Premier League: Leeds Need Big Changes at Craven Cottage
Fulham vs Leeds United
Leeds United’s fight for their Premier League lives continues. Javi Gracia’s side has suffered heavy losses in back-to-back home games as they remain dangerously close to the relegation zone.
The Whites will look to lift themselves from their perilous position as they travel to west London to face Fulham.
The Cottagers actually helped Leeds’ Premier League 2023 odds of survival by beating relegation strugglers Everton to snap their four-game losing skid. But can they do the Whites another favour by handing them a much-needed win at Craven Cottage?
However, they finally snapped that skid as they defeated relegation strugglers Everton 3-1 last weekend. It was the first time Fulham have scored three goals in a Premier League game since a 3-0 win against a nine-man Crystal Palace on Boxing Day.
Scoring goals has been a struggle for Fulham, especially with the absence of top marksman Aleksandr Mitrovic due to his eight-game suspension for pushing a referee.
Daniel James celebrates after scoring during Fulham’s Premier League game against Everton at the Goodison Park
With Carlos Vinicius unable to deliver goals, Marco Silva started Daniel James at centre-forward against Everton, which turned out to be a brilliant move. The Welsh winger proceeded to have his best game of the season as he had a goal and an assist and also hit the woodwork once.
However, James will be unavailable to play against Leeds, who are his parent club, so Silva will need to find another solution at striker.
While James is out, Silva can still call upon another Welsh winger in Harry Wilson, who, like James, got a goal and hit the woodwork in their win against Everton.
Leeds need to respond after heavy home defeats
It’s going from bad to worse for Leeds United. The Whites have lost three of their last four games, with heavy defeats at Arsenal (4-1) and back-to-back home batterings at the hands of Crystal Palace (1-5) and Liverpool (1-6).
As it stands, Leeds are in 16th place, just two points out of the relegation zone with seven games to play.
Javi Gracia was brought in to solidify the Leeds defence, but he is seemingly unable to find any answers as the Whites continue to ship goals at an alarming rate. After their recent heavy defeats, Leeds now have the worst defensive record in the Premier League with 60 goals conceded.
Leeds’ defensive decline has coincided with defensive midfielder Tyler Adams’ absence due to a hamstring injury, which required surgery. Adams is still not ready to return, so Marc Roca and Weston McKennie are likely to remain the central midfield partnership.
Those defensive issues have only exacerbated the attacking problems that have plagued Leeds for most of the season. Leading scorer Rodrigo (11 goals) finally made his first start in seven games, but he was unable to make much of an impact.
Leeds and Fulham are currently tied at four wins apiece in the Premier League era, with one draw over nine meetings.
The Cottagers were able to pull level after their 3-2 win at Elland Road in their first meeting of the season back in October. Rodrigo opened the scoring, but goals from Mitrovic, Bobby Decordova-Reid and Willian powered the Cottagers’ comeback.
Fulham also came out on top in their FA Cup fifth-round tie back in February. Joao Palhinha and Manor Solomon got the goals in that comfortable win at Craven Cottage.
Despite the sizable gap between the two clubs in the standings, SBOTOP odds for this match are still quite close. Fulham are installed as narrow 2.36 favourites to beat Leeds, who are priced at 2.68. A draw is 3.30.
Clearly, this match means much more to Leeds than it does to Fulham, who have little left to play for this season. While Everton were unable to capitalise, Leeds stood a better chance of hurting the Cottagers, especially with Dan James unavailable.
Look for Leeds to pick up at least a point on their visit to west London, and even a win is not entirely out of the question.
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Premier League: Can Leicester City Get Out of the Foxhole?
Leicester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Leicester City are fighting for their Premier League lives, but their bid for top-flight survival won’t get any easier when they host the Wolves this Friday evening.
The Foxes are in a deep hole, as they’re 19th in the standings with 25 points. They haven’t won a single game since February, but they still have a chance to escape the relegation mire if they do win this weekend.
Wolves, on the other hand, were also in danger of relegation, but they look to be safe for now because they improved their recent Premier League 2023 results. With two wins on the bounce, they moved up to 13th place with 34 points.
Leicester City got the better of the Wolves in their reverse fixture earlier this season, but can they do it again when it counts this time?
The new-manager bounce is a thing here in the Premier League, although it doesn’t last long. Still, the Foxes could use some of it since they’re in the dumps right now.
The additions of Sean Dyche and Javi Gracia gave fellow relegation strugglers Everton and Leeds a boost, and these two teams have temporarily retreated from the danger zone. Under Dean Smith, Leicester City want a similar outcome.
Smith inherits a team with enough quality, so he must find a way to draw out consistent production from his players.
We’re particularly looking at the likes of Harvey Barnes, James Maddison, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Jamie Vardy to try and impose their will against the Wolves this weekend. The four of them have accounted for 30 goals and 18 assists so far this season.
But the biggest weakness for Leicester City all season long has been their backline, which was exacerbated by the departures of Kasper Schmeichel and Wesley Fofana.
Their defence got so bad that Schmeichel’s replacement – Danny Ward – was dropped in favour of Daniel Iversen, although the Danish goalie couldn’t do much since Wout Faes, Caglar Soyuncu, and Harry Souttar don’t provide enough cover for him.
Will Wolves recall Neves?
Wolves’ Ruben Neves reacts during their Premier League game against Nottingham Forest
Ruben Neves has been sidelined in these last two games after picking up his 10th yellow card of the season during their 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest at the start of this month, but the team didn’t skip a beat because his replacements have stepped up.
Julen Lopetegui has given chances to the likes of Mario Lemina, Matheus Nunes, and Joao Gomes, and all of them made the most of their opportunities, leading the way in their recent victories over Chelsea and Brentford.
Neves is now available for selection after serving his suspension, but Lopetegui may stick with the same lineup that has brought them success recently, although he has the option to bring in Neves off the bench.
History
Leicester City are gunning for their first league double against the Wolves since 1995-96 and for the first time in top-flight since 1980-81 after their 4-0 victory at Molineux in their previous meeting last October.
In the reverse fixture, the Foxes romped past the Wolves as Youri Tielemans, Harvey Barnes, James Maddison, and Jamie Vardy all scored. It was the first away league win this 2022-23 campaign.
The Foxes will somehow feel confident on Friday because the Wolves have won just one of their last 25 league visits to the King Power Stadium (D9, L15), failing to score in five of their last six since a 4-1 win in the Championship in May 2007.
As mentioned, the Wolves have never scored in five away Premier League games against Leicester City. Only Birmingham have never scored in more Premier League away games (7 against Manchester United).
The SBOTOP Premier League 2023 odds predict a tight battle between Leicester City and the Wolves. The hosts were given a slight advantage at 2.35, while the Wolves were priced to win at 2.79, and a draw was installed at 3.15 in the 1X2 market.
Despite their gap in the standings, these two teams have similar quality, so this should be a closer matchup than expected.
One thing’s for sure, though: we will see goals from each side since neither squad has been able to hold it down in the backline. So, going for Over 2.50 at 2.17 isn’t a bad idea.
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Premier League: Beat Spurs and the Geordies Can Dream
Newcastle United vs Tottenham Hotspur
The top flight clash of the weekend, Premier League: Newcastle United vs Tottenham Hotspur, could well be a shootout for that priceless fourth place, which takes you into the 2023/24 Champions League.
And the Magpies are in the right place at the moment, in fourth place, three points behind Manchester United in third and three ahead of Spurs who have played a game more. Of course, both could qualify for the Champions League should the Red Devils collapse and, equally, both could miss out if sixth placed Aston Villa continue their remarkable winning run.
Both teams come into this six pointer on the back of a defeat; the Magpies were shot down 3-0 by Aston Villa while Spurs lost 3-2 at home to battling Bournemouth. The Newcastle United vs Tottenham Hotspur betting odds reckon the hosts will put it right on Sunday and, if they do then they will be in great shape to join Europe’s elite next season.
Talking Points
Bruno can take Newcastle to the Promised Land
Eddie Howe has done such a good job as Newcastle boss that the club is planning investment in its training facilities in preparation for Champions League football; and that outcome is probably what is needed to keep the jewel in the Magpies nest at the club. Bruno Guimaraes has been one of the best players in the Premier League this season and, while Howe has assembled a strong group of players, the 25 year old Brazilian has real star quality.
Bruno has been happy in the North East and is loved by the fans, and even the £40m it took to bring him from Olympique Lyonnaise in January 2022 is now looking like money very well spent. As a central midfielder he is more creator than enforcer and he has scored some crucial goals this season, as well as opening up opportunities for the likes of Callum Wilson and Miguel Almiron.
Alongside the re-invented Joelinton, Bruno dictates the pace of play and he is the heartbeat of the team, so Howe is desperate to keep hold of his star man amidst interest from a number of top clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain. And if the Geordies do stay in the top four, then they can offer the Brazilian as much as the Parisiens can.
Talks are ongoing to extend Bruno’s contract at St James’ Park but for now he is concentrating on finishing the job in hand.
Newcastle were on a winning run of five, including a victory over Manchester United, but a trip to Villa Park brought that to an abrupt end as Unai Emery masterminded a 3-0 win for the upwardly mobile Villains. It was only the second time Newcastle had conceded three goals this season, in all competitions, and I don’t expect that to happen again any time soon.
Spurs away day blues
Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane in action against Brighton & Hove Albion
Cristian Stellini took over at the helm of Tottenham following the acrimonious departure of Antonio Conte, and he has done little to steady the ship. Since beating free-falling Nottingham Forest early in March, Spurs have drawn with strugglers Everton and Southampton and lost to Bournemouth. The only win they earned was courtesy of the officials and VAR when they beat Brighton and Hove Albion. The Seagulls had two goals disallowed for dubious handballs and had two stonewall penalties denied as VAR made a clutch of ‘clear and obvious errors’ of its own.
The Whites have been poor on the road for some time; they have won just two of their last eight away games, and none of the last four despite facing relegation threatened sides. Of course, it could be worse for Tottenham when you look at the chaos at London rivals Chelsea, who aren’t even in the top half of the table. But that will be cold comfort for the Spurs fans who, once again, will be worried that their own star man, Harry Kane, might become unsettled. He scored the winner against Brighton, two weeks ago and, with 23 goals this season he’s in fine form.
History
These are two proud old clubs of the English top flight and the head to head Newcastle United vs Tottenham Hotspur results tell a story of a highly competitive rivalry, the Magpies winning 24 of the meetings, in the Premier League era, with Tottenham winning 26, including a 3-2 win at St James’ Park last season. Newcastle won 2-1 in the return match this term thanks to goals from Wilson and Almiron while Kane scored for Spurs.
The hosts have the better recent form with five wins from the last six, while Spurs have won two, drawn three and lost one.
At SBOTOP odds of 1.83 the Geordies are strong favourites to win this game, with Tottenham priced at 3.54 and the Draw at 3.35. The hosts have better form but you can never write off Spurs with Kane in their side.
I can see this being decided by the odd goal in three, probably in favour of Newcastle at odds of 6.76, while a 1-2 away win is priced at 13.48.
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Premier League: Now Here’s a Thrilling Throwback to Yesteryear!
Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest
There was a time when this was one of the blockbuster games in English football and, indeed, further afield.
This was a time long before the Premier League was in its infancy.
This was a time when one of the world’s greatest managers regularly got under the skin of those associated with the red half of Merseyside, both at home and in Europe.
For the late, great Brian Clough worked such miracles – as the title of the film explains – that the small provincial club from Nottingham were crowned champions of England, won the European Cup two years on the bounce and regularly reached Wembley where they added a number of League Cup triumphs to their name.
Those achievements ensured Clough will always be remembered as one of the greats, if not the greatest football manager who ever lived.
It’s unlikely modern day football will ever see the like again.
Yet for a period, Nottingham Forest and Liverpool was a must-watch encounter.
Talking Points
In many ways, it still is – just the situation is 2023 is a very different one.
For while they have had a few years in the top flight over the last 30 years – it was 1993 when Clough retired and Forest were relegated during the inaugural Premier League season – the Nottingham reds are now experiencing life at the top table for the first time in 23 years.
Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez celebrates scoring their sixth goal against Leeds United at home
Desperate to stay there, their squad is actually unrecognisable from the one which manager Steve Cooper got promoted last summer.
Cooper has been reportedly under pressure at different stages of the campaign, but the decision of the club owners to back him is completely laudable, given the fine job the Welshman has done and that he has had to attempt to mould a completely new squad into a coherent team which gets results.
In fact, should they stay up this season, Forest could well be set to stay in the big time for the long-term, just as it was when Clough was upsetting the established big boys of English football on a regular basis.
First things first, however.
They travel to Anfield this Saturday in search of points in their bid to beat the drop after a run of 10 games without a win – stretching back to a success over Leeds in early February – which has seen them drop into the bottom three.
As they aim to prove the doubters wrong against hosts who hit six on Monday night, they will recall a memorable day in October when they produced one of the results of the season and famously despatched the Merseysiders among raucous celebrations at the City Ground.
A repeat performance and positive result would go a long way to helping them stay up and add another chapter to their Premier League highlights catalogue which have been all too rare over the past three decades.
Overall, Liverpool have won 57 of their meetings compared to 31 Forest successes. A further 29 games have been drawn.
Their very first meeting was in January 1895 in League Division One, which Liverpool won before Forest avenged that defeat in the FA Cup second round a month later.
Before their occasion to savour last October, when Taiwo Awoniyi netted the only goal and goalkeeper Dean Henderson played like a man possessed, they had not met in the league in April 1999 when the sides shared four goals.
On that occasion, Dougie Freedman and Pierre van Hooijdonk found the net – the Dutchman in the last minute – to cancel out goals from Jamie Redknapp and Michael Owen.
The last time they met at Anfield saw a 5-1 home win earlier that season when Owen scored four.
The SBOTOP Premier League betting odds are strongly in favour of the home side.
So much so that Liverpool can be backed 1X2 @ 1.23 and Asian Handicap -1.75 @ 1.90.
Forest are available 1X2 @ 10.00 and Asian Handicap +1.75 @ 2.00.
If Forest were to complete a memorable league double by the same scoreline – Correct Score 0-1 – you are in for a payday to enjoy @ 44.00.
Goal options include over 3.25 @ 2.08, total goal 0-1 @ 5.80, 2-3 @ 2.23 and 4-6 @ 2.40.
The 1X2 Draw will pay out @ 5.40 and Double Chance Forest or Draw @ 3.60.
Although Forest should not be anywhere like as open as Leeds were in their rout by the Merseysiders on Monday night, anything other a home win would be a massive shock.
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Premier League: Tension will be Palpable in Relegation Showdown
Leeds United vs Leicester City
If you had said to me a few weeks back that both these sides would be embroiled in a Premier League relegation battle, I wouldn’t have believed it.
