SATURDAY PREMIER LEAGUE: The Striker previews another action-packed Saturday in the Premier League where the matches include early leaders Brighton v West Ham. All previews include a recommended BETDAQ bet.
BOURNEMOUTH V TOTTENHAM
12.30pm Another fantastic Premier League Saturday awaits on BETDAQ Betting Exchange! As always there are plenty of talking points to get through, and we have a busy day ahead with six fixtures. We kick off the day with an early kick off again, it was missed last weekend, as Bournemouth host Spurs. After a disappointing draw on the opening weekend, Spurs put Manchester United to the sword last weekend with a 2-0 win. I think Sky Sports overreacted a little going in on United after the game – if you look at the xG figures it was a pretty even game; however I can totally see where they are coming from. United started very well, should have been ahead in fairness, but they went missing under pressure in the second half and that’s simply not good enough. The reality is though that Spurs need to follow up games like that with wins against Bournemouth. That has been a major problem for them in the past – they’d even beat the likes of Manchester City at home and then drop points against a side in the relegation battle away from home the next week. Classic Spurs you might say!
They come into this game as the favourites, but there’s plenty of layers around and they aren’t trading odds on. A Spurs win is 2.04 at the time of writing with Bournemouth 3.75 and the draw is 4.0. Bournemouth had the perfect start against Liverpool last weekend but still got beaten – they did pick up a draw here against West Ham on the opening weekend however. They are a limited side, but they have held their own against Spurs recently. We’ve actually had some absolute thrillers between these sides – three of the last four meetings have finished 3-2 either way, with the fixture in between 0-0; football eh! 67% of the meetings between the sides have had Over 2.5 goals, and the market is expecting more goals with Over 2.5 goals trading 1.63. I know you can’t trust Spurs away from home, but the 2.04 does feel big here. Bournemouth were average at home last season, and they concede so many sloppy goals too. I’m not going crazy with stakes, but Spurs are worth supporting at the odds in my opinion.
The Striker Says:
Two points win Tottenham to beat Bournemouth at 2.04 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/BouTtm
ARSENAL V FULHAM
3pm We have a busy afternoon with four games kicking off at 3pm, the first of which is Arsenal hosting Fulham in the latest London Derby. We have plenty of London Derby in the Premier League these days! Arsenal came through a tricky away fixture against Crystal Palace on Monday Night Football – it was classic Arsenal under Arteta; seemingly able to deal with pressure away from home and getting the job done. I know we saw this last season, but I’m still not used to Arsenal having such a strong backbone away from home! I think the betting markets agree too; there was a huge drift on Arsenal in the build-up to the game – they went from trading in the 1.6 range all the way out to 2.0. They kept Palace down to an xG of 1.14, and although they didn’t create much above that figure themselves you have to give them credit for grinding out wins like that. They had a great record away from home last season, even collecting more points on the road than Manchester City and if they continue doing that they will be in the title race again this season.
I still really doubt Arsenal will get as close as last season, but they’ve done everything asked of them so far. They should have no problems beating this Fulham side, and the market agrees. The home win is trading as short as 1.27 which is the shortest price of the day in the Premier League – not the weekend though as that title goes to Manchester City away to Sheffield United on Sunday. With Arsenal trading so short in the match odds market, we’ll have to look around the side markets for some value. Fulham opened their season with a win away to Everton, but I don’t think that form is worth much. They were well beaten by Brentford last weekend, conceding three goals, but they were only 1-0 down at the time of the red card. This is usually the type of fixture Arsenal do well in, and they can cover the 1.5 goal Handicap which is trading 1.73.
The Striker Says:
Two points win Arsenal -1.5 goals to beat Fulham at 1.73 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/ArsFlm
BRENTFORD V CRYSTAL PALACE
3pm Next we have Brentford hosting Crystal Palace, and you’ll be forgiven for skipping over this fixture. This is the classic fixture that only gets five minute air time on Match of the Day, if they even get that! Brentford come into the game as the favourites at 2.1 with Crystal Palace 4.0 and the draw is 3.6. Brentford will be absolutely delighted with how their season is going so far – they sat in the Top Four at the start of the week! They opened their season with a draw against Spurs and then had a confidence boosting 3-0 win over Fulham last weekend. Palace have had one win and one loss; they won’t be too unhappy with the 1-0 loss against Arsenal on Monday Night Football. They actually played pretty well and I have to say they have definitely improved under Hodgson. They seem to be heading in the right direction. They won’t achieve anything this season, but at least they won’t be close to the relegation battle.
These two sides have only met four times, and every meeting has finished with a draw! We had two 0-0’s and then two 1-1’s. That stat would make you question backing Over 2.5 goals at 2.2. Indeed, the Under 2.5 goals option might be more appealing at 1.81. Palace will aim to keep things as tight as possible away from home, but as we all know Brentford like to play an open and attacking game. However, I feel Overs should be a little shorter than the current 2.2. Palace played Sheffield United on the opening weekend so they probably should have had a good xG anyway, but they did create a lot of chances. We know Brentford play an open game, especially at home, and I feel we can see goals between these two finally at the fifth time of asking!
