2024/2025 EPL Week 5 Preview

Matchweek 5 in the Premier League season is headlined by the marquee fixture on the calendar with title contenders Manchester City and Arsenal facing off.

While it is far too early in the season to call this a defining clash, it will provide a measuring stick for both teams as they both now face the added burden of playing Champions League football midweek.

Elsewhere Liverpool will be desperate to rebound from their shock loss last week when they host Bournemouth, with Everton and Southampton both trying to avoid being the last pointless Premier League team to start the season.

Read on for our match previews and best bets below.

East London meets West London in the opening match of the weekend and the market is giving a slight edge to the visitors here.

Looking at the recent history of matches at the London Stadium, perhaps West Ham would be the value play with the Irons winning four of the last eight head to head matches there with two draws and two Chelsea wins.

However based on the way both of these tams have played so far this season, the Blues look like the pick in this market.

Domestically they have picked up seven points from their last three fixtures and have a forward line that is more than capable of outscoring just about every opponent.

At over even money, I’ll back the Blues to shake off their recent struggles at the London Stadium and come away with all three points on offer.

Chelsea to Win @ $2.10

Perhaps the only thing standing in Villa’s way of a resounding win over Wolves is the fact they will be backing up from their midweek Champions League duty.

However they will take plenty of confidence from their 3-0 win Swiss side Young Boys, extending their record to four wins in five matches in all competitions.

On top of that their only loss has come at the hands of Arsenal and it was the lone fixture of theirs that saw under three goals scored.

As for Wolves, they have only kept one clean sheet all season and still look like they are sorting themselves out defensively which sets Villa up very well.

Look for the home side to win and put on a show as they build on the momentum they have generated in the last couple of weeks.

Aston Villa to Win and Over 2.5 Goals @ $2.10

Still yet to taste defeat in the current season, it’s a bit of a surprise to see Newcastle as close in price to Fulham as they are.

The Cottagers on the other hand have only won two of their six fixtures this season and have been held to draws by Ipswich and Fulham in their last two Premier League outings.

Having this match at Craven Cottage is not going to provide much of an advantage with Fulham’s last win over Newcastle coming in March 2017 when both clubs were in the Championship.

Since then Newcastle has won seven of the nine head to head meetings including the last six.

Last season Newcastle won both meetings at Craven Cottage, 2-0 in the FA Cup and 1-0 in the league.

That history is too strong to ignore.

Newcastle to Win @ $2.30

How exactly you can back either of these teams with any confidence evades logic but the good news is that you don’t have to, there are other plays in this market.

The one that stands out is backing both teams to score given neither Leicester or Everton seem to be able to keep a clean sheet.

Through four games the Toffees have conceded a Premier League worst 13 goals and have blown 2-0 leads in their last two outings.

Meanwhile Leicester has a slightly better return with just the seven goals conceded this season but they have just two draws on their record.

Both Teams to Score @ $1.67

Under Jurgen Klopp you could have written down Liverpool to win this match by a lot, but there is a bit of an unknown about how they will respond under Arne Slot.

During the week they picked up a comfortable 3-1 win over AC Milan in the Champions League so the signs are all good for the Merseysiders heading into this clash.

They have won their last five home matches against Bournemouth, four of which were by multiple goal margins including a historic 9-0 win in August 2022.

While it might be under a new coach, I’m expecting more of the same from Liverpool as they cruise to a comfortable victory.

Liverpool to Win -1 Goal @ $1.73

Just like Leicester-Everton, you really cannot back a winner in this fixture with any confidence, especially given these two clubs have combined for two points all season.

Ipswich have earned both of those draws in their last two outings, holding Fulham at Portman Road before going to Brighton last week and surviving for a stalemate.

The Saints showed some fight early on against Newcastle but since then they have really battled and with just one goal to their name, it’s unlikely their fortunes will turn around anytime soon.

Ipswich have been similarly impotent in front of goal with two scored through 360-plus minutes of football.

For some reason though, the under is getting a premium in the market and it’s the best play for this fixture.

Under 2.5 Goals @ $2.00

It was a disastrous North London derby for Tottenham last week, suffering another defeat at the hands of Arsenal but they have a very winnable match as they chase their second victory of the season.

There was no shortage of goals when these teams have played over the last few seasons with the last four matches producing a combined 17 goals.

Despite that flurry of goals the honours have been shared with one win apiece and two draws, but the matches in North London have produced a winner on both occasions.

Brentford have lost both of their away matches in the Premier League so far this season against tough opponents and while Spurs might be a touch below Liverpool and City in terms of degree of difficulty, it might be a bit too much for the Bees to overcome.

Tottenham to Win and Both Teams to Score @ $2.50

If there was ever a club in 2024 that was the epitome of the phrase “it’s better to be lucky than good” it is Manchester United.

Both of their victories have come with a fair amount of good fortune against inferior opponents but they have been able to make the most of it when things have broken their way.

Take last weekend’s win over Southampton for instance, their opponents failed to convert a first half penalty and ten minutes later the Red Devils were up 2-0 before adding a third after the break.

For some reason the market has them almost level with Crystal Palace despite the clear gulf between the two teams and Palace battling to two draws and two defeats.

This one looks to be quite a way off as the home side still battles to find its identity after losing some of their star players in the offseason.

Manchester Untied to Win @ $2.40

On first glance you could be forgiven for thinking this match is going to be a fairly one sided affair but Forest have shown they are up for the fight this season.

They claimed the upset of the campaign to date last weekend, heading to Anfield and coming away with a shock 1-0 win to keep their unbeaten start to the season going.

However the potential for a hangover that impacts their performance this week is quite high, although Brighton will be backing up from a midweek Carabao Cup tie with Wolves.

The Seagulls took out both meetings last season and should be able to hand Forest their first defeat of the campaign.

Brighton to Win @ $1.75

It doesn’t get any bigger than this in the Premier League at the moment, City hosting Arsenal and while this is hardly a title defining encounter so early in the season, it is going to be a must watch match.

Arsenal showed their resolve last week to come away with a hard fought win away to Spurs in the North London Derby but this is a horrific spot for them to take on their title rivals.

Coming off that draining encounter, they have a Champions League tie against Atalanta Friday morning before this trip to Manchester and with an already depleted midfield this might be a step too far for them.

Their defensive resolve should be able to keep this one close, but City is very much inevitable in matches like these and with the extra 24 hours rest from their home tie with Inter Milan Thursday morning (AEST), they should have the legs to run the Gunners into the ground.

Manchester City to Win @ $1.75

2023/2024

We’re back from an international break and it is about to get very busy for the Premier League’s big boys with continental action kicking off next week.

Before that though, they have some domestic duties to attend to with the fifth matchweek of Premier League football on the cards.

There’s no direct matches between the big six (or is it seven now), but there are some fascinating matchups, including Manchester United and Brighton, plus West Ham hosting Manchester City.

We’re all set for a big weekend of football so read on and find our tips and best bets for every Premier League match below.

After picking up ten points in the opening month of the season, Liverpool is looking very strong ahead of this trip to Molineux.

Wolves on the other hand endured a rough start to the campaign as their scoring woes entered a fourth season with just four goals from four matches.

