Our game-by-game betting preview of the weekend's action in the Premier League.
Sunday
Chelsea v Arsenal (1330 BST, Sky Sports Main Event, Premier League)
Antonio Conte’s hosts are warm favourites for another three points at Stamford Bridge and look well capable of landing the odds against a chancy Gunners outfit yet to convince this season.
The reaction to Chelsea’s opening day defeat to Burnley suggested they should simply pack their bags, go home and immediately give up on the defence of their Premier League title but four wins on the spin since can become five by teatime Sunday.
“We go into the Arsenal game with a good feeling," said goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois after walloping Champions League newcomers Qarabag 6-0 in midweek as Conte’s summer additions seem to be getting their feet under the table nicely.
The Italian has a fully fit squad to select from and a few of those ‘pleasant’ type of headaches to deal with as Gary Cahill is available to slot back in defence if required while Davide Zappacosta will be pushing Victor Moses on the right flank after a sparkling display on Tuesday.
Alvara Morata was rested for the match against the Azerbaijan outfit but has scored now in three of his four top-flight outings, stalwarts Willian and Pedro are thriving while Conte even has the luxury of calling on Eden Hazard from off the bench.
It is easy to conclude then that the whole mood in the Chelsea camp is extremely positive as they look to sink another perceived title rival after beating Tottenham last month.
They are now looking to make it six in row at home against Arsenal and the latter may well have wanted to disappear into a large hole of their own had not put in some sort of performance last weekend against Bournemouth.
That was backed-up by victory over Cologne at the Emirates to start their campaign in the Europa League but the last pair mentioned have not managed to win a league game between them – a far cry from the test that awaits them here across the capital.
Arsene Wenger will be banging home the point his side have managed to beat Chelsea on three of the last four occasions, including twice at Wembley, but the hosts simply look far too focused currently and can prevail comfortably.
Prediction: Chelsea 3-1 Arsenal - Sky Bet odds: 12/1
Manchester United v Everton (1600, Sky Sports Main Event, Premier League)
Strikers Romelu Lukaku and Wayne Rooney were supposed to be the pivotal figures in Sunday’s high-profile late kick-off as they face their former teams but that storyline has been eclipsed by Everton’s rapid decline in form over the last month.
Four successive victories, a battling point at Manchester City and qualification for the Europa League all seem a distant memory as the wheels have come off for Ronald Koeman’s expensively assembled collection of summer recruits.
That last point is key – they have looked very much like 11 individuals on the pitch over their last three fixtures that has seen them unable to score and outplayed by Chelsea, Tottenham and now Atalanta.
Koeman was forced to apologise to the travelling fans in Italy on Thursday following a 3-0 reverse with his players accused of not showing enough passion.
“I don’t see a team on the pitch,” the Dutchman bemoaned. “It is a big lesson today, I see 11 individual players and this is a difficult moment.”
It is not going to get any easier either to be honest with a daunting short trip down the road to Old Trafford with the target of trying to shackle Jose Mourinho’s high-flyers.
They dropped their first domestic points last weekend at Stoke in an entertaining 2-2 draw but the Portuguese has begun his second season at the helm with great focus and determination.
There is bags of quality as well with seemingly two international players available in each position running throughout a squad which is relishing the challenge of being at the sharp end again in both the Premier League and Europe.
Koeman has a fair recent record against United stretching back to his Southampton days but will need to be at his tactical best if he is going to get anywhere near producing an upset on this occasion.
A quick turnaround from Thursday’s defeat is not in his favour either and siding with anything other than the home team seems illogical.
The price is understandably short but can be boosted up by backing a victory to nil for Manchester United with goalkeeper David De Gea keen on the latter part of that equation – it would bring up a century of clean sheets for his current employers.
Prediction: Manchester United 2-0 Everton - Sky Bet odds: 9/2
Recommended bets:
1pt double Chelsea to beat Arsenal and Man United to beat Everton to nil at 2.75/1
Click here for our transparent tipping record.
Posted at 1305 BST on 15/09/17.
Saturday
Tottenham v Swansea (1730, BT Sport 1)
Spurs probably put a few issues to bed with an excellent 3-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League and an outstanding record against Swansea makes them the Welsh ideal next visitors to Wembley.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side have returned from the international break in scintillating form, sweeping aside the Germans a few days after making a decent Everton side look remarkably pedestrian at Goodison Park.
I am sure Pochettino would like to see his team put in another performance to prove Dortmund was not a one-off and 10 victories from 12 in the top flight makes the Welshmen one of their favourite rivals around.
The aggregate score last season was 8-1 and the visitors are not given much of a chance once again at 14/1 on the back of a 1-0 home loss to Newcastle.
