After the first international break of the season, the Premier League and Sky Bet Championship got back underway last weekend. We were treated to a fascinating Manchester derby at Old Trafford, an intriguing battle at the Emirates and many other superb contests across England’s top two divisions.
The likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool put in masterclass performances, whilst Arsenal, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace secured narrow but important victories. City won the battle of Manchester, and Watford came from 2-0 down to shock West Ham United. There were also plenty of exciting matches in the Sky Bet Championship, where Huddersfield Town maintained their superb start, and the likes of Barnsley, Newcastle United and Norwich City kept up with the pace.
This weekend, we have another enthralling fixture list in both the Premier League and Championship to look forward to – starting with Liverpool’s visit to Stamford Bridge on Friday, and ending with the Tottenham Hotspur v Sunderland game at White Hart Lane on Sunday. We’re previewing this weekend’s top seven fixtures from the top two tiers of English football with a betting tip or seven to help you cash in!
- Chelsea v Liverpool – Chelsea to Win (13/10 at Bet365)
- Everton v Middlesbrough – Everton to Win and Both Teams to Score (3/1 at Betfair)
- Watford v Manchester United – Draw (10/3 at Betfred)
- Crystal Palace v Stoke City – Crystal Palace to Win -1 (14/5 at Coral)
- Tottenham Hotspur v Sunderland – Tottenham Hotspur to Win -2 (9/4 at Ladbrokes)
- Cardiff City v Leeds United – Cardiff City to Win and Both Teams to Score (7/2 at BetVictor)
- Birmingham City v Sheffield Wednesday – Birmingham City to Win 1-0 (11/2 at BetVictor)
Premier League
The Premier League is already starting to take shape, as Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Arsenal occupy the top six places. After a priceless 2-1 win at Old Trafford on Saturday, Pep Guardiola’s City sit top of the table with 12 points from a possible 12. Antonio Conte’s Blues are second, after earning a 2-2 draw in an eventful game at the Liberty Stadium against Swansea City. Mark Hughes’ Stoke City prop up the table, after gaining just a single point thus far.
Chelsea v Liverpool – 16th September
We kick things off at Stamford Bridge where Chelsea meet Liverpool in Friday night’s heavyweight clash in west London. Conte’s men will be looking to get back to winning ways after letting two points slip in South Wales. Meanwhile, the Reds will be hoping to build on their emphatic 4-1 win over champions Leicester City.
Last season, Jurgen Klopp’s side took four points off the west Londoners. In fact, Liverpool’s 3-1 win at the Bridge in October was Klopp’s first away victory in charge of the Reds. The last time Chelsea got the better of the Merseysiders in the league at home was back in December 2013 – they will certainly be looking to rectify that this Friday.
Despite Liverpool’s good form, we can see Chelsea nicking this one. After a dismal season last year, the Blues’ new Italian boss has already brought the feelgood factor back to Stamford Bridge. Chelsea are priced at 13/10 with Bet365 for the victory, and we can’t see anything other than a home win unfolding in this one.
Chelsea to Win – 13/10 at Bet365
Everton v Middlesbrough – 17th September
Saturday’s late televised kick off sees Ronald Koeman’s Everton welcome Aitor Karanka’s Middlesbrough to Goodison Park. The new Toffees boss has had a great start to life in Merseyside, and he will be looking to continue that with a win on Saturday.
However, Boro might not be an easy nut to crack these days, as they have already proven that they can mix it with the big boys. Karanka’s men have beaten Sunderland and earned very good draws with Stoke and West Bromwich Albion. Unfortunately for the Teesside club, they came unstuck against Alan Pardew’s Crystal Palace last time out, disappointingly losing 2-1 at the Riverside to the south London outfit.
Everton have gained seven points out of nine under Koeman so far this season, and we can see them adding to that total with another victory on Saturday. However, we can still see Boro scoring at Goodison. Therefore, Betfair’s 3/1 for a home win and both teams to score is the way forward in this one, with the solid defence of Boro unlikely to be able to keep the Toffees at bay.
Everton to Win and Both Teams to Score – 3/1 at Betfair
Watford v Manchester United – 18th September
Walter Mazzarri’s Watford may have had an indifferent start to the season, but they will certainly be buoyed by their stunning 4-2 comeback win at West Ham United last time out. On Sunday, the Hornets welcome Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United to Vicarage Road.
In contrast to Watford, United will be gutted to have dropped their first points of the season to rivals Manchester City last weekend. However, after a shocking start, which saw City race into a 2-0 lead, there were certainly positives for the Red Devils to take from Saturday’s showdown at the Theatre of Dreams.
After their superb 4-2 win at the London Stadium last Saturday, we can see Mazzarri’s men nicking a draw against United. Of course, Man Utd will be going all out for the win, but we think the best value is in Betfred’s 10/3 for the draw.
