Week 9 of the English Premier League gets underway on Saturday night Australian time when Tottenham hosts Liverpool, in what is the Reds’ first match since appointing Jurgen Klopp to the top job.
Manchester City will continue to hold top spot if they can see off Bournemouth, while a number of similarly-formed teams will meet in what is sure to be a top weekend of English football.
We’re offering the best odds on the widest range of markets for all ten English Premier League games in Week 9!
Tottenham Hotspur vs Liverpool
Tottenham took a few weeks to find strong and consistent form this campaign but have more than hit their straps in recent weeks; delivering league leaders Manchester City a crushing 4-1 defeat in Week 7 before holding the in-form Swansea to a 2-2 draw away from home last week. Liverpool’s poor run of form this campaign resulted in the sacking of coach Brendan Rodgers following the Merseyside Derby in Week 8, but the Reds have given themselves the best possible chance of a turnaround in signing rebuilding specialist Jurgen Klopp, who worked wonders at former club Borrussia Dortmund. In current form Spurs deserve to be favourites, but we’re confident Liverpool can produce something special in their first match under the German.
Footy Freaks
Harry Kane scores and Tottenham wins: $5
Daniel Sturridge scores and Liverpool wins: $6
West Bromwich Albion vs Sunderland
West Brom are yet to find consistent form this season, but are offered a great opportunity to return to the winner’s circle against the lowly Sunderland at The Hawthorns early Sunday morning Australian time. Thoroughly played off the park by Manchester City in week 1, the Baggies are staring down the barrel of three-consecutive losses this weekend after dropping the points of Everton and Crystal Palace most recently. Sunderland have been next to awful through the first eight weeks of the English Premier League this campaign; yet to post a win and languishing at the bottom of the table on only three competition points. West Brom at home should get the job done, in a low scoring affair.
Footy Freaks
Saido Berahino scores and West Brom wins: $4
Jermain Defoe scores and Sunderland wins: $10
Chelsea vs Aston Villa
Chelsea remain in sixteenth position overall in the Premier League following the horror start to their title defence, and while appearing to be back on track with a strong week six win over Arsenal but have since drawn with the lowly Newcastle and lost to Southampton. Villa are also yet to make much of an impression and sit in the drop zone having lost their last four matches in England’s top flight. Stamford Bridge has been anything by a cauldron for the home side this year but if Chelsea cannot beat Villa this weekend they have serious problems.
Footy Freaks
Diego Costa scores and Chelsea wins: $2.50
Rudy Gestede scores and Villa wins: $23
Everton vs Manchester United
In what has every chance of figuring as the standout match of Week 9 of the Premier League, Everton hosts Manchester United at Goodison Park early Sunday morning Australian time. Everton have returned to competition in typically competitive condition this season and will be full of confidence heading into this match undefeated since week 3. United took a couple of weeks to find form but appear to be on the verge of restoring the fear held by every team that is drawn against them weekly; sitting tied second alongside Arsenal. Have suffered a hiccup in losing 3-0 to the Gunners most recently, the Red Devils are sure to have taken plenty of benefit from the international break and will be ready to go. They do face a big task in the Toffees at home, but Manchester United are well worth consideration for a bet at $2.15 for success.
Footy Freaks
Ross Barkley scores and Everton wins: $10
Wayne Rooney scores and Manchester United wins: $5.50
Crystal Palace vs West Ham United
Crystal Palace have more than stamped themselves as a Premier League mainstay through recent season and have kicked off their current campaign in style; currently sitting fourth after eight weeks of football having posted several impressive results. West Ham have mustered similarly impressive form on their way to fifth, and have already become the first team to deliver Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea defeats away from home in a single season, this time. Adding the extra element of a London derby and this match is sure to be a thriller, and could realistically fall either way. A draw at current $3.40 odds arguably offers punters the best value for money.
Footy Freaks
Yala Bolasie scores and Palace wins: $6
Diafra Sakho scores and West Ham wins: $9
Southampton v Leicester City
The sides that have more than stamped themselves as dangers this season are Southampton and Leicester City; capable of delivering the league’s best defeat away from home any given week and neither would look out of place playing European football. The Saints have only gained traction through recent seasons and are a mainstay in the top half of the Premier League table, but for the Foxes, relegation was a very real prospect up until around six weeks prior to the conclusion of the 2014/15 season, but that will certainly not be the case this time around. Punters should be in for another excellent fixture with this match and it’s almost impossible to split the pair.
Footy Freaks
Graziano Pelle scores and Southampton wins: $4
Jamie Vardy scores and Leicester wins: $11
Manchester City vs Bournemouth
League leaders Manchester City fell somewhat out of form in dropping two consecutive games to West Ham and Spurs, but responded in the best way possible via a 6-1 demolition of Newcastle most recently. City have lost the services of gun striker Sergio Aguero for a few weeks via injury, but boast exceptional depth over all corners of the pitch and should not be too greatly affected. Bournemouth have not looked a side amidst their first season in the top tier of English football so far this campaign and have produced several good efforts for success. The Cherries undoubtedly face their biggest task to date in City and realistically, probably don’t have the class to win.
Footy Freaks
Wilfried Bony scores and Manchester City wins: $2.75
Joshua King scores and Bournemouth wins: $29
Watford vs Arsenal
The weekend’s second London Derby will peg Watford and Arsenal against one-another at Vicarage Road, Sunday morning Australian time. Similarly to Bournemouth, Watford have not looked a side that have just been promoted from The Championship and have secured several positive results on their way to 12th in the Premier League and comfortably away from the drop zone. Arsenal have returned to exceptional form through recent weeks; highlighted most notably in their 3-0 hammering of Manchester United in Week 8. Watford are more than capable of competing in this match, however this is probably again another situation Arsenal might have a little too much class.
Footy Freaks
Odion Ighalo scores and Watford wins: $13
Theo Walcott scores and Arsenal wins: $3.50
Newcastle United vs Norwich City
Undoubtedly the league’s big disappointment so far this season, Newcastle remain anchored on the bottom of the table alongside fierce rivals Sunderland; yet to post a win and managing only three draws. The Magpies were unable to overcome the loss of manager Alan Pardew late last season and were lucky to survive the drop, but have unfortunately picked up where they left off. Norwich City are yet to post consistent form but have done enough to current sit 13th overall, and will view this match as an ideal opportunity to return to winning form after suffering a disappointing 2-1 loss to Leicester most recently. Norwich interestingly rate as outsiders and are more than worth consideration for a bet at current odds.
Footy Freaks
Aleksander Mitrovic scores and Newcastle wins: $6
Cameron Jerome scores and Norwich wins: $6
Swansea City vs Stoke City
Week 9 of the Premier League concludes when Swansea City face Stoke City in Wales early Tuesday morning Australian time. The Swans have continued to post pretty consistent results to sit mid-table, and will be confident of another positive result this weekend having held an in-form Spurs to a draw last start. Stoke City made a number of huge signings in the offseason but are still yet to hit their straps, but that have appeared to be building in the right direction and seem to be on the verge of pressing into the top 10. Swansea at home is one of the league’s toughest road trips and we’re confident they can close out another win in Week 9.
Footy Freaks
Bafetimbi Gomis scores and Swansea wins: $4.50
Bojan scores and Stoke City wins: $10