Liverpool’s defence played very well without Virgil Van Dijk in their last outing and should be able to handle this iteration of the Wolves attack.

While they did lose 3-0 at Molineux last February, they had won their prior three matches at the ground to nil and I’m taking a return to the norm for the Reds on the road.

Liverpool to Win to Nil @ $2.70

The Villains have had two weeks to simmer over their perfect start to the season coming to a screeching halt at the hands of Liverpool.

I’m expecting Unai Emery to manufacture a strong response against a Palace side that has already run the gamut of emotions this season with two wins and a draw from their first four.

Their attack came to life in the second half of their last up win over Wolves but they still look to be a step below Villa as things stand.

It has been almost a decade since Palace last won at Villa Park and I’m expecting that run to be extended for at least another season as the home fans get plenty to cheer for.

Aston Villa to Win @ $1.91

Two seasons ago in the Championship, Fulham put seven past Luton as the Cottagers steamed towards promotion.

Now they meet in the top flight of English football, with the home side chasing their second win of the new campaign.

Luton on the other hand is eying off their first ever Premier League point after a trio of losses and Fulham is one of the few sides that they might have a chance of beating this year.

If Fulham shows up to play (and that is a big if) they should win this one comfortably but they are too short to back and too inconsistent to have any confidence in.

There has been two of a possible eight clean sheets for Fulham so far this season, while Luton have given up nine goals in three matches so the value looks to be on backing both teams to find the back of the net.

Both Teams to Score @ $1.80

Despite their best efforts, it looks like United are going to struggle with consistency once again this season.

They have struggled to home wins against Wolves and Forest while losing on the road to Spurs and Arsenal.

Their home form is going to be put to a stern test by Brighton this weekend with the Seagulls easily the most impressive and arguably most enjoyable side to watch in the Premier League to date.

At their current price, I’m happy to back the visitors to come away with an upset win, they look like they are full of confidence and have the comfort knowing they have won three of their last four games against United.

I genuinely think they should be favoured despite heading to Old Trafford and it’s a ship I’m happy to go down on taking Brighton to pick up all three points.

Brighton to Win @ $3.10

If Brighton are the most enjoyable team to watch for the neutrals, Spurs would be a close second as the Postecoglou revolution at White Hart Lane adds another chapter.

The Blades eliminated Tottenham from the FA Cup last season but that has not helped their case with the bookies pricing them at $10.50 to win this one (at publish).

After putting five past Burnley prior to the break, don’t be at all surprised if the hosts have another field day with Son playing a starring role.

They have scored at least two goals in every match and I’ll back them to add a few more to the tally in a comfortable win.

Tottenham to Win -1 Goal @ $1.75

The only remaining perfect team in the Premier League this season looks for their fifth straight win when they visit West Ham.

Erling Haaland is off to a fast start in the golden boot race as well with six goals in four matches, including a hat-trick against Fulham in his last outing.

City have won three of their last four against West Ham with the other match being a draw after they had wrapped up the title in May 2022, while Haaland put three past the Irons last season on his own.

Let’s just keep this simple with a SGM that combines those two legs at a fairly solid price considering how short those are most weeks.

SGM: Manchester City to Win and Erling Haaland Anytime Goalscorer @ $2.05

After a wretched run in to the international break that saw them lose to Manchester City, Liverpool and Brighton in consecutive weeks, Newcastle will be pleased with the soft landing this weekend.

Brentford have proven to be a stubborn opponent thus far, with a win and three draws but Newcastle should still be able to handle things in this one.

However they are likely to have to work for it, having failed to keep a clean sheet this season while Brentford have scored in every match, so I’ll be taking both teams to score with a Newcastle win.

History is on the Magpies’ side winning the last three meetings including a pair of wins last season where both teams scored.

Newcastle to Win and Both Teams to Score @ $3.00

Two years ago Chelsea would have been at $1.30 to win at Bournemouth, which shows just how far they have fallen.

But their current price should be a welcome sight for punters considering Bournemouth have not won yet this season.

Not to mention even in the midst of their struggles last season, Chelsea still found a way to take six points from Bournemouth and I’ll back them to make it three wins on the trot against the Cherries.

Chelsea to Win @ $1.75

Before you jump on Arsenal to win, it is worth noting that Goodison Park has been a house of horrors for the Gunners in the last five years.

They have not won in the Merseyside stadium since October 2017, losing four and drawing once since them.

Last season in the midst of a title race Arsenal went to Goodison and fell to the Toffees in the first game of the Sean Dyche era.

Based on the current form though, Arsenal should be able to pick up a win as Everton have been pretty poor through four games.

They needed 303 minutes to score their first goal of the new season and Arsenal have been improving on defence as the season has progressed as the combinations settled into place.

It’s not with as much confidence as it should be, but Arsenal should be able to come away with a win and clean sheet as they prepare for their Champions League return.

Arsenal to Win to Nil @ $2.80

We only have to go back two weeks for the last time Forest played Burnley with the Clarets taking out the Carabao Cup meeting 1-0.

I’m not expecting a repeat of that scoreline this time though, Burnley’s league form has been quite poor with a trio of losses against some tough opponents.

Forest took all three points from Stamford Bridge and they have the capability of seeing off Burnley in this fixture.

Nottingham Forest to Win @ $2.15

2022/2023

There’s no rest for the Premier League footballers this week with the first lot of midweek fixtures set to take place.

It’s tough to pick a standout contest from this group of matches however the London derby between West Ham and Tottenham might take that mantle.

With Spurs eager to continue their unbeaten run and West Ham always happy to make life tough on their wealthy local rivals, that could turn into a very dramatic affair.

We’re previewing all ten matches below so read on and find our Premier League best bets.

If you were only going off records, then you might be a little bit concerned about Crystal Palace with four points through their first four outings.

However when you consider that they took one point from a gauntlet that included a home game against Arsenal and trips to Liverpool and Manchester City, that tally suddenly looks a lot better.

Not only did they record a win against the lone non-Big Six opponent in Aston Villa, they actually lead City 2-0 at halftime.

Perhaps even more impressively, they did it without star man Wilfried Zaha who is injured, trying to work out a potential transfer or both.

It’s not going to be a pretty season for Palace if Zaha isn’t involved but they showed enough against the big boys to feel like they might just be ok if nothing else.

Back Crystal Palace to Win @ $2.05

At this point, how can you back against Aleksandar Mitrovic?

Brighton’s stingy backline will without a doubt offer a tough test for the Serbian marksman, however he has scored in three of his four Premier League matches this season.

He is the best striker in the league not named Haaland and the gap between him and City’s Norwegian attacker is probably a lot closer than most realise.

Back Aleksandar Mitrovic Anytime Goalscorer @ $2.15

It’s fair to say that Chelsea’s start to the season has not gone to plan, with the Blues squad seemingly yet to gel.

That’s not to say they are going to find themselves in a relegation battle in April or May, but we are waiting for a statement performance from them.

Perhaps it will come at St Mary’s, a venue they have not lost at since March 2013, winning seven of the nine subsequent fixtures at this stadium.

They should be able to get the job done, however they might have to work for it with their defence conceding five goals in their last three matches and looking quite shaky from time to time.

