The first seven matches in the sixth round of the English Premier League take place on Saturday and we look at the whole coupon which includes Brentford v Manchester United and Crystal Palace v Liverpool
Prices quoted are correct at the time of publication but subject to change.
The early kick off sees Brentford host Manchester United. Brentford's total of 4 points came from their 2 previous home games, a 1-0 win over Villa and 2-2 draw with Chelsea but 3 defeats on the road, most recently 3-1 at Fulham has them fourth bottom in the early season standings.
United's 2-1 home win over 10 man Chelsea last weekend moved them up to 7 points. Their 2 road trips so far saw them draw 1-1 at Fulham and they went down 3-0 in the Manchester derby at City.
Mikkel Damsgaard was on target for Brentford last week and to me he is the key man for the home side. I'm siding with him to register a shot on target.
Bets: Player shots on target, Mikkel Damsgaard 1 or more at 1.65/1 with Sportingbet
Chelsea take on Brighton at Stamford Bridge and the home side slipped to sixth in the standings on the back of their 2-1 defeat at Manchester United which saw goalkeeper Sanchez pick up a red card in the first few minutes and Cole Palmer went off injured. Earlier home games saw Chelsea draw 0-0 with Palace and they saw off Fulham 2-0.
Brighton let a 2-0 lead slip in their 2-2 draw at home to Spurs last week and they have 5 points from the same number of games. They have yet to earn on the road after a 2-0 defeat at Everton and a 2-1 loss at Bournemouth.
Having the keeper sent off early offers some excuses but I haven't ben knocked out by Chelsea in the bulk of their matches so far. Diego Gomez scored 4 for Brighton in the EFL Cup in midweek, with his confidence sky high he will need no second invitation to have a dig.
Bets: Player shots on target, Diego Gomez 1 or more at 13/10 with Sportingbet
Crystal Palace put their unbeaten record on the line at home to league leaders Liverpool. A 2-1 victory at West Ham last weekend saw Palace finish the round in fifth spot with a record of 2 wins and 3 draws. Both of their earlier home games finished all sqaure, against Forest (1-1) and Sunderland (0-0).
Liverpool continue to boast the EPL's only 100% record and are 5 points clear of Arsenal, Spurs and Bournemouth at the top of the standings. Four of their 5 wins have come by a single goal margin, most recently 2-1 at home to Everton. On the road they needed very late goals to win 3-2 at Newcastle and 1-0 at Burnley. Isak scored his first Liverpool goal in a midweek EFL Cup win at home to Southampton where Ekitike picked up a red card and will miss this game.
I think Palace will be ultra competitive here. Liverpool are still battling to keep clean sheets and after Matate came through for us last week I'm sticking with him in the anytime goalscorer market.
Bets: Anytime Goalscorer Mateta at 1.75/1 with Betway
Leeds clash with high flying Bournemouth at Elland Road on the back of a very valuable 3-1 win at Wolves last weekend which lifted them into mid table with 7 points to their name. Two earlier home games have been low on thrills and goals, a 1-0 victory over Everton and a 0-0 draw with Newcastle.
Although they went down 4-2 at Liverpool on the opening weekend Bournemouth subsequently reeled off 3 straight wins, at home to Wolves and away to Spurs (both 1-0) and at home to Brighton (2-1). Last weekends 0-0 draw at home to Newcastle saw them finish Round 4 in fourth place, level on points with North London duo Spurs and Arsenal and 5 off the pace being set by Liverpool.
A repeat of Bournemouth's performance in their victory at Spurs would see them tough to beat here.
Bets: Away win at 14/10 with SuperSportBet
Man City are the shortest price on the coupon for thir home fixture against Burnley. After another Haaland goal City were pegged back late on in their 1-1 draw away to Arsenal and with 7 points they are already 8 behind Liverpool. Away from home they have won 4-0 at Wolves and they let a lead slip in a 2-1 defeat at Brighton.
Burnley have 4 points which were earned in home games, a 2-0 win over Sunderland and last week's 1-1 draw with Forest. On the road they have lost 3-0 at Spurs and and 3-2 at Man United.
Watch for the team news as Haaland did pick up a knock at Arsenal but it doesn't affect my thinking that Tijani Reijinders will register a short on target
Bets: Player shots on target, Tijani Reijinders 1 or more at 19/20 with Sportingbet
Notts Forest host early season surprise package Sunderland in an evening kick off. Forest drew 2-2 away to Betis in the europa League on Wednesday night leaving Postecoglou still waiting for his first win. In the EPL the new coach oversaw a 3-0 loss at Arsenal and last Saturday's 1-1 draw at Burnley either side of a late collapse which saw them exit the EFL Cup at Swansea. After 5 rounds of EPL matches Forest are averaging 1 point per game, at home they beat Brentford 3-1 but lost 3-0 to West Ham in what was Nuno's last game in charge. .
Despite playing an hour with 10 men and falling behind Sunderland fought back for a 1-1 draw at home to Villa last weekend. Their 2 road trips saw them go down 2-0 at Burnley and draw 0-0 at Palace. The second half against Burnley aside they have haven't looked out of place and 8 points from their first 5 matches is a very decent return.
Sunderland haven't scored in 2 road trips but they face a Forest side who will come at them and I fancy that will lead to goals for both sides and I'm adding Trai Hume to pick up a card (he narrowly missed putting a Villa player in the stands last week).
Bets: Both teams to score? Yes at 9/10 with Betway
Trai Hume to be carded at 22/10 with Sportingbet
Saturday's late kick off sees Spurs host a Wolves side who are bottom of the log and yet to earn a point. Spurs came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Brighton last weekend. They return home where they have previously beaten Burnley 3-0 and lost 1-0 to Bournemouth, their only defeat so far whilst they also beat Villarreal here 1-0 in the UCL. Spurs have 10 points and a share of second place.
Wolves have made progress in the EFL Cup but its 5 defeats from 5 in the EPL, most recently going down 3-1 at home to Leeds. Away from home they have lost at Bournemouth and Newcastle (both 1-0) and they are in desperate need of a boost.
I'm thinking Spurs will have a fair few set pieces in the final third and Micky van de ven will be a threat.
Bets: Player shots on target, Micky van de Ven 1 or more at 24/10 with Sportingbet
Note, odds are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
