Manchester City left it extremley late last weekend to grab a vital 3 points with a controversial 95th minute winner away to bottom side Wolves, while Liverpool overseen Chelsea at Anfield to remain top of the premier league.
A Mo Salah penalty and a Curtis Jones goal either side of Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson’s equaliser seen Liverpool remain top of the league last weekend by a point over chasing Manchester City who will be counting their lucky stars after a last gasp winner was reviewed by VAR and deemed that Bernardo Silva depsite being in an offise postition was not interfering with the play, allowing the goal to stand keeping City in touch with Liverpool.
This week City host another one of the leagues bottom teams Southampton (Sat 15:00 UK time) who like last weeks opponents Wolves are still without a win, and will be kicking themselves after blowing a 2-0 lead at home last weekend to Leicester who were eventual winners 3-2 with a last gasp goal themselves.
Liverpool after beating Chelsea, now travel to Arsenal in what should be a very exciting encounter on Sunday afternoon (16:30). Arsenal will be hoping for a turn of fortune as they suffered a shock defeat last weekend away to Bournemouth (2-0) after going down to 10 men early on. Arsenal will be without key defender William Saliba as he is suspended after his red card.
Sunday there is a further three games all of which will be at 14:00, as Chelsea take on Newcastle, Crystal Palace v Tottenham and West Ham welcome Manchester United
The weekends action however all begins on Friday night in an East Midlands derby as Leicester play Nottingham Forest at 20:00, before Saturdays action sees Aston Villa v Bournemouth, Brentford v Ipswich and Brighton v Wolves all 15:00, Everton host Fulham and ex manager Marco Silva back to Goodison park in the 17:30 late kick off.
Leicester vs Nottingham Forest
Pre-Match Summary
A Friday night East Midlands derby to start the weekends action, and this should be a cracker! Historically both sides have won 41 times each in this fixture out of 110 meeting drawing the remaining 28. Both teams come into this on the back of wins and both seem in good confidence so it is very evenly balanced and may well be decided on the finest margins.
Statistical Insights:
- Home Win/Away Win/Draw: Two very well balanced teams here and a tough match to call who will come out on top, perhaps the Home crowd will play a part and edge in Leicester’s favour.
- Over/Under 2.5 Goals: It is likely this will be an open game, and with both teams in decent form there is a possiblity of over 2.5 goals
- Both Teams to Score: Yes, neither team will hold back as they go head to head for not only the points but for the braging rights in this local derby rivalry.
Pre-Match Summary
Fourth placed Villa are the in form team and continue to impress under manager Unai Emery playing a very attacking style creating plenty of chance each match they play. Bournemouth will come here full of confidence after a shock win last weekend over Arsenal and will be looking to build on that excellent result with what would be another shock result should they manage to win today.
Statistical Insights:
- Home Win/Away Win/Draw: Villa rightly so are favourites and this should be a routine Home win, but as Bournemouth proved last week they are capable of causing an upset.
- Over/Under 2.5 Goals: Good chance of over 2.5 goals, both teams like to attack and today will be no different.
- Both Teams to Score: Good chance, Villa rarely fail to score at home and Bournemouth have solid attacking options in their ranks to make this interesting.
Pre-Match Summary
Still searching for that first win Ipswich have found things back in the top division tough this season, and despite drawing four games, they come here having lost the last two games and concerns are growing. Brentford who did lose last weekend to Manchester United are unbeaten at home this season and will be going into this hoping to maintain that stat and get back to winning ways.
Statistical Insights:
- Home Win/Away Win/Draw: As Brentford are unbeaten at home and Ipswich cant seem to find that illusive first win, this points in the direction of a Home win.
- Over/Under 2.5 Goals: All of the host’s home games this season but one, have been over 2.5 goals, and its a strong chance this one could be over 2.5 goals also.
- Both Teams to Score: Possible, Brenford who are very good going forward have shown defensive frailties and perhaps Ipswich can take some advantage of this.
Brighton vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Pre-Match Summary
Brighton currently in fifth place are looking the real deal and as a team who could possibly finnish in the top four, and are perfoming well consistently. They will welcome bottom of the league Wolves who have now lost seven of there opening eight matches and have the worst defensive record in the league conceding 23 goals so far, this is another difficult away trip.
Statistical Insights:
- Home Win/Away Win/Draw: Brighton will know this wont be as easy as it looks on paper but a Home win should be the outcome.
- Over/Under 2.5 Goals: Looking at how Brighton play in forward areas, especially at home, combined with Wolves poor defensive record, its likely there will be over 2.5 goals.
- Both Teams to Score: No, Wolves in poor form and low confidence may struggle to create chances away from home against a strong Brighton team.
Manchester City vs Southampton
Pre-Match Summary
City left it extremley late last weekend to win the game v bottom side Wolves with a controversial winning goal. They will be hoping for a more straight forward win here against another relegaion zone team in Southampton who threw away a 2-0 lead last weekend to lose 3-2 in dramatic fashion, the Saints remain 19th on 1 point and without a win, only above Wolves are below them in the league on goal difference.
