peter Storrie’s fate in doubt, the club bought Tommy Smith from Watford and sold Sylvain Distin to Everton.

It won’t matter this weekend. Man City are too good and have too much firepower up front. Further back, Joleon Lescott finally transferred in and Sylvinho came as well. This rendered Richard Dunne surplus to requirements and he was sold to Villa.

Given Man City’s tepid performance after they led Wolves 1-0 last weekend, giving up only a half-goal here might be the best way forward.

prediction: Portsmouth 1, Manchester City 2