The Striker Says:
One point win Over 2.5 goals at 2.2 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/BreCrl
EVERTON V WOLVES
3pm This should be an interesting game. Two sides who are clearly struggling at the start of the season, and they’ve both opened the season with two losses. They take up the final two spots in the Premier League table on goal difference, and things don’t look good. They will definitely be in and around the relegation battle. If you took Sheffield United and Luton Town out of the relegation market these two then become the two favourites. They are “lucky” that Sheffield United and Luton Town, on paper, look a little short of Premier League standard and they are both odds on to go down. You wouldn’t be surprised at all to see one of these sides take the other spot. Of course, the signs have been there for a while with both clubs. Everton have been heavily involved in the relegation battle for a few seasons now while Wolves have always pulled away towards the end of the season.
You can see from the xG figures that Wolves were always a club “of interest” in the relegation battle, but to their credit they have always pulled themselves out of it at the right time. It’s so early in the season, but this fixture already has a massive feel to it – the winner gains momentum, lifts morale and can say their season has finally started. The loser is under pressure already. A lot at stake then! We have an open market, and Everton are favourites with home advantage. They are trading 2.44 at the time of writing with Wolves 3.3 and the draw is 3.4. I have to say the draw jumps off the page here at 3.4. Neither side have been impressive this season; Wolves played well at Old Trafford but were very poor last weekend. It’s hard to support Wolves here who finished in the bottom three on the away form table last season, but Everton were also in the bottom three on the home form table! I can see both sides cancelling each other out, and I really wouldn’t be surprised to see a 0-0.
The Striker Says:
One point win Draw at 3.4 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/EveWlv
MANCHESTER UNITED V NOTTINGHAM FOREST
3pm We finish the 3pm games with Manchester United hosting Nottingham Forest. It’s been a tough start to the season for Erik ten Hag – they were very average looking against Wolves here on the opening weekend and were lucky to win 1-0. They got totally outplayed in the second half against Spurs last weekend, and then of course they’ve had all the Mason Greenwood press off the field. It’s the best decision for the club that he leaves, and finally United have made that decision this week – they couldn’t extend it any longer. It already feels like United “need a win” and although they have a good fixture on paper to achieve that here, anything bar a comfortable 2-0 or 3-0 win will likely just add pressure. Rashford looks unhappy at the moment in this position, and has poor body language. We know this United squad can have issues – it will be fascinating to see how ten Hag handles that should this turn into a very bad start to the season.
I would rate this fixture as a must win game for United – they are away to Arsenal next weekend and they are unlikely to pick up points there. Arsenal will be odds on to win. I said on the opening weekend that they will be judged on their results against Spurs and Arsenal as to where they will go this season; so far the results are poor! They still come into this game as the massive odds on favourites however; they are trading 1.34 at the time of writing and I have to say it would take a brave punter to take those odds in my opinion. They simply haven’t created enough for me so far this season. Forest were very poor away from home last season – they only managed eight points away from home all season which was the worst return in the Premier League. I’m going to keep stakes small here and take a chance on Under 2.5 goals. United will likely grind out a win again just like the opening weekend in unimpressive fashion.
The Striker Says:
One point win Under 2.5 goal at 2.6 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/MunNot
BRIGHTON V WEST HAM
5.30pm We finish an intriguing Saturday with Brighton hosting West Ham. This should be a good game to watch – West Ham are fresh off a nice win over Chelsea last weekend and Brighton have been the form team in the Premier League this season! They sat top of the table with two 4-1 wins over Luton Town and Wolves. Before we get too carried away, those two sides could easily be relegated this season so the jury is still almost certainly out! The same can be said about West Ham too; their win over Chelsea came with home advantage. On the road we’ve watched a very different West Ham side – they only managed 12 points away from home last season which put them just outside the bottom three on the away form table. They hung around the relegation battle for a lot of the season due to their away issues, and that’s definitely a big area of concern heading into this season. The 1-1 draw away to Bournemouth on the opening weekend did little to change that outlook either – they also conceded a higher xG figure than they created.
Despite an easy fixture list, you couldn’t be happier with Brighton coming into this game. They are trading 1.54 at the time of writing with West Ham 6.4 and the draw is 4.9. It’s hard to get away from the Brighton win here given West Ham have been so poor away from home recently – especially now they have lost Declan Rice in midfield too. That’s a gap that they just aren’t going to fill. Goals is an option too as Brighton are always an entertaining side to watch – Over 2.5 goals is trading shorter than the Brighton win however at 1.51. I do expect goals here; West Ham concede a lot of sloppy goals and I can’t see them sitting back either so I couldn’t put anyone off goals. However, at a few ticks bigger I like Brighton to make it three wins from three this season.
The Striker Says:
Three points win Brighton to beat West Ham at 1.54 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/BriWhm
