PREMIER LEAGUE SUNDAY: The Striker previews Sunday’s Premier League games including the headline game of the weekend LIVERPOOL v MAN CITY at 4.30pm. All matches previewed with a recommended BETDAQ bet and extended match stats via FACTMAN.
ASTON VILLA V CHELSEA
2pm What a Super Sunday in the Premier League! We have a massive day ahead on BETDAQ Betting Exchange with so many talking points. I’m sure all eyes will be on Liverpool v Manchester City later in the day, but we have a cracking day! We have four fixtures kicking off at 2pm, and we have no major favourite this afternoon either. Arsenal are the shortest price to win away to Leeds, but even then they are only trading 1.6 which isn’t that short. We kick the day off with Aston Villa hosting Chelsea. It’s still early days into the Graham Potter era on Chelsea, but things are progressing – after a tame start Chelsea produced a wonderful 3-0 win over AC Milan in the Champions League which was badly needed after only managing one draw from their opening two games. They then went to Milan midweek and won 2-0. That was an even more impressive display away from home, and they could have scored more too. That puts them back into a strong position in the Group now. Aston Villa were involved in a big “relegation battle” (that might be a bit harsh on Villa!) on Monday night against Nottingham Forest, and it finished a very boring 1-1 in a game without many chances.
I know Villa are too good to go down, and involving them in the relegation mix is harsh but they are just an average side aren’t they? Their xG figures are always underwhelming, and they will likely finish in or around 14th again. It’s hard to say whether or not Steven Gerrard is doing a good job because he hasn’t really changed them. Chelsea should really and truly outclass this Villa side here – I know Villa got a result against City but they really had to grind that out and were lucky to get a draw – but there’s no shame in that; you’re always going to be lucky to stop this Man City side when you’re at Villa’s level! With Potter seemingly settling in nicely at Chelsea now having had a few weeks in charge, I’m happy to take the 1.85 on Chelsea. As I said above, I just feel this Villa side is very average – they don’t create much and they are there for the taking. Chelsea just have to go and perform to their usual level, and that should be enough. I’m not going to go mad with the stakes, but three points feels right.
The Striker Says:
Three points win Chelsea to beat Aston Villa at 1.85 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/AstChe
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LEEDS V ARSENAL
2pm Although Liverpool v Manchester City will undoubtedly take all the headlines; this is a fascinating fixture. I can’t wait to see how Arsenal get on here – this has that classic look of the usual fixture “old” Arsenal would slip up in. Leeds always have a great atmosphere, and we know it will be a very attacking game. That gives Arsenal plenty of chances, and given the way that they have been playing this season they will likely be too good for this Leeds side – I’m just fascinated to see how they perform. Can we call Arsenal “title contenders” after the Liverpool result? I think we can – not only did they win but the performance impressed too. The only negative thing I would say is they had home advantage in that game, as they did in the North London Derby and they were bullied out of it away to Old Trafford. This Arsenal squad seems to have more backbone than before, but for me the jury is still out. You have to give them huge credit though, they should at least get back into the Champions League which is still a massive achievement for them because it’s been so long without it.
On balance, although I want to keep stakes small I like Arsenal here at 1.6. As I said above, I can see a very attacking game here and that will just give Arsenal chances. I know we are all still questioning this Arsenal side but you can’t knock their xG figures. Their average xG created in the Premier League this season is 2.1 and their average conceded is only 0.9. They are very impressive stats in anyone’s book. Although the Leeds boss moaned about how boring Aston Villa were when they drew 0-0, Villa actually created the more chances and finished with an xG of 2.58. In their home game prior to that they only managed a draw with Everton too. This fixture is there for the taking for Arsenal in my opinion and I’m happy to take the 1.6 with limited stakes. Imagine how buzzed Arsenal fans will be if they win here and somehow Liverpool beat Manchester City later. We might have a proper title race then!
The Striker Says:
Two points win Arsenal to beat Leeds at 1.6 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/LeeArs
⚠️ CHECK FACTMAN STATS ON THIS MATCH ⚠️
MANCHESTER UNITED V NEWCASTLE
2pm We have another fascinating fixture here as Manchester United host Newcastle. You can’t say we don’t have a Super Sunday today! Opinions on Manchester United over the last few weeks have been yo-yoing around everywhere. They were “finished” at the start of the season, “back” after four wins in a row including Liverpool, “useless” after the loss to Manchester City and then they grinded out a win away to Everton so here we are – the season just rumbles on. I know the results in the Europa League have been a little embarrassing, even winning because of the quality of opposition and the drama involved in the wins, but it probably shows that ten Hag doesn’t have a very strong squad. He is happy with his main XI, and then the system he wants to play has to change and it’s all a struggle. I wouldn’t be surprised to see United out of the Europa League reasonably soon unless he starts playing stronger sides, but then we also have huge a busy schedule in the Premier League with the World Cup leading up to Christmas. There was a time that United would be heavy odds on favourites for this fixture, but not anymore. Newcastle have been playing some very nice football this season, and they will give United problems here. The 2,04 on United does feel a little short.
