SATURDAY PREMIER LEAGUE: The Striker previews the Saturday action which starts with Sheffield United v Everton at 12.30pm – all previews include a recommended BETDAQ bet.
SHEFFIELD UNITED V EVERTON
12.30pm Another busy Saturday in the Premier League awaits on BETDAQ Betting Exchange! This Saturday feels like it has everything from a betting point of view; massive home favourites and very open markets. We have plenty to get through, and we kick off the day with Sheffield United hosting Everton. This is only Matchday Four but this already has the feel of a relegation battle! Both sides have lost their opening three games, and they will almost certainly be involved in the relegation battle. Sheffield United are already trading odds on to go down, while Everton couldn’t have started the season worse to be honest. After Luton Town and Sheffield United, Everton are next in the betting to go down. A loss here for Everton would really put them on the backfoot, and although it’s early in the season you have to say this is a huge game for both sides. We have an open market, but Everton come into the game as the favourites. They are trading 2.56 with Sheffield United 3.2 and the draw is 3.3 at the time of writing.
Everton finished in the bottom three in the home form table last season, that was one of the main reasons they were involved in the relegation battle. They weren’t impressive away from home, but they finished a lot higher in the away form table. The sides have actually only met five times, and we usually have a very close affair. The last three meetings have finished 1-0 to either side, and Under 2.5 goals makes a lot of appeal at 1.7. Neither side have been great going forward, and I do expect a pretty cagey game here – both sides know they can’t afford to lose, even this early in the season. I couldn’t put anyone off the draw either at 3.3 – this game just screams a very close affair, however on balance it’s hard to get away from the Under 2.5 goals bet at 1.7. Indeed, a small bet on Under 1.5 goals might be worth it too at 3.1. It’s hard to see many chances here!
The Striker Says:
Three points win Under 2.5 goals at 1.7 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/SheEve
BRENTFORD V BOURNEMOUTH
3pm We have four games kicking off at 3pm this week, and we have four odds on favourites too! We start with Brentford hosting Bournemouth, if you’re thinking about the Brentford, Spurs, Chelsea and Man City Acca this afternoon – who’s the side you’d worry about the most? Spurs are the biggest price anyway! Brentford are still unbeaten after three games, they’ll be a little disappointed with the Crystal Palace draw last weekend though. While Bournemouth have only managed one draw from their opening three games, and they are under pressure a little. They have had a tricky fixture list as they’ve already had to play Liverpool and Spurs but it’s looking like they’ll be in the relegation mix again this season. As I said above, all four games this afternoon have an odds on favourite and Brentford are trading 1.77 at the time of writing with Bournemouth 4.9 and the draw is 4.2.
Bournemouth really struggled away from home last season until right at the end. They won their last three away games, giving them a total of 17 points away from home but obviously take the last three wins away and they didn’t get many more points over the rest of the season! Four of the last five meetings between the sides have ended with Under 2.5 goals, and that’s trading 2.16 which looks an appealing price. I fully accept Brentford like to play a very attacking and open brand of football but they have yet to create many chances this season. It’s still early days and we can’t judge them too harshly, but they have been grinding out games rather than playing free flowing football in my opinion. Bournemouth are obviously a limited side, and their away record isn’t great either so I’m happy to keep stakes small here. Unders looks the value bet at 2.16.
The Striker Says:
One point win Under 2.5 goals at 2.16 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/BreBth
BURNLEY V TOTTENHAM
3pm Next we have Burnley hosting Spurs, and this is probably the most interesting game from the afternoon fixtures. There’s plenty of layers around for Spurs; they are trading 1.95 at the time of writing and it wouldn’t be a massive surprise to see them drift out to odds against before kick off. That being said, they went into the away game against Bournemouth last weekend with the same question marks, but they ran out fairly easy 2-0 winners. Ange Postecoglou made a host of changes midweek in the League Cup and that ended up backfiring as they crashed out against Fulham. Another chance at a trophy gone for Spurs; probably the most realistic too. Postecoglou tried to defend his decision by saying if he doesn’t play those players in the League Cup he’ll never get a chance to see them; that is true in fairness and most big clubs opt for that policy in the League Cup (even the FA Cup) these days unless they get to the business end of the competition.
Burnley had their fixture on Matchday Two postponed as it was away to Luton Town and their stadium wasn’t ready, so they start this weekend sitting in the relegation zone with two losses from two games. You can easily forgive them losing to Manchester City, but they conceded three goals again last weekend against Aston Villa – this time with home advantage too. Home form will be absolutely vital for Burnley this season, but the alarm bells aren’t ringing yet. The likes of Everton, Bournemouth and Wolves are more likely to go down this season. We have yet to see anything impressive going forward from Burnley, and although Spurs aren’t a side that you can trust, I do feel that the 1.95 is ten ticks too big here. Spurs have created a lot of chances this season, and they can get another win here.