Back Chelsea to Win and Over 2.5 Goals @ $2.25

Coming off their biggest win in quite a while (plus a Carabao Cup win for the reserves), Leeds failed to fire against Brighton.

However you have to like their chances to bounce back against an Everton side that has won just once in its last eight Premier League matches dating back to last season.

The Toffees are in all sorts and are firmly in “back against at all costs” territory.

Back Leeds to Win @ $2.10

Things have gone from bad to worse for Bournemouth, their scoreless streak was extended to three Premier League matches in an embarrassing 9-0 loss to Liverpool.

Admittedly that run has included defeats at the hands of Manchester City and Arsenal as well but they were in all sorts at Anfield on the weekend.

Perhaps a return home might instil a little bit of guile in their team and they can take confidence knowing that Wolves are not exactly setting the world alight in attack either.

Wolves have only scored two goals this season and are chasing their first win, which leaves this match looking like the first team to score will get all three points, if anyone can score.

Back Under 2.5 Goals @ $1.80

Whether through shrewd management, good football or a bit of luck, the Gunners are on top of the league and they’re enjoying it while it lasts.

Outside of an overly optimistic minority in the fan base, nobody is expecting a title challenge from Mikel Arteta’s men and the squad is enjoying their time on top while it lasts.

It should extend for another round of action, considering Aston Villa are in all sorts heading into this fixture.

They have won just once in their last eight Premier League matches and still seem to be working things out across the pitch.

Each of Arsenal’s last three matches has seen at least three goals scored and with the way Arsenal are playing, we should see them score a few here.

Back Arsenal to Win and Over 2.5 Goals @ $2.15

When you look at the injury list for Manchester City, it’s one of the lengthiest ones in the competition, but the good news is they have the squad to cope with those players missing time.

Especially against a Nottingham Forest side who just don’t have the cattle to keep up with a rampant opponent.

In the first league meeting since the sides were both in the Championship in 2002, City goes in as an unbackable favourite.

Which means you’ll have to go on a bit of a dive to find value in this market.

Erling Haaland is a legitimate chance of another hat-trick after guiding City by Palace on the weekend but instead I’ll opt for Kevin de Bruyne to get on the scoresheet here.

Back Kevin De Bruyne Anytime Goalscorer @ $2.10

It took four goes, but West Ham finally broke their domestic duck on the weekend defeating Aston Villa.

However it seems unlikely they’ll find a way to make it two matches in a row in this London derby against Tottenham.

Spurs have been water tight defensively in the last two games, holding out Wolves and Forest, which makes the lives of their all star strike force a lot easier knowing one or maybe two goals will be enough.

Despite a history of struggles against the Irons, Spurs are just too good to back against, especially at this price.

Back Tottenham to Win @ $1.95

In terms of a response to a slow start, winning 9-0 over anyone is an impressive way to get your season back on track.

That was exactly what punters were looking for and perhaps most surprisingly, they scored nine goals without a single contribution from Mo Salah.

Now against a Newcastle side that is in the process of becoming a super team but isn’t quite there yet, the Reds should pick up another victory, but they are unbackable favourites.

In that sort of goalscoring form though, they should find a way to put a few past Newcastle.

Back Over 3.5 Goals @ $2.25

A fortnight ago we were calling both of these clubs a mess and wondering how long it would take for them to sort themselves out.

Moreso in theory than in practice at the moment, United appears to at least be on the way to settling down while Leicester has plenty to sort out before the transfer deadline this week.

With United’s ship at least pointing somewhere close to the right direction, I’ll back them to win this one, even if it’s in an ugly manner.

Back Manchester United to Win @ $2.02

2021/2022

Matchweek 5 of the Premier League season gets underway in the early hours of Saturday morning with a fascinating clash between Newcastle and Leeds and closes out with a proper blockbuster as Tottenham hosts Chelsea.

The celebrations went off at the Emirates Stadium last weekend as the Gunners not only scored their first goal of the season but managed their first points, now they have to back it up with a trip to Burnley.

For the big clubs however, the reality of double duty will set in as the four clubs competing in the Champions League, plus the Europa and Conference League participants will be forced to back up from midweek duty.

We have our previews and best bets for all 10 Premier League matches below so read on and see who we are backing!

It’s fair to say that neither side would have had a fun week at training after both suffering three-goal defeats in the Premier League’s return from the international break.

Newcastle were the sacrificial lambs for Manchester United to rip apart in Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Old Trafford while Leeds could not match Liverpool.

Perhaps we will see some sort of response from at least one of these teams, both of which are still chasing their first win of the new campaign.

The head to head market looks about right to me with Leeds appearing slightly stronger on paper than the Tynesiders, but not by a big enough margin to make anyone feel good about backing them in.

Neither side is doing all that well defensively with Newcastle conceding at least two goals in every match this season and Leeds have allowed 11 through four matches to date.

It’s not going to be a night for the defenders or keepers as we see the likes of Patrick Bamford and Allan Saint-Maximin put on a show.

Back Both Teams to Score and Over 3.5 Goals @ $2.75

We have had some excellent early Saturday night kickoffs in the Premier League this season, this is not exactly a blockbuster but there is value to be found in this market.

Neither side has shown an awful lot going forward with a combined total of five goals over eight matches for both of these sides.

On the plus side, they have been quite resolute defensively with just five goals conceded between them.

Brentford has been much better at grinding out results, however Wolves finally got off the mark against Watford last weekend and I can see them just edging out the Premier League new boys here.

As you have probably guessed, I’m also feeling pretty good about backing the under in this match too since this probably won’t be the most electric of matches.

Back Wolves to Win and Under 2.5 Goals @ $3.40

They have done it, the Gunners have FINALLY scored a Premier League goal and it produced their first points of the season in a scrappy 1-0 win over Norwich.

With the likes of Thomas Partey, Ben White, Gabriel and Martin Odegaard ready to embed themselves into the lineup, this is going to be a much stronger Gunners side than what we saw in August.

Let’s not overreact and suddenly declare them a part of the title race or anything but they should be able to climb into the mid-table battle they probably belong in right now before too long.

On top of that, a decent mid-table side that should be on the edge of a European place will be able to handle a Burnley side that is still winless in the 2021/2022 Premier League season.

It won’t be easy, it definitely won’t be pretty, but at this price, a Gunners win, even away from home, looks like good value.

Of course it is Arsenal so as always, buyer beware and whatnot.

Back Arsenal to Win @ $2.00

Palace last week became the first team to take points off Tottenham this season, recording their first victory of the season and the first for new boss Patrick Viera.

I’m willing to say there is no chance they do anything other than lose against a Liverpool side that is starting to look scary good again though.

Actually to the point where $1.22 seems generous on the Reds in the head to head market.

The last three meetings between these teams have seen three Liverpool wins by an aggregate score of 13-0 and the Reds have claimed the last eight competitive meetings all up.

You could go any number of ways with this but I’ll throw together this SGM surrounding a rampant Reds performance.

With a suddenly stout defence back in form and a strike force that is coming together nicely, I’ll back them to win by at least three goals and take their star men up front to get on the scoresheet.

SGM: Liverpool -2 Goals, Mo Salah and Diogo Jota Anytime Goalscorers @ $5.08

This is another market that will require some digging and potentially a bit of creativity depending on how much value you want to chase.