Statistical Insights:
- Home Win/Away Win/Draw: Home win, Manchester City are heavy favourites and its easy to see why, Saints will need nothing short of a miracle to win here.
- Over/Under 2.5 Goals: Yes, likely we will see over 2.5 goals as City will be looking to punish a vulnerable and defensivley weak Southampton side who have not won here in 20 years (2004).
- Both Teams to Score: No, it is hard to see Southampton getting much luck here.
Pre-Match Summary
Everton unbeaten in the last four with 2W and 2D will welcome this return to Goodison Park and a win today would see them go level on points with todays visitors who come here having suffered two defeats the last two games but they will take confidence in the fact that they have won this fixture the last 3 seasons and ex Everton manager Marco Silva will be hoping to continue the trend.
Statistical Insights:
- Home Win/Away Win/Draw: A very even and level market on this which really could go either way, Everton will be looking to draw upon their passionate home fans which may just see them edge this.
- Over/Under 2.5 Goals: Likely to see goals, an evenly matched pair who can pose a threat at goal and both vulnerable at the back.
- Both Teams to Score: Likely, as both teams have good options in attack, and both defenses can be breached.
Pre-Match Summary
Newcastle having started the season so well, have now gone four games without a win L2, D2 which has seen them drop to ninth position and manager Eddie Howe will be eager to turn things around quickly. Chelsea who had been unbeaten in the last six premier league matches saw that run come to an end at Anfield last weekend as they lost 2-1 to Liverpool. Now back at Stamford Bridge they will be looking to get back to winning ways.
Statistical Insights:
- Home Win/Away Win/Draw: An intriguing match with two top teams full of talent but Chelsea are favourites and a Home win is a more likely outcome.
- Over/Under 2.5 Goals: If this game lives up to its potential on paper there could be plenty of goals, Over 2.5 has a solid chance.
- Both Teams to Score: Yes, both teams have an array of attacking talent and will not look to sit back.
Crystal Palace vs Tottenham Hotspur
Pre-Match Summary
Palace another team still without a win this season now occupy the final relegation place and things are looking bleak, not only do they remain winless but they are also the leagues lowest scorers having netted only 5 times all season. Spurs meanwhile corrected things after thier defeat to Brighton two weeks ago with a demolition job on West Ham with a 4-1 victory to put a smile back on manager Ange Postecoglou’s face.
Statistical Insights:
- Home Win/Away Win/Draw: Its hard to look past Palace’s poor form and lack of goals so an Away win is a favourable selection.
- Over/Under 2.5 Goals: Likely Under 2.5 goals. Spurs are certainly capable of multiple goals in any game, however Palace’s inability to score may result in this being a low scoring game.
- Both Teams to Score: Unlikely, the home side are really struggling and may decide if they can not score to simply try and shut out the opposition instead.
West Ham United vs Manchester United
Pre-Match Summary
Man Utd came from a goal down to win 2-1 last weekend which will have pleased manager Erik Ten Hag, allthough some fans will feel this has only papered over the cracks slightly, and will now be seeking consistency as they travel to the capital to face a West Ham side who are having worries of their own under manager Julen Lopetegui. A heavy defeat last time out 4-1 to Spurs means the Hammers have only won once in the last 6 league games losing three and drawing the other two.
Statistical Insights:
- Home Win/Away Win/Draw: Difficult match to call, and the away side are slight favourites in the betting but this genuinly could go either way as both teams have been inconsistent all season.
- Over/Under 2.5 Goals: Over 2.5 goals is favourable, historically a high scoring fixture and the form book suggests this may be another one full of goals.
- Both Teams to Score: Probable outcome, neither side are solid at the back and we should see goals scored both ends in this fixture.
Pre-Match Summary
The weekends stand out game at the Emirates will see a high flying Liverpool come here with nothing but a win in their minds as Arne Slots men are now into a real rhythm and continue to perform week in week out. Arsenal on the other hand will be without defender William Saliba through suspension, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka through injury but will be hoping to put last weekends shock defeat to Bournemouth behind them, allthough it will not be as easy said as done against todays opposition.
Statistical Insights:
- Home Win/Away Win/Draw: A close encounter with two excellent teams full of stars, hard to predict an outcome as this one again could go either way, it will come down simply to whoever wants it more on the day .
- Over/Under 2.5 Goals: Good chance of seeing over 2.5 goals with the atticking strength these two team pose.
- Both Teams to Score: Yes, there will be plenty of goal scoring opportunities created in this one and likely to see both teams on the score sheet.
This weeks TOP BET:
Brentford – Home win
Brighton – Home win
West Ham/Man Utd – Over 2.5 goals
Arsenal/Liverpool – Both teams to score YES
Place this bet here at Sportpesa NOW!
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