Five more English Premier League matches take place on Sunday and we have a play in each game including Liverpool vs Brighton and Man United vs Bournemouth
Crystal Palace vs Newcastle
Palace picked up a useful Europa League point in a 2-2 draw away to Besiktas on Thursday but their latest EPL outing ended in a 5-0 defeat at Brighton. They did see off former boss Oliver Glasner and his Notts Forest side in a 3-1 home win prior to that, their first points of the season at Selhurst Park after defeat to Man City (4-1) and Ipswich (3-2).
Md table Newcastle have 8 points, 1 more than Palace but after a decent start to the season they have lost 3 of their last 4, a pair of 4-1 Monday night defeats at Leeds and Coventry and last week Villa were 1-0 winners at St. James Park.
Verdict:
If you strip out the Brighton defeat Palace have not been in bad form but the speculation over whether they are considering an early change in coach does them no favours. I might regret this but a repeat of the performance in the home win over Forest would see Palace in the winners box again.
Bet: Palace to win at 37/20 with Hollywoodbets
Hull vs Brentford
Hull lost 1-0 at Fulham last week but they remain unbeaten at home with that opening 2-0 win over Maan United and draws with Villa (0-0) and Everton (2-2) which accounts for 5 of their 8 points.
Brentford had 2 men sent off and lost 2-1 at home to Liverpool last weekend and they slid to sixth with a record which now comprises of 2 wins, 4 draws and that 1 defeat. Those 2 wins came at home to Spurs and Chelsea (both 3-0) and they have drawn all 3 road trips at Leeds and Bournemouth (both 1-1) and then Villa (2-2).
Verdict:
Igor Thiago has scored just the 1 league goal this season but he is class act and I will wager he can register here.
Bet: Anytime goalscorer Igor Thiago at 11/10 with Sportingbet
Liverpool vs Brighton
Liverpool beat Villarreal 4-3 at Anfield in the UCL in midweek, they also beat Atletico Madrid in the same competition earlier in the season but their EPL form at Anfield comprises of draws with Forest (2-2), Fulham (0-0) and a 3-0 defeat to Man City, A trio of wins away from home have helped them to fifth place but that is 9 points behind Man City and 4 shy of their opponents here, Brighton.
Brighton’s 5-0 home win over Palace last week was a fourth straight 3 point haul and saw them finish the round in third spot. A tally of 23 goals scored is 4 more than the next highest scorers and although they lost their first road trip at Chelsea (4-3) they have subsequently won at Coventry (5-0) and Sunderland (2-0)
Verdict:
A cracking test for both sides and I find them hard to split. A draw will do for me.
Bet: Match result draw at 28/10 with Sportingbet
Man United vs Bournemouth
United lost 4-1 away to Como in the Champions League in midweek after which Bruno Fernandes took a swipe at the tactics of his coach and it’s a far from happy camp. United return to EPL action below half way in the standings with 4 draws and 1 defeat in their last 5. Their only league win came at home to Ipswich in Round 2 and since then they have lost to Man City (1-0) and drawn with Spurs (1-1)
Bournemouth put AC Milan away 3-0 in midweek to make it 3 wins from 3 in the Europa League. They had to wait for last weekend for a first league win of the season when they dominated Sunderland in a home fixture and came out on top 2-0. Away from home they have lost 2-1 at Man City, drawn 2-2 at Newcastle and crashed 5-1 at Chelsea.
Verdict:
It’s pretty desperate news at Man United which sees to get more bizarre every week. I really don’t know where to go with this with any confidence but on gut feel I will have a small interest on both halves over 1.5 total goals.
Bet: Both halves over 1.5 total goals ? yes at 16/5 with Sportingbet
Sunderland vs Leeds
After 4 successive league defeats, 3 without scoring Sunderland find themselves at the foot of the standings with just 4 points. Their only win came at home t Fulahm (1-0) in Round 2 and since then Arsenal and Brighton both won 2-0 here. They have been doing well enough in the UEL (2 wins and Thursday’s 1-1 draw in Poznan) but league form has to be a cause for concern.
Leeds drew 1-1 at home to Man United last weekend whilst their most recent road trip ended in a 2-1 defeat at Arsenal. They are still very comfortable in seventh spot with 10 points and away from home they have won at Forest and drawn at Brighton.
Verdict:
Leeds are slight favourites and probably rightly so when you consider current league form. However I think Sunderland really need a big game from their skipper Granit Xhaka and I’m taking his boosted price to either score of assist.
Bet: Player to score or assist Xhaka? Yes at 19/4 with Sportingbet
Prices are subject to change