For a number of teams and players, last weekend showed exactly what they wanted to demonstrate in the Premier League this season. For some fans of other clubs, the next nine months is beginning to look a bit ominous, and it would be no surprise to see big changes before the end of the Transfer Window on the 1st September. Let’s take a look at some of the big picks for the third weekend of the Premier League 2015/16.
After claiming its first victory in style against a struggling Sunderland, Norwich City hosted an upgraded Stoke City team still searching for its first win, and the Canaries have confidence. It’s reasonable to expect both teams to try and hit the other on the break, with Norwich and Stoke both having wingers who can change the game in an instant. Carrow Road isn’t the easy place to get points that some would imagine, and with odds of 11/4 with Ladbrokes, for Norwich to win by one goal, were good value.
Back in the north-east, Sunderland, who have been hit for four and three goals by Leicester and Norwich in consecutive weeks, is a club with plummeting confidence, and players suggesting they’re not a happy dressing room to be in. It’s a bad time to take on Swansea City at the Stadium of Light, with the Swans having taken a point off Chelsea, and all three in a home clash with Newcastle United last weekend.
Andre Ayew is a tremendous talent and is just one of many goal threats Sunderland will struggle to contain on current evidence. Look out, too, for Jefferson Montero giving the home defence plenty of problems. The best picks for this match are Ayew at 29/10 to score anytime with Unibet, and 11/2 for both he and Bafetimbi Gomis to score anytime.
And what of Chelsea? Handed a lesson by Manchester City on Sunday, the Blues play West Bromwich Albion at home on Sunday, with the Baggies a particular bogey team for the league winners. Tony Pulis will fancy his chances of outwitting Jose Mourinho with Chelsea in such poor form, though that’s an outside bet. Nonetheless, there’s more value than usual in betting on West Brom to take a point – 14/5 with Paddy Power for a draw looks very tasty.
Arsenal, playing the new-look Liverpool at home on Monday 24th August, are a significant favourite to win the match with most bookmakers. However, a defeat to West Ham United and a narrow, albeit deserved, victory over Crystal Palace does not suggest that Arsene Wenger has quite tuned his side for games against the big teams that are expected to finish in the top six. You’ll get good odds for a draw, at 29/10 with BetVictor, and this is a chance you would be advised to take.
