English Premier League Week 3 Preview

Wolves face another huge task in attempting to record their first Premier League victory of the season against reigning champions Manchester City on Saturday night.

Wolves made their intentions clear when they made several big-name signings ahead of their return to the Premier League but they could only manage a draw against a ten-man Everton in Week 1, before finishing on the wrong end of a 2-0 score line against a ten-man Leicester last week.

City recorded a comfortable 2-0 win over Arsenal to open their title defence, but fired their first real warning shot at the rest of the competition by delivering Huddersfield a 6-1 thrashing at the Etihad last weekend. They are a truly world-class team and it’s difficult imagining them being troubled by Wolves in Week 3.

Southampton will be confident in securing their first win of the 2018/19 season at the expense of Leicester City, who will be without the services of prolific goal scorer Jamie Vardy.

The former Golden Boot winner was sent off for his 65^th-minute challenge on Wolves’ Matt Doherty in Week 2 and that has left a bit question mark over Leicester’s ability to convert chances this weekend. The Foxes still managed to walk away 2-0 victors over the newly-promoted club and a repeat of that performance would see them very hard to beat here.

The Saints held the talented Burnley roster to a goalless draw in the season-opener but failed to account for the Toffees last week and return to St Mary’s off the back of a disappointing loss. This looms as a terrific opportunity for the South England club and they’ll surely take plenty of benefit if they can record a win over a decent side like Leicester.

Ordinarily the Foxes would loom as a terrific bet in this fixture, but the loss of Vardy is massive and I am confident that Southampton can capitalise.

The only London Derby in Week 3 of the Premier League comes way of Arsenal and West Ham’s fixture at the Emirates early on Sunday morning Australian time.

Its not been the best start to life under Emery for the Gunners, who were charged with facing Manchester City and Chelsea in the first two weeks of the Premier League and subsequently suffered two losses. This match obviously isn’t a ‘must win’, but they really do need to get their campaign ticking over if they are any chance of competing for the premiership.

West Ham are in a similar predicament and enter Week 3 off the back of losses to Liverpool and Bournemouth respectively. They were clear favourites to defeat the Cherries in front of their own fans in Week 2 but failed to maintain a first-half lead and weathered ten shocking minutes of football to ultimately lose.

Arsenal are a class above the Hammers and will surely notch their first win of the season here.

One of the more intriguing fixtures in Week 3 looks like materialise when Bournemouth host Everton at midnight on Saturday.

Its been a terrific start to the season for the Cherries, who consolidated a smart Week 1 win over Cardiff with another impressive triumph last weekend; this time over West Ham and away from home. For a club that has been widely expected to face the relegation dogfight this season, they certainly have not been playing with any fear or hesitation, and a win over a club of Everton’s calibre would surely count for a lot.

The Toffees did enough to hold on for a draw with Wolves first-up despite suffering a red card, and they continued on with the job last weekend at the expense of Southampton. That performance was highlighted by Theo Walcott’s first goal for the club and the return of captain Phil Jagielka this week should only bolster their chances more.

This is clearly the biggest test of the Cherries’ season to date and I am confident that Everton can sneak home at a nice price.

This match between the Terriers and Bluebirds in Huddersfield is set to be one of the better contests in Week 3 of the Premier League and both clubs will be confident of securing their first win of the season respectively.

Huddersfield and anchored to the bottom of the table after two weeks but to their defence, they were dealt a shocking hand by the FA in the form of Chelsea in Week 1 and Manchester City in Week 2. They were easily accounted for in the season-opener and were absolutely thrashed last weekend, to the tune of 6-1. This is a far-more achievable task and their performance in Week 3 will be a far-better indicator of their abilities.

It’s also been a tough start to the season for Cardiff, who were easily accounted for by Bournemouth in Week 1 before producing a credible performance to draw with Newcastle last week. Their attack has clearly been their biggest downfall in the first two weeks of the EPL and they registered only one shot on target last weekend.

I am confident that Huddersfield can get the campaign on track with a win against the competition’s new boys.

The Reds have come to play this season and are primed for another big performance and result when they host Brighton early on Sunday morning.

A 4-0 demolition of West Ham was enough to see them to the top of the table in Week 1 and if not for Manchester City destroying Huddersfield last weekend, they would still be there. They proved too good for Crystal Palace in Week 2 and another performance like those would surely be too good for Brighton.

The Seagulls were pretty comfortably beaten by Watford in Week 1 and not a lot was expected from the seaside club when they lined up opposite Manchester United last weekend, but they mustered one of their best ever performances in the top league to walk away 3-2 winners. That performance is sure to have filled their sails and they will be quietly confident of taking about big scalp in Week 3.

Liverpool will simply prove too good here and they can keep the pressure on City with another big win.

Watford and Crystal Palace will look to continue decent starts to the season when they square off at Vicarage Road in Week 3.

The Hornets have enjoyed a flying start to their campaign and followed up a smart 2-0 win over Brighton with an easy 3-1 triumph against a decent Burnley outfit at Turf Moor. They are a club that could find themselves towards the bottom of the table at season’s end and every win this early in the campaign could prove vital.

Palace began their season in the best way possible when dispatching new boys Fulham, but they were brought back down to earth at the hands of Liverpool in Week 2. This looms as a far better opportunity for the London club and they certainly have the means to compete.

This looks to be another very winnable match for Watford and they can make it three in a row.

Fulham are offered a great opportunity to notch their first win back in the Premier League when they host a misfiring Burnley at Craven Cottage.

Its zero from two for the Cottagers so far, but they have faced some pretty stiff opposition and are clearly warming to the task. They managed to find the back of the net once against Spurs last weekend and went with their London rivals for more than seventy wins and with added confidence, can certainly take something from this fixture.

Burnley were held to a scoreless draw in Week 1, but they were thoroughly outplayed by Watford at home most recently and will need to improve quickly if they are any hope of replicating last season’s heroics.

I am confident that Fulham can get on the board with a low-scoring win.

Newcastle’s difficult start to the season looks set to continue when they host Chelsea in the north of England on Monday morning.

Newcastle were charged with facing Spurs in the season-opener and while they did get on the scoresheet, it did not surprise many to see them lose. Last weekend’s trip to Cardiff looked like a great opportunity at points, but they failed to convert any of their chances and suffered a red card partway through the second half.

Chelsea are understandably two from two and they stamped themselves as a live premiership hope with a smart win over London rivals Arsenal in Week 2. They absolutely flew the gates in that match and while they did allow the Gunners back into the contest, still managed to find the winner late in the picture.

Chelsea are a class above Newcastle at current and they should be entering Week 4 undefeated.

The match of the round also happens to be the last and we are set for an absolute blockbuster when Manchester United and Tottenham trade blows at Old Trafford on Tuesday morning.

United did enough to sneak past Leicester City in Week 1 but worryingly, they fell completely off the wagon last weekend when delivered a 3-2 defeat by minnows Brighton. There’s clearly a lot more going on behind closed doors and they’ll need to improve noticeably to compete with Spurs, even at home.

Tottenham also made it two in a row with a healthy win over the spirited Fulham last weekend and will take plenty of confidence into this match. World Cup Golden Boot winner Harry Kane opened his season account and will be the major target for Spurs’ midfield again on Tuesday.

This match has draw written all over it and I am happy to make that my betting play at healthy odds.