StefanBB

Manchester City vs Tottenham
The big game of Saturday comes in the 5:30pm GMT kick-off when league leaders Manchester City look to consolidate their place at the top of the Premier League table when they take on Champions League-chasing Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium. There's no doubt the home team will come into this game as favourites but will the away side be able to pull off a surprise result and put a spanner in the works of the title race?
Manchester City are looking good to retain their league title with the club currently 1st in the table and 9 points clear of 2nd placed Liverpool. However, come kick-off in this game, that gap could be reduced to 6 points putting more pressure on the Citizens. Pep Guardiola's men are unbeaten in their last 15 league games having won 14 of those matches. The team's dominant 5-0 win away to Sporting CP in the last 16 first leg tie of the Champions League in midweek showed further evidence as to why they are many people's favourites to win both the Premier League title and the Champions League trophy. Guardiola will be without the trio of Jack Grealish, Gabriel Jesus, and Cole Palmer for this game. This is a City team that have scored 98 goals in 37 matches across all competitions so far with just 14 goals conceded in the league. Riyad Mahrez could be a shout for anytime scorer having scored 9 goals in his last 9 appearances for City.
Tottenham will be up against it here but they are still a team finding their feet under head coach Antonio Conte. The fiery Italian has led his team to 8th position in the table and just 5 points outside the Champions League qualification places but they also have a number of games in hand on the teams around them. It's been 3 defeats in a row in the league and if they lose a fourth league game in a row then that'll be the first time it has happened in the top flight since 2004 when they lost 6 league games in a row. Eric Dier is back to boost the Tottenham back-line. The team have conceded 7 goals in their last 3 league games which is one more than they conceded in their first 9 league games under Conte. Interestingly, Tottenham haven't lost a league game outside of London so far this season. Scoring goals on their travels is a problem with Spurs scoring just 10 goals in their 10 away league games so far this season. Son Heung-min could be the anytime scorer pick for Tottenham having scored 6 goals in his last 8 matches against Manchester City.
It was Tottenham who prevailed as the shock winners when these two sides met earlier in the season. One of the few highlights from the club's Nuno Espirito Santo era. However, Manchester City have lost just 1 of their last 12 home games against Tottenham in all competitions. Tottenham have won 3 of the last 4 encounters though. I just feel Manchester City are some way ahead of Tottenham and something doesn't feel right about Conte's management right now. Things are in the balance behind the scenes I feel and until Conte has a proper pre-season and backing from the owners in the transfer market then he'll be managing with one arm behind his back.
Manchester City HT/FT @ 1.97 with SBK
Total Goals Scored Over 2.5 @ 1.60 with SBK

Liverpool vs Norwich
It's a one-sided affair on paper coming up in the next Premier League game I'm previewing that kicks off at 3pm GMT on Saturday afternoon when title-chasing Liverpool host relegation-battling Norwich at Anfield. You'll be hard pushed to find anyone that isn't backing a solid home win having also made Mohamed Salah captain and put two other Liverpool players alongside him in their fantasy team this week!
Liverpool are picking up some fine form as of late. The Reds are 2nd in the league and now just 9 points behind league leaders Manchester City with a game in hand having won their last 4 league games in a row. Jurgen Klopp now has all his big guns back from Africa Cup of Nations duty and the 2-0 win away to Inter Milan in the Champions League in midweek showed that they are still strong on all fronts. There is bad news for the Merseysiders with Diogo Jota ruled out for this game after picking up an ankle injury. It's now 15 home league games undefeated for Liverpool and they have won the last 6 of those by an aggregate of 17-1. The team are also unbeaten in their last 28 league games that have kicked off at 3pm on a Saturday.
Norwich might be starting to show some signs of pulling off an escape from relegation that not many people saw coming. Dean Smith has guided the team to 18th in the table and despite being 4 points adrift of safety now they have shown promising displays. The Canaries were unbeaten in 3 league games before the heavy 4-0 home loss to Manchester City last weekend. There is a chance here for the team to win back-to-back Premier League away games for the first time since 2012. Unfortunately, they have only won 1 of their last 25 top flight away matches against teams positioned in the top three. They have also lost all 8 matches played against teams positioned in the top six this season. Defence is a huge problem for Norwich this season with their 50 goals conceded from 24 league games their worst defensive record in the league since 1946/47.
I don't think you need to do too much studying into form, results, and players to feel that this game will end in a convincing home win for Liverpool. Norwich have given their fans hope with recent displays and even their performance against Manchester City wasn't diabolical. I just think Liverpool will have too much and we'll see a complete gulf in class here as the home team stride to a comfortable victory.
Liverpool HT/FT @ 1.50 with Coral
Liverpool to Win to Nil @ 1.70 with Parimatch

Crystal Palace vs Chelsea
The Premier League offers us another 3pm GMT kick-off when Crystal Palace host Chelsea at Selhurst Park. It's a bit of a barren run for the home team who are treading water in the lower mid-table section of the table. Can they get a rare recent win against a visiting team who have just returned from winning the FIFA Club World Cup out in Abu Dhabi? Or will we see the away team return with a victory?
Crystal Palace started so positively under head coach Patrick Vieira but results have faded slightly. The Eagles are down in 13th place and may well be 9 points clear of the relegation zone but it's been just 1 win from their last 8 league games including no victory in their previous 5 league matches. Midfielder Conor Gallagher will be ineligible to play against his parent club but Vieira has no other new absentees with Africa Cup of Nations winner Cheikhou Kouyate set to return. Palace have struggled in London derbies in the league recently having only managed 1 win in their last 16 such matches. The club could equal their top flight record of scoring in 12 straight league games in a row here. There is an opportunity for striker Odsonne Edouard to become the first Palace player to score in 4 home Premier League games in a row since Mark Bright managed that feat back in 1991.
Chelsea are buzzing after winning their second trophy of the season with the 2-1 win after extra-time over Palmeiras in the FIFA Club World Cup. That was added to the UEFA Super Cup victory over Villarreal at the start of the season. The Blues are in 3rd place and 16 points off the pace of the league title though and that is a cold hard fact that remains a niggling point for many of their fans. Thomas Tuchel is undoubtedly still backed by the majority of fans but winning lower tier trophies will matter little, especially with owner Roman Abramovich, if the club aren't competing for Premier League titles and Champions League trophies. It's just 2 wins in 8 league games for Chelsea. They have also dropped points in 4 of their last 5 away league games. Their loss to West Ham back in December ended a run of 7 straight away league wins in London derby matches. Despite being renowned for building his philosophy on a tight back-line, Tuchel has seen his team keep just 3 clean sheets in their previous 14 league games.
I've really enjoyed seeing Crystal Palace's evolution under Vieira and I think he could really progress them in a positive direction if he is backed sufficiently by the owners. Right now, they are still a world away from competing with the likes of Chelsea and it is games like this where that gap can really show. Chelsea may well be sapped of some energy after their travels but they've had some decent time off to recuperate and I feel they should get the narrow win here.
Chelsea to Win @ 1.71 with SBK
Anytime Scorer: Hakim Ziyech @ 3.80 with SpreadEx

