Premier League football is back this weekend after the final international break of 2017. Things get underway with a tasty-looking north London derby from the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal host Tottenham Hotspur. The action continues through to Monday when Brighton & Hove Albion play Stoke City at the Amex Stadium, which might not be the most glamourous match of the season but could still be entertaining.
All 24 Football League Championship clubs are also in action across the course of the weekend with the second tier getting back up and running with two games on Friday night.
- Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur – 1-1 Draw (13/2 at Bet365)
- Manchester United v Newcastle United – Manchester United to Win -2 (13/5 at Betfair)
- Watford v West Ham United – Watford to Win (23/20 at Betfred)
- Brighton & Hove Albion v Stoke City – Draw (11/5 at Betfair)
- Preston North End v Bolton Wanderers – Draw and Both Teams to Score (4/1 at Bet365)
- Fulham v Derby County – Derby County to Win (12/5 at Betfred)
- Leeds United v Middlesbrough – Middlesbrough to Win to Nil (3/1 at Ladbrokes)
Premier League
After an easy 3-1 home win over Arsenal before the international break, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City remain comfortable at the top of the Premier League table. In fact, the Citizens increased their lead at the summit to eight points as their rivals Man United fell to a 1-0 defeat at Chelsea. This weekend, Man City travel to Leicester City, whilst United entertain Newcastle United in Saturday’s late kick off.
Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur – 18th November
Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal and Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham meet in a mouth-watering north London derby on Saturday afternoon. This should be a cracking match between these two fierce rivals at the Emirates.
Spurs, who beat Crystal Palace 1-0 at Wembley Stadium last time out, are four points above the Gunners in third place in the table. The Lilywhites are level on points with United with an inferior goal difference. After losing to Man City before the break, Wenger’s men find themselves a staggering 12 points off the top already.
With this derby taking place at Arsenal, it could go either way on Saturday. The last three meetings between the pair at the Emirates have ended in 1-1 draws, so take a look at Bet365’s 13/2 for the 1-1 stalemate this time around.
1-1 Draw – 13/2 at Bet365
Manchester United v Newcastle United – 18th November
After losing at Stamford Bridge before the break, Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United will want to get back to winning ways straight away. This Saturday, Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle are the visitors to Old Trafford.
After dropping eight points behind leaders Man City, United need to claw back some points as soon as possible. The Red Devils’ home form has been impeccable this season, winning all eight of their league and cup matches at the Theatre of Dreams.
The Magpies have made a steady return to the top flight, but we can’t see them getting anything from their trip to Manchester this weekend. There’s good value in Betfair’s 13/5 for the hosts to win -2.
Manchester United to Win -2 – 13/5 at Betfair
Watford v West Ham United – 19th November
The only Premier League game this Sunday comes from Vicarage Road as David Moyes takes his new West Ham side to Watford to play Marco Silva’s Hornets.
Just one win in seven Premier League games cost Slaven Bilic his job at the London Stadium. In steps the former Everton, Man United and Sunderland boss to try and steady the ship and steer West Ham away from trouble.
Moyes will be hoping to emulate the kind of start that Silva has had at Watford as the Hornets occupy a place in the top half of the table at present. Vicarage Road is a difficult place to start for the new Hammers boss, and we can see the home team winning this one (priced at 23/20 at Betfred).
Watford to Win – 23/20 at Betfred
Brighton & Hove Albion v Stoke City – 20th November
On Monday night, Chris Hughton’s Brighton and Mark Hughes’ Stoke lock horns at the Amex Stadium for the final Premier League fixture of the week. The Seagulls, who have made a fine start to life in the Premier League, head in as favourites.
Albion have won four, drawn three and lost four of their opening 11 matches back in the top tier, sitting in a solid eighth place as a result. As for the Potters, they have been disappointing so far having been beaten five times already this term.
This could be a close match at the Amex, so we fancy the pair to cancel one another out on Monday. Have a punt on Betfair’s generous odds of 11/5 for the draw in Brighton.
Draw – 11/5 at Betfair
Championship
Wolverhampton Wanderers went into the international break top of the pile in the Football League Championship. Wolves are on 35 points, Sheffield United on 33 and Cardiff City on 31. This weekend, Sheff United and Cardiff have home games, whereas Wanderers face a tricky away match at Reading. The standout fixture of the weekend comes from Elland Road on Sunday, though, as Leeds United host Middlesbrough.
Preston North End v Bolton Wanderers – 17th November
The action in the Championship kicks off on Friday night as Alex Neil’s Preston entertain Phil Parkinson’s Bolton at Deepdale. North End have lost their last four in a row, whilst Wanderers are unbeaten in five.
Preston have quickly gone from the play-offs to mid-table in a matter of weeks. The Lilywhites’ four successive losses have seen them drop down to 14th. As for the Trotters, after eight league and cup defeats on the spin, they are now off of the foot of the table having won two and drawn three of their last five.
Somehow, Bolton are beginning to look very hard to beat. Meanwhile, Preston can’t seem to buy a win for love nor money. We’re predicting an entertaining game, so have a look at the draw and both teams to score, which is available at 4/1 with Bet365.
Draw and Both Teams to Score – 4/1 at Bet365
Fulham v Derby County – 18th November
On Saturday evening, Slavisa Jokanovic’s Fulham and Gary Rowett’s Derby County do battle at Craven Cottage. County sit six points above the Cottagers in the Championship table.
Fulham have been in pretty poor form of late, losing three and drawing two of their last five league games. After winning four on the bounce and being unbeaten in seven, the Rams were brought back down to earth with a bang last time out, losing 4-2 at home to Reading.
Incredibly, Fulham have won just one of their nine home games in all competitions this term. Meanwhile, Derby are undefeated in four on the road. Put your money on County to prevail in this one at 12/5 with Betfred.
Derby County to Win – 12/5 at Betfred
Leeds United v Middlesbrough – 19th November
Garry Monk returns to his old club on Sunday as Middlesbrough make the trip to Elland Road to face Thomas Christiansen’s out-of-sorts Leeds. Despite being on the road, Boro head to West Yorkshire as favourites to leave with all three points.
After a strong start which saw Leeds lead the way in the Championship in September, seven defeats in nine games has put the Whites in 10th spot. As for Middlesbrough, they are beginning to show their qualities as Monk’s men have won their last three to move up to fifth.
Boro will back themselves to pile more misery on Leeds and return to the Riverside Stadium with maximum points this Sunday. The Teesside outfit have won two of their last three without conceding, so back them to win to nil (at very fair odds of 3/1 at Ladbrokes) at Elland Road this weekend.
Middlesbrough to Win to Nil – 3/1 at Ladbrokes