EPL Preview 2-8-22

West Ham United v Watford

The Premier League is back from a plethora of work stoppages. A break for the winter transfer window closing, an international break, and then FA Cup fixtures this past weekend. The FA Cup games were nearly a disaster for West Ham United who needed not one, but two (!) extra time goals to dispatch 5th tier side Kidderminster Harriers on Saturday. The win proved that West Ham needs their star players, like Declan Rice and Jarrod Bowen, to be their star players week in and week out, and both will start today. Watford actually had a Premier League game this weekend as Burnley tries to make up for their postponed fixtures that will have them playing into July 4th it seems. The game was a stale 0-0 draw and that can be expected when your manager is Roy Hodgson. Watford are now onto their 3rd boss of the season and the 74 year old loves his negative football. He plays the classic 4-4-2 and tries to 1-0 every game if possible. He held back a Crystal Palace side last year who have exploded this season into great form under new leadership. Watford is destined for the drop to the EFL Championship and will also be missing a key player in Ismaila Sarr who is celebrating AFCON glory with Senegal.

The Bet: West Ham -1

Prediction: West Ham 2-0 Watford

Newcastle United v Everton

This is a pivotal matchup for both teams as each looks to avoid relegation. Newcastle flexed their new Saudi spending power in the winter window bringing in several new players including new target man striker Chris Wood from Burnley, elite young midfield pivot Bruno Gumiaraes (who starts on the bench), and English international Kieran Trippier at right-back. These reinforcements look great on paper but it remains to be seen what manager Eddie Howe can get out of them on the pitch. Everton also had a busy window as they let their best defender, Lucas Digne, leave while bringing in two young midfielders who had been outcasts at their former big clubs. Donny Van de Beek and Dele Alli will both start on the bench tonight but one, if not both, will be subbed on. This is a big time feel-it-out type of game where both teams will be doing something new with new players. Newcastle will try to play more forward football, especially through dynamic attacker Allan Saint-Maximin while Everton looked solid on the weekend in their first game under new manager Frank Lampard in a 4-1 win over Brentford in the FA Cup. I see the points being split here.

The Bet: Draw

Alternate Bet: Both Teams to Score

Prediction: Newcastle United 1-1 Everton

Burnley v Manchester United

The final match of the day sees last place Burnley host top-4 hopefuls  Manchester United. Burnley was the other team in that stale 0-0 draw to Watford on the weekend. Sean Dyche’s club has lots of games in hand but that might not be enough to drag them out of the relegation zone. They lost their starting striker, Chris Wood, to Newcastle when the northern rivals paid his release clause. Burnley acted quickly to replace him with the towering Wout Weghorst from Bundesliga side Wolfsburg who will start today as the new target man. Manchester United were the most disappointing team this past weekend in the FA Cup as they went out on penalties to second-tier Middlesbrough. United started all their top guns and played at home yet failed to record the victory in over 120 minutes of action. The move away from manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has not had the desired effect as they still struggle for consistency despite having one of the most expensive squads in Europe. This screams “get-right” game for United but all year they have let down in spots like this. Burnley have a great defensive triangle of goalkeeper Nick Pope and centerbacks Ben Mee and James Tarkowski so United wil really have to battle to break down the defense while playing on the road.

The Bet: Manchester United -1

Prediction: Burnley 0-2 Manchester United

Fancy a Parlay?

Manchester United Moneyline and Everton +0.5 and West Ham United Moneyline (+278)

This comes from a fellow EPL fan. In the words of the infamous Matt Murley, everybody rides.