With international football all done and dusted, the Premier League and English Football League are back this weekend. Domestic football gets back underway on Friday night as Steve Cotterill takes charge of his first Birmingham City game when the Blues host league leaders Cardiff City.
The Premier League kicks off with a mouth-watering matchup between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield. That should be a real cracker and is probably the first real test of United’s title credentials. Later in the day, Arsenal make the trip to Vicarage Road to play Watford.
We also have the blockbuster La Liga encounter between Atletico Madrid and Barcelona – which could be extra feisty due to off-pitch matters – as well as the eagerly anticipated first Milan derby of the season.
- Liverpool v Manchester United – Manchester United to Win (15/8 at Betfair)
- Watford v Arsenal – Arsenal to Win -1 (7/4 at Betfair)
- Brighton & Hove Albion v Leicester City – Draw and Both Teams to Score (7/2 at Coral)
- Birmingham City v Cardiff City – Cardiff City to Win to Nil (11/4 at Betfred)
- Wolverhampton Wanderers v Aston Villa – 1-1 Draw (11/2 at Betfred)
- Derby County v Nottingham Forest – Derby County to Win 2-1 (15/2 at Bet365)
- Atletico Madrid v Barcelona – Draw (13/5 at Bet365)
- Inter Milan v AC Milan – Inter Milan to Win 2-0 (11/1 at Betfair)
Premier League
The two Manchester clubs lead the way at the top of the Premier League table, with Manchester City only ahead of United on goal difference. With the Red Devils at Anfield, Pep Guardiola’s boys host Stoke City at the Etihad Stadium this Saturday. Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur will be looking for their first league win at Wembley Stadium when they host Bournemouth.
Liverpool v Manchester United – 14th October
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool welcome Jose Mourinho’s Man Utd to Anfield for a huge Premier League fixture. This is without doubt one of the most eagerly awaited games of the season so far, and Saturday’s showdown should not disappoint.
Liverpool have managed just one win in their previous seven league and cup matches. As for United, they have won nine and drawn one of their last 10 since losing the UEFA Super Cup final to Real Madrid in August. Despite those facts and the absence of the injured Sadio Mane, the Reds are the favourites to prevail in this one.
Games between these two rivals are very hard to call, especially as the last three have ended in draws. The fact that this comes directly after an international break makes the form lines even harder to gauge. However, with the way the Red Devils have been playing of late, we fancy them to silence Anfield with a win on Saturday. Take a look at Betfair’s 15/8 for the away victory in what is sure to be a fiery encounter.
Manchester United to Win – 15/8 at Betfair
Watford v Arsenal – 14th October
Since being thumped 4-0 at Liverpool in August, Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal have got their season up and running with six wins in seven. The Gunners will be searching for their first away league victory of the season when they travel to Watford this weekend.
The Hornets, however, have made a fine start to their season. In fact, only Tottenham and Man City have taken more points away from home so far. At home, though, Marco Silva’s men have drawn two and lost one of their three league games at Vicarage Road.
Wenger’s troops should have enough quality to see off a Watford side who were recently smashed 6-0 at home by Man City. We like the look of Betfair’s 7/4 for Arsenal to win -1 in Hertfordshire.
Arsenal to Win -1 – 7/4 at Betfair
Brighton & Hove Albion v Everton – 15th October
On Sunday, Chris Hughton’s Brighton & Hove Albion welcome Ronald Koeman’s out-of-sorts Everton to the Amex Stadium. The Toffees, who sit 16th, could really do with all three points from this one. Pressure is mounting on their Dutch boss and winnable games like this are ones his side simply have to start performing in.
Everton head to Brighton having lost five of their last eight in all competitions. Before the international break, Koeman’s team were beaten 1-0 at home by Burnley. The Seagulls, meanwhile, have won their last three league and cup home games on the spin.
This will be a tough test for Everton, so a draw may not be such a bad result. Coral’s top price of 7/2 for the draw and both teams to score looks a good bet. That said, we don’t see it bring a thriller, so 1-1 at longer odds also appeals if you’re a correct score fan.
Draw and Both Teams to Score – 7/2 at Coral
Championship
After taking seven points from a possible nine before the international break, Cardiff City sit pretty at the top of the Championship table, a point above second-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers. On Friday, the Bluebirds make the trip to St Andrew’s. The following day, Wolves welcome Aston Villa to Molineux for a tasty Midlands derby. Meanwhile, East Midlands rivals Derby County and Nottingham Forest do battle at Pride Park on Sunday.