Weirdly enough, City’s last three Premier League home games have all finished with a 5-0 scoreline in their favour and at least on the surface, Southampton won’t offer much more resistance than Arsenal, Norwich or a last day of the season dead rubber against Everton.

This will be an interesting test of just how deep this City squad is after a Champions League tie with RB Salzburg on Thursday morning (AEST).

Southampton has scrapped its way to three straight Premier League draws but I just can’t see them getting anything from this trip to the Etihad.

I’ll use the base of the Liverpool SGM and back a comfortable City win.

Back City to Win -2 Goals @ $2.10

We’re in for an early season relegation six pointer as Norwich hosts Watford in a battle of newly promoted teams.

Watford won both meetings in the Championship last season and has taken the last four all up.

While I’m not overly confident backing either of these teams this is two bad sides facing off so I’ll take the underdogs to get up just purely on value.

Even though they have not scored since the opening day of the season, they should be able to break down Norwich’s defence.

Back Watford to Win @ $3.40

There’s more value to be found on an away underdog here as Villa takes on Everton.

For years matches between these teams were a toss up although the Toffees head into this match level on points on top of the Premier League table.

It is hard to understand why Villa is favoured here beyond just being at home, Everton are just the better side.

Outside of a slip up draw at Leeds it has been hard to fault the work of Rafa Benitez and I’ll back the upset value here.

Back Everton to Win @ $3.00

You might have missed it, but Brighton is off to an absolutely superb start to the Premier League having won three of their four matches, the same record as Manchester City and Tottenham.

Perhaps even more impressive is the fact that they beat Burnley, Watford and Brentford conceding just one goal.

Leicester has been able to record expected wins over Norwich and Wolves but fell to West Ham and Manchester City.

You just know their attack is going to click at some stage soon and this could be the game to do it.

It’s easy to see why the Foxes would be a good value option at $2.75 however Brighton appear to have that extra level of resilience that will keep them in games.

Whoever wins will have to score and even though both teams have the capacity to keep a clean sheet, the price on the over is way too good to not take.

Back Over 2.5 Goals @ $2.15

Well that “Ronaldo Effect” bubble certainly burst in Bern, but it was there for all to see at Old Trafford last week.

One way or another we are going to get some goals in this fixture at the Olympic Stadium, however West Ham’s hopes of an upset took a huge hit when Michail Antonio received his second yellow card last weekend.

That has robbed the Irons of their best goalscoring threat (and put a few smug Fantasy managers back in their place) and United have shown the ability to really get on a roll in the second half of games.

I’ll avoid the head to head market in this one just because of the value on offer backing a goal-fest which it seems like we are headed for.

Back Over 3.5 Goals @ $2.55

It’s another huge clash to close out the week as Tottenham welcomes Chelsea.

In spite of the ridiculous level of attacking talent on both sides, we are headed for a proper arm wrestle between two sides with a history of tightly fought encounters.

Four of the last five Premier League meetings have seen two or fewer goals scored and outside of a red card fuelled collapse at Palace last week, Spurs and Chelsea have the talent to keep this one close.

Expect an Ngolo Kante masterclass in midfield as he stifles the Spurs attack and keeps Chelsea on the front foot.

For a tip, take Chelsea to win but for a bet, back the under.

Back Under 2.5 Goals @ $1.75

2020/2021

We’ve had a full fortnight to stew over the insane conclusion to Matchweek 4 of the Premier League with the international break that has just concluded.

Domestic action resumes with a bang as the biggest Merseyside Derby in years is set to take place with Everton on top of the Premier League table as it stands.

It doesn’t stop there with Manchester City hosting Arsenal, Tottenham taking on West Ham and the exciting conclusion of Leeds hosting Wolves.

Read on to see who we are backing in Week 5 of the Premier League here!

This is the most appealing Merseyside Derby in recent memory with the blue half owning the only perfect four for four start in the competition.

Liverpool were well on their way to that mark before a horrendous display away to Aston Villa made them the Premier League laughingstock, going down 7-2 in the end.

Even when the Toffees were struggling they were taking points off Liverpool in these derbies and now they have a real chance to make a statement with a victory here.

Considering the attacking firepower on both sides we should be in for a high scoring contest and I’ll back a James Rodriguez masterclass to get Everton their first Merseyside Derby since 2010.

Back Everton to Win & Over 3.5 Goals @ $9.50

Momentum is a funny thing in football and the international break might have disrupted some of it, but both of these sides enter this match on the back of two positive league results.

Southampton surprised many picking up wins over Burnley and West Brom but I’m still not convinced they are to be taken seriously while the Blues had a good second half against West Brom and trounced Crystal Palace 4-0 before the break.

Cheslea’s new German duo of Kai Havertz and Timo Werner teamed up for Germany in their comeback draw with Switzerland during the week and I’ll back them to fire Chelsea home here.

Back Chelsea to Win & Over 2.5 Goals @ $2.10

If there is one thing we need to take away from the opening month of the new Premier League season, it’s that the established powers of the last few seasons are certainly vulnerable.

City dropped points in two previous Premier League matches before the international break to Leicester and Leeds.

Working in their favour is the fact they have won their last six Premier League matches against Arsenal, including back to back 3-0 wins last season.

The Gunners did take the FA Cup Semi Final 2-0 on the back of a tactical masterclass from Mikel Arteta and you have to think he has spent the last fortnight figuring out how to go after a very vulnerable City backline.

Anyone who has followed the Premier League for more than a week knows that having any faith in Arsenal on the road to another one of the Big Six clubs is a recipe for disaster but, something about City just seems off.

With new signing Thomas Partey ready to shore up that midfield, I’ll back the Gunners to get something from this match.

Back Arsenal/Draw Double Chance @ $2.88

Newcastle has been very impressive to start the season and based on their respective most recent showings, they have to like their chances of getting something out of this match with Manchester United.

After all they were crushed by Tottenham after Anthony Martial’s red card which means the young forward will be unavailable, as will star signing Edinson Cavani.

On the plus side United will be able to bring in new left back Alex Telles and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will have his side ready for a rebound in this fixture.

All three of United’s matches have featured three or more goals and considering the overall goal rush this season the price on this one seems higher than it should be so I’ll back this one in.

Back Over 2.5 Goals @ $1.73

There are so many ways to describe this fixture, none of them overly pleasant, but the most apt one is that this is the perfect remedy for insomnia.

You could also call this a very early season six-pointer between two sides that have lost all four Premier League matches this season.

It’s a match that can also be dubbed as a clash between the team that can’t score and the team that can’t defend (and in truth also can’t score).

Sheffield at least has shown some fighting qualities in their defeats and there’s no discounting their experience last season, but this is an unappealing contest in every sense of the word.

A scrappy draw isn’t entirely out of the question and Fulham appear to be a proper basket case as opposed to an average side horrendously out of form so in this clash between two bad teams I’ll take the home side.

Back Sheffield United to Win @ $2.02

Palace might have drawn a blank against Chelsea but they should have no trouble avoiding a clean sheet against a Brighton side that is entertaining whether you love or hate them.

