Another stacked Premier League weekend awaits, with struggling heavyweights, unlikely contenders, and a few juicy upset chances across Game Week 9.
The Offside Oracle has previewed all 10 EPL fixtures and provided his best betting plays below.
Both Leeds and West Ham are looking to break a spell of poor results when they meet at Elland Rd on Friday night (local time).
The Hammers are winless in five (1D,4L), leaving them 19th in the league, four points behind their opponents.
Meanwhile, Leeds are winless in three (1D,2L), and have conceded in five straight fixtures.
There’s nothing to get excited about in this fixture, and I’m leaning towards an uneventful draw.
The Blues looked to jump up to second in the league when they host the Black Cats on Saturday.
Chelsea enter this game on a run of four victories across all competitions, an impressive record considering the injury concerns at the club.
They’ll take on a Sunderland outfit who have been punching above their weight-class this season, winning four of their opening eight games (2D,2L), leaving them seventh in the league, equal on points with Chelsea in fifth.
The Blues have lost one game at Stamford Bridge across their last 12 competitive fixtures in all competitions (10W,1D).
I have the Blues to win, combined with both teams to score.
The Toon host the Cottagers in a must win fixture for both sides.
Fulham slump into this game off the back of three straight defeats, conceding seven times across the trip.
meanwhile, the Magpies have already bounce back from a league defeat last weekend, claiming a 3-0 home victory against Portuguese side, Benfica in the Champions League mid-week.
I’m backing Newcastle to be too strong for the Cottagers at home, combined with a goal from their new number 9, Woltemade.
Man United won back-to-back games for the first time under the management of Ruben Amorim, can they make it three on the trot against the Seagulls?
The Red Devils 2-1 win away to Liverpool was their first victory at Anfield since 2016, but is this a genuine turning point for Amorim’s side, or just another mirage?
Alternatively, Brighton are unbeaten across their last five games in all comps (3W,2D), completed the double over Man U last season, and have won their last three fixtures at Old Trafford.
My heart is screaming Manchester United, but my head along with every other part of my rational body is pointing towards the visitors.
Brighton to win as underdogs.
The Reds will attempt to quell a horrid run of league form when they head to the capital to take on the Bees.
Liverpool have won the last five meetings between this pair, keeping four clean sheets across the trip.
They’ll need an improved defensive effort to pull off a similar result here, after conceding in each of their last eight games across all competitions.
The Reds will take some confidence from their 5-1 routing of Frankfurt in the Champions League mid-week.
I have Liverpool wining combined with the overs saluting.
Nuno Out, Ange Out, Dyche In!
“No more funny business guys, we’re going back to a 4-4-2.” – Sean Dyche… probably.
The Cherries are fourth in the league, with just one defeat to their name (4W,3D), with Antoine Semenyo leading the line with six goals!
Forest have had two more managers than wins this season, and I don’t expect that to change here.
I’m on Bournemouth to win and Semenyo to score.
Wolves vs the Clarets, leave me out of it!
Wolves are STILL the only side yet to win a league fixture this season (2D,6L), most recently losing to another newly promoted outfit, Sunderland.
Alternatively, Burnley claimed a 2-0 victory over Leeds last weekend, doubling their win tally and dragging themselves clear of the drop zone (2W,1D,5L).
Winning is a habit, and so is losing, unfortunately for Wolverhampton, losing is a tough habit to kick.
I like Burnley at the price.
The Gunners host the Eagles in a huge London Derby between two sides boasting just one defeat no the season.
Arsenal are now nine games unbeaten across all comps (8W,1D), and have won their last six starts, conceding just one goal over the trip.
Alternatively, Crystal Palace are two games without win (1D,1L), following a run of 19 games without defeat.
This has proven to be a high octane fixture in recent history, with 4+ goals scored in five of the pairs last six meetings, with the Gunners dominating proceedings with five wins (1D).
I’m backing Arsenal to claim all three points at home, but not without conceding.
Manchester City are unbeaten in nine straight games (7W,2D), while Erling Haaland has scored in 12 straight fixtures across all comps!
Meanwhile, the Villans have won their last five fixtures in all comps, and their last two home matches against the Sky Blues.
City look to have rediscovered their mojo of late, and their a tough side to back against when they’re on, especially at $1.85.
I’m jumping on another SGM, backing the visitors to win and Haaland to score.
Game Week 9 wraps up on Monday morning (AEST), when the Toffees play host to the Spurs.
Both sides enter this game off the back of a league defeat, Everton succumbed to the pressure of Man City (2-0), while Tottenham feel and home to Villa (2-1).
Believe it or not, the Spurs hold the best away record in the league, and remain on the only side yet to lose on their travels (3W,1D).
Tottenham look to by overs in the H2H market, currently $2.85 underdogs here, give me a piece of that.