In the Premier League last weekend, there were opening wins for the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur. Out of the three promoted teams, Wolverhampton Wanderers were the only side to pick up a point. What lies in store in the Premier League this weekend?
We’ll be focussing on the top flight as well as two games in the EFL Championship. On Friday night, Birmingham City host Swansea City, while Stoke City travel to Preston North End on Saturday evening.
Premier League
| Date | Time | Match | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18/08/18 | 12:30 | Cardiff v Newcastle | Newcastle Win |
| 18/08/18 | 17:30 | Chelsea v Arsenal | Chelsea HT/FT |
| 19/08/18 | 13:30 | Man City v Huddersfield | Man City to Win -2 |
| 19/08/18 | 16:00 | Brighton v Man Utd | Man Utd to Win 2-1 |
| 20/08/18 | 20:00 | Crystal Palace v Liverpool | Liverpool to Win by a 2-Goal Margin |
Man United kicked off the new Premier League season with a 2-1 win over Leicester City on Friday night. On Saturday, there were wins for Tottenham, Chelsea, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Watford, while Man City and Liverpool prevailed on Sunday. The Reds are the early leaders in the Premier League after an emphatic 4-0 victory over West Ham United. The standout match in the top tier this weekend is the fixture between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.
Cardiff City v Newcastle United
18th August, 12:30, Sky Sports
The Premier League gets back up and running in South Wales on Saturday as Cardiff City entertain Newcastle United at the Cardiff City Stadium. The Bluebirds will be looking for their first win in the top tier since beating Southampton in April 2014.
Neil Warnock’s men began their Premier League campaign with a 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth last Saturday. As for the Magpies, they were narrowly beaten 2-1 by Tottenham at St James’ Park.
Newcastle have an excellent recent record against Cardiff, which should continue on Saturday. Have a punt on Rafa Benitez’s boys to leave the Welsh capital with all three points (29/20 at Betfred).
Newcastle United Win – 29/20 at Betfred
Chelsea v Arsenal
18th August, 17:30, BT Sport
Maurizio Sarri’s Chelsea and Unai Emery’s Arsenal go head-to-head in a tasty London derby at Stamford Bridge in Saturday’s late kick off in the Premier League.
Sarri started life in the Blues dugout with a solid 3-0 win at Huddersfield Town last weekend. Meanwhile, the Gunners were second best in their disappointing 2-0 home loss to Man City on Sunday afternoon.
Chelsea are the favourites in this one, and we can’t see Sarri’s side having any problems in dispatching Arsenal. The hosts are priced at 7/4 with BetVictor to be winning at half time and full time on Saturday.
Chelsea HT/FT
Manchester City v Huddersfield Town
19th August, 13:30, Sky Sports
After cruising to a 2-0 win at the Emirates Stadium last week, Pep Guardiola’s Man City will be eager to follow that up with another comfortable victory when they entertain David Wagner’s Huddersfield at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Goals from Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva helped City on their way to a routine 2-0 victory at Arsenal last weekend. As for the Terriers, they were beaten 3-0 at home by Chelsea.
The Citizens will be eyeing up a big win from this fixture, so check out Bet365’s decent odds of 8/13 for the home team to win with a -2 goal handicap.
Manchester City to Win -2 – 8/13 at Bet365
Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester United
19th August, 16:00, Sky Sports
Brighton & Hove Albion host Man United at the Amex Stadium on Sunday afternoon. In this fixture last season, the Seagulls swooped to a 1-0 victory over the Red Devils.
Although they were far from their best, United did enough to secure a 2-1 win over Leicester last Friday. As for Albion, they crashed to a disappointing 2-0 loss at Watford.
This has the potential to be a close match at the Amex, but we can see the Red Devils nicking it. Check out Betfred’s solid odds of 6/1 for United to win 2-1.
Manchester United to Win 2-1 – 6/1 at Betfred
Crystal Palace v Liverpool
20th August, 20:00, Sky Sports
Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace and Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool contest the final Premier League fixture of the round when the pair meet at Selhurst Park on Monday night. The Reds are the strong favourites in this one.
Liverpool kicked off their season with an easy 4-0 victory over West Ham last Sunday, with Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane (2) and Daniel Sturridge getting the goals. Meanwhile, strikes by Jeff Schlupp and Wilfried Zaha gave Palace a 2-0 win at Craven Cottage.
Liverpool’s deadly attack should be too hot to handle for the Eagles at Selhurst, so take a look at Bet365’s price of 10/3 for the Reds to win by a two-goal margin on Monday.
Liverpool to Win by a 2 Goal Margin – 10/3 at Bet365
EFL Championship
| Date | Time | Match | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17/08/18 | 19:45 | Birmingham v Swansea | 1-1 Draw |
| 18/08/18 | 17:30 | Preston v Stoke | Preston Win |
Tony Pulis’s Middlesbrough, who have played three times, are the early leaders in the Championship on seven points. Swansea have started life back in the second tier with two wins from two games. Can the Swans continue their 100% record with a win at St Andrew’s on Friday night? Meanwhile, Gary Rowett will be looking for his first victory as Stoke boss when he takes his side to Preston on Saturday.
Birmingham City v Swansea City
17th August, 19:45, Sky Sports
On Friday night in the Championship, Garry Monk’s Birmingham host Graham Potter’s Swansea at St Andrew’s. The Swans have won two out of two so far on their return to the second tier.
Birmingham started their Championship campaign with a hard-fought 2-2 home draw with Norwich City. Unfortunately for them, the Blues could only follow that up with a 1-0 loss at Middlesbrough. Potter has made a fine start to life in South Wales, guiding the Swans to wins over Sheffield United and Preston.
This is a tough fixture to call, so we’re backing this to end all square in the Midlands. Betfair are offering the tempting price of 5/1 for this to end in a 1-1 draw.
1-1 Draw – 5/1 at Betfair
Preston North End v Stoke City
18th August, 17:30, Sky Sports
Saturday’s late game in the Championship takes place at Deepdale as Alex Neil’s Preston entertain Rowett’s Stoke. The Potters have mustered up just one point from their opening two league matches so far.
Preston, who pushed for the play-offs last season, could be a hard nut to crack at home this term. However, North End were beaten 1-0 at Swansea last weekend. After a humiliating 3-1 defeat at Leeds United, Stoke responded with a 1-1 home draw with Brentford last Saturday.
Only the three promoted teams lost less games than Preston last season. The Lilywhites will back themselves to prevail in this one, so put some money on the home win at 11/8 (Ladbrokes).
Preston North End Win – 11/8 at Ladbrokes