Four of their last six meetings have seen three or more goals fly in and with the way Brighton have been adding to the scoresheet at both ends of the pitch this could be another back and forth affair.

For some reason the market has this pegged as a low scoring clash and there is great value in the total goals market.

Back Over 2.5 Goals @ $2.15

In terms of Premier League rivalries, Spurs and West Ham might not get the buzz of some of the other local derbies but there is some proper intensity to this one.

Admittedly things won’t be as heated as usual with the stands still empty, but there’s still some value to be found in the market.

Spurs have won three of the last four Premier League meetings between these sides and look likely to make it four in five here.

Harry Kane has scored eight goals in eight matches for Tottenham this season and managed to find the back of the net in both meetings with West Ham last season so we’ll back him to score in a Spurs win.

Back Harry Kane to Score and Tottenham to Win @ $2.30

Last season this would have been one of the easiest matches to tip, backing Leicester in a landslide as they won both Premier League matches by an aggregate score of 8-1.

This time around it’s a little bit different as it seems like Villa have put together a competitive squad, winning their first three matches.

Beating Sheffield United and Fulham could be written off as beating up on bad teams but not only winning against, but utterly demolishing Liverpool 7-2 in their last match before the break made everyone stand up and take notice.

One way or another, there are goals in Leicester’s matches and since head to head this could go either way (which does add to the potential value on Villa) I’ll back a the high scoring trend in the Premier League to continue.

Back Over 3.5 Goals @ $2.40

With the Premier League fixture list getting spread out over a few days to allow for more broadcast windows, we can now say for certain that the “sleep through it” match of the round gets buried in this Tuesday morning (AEDT) slot.

These sides have combined for a grand total of one point from seven matches and neither seem all that capable of keeping a clean sheet.

Last season this was a fixture for the away side but there is no way you can feel good about backing either team to do much of anything, back the draw.

Back the Draw @ $3.05

Some matches after an international break can lack a bit of intensity but Marcelo Bielsa will have his side ready to go against Wolves here.

Leeds will have been buzzing over the international break after taking a point from Manchester City in their most recent outing.

Considering the attacking power on both sides, the total goals market looks to be a little bit off here and there’s value to be found at over 2.5.

Back Over 2.5 Goals @ $2.05

2019

It was just what everyone needed, a weekend off after four weeks of Premier League action.

At this point the clubs are just hoping all their players come back from international duty in one piece.

While there are no “big 6” clashes this weekend the games involving the big 6 certainly bare watching, especially the ones that have been slow out of the blocks.

United and Chelsea both need to start building up wins, especially with their Champions League commitments on the horizon as well.

Meanwhile, Watford stunned many by sacking manager Javi Gracia less than four months after he took them to the FA Cup Final.

We’ve previewed all 10 Premier League matches for this weeked and found our best betting plays right here.

https://youtu.be/goT08yEAir0

There is no way that Liverpool would have been happy to have their squad broken up for international duty.

A perfect start now gets put on the line against a Newcastle side that, if you’re looking for positives, is only one point off United, Tottenham and Chelsea.

Of course for it to stay that way they’ll probably need to hope those three sides all lose this weekend because it’s highly unlikely they’ll get anything out of this one.

We’ll go with Liverpool to win in a Same Game Multi but like usual, there’ll need to be a few extra legs to make it valuable.

To do that we’ll take Liverpool at the Half Time/Full Time double and also throw in both teams to score, they showed something in that draw with Watford before the break.

SGM: Liverpool Half Time/Full Time & Both Teams to Score @ $4.30

Both of these sides sit on four points from their opening four games but haven’t won since the opening day of the season.

Burnley will use the “our two losses came against Arsenal and Liverpool line” which does carry some weight, while Brighton has lost its last two to Southampton and Man City.

Last season saw Burnley pick up six points from the two meetings between these sides, which ended a streak of five straight draws.

It’s not easy to split these sides so, it’s not worth trying to force it, we’ll back a draw in this game and also both teams to score since neither side has kept a clean sheet since the opening day.

SGM: Draw & Both Teams to Score @ $4.79

https://youtu.be/m8iT3DRfqYE

About that Solskjaer revolution at Old Trafford?

At best it’s still in progress and at worst, it’s about to get a whole lot more hostile that has won its last two and is the only side not named Manchester City or Liverpool that hasn’t lost a game.

Of course, the Foxes have only beaten United once since the turn of the millennium and there’s only been three draws in those 19 meetings.

But this is a different season and quite honestly, United have shown massive holes in their game so why not look for the value here instead.

On top of a Leicester double chance, it’s worth taking Both Teams to Score since that’s hit in the last three games for both sides.

SGM: Leicester/Draw Double Chance & Both Teams to Score @ $3.09

It’s the first time these sides will meet in the league since February 2009 in the Championship with Southampton taking that meeting 2-1.

Of course both sides have been through quite a bit since then, but based on Sheffield’s start to the season, there could be a few more Premier League meetings to come in the following seasons.

They find themselves level on points with United, Tottenham and Chelsea, although that parity is probably one of those early season quirks that isn’t going to be the case by the time the next international break rolls through.

The Saints have had a fortnight to enjoy holding on for a draw at home to United and will have pencilled in this fixture as a likely three points at the start of the year but, I’m going to take Sheffield at home to continue their strong start to the season.

Back Sheffield United to Win @ $2.50

Five points from four games is, all things considered, probably not too bad considering who they have played, but Spurs will be desperate to kick start the next month of the season with a win here.

Palace on the other hand are flying thanks to back to back wins and while they are one of the few teams goals aren’t flying in for, they’ll be happy with the points tally.

If Spurs can get out to a lead early, you have to like their chances of going on with it and closing the game out.

It would also be a great chance for Spurs to keep their first clean sheet of the new campaign and I’m going to back that in here.

Back Tottenham to Win to Nil @ $2.25

https://youtu.be/cIaFFeXQg5Y

Who would have thought this one would be a desperation derby a month or so ago?

Wolves battled through Europa League qualification but that has them behind the 8-ball in the Premier League now with three draws and a loss to this point.

Chelsea has had a rough start to the season dropping points to Leicester and Sheffield, so the goodwill of hiring Frank Lampard is quickly evaporating.

It’s a bit of a theme this weekend but the both teams to score market looks like a good starting point for a bet since Chelsea haven’t kept a clean sheet yet and Wolves have done so once.

The hard part is deciding which side to take in the head to head bet so instead of backing one over the other, I’ll just bet that this match doesn’t end in a draw.

Last March saw the first draw in 13 meetings between these sides so someone will leave Molineux with all three points.

SGM: Wolves/Chelsea Double Chance & Both Teams to Score @ $2.68

https://youtu.be/FTVxc0msVEk

Alright we’re back to the norm with City, this time they take on Norwich and are short priced favourites, so there needs to be a bit of creativity applied to make this a good value play.

City should comfortably handle Norwich, so we’ll take them to lead at halftime and fulltime, something that has been a winning play in all three of their victories to this point.

Then we’ll back a couple of the Premier League’s early pace setters in the golden boot race, starting with City’s marksman Sergio Aguero to add to his six goals on the season so far.

To round it out, just to continue the storyline, we’ll also back Teemu Pukki to score as well.