Sure, Leeds’ bid to beat the drop was perhaps less surprising given they only preserved their Premier League status in the closing moments of last season.
But the arrival of Javi Gracia seemed to have steadied the ship to the extent that results improved a little.
Turning to Leicester City, it was unthinkable that a side which had secured successive fifth place finishes and a FA Cup triumph as recently as two years ago would be in this position.
Yet here we are with relegation a grim reality for one or both clubs after a season of, collectively, very few Premier League 2023 highlights.
Earlier this week, Gracia said he did not have an explanation for a defencive collapse which saw Leeds concede 11 goals in two games.
The interim manager, tasked with saving the club from relegation, had been faring quite well since succeeding Jesse Marsch.
Before Crystal Palace’s visit on Easter Day, Leeds had taken 10 points from the six games since he joined, with Marsch’s ultra-aggressive pressing tactics having been modified.
There was even a sense that a measure of understated on-pitch control had superseded some ill-camouflaged chaos.
Then they shipped five to Palace and six to Liverpool and had the worst defencive record in the top-flight.
Regardless of this weekend’s results, the tension could well be palpable at Elland Road on Tuesday night.
In fact, with trips to Bournemouth, Manchester City, and West Ham, along with visits from Newcastle and Tottenham coming down the track, their fixture list looks also somewhat less sunny.
That means this contest could well be a six-pointer.
Leicester City manager Dean Smith reacts during their Premier League defeat to Manchester City
Despite being in the drop zone, Leicester could be forgiven for feeling slightly more upbeat.
The sacking of Brendan Rodgers may have been justified based on recent results – if not what he has achieved at the club over a longer period – but the decision to replace him with backroom staff for two winnable fixtures seemed a missed opportunity.
However, the appointment of Dean Smith makes eminent sense. He did a fine job at Aston Villa and Norwich, and the Foxes are hoping he can do the same for them at a ground where they have fared well in recent seasons.
He knows time is not on his side and there is a fine line between stressing urgency and urging calm.
Indeed, their season now boils down to seven matches in six weeks and this, either side of games against fellow strugglers Wolves and Everton, feel pronounced.
Leicester’s lack of investment last summer – concerned about financial fair play – has not helped their position, but the inquest needs to wait as the situation will surely worsen if they do not have Premier League football to look forward to next season.
Defeat in this contest and that will become an even more distinct possibility.
They will hope to welcome back Harvey Barnes for this game, but Jannik Vestergaard is out for the rest of the season due to a calf injury, while Ricardo Pereira, James Justin, and Ryan Bertrand were sidelined at the weekend.
Leeds welcomed back captain Liam Cooper, Max Wober, and Crysencio Summerville for their trip to Fulham and will hope they are again available for this one.
Every point can make the difference from here on in.
History
When they met earlier this season, Leicester ran out 2-0 home winners through an own goal and Barnes, both in the first half. They also won 1-0 at home last term when Barnes was again the goal-getter.
The last time Leeds beat Leicester on home soil in the top-flight was in April 2004 as goals from Michael Duberry, Mark Viduka, and Alan Smith edged a five-goal thriller.
Overall, the clubs have met 128 times – their very first coming in 1920 when they played out a 1-1 draw in the then Division Two.
Leeds have 48 successes to their name, Leicester 46, and there have been 34 draws.
The SBOTOP Premier League betting odds edge towards the hosts. Leeds are priced 1X2 @ 2.05 and Asian Handicap -0.50 is also @ 2.05.
The Foxes, meanwhile, are on offer 1X2 @ 3.10 and Asian Handicap +0.50 @ 1.85.
A repeat of last season’s draw will pay out @ 6.20 with Correct Score.
Given the regularity with which these teams are conceding goals, then over 2.75 will only earn you a pay day @ 1.92. There’s also total goal 0-1 @ 4.10, 2-3 @ 1.98 and 4-6 @ 3.00 to consider. There is so much at stake here and I feel that will be reflected in level pegging.
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Premier League: Fulham Aiming to Foil In-Form Aston Villa
Aston Villa vs Fulham
Fulham are suddenly flying again. After a five-game losing skid, the Cottagers have reeled off two consecutive wins against relegation-threatened Everton and Leeds as they’ve climbed back up to ninth in the Premier League table.
Fulham now travel to the Midlands to face in-form Aston Villa, who saw their five-game win streak snapped by Brentford over the weekend.
But the Villans are closing in on 10 games unbeaten in the Premier League, and the Premier League 2023 betting odds will back them at home against the Cottagers.
Talking Points
Aston Villa’s unbeaten run still alive
Aston Villa’s impressive five-game winning streak finally came to an end as they were held to a 1-1 draw away at Brentford over the weekend. Douglas Luiz scored Villa’s equaliser three minutes from time to extend their unbeaten run in the Premier League to nine games in a row (7 wins, 2 draws).
Villa dominated 57 per cent of possession, but they were still outshot 16-14 and could only manage two shots on target.
Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins arrives at the stadium before their Premier League match against Brentford starts
In-form striker Ollie Watkins was unable to produce any Premier League 2023 highlights as he failed to get a goal contribution as well as a shot on target for only the second time in his last 13 games.
Meanwhile, World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emi Martinez was forced off at half-time due to a stomach illness, according to Emery. Villa will be hoping he can recover in time to face Fulham, especially after backup Robin Olsen’s shaky cameo in the second half.
Unai Emery has fielded a fairly settled starting XI over the last few weeks, and with the absence of Leon Bailey, Matty Cash, Philippe Coutinho and Boubacar Kamara, his options to change up his side remain limited.
There might be a bit of fatigue starting to set in amid the lack of squad rotation in recent weeks, but a return to Villa Park should help energise Emery’s men. Villa have won four games in a row at home, keeping four straight clean sheets.
Fulham fully recovered from slump
After seemingly being all set to start their summer vacation, Fulham are back on the winning track with back-to-back victories against relegation battlers Everton away and Leeds United at home.
Harry Wilson and Andreas Pereira both scored to give Fulham all three points against the Whites over the weekend.
With top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic still suspended, Carlos Vinicius out of favour, and Daniel James unable to face his parent club, Marco Silva opted to start Bobby DeCordova Reid at centre-forward, although he did not register a single shot.
James will be available once again to face Aston Villa, and he might be handed another start after his outstanding one-goal, one-assist performance against Everton.
However, it’s fellow Welshman Harry Wilson who is Fulham’s current in-form forward. The 26-year-old has taken over as the starter over Manor Solomon in the last two games, and he has made the most of that opportunity by scoring in both games.
However, Fulham are having some issues on the defensive end of the pitch. Thanks to the efforts of defensive midfielder Joao Palhinha, the Cottagers have been surprisingly competent on defence, but they have not kept a clean sheet in their last seven games.
Harrison Reed and Mitrovic both scored for Fulham, while Villa defender Tyrone Mings scored a late own goal. Villa finished with just 10 men after Douglas Luiz was sent off with half an hour to go.
SBOTOP odds have Aston Villa installed as massive 1.72 favourites to get back to winning ways at Villa Park. Fulham are priced at 4.10, while a draw is 3.65.
While Fulham have gone on a bit of a resurgence, it’s hard not to overlook the fact that they defeated two sides who are battling for their Premier League lives. They still have some issues at the back, and questions remain about their ability to attack against a good defence without their main man Mitrovic.
Villa will be keen to bounce back after their draw against Brentford, so look for them to start out fast in the first half against Fulham.
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Fulham are suddenly flying again. After a five-game losing skid, the Cottagers have reeled off two consecutive wins against relegation-threatened Everton and Leeds as they’ve climbed back up to ninth in the Premier League table.
Fulham now travel to the Midlands to face in-form Aston Villa, who saw their five-game win streak snapped by Brentford over the weekend.
But the Villans are closing in on 10 games unbeaten in the Premier League, and the Premier League 2023 betting odds will back them at home against the Cottagers.
Talking Points
Aston Villa’s unbeaten run still alive
Aston Villa’s impressive five-game winning streak finally came to an end as they were held to a 1-1 draw away at Brentford over the weekend. Douglas Luiz scored Villa’s equaliser three minutes from time to extend their unbeaten run in the Premier League to nine games in a row (7 wins, 2 draws).
Villa dominated 57 per cent of possession, but they were still outshot 16-14 and could only manage two shots on target.
Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins arrives at the stadium before their Premier League match against Brentford starts
In-form striker Ollie Watkins was unable to produce any Premier League 2023 highlights as he failed to get a goal contribution as well as a shot on target for only the second time in his last 13 games.
Meanwhile, World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emi Martinez was forced off at half-time due to a stomach illness, according to Emery. Villa will be hoping he can recover in time to face Fulham, especially after backup Robin Olsen’s shaky cameo in the second half.
Unai Emery has fielded a fairly settled starting XI over the last few weeks, and with the absence of Leon Bailey, Matty Cash, Philippe Coutinho and Boubacar Kamara, his options to change up his side remain limited.
There might be a bit of fatigue starting to set in amid the lack of squad rotation in recent weeks, but a return to Villa Park should help energise Emery’s men. Villa have won four games in a row at home, keeping four straight clean sheets.
Fulham fully recovered from slump
After seemingly being all set to start their summer vacation, Fulham are back on the winning track with back-to-back victories against relegation battlers Everton away and Leeds United at home.
Harry Wilson and Andreas Pereira both scored to give Fulham all three points against the Whites over the weekend.
With top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic still suspended, Carlos Vinicius out of favour, and Daniel James unable to face his parent club, Marco Silva opted to start Bobby DeCordova Reid at centre-forward, although he did not register a single shot.
James will be available once again to face Aston Villa, and he might be handed another start after his outstanding one-goal, one-assist performance against Everton.
However, it’s fellow Welshman Harry Wilson who is Fulham’s current in-form forward. The 26-year-old has taken over as the starter over Manor Solomon in the last two games, and he has made the most of that opportunity by scoring in both games.
However, Fulham are having some issues on the defensive end of the pitch. Thanks to the efforts of defensive midfielder Joao Palhinha, the Cottagers have been surprisingly competent on defence, but they have not kept a clean sheet in their last seven games.
Harrison Reed and Mitrovic both scored for Fulham, while Villa defender Tyrone Mings scored a late own goal. Villa finished with just 10 men after Douglas Luiz was sent off with half an hour to go.
SBOTOP odds have Aston Villa installed as massive 1.72 favourites to get back to winning ways at Villa Park. Fulham are priced at 4.10, while a draw is 3.65.
While Fulham have gone on a bit of a resurgence, it’s hard not to overlook the fact that they defeated two sides who are battling for their Premier League lives. They still have some issues at the back, and questions remain about their ability to attack against a good defence without their main man Mitrovic.
Villa will be keen to bounce back after their draw against Brentford, so look for them to start out fast in the first half against Fulham.
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Premier League: Chelsea vs Brentford (or 11th vs 10th )
Chelsea vs Brentford
Yes folks, I’m previewing a big Premier League clash, a London derby between two teams separated by just five points… but this one is a little bit weird.
Only a few years ago this would be a West London battle that nobody in Brentford or in Chelsea would believe could happen in the top flight. Chelsea, for many years have won titles and walked among Europe’s elite while Brentford fumbled around between the second and third tiers of English football.
But here we are; the Blues are hosting the Bees at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday in a battle to be in the top half of the English Premier League. And it’s Brentford who are currently tenth, while Chelsea are the bottom half team. The visitors have some stability with a manager, Thomas Frank, who has been at the club since 2018 and has built a team which can happily face the best in the country. Chelsea have had six managers in that time, though two of them have been Frank Lampard…the present incumbent.
So what is there to play for?
Well; it’s a top-ten place, which would be a great achievement for Brentford but for Chelsea it’s all about saving face. And both teams want to progress in their projects…but neither has had a win in seven games and the pressure is all on the Blues.
Talking Points
Lampard must find a way to break his duck
At the start of the 2022/23 campaign thePremier League 2023 betting oddsbacked Chelsea to finish in the top four but that is a long-gone dream. The Blues have had a week off since they went out of the Champions League to Real Madrid and they have surely been looking at ways to increase their strike rate. With just one goal in six matches, a 2-1 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion, the forwards have been toothless to say the least, with Kai Havertz top scoring on seven. Only Raheem Sterling, with four goals and Mason Mount with three have scored more than twice all campaign and that is a pitiful statistic for such an expensively assembled team.
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard looks on during their Champions League match against Real Madrid
An element of pride must come into it at some stage. Lampard has lost all four of his games in charge and, as a player he reached legendary status at the Bridge. The current crop of Havertz, Joao Felix and Mykhailo Mudryk have bags of potential but the Chelsea fans and board want to see some success on the field…and soon.
Top Ten is within the Bees’ reach
Brentford had a brilliant first half of the campaign but their Premier League 2023 resultshave tailed off, though they have had a tough run of fixtures, drawing with Brighton and losing narrowly to Newcastle United and Manchester United. A home draw with a bang in form Aston Villa might have got them back on track and they have a five-point lead over Chelsea so, if they can avoid defeat on Wednesday they will have a handy cushion to take them into the final run-in; and if Chelsea make a charge, eighth-placed Fulham are only a point ahead.
Much of Brentford’s success has been down the 19 goals of star striker Ivan Toney, while the Bees have a high pressing style, confidence on the ball throughout the team and a well-organised defence. Ethan Pinnock and Ben Mee have been a superb centre-back partnership since the former Burnley man moved south and they will take some beating when Chelsea’s young forward line advances.
Chelsea have won four of the seven head-to-heads with Brentford, drawing two and losing one. But the Bees have had the measure of their illustrious neighbours recently, drawing the return match 0-0 and when they visited Stamford Bridge late last season they came away with a 4-1 victory.
Both teams have drawn two and lost three of the last five games which means the Bees have drifted out of European contention and the Blues are in the sort of limbo no one could have imagined.
Brentford’s away form has not been so bad, with three wins, seven draws and six defeats on the road.
At a SBOTOPprice of 1.64 the Blues are hot favourites to win this game and a match against a team struggling to win surely gives them a great chance. But football doesn’t always work like that and the Bees, at 4.26 to win and 3.54 to draw have had plenty of success against so-called ‘bigger clubs’ this season, famously belting Manchester United 4-0.
I suspect Lampard’s wait for a win might go on…
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Premier League: Can Arsenal Rescue their Dream in Manchester?
Manchester City vs Arsenal
Well this is it; this is the Premier League decider…well, only if you’re an Arsenal fan I suppose. Gunners manager Mikel Arteta has said his team need to beat Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday…and he’s right.
Following a run of three draws Arsenal have effectively handed the Sky Blues six points and Pep Guardiola’s side is now just five behind and with two games in hand. Should Arsenal win on Wednesday then the title is in the balance. If it’s a draw then it’s a big advantage to City. A home win and it’s as good as over.
