Premier League Matchday 8 Review Matchday 9 Preview

For the first time in a while we didn’t hit much in our last selection of tips for the Premier League, but that is how it goes sometimes and what I will be looking for is to bounce back this weekend with a number of winners, especially in the more lucrative Correct Score market, where we drew a blank last week.

To be fair, there were some unusual results last weekend, I don’t know of too many people who correctly predicted Bournemouth to beat Watford away from home by a 4-0 scoreline, nor many who predicted Arsenal would smash five on the road against a hapless Fulham. In direct contrast to that, I think the 0-0 between Liverpool and Manchester City, a game which saw 12 goals in the two League Games between them last season and 18 goals across all four games, was another big surprise.

So, there were a fair few unusual results and scorelines last week, which makes me all the more determined to bounce back to winning ways this week. Remember, we always place our bets with bet365 Sport and and if you are not a member, you can sign up today using the latest bet365 Sport New Player Offer.

This week’s games get underway with an absolute cracker of a match at Stamford Bridge on Saturday lunchtime with unbeaten Chelsea hosting a Manchester United side that are under-fire after their below par start to the season. Jose Mourinho’s return to his former club promises to be an explosive event, especially after United scored three goals in the last 20 minutes against Newcastle last time out to snatch a 3-2 win from the jaws of defeat.

Chelsea though have been in superb form since the start of the season and are one of three teams at the top of the table with 20 points, the others being Manchester City and Liverpool. With Eden Hazard in electrifying form and top of the goalscorers chart at present, can United come away with a shock result here to dent Chelsea’s title hopes? Or will it be Chelsea who heap even more pressure on their former manager with a win here?

There’s plenty of other big games this weekend, with a relegation six-pointer in Wales as Cardiff City and Fulham clash. With 16 games and just one win between the two teams, it is proviing life in the Premier League is very tough for most newly promoted sides, though Wolves are bucking that trend and can do so again this weekend with a home game against Watford. Manchester City face Burnley, while Liverpool travel to Huddersfield. Spurs face a tricky London derby against West Ham, while on Monday night, Arsenal face a Leicester side that have been dogged by inconsistency this season.

With all that in mind, let’s review Matchday 8’s results, the current standings in the league table and the leading scorers, before I bring you my top tips for this week’s games.

Premier League Results – Matchday Eight

• Brighton 1-0 West Ham
• Burnley 1-1 Huddersfield Town
• Crystal Palace 0-1 Wolves
• Watford 0-4 Bournemouth
• Leicester City 1-2 Everton
• Tottenham 1-0 Cardiff City
• Manchester United 3-2 Newcastle Utd
• Fulham 1-5 Arsenal
• Southampton 0-3 Chelsea
• Liverpool 0-0 Manchester City

Premier League Table

Pos	Team	Ply	F	A	Pts	Gd
1	Manchester City	8	21	3	20	18
2	Chelsea	8	18	5	20	13
3	Liverpool	8	15	3	20	12
4	Arsenal	8	19	10	18	9
5	Tottenham	8	15	7	18	8
6	Bournemouth	8	16	12	16	4
7	Wolves	8	9	6	15	3
8	Manchester United	8	13	14	13	-1
9	Watford	8	11	12	13	-1
10	Leicester City	8	14	12	12	2
11	Everton	8	13	12	12	1
12	Burnley	8	10	12	8	-2
13	Brighton	8	9	13	8	-4
14	Crystal Palace	8	5	9	7	-4
15	West Ham	8	8	13	7	-5
16	Southampton	8	6	14	5	-8
17	Fulham	8	9	21	5	-12
18	Huddersfield Town	8	4	17	3	-13
19	Newcastle United	8	6	13	2	-7
20	Cardiff City	8	4	17	2	-13

Leading Goalscorers

• 7 – Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
• 5 – Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham), Sergio Aguero (Man City), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Glenn Murray (Brighton)
• 4 – Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Man City), Marko Arnautovic (West Ham), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal), Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton), Joshua King (Bournemouth), Richarlison (Everton), Sadio Mane (Liverpool), Romelu Lukaku (Man Utd)

After an international break, which has been costly for some teams (notably Liverpool) in terms of players coming back with injuries and niggles, and with a midweek European game next week for the top teams, it is going to be interesting to see whether the top sides rotate players for this weekend’s games, especially with Manchester City and Liverpool lining up against potentially weaker opposition.

Premier League Matchday 8

• Chelsea v Manchester United

This should be a cracker with plenty on the line for both sides. Chelsea are the team very much in form, United out of sorts, and Chelsea’s record against United at home in recent years is very good. Add to that United’s defensive problems and Eden Hazard on fire for the home side at the moment and I can’t see anything other than a solid performance and good win for Chelsea.