SGM: City Halftime/Fulltime, Sergio Aguero and Teemu Pukki Anytime Goalscorers @ $8.81

Maybe it’s all starting to come together for Everton now, they picked up an important win over Wolves in their last game, quadrupling their season goal tally in that one game.

If those attackers continue to gel, it could make them a lot more dangerous in the coming weeks.

I’m backing them to pick up a win here against Bournemouth, at over even money that’s excellent value to jump on while you can.

Back Everton to Win @ $2.30

Isn’t this all set up perfectly… for Watford?

Javi Gracia has been dismissed and Arsenal are coming to town, so would anyone be at all surprised if this game saw the Hornets pick up their first win of the season?

After all, it’s the Gunners coming to town, a team that we know doesn’t travel well.

It probably explains why Arsenal aren’t at $1.50 to win this one, so while it’s not with a great deal of confidence, you have to hope that with two weeks to prepare, Unai Emery will be able to put out a side that can handle itself here.

We did originally back Alex Lacazette as the anytime goalscorer in this Same Game Multi but with the late news he’s out we’ll change that to Nicolas Pepe since he should wind up playing a much more central role with that change.

SGM: Arsenal to Win, Over 1.5 Goals, Alexandre Lacazette Anytime Goalscorer @ $4.14

It’s all starting to click for West Ham, back to back wins and that side might just be justifying some of the preseason hype.

Sure beating Watford and Norwich is not enough to have them installed as the new favourites to knock off Man City for the title, but it does make them worth looking at as a betting play.

Villa’s lone win this season over Everton should be treated as more of an outlier than a sign of things to come.

Overall they just don’t look like they’re quite up to speed yet and with West Ham at such a good price early on, why not back them here as a value play.

Back West Ham to Win @ $2.55

2018/2019

We have survived the first international window of the new season and the Premier League is making up for lost time with a huge opening fixture between Tottenham and Liverpool.

Surprise packets Watford host Manchester United as they look to keep their perfect start going as do Chelsea when they take on Cardiff at Stamford Bridge.

There is betting interest in all ten games this weekend and our complete EPL Week 5 tips can be found below.

Liverpool’s defence was finally breached in their last outing (with a big assist going to Alisson for that) and they face their first “big” match of the season when they take on Tottenham at Wembley.

Spurs will have had two weeks to stew over their loss to Watford and the fact they are still at Wembley for the foreseeable future.

At this venue last year Spurs produced a performance for the memory banks, crushing Liverpool 4-1.

Both fixtures between these sides featured plenty of goals and despite a stouter defensive unit at Liverpool this season, this has the makings of another high scoring game.

Back Over 3.5 Goals @ $2.55

SGM: Over 3.5 Goals, Harry Kane Anytime Goalscorer, Mohamed Salah Anytime Goalscorer

A look back at the history between these sides and one trend leaps out almost immediately, the history of draws between these sides.

Bournemouth have had Leicester’s number over the past few seasons, holding the Foxes to draws in five of their last six meetings plus a solitary home win in December 2016.

On top of that, each of these games have been low scoring; with no game having more than two goals dating back to when they were in the Championship in late 2013.

Considering that history (and Bournemouth’s solid start to the season) the value plays here are easy to pick out with a low scoring draw the play here.

Back Under 2.5 Goals @ $1.91

SGM: Draw, Under 2.5 Goals, Joshua King Anytime Goalscorer

Cardiff finally scored their first two goals of the season against Arsenal, but it was not enough for a win as they conceded three at the other end.

Chelsea are yet to drop a point and have scored multiple goals in each game and should be able to add to their points tally with a big game here.

Attack has been a huge issue for Cardiff and once Chelsea take the lead this should be three points in the bag for the home side.

Back Chelsea to Win to Nil @ $1.80

SGM: Chelsea to Win, Over 2.5 Chelsea Goals, Eden Hazard Anytime Goalscorer

Huddersfield are winless from four and Palace have dropped their past three, so this match falls firmly into the ‘Desperation Derby’ category.

While it doesn’t quite carry the weight of a ‘Relegation Six Pointer’ or a ‘Win to Survive’ contest, more early season defeats for either side increases the number of these types of matches they will be facing later this season.

Despite Huddersfield leaking goals in their first two games of the season, they have shored things up (in part by not playing Manchester City) and that has helped them to back to back draws.

They have found a way to tighten their defence up and while Palace have looked good at points, this seems like a match to play the home underdogs in a low scoring contest.

Back Huddersfield to Win @ $3.10

SGM: Huddersfield to Win, Huddersfield to Score Over 0.5 Goals, Under 2.5 Goals

City have laboured through their last two outings being held to a draw away to Wolves and at home to Newcastle, but are still yet to lose in this Premier League season.

That being said, they are still a solid force and have been installed as very short priced favourites here, leaving punters having to search for some value plays.

The Both Teams to Score market has hit in each of City’s last three games as well as Fulham’s last three so expect both sides to be able to find the back of the net here.

City, as a rule, do not drop points at home so a victory here with their talisman finding the net is a solid play here for the Same Game Multi.

Back City to Win and Both Teams to Score @ $2.45

SGM: City to Win, Over 3.5 Goals, Aguero to Score 2 Goals or More

Arsenal’s away day woes ended with a win on their trip to Cardiff and their strikers are starting to find form with the team scoring multiple goals in each of their last three matches.

While it was not a cure-all victory by any stretch, it is a step in the right direction for Unai Emery’s side.

They will remember a frustrating loss last April at St James’ Park, which ended a 10-game winning run against the Magpies.

Newcastle have picked up just one point this season but have given up just six goals so Arsenal will have their work cut out for them to keep their goalscoring form up.

Both matches at St James’ Park have finished 2-1 to the visitors and while a correct score play is tempting here, a victory for the Gunners is offering encouraging odds.

Back Arsenal to Win @ $1.87

SGM: Arsenal to Win, Arsenal to Score Over 1.5 Goals, Lacazette Anytime Goalscorer

One of these sides has enjoyed a perfect start to the season and the other… well it’s been a bit less than perfect.

Watford have beaten Manchester United just once in the Premier League, in 2016, however with United’s early season struggles they would feel like they have a great chance to spring an upset here.

This will be their fourth home game and if they have any aspirations of European qualification, they will need to take something from this game.

While United are a very good squad on paper, the upset potential of Watford is excellent here and is a worthwhile play.

Back Watford to Win @ $4.00

SGM: Watford Win, Under 3.5 Goals, Roberto Pereyra Anytime Goalscorer

Very few sides would be relieved at missing out on European competition, however with the way things have gone for Burnley, avoiding those midweek fixtures might be a blessing in disguise.

With just one point from opening day they can now turn their attention towards climbing up the league table.

Wolves picked up their first win of the campaign thanks to a West Ham capitulation, however they will certainly see this as a winnable game.

Burnley will be rightfully desperate, but Wolves have plenty of quality and should get the job done.

Back Wolves to Win @ $1.75

SGM: Wolves to Win, Over 2.5 Goals, Raul Jimenez First Goalscorer

The worst thing you can do to any football fan is give them hope then take it away and after starting the season with four straight losses, the preseason hope surrounding West Ham is well & truly gone.