The latest Premier League 2023 betting odds suggest Manchester City are about to collect their fifth Premier League title in six years and a third in a row, while the Gunners are aiming for a first league triumph in 20 years. The hosts will come into the game with more confidence, breezing through an FA Cup semi-final against Sheffield United while Arsenal were frustrated by bottom club Southampton who took a point away from the Emirates with a 3-3 draw.
Talking Points
City are beginning to look unbeatable
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City have just recorded their tenth win in 11 games, and the draw was against FC Bayern when they had pretty much won the tie in the first leg. In all honesty the Sky Blues glided through their Champions League tie with the Bavarians and could have easily been five up at the halfway stage. They are now priced at 1.65 to win their long awaited European crown, as well as being 1.25 to win the Premier League.
The treble is very much on.
Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez celebrates his hat-trick against Sheffield United in the FA Cup
Riyad Mahrez scored a brilliant hat-trick as City breezed through to the FA Cup final in their 3-0 win over Sheffield United and they will now meet Manchester United in the final and are priced at around 1.40 to win that trophy. Any question that Erling Haaland had unsettled the balance of the team have now been rubbished, as both the Norwegian striker and his team have been mightily impressive in recent weeks, City scoring 31 goals in the past eight games and Haaland racking up an incredible 48 in all competitions. .
So how can Arsenal win this game?
Arteta needs his team to put in their best performance of the campaign on Wednesday, as well as stopping the City juggernaut his front men have to breach the Sky Blue defence. Gabriel Martinelli has been simply superb this season. The Brazil star has come of age and has been one of the standout performers in the league; and we can count on him to make more spectacular Premier League 2023 highlights before the campaign ends. Alongside Martinelli is his countryman Gabriel Jesus and, with Bukayo Saka on the opposite flank, this is a front three with plenty of goals in it, backed up by skipper Martin Odegaard who has weighed in with nine goals and eight assists from an advanced midfield position.
The bad news for Arsenal is that star defender William Saliba is highly unlikely to make this game, and having missed the last five matches since picking up a knock against Sporting Lisbon, the Frenchman has watched his side struggle, conceding nine goals in the last five games. Arsenal’s front six need to press when they are out of possession and minimise the space for the likes of Kevin de Bruyne and the mercurial Jack Grealish to work.
And when the chances come the Gunners’ aim must be spot on.
History
Arsenal have the edge over Manchester City in the head to heads over the past 30 years, winning 27 to the Sky Blues’ 24 while there have been ten draws. But the Gunners haven’t won any of the last seven meetings, and were beaten 3-1 at the Emirates as De Bruyne, Grealish and Haaland all scored for the Sky Blues while Saka converted a penalty for the Gunners.
In terms of recent form the hosts are much stronger with five wins and a draw from the last six games, while Arsenal have won two, drawn three and lost one.
Does anyone in the SBOTOP team think the Gunners can do it? Well, with a home record of 13 victories, one draw and one defeat this season the odds on a Manchester City win speak volumes at 1.50. Arsenal are a fine team and, at odds of 4.74 to win, they know they have a chance to re-ignite their title challenge, while the draw is slightly shorter at 3.97.
But Arsenal’s 3-3 draw with the Saints will have been energy sapping, both physically and mentally, while City could rest their key players once they had seen off the Blades. All the cards are stacked in the hosts’ favour and, for a correct score line, 2-0 at odds of 7.52 won’t be far off the mark.
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Premier League: Can Return-To-Form Teams Maintain Momentum?
West Ham United vs Liverpool
This was a top six Premier League clash last term.
Not so now as Liverpool struggle to recapture the form which led to them finishing runners-up and West Ham do all they can to avoid getting embroiled in a relegation battle.
In recent weeks, though, there have been more Premier League highlights for both sides to enjoy as they aim to finish the campaign on a high.
When they meet on Wednesday night, something may have to give as the Hammers look to stretch their unbeaten run to four league games and the Merseysiders aim for a third straight win for the first time in 2023.
Talking Points
A return to form for West Ham saw them seal a vital 4-0 victory at Bournemouth on Sunday to boost their survival chances.
That was preceded by a ‘lift-off’ success at Fulham, fighting back from two down to draw with Premier League leaders Arsenal, and following it up with a 5-2 aggregate win against Gent in the Europa Conference League.
While relegation remains a distinct possibility, those concerns have been significantly eased with that clinical display on the south coast where first-half goals by Michail Antonio, Lucas Paqueta and Declan Rice put them in control.
There has been talk of a change of manager in the summer with Lille’s Paulo Fonseca identified as a potential replacement for David Moyes, who is likely to part company with the club at the end of the season.
Whether or not they do make a change, the Scot could well finish with a flourish which would be a fitting end after he has restored his own and the club’s reputation in recent seasons.
In the other dugout on Wednesday is another manager who has far more credit in the bank but has had to deal with speculation over his own future of late.
Overall, there have been 29 wins for the east Londoners and 37 draws.
As respective league and cup winners, they did clash in the 1964 Charity Shield at Wembley when the teams played out a 2-2 draw at Anfield with the home side managed by Bill Shankly and future England manager Ron Greenwood at the helm of the Hammers.
They also met in the Charity Shield in 1980, a match won 1-0 by Liverpool, and their most famous game was in the 1981 League Cup Final.
In a compelling finish, Alan Kennedy thought he had won it for Liverpool with a 118th minute goal only for Ray Stewart to equalise with a penalty in the final minute of extra-time.
That led to a replay at Villa Park where goals from Scottish duo Kenny Dalglish and Alan Hansen secured a 2-1 Merseyside win after Paul Goddard had put West Ham in front.
Assessing the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds, West Ham are available to back at what would be a worthwhile 1X2 @ 3.55 and Asian Handicap +0.25 @ 2.35.
The visitors are favourites, priced 1X2 @ 1.89 and Asian Handicap -0.75 @ 2.16.
A re-run of last season’s encounter at the London Stadium will ensure you enjoy a pay day of @ 40.00 with Correct Score.
If you want to opt for goals, then how about Total Goal 0-1 @ 4.10, 2-3 @ 1.98, 4-6 @ 2.99 and Over 3.00 goals @ 2.17.
After taking seven points out of nine, West Ham are well on the road to safety and another point or two should leave them in a healthy position as they prepare to focus their attention on a Europa Conference semi-final against AZ Alkmaar.
I have considered the 1X2 Draw @ 3.45 but I do think the Merseysiders will edge this as they continue their bid for Europe.
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Premier League: The Toffees are in a Sticky Situation Against the Magpies
Everton vs Newcastle United
Everton’s top-flight status is in serious jeopardy, and their bid for Premier League survival won’t get easier when Newcastle United visit Goodison Park.
Newcastle United are certainly feeling themselves after thrashing Tottenham 6-1, which was a great bounce back after losing to Aston Villa in the game prior.
With the victory, Eddie Howe’s side is back in the top four, moving to third place with 59 points to level with fourth-seeded Manchester United.
Meanwhile, the Toffees’ poor run of Premier League 2023 results continues, as they haven’t won in five consecutive league games. They are fresh from a goalless draw against Crystal Palace, in which they were reduced to 10 men.
Sean Dyche’s men are in 18th place with 28 points, but they can move out of the relegation mire should they somehow defeat Newcastle United at home.
Talking Points
Calvert-Lewin must return to the scoring column
Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin reacts during a Premier League match against Crystal Palace
The Toffees are dead last in scoring this season with only 24 goals, and they’ve only found the back of the net twice so far in April.
Demarai Gray and Dwight McNeil have recorded six and four goals, respectively, but that’s not enough. So, it’s clear that they need to look elsewhere for more production, and they’re hoping that Dominic Calvert-Lewin can be that guy.
Calvert-Lewin has been their main source of goals in recent years, but he has faced long spells on the sidelines this season due to injuries. The English striker has only made 13 appearances across all competitions, scoring only once.
He finally returned to Everton’s starting lineup against Crystal Palace on Saturday, but he couldn’t convert, which would’ve given the Toffees three valuable points. It’s safe to say that he’s still shaking off rust, but he should get another chance against Newcastle on Thursday.
In other news, Everton’s midfield will receive a huge boost with the impending return of Abdoulaye Doucoure, who was suspended for a few games for hitting Harry Kane’s face earlier this month.
Isak steps up for Newcastle
In stark contrast, Newcastle United certainly didn’t struggle to score in their win against Tottenham on Sunday since four different Magpies have found the back of the net.
Jacob Murphy and Alexander Isak each had a brace, while Joelinton and Callum Wilson added two more for good measure.
Miguel Almiron, who was out due to a thigh injury, came off the bench and did well in his limited minutes. Once he gets his legs underneath him, Newcastle United are going to be a more dangerous team.
And then there’s Bruno Guimaraes, who’s pulling all the strings in midfield. The Brazilian maestro may only have modest totals of four goals and four assists this season, but his influence within the team goes beyond the numbers.
But the main man to look out for if you’re Everton is Alexander Isak, as he has scored four goals in his last five outings. Everton defenders are in for a long night as the Swede is a handful inside the box with his physicality and underrated speed.
Everton have only won one of their last six Premier League matches against Newcastle United (D1, L4), although it did come in this exact match last year when they won 1-0 at Goodison Park last March.
Newcastle United have won four of their last five Premier League matches against Everton (L1), which is as many as they had in their previous 21 (D5, L12). However, they have only won one of their last 10 Premier League away matches at Goodison Park, which was a 2-0 victory in January 2021.
The Magpies beat the Toffees in the reverse fixture last October, as Miguel Almiron scored the only goal of the match after 30 minutes. Newcastle United had 16 shots, with four of them on target, while Everton only had one shot, with none on target.
The SBOTOP Premier League 2023 odds expect the Magpies to win with ease on Thursday. Newcastle United are installed at 1.78 to win, whereas Everton are priced at 4.10, and a draw is at 3.40 in the 1X2 market.
Newcastle United need a couple more wins to fully secure their return to the Champions League next season. They should be able to beat Everton (and Southampton next week) easily with their players in fine form.
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The Italian boss was only in charge for 30 days and four matches. He picked up a draw with Everton and a highly fortunate win over Brighton and Hove Albion before succumbing at home to strugglers Bournemouth and taking a humiliating 6-1 defeat away to Newcastle United.
That clash at St James’ Park was billed as a battle for a Champions League place but, as the Magpies raced into a 5-0 lead within 21 minutes, the gulf between the two clubs was painfully obvious for Spurs fans, who mercifully watched the Geordies take their foot off the gas in the second half.
Stellini was appointed on 26th March after Antonio Conte walked out of the club (or maybe was pushed) after a turbulent 16 months in charge. Conte’s parting shot was to hint that the Spurs players were selfish and didn’t know how to win silverware.
Well, he’s right on the second point.
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is notoriously difficult to deal with and maybe even to work for. He’s a tough cookie, but he wasn’t overly critical when he described Spurs’ capitulation in the North East as “wholly unacceptable.
Now he needs to find the next man to take on his club, having put Ryan Mason in temporary charge for the second time. The former Spurs and Hull City player stepped up when Jose Mourinho was sacked in 2021, making him the youngest head coach in Premier League history at the age of 29.
He’ll need to put together a spectacular set of Premier League 2023 results to lift Tottenham into the top four now, but the odds are stacked against him with a six-point gap to make up.
You have to question the sanity of a club which has sacked two serial winners, Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, within the space of two years. And sure, the game against Newcastle was huge for both teams and Spurs were awful.
But what’s the point in replacing one interim manager with another when the season is almost certain to fizzle out. Spurs fans, who have had their fun laughing at Chelsea this season, have now discovered their club is another basket case and they crave some stability and a manager to take them forward.
Much as Mauricio Pochettino did before he was sacked in 2019.
Julian Nagelsmann during his time with Bayern Munich last 2022
The Tottenham faithful would love to see Poch back in the dugout, but it looks like he may be on his way to Stamford Bridge and that would hurt. But the move may open up another opportunity for the Whites as ex-FC Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann is in the market.
Levy reckons he can tempt the highly-rated German coach after he pulled out of the race to take over at Chelsea. It seemed he was on the way to Stamford Bridge, but negotiations broke down and he stepped back.
Former Spain boss Luis Enrique had emerged as a favourite at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but, if Levy is going to look for a project manager and medium-term success, then surely Nagelsmann is the best candidate.
It would be a change in strategy for the Spurs board, but they need it as they hunt for a first piece of silverware in 15 years.
Xhaka doubtful for title blockbuster
Back on the pitch, there’s a full programme of midweek football and we’ll be all over the action here at SBOTOPwith previews and updates as the drama unfolds.
After a recent run of draws for the Gunners, the latest Premier League 2023 betting oddsreckon it’s now City’s title to lose, and Mikel Arteta’s challengers really need a win in Manchester.
While Spurs and Chelsea have put on a very decent circus act this season, Arsenal have had a fabulous campaign, leading the race for the majority. But unless they can pull out a shock win in Manchester, their wait for a first league title since 2004 will go on.
The Gunners may be missing two key players for this pivotal clash.
Centre-back William Saliba continues to struggle with a back injury, and his team has struggled without him. And now it seems midfield general Granit Xhaka is very doubtful too. The Switzerland skipper missed Arsenal’s recent 3-3 draw with Southampton with an illness, and he is yet to appear in training.
Arteta won’t risk Xhaka unless he is 100-per cent fit, but he would be a huge miss in a game in which Arsenal need to limit the space for players like Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish.
If City win the midfield battle then I fear for the Gunners.
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Premier League: What Will Manchester United Find in North London?
Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United
In a full midweek programme of Premier League football, there are some standout fixtures and without a doubt, Spurs v Manchester United is one of the box office clashes.
These two giants of the English game always put on a good show, traditionally two sides with attacking intent and this is a game to attract neutrals around the country. And this time around there is more intrigue than usual. Neither Tottenham nor Manchester United have had a sparkling campaign though Erik Ten Hag has led the Red Devils to the Carabao Cup triumph, a first trophy since they won the same competition in 2017.
It’s fifth versus fourth, though maybe not as nail-biting as that sounds as the Whites, who have just changed their manager for the second time in a month, are six points behind their visitors, having played two games more, and Manchester United are probably as worried about a late charge from Liverpool, or even Brighton and Hove Albion.
Spurs are in disarray, still smarting from a 6-1 spanking away to Newcastle United, meanwhile the Red Devils come into the game on the back of an FA Cup semi-final win over Brighton in a tense penalty shootout.
The Premier League 2023 betting odds marginally favour Ten Hag’s men though all three results are well in play and the Tottenham players certainly own their fans.
