Premier League preview: Saturday’s action including Forest vs Newcastle
Man City vs Everton
Man City are eying a double treble; Everton are struggling, again, to avoid relegation. Last time out, the Toffees’ last gasp goal earned a point against Spurs; it’s difficult to imagine City slipping up in similar style against Sean Dyche’s men.
City are unbeaten against Everton since 2017. Perhaps the Toffees will make their opponents work for their win – this fixture ended in a 1-1 draw last season, after all – but Guardiola’s side will surely find a way to break down any resistance this time.
In their last three away games (all comps) Everton have failed to score at all. So combining City to win and BTTS No in a double at 17/20 is one way of giving yourself a (kind of) reasonable price for a City victory.
For a chancier option, you could take a punt on Rodri finding the net; he’s done so in each of his last two appearances at the Etihad for City, and is 24/5 to get on the scoresheet in this lunchtime kick-off.
Fulham vs Bournemouth
The Cottagers earned a point against Burnley last time out, but have scored a total of just two goals in their last four home games in all comps. Bournemouth have gone off the boil a tad too, going four league games without a win.
Still, the Cherries probably come into this match with more reason to be confident than the hosts; in large part thanks to Dominic Solanke’s goal threat.
The striker has two in his last three outings in all comps, and a fine record against Fulham – he’s scored in each of his last five league appearances against the west London side. Deadly Dom is 13/8 to find the net once again on Saturday.
Liverpool vs Burnley
Jurgen Klopp’s title aspirations suffered a setback against Arsenal last weekend. That could be bad news for Vincent Kompany, who’s Burnley side may bear the brunt of Liverpool’s wrath following that defeat.
The Merseyside team remain a fearsome opponent – certainly at Anfield, where they’ve won 4-1 and 5-2 in recent weeks.
Burnley have landed a couple of draws from their last couple of home games, but generally there’s little sign the Clarets have much hope of avoiding the drop back down to the Championship.
After last weekend’s Premier League action’s goal explosion, perhaps there’ll be a reversion to the mean this week, normality restored. But even if that’s the case, this still looks like a game where a fired-up Liverpool can fill their boots.
Over 3.5 goals is available at 17/20.
Luton vs Sheffield United
Luton are treating their fans to a season of shock and awe; Sheffield United supporters are subsisting on footballing dregs. Maybe both sides will ultimately suffer the same fate at the end of the season, but at least the Hatters are having fun along the way.
The Blades conceded five goals against a furious Aston Villa last week – having shipped five against Brighton seven days earlier. Luton probably – probably – won’t serve up a similar shellacking, but on current form it’s not out of the question.
Rob Edwards’ side has scored four goals in each of their last two league games, and have lost once in nine matches in all comps. The home win looks likely, but the odds take that into account.
Ross Barkley has provided assists in his last two matches for Luton, and is 5/1 to serve up another on Saturday. Otherwise, you could just take a chance on more goals; the reverse fixture finished 3-2 to Luton on Boxing Day after all. Over 3.5 goals is a 19/10 shot.
Spurs vs Brighton
Both these sides could do with adding a touch more stability to their performances.
Tottenham let slip two points against Everton last week in disappointing fashion, while Brighton careered from shipping four goals against Luton to smashing in four against their most detested rivals Crystal Palace.
What to expect from this one then? You’d assume goals are a safe bet on the face of it, but the Seagulls did fail to net a single goal in the three games leading up to their Eagles extravaganza.
Spurs may welcome back Heung-Min Son for this one, after South Korea exited the Asian Cup earlier this week. But Richarlison has been holding down the fort admirably in Son’s absence; the Brazilian has scored nine goals in eight league games.
Will that run continue this week? Possibly, but Brighton have their own newly prolific source of goals, with Joao Pedro notching up eight goals across his last seven appearances in all competitions for the Seagulls. Pedro also scored a brace of penalties when these sides met in the reverse fixture in late December; on that occasion Brighton won 4-2.
Who knows which side will get the better of things this time round – but the Brighton striker looks a good thing to find the net for the visitors once again. Pedro is 5/2 to score.
Wolves vs Brentford
Matheus Cunha enjoyed a hat-trick as Wolves played Chelsea off the park at Stamford Bridge last weekend. The Brazilian now has six goals from his last seven games in all competitions, and his confidence should be sky-high for this match.
The Brentford players’ own collective state of mind coming into this one may not be so upbeat. While Neal Maupay is on an impressive run with five goals in as many games, the wind-up merchant par excellence has only been on the winning side once in that run.
It’s now seven losses in eight league games for the Bees, and when these two sides met at the end of December, Wolves romped to a 4-1 victory at the G-Tech.
The sides have also met in the FA Cup since then, Wolves eventually winning 3-2 in an FA Cup replay at Molineux last month after extra time.
The home win is a 27/25 shot; Cunha is 17/10 to find the net.
Nottingham Forest vs Newcastle
After unexpectedly turning over Villa a couple of weeks ago, Newcastle had to fight for a point at home to Luton, in a bonkers affair that eventually ended 4-4.
Will Eddie Howe’s side be able to keep the thrills coming against a Forest side that may be more focused on negating thaT Newcastle attacking potential, rather than looking to go goal crazy themselves.
The City Ground hasn’t been much of a fortress of late, with the Tricky Trees having lost five of their last six home games in the Prem.
That said, Forest did beat Newcastle 3-1 when the sides met on Boxing Day, Chris Wood scoring a hat-trick against his old club. The striker is out with a hamstring injury for this one, alas.
Another former Newcastle player may be hoping to impress on Saturday though, with goalkeeper Matz Sels, once of the Magpies, set to start for Forest. Could he be in the mood to show his old club what they’re missing?
Perhaps, but with Forest’s poor record at home there’s got to be a fair chance Newcastle will have too much for them. That said, Forest have scored in each of their last six league matches; perhaps combining the Newcastle win with BTTS in a double is the way to go. That bet is available at 13/5.
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