Crystal Palace vs Tottenham, Friday 8pm
Crystal Palace are a team to oppose such is their flimsiness in attack without the likes of Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise and boy are they slow starters under Roy Hodgson's pragmatic watch.
Of the 11 goals they've scored this season, 10 of them have come in the second half - the only first half strike being Joachim Andersen's winner at Manchester United.
Hodgson's tedious tactic of turning the game into a 45-minute match by playing nullifying and dour first half football has been a common theme in his time at Palace across both spells.
In his 167 Premier League games in charge, Palace have scored just 77 first half goals. That's just 0.46 goals per first half across a huge sample size.
It gets even more eye opening when assessing home matches against the traditional big six of Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea.
Under Hodgson, Palace have scored one first half goal in their last 17 home matches against those opponents with the aggregate score coming out as 'Palace 1-17 Big Six' when assessing all those first halves.
In contrast, Spurs are a pedal to the metal side under Ange Postecoglou. No team have had more shots (87), touches in the opposition box (174) and created more big chances (14) before the break this season than Postecoglou's attack-minded cannonballs.
I'm expecting a confident and ruthless start.
SCORE PREDICTION: Crystal Palace 0-3 Tottenham
Chelsea vs Brentford, Saturday 12.30pm
This result will provide a strong barometer of whether Chelsea are now a team to take seriously.
It's four games unbeaten for Mauricio Pochettino's side - a run that probably should be four straight wins but for their weird collapse against Arsenal.
The market is expecting a relatively comfortable victory for Chelsea.
Thomas Frank has already masterminded two straight wins at Stamford Bridge to an overall aggregate scoreline of 6-1 in Brentford's favour, so hardly smash-and-grab type victories.
My advice would be to steer clear of the outright market and note whoever will be playing down the left side of Brentford's defence up against Raheem Sterling.
The winger is in lightning form, playing such direct and intense football with the ball at his feet. He's drawn 17 fouls in his last eight starts with opposition defenders Emerson, Milos Kerkez, Charlie Taylor and Antonee Robinson all making two or more fouls up against the speedy Sterling.
SCORE PREDICTION:Chelsea 2-1 Brentford
Arsenal vs Sheffield United, Saturday 3pm
Arsenal being priced up.shows you how much of a mismatch this one should be.
Games like this are tricky to find any so-called intelligent betting angles in but continuing to back the opposition centre forward to score a header against Sheffield United does remain a backable edge.
Anel Ahmedhodzic, John Egan and Chris Basham all remain on the sidelines for the Blades meaning there is a lack of physicality through the heart of their defence.
It remains relevant that nine of their 24 Premier League goals conceded have come from crosses with Odsonne Edouard, Chris Wood, Taiwo Awoniyi, Erling Haaland, Callum Wilson, Richarlison, Jarrod Bowen and Bobby Decordova-Reid have all scored via that method in a central area.
SCORE PREDICTION: Arsenal 4-0 Sheffield United
Bournemouth vs Burnley, Saturday 3pm
Just win. That will be the message from both managers, who surely will not be advocating too many risks in a game of significant importance down at the bottom.
It's not how either Andoni Iraola or Vincent Kompany want to play their football in an ideal world but with such dismal performances and results dragging their seasons down, it's surely time for a defensive focused approach.
Bournemouth are now winless in 13 Premier League games across either side of the summer while Kompany's Burnley have taken just four points from their nine games this season.
That fear factor and lack of confidence within the ranks may result in this game being a tough watch.
SCORE PREDICTION: Bournemoth 0-1 Burnley
Wolves vs Newcastle, Saturday 5.30pm
You do not really need my help for this one, do you? This one always ends in a draw. Nine of the last 16 meetings have ended 1-1.
If it ends 1-1, it certainly wouldn't surprise me with Wolves progressing into a devilishly difficult team to beat, putting together a four-match unbeaten run despite facing Aston Villa and Manchester City in that period.
