The English Premier League is heading for another international break but not before this weekend’s round of matches where our focus is on Leeds vs Spurs and Notts Forest vs Man City on Saturday and on Sunday we take a look at Crystal Palace vs Liverpool, Sunderland vs Chelsea and Man United vs Aston Villa
Leeds vs Spurs (Saturday)
It’s now 5 league games without a win for Leeds (3 draws, 2 defeats) and after a very positive start they have slipped into the bottom half of the standings with 12 points from 9 games. At home they are unbeaten with a 4-1 win over Newcastle and draws with Brentford (1-1), Palace (0-0) and Man United (1-1).
Things continue to look up at Spurs who have won ach of their last 3 league games. After 3 defeats and 3 draws n their first 6 they have beaten Coventry 3-1 in a home fixture, Chelsea 2-0 at Stamford Bridge and most recently Palace, 2-0 in another home game. Spurs finished the previous round in ninth with 12 points 1 more than their opponents here.
Verdict:
Since thrashing Newcastle Leeds have scored only 2 goals in 5 games and they come up against a Spurs side looking for a third clean sheet. Leeds have been defending well though and that is part of my thinking that this could be tight with no more than 1 goal in the first half and likewise in the second.
Bet: Both halves under 1.5 total goals at 27/20 Lucky Fish
Notts Forest vs Man City (Saturday)
Forest have 6 points and they come into this round second bottom on the standings. Their only win came away at Villa (2-1) in Gameweek 4 after which they have taken just 1 point from the next 5 matches, a 1-1 draw at Ipswich. At home Forest have lost to Leeds. Coventry and arsenal (all 1-0) and they played out a 0-0 draw with Spurs leaving their fans still looking for a first league goal of the season at the City Ground.
City were 3-2 winners away to Leipzig in the CL in midweek and they now bid to return to winning ways in the EPL after back to back defeats away to Villa (2-1) and at home to Brighton (1-0). They had won their first 7 EPL matches but have now dropped to second spot, 3 points behind Arsenal and 2 better off than third placed Brighton
Verdict:
City haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of their last 8 across all competitions so could we finally see Forest score in front of their own supporters? I’m not so sure and City to score in both halves is my rather hesitant call.
Bet: City to score in both halves? Yes at 11/8 with Sportingbet
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool (Sunday)
Palace have progressed to EFL Cup quarter finals and have 5 points from 4 matches in the Europa League but they have lost each of their last 3 in the EPL without troubling the scoreboard. A 5-0 hiding at Brighton was followed by a 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle and a 2-0 defeat at Spurs where they had Mateta red carded after just 13 minutes. Palace did win at Fulham and at home to Forest earlier in the season and they drew at Leeds but a tally of 7 points puts them third bottom.
Liverpool didn’t have the best of weeks. They lost 1-0 at home to arsenal in the EPL a week ago and in midweek their 100% record in the Champions League was ended when they went down 3-2 away to Fenerbahce. Their EPL record now comprises of 4 wins, 3 draws and 2 defeats, they are unbeaten away from home with a draw at Newcastle and wins at Ipswich, Bournemouth and Brentford
Verdict:
I’m with Liverpool given their EPL away record though I do expect Palace to give them a contest and contribute to the scoring.
Bet: Match result and both teams to score, Liverpool and yes at 39/20 with Sportingbet
Sunderland vs Chelsea (Sunday)
Sunderland snapped a 4 match EPL losing streak with a scrappy 0-0 draw at home to Leeds in their most recent home game but things have since hit a new low with last week’s 3-1 loss away to Coventry and a 2-0 home defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League on Thursday. They remain at the foot of the standings with just 5 points and 1 league win all season which came at home to Fulham (1-0) in Round 2.
Chelsea were 2-0 winners at home to Man United last weekend and finished the round in fourth spot with a record of 5 wins, 1 draw and 3 defeats. They have won 3 of their last 4 which includes 1 road trip to Everton (2-0). They have also won at Fulham this season but lost on visits to arsenal and Brentford.
Verdict:
Things are really going pear shaped at Sunderland and if Chelsea are on a going day it could be another difficult afternoon. Cole Palmer was left out of the England squad because he misses too many chances to impress according to Thomas Tuchel. Palmer scored a rocket on this ground last season and won’t need too much motivation to see if he can repeat that feat.
Bet: Anytime goalscorer Cole Palmer at 2/1 with Sportingbet
Man United vs Aston Villa (Sunday)
After last week’s 2-0 loss at Chelsea only goal difference was keeping United out of the relegation zone. Their only league win came at home to Ipswich in Round 2 and the most recent league game at Old Trafford ended in a 3-0 loss to Bournemouth. If there is a silver lining it might just have arrived in midweek when they came from 2-0 down (inside 17 minutes) to Roma in the UCL to win 3-2 with all their goals arriving in the second half.
Villa were no match for Barcelona in the UCL in midweek, going down 3-0 at Camp Nou which ended their 100% record in that competition. They are unbeaten in their last 5 in the EPL, 3 wins and 2 defeats and their last 2 road trips saw them win at Spurs (3-2) and Newcastle (1-0)
Verdict:
It would appear that Bruno Fernandes and his coach have cleared the air and we might just see home on the scoresheet.
Bet: Anytime goalscorer Bruno Fernades at 27/10 (boosted from 5/2) with Sportingbet
Note, prices subject to change