Full Time Result – Chelsea to win – 7/10

Correct Score – Chelsea 2-1 Manchester United – 8/1

Anytime Goalscorer – Eden Hazard (Chelsea) – 11/10

• Bournemouth v Southampton

Two sides that have contrasting starts to the season, Bournemouth are flying whereas Southampton have struggled with just one win to their name. The Saints do have an excellent record in this fixture in recent times though and I expect they’ll make it tough in this south coast derby, but in the end I do feel Bournemouth have the attacking quality to get the three points here.

Full Time Result – Bournemouth to win – 19/20

Correct Score – Bournemouth 2-0 Southampton – 10/1

Anytime Goalscorer – Joshua King (Bournemouth) – 15/8

• Cardiff City v Fulham

Both teams will feel this is a game that they can win. Cardiff have found goals hard to come by but are at least better defensively than Fulham, who can score goals but are conceding at the rate of almost 3 goals per game. That cannot continue and for me, this game is likely to be decided by the defence of Cardiff. If they can keep Fulham to one goal, I fancy that they will secure their first win of the season.

Full Time Result – Home Win – 29/20

Correct Score – Cardiff City 2-1 Fulham – 9/1

Anytime Goalscorer – Josh Murphy (Cardiff City) – 10/3

• Manchester City v Burnley

It is no surprise that I am backing Manchester City to win this one, even though Burnley’s form of late has been much improved. City though are just blowing most opponents out of the water in the Premier League, especially at home and I fancy that they will do precisely that here once again against a willing but ultimately limited Burnley side at this level.

Full Time Result – Manchester City to win – 1/14

Correct Score – Manchester City 4-0 Burnley – 13/2

Anytime Goalscorer – David Silva (Manchester City) – 6/4

• Newcastle United v Brighton

Newcastle are something of an odd team for me. They have had a poor start to the season and their record suggests they will struggle, but I think they have suffered from a horrendously difficult opening eight games and they are not as bad as their results suggest. I have a gut feeling they may well end their winless streak at home to Brighton on Saturday, a team that do not travel well.

Full Time Result – Newcastle United to win – 23/20

Correct Score – Newcastle Utd 1-0 Brighton – 6/1

Anytime Goalscorer – Ayoze Perez (Newcastle) – 5/2

• West Ham v Tottenham

West Ham have drawn with Chelsea and beaten Manchester United in their last two home games, so they are no mugs and Spurs will likely be without Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli for this game. Even so, I think the pace Spurs have on the counter will be the decisive factor here and I think Kane and Moura are striking up a really intriguing partnership. This will be close but I am backing a Spurs win.

Full Time Result – Tottenham to win – 17/20

Correct Score – West Ham 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur – 8/1

Anytime Goalscorer – Lucas Moura (Tottenham) – 6/4

• Wolves v Watford

Wolves have really impressed me in the League this season in the way that they keep the ball and can hit teams on the counter. They have earned solid points against some very good sides this year and I think they’ll continue their good form with a win over a Watford side who have struggled in the last couple of weeks despite their excellent start to the season.

Full Time Result – Wolves to win – 8/11

Correct Score – Wolves 2-1 Watford – 8/1

Anytime Goalscorer – Adama Traore (Wolves) – 12/5

• Huddersfield Town v Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp has a few injury worries before this game with Van Dijk, Mane, Salah and Keita all reporting back from international duty with knocks, as well as James Milner’s thigh issue from the Man City game. Liverpool may be forced into changes here, but even so, I think they’ll be too strong for a Huddersfield team that have really struggled so far this season, especially at home.

Full Time Result – Liverpool to win – 2/7

Correct Score – Huddersfield Town 0-2 Liverpool – 5/1

Anytime Goalscorer – Xherdan Shaqiri (Liverpool) – 15/8

• Everton v Crystal Palace

Sunday’s game sees toothless Crystal Palace visit Goodison Park with Roy Hodgson’s team badly in need of a result and some goals. Everton are a decent side though and have won their last two games. Richarlison scored last weekend and the Brazilian’s goals do tend to come in patches and I think he is likely to be the difference here between the two sides.

Full Time Result – Everton to win – 4/5

Correct Score – Everton 2-0 Crystal Palace – 8/1

Anytime Goalscorer – Richarlison (Everton) – 21/10

• Arsenal v Leicester City

The final game of the weekend comes on Monday night with in form Arsenal, winners of their last six Premier League matches, taking on Leicester at the Emirates. The Foxes have been somewhat inconsistent this season and have had a fair few players sent off too. I think there will be goals here but for me, Arsenal’s attack will have just that bit extra to secure the win for the home side.

Full Time Result – Arsenal to win – 4/9

Correct Score – Arsenal 3-2 Leicester City – 20/1

Anytime Goalscorer – Alexander Lacazette (Arsenal) – 11/10