English Premier League action continues on Saturday when our focus is on Chelsea vs Man United, Brentford vs Notts Forest and Spurs vs Crystal Palace
We’re a little bit short of time in the run up to the weekend so just the 4 matches are covered in this preview of Saturday’s coupon. We will have a separate preview for Liverpool vs Arsenal on Sunday.
Chelsea vs Man United
It’s been a bad past week or so for Chelsea who lost 2-0 at home to Spurs in the EPL last Saturday and on Thursday a strong line up bowed out of the EFL Cup away to Liverpool on spot kicks after a 1-1 draw. Chelsea are still in a healthy enough fifth position although the gap to Man City and Arsenal now stands at 8 points. With 17 goals scored and 15 conceded Chelsea have seen more total goals than any other top flight side.
United lost 3-0 at home to Bournemouth in the EPL last Sunday, that defeat came on the back of a 4-1 loss away to Como in the Champions League but despite speculation suggesting Michael Carrick would be sacked he remains in charge and has reportedly patched up his differences with Bruno Fernandes who was left out of the starting line up last time out. United are fifth from bottom and their only league win came at home to Ipswich in Round 2.
Verdict:
Chelsea blow from hot to cold and United’s form is of the shocking variety which makes this tricky but I’ll take my chances with the price boost for Neto to score or assist
Bet: Pedro Neto to score or assist at 17/10 (from (14/10) with Sportingbet
Brentford vs Notts Forest
Brentford are sixth with 11 points but its tight from their downwards with Ipswich, who are twelfth just 1 point behind. In their last 7 league games Brentford have won 1 drawn 5 and lost 1. That defeat came in their most recent home game, 2-1 to Liverpool when they had 2 men sent off and is their only loss in the league but they weren’t overly impressive in last week’s 1-1 draw at Hull and in midweek a strongish line up lost 3-2 to a Sunderland second string in the EFL Cup.
Forest have 6 points and they come into this round third bottom on the standings. Their only win came away at Villa (2-1) in Gameweek 4 after which they lost 3 in a row, at home to Coventry and Arsenal (both 1-0) either side of a 3-1 defeat at Crystal Palace. The losing sequence was halted last time out when they drew 1-1 at Ipswich, a game where they created and missed a number of chances. Earlier in the season Forest drew 2-2 at Liverpool so 5 of their 6 points have been earned on the road.
Verdict:
Brentford are a talented bunch but haven’t been firing on all cylinders. They could bounce back here though although Forest do seem a better side when traveling. Sticking with the score or assist boosted price option Gibbs White is on my radar for the visitors.
Bet: Gibbs-White to score or assist at 19/10 (from (31/20) with Sportingbet
Coventry vs Sunderland
Coventry started the season with 4 straight defeats in the EPL including home games against Hull (lost 1-0) and Brighton (lost 5-0) before a 1-0 win at Forest and 4-1 thrashing of Newcastle. Things were looking up then but in their last 2 they lost 3-1 at Spurs and most recently 1-0 at home to Fulham and they are second from bottom.
Sunderland snapped their 4 match EPL losing streak with a scrappy 0-0 draw at home to Leeds last weekend but they remain at the foot of the standings with just 5 points and 1 league win all season. They have taken just the 1 point from 4 road trips which came at Brentford in Round 2. On the plus side they are going well in the UEL, unbeaten with 2 wins and 1 draw and in midweek a second string side were 3-2 winners at home to Brentford in the Carabao Cup.
Verdict:
Sunderland are running a ouch thin on excuses for their EPL form and another defeat here would spell big trouble. They do have injured plyers making their way back and I’m looking for a couple of goals from the visitors.
Bet: Sunderland total goals over 1.5 at 5/4 with Sportingbet
Spurs vs Crystal Palace
Things are looking up at Spurs who beat Coventry 3-1 in their most recent home game and followed up with last week’s 2-0 win at Chelsea, their best result of the season so far. Spurs finished the previous round in fourteenth with 9 points and looking up rather than down.
Palace picked up a win at Fulham in the EFL Cup in midweek but their latest EPL road trip ended in a 5-0 defeat at Brighton and last week’s 2-0 loss at home to Newcastle saw more pressure heaped on their coach. On the road Palace also on a league game at Fulham (3-2) and they drew 0-0 at Leeds whilst a 2-0 loss at Everton on the opening weekend means they have failed to score in 3 of 4 road trips.
Verdict:
Spurs have the momentum and it would be very disappointing were they to lose that impetus against a Palace side who seem to be heading in the opposite direction. I’m with Spurs to win a game of 3 goals or more in total.
Bet: Spurs to win and over 2.5 total goals? Yes at 23/20 with Sportingbet
Note, prices subject to change