Birmingham City v Cardiff City – 13th October
Steve Cotterill has plenty of work to do at Birmingham. This Friday, the struggling Blues hosts Neil Warnock’s high-flying Cardiff at St Andrew’s.
The Bluebirds have made an excellent start to their campaign, winning an impressive seven of their 11 Championship fixtures. In contrast, Birmingham have picked up just two league wins all season. Last time out, the Midlands side fell to a woeful 6-1 defeat at Hull City.
Cardiff are heading to St Andrew’s in great form and in high spirits, so they should see off the Blues with ease on Friday. The Welsh side to win to nil is available at 11/4 at Betfred.
Cardiff City to Win to Nil – 11/4 at Betfred
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Aston Villa – 14th October
Wolves and Villa meet in a tasty Midlands derby on Saturday. With both teams in terrific form, we should be in for a cracking game between these two rivals at Molineux. Come May, this one may be looked back upon as a promotion, or even title, six-pointer but who will claim the three points?
Wanderers have won three of their last four Championship games, sitting in second spot as a result. The Villans have responded brilliantly well from their poor start, and they head to Molineux having won four matches on the spin.
With the pair in such fine fettle, we believe they could cancel each other out on Saturday. Therefore, have a punt on Betfred’s 11/2 for the 1-1 stalemate, a result which both managers will be reasonably content with we feel.
1-1 Draw – 11/2 at Betfred
Derby County v Nottingham Forest – 15th October
The last Championship game of the weekend sees Gary Rowett’s Derby host Mark Warburton’s Forest in an East Midlands derby at Pride Park on Sunday.
Neither side head into this one in great form as County have drawn their last three, while the Reds have won just one of their previous four Championship games. The fierce rivals are separated by only two points ahead of Sunday’s crunch match and with both targeting a play-off spot come the end of the season they need to start improving sooner rather than later.
With the Rams on home turf, Derby will certainly fancy their chances of picking up their first league win in over a month. This could be tight, so check out Bet365’s 15/2 for a slender 2-1 home triumph.
Derby County to Win 2-1 – 15/2 at Bet365
La Liga
Ernesto Valverde’s Barcelona have made a perfect start to their league campaign, winning seven out of seven to sit five points clear at the top of the table. Real Madrid, who have picked up just four wins from their opening games, are a whopping seven points behind already. We’ll be focussing on Barca’s huge match at the Wanda Metropolitano against Diego Simone’s Atletico Madrid.
Atletico Madrid v Barcelona – 14th October
Atletico already find themselves six points behind leaders Barcelona. Come close of play on Saturday, Atleti could be three, six or nine points adrift of table-toppers Barca.
Simeone’s side have yet to be beaten thus far, but they have drawn three of their seven games. Before the international break, Madrid failed to break down Leganes in the eventual 0-0 draw. As for Barcelona, they eased to a 3-0 win over Las Palmas behind closed doors in the Camp Nou.
This is without doubt Barca’s toughest assignment of the season yet. Both teams would probably take a draw now if offered. Bet365 have the stalemate priced at 13/5. It might not please the fans but we fancy the spoils will have to be shared on this occasion in a game likely to be filled with tough tackling.
Draw – 13/5 at Bet365
Serie A
Napoli lead the way in Italy on 21 points from a possible 21. However, the likes of Juventus and Inter Milan, who have both accumulated 19, are hot on their heels. A lot of money was spent in Italy over the summer, with AC Milan alone spending nearly £160m on new recruits. Nevertheless, Milan have already been beaten three times in seven league games. This weekend, Vincenzo Montella’s men play rivals Inter at the San Siro in Italy’s standout match. A bad result here could see the boss come under real pressure and that in itself creates pressure so it will be interesting to see how his men handle that.
Inter Milan v AC Milan – 15th October
One of the biggest derbies in world football takes centre stage on Sunday evening as Inter Milan and AC Milan square off in their shared home. Inter, who have made the better start, head in as favourites.
Luciano Spalletti has made an unbeaten start to his Inter career. The former Roma boss has guided his new team to six wins and one draw from seven. Milan, meanwhile, have lost three of their last five Serie A fixtures.
Last season, the rivals played out two thrilling 2-2 draws. However, we can’t see Milan stopping Inter’s relentless attack on Sunday. Betfair are offering 11/1 for the Black and Blues to win 2-0 at the San Siro whilst Inter/Inter also appeals in the BT/FT market.
Inter Milan to Win 2-0 – 11/1 at Betfair