Aston Villa vs Watford
The next 3pm GMT kick-off taking place in the Premier League on Saturday is Aston Villa versus Watford at Villa Park. Time is running out for the away team to save their lives in the top flight but can they pick up a win here against a team that they defeated on the opening weekend of the league season? Or will they suffer yet another loss that could push them even further to a return to the Championship?
Aston Villa will be disappointed that their 3-game unbeaten run came to an end last weekend with the 1-0 loss away to Newcastle but it feels like this is a team progressing under Steve Gerrard with the inconsistent results simply a consequence of the team getting to know its new identity. Villa are in 12th position and 10 points clear of the relegation zone but it's just 1 win from the last 7 matches since Christmas. Scoring goals haven't been a problem at home though with the club managing that feat for 12 consecutive league matches. Unfortunately, the defence has been leaky recently with 18 goals conceded in their last 8 home league games. One pick for anytime scorer for this game will be Danny Ings who has bagged 4 goals in his last 3 league games against Watford. 
Watford find themselves in 19th place and just 1 point off the bottom of the table whilst also being 6 points adrift of safety. The Hornets are now under the management of Roy Hodgson but there is little sign of improvement. Hodgson has seen his team take just 1 point from his 3 league games in charge without managing to even score a goal. It's now a total of 2 points from 11 league games. There is a chance that they could equal the club's top flight record of going 5 league games without scoring a goal. It's also intriguing to note that Watford remain the only team within the top flight that have yet to score outside of the area.
It was Watford that prevailed as winners at the start of the season against Aston Villa and the Hertfordshire club have won 4 of the last 5 meetings. However, Aston Villa have only lost 1 of the last 9 league encounters at Villa Park. I can see Aston Villa adding more misery to Watford but we can expect Hodgson to make his team tough to break down. They've not been turned over easily by any team under him so far and you'd think they'll become more cohesive the longer he imposes his ideas. I just think they're destined to go down and earning a point would be considered a good result for them. I think it'll be a home win here though.
Aston Villa to Win @ 1.71 with SBK
Total Goals Scored Under 2.5 @ 1.90 with Bet365

Inter vs Liverpool
Inter heads to this game following on from a 1:1 Serie A draw against Napoli. The home side finished second in its group, leaving Sheriff Tiraspol behind. Simone Inzaghi's Inter has celebrated scoring a total of nine times over their preceding six outings. On the other end, the number of goals that have been scored against them in those fixtures is six. However, the hosts need to stabilize their form ahead of the most important matches this season. Regarding the player availability, Alessandro Bastoni (Ankle problems), Joaquín Correa (Hamstring Injury), and Robin Gosens (Hamstring Injury) will be missing for Inter manager Simone Inzaghi.
Liverpool will go into this match after a 1:0 Premier League win versus Burnley in their previous fixture. The Reds were perfect in a very tough group against Milan, Atletico Madrid, and Porto. Over the course of their last half-dozen clashes, Liverpool has helped themselves to the sum of 14 goals. Liverpool has also not failed to score on each one of those occasions. On the other hand, they’ve had two goals go into their net during those fixtures. The English side has been running hot lately, winning six times in a row. Thanks to a largely available group, there is only the sole fitness issue for the Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp to contend with. Divock Origi (Muscular problems) misses out on this game.
Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction                                                                            
It is going to be a tricky encounter, as Inter should pose significant trouble to the Reds. Although Liverpool is considered a favorite in this tie, we don’t think they’ll win in Milano. We’ll back Inter on the Asian Handicap market here.
Goals Market Prediction
Both teams have significant attacking potential, and we believe they will demonstrate it in this game. Although Liverpool has conceded very few goals lately, neither team should keep the clean sheet on Wednesday evening.
Inter AH +0.5 @ 1.85
BTTS Yes @ 1.60
Correct score 1:1 @ 7.00

Salzburg vs Bayern Munich
Red Bull Salzburg will, after the previous result, hope for the same after a 2:1 success in the Bundesliga against Rapid Vienna. The home side finished second in the group stage, just a point behind the top-placed Lille. Red Bull Salzburg has had no problems scoring goals, hitting the target in each of the last six matches. They scored a total of 14 goals in that period, while the number of goals scored against them was five. Karim Adeyemi is the best player in Salzburg and the Austrian league, and many bigger clubs want this guy. However, the hosts will need to cope with several absences. Sekou Koita (Cruciate Ligament Rupture), Bernardo (Knee Surgery), Zlatko Junuzovic (Heel pain), Albert Vallci (Achilles tendon rupture), Benjamin Sesko (Torn Muscle Fiber), and Bryan Okoh will be missing for Red Bull Salzburg boss Matthias Jaissle.
After tasting a 4:2 defeat last time out to VfL Bochum in Bundesliga, Bayern Munich will be aiming to make amends here. The Bavarians were perfect in the group stage, celebrating all six wins. Over the course of their previous six clashes, Bayern Munich has amassed a tally of 18 goals. Bayern Munich has also not failed to score in every single one of those games. In that time, they have seen nine goals go against them. Robert Lewandowski played 22 games this season and scored 26 goals, and the Polish international is breaking records in the Bundesliga. Julian Nagelsmann does a great job, and the young expert shows why he is one of the best coaches in the world.
Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction                                                                            
The visitors are firm favorites here since they aim for glory in this edition of the Champions League. We expect them to secure an advantage in the first leg, and we’ll go with the Asian Handicap market for an increased value.
Goals Market Prediction
Both teams have been involved in high-scoring matches this season, and the crowd should enjoy a goal feast on Wednesday evening. We believe these two teams will produce at least four goals in total in this encounter.
Bayern Munich AH -1 @ 1.65
Over 3.5 FT @ 1.95
Correct score 1:3 @ 10.00

