.png)
.svg){kind=small}
Crystal Palace v. Tottenham Hotspur
Crystal Palace started the year slow until they broke out of their shell with 2 goals in a draw to West Ham last time out. The Eagles are under new management and have changed a lot of their squad over the summer so some growing pains are to be expected. Tottenham are top of the league at the moment and have done so with three consecutive 1-0 wins. Consistency is key for any football team and it is clear new manager Nuno Espirito Santo has preached that. Palace might have scored twice in their last game but they typically struggle to produce offense and with Spurs playing a rather conservative game plan so far this season we could see a low scoring match to start the day.
The Bet: Under 2.5 Total Goals
Prediction: Crystal Palace 1-1 Tottenham
Arsenal v. Norwich City
We have a prime relegation battle early in the season and boy I can’t wait. Okay, all Arsenal jokes aside, this should be a riveting game. The Gunners sit at the bottom of the table with 3 losses to open their season and 0 goals scored. The early form has manager Mikel Arteta firmly in the hot seat and fans around the world are very pissed off. Normally a team with 0 goals scored is one that struggles with offense but honestly, it is Arsenal's defense that worries me the most. Norwich are a newly promoted team and they were done no favors by the schedule makers as they have already played Manchester City and Liverpool in the early goings. Norwich actually has some strong attacking talent but they lack proven defenders at the back end meaning Arsenal should wipe that goose egg away in this one.
The Bet: Both Teams to Score
Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Norwich
Brentford v. Brighton & Hove Albion.
Brentford has had a dream start to the season for a newly promoted team as they are unbeaten through 3 games. They have drawn each of their past two matches after an opening night victory over the aforementioned Arsenal. They are a well balanced team with a good manager and should not be scared of welcoming Brighton to their ground. Brighton started the year strong but fizzled out last time against Everton in a 2-0 defeat at home. Brighton has quality in their starting 11 but they lack clinical finishing up front which hurts their chances of turning losses into draws and draws into wins. I think these two squads will share the points on Saturday.
The Bet: Draw
Prediction: Brentford 1-1 Brighton
Leicester City v. Manchester City
This is arguably the best game of the weekend as we see the reigning FA Cup winners take on the reigning Premier League Champions. Leicester managed a close 2-1 win against Norwich last time out and have 2 wins from 3 to start the year. The Foxes have always been a thorn in Manchester City’s side and will look to continue that feistiness this weekend. Manchester City had two get-right-games back to back before the international break as they demolished both Norwich and Arsenal 5-0. When Pep Guardiola’s men are humming and playing their liquid style of football there are very few teams in the world who can stop them. I predict City to leave Leicester with a win but not without the home side making it challenging.
The Bet: Leicester to Cover 1.5 Goals
Prediction: Leicester 1-2 Manchester City
Manchester United v. Newcastle United
I hope you brought your fun hats because it's a welcome back party at Old Trafford on Saturday and everyone is invited. That's right, Cristiano Ronaldo is back in England and playing for the team that made him a household name. While he is only expected to be used as a sub as he still warms up to a new manager and team tactics, Ronaldo has the clinicality to strike at any moment. Not to mention United have plenty of other attacking options should CR7 be slow out of the gate. Newcastle is winless to start the year but managed to score 2 goals in a draw at home against Southampton just before the international break. Newcastle will try to rise to the occasion in this one and put in a good shift but the gulf in quality between these two squads can not be made up with effort alone.
The Bet: Manchester United to Cover 1.5 Goals
Prediction: Man United 3-0 Newcastle
Southampton v. West Ham United
Southampton has managed to record consecutive draws after opening the year with a disappointing loss. The Saints are not a team I have a ton of confidence in as I don’t see who provides their finishing product. Their top striker, Danny Ings, left to join Aston Villa this summer and they really haven’t replaced him with someone who is proven as a top flight goal scorer. West Ham has been everyone's darling this season as their fun style of play, endearing players, and fan favorite manager have them rolling out to an unbeaten start. Lead striker Michail Antonio has proved to be too much to handle for good defenses this season and in this one he gets to go up against just an average back line. The Hammers should be upset with themselves if they don’t walk away with all 3 points here.
The Bet: West Ham Draw No Bet
Prediction: Southampton 0-2 West Ham United
Watford v. Wolverhampton Wanderers
Watford was a team I picked to go right back down to the second tier this year but they haven't looked awful in the early goings. They scored an opening day win against Aston Villa and only lost by one to Tottenham just before the break. Wolverhampton on the other hand has lost all 3 games to start their season although I would be hard pressed to find a team that is 0-0-3 to start the year and played as well as Wolves have. Their issue has been their final product as they have not scored yet this season despite creating loads of chances. I expect Wolves to get off the schneid here and put a few past a vulnerable Watford backline and register their first win of the season.
The Bet: Wolves Moneyline
Prediction: Watford 1-2 Wolves
Chelsea v. Aston Villa
The final game of the slate pits the reigning Champions League winners against a squad who's a perfectly balanced 1-1-1 on the season. Chelsea have been class in the early goings with easy dispatches of Palace and Arsenal as well as a hard fought draw at Liverpool after going down to 10 men. The Blues will be missing a few key players in this one but their squad depth is among the best in the world so they should not be worried. Aston Villa has taken the rough with the smooth early in the season as an opening day loss against newly promoted Watford put them in a bad spot but they have since rebounded with 4 points in their last 2 matches. On the road in West London this game was always going to be tough for Villa but breaking down Thomas Tuchel’s 3-4-2-1 formation is going to prove too daunting a task for the claret and blue on Saturday.
The Bet: Chelsea to Keep a Clean Sheet
Prediction: Chelsea 2-0 Aston Villa
Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Transfer of the Day: Caoimhin Kelleher, GK, Liverpool
Due to some international break controversy Liverpool could be down several players for their match on Sunday and that includes starting goalkeeper Alisson. If Alisson is indeed suspended due to Premier League violations on allowing players to travel for international duty in red listed countries then we could see Kelleher start in goal. He is among the cheapest goalies on the transfer list at the moment and he showed he was more than capable for a spot start or two last year when Alisson dealt with injury. If he plays he has a good shot at getting a win and securing some much needed points for your team while also not being a financial burden at all.
Rest of World Round-Up:
Bundesliga:
Bayer Leverkusen v. Borussia Dortmund
The Bet: Draw
RB Leipzig v. Bayern Munich
The Bet: Draw
Fancy a Parlay? Combo the Both Teams to Score in those two German league matches.
Serie A:
Napoli v. Juventus
The Bet: Draw
Ligue 1:
Monaco v. Marseille
The Bet: Draw
