Its been six weeks of English Premier League football and the log table is still yet to take shape the way we’ve all expected it to be.
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Despite losing for the first time this term, Everton still lead the standings, while Aston Villa and Leicester City sit a point behind Liverpool to round off the top four. Both Manchester clubs, City and United, languish in the bottom half of the table while Chelsea and Arsenal have just nine points from their opening three matches. With so much excitement and upsets already occurring in the Premier League, all we can hope for is more of the same.
Friday 30 October
Wolves 9/10
Draw 23/10
Crystal Palace 7/2
Wolves were disappointing in their last encounter, drawing 1-1 at home to Newcastle after taking a late lead in the tie. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side looked jaded despite playing without the interruption of European football in midweek, which will come as a worrying sign for the Portuguese tactician, who witnessed his side create very little goal-mouth opportunities.
Crystal Palace produced one of their best displays this term, comfortably beating Fulham 2-1 at Craven Cottage. Wilfried Zaha was the star of the show yet again and will fancy his chances against a Wolves defence who have been accused of switching off in crucial stages of the game. A share of the spoils is my prediction at 23/10.
Saturday 31 October
Sheffield United 15/2
Draw 47/10
Manchester City 3/10
Sheffield United seem to be suffering from second-season syndrome after failing to win a game from their first six matches, losing five times. They face Liverpool and Manchester City in back-to-back games, just as they did last season, and after losing against the Reds, you get the feeling it could be a similar outcome.
Pep Guardiola’s side were flat, looked jaded and were out of ideas against West Ham, where they drew 1-1. Kevin De Bruyne did make his comeback off the bench and should be fit enough to start here. Back City on the (-1) Handicap here at 15/20.
Burnley 5/1
Draw 7/2
Chelsea 5/10
Burnley suffered their fourth defeat from their opening five matches, going down 1-0 at home to Tottenham on Monday night. That was the Clarets’ second consecutive 1-0 home defeat with Sean Dyche’s men yet to get off the mark at Turf Moor.
Defensively, Chelsea improved massively against Manchester United in the Blues’ 0-0 draw at Old Trafford last weekend. Up front, the new boys need to do a bit more to get the numbers they’re known for getting to take some off the pressure off their shoulders. Under 2.5 Goals looks a top value bet here at 12/10.
Liverpool 7/20
Draw 9/2
West Ham 13/2
West Ham have been one of the biggest party-poopers in the Premier League, upsetting the applecart in their last four ties, beating Wolves 4-0, Leicester City 3-0, while the Hammers also drew against Tottenham and Manchester City. Their trip to Anfield will undoubtedly be their biggest test yet, although David Moyes’ side have proven that they’ll be up for any fight this season.
Alisson Becker returned for Liverpool last weekend, who got back to winning ways against Sheffield United. Defensively, the Reds still look nervous without Virgil van Dijk. My money is on Liverpool to Win & Both Teams to Score at 27/20.
Sunday 1 November
Aston Villa 14/10
Draw 26/10
Southampton 18/10
Aston Villa’s impressive run of successive victories ended at four wins as Dean Smith’s men were thumped 3-0 at home to Leeds United. The visitors kept the game at 100 miles per hour and Villa just tired out and collapsed. Aston Villa will have the opportunity to prove that it was just a blip and that they’re still on the right track for a strong finish this season.
Southampton are unbeaten in their last four matches, winning three times, including last weekend’s 2-0 victory over Everton. In that run, the Saints also got a 3-3 draw at Chelsea. I’ll back the visitors on the Win/Draw Double Chance at 11/20.
Newcastle United 29/10
Draw 26/10
Everton 19/20
Newcastle United seem like they’re going to be that team that continue to surprise us this season. You never know what you’re going to get from them. One day they’re getting hammered 4-1 by Manchester United at home, the next, they’re earning a point against an in-form Wolves team. Despite their inconsistencies, Newcastle do tend to find the back of the net more often than not.
Everton suffered their first loss of the campaign and will be without Richarlison and Lucas Digne who are out due to suspension. They still have Dominic Calvert-Lewin and James Rodriguez who are more than capable of hurting Steve Bruce’s side. Take Both Teams to Score at 7/10 here.
Manchester United 11/10
Draw 26/10
Arsenal 47/20
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Tottenham 13/20
Draw 31/10
Brighton 38/10
Tottenham continued their surge up the table when Jose Mourinho’s side moved up to fifth on the log standings after a hard-fought 1-0 win at Burnley. Harry Kane and Heung-min Son linked up yet again to find the winner for Spurs. Son is the league’s leading goalscorer with eight goals, while Kane tops the assists chart with eight to his name as well.
Spurs, however, are still yet to win at home, while Brighton have already proven to be tricky opposition for some of the big teams already. The Seagulls drew 1-1 at home to West Brom on Monday night, but have been slightly better on the road where they’ve drawn against Crystal Palace and beat Newcastle 3-0. With Spurs playing in the Europa League on Thursday night, I fancy Brighton to hold Mourinho’s side to a draw this Sunday.
Monday 2 November
Fulham 14/10
Draw 47/20
West Brom 39/20
Fulham have found it extremely tough to adjust to life in the top flight. From their first five matches, the Cottagers have already lost five times, sitting rock bottom of the standings after shipping in 14 goals – a joint-high for goals conceded so far.
West Brom gave a solid account of themselves on Monday night against Brighton where they clawed their way back in the second half, and perhaps, were unlucky to leave with just a point in the end. That was the Baggies’ second successive draw in the league and you get the feeling that momentum is starting to build in the Albion camp. Put your money on West Brom to Win or Draw & Both Teams to Score at 31/20.
Leeds 16/10
Draw 5/2
Leicester City 33/20
Leicester City will be hoping to continue their sublime away form where they have won all three of their away trips, beating West Brom, Manchester City and most recently, Arsenal.
Jamie Vardy marked his comeback with the winner over the Gunners and will relish the opportunity to add to his tally of six goals – level with Patrick Bamford who is off the back of scoring his first hat-trick for Leeds United. The Peacocks have been excellent this term and could move above Leicester with a win on Monday. Leeds to Score Over 1.5 Goals looks a solid bet at 12/10.
DOUBLE @ 5/1
Liverpool Win & BTTS 27/20
West Brom Win/Draw & BTTS 31/20
Written by Jesse Nagel for Hollywoodbets.
