THIS coming weekend could be one of the most pivotal in the remainder of the Premier League season.
There’s a packed schedule of action ahead, with the potential title showdown between Liverpool and Man City on Sunday – and we’ve selections from four crucial top-flight games.
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Chelsea vs Crystal Palace – Saturday, 12.30pm
THE Big Frank juggernaut continues.
Not only is Chelsea’s recent form great news for their fans, they’ve proved a terrific side to back with your cash in recent weeks.
We tipped them to beat Watford last weekend and concede – which was exactly what happened as once again the Blues showed their attacking talents on the road, as well as their defensive frailties.
They’ve been less prolific in front of their own fans so far this term, but look like a team ready to really tear someone apart.
After three without a win at Stamford Bridge to open up the campaign, Chelsea are now on the cusp of three-straight home wins and eight victories in ten league games.
Palace fell to a 2-0 defeat at home to Leicester last time out, undone and outclassed by Brendan Rodgers’ slick, attacking style.
It’s been an excellent season so far for Roy Hodgson‘s side though and they’ve picked up priceless points on the road against Man Utd, West Ham and Arsenal.
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They won’t be daunted in the slightest by this trip and have won two of their last four matches at the Bridge.
The Eagles have also found the net on six of their last seven visits to West London – and we expect them to bag again against a Blues side who are fragile at the back.
What they aren’t are weak going the other way.
Christian Pulisic won rave reviews at Dortmund but looked to be heading for the flop pile after a slow start in Chelsea blue this term.
Well, we’ll happily eat our words as the American international has gone from reverse to fifth gear in the space of two matches.
After four goals in two games on the road, back him to bag a first goal in front of an adoring home crowd at 6/4. That’s generous.
Chelsea are just 1/3 to win the game which is extremely short – seen as we’re backing both teams to net, go for what’s worked for the past two weeks and trust them to win with Palace bagging at the other end.
That’s terrific value at 7/4 and will get your weekend off to the perfect start.
SunSport’s best bets:
Both teams to score at the Bridge: 4/5
Christian Pulisic to bag fifth goal in three games: 6/4
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Leicester vs Arsenal – Saturday, 5.30pm
IT’S feeling very much like 2015 all over again at the King Power.
The Foxes are gate-crashing the Big Six – and this is a fixture that will hold no fear for Rodgers and his rampant side.
With seven wins from nine games, Leicester are sitting pretty in third place and six points ahead of the Gunners going into this one.
And anyone thinking Arsenal are a good bet at 23/10 needs to get out of dream world.
This is an Arsenal who have won just once away this season, when they scrapped out an ugly 1-0 victory at Newcastle.
Otherwise they’ve dropped points at Sheffield United, Watford, Man Utd and Liverpool.
You might be tempted by the big price, but we’re not putting our hard-earned anywhere near an Arsenal to win bet.
Leicester have won four on the trot at home, with the King Power terraces starting to develop the ferocious energy which accompanied them to the title four years ago.
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They’ve conceded just three goals here all season and have won both of their last two meetings with Arsenal on this ground.
In both of those they’ve scored three or more – and we reckon a bet on the Foxes to net twice under the lights is too good to turn down.
That wager has won in all but three of Leicester’s 11 games this term.
Kieran Tierney will have a potential Celtic reunion with Rodgers, but the free-flowing attacking football the hosts have dished out against Southampton and then Palace has been a joy to behold.
Right now you get the feeling Unai Emery would be happy to take a point – and maybe cross his fingers that his captain doesn’t tell any more fans to “f*** off”.
Jamie Vardy is back to his very best – although his dance skills need work – and Rodgers is using the former England star as he should be, playing off the last man and getting in behind.
He’s a decent price to bag anytime, whilst should Xhaka play he’s a tasty 7/4 to get himself into the referees book. Pile in.
SunSport’s best bets:
Leicester to score two or more 8/11
Jamie Vardy to continue scoring streak: 10/11
Man Utd vs Brighton
JUST when you think they’ve turned the corner, Ole’s men are back at square one.
