Sporting Life's Premier League preview package and free tips

Premier League tips: Betting previews, Super 6 predictions & best bets for Saturday's action including Liverpool v Arsenal

By George Pitts

Football

Sat August 24, 2019 · 5y ago

Mark your card for Saturday's Premier League games as George Pitts provides his best bets and score predictions each game, including the blockbuster at Anfield.

Recommended bets

1pt Paul Pogba to score anytime at 5/2

0.5pts Youri Tielemans to score anytime in Sheff United v Leicester at 9/2

2pts Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to score anytime in Liverpool v Arsenal at 2/1

For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record

*Click link to add selections to your betslip*

Norwich v Chelsea

1230 BST kick-off on BT Sport 1

Teemu Pukki celebrates for Norwich

If you asked any Norwich fans at the start of the season if they would take three points after two games, they would have accepted immediately.

Despite enduring a tough start at Liverpool, Teemu Pukki goes into matchday three as the league's leading goalscorer after last week's hat-trick against Newcastle and they have another free hit in the shape Chelsea on Saturday.

Carrow Road will be rocking and the hosts will be well up for this, with both teams to score a definite consideration given the circumstances - not to mention Chelsea's frailties.

Frank Lampard's side have just a point after two tough games and this could be another difficult one. They played some good football against Man United and started well against Leicester, but fatigue could have played a part in their poor second half against the Foxes at Stamford Bridge last week.

The fact Chelsea have scored just once (from an opponent's error) and that Olivier Giroud and Tammy Abraham have not yet contributed is a worry for Lampard and fans have called for Michy Batshuayi to be given a chance. Lampard watched the U23s on Monday as Batshuayi netted twice against Liverpool and he could be tempted to give the Belgian a cameo from the bench at the very least.

Giroud and Abraham have had just five shots combined in two games, whereas Batshuayi is not afraid to try his luck. It could be best waiting until the squads are revealed, but if Batshuayi is in he could be worth backing to score, perhaps even the last goal of the game at a good price.

Prediction: Norwich 1-2 Chelsea (Sky Bet odds: 15/2)

Best bet: Michy Batshuayi to score last at 9/2

Read: Freebie to hat-trick hero - the rise of Pukki

Mason Mount celebrates his goal against Leicester

Brighton v Southampton

Brighton celebrate Neal Maupay's goal against Watford

Few would have expected Brighton to make an unbeaten start with four points from two fixtures.

Graham Potter's side look entertaining and well balanced, with steel in a five-man defence and plenty of attacking flair going forward. Leandro Trossard had a goal ruled out by VAR against West Ham before actually getting on the score sheet later in the game. That means summer signing forwards Trossard and Neal Maupay have already scored for the Seagulls, as well as existing striker Florin Andone.

Southampton are still waiting on a first goal from Che Adams after an impressive pre-season, with Ralph Hasenhuttl's men still looking for their first win. It would be no surprise to see them get the result at the Amex despite Brighton's bright start, but the preference is to avoid the match result.

Three of Brighton's four strikes have come after the interval so far this term while Saints' solitary goal came late at Liverpool last week and, considering their fitness and fight under Hasenhuttl, the second half could be the better spectacle and a best price of 5/2 for both teams to score in the second half is a decent price. But, in truth, there is not a great deal that sticks out in this one.

Super 6 prediction: Brighton 1-2 Southampton (Sky Bet odds: Price Boosted to 12/1)

Best bet: BTTS in the second half at 5/2

Southampton attacking duo Danny Ings (left) and Che Adams celebrate in pre-season

Manchester United v Crystal Palace

Paul Pogba missed another penalty for Manchester United

Crystal Palace were tipped in our ante-post Premier League preview for relegation before the start of the campaign and nothing we've seen in two games has altered that view.

Roy Hodgson made a couple of additions late in a transfer window dominated by the 'will he, won't he?' talk surrounding Wilfried Zaha.

The Ivory Coast international, barring a surprise late move to Europe, looks to be staying put until at least January and he will be key to keeping Palace away from danger. They struggled without him last year and, as he gets over missing out on a move, Palace have not scored yet this term.

It would be no surprise to see United win to nil (6/5) or Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial adding to their respective two-goal tallies.

The odds are unsurprisingly stacked in the visitors' favour so we are going fairly simple for this one.

Paul Pogba suffered the embarrassment of having his penalty saved in the draw with Wolves and he can bounce back with a strike here. The French midfielder was impressive against Chelsea last time out at Old Trafford and he can make amends for his error, put on a show and get on the score sheet at 5/2.

