Each match from the Premier League live on television this weekend features at least one side who played in Europe during the week. The standout meeting is Chelsea’s home match against Manchester City which will be key to the outcome of the league. Chelsea are currently three points adrift of the visitors so the gap could be nothing or six points after this game so it’s a true six-pointer.
Fans of Manchester United and their players will be avidly looking for the result. United play Crystal Palace at Old Trafford and that side have gone six games without winning a point or scoring a goal. In fact Palace have made the worst start in the history of the Premier League so this is a great chance for United to record a convincing result before the start of the Chelsea and City meeting.
Both sides had great results in the Champions League. Chelsea scored the winner against Atletico Madrid deep into injury time and City eased passed Shakhtar Donetsk, despite missing a penalty. There is probably no love lost between Antonio Conte and Pep Guardiola but the former can be the top dog on the day because Chelsea are fancied to win this match.
Chelsea scored first in 30 Premier League games last season and won the title with something to spare. The task of defending that honour has been too burdensome in recent years and Chelsea are slightly off the pace and not playing as well as the Manchester clubs. Conte has beefed up his squad but the departure of Nemanja Matic to United is a mystery. Diego Costa has gone back to Atletico Madrid.
City are firing on all cylinders and purring all over the field. The coach has been fine tuning but now it has all come together. The first real acid test is a trip to Chelsea and City might fall short. The squad is full of goals and the defense and keeper look solid. City are tipped to get beat in their first major test of the season which means United will be top of the league….if they beat Palace at home. Football can be a funny old game and nothing is guaranteed but a home win is as close as possible.
There is a triple header on Sunday and it’s tempting to suggest three home wins but something nearly always goes wrong when you combine bankers in a multiple bet. Arsenal and Everton should secure the three points against Brighton and Burnley at home but the fly in the ointment could be Liverpool who can share the points at Newcastle. Arsenal and Everton cannot afford to drop points and they are fancied to win home fixtures this Sunday.
Newcastle were average in losing at Brighton last weekend. They won the Championship last season and finished one point and one place above Brighton. This was the first Premier League meeting between the clubs and Brighton edged a tight contest. Newcastle has won their previous three matches and those results are a better indicator of their current form. Liverpool’s visit will be their toughest assignment of the season since losing to Tottenham on the opening day
Liverpool continue to create many chances but can’t win matches. They have drawn the last two one-all but could have won both by at last two goals, Scoring is a basic requirement of a football team and Liverpool don’t do it often enough to put matches to bed and are vulnerable at the other end. Newcastle may not take advantage and the projected outcome is a scoring draw.
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