Premier League Game Week 8 Tips & Preview

Premier League Game Week 8 Tips & Preview

The Premier League returns this weekend following another untimely international break.

Newcastle has been the talk of the town following a big-money takeover by a Saudi government consortium, though their fortunes on the pitch are unlikely to change this week when they take on a Spurs outfit searching for back-to-back wins.

Elsewhere, Man U looks to continue their incredible run on the road when they visit Leicester, Chelsea attempt to hold onto the top spot with a victory over Brentford, while the Reds welcome Claudio Ranieri back to the league.

We’ve previewed all ten Game Week 8 EPL fixtures and provided our best betting plays below!

WATFORD VS LIVERPOOL
SGM: Liverpool + Salah Anytime + Over 2.5 $2.75

Talk about a baptism of fire!

Claudio Ranieri is welcomed back to the Premier League with a home game against the undefeated Reds.

The Tinkerman knows this opposition all too well, winning four of his five PL home fixtures against the former champs.

The Red’s last trip to Watford saw them fall to an embarrassing 3-0 defeat, ending a streak of 44 league games without defeat at the time.

Klopp’s side has since established another streak of 17 PL games without defeat dating back to last season.

The Reds have enjoyed their time on the road this campaign, winning every fixture while registering at least three goals in each.

It comes as no surprise that Mo Salah has been at the forefront of the Reds’ success, scoring in his last seven club appearances across all comps, while bagging eight in his six previous meetings with the Hornets!

The over 2.5 total goals market has hit in five of the last six league meetings between this pair, with Liverpool scoring 18 times across the trip!

I’m backing Salah’s career-best form to continue along with a Liverpool victory in a Same Game Multi.

 

ASTON VILLA VS WOLVES
Under 2.5 Goals $1.72

Following a rough start to the season, the Wolves are out to claim their third straight league win when they travel to Villa Park.

The Villans are undefeated at home this season (2W,1L), with Dean Smith keen to reestablish the Villa Park fortress with the return of the Claret & Blue Army.

The Wolves have enjoyed their last two trips to the West Midlands, claiming four from a possible six points, while keeping two clean sheets.

Six of the Wolves’ seven fixtures this season have finished with under 2.5 goals scored, all of which saw only one team score.

Only two goals have been scored across this pairs’ last three meetings, as such I’m happy to take on the ‘Unders’, especially while the Wolves continue to stutter in front of goals.

SOUTHAMPTON VS LEEDS
Leeds $2.90

Leeds are out to complete three straight league victories over Southampton when the two sides meet at St Marys this weekend.

The Saints are looking to break their duck this season (4D,3L), though they will have their work cut out for themselves without Captain & top goalscorer James Ward-Prowse to call upon after he picked up a suspension last time out.

The Whites waltz into this contest off the back of their first win of the season, be it a 1-0 victory at home to Watford.

El Loco Bielsa is known for his tactical brilliance, and with two weeks to prepare for this fixture I fear the worst for Southampton fans.

 

LEICESTER VS MAN UTD
MAN UTD $2.05

Leicester welcomes Manchester United to King Power Stadium as both sides strive to return to winning ways.

A result for United here will see them extend their unbeaten league away record to 30 games (19W,10D), a run that includes a 2-2 draw against the Foxes back in December.

Following a host of injuries early in the season, Leicester has struggled to find any consistency on the pitch, especially across their backline which has failed to keep a clean sheet since GW1.

Ole came under fire last game week when he fielded an understrength side against the Toffees, choosing to leave an in-form Ronaldo on the pine, a decision I can’t see him repeating here.

Should Ronaldo find the back of the net against Leicester, it will represent the 120th professional football club which the mercurial striker has scored against!

For mine, United possesses too much firepower for the faltering Foxes to keep at bay here.

MAN CITY VS BURNLEY
Man City (-2) $2.00

Optus Sports will need to show a disclaimer before this fixture, as Man City prepares to serve Burnley their brutal bi-annual beatdown!

Amazingly, the Citizens have won each of their last four home fixtures against the Clarets 5-0!

Pep will have labeled this match on his calendar as “Goal Difference Booster”, previously outscoring Sean Dyche’s team 30-1 across their last eight meetings.

