Following an odious international break, the Premier League has returned for Game Week 5.
The action kicks off at Wolverhampton, as the Reds look to string together four straight wins.
Elsewhere, Man U host Brighton, Angeball rolls on against the Blades, and Man City puts their perfect record on the line versus West Ham.
Our Offside Oracle has done the form on all ten EPL fixtures, providing his best betting plays below!
The Reds look to keep their unbeaten run alive when the travel to Wolverhampton for the early kickoff.
Despite not looking their best, Liverpool has navigated a tricky opening four fixtures, picking up 10 from a possible 12 points.
Alternatively, the Wolves have won just once across the same trip, with their sole victory coming against the winless, lifeless, hopeless, Toffees.
The Reds have won 12 of their last 13 Premier League fixtures against the Wolves (1L), keeping a clean sheet for nine of said victories.
Liverpool secured their first clean sheet of the season against Villa last time out, despite van Dijk missing the game through suspension.
The Dutch CB will be missing once again, though the Reds defence will likely have an easy day at the office against the tame Wolves.
I’m backing Liverpool to Nil.
Luton heads to Craven Cottage in search of their first ever Premier League victory.
They’ll take on a Fulham outfit who are winless across their last three starts (1D,2L), two of which came up against Man City (1-5) and Arsenal (2-2).
Only Burnley (11) has conceded more goals than Fulham (10) this season, while Luton Town has been just as loose, allowing 9 goals from three games.
I’m backing the goals to continue to flow here, with over 3.5 to salute.
The Hammers will put their unbeaten record on the line when they take the field against Manchester City.
West Ham have surprise fans and pundits alike, claiming wins against Chelsea, Brighton and Luton, scoring eight times across the trip.
They’ll face a City side looking to go 5-0 to start the season, as they attempt to match their mammoth 2022/23 accomplishments.
City’s last defeat to West Ham came back in 2015, with the Sky Blues going on to win 16 of the following 19 meetings!
‘Both teams to score’ has hit in four of the last six PL fixtures between this pair, and although I can’t see the Irons taking any points off the defending Champs, I can see them creating plenty of chances off the break.
I’m backing City to win and both sides to score.
Manchester United hope to put all their off-field drama behind them when they play host to Brighton this weekend.
The Red Devils could be without three of their starting backline, with 35 year old Johny Evans likely to partner the £80M meme in the heart of the defence.
A prospect made further daunting by the fact Brighton leads the league in Goals For, scoring 12 times across their opening four fixtures, including three against Newcastle last time out.
The Seagulls are unbeaten in the previous four league meeting with Man U, and won 2-1 at Old Trafford in this fixture last season.
I’m backing Brighton to make light work of this dump fire of a club called United, leaving Old Trafford with all three competition points.
The Spurs look to make it four wins on the trot when they play host to the winless Blades on Saturday night (AEST).
Angeball is in full effect, with Tottenham scoring 11 goals across their opening four fixtures, smashing five past the Clarets last time out, with captain Son Heung-min taking home the match ball with a hat trick.
Meanwhile, Sheffield United secured their first competition point last time out, hanging on for a 2-2 draw against fellow relegation favourites Everton.
I think Tottenham win this one comfortably, with Son finding the back of the net once again.
Were off to Villa Park for a mid-table clash between he Villans and Eagles.
Crystal Palace enters this fixture off the back of a solid performance against the Wolves, with Odsonne Edouard scoring his 2nd and 3rd goal of the 2023/24 campaign.
Meanwhile, Villa were humbled 3-0 away to Liverpool last time out, halting the momentum from their two previous fixtures.
The Villans are undefeated in their previous five home fixtures against Palace (4W,1D) dating back to 2013.
I’m backing the home side to collect all three competition points, but not without Edouard testing their keeper’s resolve.
The Toon looks to put three consecutive defeats behind them as they welcome the Bees to St. James’ Park.
Newcastle has copped a difficult run of fixtures to start the 2023/24 season, with games against Man City, Liverpool and Brighton.
I don’t expect a reprieve coming their way against Brentford, who are yet to taste defeat this campaign (1W,3D), and are the only side to take points from Ange’s Tottenham (2-2).
Despite a rocky start, the Toon has performed well at home, running out convincing 5-1 winners against Villa on the opening weekend, while they should’ve secured all three points when they hosted the Reds, with Alison having a blinder in goal.
Newcastle has won their last three fixtures against Brentford, blowing out Thomas Frank’s side 5-1 last time they meet at St. James.
I’m backing the Toon to return to winning ways, combined with over 2.5 Goals and Gordon to have a SoT.
The Cherries continue to search for their first win of the season when they welcome an underperforming Blues outfit to Vitality Stadium.
Despite claiming just one win against lowly Luton this season, Chelsea fans should not be overly concerned, their side has enjoyed the largest share of possession in the league (71%), created the most big chances (11), and has the third lowest expected goals against (4.3).
So, where is it all falling apart?
Chelsea’s finishing in and around the box has let them down, missing 11 big chance on the season already, with the likes of Jackson and Sterling fluffing their lines on multiple occasions.
I think it’s a matter of when, not if for the Blues, and I can see things clicking in a big way against Cherries side who are feeble at best in defence.
I’m backing Nicolas Jackson to break his duck on the way to a Blues victory.
The Gunners will be looking to build on their strong start to the season with a convincing performance against a winless Toffees side.
Arsenal saw off Everton 4-0 last time out, with Saka, Odegaard and Martinelli all finding the back of the net.
The Toffees have managed just two goals across their opening four fixtures, and be hard pressed adding to that tally here.
I’m backing Arteta’s side to be comfortable winners here.
Nottingham Forest and Burnley are set to clash for the 2nd time in three weeks, following the Clarets’ 1-0 victory in the pair’s EFL Cup fixture.
That victory came against the Forest ‘B’ side, with the likes of Gibbs-White and the red-hot Awoniyi warming the pine.
Taiwo Awoniyi has shouldered most of the offensive responsibility for Forest this season, scoring against Arsenal, Sheffield United, and Man U, before providing the assist in his side’s 1-0 victory over Chelsea.
The striker’s form continued over the international break, scoring a goal in Nigeria’s victory over African minnows, São Tomé and Príncipe.
This fixture could easily fall either way, as such I’m steering clear of the H2H market and backing Awoniyi to strike again!