I know Newcastle haven’t actually won many games this season, but their performances have been really eye-catching, and they arrived here having finally clicked in front of goal with nine goals in two games. They could be doing much better too. For example, they finished the 0-0 draw at home to Crystal Palace with an xG of 4.17! Their xG figures have been impressive for a large part of the season, they created over double what they conceded against Bournemouth and then very similar away to Wolves – these are games that they should be winning, but the betting markets are respecting their performances and not just looking at their results. Newcastle have also been playing well away from home, not just creating big xG figures at home which is a positive for this fixture. I know this United side can have brilliant moments, but at the moment they still look very vulnerable. They may well win in the end here, but from a value point of view I’m happy to lay them at the odds. I just expect a closer game than the odds suggest here.
The Striker Says:
Three points lay (liability) Manchester United to beat Newcastle at 2.04 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/MunNew
⚠️ CHECK FACTMAN STATS ON THIS MATCH ⚠️
SOUTHAMPTON V WEST HAM
2pm We finish the 2pm games with Southampton hosting West Ham. With the bigger teams in action today, there’s a big danger this fixture could get lost bar some major drama. It’s definitely a likely fixture that only gets five minutes (if that!) on Match Of The Day unless there’s a major debate about a penalty, red card or VAR. It is the most open market of the day however, which does make it interesting from a betting point of view. With losses against Wolves, Aston Villa and then Everton after the International break Southampton have definitely moved back into the relegation picture now. Although they lost 4-0 away to Manchester City last weekend I wouldn’t be too harsh on them for that result – that’s going to happen plenty of teams this season – even Manchester United were 4-0 down by half-time! West Ham arrive into this fixture off the back of two wins against Wolves and Fulham – they were very impressive last weekend against Fulham in their 3-1 win and they could have scored more too. Southampton had a couple of bright performances here against Manchester United and Chelsea, but you have to say they haven’t been great since.
Although the losses to Wolves, Aston Villa and Manchester City came away from home, whereas in the 2-1 loss here against Everton they didn’t play that badly. They finished that game with an xG of 2.12 but they did concede 2.58 at the same time. It’s clear that West Ham are going to get chances here and I would have them a little shorter than their current 2.5. After an average start to the season it appears that they are creating chances again and Southampton have been so poor at the back the Hammers will get plenty of chances to take too. I’m going to keep stakes low because it’s clear that Southampton are a much better side at home compared to away, but West Ham should really be getting the job done here and 2.5 is worth a small investment.
The Striker Says:
One point win West Ham to beat Southampton at 2.5 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/SouWes
⚠️ CHECK FACTMAN STATS ON THIS MATCH ⚠️
LIVERPOOL V MANCHESTER CITY
4.30pm The Premier League has undoubtedly saved the best for last this weekend as Liverpool host Manchester City in the prime Sunday afternoon TV slot! I know this fixture has lost a bit of spice with Liverpool’s poor start to the season, but it’s still a blockbuster fixture between two top quality side. This Liverpool side have been giving away goals for fun this season and Man City always like to play an open game so we should have a very entertaining end-to-end game. Liverpool have been so bad at the back this season they are going to start this game a whopping 13 points behind Manchester City, and they aren’t even the league leaders either. Liverpool’s drop in form has been quite dramatic, and it seems selling Mane wasn’t a good idea now; as they say you never know what you have until it’s gone. Manchester City’s winning run came to an end midweek in the Champions League. It was away to Copenhagen which was obviously a big betting shock considering how short they were to win but they had a man sent off reasonably early and they are still in very good shape to win the group; I don’t think they will be that bothered with the result given the way the game turned out. With Liverpool playing pretty average football lately, City will surely view this as a fantastic chance to claim another three points.
I have to say I can’t see past a City win here. Everything points to a comfortable City win given all the issues Liverpool have at the back. The only negative I can think of is in these big games, the opposition tends to over-perform when compared to their recent performances. We saw a classic example of this already this season with Manchester United beating Liverpool – everyone was writing United off before that game in the same way they are likely to write off Liverpool. That’s football for you! I have to say though Liverpool produced an average performance that night in Old Trafford and I just can’t see how they stop City here. With Haaland in great form and City creating chances for fun – plus the fact that Liverpool look all over the place at the back I’m very happy to have a Max Bet on City here at 1.82. In my opinion they should be closer to 1.6 on balance this season and this Liverpool side surely can’t cope with City going forward.
The Striker Says:
Five points win Manchester City to beat Liverpool at 1.82 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/LivMci
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