Talking Points
Ryan Mason back on the touchline
The pre-match Premier League 2023 news has been dominated by the announcement, last night, that Tottenham have sacked interim head coach Cristian Stellini after just 30 days and four games in charge. The board wielded the axe after coming to terms with the crushing defeat to Newcastle and have slotted in 31-year-old Ryan Mason to guide the team through to the end of the campaign. The former Spurs player took the reins back in 2021 when the club had potted Jose Mourinho and he has the respect of the players.
Coach Ryan Mason is set to take over Tottenham Hotspur as a new interim manager
Before Daniel Levy made the decision to sack Stellini he consulted with a committee of senior players including captain Hugo Lloris, Harry Kane, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Eric Dier. This is the team previous boss Antonio Conte described as being selfish but, you know what, you sometimes get a reaction from a group of players who have just been hammered, and whether a new manager bounce is a real thing or not surely we will see some pride from these senior men when they face an old rival.
Can Spurs exploit Manchester injuries?
This may not be such a bad time to face Manchester United, who have been in indifferent form away from the Premier League, edging past Brighton in the FA Cup after being dumped out of the Europa League by Sevilla.The Red Devils were a little lucky to beat the Seagulls having been outplayed for much of the semi-final and looked a little lacklustre.
With first-choice centre-back pair Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane sidelined, they can be broken down more easily, as Sevilla proved, hammering the Red Devils 5-2 over two legs. And the form of midfield general Casemiro has not been the same since he returned from his four-match ban; if the Brazilian isn’t up to speed by Thursday then Hojbjerg could dictate the game from midfield. And, up front, teenage star Alejandro Garnacho is still recovering from an ankle injury so the Red Devils are without an impact sub, so they will hope Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho can build on their encouraging showing against Brighton.
History
Manchester United have won 44 of their 65 meetings with Tottenham, in the Premier League era, including the last four, winning 2-0 at Old Trafford as Bruno Fernades and Fred scored for the hosts.
On paper the Red Devils have been stronger in recent weeks, with four wins, a draw and a defeat while Spurs have won two, drawn two and lost two of their last six games.
But the hosts are yet to draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this season, winning 11 and losing five of their matches on home soil.
It must be galling for these two teams to watch their nearest rivals Manchester City and Arsenal, fight it out for the league title but that’s where we are. And both sets if fans will be hoping for a big display on Thursday.
At SBOTOP odds of 2.42 Manchester United are marginal favourites with Tottenham at a price of 2.62 and the draw is a 3.30. But if I were a Spurs supporter I would expect a response from their Sunday nightmare and the players have a real point to prove.
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Premier League: Leeds Need Victory at the Vitality
Bournemouth vs Leeds United
Leeds United are set for another Premier League relegation six-pointer as they travel to the Vitality Stadium to face Bournemouth.
The Whites were unable to pick up a valuable win last time out against Leicester, who remain in the relegation zone after their 1-1 draw.
Leeds will now look to end their four-game winless streak as they face the Cherries, who are in 15th, just one point above Leeds as of this writing but could be up by more after their midweek match against Southampton.
Talking Points
Bournemouth still need to battle
Bournemouth are not out of the woods yet in terms of relegation. They are still down in 15th in the Premier League table, just four points clear of the bottom three and one point above opponents Leeds.
Although, the Cherries do have a game in hand against bottom-side Southampton, which will be a massive opportunity for them to improve their Premier League 2023 odds of survival.
Bournemouth saw their first two-game winning streak of the season snapped in emphatic fashion as they were hammered 4-0 at home by West Ham. It was the Cherries’ heaviest home loss since suffering a 4-0 defeat to Liverpool in the Premier League in December 2018.
Bournemouth are now back level with Leeds in terms of most goals conceded this season with 63, although the Cherries have played a game fewer.
Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke celebrates scoring their second goal against Tottenham Hotspur
But Bournemouth should fancy their chances of hurting Leeds’ own shaky defence. Striker Dominic Solanke has been in fine form over the last month. He has two goals and two assists in his last six games with 23 total shots, nine of which were on target.
Young Dango Outtara has also emerged as a dangerous weapon off the Bournemouth bench and can change the game with his sizzling pace.
Leeds’ end losing skid but winless run continues
Leeds United finally ended their three-game losing skid as they drew 1-1 with Leicester City in midweek. Luis Sinisterra gave Leeds an early lead, but Jamie Vardy came off the bench and scored just his second Premier League goal of the season to give the Foxes a point.
Leeds coach Javi Gracia started both Bamford and Rodrigo against Leicester with the hopes of boosting the attack, but they are still struggling to score enough goals amid their survival fight.
Sinisterra has been delivering Premier League 2023 highlights of late with three goals in his last five games, but Bamford and Rodrigo have not delivered the goals. Rodrigo, the team’s leading scorer with 11 Premier League goals, has scored just once in eight games since returning from injury in March.
Gracia has surprisingly not turned to Wilfried Gnonto in his continuing search for an attacking spark. The Italian teenager was an unused substitute against Leicester as Gracia made only two changes.
Gracia has already tried several different attacking quartets and has still been unable to find one that works. It remains to be seen what combination he will field against the Cherries.
Leeds have the second-worst away record in the Premier League this season. Despite scoring a respectable 19 goals – which is the same as Manchester United – they have picked up just nine points from 16 games, with two wins and 11 defeats.
The Leeds-Bournemouth matchup has been completely one-sided historically. Leeds have won 11 of their 14 all-time meetings, with Bournemouth winning just once.
The two sides faced each other for the first time in the Premier League earlier in the season. The Whites won at Elland Road as they stormed back from 3-1 down to win 4-3. Crysencio Summerville scored the winner six minutes from time.
Premier League: Another Big Test for Spurs’ Under-Fire Stars
Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur
It’s been a turbulent week in North London. While Arsenal’s title challenge appears to be quietly fizzling out, the Gunners’ rivals at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium would like to get out of the limelight.
Spurs hit the headlines last week for all the wrong reasons, losing 6-1 away to Newcastle in what was billed a battle for a Champions League spot; but the big game next Sunday,
Premier League: Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur, looks like it might be a scuffle for Europa League places, though Jurgen Klopp’s Reds haven’t yet given up on a top four berth.
At the time of writing this is a sixth versus seventh clash with both teams on 53 points from 32 matches; though Spurs host Manchester United on Thursday night and could climb back to fifth with a victory. But the Red Devils will be buoyed by their FA Cup semi-final win over Brighton and will provide stiff competition for the Whites. And, at SBOTOP odds of 2.20 to escape Anfield with either a win or draw on Sunday, this is a very tough four days for the North Londoners.
Talking Points
Salah vs Kane
With 16 goals in this Premier League season Liverpool’s main man Mo Salah is the fourth top scorer, behind Brentford’s Ivan Toney on 19, Harry Kane on 24 and, of course, Erling Haaland on 33.
Salah and Kane have been the two of the most consistently prolific strikers in the Premier League, alongside former Manchester City star Sergio Aguero. Salah has scored 134 goals in 211 games for the Reds and won three Premier League Golden Boots. In the other corner, Kane has scored 207 goals in 311 appearances and has become the third highest goal scorer of all time.
But, while Kane is in front of this particular race there is a crucial difference.
Mo Salah has won a Premier League medal, a Champions League medal, an FA Cup winner medal and another for the Carabao Cup, while Kane has never lifted a major trophy or collected a medal.
That must be hard to take for one of the best strikers on the planet and, at 29 years of age, the speculation around Kane’s future is about to resurface in the close season.
I don’t expect the Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur highlightsto be a case of attack versus defence, but Spurs will play on the break while the Reds will take the game to their visitors and I think it will be Salah who adds to his tally.
Liverpool gathering momentum
Cody Gakpo celebrates scoring Liverpool’s first goal with teammates
A 2-1 victory away to in-form West Ham on Wednesday made it three wins on the bounce for Liverpool. Klopp’s side had luck on their side as the Hammers had a huge penalty claim turned down when Thiago handled; and then Jarrod Bowen was denied a goal by VAR. Both teams have hit a good run of form recently and West Ham started strongly when Lucas Paqueta fired home a long range opener. But Cody Gakpo replied with his own superb strike from distance before Joel Matip headed home the winner.
Sometimes you make your own luck and Liverpool have been on the front foot for a few weeks now. They came back a two goal deficit to draw with leaders Arsenal, before slapping Leeds United 6-1 and beating a battling Nottingham Forest 3-2. It may be too little too late but Klopp’s side is on the march.
Could it get worse for Tottenham?
There is no such encouragement for Spurs who are in serious danger of dropping out of European contention altogether and, following the humiliation in Newcastle they made another change at the helm after parting company with Antonio Conte only a month ago. After sacking interim coach Cristian Stellini on Sunday night the Tottenham Hotspur board put 31 year old Ryan Mason in charge, and he has a tough few weeks ahead of him.
There is no denying Tottenham have struggled without the injured Rodrigo Bentancur, who struck up a superb midfield partnership with Pierre Emile-Hojbjerg and Mason must work out how his team can deny Liverpool the space to operate. Hojbjerg’s battle with Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson will be key.
The Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur betting oddssay things are going to get worse before they get better and, with former manager Mauricio Pochettino seemingly inching closer to becoming Chelsea boss, this is not an easy time to be a Spurs fan.
History
Liverpool have won exactly half of their 64 encounters with Tottenham in the Premier League era, including a 2-1 win at the home of Spurs in November.
The Reds are unbeaten at home to Tottenham in their last 12 Anfield meetings and, despite their stuttering campaign they have been strong at home again this season with ten wins, four draws and a single defeat.
In fact, but for the absence of key men such as Willian (who has surprised a number of skeptics) and Aleksandar Mitrovic in recent weeks, they could have even been in contention for European football next term which, given they were promoted a year ago and survival was considered their main aim, shows just how far they have come under the astute management of Marco Silva.
Sure, there have been blips and setbacks – not least in their FA Cup quarter-final when a lack of discipline provide fatal – but they have largely showed their mettle, given us plenty of Premier League 2023 highlights and also given the big boys a bloody nose along the way.
It is actually against the two Manchester clubs where Fulham have had least luck this term.
In successive weeks in early November, they conceded last-gasp goals to both City and United to lose 2-1 – on each occasion, certainly the latter, they deserved better.
United were the opponents again last month in the FA Cup when they led 1-0 at Old Trafford before a mad few minutes saw them concede a penalty, be reduced to nine men and even lost their manager from the sidelines.
If they stay calm, they are certainly due some better fortune this weekend, although they will have to do without key men against a team which has beaten them for the last 13 successive meetings stretching back more than a decade.
City have firmly been in control of this fixture over the past decade and are now also firmly in control of the title race.
Manchester City’s Erling Braut Haaland and Ruben Dias celebrate after their win over Arsenal
On Wednesday night against nearest rivals Arsenal, City were remorseless – an irresistible blend of pace, power and cohesion, intent on making it plain to the pretenders to their Premier League throne that they are in no mood to stand down.
It’s more than a decade since Fulham beat City – a 3-1 Premier League win at the Etihad in April 2009 when Clint Dempsey (two) and Dickson Etuhu (a former City youth player) were on target and City had Robinho and Daniel Sturridge among their substitutes.
However, it was mighty close back in November when it took a stoppage-time Erling Haaland penalty to give City the points in a 2-1 victory after spirited Fulham were on course for a draw – albeit after the hosts had played for more than an hour with 10 men following the sending-off of Joao Cancelo.
Julian Alvarez and ex-Man Utd man Andreas Pereira (penalty) were the marksmen.
You have to go back to September 2011 for the last time Fulham took points off City – a 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage where the hosts fought back from two goals down from Bobby Zamora and an own goal after Sergio Aguero had netted twice.
The last 13 matches have all been City victories, including in the fourth round of the FA Cup last term when Ilkay Gundogan, John Stones, and Riyad Mahrez (two, one penalty) were on target in a 4-1 win.
In the corresponding league fixture two seasons ago, City ran out 2-0 winners thanks to goals from Raheem Sterling and a Kevin De Bruyne penalty.
They then won the return at Craven Cottage when Stones, Gabriel Jesus, and Aguero scored three times without reply in 15 second half minutes.
Overall, City have 38 wins in this fixture compared to 16 draws and 17 Fulham successes.
The SBOTOP Premier League betting odds are naturally with the champions.
They are priced 1X2 at a staggeringly low @ 1.25 and Asian Handicap – 1.50 @ 1.89.
Fulham are out at an appealing 1X2 @ 8.50 and Asian Handicap +1.50 @ 2.01.
Another 2-1 City success will pay out @ 7.80 with Correct Score – a bet I have considered – while goal options include over 3.00 @ 1.90, total goal 0-1 @ 4.90, 2-3 @ 2.12 and 4-6 @ 2.61.
They are well worth looking at, especially when you consider there hasn’t been a goalless draw between the two sides since 2004 – one of only two in the past 40 years.
I have to back City but not without a battle.
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Premier League: Pressure Mounting on the Red Devils to Secure Top Four
Manchester United vs Aston Villa
Manchester United’s top-four grip is not yet fully secured, and they have a big test upcoming this Sunday when Aston Villa visit Old Trafford.
The Red Devils are currently fourth in the Premier League standings with 60 points, and they have two games in hand. But additional matches do not guarantee more points, so they have to earn them against a transformed Aston Villa squad.
Aston Villa have come a long way this season, moving to sixth place with 54 points, level with Tottenham. Unai Emery’s men are on a mission, and they haven’t experienced defeat in quite a while.
A positive outcome in this match will be helpful for either side. A win here would create a bigger cushion for Manchester United, while Aston Villa will pass Tottenham for fifth if they claim all three points.
The biggest takeaway from last night’s 2-2 draw against Tottenham is that Manchester United have to address their depth this summer.
The game was basically a tale of two halves. The Red Devils took a two-goal lead when Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford scored in the first half, but it all fell apart in the second half when Tottenham salvaged a point via goals from Pedro Porro and Heung-Min Son.
Erik ten Hag made several substitutions in the second half, and their performance dropped off. Fred, Anthony Martial, Wout Weghorst, and Tyrell Malacia all came in but didn’t make much of an impact.
In Tottenham’s second goal, Malacia was caught out of position, which gave Harry Kane the opportunity to link up with Son for the equaliser.
Manchester United are going to be busy in the summer transfer window, regardless of whether they’ll have a new owner by then, to address their needs to become a legitimate title contender next season.
For now, Erik ten Hag must make the most of what he’s got. The good news is that there are no new injuries for the team, so he’s likely to maintain the same starting XI against Aston Villa.
Aston Villa’s surge under Emery
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery celebrates after their Premier League match against Fulham
Aston Villa are in contention for a European berth because they haven’t lost in the Premier League for 10 straight matches. Their last defeat was a 4-2 result against league leaders Arsenal on February 18.
