PREMIER LEAGUE SATURDAY: The Striker previews a fantastic Saturday in the Premier League focusing on Nottingham Forest v Chelsea, Manchester City v Everton and Fulham v Arsenal. All include recommended BETDAQ bet’s.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST V CHELSEA
12.30pm The Premier League is back with a bang on Betdaq Betting Exchange this weekend! The International Break is over, and while there’s no doubt that Liverpool v Manchester United will take most of the headlines on Super Sunday, we have an intriguing Saturday to enjoy first. We kick off the day with one of the most interesting fixtures of the weekend as Nottingham Forest host Chelsea. One must wonder what’s going through the head of Ange Postecoglou, and indeed the Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis. We had strong rumours during the International Break that Sean Dyche was being lined up to manage Nottingham Forest – to pull the plug on Postecoglou so quickly would be a remarkable decision, even allowing for the fact we live in a fast-forward footballing world these days. I know we have already been through this, but Nottingham Forest massively over-performed last season. They were in the bottom seven on attacking figures and the bottom five on defensive figures. To get European football with that squad was an incredible achievement from Nuno, but the reality was things were always going to revert-to-the-mean performance level wise this season.
This was always going to be the struggle – you have higher expectations and things are always difficult with that. Forest come into the weekend sitting with just five points from their seven games, and for the time being they are in the relegation battle. Ironically, they are creating more than last season but they are massively struggling to convert their chances – the luck they had from last season has dried up, and they are converting less than half of their chances. We have an interesting market, Chelsea come into the game as the favourites at 1.97 with Nottingham Forest 4.1 and the draw is 3.95 at the time of writing. This game is tricky from a betting point of view because Forest are clearly playing better than their results, but morale at the club must be very low – especially with all the manager rumours with the owner seemingly ready to pull the trigger. I’m happy to stay out of the match odds market here, and I’m happy with Both Teams To Score at 1.7 in what should be an open game. Chelsea have entertaining to watch this season – BTTS has collected in their last four Premier League games too. With Forest creating and conceding so much, we should see goals.
The Striker Says:
Two points win Both Teams To Score at 1.7 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/PLNoCh
MANCHESTER CITY V EVERTON
3pm We have a busy afternoon on Saturday with five games kicking off at 3pm. We actually have some games that could have a big impact on the relegation battle even at this early stage of the season – Burnley v Leeds and Sunderland v Wolves – those two games are massive for those four sides. I feel the highlight fixture is Manchester City host Everton though; with Liverpool suffering back-to-back losses before the International Break, this is a chance for City to go top – at least on goal difference. They come into the weekend three points behind Arsenal, and while everyone has been quick to write off this City side in terms of a title challenge – it feels like they could easily make a good run at the title if they remain consistent for a few weeks. Liverpool clearly haven’t been at their best, obviously they have done very well to win games while not playing well, but eventually you stop finding winners deep into injury time! Arsenal are strong favourites for the title now, but they have buckled under pressure plenty of times – City might not be at their best compared to a few seasons ago, but they could easily find themselves bang in a title race.
They meet Liverpool here just before the next International Break in November. They could easily put in four wins in between the International Breaks; Everton here, Aston Villa away who have struggled to score goals, Bournemouth at home and then Liverpool. While Everton have made a lot of improvement since David Moyes returned, this is still a game that City will be fully expected to win. City come into the game as the odds on favourites at 1.43 with Everton 8.6 and the draw is 5.3 at the time of writing. Everton games haven’t had that many goals in them, but they have actually been more open. Over 2.5 goals has only collected in three of their seven Premier League games, but they have been getting away with things at the back – their average xG conceded is 1.42 but their actual goals conceded average is only a goal a game. I know Everton will approach this game quite negatively and it’s highly likely Moyes will set them up for a draw, but City can cover the handicap here in my opinion. The 2.16 -1.5 goals is worth backing at 2.16.
The Striker Says:
One point win Manchester City to beat Everton at 2.16 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/PLMcEv
FULHAM V ARSENAL
5.30pm We finish Saturday with a London Derby as Fulham host Arsenal! As I said above, City have a chance to go top on goal difference with a nice win over Everton but for the time being Arsenal are in the driving seat. They sat top of the table during the International Break after Liverpool put in back-to-back losses. It will be fascinating to see how Arsenal handle the pressure if they manage to create a gap at the top of the table – they were never really in the title race last season, and obviously we’ve all watched them crumble under the pressure of the run-in before. Arsenal have gone clear favourites for the title now – they are trading 2.0 coming into this weekend – and they have some very positive stats too. They have the second best attacking figure – just behind Manchester United which will likely change soon under all the troubles at Old Trafford – and they also have the best defensive figure. You do feel that Arsenal are the most solid team in the Premier League this season, but obviously a lot depends on how they are going to handle the pressure. As I said above, City could find themselves bang in the title race even not at their best.
It’s no surprise to see Arsenal come into this game as the odds on favourites; they are trading 1.59 with Fulham 6.6 and the draw is 4.5 at the time of writing. The best way to describe Fulham at the start of the season is lacklustre. An average xG created of 1.23 has them in the bottom six on attacking figures, and it’s no surprise they have only managed two wins from their seven games. They held Manchester United to a 1-1 draw here, but we all know the issues with United at the moment. What has balanced Fulham out so far this season is they have been solid at the back; they are conceding more than they are creating, but only by 0.05 on xG. They could easily frustrate Arsenal here, and I feel we could have a quieter game than the market is expecting. Under 2.5 goals is trading 1.95 and that looks a very nice position in my opinion. Another option is Both Teams Not To Score at five ticks shorter at 1.9 given how strong Arsenal have been at the back – I couldn’t put anyone off either bet to be honest but I’m happy with the 1.95 on Unders.
The Striker Says:
Two points win Under 2.5 goals at 1.95 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/PLFuAr
