We’re back with the Premier League after a fortnight of international action, and a nation awakes from its slumber and says “thank goodness!” With that, let’s take a dive into the fixtures this weekend in the English top flight that we at BookieSmash think you should look out for, because of the top value they represent for you as a bettor, and because of the potential excitement on offer.
The early kick-off against Everton at Goodison Park provides Chelsea with several reasons to feel grumpy. Of course, for Jose Mourinho, who is fast gaining the tag of football’s Grumpy Cat, it’s not hard to find reasons, but with his champion side down in the bottom half of the Premier League after a difficult start, he’ll be needing his players to be back at somewhere near their best away to Roberto Martinez’s attractive side.
Chelsea will also come up against long-time transfer target John Stones, for whom Everton issued a “hands-off” warning to the Stamford Bridge club. Don’t bet against the England defender giving Chelsea’s strikers a taste of what the team missed out on. This has the hallmarks of a difficult afternoon for Chelsea, and a draw is 28/11 with Unibet.
On the same day, Manchester United, looking to recover from defeat to Swansea City before the international break, face old rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford. Although many of the old characters that made this game so special, like Gary Neville and Steven Gerrard, are not involved this weekend, it’s the kind of must-win match for both teams that quite often goes to neither team.
With Liverpool and United both improving sides, but having issues to resolve across the teamsheet, we see goals at both ends, and again a likely draw. Bet365 has a tasty 21/10 for Anthony Martial to score on his United debut, as he did last week for France.
Our pick among the other weekend games is high-flying Leicester City against dogged, determined Aston Villa, in a Midlands derby that typifies the traditional English blood-and-thunder we might have expected in the days before the Premier League. That said, both teams have an excellent group of overseas players alongside the Englishmen, with Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez linking up well with England’s newest international, Jamie Vardy.
At Leicester’s King Power Stadium, the home side is often at a big advantage, and indeed a Leicester win to continue the good run the Foxes are enjoying seems likely. Villa won’t be easy opponents, but if Leicester can play the same sort of football it was before the international games, three points could be on the way. Betway has 11/8 for either team to win by a one-goal margin.
You can find top bets and picks for these games, plus all others, in the coming days on BookieSmash.
