So after a solid first week, we’re +13% up! We saw a couple of results not going our way, most noticeably Arsenal who needed a late late goal to draw 2-2 at home to relegation candidates Southampton. Everton were another team who let us down as they got shocked by newly promoted Norwich, which has led to huge question marks over Marco Silva’s future.
This week we have a couple of tasty games to look forward to with Chelsea vs West Ham probably being the pick of the bunch in the second London derby in two weeks. The sack race is also on with Emery, Silva, and Solskjaer all praying for a win to keep the pressure off their jobs for another week.
A quick reminder of how this blog works; I’ll be tipping each match and using a 1-5 scale to rate how confident I am in each tip. 1 means it’s a long shot, and 5 means I’m very confident. If I rate a tip as a 1 then I’ll be staking £1 on it, if it’s a 2 I’ll stake £2, etc, etc. Feel free to stake however much you want on the tips, but I’ll be working out my profits using that system.
Enjoy, and good luck!
Newcastle Vs Manchester City – Saturday 30th, 12.30 pm
Newcastle were looking quite impressive before coming up against Villa last week, where they were well beaten 2-0. City managed to bounce back after their defeat against Liverpool with an impressive 2-1 win at home to Chelsea. One concern may which they may have is the confirmation from Guardiola than Aguero is going to miss the next couple of week through injury.
Despite the Aguero injury, I still expect City to win this one comfortably, with Jesus more than capable of stepping in to fill his boots. City to win by a couple of goals.
Manchester City to BEAT Newcastle (1.22 odds, confidence 4)
Burnley Vs Crystal Palace – Saturday 30th, 3pm
This one is a tricky game to call, as Burnley have impressed me over the last couple of games. I expected a tough game against Watford last week, but they stepped up and eased to a 3-0 victory. Palace have a had a very tough run of fixtures and although they lost again last week to Liverpool, they looked like they were more than up for the fight.
Burney have managed to build a good attack around their traditionally strong defence this season, and I think they’ll go on to beat Palace this week. Mix in the home advantage, and the fact than Palace will probably (and understandably) be feeling the effects of an extremely tough last few matches, I think Burnley should have too much for Palace this week.
Burnley to BEAT Crystal Palace (2.10 odds, confidence 3)
Chelsea Vs West Ham – Saturday 30th, 3pm
Two London derbies in two weeks for West Ham. They came close last week against Tottenham, with a late VAR intervention denying them a 3-3 draw, but if I’m being honest, they didn’t deserve to come out of that match with a result as they were the second best team for large portions of the game. Chelsea came up against Man City last week in good form, and although they took the lead early on, they looked well beaten in the end by a very good City side. They won’t have Abraham this week either with him being ruled out with an injury from their match midweek.
This one could be a tough test for Chelsea. Although they have the home advantage and are up against a team who have been poor recently, I think that the loss of Tammy Abraham and maybe some tired legs after their Champions League match on Wednesday means that this will probably end as a draw. Form tends to go out of the window on derby days too, so I’m sure West Ham will be well up for this.
Chelsea to DRAW with West Ham (6.00 odds, confidence 2)
Liverpool Vs Brighton – Saturday 30th, 3pm
This one will go down by many as a routine victory for Liverpool. Liverpool are yet to be beaten in the league and scored a late goal to beat Palace last week, although they were miles off their best. Brighton lost 2-0 to Leicester last week, and although they’re having a good season so far, that’s two defeats on the bounce so they’ll want to make sure that they get a positive result sooner rather than later.
I might sound crazy and I’m 99% sure that I’m in the minority, but I think Liverpool have looked a bit off the pace at times this season. I’m not sure if it’s complacency or they’re just tiring out a tad, but they seem due a slip up soon. That being said, I do expect them to beat Brighton this week with Anfield being an absolute fortress over recent years. Liverpool to win, but I think it’ll be closer than a lot of people think.
Liverpool to BEAT Brighton (1.22 odds, confidence 5)
Tottenham Vs Bournemouth – Saturday 30th, 3pm
Despite their best efforts to Spurs it up last week, Tottenham held on to a 3-2 win away to West Ham last week. It was probably a fair result given their overall control of the match, but they don’t look like a team who know how to keep a clean sheet. Bournemouth lost 2-1 at home to Wolves despite being down to 10 men for a large portion of the match. As I mentioned last week, I do like this Bournemouth team, but you just never know which team is going to turn up on the day.
I think this will be a close game, but I think Spurs should win this one. On their day Bournemouth can get a result against any team in the division, but they’re not in the best form at the minute, and Spurs look a much better unit now that Jose is in charge.
Tottenham to BEAT Bournemouth (1.33 odds, confidence 3)
Southampton Vs Watford – Saturday 30th, 5.30pm
Southampton looked like different side last week to what we’ve come accustomed too. They deserved to beat Arsenal comfortably, but due to not taking enough of their many many chances and looking a bit suspect defensively, Arsenal managed to salvage a 2-2 draw. Watford lost at home 3-0 to Burnley and although I think the score line was probably a bit harsh on them, they didn’t exactly look like a team playing with any confidence.
I think both teams will be happy with a draw here. Southampton’s don’t look like a team who are going to score much this season, and Watford probably take any positive result they can when on their travels. This one is going down as a draw.
Southampton to DRAW with Watford (3.50 odds, confidence 2)
Norwich Vs Arsenal – Sunday 1st, 2pm
Arsenal have just parted company with Emery after an extremely poor run of results. They haven’t won a premier league match in about 2 months, so Freddie Ljungberg will be stepping in until another manager is appointed. Norwich haven’t been in the best form themselves recently, but they did manage to beat Everton 2-0 last week so they’ll be coming into this in good spirits.
I think with Emery gone, Arsenal might start playing with some more confidence, and when you have a front 3 of Lacazette, Aubameyang, and Pepe then they should be back to winning ways in no time. Arsenal in win by a couple.
Arsenal to BEAT Norwich (1.75 odds, confidence 3)
Wolves Vs Sheffield United – Sunday 1st, 2pm
Wolves are in a good bit of form at the moment, and are sitting up in 5th place. Sheffield have just come off the back of a 3-3 draw with Manchester United, and they’ll probably feel like they could have won it.
Both teams have been in good form this season, and I think they may well cancel each other out. Wolves played Europa League football on Thursday so there may be some tired legs, and Sheffield would be happy to take a point against a good Wolves side away from home.
Wolves to DRAW with Sheffield United (3.25 odds, confidence 3)
Leicester Vs Everton – Sunday 1st, 4.30pm
The very much in form Leicester come up against the very much not in form Everton this week. Leicester won yet again lasts week when they played against Brighton and are sitting in 2nd, above Manchester City in the league. Everton on the other hand lost to struggling Norwich last week, and fans may be starting to worry about being dragged into a relegation battle.
Leicester should be far to strong in this match, so I’m backing Leicester. You get the feeling that Silva’s days are numbered at Everton, so a bad result here could mean the end of his reign.
Leicester to BEAT Everton (1.67 odds, confidence 4)
Manchester United Vs Aston Villa – Sunday 1st, 4.30pm
Manchester United managed to salvage a draw against Sheffield United lasts week in a match where they would have hoped to come away with all 3 points. Villa picked up a good 2-0 win against Newcastle, so will go into this game with belief that they can get a result.
As much as it wouldn’t surprise me to see Villa pick up a result here, I’ve got a feeling United will win his one. With Rashford and Martial in the team, they look like they’re always good for a couple of goals, so I’m backing United to win this but it won’t be easy.
Manchester United to BEAT Aston Villa (1.50 odds, confidence 2)
Best of luck!
Two Cents Sports Betting 