Draw – 10/3 at Betfred
Crystal Palace v Stoke City – 18th September
Crystal Palace welcome bottom club Stoke City to Selhurst Park on the back of their first Premier League win of the season on Saturday. The Eagles secured a much-welcome 2-1 victory at Middlesbrough, whilst Mark Hughes’ side were thumped 4-0 at home by Tottenham Hotspur.
We may only be four games into the new Premier League season, but the Potters are already in desperate need of a win. After losing to Manchester City, Everton and Spurs, conceding a whopping 10 goals in the process, Stoke sit bottom of the table with just a single point to their name. Confidence is low and pre-season optimism is long gone.
Palace’s 2-1 win at the Riverside on Saturday was their first league victory of the campaign, which saw them move out of the relegation zone and into 11th place in the Premier League table. We can see them following up that narrow victory with a more comfortable one this weekend. We like the look of Coral’s 14/5 for the Eagles to win -1 at Selhurst Park. Christian Benteke settled straight into life in London with a goal and the powerful forward could be revelation at Palace.
Crystal Palace to Win -1 – 14/5 at Coral
Tottenham Hotspur v Sunderland – 18th September
The last of our top-flight matches sees David Moyes’ Sunderland make the trip to White Hart Lane to take on Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. Spurs have had a fast start to their campaign, which includes thumping Stoke 4-0 at the Bet365 Stadium last time out. As for the Black Cats, they have taken just one point so far (prior to their Monday night game with Everton).
The Lilywhites were outstanding at Stoke, as they put in a ruthless attacking performance, which shot them up to fourth in the Premier League table. Two goals from the excellent Heung-Min Son were added to by a goal each from England duo Dele Alli and Harry Kane to secure a stunning 4-0 win. Meanwhile, Sunderland have taken just one point from their first three league games under Moyes.
We can only see one winner in this one, and that’s Pochettino’s rampant Spurs. In fact, we’re predicting a comfortable win for the London outfit. The standout bet in this one is a Tottenham -2 victory, which is handsomely priced at odds of 9/4 at Ladbrokes.
Tottenham Hotspur to Win 2 – 9/4 at Ladbrokes
Championship
Moving away from the Premier League and into the Championship, we once again have another excellent round of fixtures to look forward to this weekend. Huddersfield Town’s 1-0 win at West Yorkshire rivals Leeds United kept David Wagner’s side top of the table. Meanwhile, there were notable wins for the likes of Norwich City, Newcastle United, Sheffield Wednesday, Barnsley and Brentford. This weekend, we focus on Cardiff City’s crucial home match with Leeds, and the intriguing looking fixture between high-flying Birmingham City and Sheffield Wednesday.
Cardiff City v Leeds United – 17th September
We kick things off with the early match in South Wales, as Cardiff City host Leeds United at the Cardiff City Stadium. Both sides have had an extremely disappointing start to their seasons, and both will be looking for a victory in this one. Leeds may have done the double over the Bluebirds last year, but can they win in the Welsh capital for the second year running on Saturday? Former Swansea boss Garry Monk can be sure of a warm reception but he needs a result otherwise his notoriously trigger-happy chairman may just find the panic button too hard to resist.
Cardiff sit just one point above the Whites in the Championship table, having taken a mere five points from their opening six league fixtures. Both teams have managed just one win each so far. Leeds secured an unlikely 2-0 win at the Cardiff City Stadium last season, but we’re struggling to see them repeating that this weekend.
Paul Trollope’s team are in real need of another home win, considering they have managed just one this season, which came against lowly Blackburn Rovers a month ago. The Bluebirds have kept just one clean sheet all season, and we can see a desperate Leeds notching in Wales on the weekend. Because of that, the standout bet in this one is Cardiff to win and both teams to score, which is nicely priced at 7/2 with BetVictor.
Cardiff City to Win and Both Teams to Score – 7/2 at BetVictor
Birmingham City v Sheffield Wednesday – 17th September
Last up, we take a look at Birmingham City’s match with Sheffield Wednesday at St Andrews on Saturday evening. Gary Rowett’s side, who have taken a very respectable 11 points from their opening six league games so far, currently sit fourth in the Championship table. Meanwhile, the Owls are 16th on eight points, a disappointing return considering how close to promotion they went last term.
On paper, these two are very evenly matched. However, going by recent form, you have to side with the home team. Last season, Sheffield Wednesday managed to beat the Blues home and away, with a 5-1 aggregate scoreline. At St Andrews last time round, two Gary Hooper goals gave the Owls a 2-1 win in February.
Still, we can envision a tight home victory in this one. Birmingham have not beaten Wednesday 1-0 since a solitary Geoff Horsfield strike gave them a narrow victory at Hillsborough in an Old Division One fixture back in December 2001. However, we like the look of that scoreline on Saturday, and BetVictor have the very tempting odds of 11/2 for a 1-0 home win.
Birmingham City to Win 1-0 – 11/2 at BetVictor