As the Premier League fixture pile-up begins in earnest ahead of the World Cup, no less than three games each will be crammed in during the next 10 days, as Gameweek 11 begins early on Friday night at the Brentford Community Stadium.
The Bees welcome Brighton to west London with the hosts’ winless streak now stretching to early September. Both sides fell to defeat in GW10 where for the Seagulls, a narrow defeat to Spurs was a blow to new boss Roberto De Zerbi after taking a point away from Anfield. As Brighton head out on the road again for the short trip to the capital however, they may be ones to watch under the Italian. Pervis Estupinan is set to profit from Brighton’s more attack-minded play and already with an assist to his name after making the switch from Villarreal in the summer, the wing-back’s forays down the left have caught the eye. Estupinan could be in business here against a host defence that have conceded 10 goals in the last four games and for the South American to grab an assist, SkyBet are supplying an interesting 5/1 price.
Fast-forwarding to Sunday, all eyes will be on Anfield as Liverpool welcome the rampant goal machine of the champions Manchester City. Drawing a rare blank in Europe on Tuesday evening, the Citizens were very much in second gear against Copenhagen but here, Pep Guardiola’s men will be moving through them at a rate. In the past five years it is hard to remember a time when the Reds were so unfancied at home in this fixture but Jurgen Klopp will surely be buoyed after a 7-1 demolition job of Rangers on Wednesday, where the under-fire Mo Salah netted the fastest hat-trick in Champions League history off the bench.
With Luis Diaz now ruled out until December at the earliest, could the Egyptian now come to the fore again? With Erling Haaland given the night off in midweek, a flutter for both Salah and Haaland to score could be a no-brainer at a 4/1 double with SkyBet.
Before that however, Arsenal will look to temporarily extend their lead at the top once again, this time at Elland Road against Leeds. Keeping another clean sheet away from home in the Europa League on Thursday night, the Gunners have won to nil on four occasions this term already. The Whites, meanwhile, have proved difficult opponents as Chelsea will attest but drew a blank at home to Aston Villa earlier this month. If anything, Arsenal look surer defensively away from the Emirates and to win to nil on Sunday, a punt of 19/10 with 888Sport, William Hill and BetVictor might suit.
Returning to Saturday lunchtime meanwhile, Leicester City remain mired in trouble at the foot of the table after surrendering a one-goal advantage at Bournemouth to record their fifth away defeat on the bounce. At the King Power, the Foxes have shown more teeth but facing a Crystal Palace side that have held both Liverpool and Newcastle on the road in recent weeks, Brendan Rodgers has no guarantees of a result. Leicester’s issues have come with Jamie Vardy’s now diminishing powers up front and the penny may finally be dropping that Patson Daka is a better option. Opening the scoring in GW10 and netting against Nottingham Forest in their 4-0 win also, the Zambian should start here and to score first is a boosted 6/1 from 7/2 with William Hill.
Finally, for those looking for a good value result, Wolves and Nottingham Forest could play ball. As the hosts continue to go without a manager after Julen Lopetegui turned down the job, Wolves are without leader and also a goal in three games, whilst Forest have scored just one goal away from the City Ground all season. Everything points to this being a gritty, drawn-out affair and for both sides to take a point, odds of 14/5 with QuinnBet should draw interest.