PSG vs Real Madrid
PSG will be looking for another victory after the 1:0 win over Rennes in Ligue 1. The hosts finished second in the group stage behind Manchester City, and a tough challenge is ahead of them. Their latest results highlight the fact that much respect should be given to the Paris Saint-Germain backline. PSG has been mean at the back, resulting in the number of goals that have gone past their goalkeeper over the course of their previous six outings, standing at two. On the other hand, it’s still questionable whether the hosts will have Kylian Mbappe at their disposal for this match. Players who will definitely be unavailable for PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino are Edouard Michut (Coronavirus) and Alexandre Letellier (Coronavirus).
Previously, Real Madrid drew 0:0 in the La Liga match with Villarreal. Los Blancos topped their CL group, suffering the only defeat against Sheriff at home. A succession of reliable displays by the Real Madrid defense has seen the number of goals they’ve conceded standing at four from their last six clashes overall. During the same period of time, their forwards have managed to score seven. However, it didn’t go smoothly for Real Madrid in the front over the past few weeks. The main reason is Karim Benzema’s absence, and the visitors will also miss their best striker. Besides the French international, Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti cannot count on Ferland Mendy (Hamstring Injury) and Mariano Díaz (Pelvis Injury), who will miss out on this game.
Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction                                                                            
It’s going to be a very close game, and it can easily go either way. Undoubtedly, this match is the most interesting one at this stage of the competition, and we think a draw could be the most realistic outcome.
Goals Market Prediction
Despite missing their leading strikers, these two teams still have significant attacking potential. Therefore, we doubt either side will keep the clean sheet, and the crowd should enjoy an entertaining match.
Draw @ 3.75
BTTS Yes @ 1.60
Correct score 1:1 @ 7.50

Sporting vs Manchester City
Sporting Lisbon will play in this match after a 2:2 stalemate of the Primeira Liga against Porto. They finished second in the group stage ahead of Borussia Dortmund and were among the overachievers. The Lions have been on a persistent run of goalscoring form, finding the back of the net every time they've gone out to play in their last six games. They have claimed a sum of 13 during that time while seeing the number of goals scored against them stand at eight. Paulinho scored eight goals in the Portuguese league, and the opposing defenders have no solution to stop the great striker. The absenteeism rate is low, with only one condition of concern for Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim thanks to an almost full group. Pedro Gonsalves (muscle injury) won't play.
Manchester City will go into this match after a 4:0 Premier League win to beat Norwich City in their most recent match. The Citizens topped their group ahead of PSG and, as a result, got an easier opponent in this round. A run of dependable performances from the Manchester City defensive players has resulted in the number of goals they've conceded, standing at three from their past six outings overall. Over that same period, their own attack force has managed to score 16. Raheem Sterling plays in great shape, he scored seven goals in 17 games, and he leaves football fans breathless with incredible speed. The opposing defenders have no solution to stop the English international.
Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction                                                                            
Although Sporting is a tricky opponent, Manchester City is a firm favorite in this tie. The visitors are in the Champions League trophy hunt, and they should secure an advantage in the first leg. Since the odds on the full-time market are low, we'll dip into Asian Handicap.
Goals Market Prediction
Both teams have participated in many high-scoring matches this season, and this one shouldn't be much different. The crowd should enjoy at least three goals in total in this matchup.
Manchester City AH -1.5 @ 1.90
Over 2.5 FT @ 1.65
Correct score 1:3 @ 11.00

Newcastle United vs Everton
Newcastle United will be looking for another victory after the 1:0 triumph over Leeds United in the Premier League latest round. The hosts sit in the relegation zone, but they are just a point behind Norwich. However, it is a rarity lately that Newcastle United failed to concede goals. In fact, Newcastle United has been unable to prevent their opponents from scoring in five of their previous six matches, conceding ten away goals. Nevertheless, the Magpies haven't tasted a defeat three times in a row, which raises the optimism in the squad. Isaac Hayden (Knee Surgery), Joelinton (Groin Injury), Jamaal Lascelles (Hamstring Injury), Federico Fernández (Thigh Problems), and Callum Wilson (Calf Injury) are not available for Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe.
Everton will enter the match after beating Brentford 4:1 in their latest game in the FA Cup. However, their Premier League form has been terrible lately. The Toffees remained undefeated just once on the previous five occasions. As a result, they slipped to 16th place, being just four points ahead of their next opponents. Statistics do not lie, Everton have scored in each of their last six matches, but their opponents have scored a total of 10 goals. Everton obviously has severe defensive problems. However, Everton appointed Frank Lampard as a coach and signed two important players, Van De Beek and Dele Alli, to help them in the relegation battle. Due to a mostly healthy squad, there's just one fitness problem for the Everton gaffer Frank Lampard to be concerned with. Fabian Delph (Unknown Injury) won't be in action.
Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction                                                                            
Neither team has been impressive lately, and it will be a tough battle. Newcastle booked just one win at home, while Everton lost in six of its ten outings this season. We think a draw might be the fairest outcome in this match, and we'll go for it.
Goals Market Prediction
BTTS Yes cashes in five of their previous six head-to-head clashes, and we might see a similar scenario on Tuesday evening. Both teams have defensive issues, and we doubt they'll manage to keep the clean sheet.
Draw @ 3.45
BTTS Yes @ 1.70
Correct score 1:1 @ 6.50

