Despite an impressive 3-0 victory over Stoke City at the King Power Stadium last Saturday week, Leicester City remain 8/1 joint-third favourites, behind Manchester City and Arsenal, to win the Premier League. As manager Claudio Ranieri put it, “February is big month” for the Foxes, who face Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City in their next three matches.

Nevertheless, Leicester have been beaten just once in their last 16 Premier League matches and conceded just one goal in their last five. Centre backs Wes Morgan and Robert Huth were imperious against Stoke and Jamie Vardy, who hadn’t scored for over 10 hours, since his record 11-game goal-scoring streak came to an end, finally found the net.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, on the other hand, is discovering that his high-intensity, “gegenpressing” style of football may not be the answer to the Reds’ problems after all. In fact, Klopp’s gameplan may be the cause, at least in part, of an injury crisis that includes six hamstring injuries. Liverpool conceded four against Norwich at Carrow Road on their last Premier League outing and demonstrated a vulnerability to crosses when beaten 1-0 by Manchester United at Anfield the time before.

Defensive issues aside, the Reds’ cannot afford to waste chances the way they did against Manchester United and, faced with a Leicester side typified by energy, industry and vigour, may find themselves wilting late on. All in all, the Foxes look decent value at 31/20 with Boylesports or Sporting Bet to maintain their title challenge.

Selection: Leicester City to win (31/20 with Boylesports or Sporting Bet)

Manchester City face a busy week, with a League Cup semi-final second leg at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday ahead of a fourth-round FA Cup tie at Villa Park on Saturday. However, even with the likes of Eliaquim Mangala, Vincent Kompany, Aleksandar Kolarov, Wilfried Bony and Samir Nasri still sidelined, City should have enough strength in depth to see off the Villans at the first time of asking.

Remi Garde’s side are marooned at the bottom of the Premier League table, 10 points adrift of safety and top-priced 1/20 to find themselves in the Championship next season. A much-changed Villa side needed a replay to edge past League Two Wycombe Wanderers in the third round, while the Sky Blues waltzed past Norwich at Carrow Road, despite making seven changes themselves.

Sergio Aguero, who’s now scored 15 goals in all competitions despite injury problems, opened the scoring against Norwich and looks a decent bet at 16/5 with Paddy Power to do so again.

Selection: Sergio Aguero to score first goal (16/5 with Paddy Power)

Wayne Rooney’s 78-minute winner against Liverpool at Anfield last Sunday may have provided some respite for Manchester United and beleaguered manager Louis van Gaal, but, once again, the Red Devils were hardly convincing.

Southampton, on the other hand, are on the crest of wave after consecutive home wins against Watford and West Bromwich Albion at St. Mary’s. Even without last season’s top scorer Graziano Pelle, who played an aggregate of just nine minutes, the Saints were outstanding in both fixtures and appear to be rediscovering the form that took them to seventh place in the Premier League last season.

The likes of Shane Long, Dusan Tadic and Sadio Mane – not to mention James Ward-Prowse, who scored a brace against West Brom – have all been in sparkling form of late and the addition of Charlie Austin to the squad can only bolster confidence. The Saints’ have lost their last three away games in the Premier League, to Norwich, West Ham and Crystal Palace, but they seem likely to be a different proposition this time.

United keeper David de Gea looks in for another busy afternoon and Saints’ are worthy of support at 21/5 with Bet Victor.

Selection: Southampton to win (21/5 with Bet Victor)

Stoke City have already beaten Chelsea and both Manchester clubs at the Britannia Stadium in the Premier League this season, keeping a clean sheet on all three occasions, so may be a little overpriced at 7/2 with Bet Victor for the visit of Arsenal on Sunday. Arsenal recorded an unconvincing 1-0 victory over Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium on their last Premier League outing, but it’s hard to forget the mauling they received from Southampton at St. Mary’s on Boxing Day and they’re hard to fancy, away from home, at 10/11 with Paddy Power.

The Potters may not be quite as physical under Mark Hughes as they were under Tony Pulis, but they still don’t take any prisoners in midfield and Arsene Wenger’s side will do well to improve on their poor record at the Britannia Stadium in recent seasons. At the odds on offer, Stoke City to win 1-0 (13/1with Bet Victor) looks too generous to resist.

Selection: Stoke City to beat Arsenal 1-0 (13/1 with Bet Victor)