Ollie Watkins has been the main beneficiary of Emery’s tactics, as he has emerged as their lead centre-forward this season. He has been involved in 14 goals in 2023 alone, which is more than any other player in the league right now, scoring 11 and dishing out three assists.
Other than Watkins, Douglas Luiz, Leon Bailey, Emiliano Buendia, and Jacob Ramsey are all producing at a high level as well, contributing 19 goals and 17 assists this season. Under Emery, their attack has been more fluid, making them a threat against Manchester United’s shorthanded backline this weekend.
History
Manchester United have lost two of their last three Premier League meetings against Aston Villa (D1), which is as many as they had in their previous 51 (W37, D12). Should Aston Villa win again on Sunday, it’ll be their first league double over Manchester United since 1954-55.
When these two sides met in November during their reverse fixture, the Villans scored a 3-1 victory over the Red Devils, as Leon Bailey, Lucas Digne, and Jacob Ramsey scored, although Ramsey’s own goal prevented a clean sheet.
The Red Devils avenged the defeat five days later when they notched a 4-2 victory over the Villans to eliminate them in the EFL Cup third round.
Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes, and Scott McTominay scored for Manchester United, while Aston Villa benefitted from a goal by Ollie Watkins and an own goal by Diogo Dalot.
Since Manchester United are playing at home, the SBOTOP Premier League 2023 odds like their chances to win this weekend. The hosts are installed at 1.77, whereas Aston Villa are priced at 4.00, and a draw is at 3.50 in the 1X2 market.
But Manchester United have been inconsistent lately due to fatigue, so it’s hard to fully trust them at this point. We figure that this is going to be a tight contest, so we’ll be backing these two sides to provide us with goals that will be included in the Premier League 2023 highlights reel. A look at their most recent encounters indicates that this is going to be high-scoring, so going for either Over 2.50 at 1.65 or even Total Goal 4-6 at 2.93 is something to think about.
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Premier League: Leicester and Everton Fight to Stay Alive
Manchester United vs Aston Villa
Manchester United’s top-four grip is not yet fully secured, and they have a big test upcoming this Sunday when Aston Villa visit Old Trafford.
The Red Devils are currently fourth in the Premier League standings with 60 points, and they have two games in hand. But additional matches do not guarantee more points, so they have to earn them against a transformed Aston Villa squad.
Aston Villa have come a long way this season, moving to sixth place with 54 points, level with Tottenham. Unai Emery’s men are on a mission, and they haven’t experienced defeat in quite a while.
A positive outcome in this match will be helpful for either side. A win here would create a bigger cushion for Manchester United, while Aston Villa will pass Tottenham for fifth if they claim all three points.
The biggest takeaway from last night’s 2-2 draw against Tottenham is that Manchester United have to address their depth this summer.
The game was basically a tale of two halves. The Red Devils took a two-goal lead when Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford scored in the first half, but it all fell apart in the second half when Tottenham salvaged a point via goals from Pedro Porro and Heung-Min Son.
Erik ten Hag made several substitutions in the second half, and their performance dropped off. Fred, Anthony Martial, Wout Weghorst, and Tyrell Malacia all came in but didn’t make much of an impact.
In Tottenham’s second goal, Malacia was caught out of position, which gave Harry Kane the opportunity to link up with Son for the equaliser.
Manchester United are going to be busy in the summer transfer window, regardless of whether they’ll have a new owner by then, to address their needs to become a legitimate title contender next season.
For now, Erik ten Hag must make the most of what he’s got. The good news is that there are no new injuries for the team, so he’s likely to maintain the same starting XI against Aston Villa.
Aston Villa’s surge under Emery
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery celebrates after their Premier League match against Fulham
Aston Villa are in contention for a European berth because they haven’t lost in the Premier League for 10 straight matches. Their last defeat was a 4-2 result against league leaders Arsenal on February 18.
Ollie Watkins has been the main beneficiary of Emery’s tactics, as he has emerged as their lead centre-forward this season. He has been involved in 14 goals in 2023 alone, which is more than any other player in the league right now, scoring 11 and dishing out three assists.
Other than Watkins, Douglas Luiz, Leon Bailey, Emiliano Buendia, and Jacob Ramsey are all producing at a high level as well, contributing 19 goals and 17 assists this season. Under Emery, their attack has been more fluid, making them a threat against Manchester United’s shorthanded backline this weekend.
History
Manchester United have lost two of their last three Premier League meetings against Aston Villa (D1), which is as many as they had in their previous 51 (W37, D12). Should Aston Villa win again on Sunday, it’ll be their first league double over Manchester United since 1954-55.
When these two sides met in November during their reverse fixture, the Villans scored a 3-1 victory over the Red Devils, as Leon Bailey, Lucas Digne, and Jacob Ramsey scored, although Ramsey’s own goal prevented a clean sheet.
The Red Devils avenged the defeat five days later when they notched a 4-2 victory over the Villans to eliminate them in the EFL Cup third round.
Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes, and Scott McTominay scored for Manchester United, while Aston Villa benefitted from a goal by Ollie Watkins and an own goal by Diogo Dalot.
Since Manchester United are playing at home, the SBOTOP Premier League 2023 odds like their chances to win this weekend. The hosts are installed at 1.77, whereas Aston Villa are priced at 4.00, and a draw is at 3.50 in the 1X2 market.
But Manchester United have been inconsistent lately due to fatigue, so it’s hard to fully trust them at this point. We figure that this is going to be a tight contest, so we’ll be backing these two sides to provide us with goals that will be included in the Premier League 2023 highlights reel. A look at their most recent encounters indicates that this is going to be high-scoring, so going for either Over 2.50 at 1.65 or even Total Goal 4-6 at 2.93 is something to think about.
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Premier League: Arsenal Have More Than London Pride at Stake
Arsenal vs Chelsea
Arsenal welcome Chelsea to the Emirates on Tuesday for a top flight Clash of the Titans, but both London Giants are in danger of being felled by a different foe.
The Gunners’ title hopes became significantly slimmer last Wednesday when they were dismantled by Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. That result closed the gap at the top to two points and the Sky Blues had two games in hand, the first away to Fulham on Sunday. On the night Arsenal lost to City, Chelsea lost 2-0 at home to Brentford to make it five defeats on the bounce so Premier League: Arsenal vs Chelsea is a chance for both teams to get back to winning ways.
The problem is that neither team will be full of confidence. After leading the league for so long the Gunners are now outsiders and their fans must fear seeing the Sky Blues towering above them.
And Chelsea are beating themselves!
They can only dream of a second place disappointment, the Blues are in the bottom half of the table, currently in 12th and dropping like a stone.
It’s going to be a nervy Emirates on Tuesday.
Talking Points
Can Gunners get back on the winning trail?
Arsenal’s visit to Manchester City was a tough gig if ever there was one and nobody can criticise them for the 4-1 outcome. Mikel Arteta’s side started the month in positive mood, beating Leeds United 4-1, but they followed that up with three draws, against Liverpool, West Ham United and Southampton to open the door wide enough for City to force open.
Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli in action with Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne
The Gunners biggest problems have been at the back where they are missing centre back William Saliba badly, conceding 11 goals from the last four games. Arteta started with Oleksandr Zinchenko at left back against Manchester City and there is a case for bringing in Kieran Tierney and slotting Zinchenko in midfield against the Blues. Up front Arsenal have been impressive all season, with Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and particularly Gabriel Martinelli in great form. Martinelli has scored four in the last eight games and 15 for the campaign and he will be the Gunners’ biggest threat again.
Arsenal must win this game to keep the pressure on Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s side played Fulham on Sunday and picked up a 2-1 win to go top with six games to play.
Goal shy Blues are getting worse
The pre-match Arsenal vs Chelsea news on the Blue side has been dominated by the increasing likelihood of Mauricio Pochettino taking over as head coach at Stamford Bridge. And that is about as good a distraction as the Chelsea fans can hope for, as the action on the pitch has been painful to watch. Okay, nobody really expected them to beat Real Madrid in the Champions League but Los Blancos strolled through, winning both legs 2-0. In the Premier League Frank Lampard’s first game ended in a 1-0 defeat to Wolves but the signs were there already, as Chelsea only managed one shot on target. They followed that up with two home defeats, to Brighton and Brentford, two teams with modest expectations but a higher league position.
Yes, they have problems in defence, with injuries to Reece James and Marc Cucurella, and Martinelli could have a productive evening, but Chelsea have to figure out a way to score, and the absence of Saliba in Arsenal’s defence should give the likes of Kai Havertz, Raheem Sterling and Joao Felix a chance. Whether they can take it or not is an entirely different question.
History
Well, it’s 32 to 27 to the Gunners in the head to heads with Chelsea in the Premier League era. And even though the Blues have been the more successful side over the past few seasons, Arsenal have won the last three including a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge in November as Gabriel scored the only goal of the game.
The Arsenal vs Chelsea betting odds back a Gunners win and, while they have hit the skids recently they should be able to outplay the free-falling Blues.
At 1.62 to win the hosts are strong favourites to pick up a vital three points, while Chelsea are at SBOTOP odds of 4.28 and the draw is priced at 3.64.
I just have a nagging doubt. This is a derby after all; and can Chelsea really lose their first six games in the latest Lampard reign? Arsenal will be anxious to get a win and they may have to be patient, while the Blues will be desperate to score their second goal from the last six games.
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Its moments such as what occurred in the final seconds in the Brentford Community Stadium which can prove pivotal over the course of a Premier League season.
This SBOTOP observer has enormous respect for what Thomas Frank and his players have achieved and continue to achieve, ever since their first promotion to the top flight for 74 years almost two years ago.
Yet all my thoughts on this occasion lay with Nottingham Forest after they conceded a last-gasp goal.
Substitute Josh Dasilva scored the 94th minute winner to send the home fans into raptures and leave Forest distraught.
The agony seemed to be prolonged as the goal was only confirmed after a long VAR check, capping a double misfortune as Forest only had 10 men on the pitch after Danilo went off injured and they were unable to make any further substitutions.
It was cruel and the face of manager Steve Cooper told its own story.
A word of congratulations to Brentford whose skipper Ivan Toney has now become the first Bees player since Dave McCulloch in 1937-38 to score 20 top-flight league goals in a season.
A fine achievement.
As I mentioned on these pages about a month ago, if Brentford or Brighton secure European football next season, Frank or Roberto de Zerbi should receive the manager of the year accolade for they are both working small miracles at their respective clubs.
Brighton also delivered more Premier League highlights on Saturday as they recorded their biggest-ever top-flight victory at the expense of woeful Wolves.
De Zerbi’s men could have been forgiven for feeling jaded after a week in which they only missed out on a place in the FA Cup Final via a penalty shoot-out, yet the manager freshened things up, leaving key players Kaoru Mitoma, Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo on the bench and handing rare starts to Deniz Undav and Billy Gilmour.
He was rewarded in style as Undav broke the deadlock with his first Premier League goal, before Pascal Gross made it 2-0 with an easy finish following teenager Julio Enciso’s driving run and pass.
Gross doubled his personal tally with a superb swerving strike before Danny Welbeck’s close-range header made it four before the break.
The former Man United and Arsenal frontman grabbed his second early in the second half and Undav completed the scoring with another super finish.
Two goals in four first half minutes from Jefferson Lerma set the Cherries on their way before the much-missed Patrick Bamford netted his fourth goal of the campaign to earn Leeds a route back, a free header from a hanging Wilfried Gnonto cross.
It proved a false dawn as Bournemouth restored their two-goal advantage soon after the hour through Dominic Solanke and, when Antoine Semenyo compounded their misery in stoppage time, the angry Leeds support bellowed: ‘You’re not fit the wear the shirt’.
Yes, they continue to hover a point above the drop zone but their position in the top flight appears increasingly delicate unless there is a swift turnaround.
Leeds have now just taken one point from the last available 15 and conceded 23 goals across their past seven matches, only one of which they have won.
There are new leaders after a quite sublime strike from Julian Alvarez gave champions Manchester City a hard-fought win at Fulham.
Despite missing key men through injury and suspension, the hosts made life uncomfortable for their illustrious opponents at Craven Cottage.
Erling Haaland celebrates the first goal of Manchester City against Fulham
Yet, either side of a fine Vinícius strike, City won the day with Alvarez proving the match-winner after an early penalty from footballer of the year Erling Haaland had opened the scoring.
The Norwegian continued his remarkable season by becoming the first top-flight player since 1931 to score 50 goals in all competitions.
It was his 34th goal in 32 league games, equalling the records set by Andy Cole in 1993-94 and Alan Shearer in 1994-95. A reminder: the division contained 22 teams when Cole and Shearer were banging them in.
Some achievement.
One more mention for the final game of Sunday as Liverpool scored three inside the opening quarter of an hour against Spurs who then produced a majestic fightback and scored a stoppage time equaliser only to concede an immediate winner.
As thrilling a contest as it was, in many ways it showed just why both teams are unlikely to finish in the top four. What entertainment though!
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Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool hope to keep their Premier League top-four hopes alive on Wednesday when Fulham are the visitors to Anfield, and they are looking for a fifth win on the bounce.
This match gives the Merseysiders a chance to keep their recently discovered momentum going after picking up four wins, scoring 15 goals, though the Reds have conceded a few along the way. Klopp’s team beat Spurs 4-3 on Sunday, while Fulham come into the game on the back of a 2-1 home defeat to Manchester City, and the pre-match Premier League 2023 betting odds have the Reds at 1.25 to win this clash.
Champions League football looks a long way away but, now fifth in the table, Liverpool haven’t given up yet and if they keep on winning then a Europa League place will be all but assured. Marco Silva’s Fulham, meanwhile, have had a great season, but back-to-back defeats leaves the Cottagers in tenth place and their race is run.
Talking Points
Liverpool’s chaotic climb
When Manchester United’s match with Aston Villa ended in a 1-0 win for the Red Devils, Liverpool found themselves ten points behind their fierce rivals in that priceless fourth place; but they responded by overcoming a traumatised Tottenham in a seven-goal thriller.
The Reds were big favourites to beat Spurs and they set off like a train as they went three goals up within a quarter of an hour. Curtis Jones, Luis Diaz and Mohammed Salah, from the penalty spot put Spurs to the sword and Liverpool had 67 per cent possession but, after their explosive start, they were pegged back by Spurs who had the better chances, with seven shots on target to their hosts’ four and the Londoners twice struck the woodwork in a frantic spell just after half-time.
Liverpool’s Diogo Jota scores their winning goal against Tottenham Hotspur
Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son had made it 3-2 before interim coach Ryan Mason threw on Richarlison and the Brazil striker headed a dramatic leveller in stoppage time. But there was still time for Diogo Jota to produce more Premier League 2023 highlights as he fired home the winner to spark bedlam in the stadium.
