The Premier League gets back underway this Friday night when West Ham United host Brighton & Hove Albion at the London Stadium. On Sunday, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool square off in the top flight’s standout fixture of the weekend.
In the Football League Championship, Millwall and Birmingham City meet in a tasty fixture at the Den on Saturday. The following day, East Anglian rivals Ipswich Town and Norwich City do battle at Portman Road.
- West Ham United v Brighton & Hove Albion – West Ham United to Win -1 (12/5 at Coral)
- Chelsea v Watford – Chelsea to Win to Nil (Evens at Bet365)
- Southampton v West Bromwich Albion – Draw and Both Teams to Score (4/1 at Betfair)
- Everton v Arsenal – Draw (13/2 at Bet365)
- Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool – Tottenham Hotspur to Win 2-1 (17/2 at Bet365)
- Millwall v Birmingham City – Birmingham City to Win 1-0 (10/1 at Betfair)
- Ipswich Town v Norwich City – Norwich City to Win (11/10 at Bet365)
Premier League
Manchester City went two points clear at the top of the Premier League table last weekend with a thumping 7-2 home win over Stoke City. Manchester United, meanwhile, were held to a 0-0 draw at Liverpool. There were wins for Tottenham, Crystal Palace, Watford and Swansea City. We’re all set for what promises to be another fascinating weekend of football in England’s top tier.
West Ham United v Brighton & Hove Albion – 20th October
West Ham and Brighton get the weekend up and running with a fixture at the London Stadium on Friday night. Being on their own patch against a newly promoted team, the Hammers will be looking for three points from this one.
Slaven Bilic’s men have won two of their three home league games so far. As for the Seagulls, they have picked up just one point from a possible 12 on the road. Still, both teams have taken eight points from eight games so far.
West Ham should have enough in them to see off Albion on Friday. United are odds-on for the win, so we like the look of Coral’s 12/5 for the Irons to prevail with a -1 goal handicap.
West Ham United to Win -1 – 12/5 at Coral
Chelsea v Watford – 21st October
After falling to two Premier League defeats in a row, Antonio Conte’s Chelsea will be looking for a win when they welcome Marco Silva’s high-flying Watford to Stamford Bridge this Saturday.
The Blues became the first team this season to concede and drop points to Crystal Palace as they were deservedly beaten 2-1 at Selhurst Park. As for the Hornets, last Saturday’s 2-1 win over Arsenal at Vicarage Road lifted them into fourth.
Chelsea will be kicking themselves after taking zero points from the last six on offer, so they will be out for blood against Watford. The Blues to win to nil is available at the top price of evens with Bet365.
Chelsea to Win to Nil – Evens at Bet365
Southampton v West Bromwich Albion – 21st October
On Saturday evening, Mauricio Pellegrino’s Southampton host Tony Pulis’s West Bromwich Albion at St Mary’s. The Baggies currently sit one place and one point above the Saints in the table.
Pellegrino has had a tough start to his Southampton career as his new side have won just two of their opening eight games, losing three along the way. West Brom have not won since August.
With both sides struggling for consistency, we fancy this to end all square on the south coast. Have a punt on Betfair’s 4/1 for the draw and both teams to score on Saturday.
Draw and Both Teams to Score – 4/1 at Betfair
Everton v Arsenal – 22nd October
Both Everton and Arsenal will be gunning for three points when the pair lock horns at Goodison Park this Sunday. The Toffees have claimed just two Premier League wins thus far, while the Gunners let a lead slip to lose at Watford last weekend.
Everton needed a late Wayne Rooney penalty to earn a 1-1 draw at Brighton last weekend. As for Arsene Wenger’s men, they let three points slip at Vicarage Road. To be fair though, that was Arsenal’s first loss since their 4-0 drubbing at Liverpool in August.
This one could go either way in Merseyside, so we’re sitting on the fence and backing the draw. Bet365’s 13/2 for the 1-1 stalemate is standing out at a price that will certainly pay well if the result goes our way.
1-1 Draw – 13/2 at Bet365
Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool – 22nd October
Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham and Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool square off in a heavyweight clash at Wembley Stadium on Sunday. There’s not an awful lot in it, but Spurs are the slight favourites with the bookies.
The Lilywhites finally put the hoodoo of not winning a league game at Wembley to bed last weekend, sealing a vital 1-0 win over Bournemouth. Can they build on that with another home triumph this Sunday?
Liverpool head to the national stadium having won just one of their last eight in all competitions. The Reds will do well to leave Wembley with a positive result on Sunday. We believe that Tottenham will take the points, and there’s good value in Bet365’s 17/2 for Spurs to win 2-1.
Tottenham Hotspur to Win 2-1 – 17/2 at Bet365
Football League Championship
Wolverhampton Wanderers shot themselves to the top of the Championship table last weekend, capitalising on Cardiff City’s defeat at Birmingham on Friday by beating rivals Aston Villa at Molineux on Saturday. Meanwhile, Leeds United fell to a third straight defeat, while Sheffield Wednesday became the first team to lose to Bolton Wanderers in this year’s Championship.
Millwall v Birmingham City – 21st October
After inspiring Birmingham to a win over in-form Cardiff last weekend, Steve Cotterill takes is side to Millwall looking for another victory on Saturday evening.
The Blues were superb last Friday night, fully deserving their 1-0 win over the Bluebirds at St Andrew’s. City are still in trouble, but their confidence will have been boosted tenfold. Millwall, meanwhile, lost 1-0 at Brentford, which has left them in 17th place in the table.
This is a huge fixture for both teams, but we feel that Birmingham can kick on after last week’s win. Put your money on Betfair’s 10/1 for Cotterill’s troops to win 1-0 again.
Birmingham City to Win 1-0 – 10/1 at Betfair
Ipswich Town v Norwich City – 22nd October
Ipswich and Norwich go head-to-head in a big East Anglian derby at Portman Road on Sunday afternoon. The Tractor Boys may be at home, but the Canaries make the short trip to Suffolk as favourites to return to Norfolk with all three points.
After a slow start to their season, Daniel Farke’s Norwich are beginning to find their feet in the Championship. City sit eighth in the table having won four and drawn three since crashing to a heavy 4-0 defeat to Millwall in August.
In contrast, after a solid start, Mick McCarthy’s Ipswich have lost five of their last seven league games and are falling down the table. We can see Norwich claiming a victory (11/10 at Bet365) at the home of their rivals this Sunday.
Norwich City to Win – 11/10 at Bet365