EPL Preview 2-9-22

Manchester City v Brentford

Manchester City just keep marching on as the title favorites remain in the top spot in the EPL table. They smashed EFL Championship leaders Fulham 4-1 on the weekend in the FA Cup to extend their unbeaten run to 10 games in all competitions. Another plus for City is health as their team rarely faces a major injury which allows them to play their top 11 week in and week out, as is the case today. Brentford have been the best newly promoted team all season but have recently seen a dip in form. The Bees have lost 5 straight games in all competitions and will surely drop another one here today as they travel to the Etihad. Perhaps plaguing Brentford the most will be the absence of lead striker Ivan Toney who leads the team in goals this season, making the chance at an upset even slimmer.

The Bet: Under 3.5 Total Goals

Prediction: Man City 3-0 Brentford

Norwich City v Crystal Palace

Norwich are in fine form entering this game. Despite being in the relegation zone, the Canaries have won 3 straight games in all competitions. The manager change to Dean Smith seems to have given the team a new boost which is needed if they have any hope of staying alive this season. Crystal Palace have been a new team this season under manager Patrick Vieira. They have played much more forward football this season mainly operating in a 4-3-3 system compared to the old fashioned 4-4-2 they ran last year. Today they also welcome Wilfried Zaha back into the lineup as the dynamic winger has returned from international duty. Form and home field advantage suggest Norwich is in a good spot here but Palace is the better team in my opinion and I don’t love the team sheet Norwich is playing today. 

The Bet: Crystal Palace Moneyline

Prediction: Norwich 1-2 Crystal Palace

Tottenham v Southampton

Tottenham has a lot on the horizon as the second half of the season opens up. The Spurs have multiple games in hand, giving them a clear shot to the top 4 if they can handle their business, and don’t have to worry about any weekday continental competitions as they have been knocked out of the Europa Conference League. With some additions in the winter window and manager Antonio Conte finally getting to mold this team we could see a dangerous Tottenham down the stretch, especially if Harry Kane matches the form we saw him in this weekend when he netted 2 goals in a 3-1 win over Brighton in the FA Cup. Southampton have battled hard all season and been rewarded with some impressive results, most notably a 1-1 draw with Manchester City right before the international break. They needed extra time to dispatch lower league Coventry City in the FA Cup this past weekend but that fixure is behind them now. The Saints play the neutral 4-4-2 but they have quality in young striker Armando Broja and set piece savant James Ward-Prowse. His ability on the ball makes Southampton a constant threat to steal a goal and we know Tottenham have the firepower to match. 

The Bet: Parlay-Over 2.5 Total Goals & Both Teams to Score

Prediction: Tottenham 2-1 Southampton 

Aston Villa v Leeds United

Aston Villa were a struggling side earlier in the season as they disappointed following additions made with 100 million they made from selling Jack Grealish to Manchester City. Well now Villa have fired their manager, brought in the talented Steven Gerrard, and shored the team up even more with reinforcements like Lucas Digne and Philippe Coutinho. The result has been an improvement in form as they start to move back up the Premier League table. Leeds United were the only newly promoted team from last season to achieve safety yet now they are threatened with a relegation battle. Marcelo Bielsa’s side has been very inconsistent this year as sometimes they look like a goal scoring force, putting 3 past West Ham United, and other times look dry in attack like the 1-0 loss to Newcastle United right before the break. Their play style allows them to strike in attack but opens them up on the counter which is where players like Coutinho thrive. This could be a tough affair for Leeds, especially on the road in one of the best environments in the English game.

The Bet: Aston Villa Moneyline

Prediction: Aston Villa 2-1 Leeds