Tottenham Hotspur vs Liverpool
After a disappointing start of the campaign, Tottenham Improved its form after Antonio Conte took over the bench. They booked three straight wins that launched them to 6th place, being only four points behind Arsenal and with three games in hand. The Spurs played all three games at home, though, but they helped them build their confidence. Still, the hosts have issues converting their chances into goals since Harry Kane has netted only once this season. On the other hand, the Spurs tightened their defense after Conte’s arrival. They’ll have a tough task in this one, especially since Tottenham’s top scorer Heung-Min Son won’t be able to help.
Although they haven’t shined lately, the visitors keep their winning streak intact. Liverpool booked eight straight wins in all competitions, and Jurgen Klopp’s side is only one point behind Manchester City. They go to this game after beating Newcastle United 3:1 at home thanks to Alexander-Arnold’s late screamer that sealed their victory. The Reds have been excellent when playing on the road this season, winning six times in eight outings. Liverpool has also been lethal for the oppositions’ goalkeepers, as they’ve produced more than three goals per away game. The visitors want to continue their run and the title chase.
Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction
Both sides will have selection troubles, but it seems that the hosts have been hit more. Liverpool enjoys an excellent form, and we believe they will keep up where they left off. Therefore, we expect the Reds to get back home with all three points.
Goals Market Prediction
Tottenham will have trouble finding the back of the opposition’s net since their top scorer is out of the contest. We could see an unusually low-scoring game on Sunday, which should stay under a 2.5 margin.
Liverpool to Win @ 1.60 
Under 2.5 FT @ 2.35 
Correct score 0:2 @ 9.00

Leeds vs Arsenal
The only Premier League game to survive the covid outbreaks this Saturday is the 5:30pm GMT kick-off between Leeds and Arsenal at Elland Road. As the schedule dwindles down with all of us feeling a sense of inevitability about more games falling victim to the virus this weekend we can appreciate this game going ahead and giving us some sort of football on live television.
Leeds just don't seem to be able to catch a break with player injuries this season. It's believed that up to 8 first team players in the Whites side are ruled out including Patrick Bamford, Liam Cooper, Pascal Struijk, Junior Firpo, Daniel James, Kalvin Phillips, Jamie Shackleton, and Rodrigo. Marcelo Bielsa's team are in 16th place and just 5 points above the drop zone with teams behind them boasting games in hand. Just 1 win from their last 7 league games has seen the team slip into poor form. This run included the awful 7-0 loss away to league leaders Manchester City in midweek which equalled their largest margin defeat which was first recorded back in 1934 when they lost 8-1 away to Stoke. The good news is that Leeds are on a 5-game unbeaten run at home. If you're looking for a first goalscorer bet then 6 of the 7 of Raphinha's league goals this season have opened the scoring in games.
Arsenal will be looking to continue their decent form after back-to-back league wins. Mikel Arteta's side are up to 4th in the table with the club 1 point inside the Champions League qualification places. The Gunners have managed to keep clean sheets in both of those victories. It's been 9 wins from 19 away league games during 2021 which is the most number of away wins they have recorded in a single calendar year since 2015. However, they have lost their last 3 away league matches. If you want an anytime scorer tip from Arsenal then Emile Smith Rowe has bagged 5 goals in his last 7 league games. 
There is some bad news for Leeds in the head-to-head statistics with the team having failed to win any of their last 10 games against Arsenal across all competitions. The two sides did meet as recently as just 8 weeks ago in the EFL Cup 4th Round when Arsenal prevailed as comfortable 2-0 winners. I am concerned by the absentees hitting Leeds right now. It might be something that doesn't impact them too much against the lower-placed sides in the table but it could really hamper them in matches like this.
Arsenal to Win @ 1.77 with SBK
Total Goals Scored Over 2.5 @ 1.83 with Mansion Bet

Manchester City vs Wolves
The opening game of the day in the Premier League on Saturday is the 12:30pm GMT kick-off between Manchester City and Wolves at the Etihad Stadium. There is no doubt that the home team will be delighted to not see their bogey man Nuno Espirito Santo in the opposition dugout but this will be far from an easy ride for the hosts as the away team are proving to be tough opponents for any side.
Manchester City are once again sat on top of the league as they are aiming to defend their title that they won last season. Pep Guardiola's side are looking good right now with 5 wins on the bounce in the league. The 2-1 loss away to RB Leipzig in the Champions League during the week was a set back but given how many changes the Citizens made it's hardly a shock result. City could potentially be without the quartet of Phil Foden, Aymeric Laporte, Nathan Ake, and Gabriel Jesus who all face late fitness tests. Bernardo Silva could be a pick for anytime scorer having bagged 6 goals in his last 8 league games for the club. He also has the highest win ratio of 77% out of any player in Premier League history after 100 games. An incredible statistic.
Wolves come into this game in 8th place knowing that their goal this season has to be trying to achieve European football next season. Bruno Lage's side haven't won or scored in their last 3 league games though so finding the back of the opposition next is priority number one. Wanderers could be without captain Conor Coady for this game but it's hoped he'll pull through a late fitness test. It's also 3 away league games since Wolves won on the road meaning they haven't tasted an away victory since 16th October. One statistic that Wolves fans won't like seeing is that their team have won just 3 of their last 23 away games in the top flight against the reigning champions. However, there is a good news statistic for their fans that they are the only team in the top division yet to concede a goal from a set piece.
Head-to-head statistics show that Manchester City have lost just 1 of their last 9 home meetings with Wolves across all competitions. Wolves lost both of their league encounters last season by a 7-2 aggregate score-line. I'm expecting this meeting to be a tighter affair but I feel City should have enough to take the win and should be looking to do it with a clean sheet given the recent profligacy of Wolves in the final third.
Manchester City HT/FT @ 1.61 with Coral
Manchester City to Win to Nil @ 1.73 with Betfair

