Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur square off at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon to kick the Premier League weekend off with a bang. On Monday, Burnley and Newcastle United meet at Turf Moor in the final game of the round and of course there are plenty of great clashes in between.
In the Football League Championship, Yorkshire rivals Leeds United and Sheffield United play at Elland Road on Friday night. Then Birmingham City host Aston Villa in the Second City derby on Sunday as part of a fascinating weekend of second tier action.
- Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur – Draw and Both Teams to Score (7/2 at Betfair)
- Bournemouth v Chelsea – Chelsea to Win 2-1 (8/1 at Bet365)
- Brighton & Hove Albion v Southampton – Southampton to Win (13/10 at Betfair)
- Leicester City v Everton – Leicester City to Win (23/20 at Coral)
- Burnley v Newcastle United – 1-1 Draw (11/2 at Bet365)
- Leeds United v Sheffield United – Leeds United to Win 1-0 (7/1 at Betfair)
- Hull City v Nottingham Forest – Hull City to Win to Nil (29/20 at Coral)
- Birmingham City v Aston Villa – Aston Villa to Win and Both Teams to Score (4/1 at Betfred)
Premier League
Manchester City shot five points clear at the top of the Premier League table last weekend, beating Burnley 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium. As for Man Utd, they fell to a shock 2-1 defeat at newly promoted Huddersfield Town. Meanwhile, Tottenham marched to another win, while West Ham United, Stoke City and Crystal Palace fell to damaging defeats.
Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur – 28th October
The first game of the Premier League weekend is undoubtedly the biggest as Man Utd and Spurs lock horns at Old Trafford. With United losing and Tottenham winning last weekend, these two are now level on points in the table with the Red Devils second in the table on goal difference.
With so much quality on show in both sides, we should be in for a cracking game in Manchester. The Red Devils will want to hit back after last weekend’s surprise loss at Huddersfield, while Spurs will be looking to build on their emphatic 4-1 win over Liverpool at Wembley.
On paper, these two look very evenly matched, and a draw might not be such a bad result for either. We can see goals, though, so take a punt on Betfair’s 7/2 for the draw and both teams to score.
Draw and Both Teams to Score – 7/2 at Betfair
Bournemouth v Chelsea – 28th October
Chelsea were made to work hard by Watford for their three points last week, and this will not be an easy game at Bournemouth, either. Nonetheless, Antonio Conte’s side head to Dean Court as the clear favourites.
Eddie Howe’s Cherries sealed a much-needed 2-1 win at Stoke last weekend, which has taken them to within one point of safety. Chelsea avoided a third successive league defeat as they came from behind to beat the Hornets 4-2 at Stamford Bridge.
This could be a tight match on the south coast, but the champions should have enough in them to see the job through. We like the look of Bet365’s 8/1 for the Blues to prevail 2-1 or play it safer and back them to win by exactly one goal at shorter odds.
Chelsea to Win 2-1 – 8/1 at Bet365
Brighton & Hove Albion v Southampton – 29th October
Chris Hughton’s Brighton & Hove Albion welcome Mauricio Pellegrino’s Southampton to the Amex Stadium this Sunday. The Saints are fancied to win at the home of the Seagulls.
Brighton announced themselves in the Premier League with a superb 3-0 away win at West Ham last weekend, moving up to 12th in the table as a result. As for Southampton, they picked up an important 1-0 home win over West Bromwich Albion, and they lie one point above Brighton in 10th.
Pellegrino’s men will be targeting all three points from their trip to the Amex. We feel that the Saints are good enough to claim a win on Sunday with Betfair’s 13/10 standing out.
Southampton to Win – 13/10 at Betfair
Leicester City v Everton – 29th October
After five Premier League defeats already and a woeful start to their Europa League campaign, Ronald Koeman was sacked as Everton manager on Monday. The Toffees travel to the King Power Stadium to play Leicester City, who recently relieved Craig Shakespeare of his duties. We could see two temporary managers take charge in this one but which group of players will respond best?
The Foxes sealed a vital 2-1 away win at Swansea City last weekend with Michael Appleton in the dugout. As for Everton, a 5-2 home hammering by Arsenal was the final straw for Koeman. The Toffees sit 18th, while Leicester occupy 14th.
With the Foxes being at home, they will back themselves to make it two wins on the bounce this Sunday. The Leicester triumph is available at the solid odds of 23/20 (Coral) and that looks more than reasonable.
Leicester City to Win – 23/20 at Coral
Burnley v Newcastle United – 30th October
The Premier League action continues through to Monday night as Sean Dyche’s Burnley entertain Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle United at Turf Moor.
The Clarets have made a solid start to their season, winning three, drawing four and losing just two of their opening nine to sit in eighth position. Newcastle, last season’s Championship winners, have also started brightly as they occupy seventh, a point above Burnley.
These two seem evenly matched, and we can see this one ending all square in Lancashire. The 1-1 stalemate is priced at 11/2 with Bet365 and with both sides very well organised that looks a good shout, whilst 0-0 is a possibility too.
1-1 Draw – 11/2 at Bet365
Championship
Wolverhampton Wanderers maintained their two point gap at the top of the Championship table by beating Preston North End 3-2 in a pulsating fixture at Molineux last Saturday. Cardiff City and Sheffield United kept up with Wolves’ pace with good wins of their own. Leeds, meanwhile, got back to winning ways after three successive defeats, seeing off Bristol City 3-0 at Ashton Gate.
Leeds United v Sheffield United – 27th October
On Friday night, high-flyers Leeds and Sheff Utd play at Elland Road in a mouth-watering Yorkshire derby in the Championship. Both clubs will be going all out to win this one as they look to gain automatic promotion to the Premier League.
After losing three league games in a row, Thomas Christiansen’s side sealed a big 3-0 win over Bristol City last weekend. The Blades, meanwhile, picked up their ninth victory in 13 Championship games as they beat Reading 2-1 at Bramall Lane.
After returning to winning ways in style last time out, we’re backing the Whites to seal a crucial success here. Things will no doubt be tight, however, so put your money on Leeds to win 1-0 (7/1 at Betfair) at Elland Road on Friday.
Leeds United to Win 1-0 – 7/1 at Betfair
Hull City v Nottingham Forest – 28th October
Leonid Slutsky’s Hull City host Mark Warburton’s Nottingham Forest at the KCOM Stadium for Saturday’s late kick off in the Championship.
Hull finally seem to be finding some form in the second tier, taking seven points from the last nine on offer. Fraizer Campbell’s late goal earned the Tigers a 1-0 win at Barnsley last weekend. As for Forest, despite beating Burton Albion last time out, they have lost five of their last seven in all competitions.
Hull will be looking to win this, and we feel that there’s good value in Coral’s 29/20 for Slutsky’s side to win to nil at the weekend.
Hull City to Win to Nil – 29/20 at Coral
Birmingham City v Aston Villa – 29th October
Last but not least, Midlands rivals Birmingham and Aston Villa go head-to-head at St Andrew’s on Sunday. Villa have an excellent recent record over the Blues, will that continue this weekend?
City have won one and lost one under Steve Cotterill so far, but they still find themselves in a precarious position in the Championship table. Villa have been flying of late, winning four of their last five to move up to fifth and starting to justify their pre-season title favouritism.
We should be in for an enthralling derby at St Andrew’s, but we believe that Villa will just have the edge. The away win and both teams to score is nicely priced at 4/1 with Betfred.
Aston Villa to Win and Both Teams to Score – 4/1 at Betfred