Klopp, who was still fuming after the referee had failed to award a foul against Spurs shortly before Richarlison struck, ran over the bellow in the fourth official’s face and he pulled a hamstring in the process!
The Liverpool manager was clearly in some pain and he copped a yellow card too, but the three points surely made up for all that. The return of Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota was a huge boost and Cody Gakpo was excellent again; having already beaten Leeds United 6-1, Nottingham Forest 3-2 and West Ham United 2-1, this team has a thirst for goals, but they can’t keep a clean sheet.
Fulham’s absentee list grows
The Cottagers’ 2-1 loss to Manchester City cost more than three points as they picked up two serious injuries to key players. Skipper and centre-back Tim Ream suffered a broken arm which will keep him out for the rest of the campaign. And influential midfielder Andreas Pereira was stretchered off after a collision with City defender Manuel Akanji. Pereira had a big part to play in Fulham’s goal, floating over a cross for Harry Wilson to knock down into the path of Carlos Vinicius who fired home to make it 1-1.
The loss of Ream and Pereira comes at a time when star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic is still serving his eight-match ban, following his sending off for pushing referee Chris Kavanagh in a defeat to Manchester United. And wide man Willian is also struggling to get fit, having missed the loss to the Sky Blues with a back injury. The former Chelsea star has been in brilliant form since his arrival in September and he will be another big loss.
On a brighter note for Silva, striker Carlos Vinicius is growing in confidence while, at the other end of the pitch, goalkeeper Bernd Leno put in a superb display to keep his team in the game and the Sky Blues down to two goals.
History
The head-to-head results have gone pretty much as expected with the Merseysiders winning 18 of the last 31, while the Cottagers have won seven and there have been six draws.
The two teams drew 2-2 at Craven Cottage on the opening day of this season as Mitrovic scored twice and Salah bagged a late equaliser.
Liverpool have been strong at home, winning 11, drawing four and losing just one of their matches at Anfield; and they have won four of their last six games, while Fulham have won two and lost four.
Fulham, at SBOTOP odds of 7.72, and the draw at 5.22 would have looked a decent price a few weeks ago but a string of absentees has coincided with the Reds’ uptick in form, and that all points to a fifth win in a row for Liverpool.
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Premier League: Champs are Flying; Hammers Not Yet Safe
Manchester City vs West Ham United
There is no tougher Premier League assignment you can face than lining up against the dominant force in English football.
Champions Manchester City are the team to beat and are now on course for a fifth league title in six years.
They showed their mettle on Sunday to see off spirited Fulham and now welcome West Ham on Wednesday night when they will be firmly expected to deliver yet more Premier League highlights.
Talking Points
Let’s begin with the phenomenon who should be crowned footballer of the year over the next few weeks.
On Sunday, he netted his 34th goal in 32 league games, equalling the records set by Andy Cole in 1993-94 and Alan Shearer in 1994-95. A reminder: the division contained 22 teams when Cole and Shearer were banging them in.
Some achievement in a team whose depth of talent, plus maturity, gives them the edge on their rivals.
They host a West Ham team in a repeat of the fixtures from the opening weekend of the season.
That was, amazingly, nearly nine months ago but since that very weekend, Haaland’s brilliance has been relentless.
As he prepares to face the team he scored twice against in his league debut, few give West Ham a chance.
Nearly a month ago, I wrote that they needed lift-off to avoid being embroiled in a relegation battle.
West Ham United manager David Moyes during their match against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park
David Moyes’ men managed just that and have since pulled themselves clear of the bottom three.
They could do with a few more points on the board, however, after back-to-back league defeats in the past week.
Goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, who has called on the Hammers to pick up the necessary points to avoid the drop, will know he needs better protection than he received at Selhurst Park on Saturday where, despite taking the lead, David Moyes’ side found themselves 3-1 down after conceding three goals in 15 first-half minutes.
That seven goal thriller at Crystal Palace suggested that perhaps their focus lies elsewhere.
It’s been 43 years since the club lifted a major trophy.
Yet beat AZ Alkmaar in a two-legged semi-final and then triumph in the subsequent showpiece game in Prague and they will be Europa Conference champions.
It may hardly be a major competition but no Hammers fan will turn their nose up.
The future then could be a promising one, given the club’s juniors last week secured an emphatic 5-1 victory against Arsenal in the FA Youth Cup final.
Not since the days of Michael Carrick and Joe Cole at the end of the last century have West Ham been able to lay claim to having the best youth team in the country.
So the future could be very bright in east London again but not as a Championship club, although anything gained from the Etihad this week will surely be a bonus.
History
City have scored in 23 of the past 24 matches against West Ham in all competitions, dating back to November 2012.
The corresponding fixture last season saw goals from one of their title heroes, Ilkay Gundogan and Fernandinho seal a 2-1 home win with Manuel Lanzini replying.
City have actually won 12 of the last 15 meetings with West Ham in all competitions – scoring 39 goals and conceding just eight.
Overall, West Ham have won on 38 occasions with 61 City triumphs and 19 draws.
Brighton welcome Manchester United to the Amex Stadium on Thursday, and the Seagulls are hoping to avenge a heart-breaking FA Cup exit to the Red Devils… just over a week ago.
The South Coast club were the better side for much of their semi-final clash but the Manchester men held their nerve to win a penalty shootout and book a final place against Manchester City. So Premier League: Brighton vs Manchester United gives the Seagull’s a chance to grab their revenge; they currently sit in eighth place, 11 points behind the Red Devils in fourth, but with a game in hand.
Roberto de Zerbi has done a fantastic job at the helm of Brighton and his team comes into the game on the back of a 6-0 hammering of Wolves, while Manchester United edged out Aston Villa 1-0 last time out. Erik Ten Hag too can be pleased with his work at Old Trafford. The Red Devils have already won the Carabao Cup, are in the final of the FA Cup and have a reasonably firm grip on a top four place.
But the pre-match Brighton vs Manchester United betting odds reckon the Seagulls are odds on to take their revenge, and keep their European charge on track.
Talking Points
Seagulls’ form is better than results
As well as going out of the FA Cup, De Zerbi’s side has followed a pattern of ‘win one, lose one’ over the past five league games so they will be keen to break that sequence against these visitors. They have more games in hand on the likes of Spurs and Liverpool and could climb to fifth with a good run. Brighton have come out on the wrong side of three of their last six fixtures but the only poor performance came in a 3-1 reversal to struggling Nottingham Forest. As well as dominating Manchester United in the FA Cup the Seagulls outplayed Spurs but came out on the end of a 2-1 defeat as VAR made four baffling decisions against De Zerbi’s side, each handing a goal swing to Spurs. Had the decisions gone Brighton’s way they would have won 5-2, but all they got was a third letter of apology of the season.
They have won five of their seven Premier League home games in 2023 and Brighton simply ripped the Wolves to pieces. The only disappointment on the day was an injury to Joel Veltman; and that means Gross may revert to right back. Meanwhile, Karou Mitoma and Alexis MacAllister both started on the bench against Wolves but should be in line for a return.
United almost there
Fifth placed Liverpool are just about still in the hunt for a top four place and they could climb to within four points of Manchester United if results go their way in midweek. But Ten Hag will focus his players on what they need to do; and the Red Devils coped with the pressure to beat Aston Villa on Saturday to keep hold of their comfortable cushion. Bruno Fernandes poked home the winner after Emi Martinez could only parry Marcus Rashford’s shot and the Red Devils successfully kept Villa at bay in the second half; which is more than they did in the previous match when they surrendered a two goal lead away to Tottenham Hotspur.
Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes celebrates after scoring a goal in Premier League clash against Aston Villa
After being dumped out of the Europa League by Sevilla, United need to qualify for the Champions League through their domestic league and they are almost there. They just need to avoid a capitulation; but they will find it tough against Brighton without first choice centre backs Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez, with Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw set to deputise.
History
The Red Devils have had much the better of the head to head Brighton vs Manchester United results since the Seagulls flew into the Premier League, winning ten to four and there is yet to be a draw.
But Brighton won the return fixture, on the opening day of the campaign, as Pascal Gross scored a brace to give the Seagulls a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford. And last season Brighton battered United 4-0 at the Amex Stadium.
In terms of recent form both sides have won three of the last six, Brighton losing the other three while Manchester United have lost one and drawn the other two.
At SBOTOP odds of 1.98 to win, the hosts are clear favourites with the Red Devils out at 2.92 and the draw at 3.59; and I think the Seagulls will get their revenge.
I expect a high scoring game, and over 3.00 goals is at 1.91, with 3-1 to Brighton at a price of 12.52.
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Premier League: Is ‘Big Sam’ the Answer to Leeds’ Prayers?
We are into May and the final month of the Premier League season – a campaign which has delivered Premier League highlights time and time again and continues to do so.
For all of the drama, all of the talking points, this SBOTOP writer continues to be surprised by one particular aspect – the managerial merry-go-round which has often been unforgiving but now seems more ruthless than ever before.
In fact, if there were Premier League betting odds on who would be the next top flight manager to lose their job, there would be potential for a lucrative field day.
Next I hear is that Leeds United may be about to appoint a new manager.
Reports suggest the club is considering sacking Javi Gracia and appointing a third manager of the season after losing four of their last five games.
Hired as Jesse Marsch’s successor on a “flexible contract” in February with the brief of maximising the team’s chances of avoiding relegation, Leeds were in the bottom three at the time.
He initially seemed to steady the ship but April was, put simply, a month to forget with 23 goals conceded and just four points collected from a possible 21.
Despite Sunday’s 4-1 reverse at Bournemouth, they remain above the drop zone but with daunting-looking games coming up against champions Manchester City and Newcastle.
If the smart money is to be believed, Sam Allardyce is being lined up.
Now as far as I’m concerned, he is one of the best ever managers in the history of the Premier League – his achievements at Bolton mightily impressive, whereas he has also done well at most of the other clubs who gave him a chance.
Placed 17th in the Premier League, the job of keeping Leeds from the drop is by no means a simple one – with games against City, Newcastle, West Ham and Spurs to come.
Yet if anyone can save them, it is ‘Big Sam’.
Watch this space!
One club which has no regrets about switching a manager recently is Crystal Palace who are all but safe.
At full flight, Palace are pure south London swagger.
As the Guardian reported this week, Roy Hodgson and his evergreen companion Ray Lewington look to be having the time of their lives.
Whether the veteran boss and his trusted lieutenant fancy next season in charge is a question Hodgson refuses to answer but, regardless, there is no doubt the decision to bring in the 75 year-old for Patrick Vieira has proved an inspired move.
Two more managers who came into their clubs after the season had started are also proving to be astute appointments.
AFC Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke celebrates scoring their third goal with teammates
A day earlier the club secured a record deal for Watford’s Brazilian striker João Pedro for £30 million, which makes a change given the Seagulls have sold many of their best talents in recent times.
They actually thrashed Wolves without Moisés Caicedo, Alexis Mac Allister and Kaoru Mitoma in their starting XI.
Just an alarm bell that has rung for this observer, however.
They have been linked with moves for Liverpool duo James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Personally, given the age of the former Milner and the injury-record of the latter, I respectfully think they should aim higher than that.
Another manager who was elsewhere when the campaign began is Gary O’Neil.
He took charge of newly promoted Bournemouth after their 9-0 hammering at Anfield in late August.
But, with a month of the season to run, they are 10 points clear of the relegation zone and level with big-spending Chelsea.
At the end of Bournemouth’s rout of Leeds on Sunday, his squad embarked on a victory lap after all but securing their top-flight status.
That is a fine feat from O’Neil in his first role as a senior manager.
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Premier League: Can Big Sam Shock in Ultimate Mismatch?
Manchester City vs Leeds United
As managerial returns go, there could hardly be a more daunting start.
A trip to the league leaders and reigning champions is difficult enough at the best of times but, when you are a side which has conceded 23 goals in the month of April and collected just four points from a possible 21, the omens are not good.
What’s more, their hosts on Saturday afternoon are flying and have in their ranks a player who has just broken the scoring record for most goals in a Premier League season.
To think, Sam Allardyce chose to come out of retirement for this!
Talking Points
Now I cannot begin this article by not mentioning Erling Haaland who was given a guard of honour by his team-mates, manager Pep Guardiola and the club’s backroom staff after the final whistle on Wednesday night following Manchester City’s 3-0 success over West Ham.
Erling Haaland receiving a guard of honour from Manchester City teammates and manager Pep Guardiola
In his debut season in English football, he has set the new marker in just his 31st game and his 35 league goals are also the most by a player in a single campaign in the English top division since Ron Davies netted 37 for Southampton in 1966-67.
Incidentally, Dixie Dean boasts the record with 60 in 39 games for Everton in 1927-28.
As he prepares to face a side with the worst defensive record in the top flight, the Norwegian phenomenon could be forgiven for dreaming of more Premier League highlights.
Yet in Allardyce, Leeds United have appointed a manager who has made a career out of shocking and proving a thorn in the side of the top flight’s finest.
The former Bolton boss has just four games to maintain Leeds’ top-flight status which is no easy task.
As bewildering as it may sound to some, I feel his achievements on a shoestring in the north-west from 1999 to 2007 are a match for any of the current bosses given the gulf in resources.
That gulf will certainly be evident in his first two games (City are followed by Newcastle) as ‘Big Sam’ starts in bold fashion in an attempt to bring back confidence to a team sorely lacking it.
This should be the ultimate mismatch but if anyone can cause an upset, it’s this man.
Ferran Torres had equalised for City in a match played behind closed doors due to Covid restrictions.
What made it more impressive was that Leeds played the entire second half with 10 men following the dismissal of Liam Cooper.
Since then, City have won three on the bounce against the men from Yorkshire.
That included a 7-0 rout in the corresponding fixture last season when Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Kevin de Bruyne (two), Riyad Mahrez, John Stones and Nathan Ake were the goal-getters.
Virtually a year ago to the day, title-chasing City hit four without reply at Elland Road – an impressive showing secured by goals from Rodri, Ake, Gabriel Jesus and Fernandinho.
That was the first league double City had managed over Leeds since the 1981-82 season.
The SBOTOP Premier League betting odds are as overwhelming as they can be with City available 1X2 @ 1.17 and Leeds out @ 11.00.
The Draw, which would be a bonus for the visitors, would pay out @ 7.00.
And then there’s Asian Handicap odds which include City -2.50 @ 2.20 and Leeds +2.25 @ 1.91.
Another 3-1 City success is on offer @ 9.00.
Given City’s potency in attack and Leeds’ woeful defence of late, you would expect goals in this game and plenty of them.
Options include over 3.75 @ 2.11, total 0-1 @ 7.40, 2-3 @ 2.42 and 4-6 @ 2.09.
I truly can see some but think Leeds will arrive with a dogged defensive plan in mind. Allardyce can barely do anything else given the lack of time he has with the players at his disposal.