A terrific 2-1 Carabao Cup win at Chelsea looked to have finally stuttered Man Utd‘s season into life on a cold, dank evening in West London.
But fast forward four days to Bournemouth and the Red Devils were lifeless in a 1-0 surrender to Eddie Howe’s hard-working Cherries.
We got fully behind Bournemouth in last week’s preview and reckoned that United would do well to come back from the South Coast with a point.
They couldn’t even do that.
It’s a really ugly situation now at Old Trafford and it says a lot that they come into this November game two points BEHIND Brighton in the league table.
That’s definitely not a dig at the Seagulls, who took a punt dismissing Chris Hughton in the summer and are reaping the rewards.
Graham Potter’s success has been built on excellent home form and his side haven’t quite looked the same away from the Amex, the 3-0 opening day win over Watford aside.
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They just don’t score enough goals and as tempted as we are, can’t see a logical reason to back both teams to score at evens – no matter how poor United have been all season.
Solskjaer’s men have already played Liverpool, Chelsea, Leicester and Arsenal at home this season, picking up eight points from a possible 15.
The Crystal Palace debacle aside, they’ve not shown the same fragility at the Theatre of Dreams than they have on their travels.
As such, we’re sticking our neck out here and having a punt on United to win to nil.
Brighton have four goals in five away games – and three of those came in that romp over the Hornets. That’s real travel sickness.
8 of United’s 11 matches this term have finished with less than three goals.
That’s the best bet to follow, with a quid on United to win 2-0 at 11/2 the smart way to play.
In terms of a goalscorer, Marcus Rashford remains the punters friend.
If he’s fit he’ll play, has the recent form in front of goal and to be honest is one of a select few in a United shirt who can currently hold his head high.
SunSport’s best bets
Under 2.5 goals at Old Trafford: 3/4
Marcus Rashford to score first: 16/5
Liverpool vs Man City – Sunday, 4.30pm
IT’S November – and we already have a title decider.
Liverpool just keep churning out those wins, with their last perhaps the most important of the ten they’ve already racked up this season.
That late show at Aston Villa has given Jurgen Klopp’s men a six point lead over Man City, with the sides seemingly role-reversed from the 2018/19 season.
Back then, it was title winning City who were the well-drilled winning machine and Liverpool who stuttered badly when it mattered most.
Who are we backing here then, as Guardiola brings his men on the short trip down the M62?
Easy. The men in red.
City haven’t won at Anfield since 2003, when a last-minute Nicolas Anelka winner gave the visitors all three points on the way to a ninth-placed Premier League finish.
Liverpool just don’t lose here anymore – their record is absolutely remarkable with their last Premier League defeat back on April 23, 2017.
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Whilst the Etihad hasn’t quite morphed into a similar fortress – just look at that Wolves victory a fortnight ago – Klopp has manufactured a belief and steel into his side that means they just don’t lose on home soil.
So you’ll be stunned to find out then that Liverpool are NOT favourites to win this game.
The bookies are backing them to bottle it – and you can get a huge 17/10 on them winning in the 90 minutes. That’s ridiculous.
You take that price or use it to top up an acca, because that is miles too high for this Liverpool team at home.
Perhaps the worry is that they concede too many goals – they’ve let in fifteen at Anfield in all competitions this term and are yet to keep a clean sheet.
We’re not too keen on the prices for over 2.5 goals, but Liverpool to win and both teams to score is a monster 13/4 – that’s £42.50 for a tenner.
And Sadio Mane is the man who can open the scoring – but also check out the cheeky 11/2 on him to be booked for simulation after his terrible tumble against Villa, which left Pep fuming.
Mane has four in his last six matches and has found his touch in front of goal again.
He can be the one to inspire the Reds to arguably their most important three points in nearly two decades.
SunSport’s best bets
Liverpool to beat Man City: 27/10
Reds to win with both teams scoring: 13/4
Sadio Mane to score first: 4/1
Sadio Mane to be booked for diving: 11/2
*All odds correct at time of publication
