The final international break of the year has now passed and there is an action packed weekend ahead as we return to domestic football and welcome back the Premier League.
With reports of Manchester City manager Pep Gaurdiola agreeing a one year contract extension all eyes will be on the Etihad as Tottenham visit in a teatime kick off on Saturday (17:30 UK time).
City who have lost the previous three league games will be hoping to turn things around as they are now five points behind league leaders Liverpool who dont play until Sunday, so this is a chance to close the gap even though it may only be temporarily.
Saturdays action starts with an early kick off (12:30) as Leicester host Chelsea who are in third position and will be looking to maintain that against a struggling foxes team who sit fifteenth and have not won in the last three league games.
Saturdays action continues with fourth place Arsenal welcomeing in form suprise package Nottigham Forest and Aston Villa who have slipped in the league to nineth will host Crystal Palace. Fellow South Coast teams Bournemouth and Brighton go head to head, and Everton host Brentford, while nineteenth placed Wolves travel to Fulham. All games (15:00).
Sunday begins with league leaders Liverpool looking to extend there excellent form and position at the top with an away trip to bottom team Southampton at (14:00), and Manchester United under new manager Ruben Amorim will travel to Ipswich.
The weekens action will see a Monday night clash between Newcastle United and West Ham United at St James’s Park. (20:00).
Pre-Match Summary
The Foxes who now are only three points ahead of the relegation zone have not won in the last three (2L, 1D), and will have concerns going into this one as they welcome ex manager Enzo Maresca with his Chelsea team who have drawn their last two however are in much better form overall and will be coming here confident of a good performance and getting some points here.
Statistical Insight:
- Home Win/Away Win/Draw: Chelsea come here as strong favourites and there is enough to suggest this will go the way of an Away win.
- Over/Under 2.5 Goals: Both teams do have good options in attack and there is a chance of seeing Over 2.5 goals
- Both Teams to Score: Possiblity, Chelsea look strong and will make this a difficult game for Leicester however at home the Foxes are certainly capable of netting.
Pre-Match Summary
With only one win in the last five games in all competetions Arsenal perhaps will have welcomed the international break to regroup and Arteta and his team will now be hoping to mount a challege at the top. Forest who have enjoyed an unbelieveable start to the season will be wanting to return to winning ways after a bit of a reality check having lost the last game 3-1 at home to Newcastle.
Statistical Insight:
- Home Win/Away Win/Draw: Forest will come here and fancy their chances however the Gunners should have enough depth and experience to get a Home win
- Over/Under 2.5 Goals: Likely to see Over 2.5 goals here, both teams in good goal scoring form and both like play attacking football.
- Both Teams to Score: Yes, this should be a great game and both teams should create plenty of chances in front of goal.
Pre-Match Summary
Villa who prior the international break were having a bit of a poor run having won only once in four league games with 2L and 1D, return to Villa Park and will be ready to bounce back as the visitors Crystal Palace remain in the bottom three and have won only once all season and scored very few goals netting just eight times all season.
Statistical Insight:
- Home Win/Away Win/Draw: Hard to see past a Home win as Palace come here not in very good form and Villa Park is not an easy place to take points
- Over/Under 2.5 Goals: We should see goals here certainly from the home side, however Palaces porr form in front of goal could impact the outcome here, Under 2.5 goals is preferable.
- Both Teams to Score: No, Palace may find this a difficult job to create much and chances may be few and far between.
Pre-Match Summary
The Cherries, who have beaten both Manchester City and Arsenal at home this season will feel like they can beat anyone here, however those reults do not tell the full story as the season has been inconsistent. Brighton currently sixth, beat Manchester City themselves in the last game despite it being at home, they will come here full of confidence and this has the makings of a great game.
Statistical Insight:
- Home Win/Away Win/Draw: A very tough game to call which really could swing either way, perhaps the draw is a favoured selection?
- Over/Under 2.5 Goals: What is likely to be an exciting game with lost of goalscoring opportunites, Over 2.5 goals could have a strong chance.
- Both Teams to Score: Yes, two teams with excellent attacking options and this should be an exciting end to end game.
Pre-Match Summary
Everton have lost just once in the last seven league games allthough the other six games consist of 2W and 4D, this shows everton are proving hard to beat however are also finding it difficult to win. Brentford come here six points ahead of the hosts and will be looking to put further distance between them allthough in recent seasons have found Goodison Park a hard place to win.
Statistical Insight:
- Home Win/Away Win/Draw: Two pretty evenly matched teams and another tough one to call but with the home crowd behind them perhaps Everton can squeeze over the line.