West Ham vs Brighton
The next game up in the Wednesday night previews is the encounter between the early season surprise packages West Ham and Brighton in a 7:30pm GMT kick-off at the London Stadium. Both of these teams started well this campaign but recent results haven't quite gone to plan with the home team beginning to pick up defeats and the away team getting booed by their own fans for allowing old habits of profligacy in the final third to creep back in to their game.
West Ham were being tipped as dark horses to gate crash the Champions League qualification spots just a matter of weeks ago but football is a fickle game in a state of constant flux. The Hammers have since suffered back-to-back away defeats against Wolves and Manchester City leaving the club down in 4th and clinging onto their top four place by the virtue of a superior goal difference. David Moyes is already without centre back Angelo Ogbonna and he's joined on the injury list by full back Aaron Cresswell. The goal drought of Michail Antonio undoubtedly coincides with me putting him in my fantasy team because after scoring 5 goals in his first 5 league games of the season he has since bagged just 1 goal in his last 7 league appearances. The good news is that West Ham are unbeaten in their last 7 Premier League games played in midweek including winning the last four such matches.
Brighton are another team that were raising eyebrows at the start of this season. Graham Potter appeared to have solved the team's finishing issues and they stormed to the upper echelons of the league table as they lost just 1 of their opening 8 league games. That seems a lifetime ago now though with the club now without a win in their last 8 league games and failing to even score in 4 of those matches. The Seagulls are now down in 9th position and the fans are losing patience. Their games aren't exactly packed with goals with games involving Brighton bringing just 26 goals. Only games involving Wolves have seen less goals scored. Still, Potter came out criticising his team's fans after the boos rang out loud on Saturday and that's perhaps fair enough.
Well, neither team is exactly entering crisis mode at the moment but I would much rather be in West Ham's shoes because it feels their results have come against sides that have been tough opponents. Brighton appear to be the architects of their own demise by consistently failing to take their chances again. This is where the players need to take responsibility and Brighton needed to sign a potent finisher. I think West Ham will win here and you do wonder if Potter's relationship with the fans could sour after his criticism on the weekend if things don't improve soon.
West Ham to Win @ 2.08 with SBK
Total Goals Scored Under 2.5 @ 1.81 with VBet

Wolves vs Burnley
The last of the 7:30pm GMT kick-offs on Wednesday night in the Premier League comes from Molineux where we have an impressive Wolves taking on a dogged Burnley. This game won't exactly be identified as one that will lead the line-up on Match of the Day but it'll be an intriguing game for the purists as we see a clash of styles coming together but who will win?
Wolves might have started the season slowly but, under Bruno Lage, they are now looking like a team that are appearing to be a solid bet for European qualification. Wanderers are up to 6th in the table and just 3 points outside the Champions League qualification spots after a run of just 1 loss in their last 8 league games. It's now also 192 minutes of league action that the team has gone without conceding a goal. Lage will have to manage without the duo of Ruben Neves and Daniel Podence due to suspension and covid respectively. There is the opportunity for Wolves to win at least 50% of their opening 14 matches of a top flight campaign for the first time in over 42 years. Victory here would see them win four straight home league games in the top division for the first time since 1975.
Burnley will come into this game down in 18th place and 3 points adrift of safety but with a game in hand on the teams around them after their game with Tottenham at home was snowed off on the weekend. Sean Dyche faces a big problem for this game though with both James Tarkowski and Ashley Westwood missing. History suggests this will prevent a win with the team failing to win any of their 19 league games without Tarkowski and 17 league matches without Westwood. The Clarets are unbeaten in their last 4 league games though and will be fresh after not playing on the weekend. Unfortunately, they remain without a win in the league away from home in their last 7 outings in a run stretching back to last season. If you want a cheeky bet on anytime scorer then Chris Wood has bagged 5 goals in his last 3 games against Wolves.
Last season left a sour taste in the mouth for Wolves fans with Burnley earning a double over their opponents in the league including a 4-0 win at Molineux. This is a new look Wolves team though and I don't expect the same outcome here. In fact, I think revenge could be sweet for the home team who should have enough to earn a narrow win. The big question is whether they'll keep a clean sheet? I think they could.
Wolves to Win @ 2.02 with SBK
Total Goals Scored Under 2.5 @ 1.75 with Betfair

Aston Villa vs Manchester City
The Premier League offers up two matches at 8:15pm GMT on Wednesday night with the first of those that I am previewing being the game between Aston Villa and Manchester City at Villa Park. These two teams are at opposite ends of the table but they both come into this game off the back of a run of wins in the league. This might not be as cut and dry for the away team as the statistics suggest.
Aston Villa are thriving under this new reign of Steven Gerrard. The former Rangers head coach has won both of his league games in charge of Villa lifting the team up to 13th in the table and 7 points above the relegation zone. Villa are without Danny Ings and Trezeguet for this clash which is not great news. If Gerrard wins this game then he'll be the first Villa manager in the club's history to win their first 3 top flight league games in charge. They are looking to become the beat the reigning league champions in back-to-back seasons at home for the first time since 1976/77. Interestingly, Villa are slow starters in games having scored 14 of their 18 league goals in the second half of their matches so far.
Manchester City come into this game with a chance of moving top of the league table if results go their way. Pep Guardiola's side still have a huge injury list to contend with but I'm not sure he'll draw much sympathy given the huge sums of money he's ploughed into the squad down the years. Kevin De Bruyne is definitely ruled out whilst there will be late fitness tests for Jack Grealish and Phil Foden. Aymeric Laporte is also unavailable through suspension. The Citizens have won their last 5 matches in a row across all competitions. They are just one league win away from equalling their record of 30 league wins in a calendar year set back in 2017 and 2019. City are about to enter December which is their worst month of the year results-wise under Guardiola. However, they have won their last 15 league games played on a Wednesday.
If Aston Villa fans are looking for optimism in the head-to-head record against Manchester City then they will be disappointed. City have won the last 7 meetings in all competitions by an aggregate score of 23-3. Villa's last win over City came in 2013 when they won 3-2. I do think City are vulnerable here with their absentees but I still think they should get past Villa here. It'll be a valiant effort from the home side though who won't make life easy for the visitors.
Aston Villa +2 @ 1.80 with QuinnBet
Total Goals Scored Over 2.5 @ 1.74 with SBK

