The Premier League table has returned to the status quo with both Liverpool and Man City occupying the top two spots, but that could all change after this weekend with the previous two champions facing off at Anfield on Monday morning!
Elsewhere, Man U welcomes an injury-stricken Everton squad to Old Trafford, the Saints attempt to extend their unbeaten run against Chelsea to four games and the Gunners look to build on their impressive form when they travel to Brighton.
Our Premier League Prophet has previewed all 10 Game Week 7 fixtures and dished up his best betting plays below!
Game week 7 gets underway at Old Trafford as United looks to avoid back-to-back home league defeats.
The Toffees have bested the Red Devils just once across the pairs’ last 28 meetings in Manchester (7D,20L), that win came back in 2013 when former Everton gaffer David Moyes was at the helm of United.
Ole will be without club captain Harry Maguire, who suffered a calf strain during United’s defeat to Aston Villa, meaning Lindelof will likely partner Varane in the backline for the first time this season.
Both sides to score has hit in the last four league fixtures between these sides, while Man U’s last PL clean sheet at home came back in March last season.
United have struggled to find their identity on the pitch after welcoming a host of new players in the offseason, at $1.53 they represent little value in the H2H market, instead, I’ll be backing their defensive woes to continue.
After putting the league on notice last season, Leeds have gone largely unnoticed across the start of the 2021/22 campaign.
Bielsa’s boys are winless after six fixtures (3D,3L), and have not gone seven games without victory to start the season in the club’s 94-year history.
Whereas Watford has notched up two wins upon their return to the top-flight (1D,3L), and are looking to go back-to-back on the road after seeing off the Canaries 3-0 in GW5.
The Hornets’ fast start to the season can be largely attributed to the form of one man, Ismalia Sarr has terrorised multiple sides down Watford’s right flank, registering 11 shots on target across the opening six games, second only to Salah (16).
Sarr has registered 2+ shots on target in four of his last six Premier League appearances, and with Leeds chasing their first win, I can see plenty of opportunities falling the Senegalese striker’s way.
Next up Wolves play host to Newcastle, who are looking for their first league win.
Wolverhampton is without a win in their last four home PL fixtures and is yet to score a goal at Molineux this season.
Amazingly the last five league meetings between this pair have resulted in 1-1 draws, while the last 12 matches have seen both teams score, which is a competition record.
Despite winning last weekend, the Wolves were outclassed by Southampton across the field, with their Keeper Jose Sa largely to thank for his side picking up all three competition points.
At $5.20 the Toons are huge overs in the H2H market, with the Wolves’ recent struggles at home I am more than happy to take on the price here.
Chelsea aims to get back to winning ways when they welcome the Saints to Stamford Bridge.
Southampton has tasted success against the Blues in recent times, taking five competition points across the pairs’ last three meetings, including a 2-0 victory at the Bridge in 2019!
Though Chelsea is a different beast now, the London giants have conceded just twice this season, and only against the ilk of Liverpool and Man City.
On the other side, the Saints have failed to score in three straight league fixtures, a drought that I’m backing to continue against Tuchel’s stingy Blues.
There’s not much to like here from a neutral’s perspective, actually, there’s not much to like in this fixture full stop.
Norwich is sitting dead last with zero wins, zero draws, and six losses, scoring a measly two goals while conceding 16!
Meanwhile, Burnley is just two points above the Canaries in 19th place, after securing draws against both Brentford and Leicester.
The Clarets have only lost one for their last 11 fixtures against the Canaries, while Chris Wood has netted five times across the last four meetings.
$1.87 for Burnley is the best price you’ll get for backing against Norwich for the rest of the season, I suggest jumping on now.
Following a horrendous start to the season, Arsenal is gunning for its fourth straight league win!
They’ll have to get past this season’s surprise package in Brighton, who sit just one point behind league leaders Liverpool after six games.
The Gunners will take confidence from knowing they’ve bettered the Seagulls in their pair previous two outings to nil.
Mikel Arteta’s young core of players are currently feeding off each other’s enthusiasm, contributing to a fearless and expansive style of play that lends itself to the Arsenal of old!
My only concern for the Gunners is their inability to defend set-pieces, an area of their game that could be easily exploited by the likes of Shane Duffy and Lewis Dunk.
Despite that obvious shortcoming, I believe Arsenal has really turned a corner here and will force their way back into the top eight at the expense of Brighton.
Leicester travels to the capital looking to get its season back on track.
They’ll be coming up against a young and hungry Palace outfit who remain undefeated at Selhurst Park this season (1W,2D) while conceding just one goal in front of the home fans.
The Foxes have a Friday morning Europa match in Warsaw, Poland to contend with before regrouping for what is sure to be a hostile affair in London.
Under the watchful eye of Patrick Vieira, the Eagles have a renewed sense of belief this season, with losses away to both Chelsea and Liverpool the only blemishes on an otherwise impressive start.
Though still early on, I get the sense that Leicester will be dropping back with the rest of the chasing pack this season, as their squad depth is pushed to the absolute limit.
I like Palace at their current price here ($3.05), but I’m going to take the insurance of a double chance coupled with a shot on target from Wilf Zaha, who is looking to become the first Crystal Palace player to reach 50 EPL goals.
Is Tottenham a club in crisis?
Is Harry Kane intentionally tanking his transfer value?
Can Nuno Santo successfully manage a squad that consists of less than 90% Portuguese players?
All of the above are valid questions, none of which are can be answered with an ounce of certainty.
Following a promising start to the season, the Spurs have fallen to three straight defeats, conceding three goals across each fixture!
At the heart of Tottenham’s problem is a disgruntled star, Kane hasn’t contributed to a single Spurs’ goal this season and looks a fair few strides off the pace thus far.
Alternatively, everything is starting to come up Villa, who are targeting their third straight league victory after seeing off both Everton and Man United to nil!
Tottenham has no right being the bookies’ favourite for this contest, and at $3.40 the Villains look like an absolute steal.
West Ham takes on Brentford at the Olympic Stadium in what is sure to be an intriguing affair.
Both sides march into this contest with just one defeat for the season, an especially impressive feat for the newly promoted Bees.
Despite missing a game through suspension, no player has been involved in more goals this season than Michail Antonio (5G,3A).
Hammers’ attack-positive style has led to plenty of goals at both ends of the ground, with just one of their six fixtures finishing without both teams scoring.
As such, I’m backing the goals to flow and Antonio to at least test the Brentford gloveman.
1st v 2nd
Red v Blue
Klopp v Pep
The scene is set for what is excepted to be the match of the season thus far!
Man City won this fixture 4-1 last season, though that was at an empty Anfield during a succession of Liverpool losses and you’d have to go back a further 18 matches to discover City’s previous away victory against the Reds!
City enters this fixture off the back of a disappointing 0-2 result vs PSG in the Champions League, meanwhile, the Reds blew FC Port out of the water, running away with the match 5-1.
Salah has been in excellent form this season, scoring five goals and assisting two others.
The Egyptian King has thrived in this fixture, seeing six score involvements (4G,2A) across his last five games against the Citizens.
With Anfield full of Scousers and Mo Salah in giant-killing form, I’m going to back the home side to deliver the first telling blow in the race for the 2021/22 EPL Premiership!