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Premier League: Wolves Can Ruin the Villans’ Top Four Hopes
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Aston Villa
The Wolves are going to host Aston Villa for their 35th Premier League match of the 2022–23 season at the Molineux Stadium, where they’ve been solid as of late.
Julen Lopetegui’s side has won four consecutive matches at home, but extending their streak to five straight games is going to be difficult against a side that’s vying for European football next season.
Both teams are coming off defeats; the Wolves suffered a 6-0 humiliation at the hands of the Seagulls, while the Villans endured a costly defeat to the Red Devils.
The pre-game SBOTOP betting odds predict a tight affair despite their gap in the table. So, this is definitely a fun match to look forward to with valuable points up for grabs.
Talking Points
Wolves aren’t safe just yet
Wolves are currently 14th in the Premier League standings, but their job of maintaining their top-flight status is not yet finished with four games to go. They have notched 37 points, which is only seven adrift of the relegation zone. However, their recent run of Premier League 2023 results, especially on the road, has been bad.
Their 6-0 loss to Brighton is easily one of their worst defeats in a long time, and one of the main reasons for that is because of Julen Lopetegui’s questionable team selection.
For whatever reason, Lopetegui benched Hwang Hee-Chan, Daniel Podence, Adama Traore, and Matheus Cunha as he used a 4-4-2 formation with four midfielders. And it backfired as the Seagulls destroyed them out wide.
Podence, Hwang, and Adama are three of the team’s top scorers this season, accounting for 12 goals and four assists. Because they were benched against the Seagulls, Lopetegui probably won’t make the same mistake twice by not starting them against the Villans.
The biggest injury concern for the Wolves is Nelson Semedo, who went off just before halftime against Brighton. He is their best option at right-back, and if he misses this game, Jonny will get the nod as his replacement.
One player to look out for if you’re the Wolves is Leander Dendoncker, who moved from the Molineux to Aston Villa last summer. The Belgian midfielder is enjoying his time under Unai Emery this year.
Aston Villa’s injury list easing up
Aston Villa’s top four run was halted by Manchester United last time out. They couldn’t contain the Red Devils, who won the game because of Bruno Fernandes’ goal after 39 minutes. Because of the loss, Aston Villa fell to seventh place when Liverpool secured their fifth consecutive win against Fulham on Wednesday.
Aston Villa players celebrate after Tyrone Mings scored a goal in Premier League game against Fulham
Despite their slip-up, the fight for Europe is far from over for Aston Villa, and Unai Emery is hoping to have some of his key players back at 100-per cent.
Emery claims that Matty Cash, Philippe Coutinho, Leon Bailey, and Boubacar Kamara are all close to returning to training and that one or two of them could be involved against the Wolves.
Cash was in great form prior to suffering a calf injury last March, while Leon Bailey is the team’s third-leading scorer with five goals this season.
History
Wolves are undefeated in their last four Premier League matches against Aston Villa (W2, D2). They had a longer unbeaten run before against the Villans in the league between April 1957 and August 1961 (8 consecutive games).
And they have won their last three Premier League home matches by an aggregate tally of 5-0. The Wolves last won four consecutive home league matches at Molineux Stadium in April 1975.
Aston Villa have lost two of their last three Premier League matches against Wolves at the Molineux Stadium, which is as many as they had in their previous 15 league visits (W7, D5).
These two teams squared off in January, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Daniel Podence scored the first goal of the game in the 12th minute, but Danny Ings netted the equaliser for the Villans in the 78th minute.
The Premier League 2023 odds gave Aston Villa the slight advantage to win this game, as they’re priced at 2.44, while the Wolves are at 2.69, and a draw is at 3.15 in the 1X2 market.
With more options to choose from for Unai Emery, Aston Villa should bounce back from last weekend’s loss, although the Wolves are going to give them a huge fight.
Other than a Villa victory, we should see some goals on Saturday, making Total Goal 2-3 at 1.89 a plausible alternative.
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In terms of money spent and depth of squad, this Saturday teatime match should be a home banker.
The 19-times champions of England against a club which has spent all bar seven years of its existence outside the top flight.
Yet the Premier League has proved to be a playground the Bees of Brentford have found to their liking, including victories this term over Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea, so they should head north to Liverpool with no fear.
A realist would suggest that hope was ended by a six-game winless streak in recent weeks, but it is still possible and Frank’s side seem determined to give their supporters an exciting denouement to the season.
They followed up their victory over Chelsea just over a week ago with that late home victory and also have a marksman who continues to defy the doubters.
That is Ivan Toney who has become the first Brentford player in almost a century to score 20 goals in a top flight campaign.
Of course, Liverpool are used to Premier League highlights themselves and a fifth victory in succession at home to Fulham on Wednesday night means they are currently enjoying their best run of the season.
Their 1-0 victory also marked another milestone in the glittering Anfield career of Egyptian Mohamed Salah.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah during their match against Nottingham Forest at Anfield
The penalty which separated the sides meant he became the first player to score in eight consecutive Liverpool home games.
Gordon Hodgson and Luis Suárez scored in eight consecutive home appearances for the club in 1927-28 and 2014 respectively, but their sequences were interrupted by injury and suspension respectively.
Salah now stands fifth on the club’s all-time league goalscorers’ list and one behind former captain Steven Gerrard’s tally of 186 in all competitions.
He is clearly their talisman, even accounting for the wealth of attacking talent the home side can call upon.
Team news wise, Diogo Jota overcame a fresh knock to make the bench in midweek and could force his way back into the frontline alongside Cody Gakpo, while left-back Andrew Robertson enjoyed a rest so could replace Kostas Tsimikas.
Similarly, Brentford also have a quintet of injury concerns to factor in as Malmo-bound captain Pontus Jansson (thigh) and Keane Lewis-Potter (knee) are facing races against time to return before the campaign concludes.
They may have only enjoyed top flight football in two years out of the past three quarters of a century – the past two seasons – but they have shaken the Merseysiders up on more than one occasion.
The Bees have been buzzing for some time now and, along with Brighton, are the team of the season for me.
The SBOTOP Premier League betting odds naturally back Liverpool who are on offer 1X2 @ 1.47 and Asian Handicap – 1.25 @ 2.07.
Brentford are available 1X2 @ 5.0 and Asian Handicap +1.00 @ 2.13.
The Draw @ 4.40 may tempt some, while a repeat of last season’s meeting in this fixture – Correct Score 3-0 – will pay out @ 11.00.
Given there’s only ever been one goalless draw between the two sides, and that was 87 years ago, then you may look at total goal 0-1 @ 5.20 with a degree of scepticism.
Then there’s Total Goal 2-3 @ 2.10, 4-6 @ 2.57 and over 3.25 @ 2.13.
It really is difficult not to anticipate a number of goals so I am going to plump, as a *** tip, Total Goal 4-6 @ 2.57.
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Premier League: Will the Magpies End Arsenal’s Title Challenge?
Newcastle United vs Arsenal
All roads lead to the Tyne on Sunday for the Premier League clash of the weekend when Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal continue their title push against Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United.
The Gunners hopes of winning a first top flight title in 20 years are still alive, though beginning to look like a long shot and the Premier League 2023 betting oddshave taken a sharp turn towards the north. Manchester City have gone back to the top of the table following their midweek 3-0 victory over West Ham and the Sky Blue juggernaut shows no sign of slowing.
But Arsenal will fight on until all hope is gone.
Back to the match in hand; it’s third versus second and both teams come into the game on the back of a 3-1 home win; the Magpies beating bottom club Southampton last week while the Gunners saw off a poor Chelsea in midweek.
Newcastle United are now among the elite of the English top flight and Howe is building a team ready for the Champions League, where they will join Arsenal next year. And they could end their visitors’ title dreams on Sunday. The Gunners also need help from Leeds United, with newly appointed Sam Allardyce helicoptered in to save them. The Whites face Manchester City at the Etihad on Saturday where only a major shock will keep the Sky Blues’ lead at the top to fewer than four points.
And then Arsenal will need to beat Newcastle to keep the race alive.
Talking Points
Wilson and Isak make a potent pair
One of the big Premier League 2023 news stories, particularly in the north east, has been the return to fitness and form of striker Callum Wilson who has scored 15 goals in this campaign. The England man struck twice as the Magpies came back from behind to beat the Saints 3-1, and that made it five goals in a week after he was on the score sheet in last week’s 6-1 destruction of Tottenham Hotspur and then bagged a brace when Newcastle beat Everton 4-1.
Manuel Almiron was the man of the moment in the first half of the campaign but all the excitement around St James’ Park is now centred on the form of Alexander Isak who scored twice against Spurs. That made it ten for the campaign, in 17 matches, since Isak’s arrival from Real Sociedad last summer. The 23 year old Swede has grown in confidence and has been likened to Premier League legend Thierry Henry, using his pace and skill to find positions to score or assist, and he has a cool head in front of goal.
Newcastle United’s Callum Wilson celebrates scoring their third goal vs Southampton
Howe has built a team on a solid defensive base with clever recruits, such as goalkeeper Nick Pope and wing back Kieran Tripper, he has a midfield ace in Bruno Guimaraes, and now, in Wilson and Isak he has a strike pair to take on Europe.
Kiwior set for second start
Arsenal’s defensive woes may have become a little worse after centre back Gabriel was injured during the win over Chelsea and he looks likely to join long term absentee William Saliba on the absentee list. But Arteta was delighted by the performance of Polish centre back Jakub Kiwior, who put on an accomplished display in his first start for the Gunners since his transfer from Spezia in January. The 23 year old has impressed in training and Arteta dropped Rob Holding to give Kiwior a chance; and he took it with both hands, keeping Chelsea’s expensively assembled front line quiet.
Kiwior will surely keep his place and Ben White is a choice top move back into the centre from right back, unless Arteta wants to draft Holding back in. The Gunners have conceded ten goals in four games so the Arsenal boss will be keen to get it right. Arsenal totally bossed their midweek match with Chelsea, storming into a 3-0 lead but they did go off the boil in the second half and they can’t afford to do that against Newcastle.
If they can keep it tight the Gunners have the firepower to win any game. Skipper Martin Odegaard scored twice against Chelsea while Gabriel Martinelli, with 15 goals for the season and Bukayo Saka, with 11 assists, have been superb throughout.
History
The Gunners have bossed this relationship in the Premier League era with 37 wins from 59 games while the Magpies have managed 11 wins and 11 draws. But Newcastle won this fixture 2-0 last term and battled out a 0-0 draw at the Emirates this season.
And the Geordies have the better recent form, winning five of the last six games while Arsenal have managed just two wins, drawing three and losing one.
Newcastle are at SBOTOP odds of 2.33 to win this clash while Arsenal are at 2.59 and the draw is 3.20. This will be the Gunners’ biggest test in the run in and, with some defensive frailty about to face a quickly improving Newcastle attack, I fear for the north Londoners.
And, for a correct score line, 2-1 to Newcastle is priced at 8.20.
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Premier League: Manchester United Have to Fix Their Away Form
West Ham United vs Manchester United
Manchester United’s top four run was halted by Brighton, but they have a chance to make things right when they take on West Ham United at the London Stadium on Sunday for their second Premier League game in three days.
Yesterday at Amex Stadium, the Red Devils suffered a 1-0 loss against the Seagulls, but they still hold the fourth-place spot in the standings with 63 points.
However, Manchester United cannot get complacent because they’ve been terrible on the road this season, and there’s pressure mounting on them to secure the top four as soon as possible.
West Ham United are under pressure too because they’re closer to the drop than they’ve ever been in quite some time. The Hammers are in 15th place with 34 points, which is only four points adrift of the relegation zone.
Talking Points
West Ham’s balancing act
West Ham’s Michail Antonio with David Moyes after being substituted during their Premier League match against Man City
The Hammers are one of the rare teams that’s still fighting on two fronts at this point of the season, which will really test their mental fortitude and team depth.
Besides trying to get more positive Premier League 2023 results, West Ham United are in the Europa Conference League semi-finals, and they have a winnable tie against AZ Alkmaar starting on Thursday after this game against Manchester United.
They have lost each of their three Premier League matches against Liverpool, Crystal Palace, and Manchester City, and they have injury concerns to deal with, giving David Moyes headaches in the team selection.
Against Manchester City, David Moyes had to drastically change his midfield as Tomas Soucek and Declan Rice were sidelined due to illnesses. Nayef Aguerd was also ill, while Kurt Zouma hurt his ankle against Crystal Palace, and Vladimir Coufal had to come off the pitch against the Sky Blues because of a hamstring knock.
Gianluca Scamacca, their prized acquisition last summer, has not featured since March’s home victory over AEK Larnaca in the Europa Conference League Round of 16 due to a knee injury.
Should none of the six absentees be cleared in time for Sunday, David Moyes would have only 17 players available against Manchester United.
Almost but not quite for Manchester United
The Red Devils’ struggles away from home have been well documented, and following yesterday’s loss to Brighton, Manchester United now have seven losses and one draw against top-nine sides on the road this season.
They are still in pole position for the fourth and final Champions League spot, but they’re only four points ahead of fifth-placed Liverpool and now have only one game in hand.
Manchester United did okay against Brighton up until the dying minutes, when they conceded a penalty because of Luke Shaw’s handball. Alexis Mac Allister stepped up on the spot and converted the penalty to seal the victory for the Seagulls.
They should’ve won the game if they converted their chances early on. Antony and Anthony Martial were particularly wasteful in the final third, while Marcus Rashford was the sole bright spot for the squad.
West Ham United have lost seven of their last eight meetings with Manchester United across all competitions. These two teams have already met twice this season, and the Red Devils won each time at Old Trafford.
They first met in October, when Manchester United beat West Ham United 1-0 as Marcus Rashford scored the only goal.
And then, in March, the Red Devils eliminated the Hammers in the FA Cup fifth round with a 3-1 scoreline. Said Benrahma scored the first goal of the game after 54 minutes, but Manchester United came back through an own goal from Nayef Aguerd and late goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Fred.
Manchester United have won their last two away league games against West Ham United, which is as many as in their previous eight visits (D3, L3).
The SBOTOP Premier League 2023 odds like Manchester United’s chances to win on Sunday, mainly because of their lead over their hosts in the standings. They’re priced at 2.10 to win, but West Ham United have a decent chance at 3.05, and a draw is at 3.40 in the 1X2 market.
Manchester United’s away form is poor, so it’s hard to fully trust them to get the job done this weekend. However, we believe that this is going to be a high-scoring game regardless, making Over 2.50 at 1.67 your best bet.
For alternatives, you can’t go wrong betting on either Total Goal 2-3 at 1.98 or even Total Goal 4-6 at 2.95.
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Any fan of English football will know that chant from the terraces; many of us have gleefully sung it when an expensively paid-for opponent has endured a nightmare.
