More big English Premier League games take place this weekend and we take a look at selected matches including Liverpool v West Ham, Leeds v Manchester City, Man United v Crystal Palace and Arsenal v Chelsea
Prices quoted are correct at the time of publication but subject to change.
Liverpool v West Ham (Saturday)
Liverpool have taken maximum points from 3 of their last 4 league games, most recently a pair of 1-0 wins at Sunderland at Forest. At Anfield they have beaten Newcastle 4-1 but they came unstuck late on in a 2-1 defeat to Man City. Liverpool are sixth on the log, behind Chelsea on goal difference and 3 points behind fourth placed Man United.
West Ham have won 3, drawn 2 and lost 1 of their last 6 league games and although they remain third from bottom the gap to fourth bottom Forest now stands at just 2 points. Their last 2 have finished all square, home games against Man United and Bournemouth and in their most recent road trip they let a 2-0 slip in a 3-2 defeat at Chelsea.
Two clean sheets in a row away from home bode well for Liverpool but although I give West Ham a decent chance of contributing to the scoring here, I’ll side with the home win.
Bet: Match result and both teams to score, Liverpool and yes at 1.55/1 with Sportingbet
Leeds v Man City (Saturday)
Leeds have drawn 7 of their last 12 and return to Elland Road after picking up very useful points in score draws at Chelsea and Villa. They beat Forest here, 3-1, in their most recent road trip but they did crash to a 4-0 home defeat to Arsenal at the end of last month.
Second place City are keeping the pressure on league leaders Arsenal with the gap now standing at 5 points and City, who have a game in hand on the league leaders, will also host the Gunners later in the season. City have taken 13 points from the last 15 available, 2 of those were road trips, a draw at Spurs and a win at Liverpool.
Arsenal showed how to handle what has turned out to be a more than useful Leeds side recently and I fancy City will follow suit and pick the home side off 3 times or more.
Bet: Man City total goals over 2.5 at 18/10 with Sportingbet
Brighton v Notts Forest (Sunday)
Brighton ended a run of 6 league games without a win with a 2-0 victory away to Brentford last weekend, a result which leaves them just aa couple of points shy of a top 10 position. They lost 1-0 to Palace in their most recent home game whilst Everton and Bournemouth both left with a point on their visits here over the last few weeks.
Forest have made it through to the Europa League knockout rounds under new coach Vitor Pereira, although they lost 2-1 at home to Fenerbahce on Thursday they went through 4-2 on aggregate. In their only EPL game since the new boss came in Forest lost 1-0 at home to Liverpool, conceding a very late goal. Forest come into the game fourth from bottom, only 2 points clear of third bottom West Ham.
Brighton needed that win last week as a section of the fans were starting to question their coach but whether they can follow up here I’m not so sure. It’s still early days for the new Forest boss, this will tell us more about the impact he has had. I’m with both teams to score in a game of 3 goals or more.
Bet: Both teams to score and over 2.5 total goals? Yes at 11/10 with Sportingbet
Fulham v Spurs (Sunday)
Fulham bounced back to form with a 3-1 win at Sunderland last week to move back into the top 10. Prior to that they lost away to both Manchester clubs and also went down 2-1 at home to Everton.
Spurs come into the weekend fifth from bottom and just 4 clear of third bottom West Ham. They went down 4-1 at home to Arsenal last weekend, the first game since Igor Tudor was appointed as interim coach. Spurs are now 9 without a win in the EPL, 4 draws and 5 defeats.
This is a tricky call but I see scope for goals, hopefully for both sides and 3 or more in total.
Bet: Both teams to score and over 2.5 total goals? Yes at even with Sportingbet
Man United v Crystal Palace (Sunday)
United’s 1-0 win at Everton on Monday night consolidated fourth position and they are now only 3 points behind third placed Villa. Michael Carrick has overseen 5 wins and 1 draw since taking over as coach which includes home wins over Man City, Fulham and Spurs.
Palace have made it through to the Europa Conference League knockout rounds and they have also won 2 of their last 3 EPL games, at home to Wolves and away at Brighton. A home defeat to Burnley in between those games was damaging but they are now pushing towards the top half of the table again.
There is much to like about United right now and I’m siding with them to win this by 2 goals or more.
Bet: Handicap, Man United -1 goal at 1.35/1 with Sportingbet
Arsenal v Chelsea (Sunday)
Arsenal’s last 3 league games have all been away fixtures. They looked to be wobbling after draws at Brentford and especially Wolves but they put Spurs away 4-1 last weekend and kept the gap to second placed Manchester City at 5 points, albeit having played 1 game more.
Chelsea have dropped points in drawing their last 2 games, throwing away a 2-0 advantage at home to Leeds and then being held 1-1 at home by Burnley. They have won their last 2 road trip, at Palace and Wolves (both 3-1) and they now renew rivalry with arsenal who beat them 4-2 on aggregate in the EFL Cup semi finals earlier this year.
I’m thinking Arsenal will prevail but only by the minimum margin.
Bet: Winning margin, Arsenal by 1 goal exactly at 26/10 with Sportingbet