The Striker Says:
Two points win Tottenham to beat Burnley at 1.95 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/BurTot
CHELSEA V NOTTINGHAM FOREST
3pm We have two short odds favourites next as Chelsea host Nottingham Forest, the home win is trading 1.42 here but that isn’t even close to being to shortest price of the day as that title goes to Manchester City who are as short as 1.18. Chelsea have had to go through a lot of chances over the summer, and I’m sure Mauricio Pochettino discovered he has plenty more work to do on this squad when they lost to West Ham! They played well in the Liverpool draw, and they were always likely to beat Luton Town last weekend. They have another easy fixture on paper here against Nottingham Forest and to be honest I was surprised to see Chelsea trading as high as 1.42 when I clicked into the market. I thought we’d see the home win trading in the 1.3’s. I know Nottingham Forest gave Manchester United a big scare last weekend, but Forest have been very poor away from home. They only managed eight points away from home in the Premier League last season which was the worst away record of any side. Only one away win all season.
Chelsea are clearly going through a period of transition and they could easily miss out on the Top Four again this season, but the 1.42 is too big here in my opinion. I would recommend including them in any Acca this weekend! Indeed, the 1.42 is big enough as a bet on its own in my opinion. Forest have had a tough start away from home – first Arsenal and then Manchester United and in fairness to them they only lost by one goal twice. However, what is also highlights is they just aren’t up to this type of level, especially away from home. Forest tend to be involved in plenty of action so Over 2.5 goals is also an option at 1.71. They have had Overs in all three of their games this season, and they also managed to score against Arsenal and United. Chelsea conceded so many sloppy goals last season I couldn’t put anyone off the Overs, but as I said above I just feel the 1.42 on Chelsea is ten ticks too big and I’m happy with a confident bet on the home win.
The Striker Says:
Four points win Chelsea to beat Nottingham Forest at 1.42 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/CheNtt
MANCHESTER CITY V FULHAM
3pm We finish the 3pm kick offs with the shortest price of the weekend as Manchester City host Fulham. It’s been a great week for Fulham as they managed to get past Spurs in the League Cup, and they also picked up a 2-2 draw at Arsenal last weekend; but this is a completely different task! The market is very confident on the home win with City trading as short as 1.18 at the time of writing. They are the only side left in the Premier League unbeaten coming into Matchday Four, and after a slightly sluggish start to the season last season, it appears Pep Guardiola won’t be letting that happen again! The title race could actually be over quite early this season in my opinion. Fulham will be delighted with their start to the season, but they are still conceding plenty of chances. They finished last season with a very high average xG conceded figure and you just can’t give too many chances to this City side.
The thing about City too is they have barely got out of first gear yet. They have been grinding out wins rather than blowing teams away, and perhaps this might be the first time they score four or more goals. I feel this is a case of how many goals can City score rather than will they win, and we’ll have to look around the side markets for some value. The market is expecting goals with Over 2.5 goals trading 1.45 – it’s also expecting City to do all the work there because Both Teams Not To Score is odds on at 1.78. With Fulham conceding so many chances last season I’m going to take a chance in the Handicap market here. City are trading 2.35 to cover the 2.5 goal Handicap and I feel this is the game where they start to bang in the goals. They’re already creating an xG very close to 2.0 per game anyway, and Fulham are already conceding over 2.0 as well.
The Striker Says:
Two points win Manchester City -2.5 goals to beat Fulham at 2.35 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/MciFlm
BRIGHTON V NEWCASTLE
5.30pm We finish the day with a cracker as Brighton host Newcastle. Two very similar teams here, both going places at the moment and both are going to enjoy European football this season too! It will be very interesting to see how this one plays out, and you have to say it’s been a difficult fixture list for Newcastle since beating Aston Villa on the opening weekend. They had to play Manchester City and Liverpool since, and then this is a very tough fixture too. They should have more than three points however; they were 1-0 up with Liverpool a man down at the weekend and they should be closing out games like that. I know Klopp’s Liverpool keep attacking and putting pressure on, but they should have dealt with the situation better. Brighton also lost last weekend, a surprising 3-1 loss to West Ham to be honest especially considering the Hammers were poor away from home last season and they’ve also lost Declan Rice as well. Brighton created a huge amount of chances though and won’t be unhappy with their performance – another classic tale of Brighton finishing the game with a massive xG figure but not taking their chances!
We have the most open market of the weekend here; but only by a few ticks! Newcastle are the marginal favourites at 2.58 while Brighton trade 2.7 and the draw is 4.0. I’m a huge fan of both sides and how they have played their football recently, but I’m not sure Newcastle should be favourites away from home here. Brighton have created the most chances on xG in the Premier League this season, and they also play their best football at home. I would definitely lean towards laying Newcastle at 2.58; however the worry is Brighton have conceded the third highest xG figure this season too! They’ve played a very open game, and Newcastle don’t sit back either so Over 2.5 goals jumps off the page here at 1.53. This should be a cracking end-to-end game with plenty of chances – Overs is a confident bet to end the day.
The Striker Says:
Four points win Over 2.5 goals at 1.53 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/BriNwc