- Over/Under 2.5 Goals: Nine of Brentfords eleven league games has seen over 2.5 goals, this trend has a stong chance of continuing.
- Both Teams to Score: Yes, only one of Brentfords eleven league games this season has failed to be btts.
Fulham vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Pre-Match Summary
Wolves finally got that first win of the season last time out and allthough it was against fellow strugglers Southampton that will feel like a huge weight lifted off Gary O’Neils team as they travel to Fulham, who have won back to back games before the break and have climbed to seventh and only one point off third place.
Statistical Insight:
- Home Win/Away Win/Draw: Despite coming here off the back of a win and in good confidence, its hard to see Wolves casuing Fulham to many problems and a Home win is Likely.
- Over/Under 2.5 Goals: Wolves have the leagues highest goals against record with (27) a stat which Fulham will be looking to punish further, Over 2.5 goals has a solid chance.
- Both Teams to Score: Not a certainty, all though Fulhams defence is not completely unbreakable its hard to see Wolves getting many goal scoring chances.
Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur
Pre-Match Summary
City are now five points behind Liverpool in the title race after suffering two league defeats in a row, in addition to two further losses including EFL cup and Champions League defeats, the worst run they have had under Gaurdiola since he became manager. The international break may have been welcomed by City and they return to the Etihad and will be looking to correct things sharpish. Spurs have been somewhat inconsistent this season and last time out suffered a shock defeat at home to Ipswich, they will be looking to put that behind them with and grab a result here.
Statistical Insight:
- Home Win/Away Win/Draw: City as usual are favourites, this however is not a gaurantee especially with Citys recent form.
- Over/Under 2.5 Goals: Both teams have strength in front of goal and if last season fixture is anything to go by (3-3) this has the makings of a great game and Over 2.5 goals is likely.
- Both Teams to Score: Yes. This should live upto its billing and plenty of threat in front of goal on display should make for a thrilling game and goals at both ends.
Pre-Match Summary
Bottom of the league Saints prepare to welcome top of the league Liverpool and the reds will be keen to pick up exactly where they left off before the international break. Liverpool will have a close eye on Manchester City who play a day earlier and will know that if City win the gap will close to only two points before Liverpool kick off. Saints won the last home game against Liverpool’s local rivals Everton 1-0 but this will be a much tougher test.
Statistical Insight:
- Home Win/Away Win/Draw: Heavy favourites Liverpool is justified given how well they have played this season and that looks almost certain to continue with an Away win.
- Over/Under 2.5 Goals: Liverpool look dangerous every time they go forward and even half chances can result in goals, Over 2.5 is a strong probability.
- Both Teams to Score: Possible, Saints will look to the home crowd to push them on is what will be an extremley difficult game, however you feel and goals Saints do score could end up being consolation only.
Pre-Match Summary
New United manager Ruben Amorim will take charge for his first game and a trip to struggling Ipswich will be a game in which United will beleive they can win and get off to a winning start under the new manager. Ipswich however will not make it easy and despite only being one point above the relegation zone, the home side have had a string of decent draws plus one win proving they are not as easy to beat as it may seem.
Statistical Insight:
- Home Win/Away Win/Draw: United are favourites to win and with the influence of a new manager beginning his reign it points in the direction of an Away win as the selection.
- Over/Under 2.5 Goals: This could be an open game, Ipswich have defesive farailties which could mean goals, Over 2.5 goals is a likely outcome.
- Both Teams to Score: Historically this fixture does tend to see btts and this has a good chance again of that outcome.
Pre-Match Summary
West Ham’s inconsistencys and worrys continue under manager Julien Lopetegui as they could only manage a 0-0 draw at home last time out against Everton, while Newcastle recored and impressive 3-1 victory away to Nottingham Forest, this Monday night game at St James’s Park could be a good one, in a fixture that historically has plenty of action and goals.
Statistical Insight:
- Home Win/Away Win/Draw: West Ham have not been in good for all season and this is a tough away trip on a Monday night, Newcastle for a Home win is the better choice.
- Over/Under 2.5 Goals: Over 2.5 goals has a strong chance, Historically a fixture with lots of goals and these two teams should give us another great game here.
- Both Teams to Score: Yes, both teams have scored in nine out of the last ten head to heads, this again has a good chance.
This weeks TOP BET:
Aston Villa – Home win
Fulham – Home win
Man City v Tottenham – Over 2.5 goals
Man Utd – Away win
Newcastle v West Ham – Over 2.5 goals
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