Premier League teams play their 23rd league matches of the season this weekend. Our focus in this piece is on the 3pm Saturday kick-offs, which we have picked four of below.
The league leaders are in action at home this weekend, as are Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s resurgent Manchester United. Eddie Howe’s slumping Bournemouth host West Ham, while Newcastle welcome Cardiff in a relegation six-pointer.
AFC BOURNEMOUTH vs WEST HAM UNITED
Bournemouth have one point from four Premier League matches, following a 2-0 defeat to Everton last weekend.
Howe’s team are still just five points off seventh, but they are trending in the wrong direction right now. The almost trademark poor defence has been leaking goals of late, leaving the Cherries with the third-worst defensive record in the league.
The Marko Arnautovic saga has not impacted West Ham significantly. The Hammers performed well to beat Arsenal last Saturday, which put them in ninth. Manuel Pellegrini’s side are having a solid season and have got some good results away from home.
The 8/13 price on over 2.5 goals is worth backing. There have been 36 goals in 11 league matches at Dean Court.
TIP: Over 2.5 goals @ 8/13
PREDICTED SCORE: Bournemouth 2-2 West Ham (Priced at 10/1 with 888sport)
Liverpool vs CRYSTAL PALACE
Liverpool, despite Manchester City’s great start to the year, sit atop the updated Premier League winner odds.
They are still four points clear at the top of the table, but injuries have put Jurgen Klopp in a difficult position. Trent Alexander-Arnold joins Joe Gomez and Dejan Lovren on the sidelines, meaning Klopp may have to turn to a youngster at right-back.
Crystal Palace suffered a home defeat to Watford last time out, which Roy Hodgson will have seen as a missed opportunity. The Eagles are only four points ahead of the bottom three as Hodgson awaits reinforcements.
Liverpool have conceded three goals at Anfield all season. Even with their injury issues, they are a good price to keep another clean sheet.
TIP: Over 0.5 Crystal Palace goals @ 4/5
PREDICTED SCORE: Liverpool 2-0 Crystal Palace (Priced at 11/2 with 888sport)
Click: 5/2 double on Saturday's PL TV games!
MANCHESTER UNITED vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Manchester United made it six straight wins for Solskjaer at Wembley on Sunday.
The first half was flowing, while they showed defensive resilience in the second 45 minutes. Marcus Rashford continues to be lethal in front of goal and Paul Pogba is playing as well as any midfielder around right now.
Solskjaer has benefited from a kind fixture list, and this match is another that falls into that bracket. Brighton are not a great side away from home. They have lost seven of 11 away from the Amex and scored just nine goals.
This should be another easy win for the Red Devils. Manchester United to win comfortably looks a decent price.
TIP: Manchester United to win (-1) @ 3/4
PREDICTED SCORE: Manchester United 3-0 Brighton (Priced at 7/1 with 888sport)
Newcastle United vs CARDIFF CITY
A difficult run of matches has seen Newcastle pick up two points from their last five league outings.
Rafa Benitez remains frustrated about the team’s lack of transfer activity, and the club have slipped back into the bottom three, having been overtaken by Cardiff last weekend.
Neil Warnock was left frustrated as Cardiff failed to beat Huddersfield. It took them out of the bottom three, but they are matches they need to win if they are to avoid relegation. Warnock is looking to spend this window, though it looks unlikely he will add anyone before this match.
Newcastle’s home record is horrible this season. The Magpies have scored just seven goals in 11 matches in front of their loyal fans. Cardiff have been poor on the road, but the south Wales club are a good price to get something here.
TIP: Cardiff to win OR draw @ 10/11
PREDICTED SCORE: Newcastle 1-1 Cardiff (Priced at 21/4 with 888sport)
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