Everton vs Liverpool
The hosts started the campaign very well, but they fell into the results crisis. Rafa Benitez’s side picked up just a point on the previous six occasions and slipped to 14th place. However, nothing indicated such a slump after the Toffees snatched a draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Dominic Calvert-Lewin is still out due to an injury, while his teammates from the offense haven’t contributed enough. Everton also struggles in defense, as they conceded in six of the previous seven matches. The hosts had three straight wins at Goodison Park, but in the last three matches, they stayed undefeated just once. Everton needs to improve its form urgently in order not to enter the danger zone.
On the other hand, Liverpool bounced back after losing to West Ham with two straight victories. The away side is 3rd in the Premier League, being just two points behind Chelsea. Jurgen Klopp’s side has been pretty convincing in the past two rounds, beating Arsenal and Southampton 4:0. Diogo Jota has been on fire lately, scoring three goals in the last two matches. Besides that, the Reds are the most productive team in the competition with 39 goals scored. Liverpool has been very good on the road, but their latest outing wasn’t successful. The visitors want to keep pace in the title battle and search for another three valuable points.
Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction
Their previous four clashes at Goodison Park ended without a winner, but Liverpool has been in a much better momentum. The Reds are hot favorites in this one, and although the Merseyside Derby is pretty tricky to predict, we believe Liverpool will take the victory.
Goals Market Prediction
Both teams have been involved in many high-scoring matches this season, and we think they’ll continue in the same fashion. Liverpool is especially efficient on the road, and we should see at least three goals in total.
Liverpool AH -1 @ 1.65 
Over 2.5 FT @ 1.60 
Correct score 1:3 @ 12.00

Newcastle vs Norwich
The midweek Premier League action kicks off on Tuesday night with a 7:30pm GMT game between the two struggling sides of Newcastle and Norwich at St James' Park. It's the bottom two teams in the top flight going head-to-head and it's difficult to emphasise how devastating a defeat could be for either side here. You have to say that this is more a must-not-lose game rather than a must-win encounter.
Newcastle are still waiting for their first league win this season. The new Eddie Howe era is still yet to bring that elusive victory with the Magpies suffering a 2-0 loss away to Arsenal on the weekend to keep them rooted to the bottom of the table on just 6 points and 6 points adrift of safety. Howe will be without key duo Jamaal Lascalles and Matt Ritchie for this game which is a blow. Newcastle are one of only two teams, including Watford, in the top flight yet to keep a clean sheet this season. The club's form in midweek games isn't very encouraging either with Newcastle having lost 6 of their last 8 midweek Premier League matches. Interestingly, the last time Newcastle played a home game when starting at the bottom of the Premier League table was back in October 2015 when they faced Norwich and won 6-2.
Norwich appear to have made a wise decision in replacing former head coach Daniel Farke with Dean Smith. The Canaries have dragged themselves off the bottom of the table with 2 wins and a draw from their last 3 league games. That's quite a turn around considering they only took 6 points from their previous 25 league games in the top flight stretching back to their last run in the Premier League. One statistic that remains a concern is that Norwich have only managed a shot to goals conversion ratio of 5.2%. Norwich's record of midweek Premier League matches is even worse than Newcastle's with the club failing to win on a Tuesday in their last 14 efforts.
The head-to-head record between these two has an interesting angle to it. Newcastle haven't lost a league fixture at home against Norwich since 1988 but Norwich are unbeaten against Newcastle in the last three Premier League meetings and Smith himself is unbeaten against Newcastle in 5 meetings as a manager. I think we could see both teams play out a draw here.
Draw @ 3.75 with SBK
BTTS @ 1.77 with SBK

Leeds vs Crystal Palace
The second game in the Premier League taking place on Tuesday night is the clash between Leeds and Crystal Palace at 8:15pm GMT from Elland Road. If there was one word you had to use for the form of these two sides recently it would be inconsistent yet stubborn. Neither side is getting turned over by any opposition but they are also finding it hard to build up a run of victories.
Leeds are continuing their laborious start to the season. Marcelo Bielsa's side are in 17th place and 3 points above the relegation zone with Burnley in 18th position possessing a game in hand. The Whites have only lost 1 of their last 5 league matches but it's also just 1 win during that period too. The good news coming out of the club this week is that key duo Luke Ayling and Patrick Bamford are set to start building up their match fitness with the under-23s from this week so their returns are edging closer. Leeds are averaging just 1 goal per home league game which doesn't compliment their pressing style of play. In fact, they are yet to score more than two goals in a league game this season.
Crystal Palace will still feel this season has started in a positive way despite their 2-1 loss at home to Aston Villa on the weekend. Patrick Vieira's side have now gone back-to-back matches in the league without winning leaving them down in 11th place. The Eagles have lost just 1 of their last 8 league games but have drawn 5 of those games. The team remains unbeaten in their last 3 league matches. They have also scored in 8 straight league games so they are a potent team up front. One historical statistic that is a worry is that Palace have won just 1 of their last 12 Premier League games played in midweek.
At face value it appears that this game has a draw written all over it. Both teams are struggling to turn their superiority in matches into victories. I think this will be an intriguing game with both teams capable of playing exciting football but in that respect we could end up seeing the two teams cancel each other out. I don't think either side would be disappointed with a draw either. Leeds have won 5 home league games against Crystal Palace but that run could end here.
Draw @ 3.40 with Betfred
Total Goals Scored Under 2.5 @ 1.97 with SBK