Everton are yet to lose this season, but they will feel as though they should have more than one win.

After being held to a draw by Huddersfield in the last match they will expect to win here and until and should be able to take advantage of a West Ham side down on confidence.

Back Everton to Win @ $1.91

SGM: Everton to Win, Everton to Score 2+ Goals,

This is already the second meeting between these sides with an early round League Cup tie going the way of Southampton.

Last year both fixtures ended in 1-1 draws and despite Southampton only giving up four goals this season, Brighton should have the capability to score here.

It is very tough to split these sides and another score draw appears to be the most likely result.

Back the Draw @ $3.20

SGM: Draw, Brighton Over 0.5 Goals, Southampton Over 0.5 Goals

2017/2018

It’s time for our EPL Week 5 Preview as we get ready for a Sort of Super Sunday, headlined by the always entertaining Arsenal-Chelsea fixture.

This round is also the first time this season that the big clubs will have to back up from European competition and it will be the first real test of the squads assembled over the European summer.

The round of football kicks off with an early wake-up call Saturday as second to last Bournemouth hosts Brighton, fresh off their first win of the campaign.

It will also be the first time these sides have met in the Premier League and even at this early stage, both sides will be desperate for some positive momentum.

Neither team has been overly potent in front of goals this year as Brighton only managed their first goal last weekend and Charlie Daniels has scored the only goal for Bournemouth.

During their matches in the lower divisions, the “Under 2.5 Goals” market has hit in five of the last six meetings between these sides.

Based on that form, it is hard to see this game having a whole lot of goals in it and the pick here is to expect something similar.

Back “Under 2.5 Goals” @ $1.67

Palace were the first side to sack their manager this week as Frank De Boer was relieved of his duties after four losses and he will be replaced by Roy Hodgson, most recently seen mentoring Melbourne City.

They are the only team yet to score this year and face a tough test in Southampton whom they have traded victories with in their last five contests.

Until Palace settle on their identity under Hodgson they are a team that bears watching but not investing on.

NO BET

Huddersfield’s fast start to Premier League life was halted at the weekend when West Ham knocked them off 2-0 while Leicester pushed Chelsea but fell 2-1.

The combination of Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez has been fruitful for the Foxes so far with three goals and two assists respectively.

The other end of the pitch has been problematic for them however as they are averaging two goals conceded per game.

Huddersfield matches are not as free scoring and it took a fortunate deflection for West Ham to break their defence for the first time this season.

They did allow their opponents plenty of chances to get that opening goal however and the Leicester attack might be able to turn this game into a shootout.

I expect both teams to get on the scoreboard here and Jamie Vardy to be the man to get the party started.

Back Jamie Vardy as First Goal Scorer @ $5

Liverpool will undoubtedly be smarting after their drubbing at the hands of Manchester City and will look to bounce back against Burnley at Anfield.

It looms as a potential slip up as they will be backing up from a tough Champions League clash with Sevilla and Burnley have already sprung two surprise results this year.

They will be fancying their chances of gaining points off a Champions League club and with their record this year it’s easy to see why.

With that in mind, I can’t see Liverpool having two letdowns in a row in the league and think they will be able to bounce back here but it won’t be easy.

Back Liverpool to win both halves at $2.75

St James’s Park is not a happy hunting ground for Stoke as of late having failed to win there in the league since 2011/2012.

They have come away with two draws and will be feeling confident after holding Manchester United to a draw in their last game.

Newcastle themselves are in good form at the moment, defeating West Ham & Swansea in their last two outings.

Last season these sides played out a scoreless draw at St James’ Park and I expect that to happen again as my long shot pick of the week.

There were no scoreless matches last week and this one will break that trend.

Back Under Total Goals 0.5 @ $8.50

It’s a phrase not many people would be expecting to say but fourth placed Watford host second placed Manchester City with both coming off convincing wins last weekend.

City have a significant advantage in matches between the two, winning all four meetings since their rebirth in 2008 including a 5-0 hammering on the final day of last season.

Watford will fancy themselves to continue their hot start to the season with a vocal home crowd behind them however both their victories have come away from home.

Form is a fickle thing in football but City should be able to get home comfortably in this game, even with their midweek exertions.

Back Manchester City to win & over 3.5 goals @ $2.80

West Ham are finally off the mark in 2017/2018 with their win over Huddersfield, it was also their first home game of the season so as a reward for that, they are back on the road to face West Brom.

Historically this game has been a bit of an arm wrestle between the two sides with plenty of draws and in the case of last season, plenty of goals.

In each of the last four games, the Over 2.5 goals market has come through and there hasn’t been a scoreless draw since December 2012.

Add onto that eight of the last thirteen contests have been a draw and you can see why the tip here is for a score draw.

Back both teams to score & a Draw @ $4.50

As Spurs adapt to their temporary confines of Wembley stadium they have a European & League double header there.

Their results at the home of the England National team have not been inspiring so far with a draw and loss in the league however the hope Thursday morning’s emphatic victory will kick start a good run of form.

Historically they have had Swansea’s number in particular last season winning both games with an aggregate of 8-1.

Expect Mauricio Pochettino to find a way to keep his side fresh after their midweek exploits and find a way to get their first Premier League win at Wembley.

Back Tottenham to Win & Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.73

You used to be able to count on this fixture to produce some fireworks between Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho but the relationship between the Frenchman and Antonio Conte appears to be much more affable.

What hasn’t changed however is Chelsea’s historical domination of Arsenal, particularly at the Bridge where they are favourites to win once more.

The Blues will be much more rested than their opponents too, having a Wednesday morning (AEST) home tie in the Champions League while Arsenal do not play until Friday in the Europa League.

It’s hard to see any other result than a Chelsea win and with Arsenal’s uncertain form it should be a multiple goal margin.

Back Chelsea to win -1 goal @ $3.10

United are looking the goods early on and while the draw at Stoke ended their dreams of a perfect season, they are travelling much better than their opponents who are on a poor run of form.

United have plenty of goals in them and will look to pile the pressure on a leaky Everton defence however it might be with the squad players depending on how Mourinho wants to approach this game.

There are also questions about how they will handle Paul Pogba’s hamstring injury and what that will do to their midfield, the good news is there is still plenty of talent there to call on.

The best bet here is to take Man United to win but I’m not a fan of the value at $1.33 so leave this game alone.

No Bet

2016/2017

Week 5 of the 2016/2017 season begins with an absolute blockbuster between Chelsea and Liverpool  and this is easily the biggest game of the weekend.

Leicester City have the chance to pick up three points in front of their home fans against Burnley, while there are a number of games that should be extremely tight.

This is a great weekend for English Premier League betting and you can find our thoughts and betting predictions for every game below.

This will be a fascinating clash between two of the most interesting teams in the English Premier League this season.

Chelsea dropped two points due to a couple of defensive lapses against Swansea City and they will need to be much stronger at the back to repel a Liverpool outfit that has been very impressive at times this season.

It is no secret that Chelsea have struggled at home in the past 12 months, but they will still start this game as favourites and they have won just seven of their past 19 games in this scenario.

Liverpool bounced back to their brilliant best with a demolition job against Leicester City last weekend and no side in the English Premier League is playing more exciting football than Jurgen Klopp’s men.

