A look ahead at the weekend’s odds during week 5 of the English Premier League including a review of the matches involving the 100%ers Chelsea, Liverpool and Watford.
My wife hates me.
Ok, that’s going a tad far.
She doesn’t like me.
She turned up at the place I’m working, had dinner, then asked if I would shepherd our daughter while she ran an errand. She was sleeping. I said no. I have to write.
People look at me, believing I spend my time sitting in coffee shops, drinking tea, eating salad, and watching debates between Sam Harris and Jordan Peterson.
Ok, I was doing that when my wife arrived, but even writers are entitled to a dinner break.
And now she’s looking at me like a carnivore looks at a plate of carrots and hummus dip.
I imagine professional footballers get the same treatment.
They spend all day playing a kid’s game, and then in the evening, explain that they need to watch the match on the box because it’s necessary homework.
On the face of it, I can see why someone would get a tad pissed if while this was going on, they had to take care of the kids and run a household. Put another way, kill their dreams and aspirations.
Kids.
These are the things you need to think about before sending the sperm flying towards the egg like a javelin flung by Fatima Whitbread.
And talking about kids, that’s what’s on my mind when I assess the Premier League fixture between Chelsea and Cardiff this weekend. Men v Kids.
Chelsea v Cardiff
Chelsea – 1/6
Cardiff – 16/1
Draw – 11/2
Chelsea is the odds-on favourite (in my mind) to be sitting at the top of the league with five wins from five after the weekend smoke clears.
With Liverpool and Watford facing tricky ties against Spurs and Man Utd respectively, Chelsea’s match against Cardiff seems the much simpler task of the three.
Chelsea has beaten Bournemouth, Newcastle, Arsenal, and Huddersfield in a 100% start to the season. In contrast, Cardiff has lost their last two games against Championship side Norwich in the Carabao Cup, and Arsenal in the league.
They are still winless in the league.
There isn’t much history between the two in the Premier League. Chelsea won both matches in 2013/14, but these are two completely different outfits.
Speaking to the BBC, Cardiff boss, Neil Warnock, promised that he would not be parking the bus when his side turns up at Stamford Bridge.
“You may as well have a go; you just have to hope you don’t leave yourself wide open to a pasting.” Said Warnock.
His side had the same mentality when they entertained Arsenal before the international break and were unlucky to lose in a thrilling 2-3 encounter. But I can’t see the same result outside of Wales.
Can they do the same against Chelsea?
Nah, Maurizio Sarri’s side will give them a pasting.
Result – A Home Win
Spurs v Liverpool
Liverpool – 29/20
Spurs – 7/4
Draw – 12/5
The tie of the weekend is undoubtedly Spurs v Liverpool at Wembley Stadium.
Spurs rarely take three points from the Big 6, but did hammer Man Utd last month, only to then lose the following week against a rambunctious Watford at Vicarage Road.
Liverpool has emerged as the main threat to a Man City Premier league winning repeat. Jürgen Klopp’s side has won all four of their opening league fixtures, scoring nine times, and conceding only once. The attacking trident of Mohamed Salah, Sadió Mané and Roberto Firmino account for seven of those successful strikes.
It’s going to be a critical four weeks for Liverpool, who play seven times against stellar competition including ties against Paris St Germain, Chelsea (twice), Napoli and the crunch match against Man City at Anfield.
Spurs has only beaten Liverpool once in their previous 12 games, but they did hammer them 4-1 in front of a record 80,827 fans at Wembley Stadium last time out, so they are capable of turning it on.
I’m going to sit on the fence.
Result – Draw.
Watford v Man Utd
Man Utd – 10/11
Watford 3/1
Draw 12/5
The final member of the 100% club is the most unlikely.
Watford enters their tie against Man Utd having beaten Brighton, Burnley, Crystal Palace, and Spurs in the league, as well as a Carabao Cup victory against Reading.
But United will be a different kettle of eels.
United left-back Luke Shaw misses the game after the mandatory seven-day concussion period kicked in, the moment his head hit the ground while on international duty against the Spaniards. Ashley Young is expected to replace him against his old club.
Marcus Rashford misses the game through suspension after receiving a red card against Burnley. The 19-year-old right back, Diogo Dalot, who signed from Porto in the summer, is available after recovering from a knee injury.
Javi García has a full squad to choose from with only long-term absentee Younes Kaboul unavailable for selection.
But this isn’t a tie the Hornets often fancy, having won once in 15 attempts, stretching back to 1987, including nine defeats out of ten in Premier League matches.
Result – Away Win
Fixtures in Full
Spurs v Liverpool
Man City v Fulham
Bournemouth v Leicester
Newcastle v Arsenal
Huddersfield v Crystal Palace
Chelsea v Cardiff
Watford v Man Utd
Wolves v Burnley
Everton v West Ham
Southampton v Brighton
EPL Table
1. Liverpool – 12
2. Chelsea – 12
3. Watford – 12
4. Man City – 10
5. Spurs – 9
6. Bournemouth – 7
7. Everton – 6
8. Leicester – 6
9. Arsenal – 6
10. Man Utd – 6
11. Wolves – 5
12. Southampton – 4
13. Fulham – 4
14. Brighton – 4
15. Crystal Palace – 3
16. Cardiff – 2
17. Huddersfield – 2
18. Newcastle – 1
19. Burnley – 1
20. West Ham – 0
EPL Winner Odds
Man City – 4/6
Liverpool – 11/4
Chelsea – 10/1
Spurs – 16/1
Man Utd – 40/1
Arsenal – 50/1
EPL Relegation Odds
Cardiff – 4/11
Huddersfield – 4/7
Burnley – 7/4
West Ham – 9/4
Next Manager to Leave Odds
Jose Mourinho – 3/1
Manuel Pellegrino – 7/2