Super 6 prediction: Man United 3-0 Crystal Palace (Sky Bet odds: 15/2)

Best bet: Paul Pogba to score anytime at 5/2

Roy Hodgson shakes hands with Wilfried Zaha before the Crystal Palace forward's cameo against Everton

Sheffield United v Leicester City

Sheffield United celebrate John Lundstram's goal against Crystal Palace

An incredibly tough one to call at Bramall Lane, where Sheffield United will look to build on last week's first win of the season whereas Leicester are searching for theirs following back-to-back draws.

The feeling is that the Foxes may burst the Blades' bubble after an admittedly promising start to life in the top flight.

After playing so well at Chelsea, where he should have scored the winner, there was a temptation to back James Maddison to take confidence to Bramall Lane and find the net at close to 4/1.

But the anytime scorer preference lies with a more eye-catching Youri Tielemans at 9/2. Although Sheffield-born Jamie Vardy features in our Goalscorer Treble (at the bottom of this article), preference is to go with the classy Belgian, who permanently swapped Monaco for Leicester in the summer.

He has posted three shots in both of his Premier League appearances this term, completing 90 minutes in those outings, and showed last season his goalscoring knack from midfield with three goals in the second half of the campaign.

At this price he could be worth a small play as he continues to try his luck.

Super 6 prediction: Sheff United 1-2 Leicester (Sky Bet odds: 17/2)

Best bet: Youri Tielemans to score anytime at 9/2

James Maddison is denied by Kepa Arrizabalaga

Watford v West Ham United

Javi Gracia: The Spaniard's Watford side are still searching for their first Premier League win of the season

Two sides with top-half hopes, but two sides yet to win in their opening games.

Talk has already started with suggestions Watford could be in for a long season after successive defeats, and that manager Javi Gracia could soon be on his way if their poor form carries on.

Granted their form at the end of last season was not great, but a run to the FA Cup final proved an obvious and understandable distraction. It was a disappointing start to the new campaign but their performance in the 1-0 defeat at Everton last week, one of the best sides outside the top six, was deserving of at least a point.

They hit the woodwork and created the better chances, often testing Jordan Pickford, but could not find the back of the net whereas Everton did on the counter. This is the game for them to get their first win, against a West Ham side still unconvincing in defence.

There could be goals here, so a simple match result and both teams to score in the hosts' favour provides a favourable price. As appealing as it may be though, the unpredictability of both sides means there are more preferable options for our headline tips.

Super 6 prediction: Watford 2-1 West Ham (Sky Bet odds: 8/1)

Best bet: Watford to win and BTTS

Manuel Pellegrini: The Chilean has been well backed by West Ham in the summer transfer window

Liverpool v Arsenal

1730 BST on Sky Sports Premier League

Liverpool's Sadio Mane stuck a stunner against Southampton

The tie of the weekend and a fixture usually packed with goals - 44 in the last 10 and the last six Anfield meetings have had four or more total goals. So a boring 0-0 or 1-0 this time? It would not surprise you.

But with Arsenal's defence continuing to look shaky, Liverpool showing vulnerabilities at the back due to their new, higher-line approach and both sides' attacking lines, there should be plenty of entertainment.

Given the magnitude of the clash, VAR could play a part and it is interesting to see a market with Sky Bet for a referee's decision to be overturned using the system at 11/8, but there are more appealing markets on this one.

Looking ahead to the clash after their win over Burnley, Unai Emery said: "We are going to prepare first with the adaptation to them, their gameplan and individual players and after to impose our gameplan and capacity. We are going to prepare both defensively and offensively."

With this in mind, he could opt to start with Alexandre Lacazette on the bench, as he did at Newcastle, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang spearheading the attack. Last season's Premier League joint-top scorer poses a real threat and you will rarely get him at 2/1 anytime. It's incredibly tempting considering he is clearly Arsenal's most dangerous player in the final third.

It's rare to put up so many anytime scorers in one preview, but there are some appealing prices on Saturday and Aubameyang is the pick of the bunch.

Prediction: Liverpool 3-1 Arsenal (Sky Bet odds: 10/1)

Best bet: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to score anytime at 2/1

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette: Arsenal duo celebrate during the win over Burnley

Sporting Life Price Boost - Man United, Leicester and Watford all to win - enhanced 6/1 (available at this price exclusively through this link)

Sporting Life Goalscorer Treble: Jamie Vardy (Leicester), Che Adams (Southampton) and Paul Pogba (Manchester United) all to score - enhanced to 22/1

Odds correct as of 1400 BST on 22/08/19