By Brentford vs Manchester United, Saturday 12.30pm
I’m predicting Bryan Mbeumo to and to get involved, a player goes back to his old stomping ground, a place where he was adored, nurtured and given the stage.
Mbeumo knows Brentford inside out, he knows the weaknesses, the defensive gaps, the way his opposition full back will defend, and since joining United, Mbeumo has looked the part too, stretching defences, taking on full backs, and looking dangerous between the lines, that’s a clear sign that chances are falling his way therefore his goal return should see an uptick soon enough.
SCORE PREDICTION: 1-2
Chelsea vs Brighton, Saturday 3pm
Brighton remain the most reliable team in the Premier League for goals, only one of their last 25 games across all competitions has seen less than two goals scored with the per game total goals average at a 3.64 per game, this game is expected to be an entertainment one and the over 3.5 goal.
Past meetings have at times go down into footballing mayhem, the last six meetings have averaged 4.3 goals per game and the last season’s fixture at Stamford Bridge where Brighton’s offside trap was exposed brutally by Chelsea in a 4-2 home win.
SCORE PREDICTION: 2-2
Leeds United vs Bournemouth, Saturday 3pm
Bournemouth are a fantastic team to bet on as their style never changes and clear, in their last 14 matches where they have averaged 56 per cent or more possession, their record is W4 D3 L7, in that sample size they have been beaten by Brentford twice, Leicester and Ipswich and this is how Leeds have been trying to play this season, they are full of physicality and built to play very direct and aggressive football with also being very secure at the back where the excellent Ethan Ampadu leads their defensive organisation.
SCORE PREDICTION: 2-1
Manchester City vs Burnley, Saturday 3pm
With Erling Haaland in the form of his life, carving through like a hot knife through butter, but if you scratch beneath the surface, there’s a compelling case for going the other way, the under 2.5 goals angle looks best.
Pep Guardiola might just be building a team that dominates through defensive output and the rock solid axis of Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol is absolutely pivotal to that, they’ve started 11 games together domestically since the start of April and City won eight of those games with the only defeat being the FA Cup final, across those 11 games they only conceded five goals, keeping seven clean sheets.
And now if you add Gianluigi Donnarumma and Rodri into that defensive unit, you’ve got yourself a really domineering and formidable defensive axis, one that could be the backbone of a team that challenges for major honours once again.
SCORE PREDICTION: 1-0
Nottingham Forest vs Sunderland, Saturday 5.30pm
Ange Postecoglou has flicked the tactical switch as the new boss and has painted his footballing identity all over these Forest players already which is based around ‘attack first, ask questions later’, this new Forest style is going to blow the lid off their goal lines, forget the side that grinded out 1-0s at home, this is now a team actively embracing risk and one who will become an over 2.5 money spinner while the prices remain behind the curve, it’s evens here and where Postecoglou is involved, over 2.5 lines simply must be your punting friend.
SCORE PREDICTION: 3-1
Tottenham Hotspur vs Wolves, Saturday 8pm
This Wolves side might still be winless but playing Spurs, weirdly, brings out their best, they have amassed nine Premier League wins vs Spurs, the club’s joint most against any opponent and have won four of the last five meetings, maybe the 4-4-2 could be the key to spark Wolves into life against their favourite opponent.
SCORE PREDICTION: 1-2
Aston Villa vs Fulham, Sunday 2pm
Aston Villa’s engine room of Morgan Rogers and John McGinn, with the occasional Ollie Watkins thrown in from further forward, they rotate positions, carry the ball with purpose and are constantly engaging the opposition.
In Villa’s last 14 Premier League games, an opposition centre midfielder has been carded in 12 of those matches with 16 carded in total, Fulham have history of cards in this fixture too, having been shown 20 yellows in the past five meetings, with Berge one of those players cautioned last time, i think carry player to be carded is another big bet.
SCORE PREDICTION: 1-1
Newcastle United vs Arsenal, Sunday 4.30pm
Arteta teams love rhythm and structure and the Newcastle midfield don’t give you that, they break your passing lanes, slow down your build up and make it a scrap, they don’t just play the occasion, they use it as a weapon and in front of the Geordie faithful, Newcastle look a savvy, there’s something about Newcastle that rattles Arteta’s Arsenal, the Gunners have lost four of their last five games in all competitions at St James’ Park, including both visits last season, they have failed to score in all four defeats.
Arsenal are favourites with the markets here at evens but should they be? not when Newcastle are in this kind of mood at home as the underdog.
SCORE PREDICTION: 1-0
Everton vs West Ham United, Monday 8pm
Since swapping of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City and the freedom given to him at Everton, Jack Grealish looks like Jack Grealish again.
Though Grealish’s time at City was not wasted of course, he won trophies, created history and matured, but he wasn’t the maverick that made him box office, that maverick inside is being unleashed by David Moyes and Grealish is the most creative player in the Premier League as a result, Grealish has four assists, creating 2.9 chances per 90 from open play, no player to have played 200 minutes or more has a higher per 90 figure from that metric.
SCORE PREDICTION: 3-1
