Lee Davy previews the weekend’s Premier League fixtures including a look into his crystal ball where he sees upsets at both Stoke and Leicester.
Premier League Week 6 Fixtures
West Ham v Spurs
Burnley v Huddersfield
Everton v Bournemouth
Man City v Crystal Palace
Southampton v Man Utd
Swansea v Watford
Stoke v Chelsea
Leicester v Liverpool
Brighton v Newcastle
Arsenal v West Brom
West Ham v Spurs
West Ham +450
Spurs -170
Draw +305
In one sense it’s already 2-0 to West Ham.
The Hammers were the preferred bidders for the tenancy of the London Stadium, beating a rival bid from Spurs, and last season West Ham killed their London rival’s Premier League title hopes with a 1-0 home win.
But on the park, these two teams cannot be further apart.
West Ham lies just outside of the bottom three on goal difference, and Slaven Bilic is the 2/1 fave to be the next ex-Premier League manager.
Spurs, on the other hand, are nestled nicely in fifth, having gone four matches unbeaten, since their home defeat to the champions, Chelsea. Spurs will be disappointed with their home draw against Swansea, and West Ham will be buoyant after picking up four points in their last two matches, but there is only one winner for me.
Verdict – Spurs win.
Burnley v Huddersfield
Burnley +110
Huddersfield +270
Draw +215
Not that long ago you would have been ridiculed for suggesting Burnley and Huddersfield would one day hold their own in the top tier of English football, but here they are. Both sides have had tremendous starts to the season, losing only one of their opening five games.
There were times last season that Burnley was unstoppable at Turfmoor, but they were hit with a series of home defeats as the season drew to a close. That said, I don’t think Huddersfield will cause them to much fuss.
Verdict – Burnley win.
Everton v Bournemouth
Everton – 150
Bournemouth – +425
Draw +285
Everton has been rancid since the second game of the season. The fixture list hasn’t helped, having to face four of last season’s top six sides in their first five games, but let’s remember Crystal Palace faced a similar lineup of foes last year and came out of the other end considerably better.
Everton’s problem has been scoring goals. Only Wayne Rooney has found the net, and not one strike has hit the back of the net in their past four games, conceding 12 goals in the process.
Bournemouth managed to bag their first victory of the season with a 2-1 win over their South Coast rivals, Brighton, this past weekend, ending a run of four consecutive Premier League defeats, scoring only once.
I think Everton is the wounded animal, and Bournemouth is about to have a chunk taken out of them. Last year, Everton won 6-3 in this fixture, and I expect another high scoring win for Everton.
Verdict – Everton win.
Man City v Crystal Palace
Man City – 700
Crystal Palace +1900
Draw +700
While Crystal Palace was setting a new top-flight record for going five games out of the traps without scoring a single goal, Man City was at Vicarage Road hammering six past Watford. The record will extend to six games.
Verdict – Man City win
Southampton v Man Utd
Southampton +375
Man Utd -135
Draw +260
Southampton sits where Southampton sit, in that no man’s land just outside of the European places. And that’s no mean feat considering they sell their best players and sack their manager each season.
But Southampton has a problem with Man Utd.
You have to go back to 2003 to find a home win for the Saints, and United have won four of their previous seven visits. Southampton has failed to score in five of their last seven matches, in all competitions. At the other scale, United are the joint top scorers with 16.
Verdict – Man Utd win.
Swansea v Watford
Swansea – +130
Watford +215
Draw +225
Swansea has lost both of their home games this season, and Watford has won both of their away games. Watford has only won two of their previous eight meetings and goals have been scarce in the past five games between the pair.
Swansea will be on a high after leaving Wembley with a draw on the weekend, and Watford will have a headache after suffering the heaviest defeat in the club’s history against Man City.
Verdict – a draw.
Stoke v Chelsea
Stoke +475
Chelsea -165
Draw +285
Stoke is unbeaten at home this season, including beating Arsenal and drawing
with Man Utd. Chelsea has won both of their away ties and had won four games on the bounce before their goalless draw with Arsenal.
In the past 22 meetings, Stoke has only won three compared to 16 for the champions, but in the previous five meetings at The Brittania, Stoke has won three.
I have a feeling; Mark Hughes is going to get his side riled up for this one.
It will be a shock.
Verdict – Stoke win.
Leicester v Liverpool
Leicester +295
Liverpool -110
Draw +260
The history books show that Liverpool should walk away from the King Power with three points having avoided defeat nine times in the past eleven games.
Leicester’s league position isn’t an accurate representation of how they have been playing. The Foxes have faced United, Arsenal, and Chelsea in the opening five games, and all three encounters have been competitive.
Liverpool, on the other hand, has been highly erratic, no doubt bothered by the Philippe Coutinho saga. But the Brazilian bastion of brilliance is back, but I think it will take him a few weeks to get those cylinders firing, and in the meantime, Leicester will nick this one.
Verdict – Leicester win.
Brighton v Newcastle
Brighton +165
Newcastle +180
Draw +205
Newcastle beat Brighton both home and away last season, and are currently the fourth hottest team in the Premier League behind the champions and the two Manchester clubs.
Brighton has found life adjusting to the top tier difficult, but have beaten Barnet and West Brom in their last two home games scoring six goals.
The Seagulls will be flying, but I think the Magpies will steal it.
Verdict – Newcastle win.
Arsenal v West Brom
Arsenal -315
West Brom +800
Draw +425
The Gunners have been victorious in their last six home ties against West Brom, and have rebounded from defeats to Stoke and Liverpool with two wins, and a goalless draw in the backyard of the champions.
West Brom won their two opening games, but have since drawn two, and lost to lowly Brighton.
Verdict – Arsenal win.
Premier League Table
1. Man City – 13 pts
2. Man Utd – 13
3. Chelsea – 10
4. Newcastle – 9
5. Spurs – 8
6. Huddersfield – 8
7. Burnley – 8
8. Liverpool – 8
9. Southampton – 8
10. West Brom – 8
11. Watford – 8
12. Arsenal – 7
13. Stoke – 5
14. Swansea – 5
15. Leicester – 4
16. Brighton – 4
17. West Ham – 4
18. Everton – 4
19. Bournemouth – 3
20. Crystal Palace – 0
Premier League Title Winning Odds
Man City -110
Man Utd +275
Chelsea +500
Spurs +1400
