Just three weeks into the 2023/24 Premier League season and Manchester City has already opened up a two-point gap on the rest of the competition.
Game Week 4 kicks off in Luton, as the debutants host their first ever Premier League fixture against the red hot Hammers.
Elsewhere, Ange takes the Spurs to Burnley, City host the Cottagers, Brighton squares up against Newcastle, while Arsenal and Man U clash at the Emirates.
Our VAR Virtuoso has previewed all ten EPL fixtures and provided his best betting plays below!
The Hammers can move to top of the league with a win over new comers Luton Town.
The Hatters are set to play their first home fixture of the season, with the stadium “upgrades” all but complete.
West Ham has surprised fans and pundits alike, claiming wins against more fancied opponents in Brighton and Chelsea across their last two fixtures, scoring three goals in each match.
Meanwhile, Luton has conceded seven times across their two league fixtures, scoring just one goal, which came from the penalty spot.
I’m backing the Irons to ride this purple patch to another convincing victory at the expense of an ill-equipped Luton outfit.
This fixture represents a sad state of affairs.
Both sides remain pointless across three fixtures, though the Blades have shown signs of fight, pushing Man City to the brink in GW3 and falling just short of a point against Forest the week prior.
Alternatively, the Toffees have looked void of all hope, scoreless in the league, despite playing three favourable fixtures!
Neither side inspires much confidence from a punting perspective, though the Blades are a tough fixture at Bramall Lane and I have them to edge Everton in what should be a dull affair.
The Blues look to build on an impressive performance against Luton in GW3 when they play host to Forest on Saturday night (AEST).
Despite claiming first win last week, Chelsea’s performances have notably better than last season, with the playing group clearly buying into Pochettino’s style.
Notts Forest will be ruing a missed opportunity at Old Trafford last time out, blowing an early two goal lead and ultimately losing 3-2.
Raheem Sterling looks completely rejuvenated under Poch, the zippy forward scored a brace against Luton and I’m backing him to terrorise Nottingham’s left side.
I’m also betting an improved Blues side to claim back-to-back home victories combined with a Sterling strike.
The Bees welcome the Cherries to Brentford Community Stadium for what should be an exciting contest.
Brentford are one of six sides yet to taste defeat this season (1W,2D), managing to score six goals across the opening three fixtures despite the absence of Ivan Toney.
Alternatively, Bournemouth are yet to taste victory this campaign (1D,2L), though they’ve been dealt a run of tough fixtures.
It’s hard to look past the home team in this one, it’s worth combining the result with over 1.5 total goals as a value play.
City will attempt to keep their perfect record intact (3W), when they play host to a plucky Fulham side.
The Cottagers overcame the odds in GW3, stealing a point away to Arsenal despite going down to 10 men in the 2nd half.
Will lightning strike twice? I don’t think so.
You have to travel back to 2009 to unearth Fulham’s last victory over City, a game in which Mark Schwarzer started between the sticks for the Cottagers.
Bless the man, but I don’t even think Schwarzer would stand a chance of keeping Erling Harland out, the Norwegian has a lazy three-goal return to start the season and is overdue a hattrick.
I’m backing Harland to secure a double on the way to a City victory.
The Clarets are hoping to get off the mark when they welcome Tottenham to Turf Moor.
Three weeks into the season and Ange has the Tottenham fans singing his name, even Robbie Williams is getting on board!
After hanging on for a wild 2-2 draw in their opening fixtures, Spurs have gone onto defeat both Man U and Bournemouth 2-0.
I’m jumping on the Spurs & overs double for this one and plan on watching every minute of action!
Last season’s big overachievers, Brighton and Newcastle are set to face-off at Amex Stadium.
The Toon are hoping to avoid three straight defeats, after going down to both City (1-0) and Liverpool (2-1).
Brighton has failed to overcome Newcastle across the pairs last four league meetings (2D,2L), drawing their previous two home fixtures.
Anyway you dice it, this is going to be a thrilling contest between two sides vying for top six positions, Brighton can beat the best sides on their day, while the Toon are looking to become just that.
There’s no doubt that Newcastle has a deeper, more talented squad, but Brighton possess the tactical edge and home advantage.
At the risk of sounding dull, I’m backing this pair to play out a third consecutive stalemate at the Amex.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa has all the building blocks to be the match of the round.
Villa has seen 4+ goals scored in each of their opening three fixtures, with only Brighton boasting more goals for this season.
Meanwhile, the Reds are yet to keep a clean sheet this campaign, instead relying on their offensive weapons to fire them out of trouble.
‘Both teams to score’ has saluted in seven of the last eight meetings between this pair, with Liverpool claiming victory in five of said fixtures.
I’m backing fireworks at Anfield, with Over 3.5 Goals scored and Mo Salah to record his seventh goal against the Villans.
Crystal Palace looks to build on their strong start tot the season when they welcome the Wolves to Selhurst Park.
The Eagles have conceded just two goals across their opening three fixtures, but will be looking to improve on an offensive output of two strikes.
Meanwhile, the Wolves got off the mark against Everton last week, with a 87th minute strike enough to steal all three points.
I can’t see the visitors creating enough chances to trouble Palace at home, the Eagles should have enough firepower at their disposal to swoop on all three competition points here.
Premiership hopefuls Arsenal and Man United are set to face off in the final match of the week at Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners dropped points last week against a 10 man Fulham side, with last season’s title contenders struggling to adapt to Arteta’s tweaks in style and formation.
Alternatively, Man U snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, overcoming an early two-goal deficit, eventually running over the top of Notts Forest 3-2.
Despite the positive result, big question marks remain over the quality of football Man U has dished up in the opening three weeks, while injuries to keys players, Shaw, Mount and Varane serve to only feed the doubt.
The home side has claimed the W in the past four league meetings between this pair, with both team scoring in each fixture.
With United’s injury woes and their lack of defensive depth, I’m backing the home team to come out on top once again.