With the first international break of the season almost upon us – sigh – before that, the third weekend of Premier League action brings another helping of heavyweight fixtures.
Not least at Anfield, as Liverpool host a Chelsea side fresh from a resounding away victory against an increasingly hapless Arsenal.
A trip to Merseyside however, looks a distinctly tougher examination for Thomas Tuchel’s side, with both teams yet to concede a goal in their opening two games. Whilst Liverpool are 13/8 for the win, the travelling Blues are 2/1 – both with SBK – and after Romelu Lukaku hit the ground running on his latest top-flight return, Chelsea could treble your money with a win. The draw at 5/2 with Betway meanwhile, looks a decent punt given what could be a tight encounter on Saturday evening.
Before we get to that however, Manchester City open the weekend’s action at home to the Gunners, who find themselves in an uncomfortable 19th spot in the standings.
After putting five past Norwich last weekend, the Cityzens will look to flex their offensive muscles here versus the visitors, who are still seeking their first league goal of the season. Arsenal themselves hit West Brom for six in the Carabao Cup in midweek, but this test will of course be different gravy for Mikel Arteta’s men. Indeed, it’s hard to remember a time when Arsenal were so long odds for a win at the Etihad, at an astonishing 12/1 with Bet365, Betfredand UniBet, but for a reason. City meanwhile, are 1/4 with MansionBet so can we look to the goals market for value instead?
In seven of their last 11 meetings with Arsenal, City have hit three goals and to do that again, MansionBet is the place to go, with odds of 23/20. If you feel a little more adventurous, the same bookie will offer 10/3 for the hosts to hit four goals, or a lusty five at a sizeable 12/1 value, for Pep Guardiola’s charges to repeat last weekend’s exerts.
Over at the London Stadium, West Ham United play their second home game on the bounce, sitting in a rather unfamiliar position at the top of the English football pyramid. Ahead of Chelsea on GD at the top of the table, the Irons have the chance to open up their advantage to points against south London opposition in Crystal Palace, who have not scored in all competitions so far this term. Accordingly, West Ham are strong favourites to make it three from three at 8/13 with SpreadEx.
Of the other games to stand out this weekend, a classic War of the Roses encounter between Burnley and Leeds will play out at Turf Moor, with the hosting Clarets keen for their first points of the new campaign. The Whites are marginal favourites to take the full spoils back across the Yorkshire divide, however Burnley proved they can make a fast start against Brighton on home soil and with a bit more Lancashire grit could make short shrift of UniBet’s 11/5 odds.
For Manchester United, a second away-day on the spin looms, with Molineux next on the agenda. On the heels of successive back-to-back 1-0 losses to begin the Bruno Lage era, Wolves are up against it to right the tide of defeat this weekend at 17/4, but as Southampton proved, the Red Devils can be frustrated and the draw therefore at 5/2 with Bet365, 888Sport and Betway could yet bring rewards.