Southampton vs Leicester
The Premier League action continues into Wednesday night when Southampton host Leicester in a 7:30pm GMT kick-off at St Mary's Stadium. These two teams experienced contrasting results on the weekend with the home team making it back-to-back defeats where as the visitors secured a much-needed win at home. Both sides will be keen to add 3 points to their tally here but can either team pull it off?
Southampton will be keen to avoid their two losses in a row from becoming a bad run of results. Ralph Hasenhuttl's side have a track record of going through periods of feast and famine. The Saints are down in 15th place and just 5 points above the relegation zone so experiencing a series of bad results now could be catastrophic. Fortunately, the team is boosted by the return of duo Jack Stephens and Ibrahima Diallo from injury. Stuart Armstrong remains sidelined though. Southampton have now lost 20 Premier League matches in a single calendar year for the first time since 1996. Their home matches have been starved of entertainment so far this season with just 9 goals being scored by either side in their 6 home league games so far. The 11 goals scored by Southampton in the league is the second worst in the division after the 7 scored by Norwich. They have only scored more than 1 goal on two occasions in the league this season.
Leicester are looking to build on their 4-2 win over Watford on the weekend in a win that lifted the club up to 10th in the table and just 5 points off the Champions League qualification places. In my preview for that game I was stating how much the Foxes were struggling to meet expectations set from previous campaigns. Amazing what a difference a win can make. Brendan Rodgers has seen his side go unbeaten for the last 3 away league matches. Their away games are also packed with entertainment with the team scoring and conceding in their last 14 league games on the road. Defensive issues continue with the club keeping just 1 clean sheet in their last 19 league games. A random pick for anytime scorer could be Ayoze Perez who has scored 7 league goals against Southampton including bagging two hat-tricks.
I never feel comfortable backing Southampton to win simply because they are so inconsistent under Hasenhuttl. He's just about keeping their heads above water and I'll admit he's had his injury issues to deal with this season. Leicester looked a lot better against Watford and the fact they are free-scoring has helped massively. I can see an away win here and I'm going to shove down that Perez anytime scorer bet.
Leicester to Win @ 3.01 with VBet
Anytime Scorer: Ayoze Perez @ 4.75 with Betway

Manchester City vs PSG
The hosts stabilized their form recently, and they entered a new winning streak. Manchester City celebrated in the last three games in all competitions, and they aim for another one. Pep Guardiola’s side sits in first place in the group, being one point ahead of their upcoming rival. The Citizens have conceded just once in the previous three games, while Phil Foden and the lads have been pretty efficient. They are doing well in the Premier League as well, being three points behind the top-placed Chelsea. Manchester City lost their first encounter against PSG, and they will search for revenge.
The away side is the only undefeated team in the group, but they sit in 2nd place. They go to this match after a 3:1 victory against Nantes in Ligue 1, but they had a hard task to book all three points. PSG secured a win in the last ten minutes of the clash, playing without Keylor Navas, who was sent off. Mauricio Pochettino’s side is 11 points clear of their rivals in the French top-flight, and they are marching to the new title. Despite Neymar and the lads being very productive this season, they haven’t been tight enough in defense. PSG failed to keep the clean sheet four times in a row, and they are about to face an opponent with high attacking potential.
Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction
Although PSG hasn’t lost seven times in a row, Manchester City has been more convincing lately. We see them as favorites in this match, and they should beat their direct rivals for the top spot in the group. PSG should suffer their first Champions League defeat this season.
Goals Market Prediction
Although their first encounter stayed under a 2.5 margin, we expect to see more goals in this one. PSG has been involved in many high-scoring matches lately, while Manchester City has been lethal for the opponent’s goalkeepers. Therefore, the crowd should enjoy at least three goals in total.
Manchester City to Win @ 1.60 
Over 2.5 FT @ 1.55 
Correct score 3:1 @ 12.50

Atletico Madrid vs Milan
The home side heads to this match after a hard-fought win over Osasuna last weekend in La Liga. That game showed that Diego Simeone’s side still hasn’t stabilized its form, but Atletico Madrid stayed in the top four. They are four points behind Real Madrid, and we’ll see an exciting title race in the Spanish top flight. Los Colchoneros need to tighten their defense, as they kept the clean sheet just twice on the last seven occasions. Atletico Madrid is third in the Champions League Group B, being one point behind Porto and three ahead of their upcoming rivals. If Luis Suarez and the lads win here, they will knock out Milan from the top-two race.
Milan cannot be satisfied with its Champions League performances, as they snatched just a point from the four rounds played. Their form is on a decline, as Rossoneri haven’t celebrated three times in a row in all competitions. Stefano Pioli’s side failed to keep the clean sheet on the previous four occasions, and they missed the chance to climb to the Serie A top. Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the lads have been pretty productive, though, as they didn’t score just once this season. However, this game is Milan’s last chance to stay in the game for the knockout stage spot, and they need to win this one.
Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction
Neither team has been confident lately, and both Atletico Madrid and Milan have had some hiccups in the past few weeks. Therefore, we won’t be surprised if they split points in this encounter.
Goals Market Prediction
Atletico’s defense hasn’t been too tight this season, although we got used to their disciplined game in the back. Milan has also conceded many goals recently, and since both teams should go for a win, we can expect to see goals in both nets.
Draw @ 4.10 
BTTS Yes @ 1.85 
Correct score 1:1 @ 7.70

Italy vs Switzerland
The home side’s unbeatable run ended in the UEFA Nations League semi-finals, as Spain celebrated a 2:1 victory. Nevertheless, the defending European champions finished third after beating Belgium with the same result. Italy is joint first along with their upcoming rivals in the World Cup Quals, and their advantage should be playing this important match at home. Roberto Mancini’s side hasn’t been too tight in the back lately, as they kept the clean sheet twice on the previous nine occasions. On the other hand, Ciro Immobile and the lads have been pretty productive, failing to score only once in the last 21 games. Italy still hasn’t suffered a defeat in the qualifiers, and they want to win and secure the top spot.
Switzerland faced Italy in EURO 2020, and they suffered a heavy 3:0 defeat. However, they are in a better form now and will search for revenge. The away side also hasn’t tasted a defeat yet, and if they continue that unbeatable run, they will stay in the race for the top spot. Vladimir Petkovic’s side has been very disciplined in the back, as they conceded only once in the qualifiers. Manuel Akanji and the lads kept the clean sheet four times in a row, and another tight defensive display would increase their chances of taking a point at least. However, a very challenging task is ahead of the visitors, and we should see a tough battle.
Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction
Italy hasn’t been consistent lately, while Switzerland is the rival which shouldn’t be underestimated. However, Azzurri play in front of their fans, and they should secure a vital victory in Rome.
Goals Market Prediction
Their head-to-head clashes have usually been low-scoring ones, and due to the importance of this game, we don’t expect many goals here. Switzerland has been tight in the back, while Italy will be patient in building their attacks. Therefore, this encounter should stay under a 2.5 margin.
Italy to Win @ 1.60 
Under 2.5 FT @ 1.75 
Correct score 2:0 @ 6.60