The Reds seem to play their best football against the better sides in the competition and they have won three of their past six games as away underdogs for a healthy profit.

Chelsea are far too short at their current quote and there is a genuine edge at the $3.30 on offer for a Liverpool victory.

Back Liverpool To Win @ $3.20

Arsenal are on the back-up in this clash after they started their UEFA Champions League campaign against Paris Saint Germain on Wednesday.

The Gunners got the job done against Southampton last weekend to make it two wins in a row and they are clear favourites to win again this weekend.

Arsenal have not been the most reliable side as away favourites in the past 12 months (7-5-3) and it is tough to get them as short as their current quote of $1.57.

Hull City have defied all expectations to make such a positive start to the English Premier League season and they claimed their seventh point with their last minute equaliser against Burnley last weekend.

This is obviously a much tougher assignment for Hull, but they have shown during this season to date that they have the ability to frustrate far more talented sides.

Arsenal really should be able to claim the victory, but I am happy to stay out of this clash from a betting perspective.

No Bet

Leicester City have had a tough start to their English Premier League title defence and they have just the one win from their first four games.

The reigning champions were comprehensively outplayed by Liverpool last weekend, but this is an easier assignment and they will go into this clash as clear favourites.

Leicester City’s record as home favourites has been unmatched by any other side in the EPL this season and they have won nine of their 12 games in this scenario.

Burnley were unlucky not to take all three points from their clash with Hull City and they have made a more than credible start in their return to the English Premier League.

Sean Dyche’s men have shown an ability to sit back and frustrate their rivals during the English Premier League season to date and that is the exact style of football that can really frustrate this Leicester City outfit.

I am not willing to bet against Leicester City in front of their home fans, but I can’t get them as short as their current price of $1.53.

No Bet

Manchester City are another EPL side that will be on the quick back-up following the start of their Champions League campaign.

Manchester City justified their position as clear favourites to claim the English Premier League title with their win over Manchester United and they will go into this clash with Bournemouth as extremely short-priced favourites.

Pep Guardiola’s men are obviously going to be very tough to beat in this clash and they are yet to lose in the EPL this season, but their record as home favourites in the past 12 months has not been particularly convincing.

Bournemouth recorded their first win of the season with a narrow win over West Bromwich Albion and that will give them some much-needed confidence.

Bournemouth have won three of their past 15 games as away underdogs for a narrow profit, but you couldn’t possibly back them in this clash.

The betting market that stands out in this clash is the $2.75 available for both teams to score and Manchester City to win.

Manchester City have shown they are more than capable of conceding a goal – especially with Claudio Bravo still adjusting to the EPL – and it would not surprise to see them concede in this clash.

Back Both teams to score and Manchester City to win @ $2.75

The betting market suggests that this will be the most even clash of the weekend.

West Bromwich Albion suffered a disappointing loss to Bournemouth last weekend, but they will still go into this clash with West Ham as narrow favourites.

This has not been a position in which they have thrived in the past 12 months – they have won just two of their past game games in this scenario for a big loss.

West Ham’s defense absolutely fell apart in the second half of their clash with Watford last weekend and it will be interesting to see how they bounce back against West Brom.

Dimitri Payet remains in simply sparkling form and if he fires West Ham are going to be very difficult to beat, while the Hammers have won taken points from ten of their past 16 games as away underdogs for a big profit.

The $2.88 available for a West Ham victory is well over the odds and they are arguably the best bet of the weekend.

Back West Ham To Win @ $2.88

Everton have made their best start to an English Premier League season for a decade and they are favourites to win again against Middlesbrough this weekend.

Everton made it three wins on the trot with a simply dominant performance against Sunderland – with Romelu Lukaku claiming a hat-trick – and a similar performance would likely be more than enough to see off Middlesbrough.

Their record at Goodison Park still needs to improve as they have won just six of their past 13 games at the venue for a narrow loss.

Middlesbrough suffered their first loss of the English Premier League season to Crystal Palace last weekend, but they have still made a positive start to their new life in this competition.

There has been plenty of positive signs to take from each of their games to date, but it is fair to say that this will be their toughest assignment.

This is a game that the market looks to have got just about right and I am happy to stay out from a betting perspective.

No Bet

Manchester United suffered their first loss of the Jose Mourinho-era against arch-rivals Manchester City and they will need to bounce back against Watford this weekend.

It is clear that Mourinho is still struggling to work out what is his new sides best formation and they really have not been particularly impressive in any of their games to date this season.

Manchester United will still go into this clash as clear favourites, but they have won just six of their past 14 games as away favourites.

Watford produced their best performance of the season to date to record an impressive victory over West Ham and they are a side that is more than capable of stringing wins together.

The problem for Watford is that they have generally struggled as home underdogs – they have won just one of their past 10 games in this scenario for a sizeable loss.

Manchester United continue to struggle somewhat on defence and that makes the $3.50 on offer for both teams to score and the Red Devils to win particularly attractive.

Back Both Teams To Score And Manchester United To Win @ $3.50

Crystal Palace have bounced back from their slow start to the season to take four points from their past two games and they will start this clash with Stoke City as clear favourites.

Christian Benteke had an immediate impact when he scored in Crystal Palace’s upset victory over Middlesbrough and this another winnable game for this side.

Home favourtism has not been a particularly strong position for Crystal Palace in the past 12 months and they have won just five of their 13 games in this scenario.

Stoke City are still chasing their first win of the season after suffering three straight losses to Manchester City, Everton and Tottenham.

This is the easiest assignment that they have faced in sometime and their record as away favourites is right up there with the very best in the competition – they have won six and drawn four of their past 16 games in this scenario.

I am more than happy to take on Crystal Palace at their current quote and the $4 available for a Stoke City victory is well over the odds.

Back Stoke City To Win @ $4

Southampton have made a very poor start to the English Premier League season and they need to take the three points from this clash to get their campaign back on track.

Southampton were far from disgraced against Arsenal, but they were still beaten and they are still chasing their first victory of the season.

The Saints will go into this clash as clear favourites and this is a position in which they have been just about even in the past 12 months – they have won eight and drawn five of their past 15 games in this scenario.

Swansea City showed plenty of character to fight out a draw with Chelsea last weekend and they continue to be somewhat inconsistent to date this season.

They have won only three of their past 16 games as away underdogs, but the majority of these wins have come at a big price and they have been highly profitable in this scenario.

I have seen plenty of worrying signs from Southampton this season and I am happy to take them on once again with Swansea City.

Back Swansea City To Win @ $5

Tottenham have dominated Sunderland in recent seasons and they have won six of the past seven games played between the two sides.

That record is expected to continue in 2016 and Tottenham will start this game as clear favourites.

Tottenham were far too strong for a hapless Stoke City last weekend and they have won ten and drawn five of their past 18 games as home favourites.

Sunderland have made a typically underwhelming start to the English Premier League season and they were simply no match for Everton last Tuesday morning.

The Black Cats have won just three of their past 18 games for a loss and they would need to improve significantly to have any chance of recording an upset win.

Tottenham are clearly the team to beat, but there is no value at their current quote and I am happy to stay out of this clash from  a betting perspective.

No Bet