City currently has the best defensive record in the league, conceding just three goals over the opening seven fixtures, all of which have come on the road.

Even though a fifth straight 5-0 victory might be a stretch, I can see the current champs easily covering a two-goal handicap here.

I suggest waiting for line-ups to drop for this one, before proceeding to back City’s starting front three to bag a goal each.

NORWICH VS BRIGHTON
Brighton $2.15

2021/22 EPL Tipping rules:
#1: Back against Norwich.

Norwich currently sits dead last on the table with a solitary point to their name, a point which was earned against fellow winless outfit Burnley.

The Canaries have the least goals for (2), joint-most goals against (16), and look a deadset certainty for relegation.

Meanwhile, Brighton is sitting in 6th place and are playing a genuinely attractive brand of football.

Graham Potter’s side has lost just one match this season and is undefeated on the road (2W,1D).

The Seagulls hold a perfect record against the Canaries in the PL, winning both fixtures to nil in 2019/20.

Brighton’s current H2H price of $2.15 is an absolute steal, and it’s sure to firm in closer to kickoff.

 

BRENTFORD VS CHELSEA
SGM: Chelsea & Over 1.5 Total Goals $1.96

The Bees are out to create history as they attempt to win their opening four Premier League London derbies by defeating the Blues for the first time since 1939!

They come up against a side that has grown accustomed to winning these fixtures, with Tuchel leading the Blues to six straight away London derby victories, no side has ever won seven straight.

Brentford has quickly become everyone’s 2nd team, their “never say die” attitude has seen them steal last gasp results against West Ham and Liverpool across their previous two matches.

Though unlike against the Reds and Hammers, Chelsea’s defensive set-up will likely choke the life out of the London minnows.

Six of Chelsea’s seven PL fixtures have seen 2+ goals scored, with the Blues winning five of such encounters (1D).

If Chelsea considers themselves as real title contenders, then they’ll need to take maximum points away from fixtures like this one.

EVERTON VS WEST HAM
Over 2.5 $1.85

Everton vs West Ham is shaping up as the most exciting fixture of the round.

The Toffees are eyeing off cour consecutive home victory to open the season for the first time in the club’s history.

Standing in their way are the Hammers, a side managed by their former gaffer and also tasted victory on their last visit to Goodison Park.

Both Everton and West Ham have shown an eagerness to move the ball quickly, with both units kept scoreless on just one occasion this season.

I’m expecting plenty of chances to be created at both ends of the pitch in a game that could easily fall either way, as such I’m steering clear of the H2H market, instead, I’ll be backing the goals to flow.

NEWCASTLE VS TOTTENHAM
Over 3.5 Goals $2.70

Newcastle fans may have sold their soul to the Devil, though they were arguably living through Hell anyway under the ownership of Mike Ashley.

With the new Saudi take-over comes new Saudi money and much like City’s transformation post-UAE take over in 2008, fortunes are about change at St. James Park!

Though any such changes are unlikely to transpire before the January transfer window, with the Toons currently stranded without a win and equal worst defensive record in the league!

On the flipside, Tottenham has drained billions of dollars into their new Stadium, just for the trophy room to remain empty!

The Spurs have leaked ten goals across their last four league fixtures (1W,3L) and more concerningly, are still waiting for Harry Kane to open his league account.

Steve Bruce will manage his 1000th game in here, even with experience on his side I can’t see the soon-to-be free agent lifting his side to a result here.

I’m backing the combination of two poor defensive units to return a compounding interest of goals in front of the raucous St James faithful, and who knows maybe even Harry Kane will break his duck here…

ARSENAL VS CRYSTAL PALACE
Arsenal $1.64

Game Week 8 comes to a close when Arsenal takes on Crystal Palace in the inaugural Vieira classic!

After a disastrous start to the season, Arsenal has turned their fortunes around, going undefeated across their last four fixtures (3W,1D) and conceding just once.

Alternatively, the Eagles have won once this season and scrapped their way to four draws (competition high) as Vieira looks to blood his young players.

Arteta claimed manager of the month over September and it’s evident in the Gunners approach that the players are buying into the young gaffer’s system, I’m backing the North Londoners to move from strength to strength and claim all three points on offer in this one.