If Wolves are to trouble the Toon then the excellent Pedro Neto will be to the fore and their outlet down that right flank where he should fancy his chances one-on-one with Dan Burn.
Only Kaoru Mitoma has progressed the ball more than Neto (1,283m) in the Premier League this season among non-defenders and he's already provided six assists.
SCORE PREDICTION: Wolves 1-1 Newcastle
West Ham vs Everton, Sunday 1pm
David Moyes only remains as West Ham manager because of his ability to conjure up wins against bottom-half teams at home in the Premier League.
When the pressure was cranked up after Christmas with the Hammers sitting precariously in the relegation zone, Moyes managed to lead his team through choppy waters by beating Everton, Southampton, Nottingham Forest and Leeds.
Then followed the European success and life looks rosy under Moyes' watch - for now.Everton are on improving now they have a focal point in attack but their limitations remain rather obvious.
Stylistically, this game may struggle to burst into life when assessing the way both managers like to go about it.
Just eight goals have been scored in the last six meetings between Moyes and Sean Dyche teams, including two 0-0 draws. A West Ham victory
SCORE PREDICTION: West Ham 1-0 Everton
Brighton vs Fulham, Sunday 2pm
I love watching Brighton play football - they bring me so much joy, especially when they carry my cash.
But I left my emotions at the door years ago when it comes to trying to make sound betting decisions and they are so easily opposable in this one.
"We are playing a different sport this season and we are losing too many players. I think we are not ready to compete in this competition," Roberto De Zerbi said last weekend.
De Zerbi is still getting a tune out of his players - especially in forward areas - but a lack of cohesion, probably down to a lack of time on the training field under their supreme coach, is making Brighton's high risk-reward football edge towards the riskier edge of the spectrum.
Before Thursday night, they had shipped 24 goals in their 12 matches across all competitions this season with no clean sheet in their last 16 matches across the summer.
SCORE PREDICTION: Brighton 1-2 Fulham
Aston Villa vs Luton, Sunday 2pm
With such slim pickings on show in the main markets owing to the likely one-sided nature of the contest heading to the player fouls committed market could be the answer to locking in a winning bet.
Luton striker Carlton Morris is the focal point for Rob Edwards as he is the target for most of their direct balls played into the final third.
This leads to him becoming involved in a high proportion of duels which has seen him make 11 fouls in his last six games.
He will be in direct contact with Villa defender Ezri Konsa, who has won 20 fouls himself in his last seven appearances - a monstrous figure for a centre-back. Morris is likely to be nibbling, so the Evens on offer for him to make two or fouls should land quite comfortably.
SCORE PREDICTION: Aston Villa 2-0 Luton
Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest, Sunday 2pm
Betting companies decision to offer up a market that allows us to take a punt on how many times a certain player is fouled is excellent news for Ryan Gravenberch backers.
The early data is pointing towards the Bayern Munich player being a foul drawing king yet his prices don't really mirror that meaning we're get a chunky price on his numbers.
He's already been fouled 12 times in his five starts for Liverpool, drawing three in the first half of the Merseyside derby last weekend.
SCORE PREDICTION:Liverpool 3-1 Nottingham Forest
Manchester United vs Manchester City, Sunday 3.30pm
This feels like a case of not if Manchester City win, but by how many.
As sports writer,Adam Bate referenced in his weekly debrief column: "United continue to look like a side searching for something that is missing. The style of play is unclear. The uncertainty in their game is alarming at times."
With such a lack of balance in their midfield added to limited unity or cohesion in the heart of their backline, someone is going to give them a good walloping before long.
You can't keep performing this badly and avoid the repercussions, especially when one of the greatest teams in Premier League history rock up at your door.
The problem for those looking to jump on a City hammering is that they rarely go for the thrashing - it's more death by possession.
SCORE PREDICTION: Manchester United 0-5 Manchester City
Comments