The match was very much still in the balance when Tammy Abraham went round goalkeeper Rob Elliott only to see his effort scrambled off the line in last-gasp fashion by Jamaal Lascelles before the latter took advantage of some poor defending from a corner to pinch all three points.
Clement seems unfazed by a trip to the national stadium but it might be a little time before we see the best of new arrivals like Renato Sanches and Wilfried Bony so the manager simply can’t afford to be carrying any passengers against a Spurs side in this sort of mood.
Clement remains an excellent tactician and should field a side capable of a competitive display but the hosts are motoring towards top form now and should be good for another three points.
Prediction: Tottenham 2-0 Swansea - Sky Bet odds: 5/1
Huddersfield v Leicester (1500)
The time has arrived to see what the Terriers are made of after their first setback of the season in a subdued 2-0 loss at West Ham.
It looked for long periods like David Wagner’s side were overawed by the whole experience at the London Stadium and the manager admitted his players lacked the confidence to have a consistent influence on proceedings.
It is back to the John Smith’s Stadium now for a pick-me-up where they are unbeaten and have yet to concede a goal with Wagner promising lessons have been learnt from Monday night's exploits.
Punters have not been in a rush so far to get with them at a little over 2/1 with the visiting Foxes reasonably well-backed favourites for what represents, on paper, an easier assignment than of late.
Three defeats from four have left them hovering just above the relegation zone but the one success did come in comfortable fashion against a similarly promoted outfit in Brighton.
Craig Shakespeare could have some interesting additions to pick from as well after Kelechi Iheanacho and Vicente Iborra came through an under-23 game earlier in the week unscathed after some injury issues and the manager will now look to convert some good performances into points.
They have played well in defeat against Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea and should have enough in the locker here to prevail but I have been keeping a close eye on the home side’s midfielder Tom Ince, who has been getting closer and closer to breaking his duck in the top flight.
He rattled the West Ham crossbar on Monday and his ability to dart into a threatening area from a central or potential wide role could at last be rewarded.
His 7/2 to score at any time which is worth a nibble.
Prediction: Huddersfield 1-2 Leicester - Sky Bet odds: 8/1
Liverpool v Burnley (1500)
Liverpool’s inability to keep the opposition out is turning into extreme annoyance for Jurgen Klopp and two attempts on target yielded two goals in midweek for Sevilla as Liverpool’s return to the Champions League rather fell flat on its face.
I very much agree with Klopp that the 5-0 drubbing at Manchester City a few days earlier was simply a freak result once the Reds had been reduced to 10 men but anything other than three points in this at odds of 1/4 may well leave the German with some serious explaining to do.
The improved Clarets do have the personnel quality-wise this season, though, to make things awkward for the home side.
They were dominated at Turf Moor by Crystal Palace but one ruthless moment from new striker Chris Wood was enough to separate the two teams and Liverpool possess a catastrophic error in their locker which Wood or Sam Vokes could pounce on to make things very interesting.
Sean Dyche’s side should actually have very little to fear. They have already collected four points from trips to Chelsea and Tottenham while a blossoming partnership at the back between James Tarkowski and Ben Mee has positive prospects against a Liverpool attack missing the banned Sadio Mane.
Keeper Nick Pope did everything asked of him as well in relief of an injured Tom Heaton last week but the butterflies will be churning a bit in his stomach now he gets the nod from the start for an intimidating road trip.
I expect a solid collective effort from the visitors but that may still come up a fraction shy with the hosts fancied to register an important victory by the narrowest margin.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Burnley - Sky Bet odds: 8/1
Newcastle v Stoke (1500)
Back-to-back triumphs for Toon have lifted the gloom on Tyneside for the time being and all credit to Rafa Benitez’s men for carving out six points in two radically different manners.
The 3-0 victory over West Ham was full of flair and purpose while a far more stoic and resilient effort was required to pick up all three points at Swansea, highlighted by a superb performance from captain and goal-scorer Jamaal Lascelles.
Benitez is back from the treatment room to take control on the touchline once more and he will have a decision to make over whether the talented but volatile Jonjo Shelvey gets back into the starting XI having not been risked after being a naughty boy against old team Swansea.
Outside of the English midfielder, striker Joselu will be the focal point this time as the Spanish striker goes up against his old club and trades at a best price of 13/2 and 9/4 in the respective first and anytime scorer markets.
He has got off the mark since his switch late last month too but Benitez’s opposite number Mark Hughes more than likely knows enough about Joselu’s game to ensure his defence is primed to ensure he has a quiet afternoon.
The Potters continue to show plenty of potential to go with the usual healthy dollop of commitment and quotes bigger than 2/1 could lure in some punters.
They are unbeaten since the opening day of the season and I would quite fancy them to get something out of this trip as well – it could well be their third straight stalemate with both teams scoring.