Atalanta vs Manchester United
One of the more interesting games taking place in the Champions League on Tuesday night is the 8pm GMT kick-off between Serie A side Atalanta and Premier League club Manchester United at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo for this Group E clash. It was a five-goal thriller when these sides met just a couple of weeks ago in the reverse game with Cristiano Ronaldo's late winner being the difference maker. Will the home team get revenge here or will the away side make it a double?
Atalanta have been a breath of fresh air in European football over recent years but their involvement in this competition could be hanging by a thread if they suffer defeat in this game. Gian Piero Gasperini's men are in 3rd place on 4 points but their 3-2 loss to Manchester United in their most recent group game saw them drop ground on their opponents in the race for qualification for the last 16. La Dea are unbeaten in their 3 games since that defeat to United. The team will have to do without the likes of Robin Gosens, Rafael Toloi, Matteo Pessina, and Berat Djimsiti. Interestingly, both teams have scored in 10 of the last 12 matches involving Atalanta across all competitions.
Manchester United were in complete disarray this time last week after the 5-0 hiding the team suffered at home to rivals Liverpool. Rumours even circulated that the Red Devils board were preparing to relieve Ole Gunnar Solskjaer of his duties. However, one week on and a convincing 3-0 win away to Tottenham later and it's all sunshine and roses again for the United faithful. The team come into this game top of the group and victory here would put them on the brink of qualifying for the last 16. The defence will need to tighten up though having only kept 3 clean sheets across all competitions so far this season. Paul Pogba is likely to be selected to give Solskjaer some fresh legs in midfield with the Frenchman serving a suspension in the Premier League.
This game could be a ding dong battle if the previous encounter is anything to go by. It was interesting to see the changes Solskjaer made to United's formation for the Tottenham game and it was undoubtedly needed. I hate to sound like Graeme Souness but I still think Pogba is a problem player for United and if he comes back in then will it impact the squad cohesion and morale? Atalanta are a dangerous side when at their best but they are missing a few key individuals. I can see United getting at least a draw if they can take the performance from the weekend into this game.
Manchester United Draw No Bet @ 1.71 with SBK
Anytime Scorer: Cristiano Ronaldo @ 2.26 with SBK

Malmo vs Chelsea
The Champions League group stage action enters its second half of games this week. It's Swedish Allsvenkan side Malmo versus Premier League leaders Chelsea in a 5:45pm GMT kick-off on Tuesday night at the Eleda Stadion in Malmo in Group H. These two sides played each other in the reverse fixture just a couple of weeks ago and it was the English team who prevailed as 4-0 winners. Will we see a repeat score-line here?
Malmo come into this game bottom of the group without a single point earned or a single goal scored. It's been tough for head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson with his side undoubtedly punching well above their weight in this competition. The Swedish side have conceded 11 goals already in their 3 group games and they will need to win this game to stand any real chance of qualifying for the last 16 but, if we're being brutally honest, I think that ship has sailed. It is four league games unbeaten for Malmo on the domestic front which has lifted them to the outright lead at the top of the Swedish top flight but that counts for nothing here.
Chelsea stand proudly on top of the Premier League table and their lead at the summit was extended to 3 points after their comfortable 3-0 win away to struggling Newcastle and Liverpool being held against Brighton. The Blues are looking well set to reach the last 16 in this group but know they need to win this to consolidate their position in the top two of the group. Thomas Tuchel's side have kept 9 clean sheets so far this season in all competitions and they will be keen to add another shut out to that record here. The London club will be without a number of key players for this game though including Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner, Mason Mount, and Mateo Kovacic.
Even though Chelsea are without some big hitters for this game there is still a huge gulf in quality between these two sides. I'm expecting the ferocious home crowd of Malmo to inspire their players to turn in a better performance than they did in the away leg but Chelsea should still have enough to come away with a win. The big question is whether they'll keep the clean sheet or not. I think given Chelsea's back-line is largely unchanged we should see another solid defensive display that provides the back bone for another win.
Chelsea to Win to Nil @ 1.83 with Bet365
Total Goals Scored Over 2.5 @ 1.68 with SBK

Arsenal vs Leeds
My pick of the games from the EFL Cup 4th Round action on Tuesday night is the 7:45pm BST kick-off between Premier League rivals Arsenal and Leeds at the Emirates Stadium. The home side appear to have started to enjoy some more positive results which is more than can be said for the away team who are continuing to struggle for form this season so far in their league matches anyway.
Arsenal might have endured a torrid start to their campaign but things are picking up. Mikel Arteta's men are now unbeaten in 7 matches across all competitions having won 5 of those games. The Gunners picked up their latest win in a dominant 3-1 win over Aston Villa in the league last Friday night. Their form in the EFL Cup so far has also been impressive with a 6-0 win against Championship side West Brom away being followed up by a comfortable 3-0 victory over League One club AFC Wimbledon at home in the last round. It's now 4 wins from their last 5 home games showing that Arsenal are turning this stadium into a bit of a fortress.
Leeds sit down in 17th place and just 1 position above the relegation zone in the league. Marcelo Bielsa's side are suffering from a number of key injuries and it's negatively impacting their form. The Whites have only managed to pick up 2 victories within a regulation 90 minute game this season. The 1-1 draw against Wolves at home required an injury-time equaliser from striker Rodrigo. Their progress in this competition has been relatively steady with a 3-0 win at home to League One Crewe being succeeded by a 6-5 win on penalties after a 0-0 draw away to Championship club Fulham.
It's now 7 wins and 2 draws for Arsenal across the last 9 meetings with Leeds across all competitions. Leeds have failed to even score in 3 of the last 4 encounters between the two clubs. Given the respective form of these two clubs right now I'd have to back Arsenal to win this one comfortably at home. Leeds just look to be lacking something and you wonder if that will change when their absentees return because it's beginning to feel like a rot could set in.
Arsenal to Win @ 1.64 with SBK
Total Goals Scored Over 2.5 @ 1.70 with SBK