We’re nearly halfway through the season and, at both ends of the Premier League, there is still so much to play for. With some teams having European fixtures midweek, other sides go into this weekend with fresh legs hoping to push themselves up the table.
Manchester City were inflicted their first defeat of the season when losing to Chelsea last week, while Liverpool remain unbeaten following an emphatic 4-0 win at Bournemouth. At the other end of the table, Fulham and Southampton have both hired new managers in an attempt to escape the drop zone, while Huddersfield could do the same with a victory against Newcastle this weekend.
Our football betting expert guides you through the best bets from the upcoming Premier League fixtures.
Manchester City v Everton
After last week’s defeat, Pep Guardiola’s men go into this one keen to get back to winning ways. Many deemed them unlucky against Chelsea but having not got on the scoresheet, Sergio Aguero appeared to be a big miss and question marks still remain over his fitness to start on Saturday.
On top of that, David Silva, Fernandinho, Kevin De Bruyne and John Stones may all be side-lined in an injury-stricken side that may need to rely on their fringe players to get a result. Everton are coming off a draw against Watford with Lucas Digne scoring his first goal for the Toffees, leaving Everton in 7th place.
Despite the injuries, City go in 1/5 favourites with Marco Silva’s men big underdogs at 13/1. Everton have a good record at the Etihad having not lost there since 2014, but I expect a home win here and 2-1 to Man City at 8/1 is worth backing.
Southampton v Arsenal
This fixture involves one side without a victory in 13 games, and the other side without a defeat in 15 games. Southampton’s winless run eventually saw Mark Hughes lose his job, paving the way for German manager Ralph Hasenhuttl to come in and take charge of his first home game against Arsenal.
A loss last week at Cardiff wasn’t the best way to start his tenure at the Saints but with Danny Ings and Shane Long back in contention, Southampton should have a full-strength side this weekend in an attempt to record their first home win of the season.
However, they come up against an Arsenal outfit who are on an unbeaten run stretching back to August. A scrappy win against Huddersfield last weekend keeps Emery’s men in the hunt for a top four position and they rightly go into this one odds on favourites at 10/11.
Hasenhuttl could be the first Southampton manager to win his opening home fixture since Paul Sturrock in 2004 and they can be backed at 11/4. Having scored the winner last week, I can see Lucas Torreira being amongst the goals again and 4/1 to get on the scoresheet offers good value.
Liverpool v Man Utd
In what can be argued as the biggest rivalry within English football, Liverpool take on Manchester United looking to add further misery to Mourinho’s men with a victory this Sunday.
After a good win last weekend against Fulham, United followed it up with a woeful performance against Valencia which seemed to epitomise their season; one step forward, two steps back.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are going from strength-to-strength, and their win last week put them top of the table overtaking Manchester City.
The pressure will be on Jurgen Klopp’s men for this one as they look to stay unbeaten and they enter favourites at 1/2, while Man Utd can be backed at 11/2. Often with rivalries like these, form goes out the window so I’m expecting a close match but I still think Liverpool will prevail here and a 2-1 victory at 7/1 is a good price.
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