Prediction: Newcastle 1-1 Stoke - Sky Bet odds: 9/2
Watford v Manchester City (1500)
Full marks go to Marco Silva at Watford after an excellent start to the season that has not only yielded points but attractive, effective displays from a squad of players full of confidence.
They controlled matters again on the south coast last week in a convincing 2-0 triumph at Southampton, allowing a useful mid-table outfit little chance to get a foothold in a game on their own patch.
So rather than going into this fixture with some trepidation, I am sure Silva and his men are relishing the opportunity against one of the section’s elite outfits as they attempt to become the afternoon’s potential coupon-buster at around the 7/1 mark.
Getting the better of City would be a tough ask at any stage of the season but they are absolutely rolling currently and it would be a huge surprise if the juggernaut were to become derailed at Vicarage Road.
It is possible to pick holes still in some of the decision-making at the back but how any team can stop Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva, Bernado Silva and Sergio Aguero without resorting to foul play is beyond me.
They put five past 10-man Liverpool last week, then scored four for good measure against Feyenoord in the Champions League and Pep Guardiola’s ploy is to just let the dogs off the leash and simply overpower the opposition in a blur of marauding light-blue shirts.
I fancy Watford could have some sort of say with a goal, particularly if they employ the shoot-on-sight policy from outside the area that was so effective at St Mary’s, but the player who interests me is visiting wing-back Benjamin Mendy.
The Frenchman was unplayable for portions of the game against Liverpool down the left flank and it won’t be long before all the positive running for his new team gets him into a clear scoring position – he is well worth a punt in the anytime market at huge odds.
Prediction: Watford 1-3 Manchester City - Sky Bet odds: 9/1
West Brom v West Ham (1500)
Tony Pulis was forced to get stuck into his Baggies players after the 3-1 defeat at Brighton brought a rapid halt to their unbeaten start to the season.
He got the impression some of his side were not 100 per cent focused at the Amex Stadium and a lacklustre display was duly punished by a team that had plenty to prove having not scored a goal up to that point.
Pulis will not stand for that sort of nonsense as his defence certainly gave the Seagulls a helping hand on the way to victory. while the usually reliable Ben Foster had a poor day after being rattled early on when fumbling a shot from Solly March.
West Brom are an experienced outfit though, one that tends to move on quickly from a setback, and a visit from a West Ham side to still really convince provides them with a good opportunity to make amends.
You would have feared for the future of Slaven Bilic if they had not beaten Huddersfield on Monday night but a 2-0 win allows all involved to breathe a little easier for the time being.
They do look more purposeful with Andy Carroll leading the line but a reluctance from the visitors to make a serious impact on the game was just as fortunate as Pedro Obiang’s late effort getting a deflection and looping into the net to give them the lead.
I very much doubt West Brom will be quite so helpful at The Hawthorns and a home success is probably the way to go here with Bilic sure to come under further scrutiny if they return to the levels on show previously at Newcastle.
Prediction: West Brom 2-0 West Ham - Sky Bet odds: 9/1
Crystal Palace v Southampton (1230 BST, Sky Sports Premier League, Main Event & Mix)
New Palace boss Roy Hodgson’s early assessment of the team having started work on Wednesday was that there was "not much to be done to turn this around".
I would be tempted to agree as there was little wrong with the attitude or application of his new players in the 1-0 defeat at Burnley which eventually led to the axe falling on Frank de Boer 24 hours later.
It is the usual scenario ahead for punters then as they weigh up whether a 2/1 quote represents some value with the expectation that a change at the top will suddenly breathe life into a team that made history with four straight Premier League defeats and no goals scored to open up the season.
The last time the Eagles switched managers from Alan Pardew to Sam Allardyce it took some time to get moving in the right direction so there is no guarantee Hodgson has a magic wand to instantly conjure up three points.
He does have a reasonable shout though as Southampton have fallen into a bit of a slump since defeating West Ham 3-2 in the middle of last month and that remains the only game in which they have managed to find the target.
It took them until the 92nd minute last week in the drab 2-0 home defeat to Watford to muster a shot on target (ironic cheers all round from the crowd) as a combination of Manolo Gabbiadini, Shane Long and Charlie Austin struggle to find some meaningful form.
There is not a huge amount to recommend either in all honesty while the pair try to sort themselves out and a low-scoring, scrambled draw might be an acceptable outcome for both.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 1-1 Southampton - Sky Bet odds: 9/2
Recommended bets
2pts West Brom to beat West Ham at 11/8
1pt Tom Ince to score anytime v Leicester at 7/2
1pt Benjamin Mendy to score anytime v Watford at 14/1
Click here for our transparent tipping record.
Posted at 0730 BST on 15/09/17.