It can’t be nice to be on the end of, but the Premier League has had its fair share of flops again this year who have been nowhere near giving value for money; and the biggest underperforming clubs, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, have players who just want to see the end of this campaign.
So which are the 2022 recruits who have stunk out the season and made the wrong sort of Premier League 2023 highlights? Here’s the SBOTOP selection and I bet you can think of a few more.
Richarlison: Spurs
It’s hard to believe that Richarlison is still only 25 years of age because he’s been in the Premier League since 2017 when he first caught the eye at Watford. The Brazilian moved to Everton in 2018 for a fee of around £35m and he became the Toffees’ most creative talent, and had a huge role to play in their survival last season with a string of man-of-the-match performances and vital goals. Richarlison moved to Spurs for £50m plus £10m add- ons but, after a poor showing, I bet the add ons haven’t been added on! He scored his first Premier League goal for Spurs on 30th April, a 4-3 loss to Liverpool on his 23rd game for the club. He has blossomed for Brazil but Richarlison has shown very for Spurs.
Raheem Sterling: Chelsea
Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling during their home match against Brighton and Hove Albion
The Blues shelled out a cool £47.5m for Raheem Sterling who, at 28 years of age, is right in the prime of his career, after winning four Premier League titles with Manchester City. But his trademark pace and cool finishing has been sadly absent at Stamford Bridge and he has slipped from being a striker expected to lead the attack to a fringe player who has only scored four goals in 24 games. He is a quality player, of that there is no doubt, but Sterling has taken a big step backwards this season.
Gianluca Scamacca: West Ham
After finishing seventh last season to qualify again for Europa League football West Ham United splashed out in the summer Transfer market, bringing in flair players Lucas Paqueta and Maxwell Cornet, but the biggest fanfare at the London Stadium greeted the arrival of Gianluca Scamacca, who signed from Serie A club Sassuolo for a fee in excess £30m. At 6ft 4in he is a powerful unit but Scammaca has struggled to impose himself on Premier League defences. He has only managed to score three goals in 16 appearances, a poor return for the Azzurri star. The Hammers are not quite safe from the threat of relegation yet and, if they do take the drop there might well be a fire sale in East London, including Scammaca whose situation is being monitored by AC Milan.
Marc Cucurella: Chelsea
He starred with Brighton and Hove Albion last season, and when Marc Cucurella transferred to Chelsea he joined a team which the pre-season Premier League 2023 betting odds predicted would finish in the top four. But it is the club he left which is challenging for Europe while the Blues languish in mid table. The Seagulls have just exacted their revenge over Manchester United, the team which put them out of the FA Cup and they are seventh in the table, with three games in hand over Spurs and Liverpool just above them. Chelsea paid
£67m for Cucurella who was seen to be a natural replacement for Ben Chilwell but he has struggled for form and consistency. His best performances came in the Champions League but he has been one of the Blues’ biggest disappointments in the Premier League; though Cucurella has plenty of competition!
Frank Lampard – Chelsea
Well, at the seventh time of asking, Frank Lampard has finally steered the wonky Blues to a win; so it only seems fair to give the former Chelsea player a shout out here. Yes, it’s been a disastrous return to the Bridge for Lamps, there is no way to dress up six defeats on the bounce from a side assembled for nigh on half a billion pounds. He was a legend when he wore the Blue shirt but his coaching career is yet to take off, having been sacked already once by Chelsea and recently by Everton.
Things can only get better for Lampard, and Chelsea, but he may have to look elsewhere again to rebuild his reputation.
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Manchester City stayed one point clear at the top of the Premier League thanks to a 2-1 win over battling Leeds United, now managed by escape artist Sam Allardyce.
But a rare display of sentimentality made a very comfortable day for City rather awkward in the last five minutes. After putting in a man-of-the-match performance, the hosts’ captain Ilkay Gundogan had the chance to score his first Premier League hat-trick when Phil Foden won a penalty late in the game with the score at 2-0. As Pep Guardiola bellowed ‘you take it’ in the direction of Erling Haaland, the Norwegian handed the ball to his skipper.
Gundogan had a chance to complete his hat-trick so it was a kind gesture from Haaland. But surely, and I’m positive Pep Guardiola agrees with me, the Premier League is not a place for sentimentality and the Sky Blues’ recent dominance has been built on a combination of technical excellence and ruthlessness.
Unfortunately the usually brilliant Gundogan showed neither as his spot kick hit the post.
Guardiola was furious while, in the away technical area, the Leeds coaching team enjoyed the last few minutes of a newly absorbing match. Is Big Sam the man to save Leeds? Well, when the Sky Blues stormed into a two goal lead within half an hour and missed a hatful of other big chances it didn’t look too good for the Whites and their new boss. But that stroke of luck when Gundogan missed his penalty changed the game; and soon enough Rodrigo scored a superb breakaway goal gave the loyal Leeds fans reason to back their team.
Not many sides come away from the Etihad on the back of such a narrow defeat and the Whites certainly looked better organised in defence. Allardyce only had four games to turn things around at Elland Road and, despite the loss, he has already made some progress. With Newcastle United, West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur to come, there are no easy games, but one win may well be enough and we might just see another last day escape for Leeds.
Chelsea get a win at last, but it wasn’t easy
In Saturday’s other Premier League 2023 updates there was a long awaited win for Chelsea. After losing his first six games in charge at Stamford Bridge (this time around) Frank Lampard led the Blues to a 3-1 victory away to Bournemouth. Perhaps it was the thought that the Cherries, who have spent almost the entire campaign fighting relegation, would have gone above Chelsea with a win that drove Lampard and his team on to victory. It looked like the Blues were heading for a draw until a late rally produced two goals which made the game look more comfortable than it actually was. Bournemouth’s Matias Vina equalised Conor Gallagher’s opener before Benoit Badiashile (82) and Joao Felix (86) struck late to win the three points.
Joao Felix celebrates after scoring for Chelsea against Bournemouth
Lamps said Chelsea were the better side but the stats tell the story of a tight game, the Blues winning the shot count by 11 to ten and five to four on target, while both sides won seven corners. Chelsea moved up to 11th place and the Cherries dropped to 14th and both teams are safe from relegation and miles away from the Europa League places.
Arsenal are up for the chase
Here at SBOTOP we asked whether Newcastle could shatter Arsenal’s title dreams and on Sunday afternoon we had an answer. The Geordies gave the Gunners a huge test which they passed with flying colours, winning 2-0.
Arsenal had a torrid start as the Magpies came out all guns blazing. In the very first minute Jacob Murphy rattled a post from 12 yards and then there was a long VAR review after the hosts had been awarded a penalty for handball, but the technology revealed the ball had hit Jakub Kiwior’s leg before his hand… so Arsenal were spared.
Having weathered the early storm the Gunners struck in brilliant style; and it was captain Martin Odegaard who led from the front again. Bukayo Saka slid the ball sideways and the Norwegian lashed home his shot past Nick Pope and low into the corner.
Newcastle hit the post again, at the start of the second half, when Alexander Isak’s header bounced back off the upright and then, as the game swung to the other end Gabriel Martinelli curled a shot against the Newcastle crossbar. A moment of luck gave Arsenal breathing space as Martinelli’s cross was diverted into his own net by Fabian Schar to make it 2-0.
The Premier League 2023 betting odds have backed the Sky Blues for some time now, and they are still heavily odds on; but the Gunners fight on.
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Premier League: 5 Stellar Surprises of the 2022-23 Season
The 2022-23 Premier League season has had no shortage of surprises. From the sudden rise of Arsenal, Newcastle, and Brighton, to the precipitous fall of Chelsea.
And the rise of those three clubs have been fueled by plenty of surprise performers who have greatly exceeded pre-season expectations.
SBOTOP sheds light on the five of the top surprise packages who have taken the Premier League by storm during the 2022-23 season.
Manuel Akanji, Manchester City
While Erling Haaland has taken the Premier League by storm, Manchester City’s other summer acquisition from Borussia Dortmund – Manuel Akanji – has been a hit as well, to the surprise of many.
Few would have expected Akanji to be a major part of Manchester City’s plans in his first season with the team. After all, the Cityzens were already well-stocked with capable centre-backs in Ruben Dias, John Stones, Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake. Moreover, Akanji was not the most reliable defender during his time at Borussia Dortmund as he was prone to making costly errors.
But Akanji filled in well while Laporte and Ake were out injured. And with Pep Guardiola’s change in formation to a back three later in the season, the Swiss international has fully cemented himself as a fixture in City’s starting lineup.
Akanji has started 22 of City’s 34 Premier League matches to date, which is the most among all defenders. That is a testament to his consistency and his ability to implement Pep’s gameplan.
Arsenal’s emergence as legitimate title contenders this season caught many people by surprise. There are many factors for their success – Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard’s continued growth as superstars, Gabriel Martinelli’s emergence as a goalscorer, Gabriel Jesus’ addition in attack – but no one could have seen how vital William Saliba would be to the team.
The French defender, who was bought in 2019, was infamously sent out on loan for several seasons as he wasn’t deemed to be ready for the Premier League. But the 22-year-old finally got his shot this season after impressive performances in Ligue 1, and he has proven to be an absolute rock at the heart of the Gunners’ defence.
In fact, Saliba’s back injury arguably swung this Premier League season’s title race. The Gunners struggled to cope with his absence as they conceded 14 goals in nine games – and dropped crucial points as a result – without him.
While Arsenal fans might be left to wonder what might have been had Saliba not gotten hurt, his surprise emergence this season has at least shown that their future is quite bright.
Joelinton, Newcastle United
There are plenty of surprise performers to pick from at Newcastle United, who have been one of the surprise teams of the season. From Callum Wilson to Miguel Almiron to Joe Willock, several players have stepped up to exceed expectations.
But it’s Joelinton’s rise that has likely caught many people off guard. The Brazilian enjoyed a bit of a renaissance last season under Eddie Howe, who moved him to midfield. And that has continued to the point where Joelinton, once considered a massive bust (just like these players), has become one of the team’s most consistent performers.
Newcastle United’s Joelinton in action with Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus in their recent Premier League clash at St. James’ Park
What makes Joelinton’s performances even more impressive is that he has played at a high level in different positions – in midfield and out on the wing, where he has filled in for nearly half the season. And the Brazilian has also scored six goals, which is the most he’s had in four seasons in the Premier League.
It is as impressive as it is surprising to see just how vital Joelinton has become to this Newcastle side. He is a massive reason why the Magpies are bound for the Champions League next season, where they could yet deliver more big surprises.
Kaoru Mitoma/Solly March, Brighton
As impressive as Newcastle’s season has been, Brighton’s has been undoubtedly better. The Seagulls successfully transitioned from the Graham Potter era to Roberto De Zerbi, who has kept the side challenging for a place in Europe. And they couldn’t have done it without the massive contributions of Kaori Mitoma and Solly March.
Mitoma, who was out on loan last year, has been a revelation in his first season in the Premier League. The Japanese international has scored seven goals with four assists in 27 appearances, while providing several other Premier League 2023 highlights.
But as good as Mitoma has been, Solly March has been the bigger surprise for Brighton. After recording 14 goals and 15 assists in his first 10 seasons with the Seagulls, March has seven goals and seven assists this season alone, which are truly sensational numbers.
March’s magical season is emblematic of just how much Brighton have defied the Premier League 2023 odds with their unbelievable play. In a time where the Premier League’s spending power is unmatched in Europe, it’s refreshing to see a team like the Seagulls still able to spring a surprise.
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Premier League: Leeds Fight for Their Lives in Penultimate Home Match
Leeds United vs Newcastle United
Leeds United have three games left to save their Premier League status for another season. After big wins from other relegation strugglers, the Whites now find themselves in the drop zone and are two points from safety.
Sam Allardyce‘s side will now take on one of his many former teams, Newcastle United, in their penultimate home game at Elland Road.
But the Magpies, who suffered a defeat to Arsenal last time out, won’t be keen to do Big Sam a favour as they still need to win to secure third spot.
Leeds United’s Premier League 2023 odds of avoiding relegation are not looking good at the moment. With just three games to go, the Whites are now second from bottom after both Nottingham Forest and Everton picked up big wins.
Meanwhile, Leeds lost 2-1 to Premier League leaders Manchester City in Sam Allardyce’s debut. That defeat extended Leeds’ disastrous run to six straight games without a win, with five losses.
Allardyce reverted to a 4-2-3-1 formation against City, with central midfielder Adam Forshaw playing in the No 10 position. He also brought in goalkeeper Joel Robles in place of Illan Meslier, who committed a couple of costly errors in their 4-1 defeat to Bournemouth.
Rodrigo Moreno scored a consolation goal against Man City, his first goal since mid-March, as he increased his tally to 12 goals on the season. With Leeds desperately needing to win, Rodrigo could be brought in to start in place of Patrick Bamford.
Leeds will be hoping to summon the energy of the Elland Road faithful to energise them in this must-win game. But the Whites’ Premier League 2023 results at home have not been good. They have won just twice in nine home games this calendar year, with four draws and three defeats.
Newcastle yet to nail down third place
Newcastle United’s Callum Wilson celebrates scoring their third goal against Southampton in the Premier League
Newcastle United are in the driver’s seat for second place as they lead Manchester United by two points with just four games to go. However, the Magpies failed to add to their lead after losing 2-0 at home to Arsenal last time out. That loss means the Magpies still have much to play for in the last few games of the season.
Newcastle’s attack, which had scored 13 goals in their previous three games, was silenced by the Gunners, although Newcastle did hit the woodwork twice through Alexander Isak and Jacob Murphy.
But the Magpies will fancy their chances of getting back on track against Leeds’ league-worst defence, which had conceded five or more goals in two of their last three games.
Callum Wilson, who had scored in each of his last three games, will be keen to continue his strong end to the season.
And Eddie Howe will have plenty of options in attack, with the likes of Miguel Almiron, Allan Saint-Maximin, and Anthony Gordon waiting in the wings.
Newcastle have had a terrific record away from home of late. They have won four of their last five, scoring a whopping 13 goals during those games.
History
This will be the 28th meeting between Leeds and Newcastle in the Premier League era. Newcastle hold a 12-7 advantage in wins, with eight draws.
Leeds did the double over Newcastle in their first season back in the Premier League. But the Magpies have gone unbeaten in their three meetings since. They played out a scoreless draw in their first meeting of this season at St James Park.
SBOTOP odds have Newcastle installed as overwhelming 1.67 favourites to beat Leeds, who are priced at 4.20 to pick up a crucial home win. A draw is 3.80.
Leeds are running out of time to save themselves from relegation, so expect them to come out with a much greater sense of urgency at home.
Big Sam quickly made his presence felt with a dogged defensive performance against Man City, and look for Leeds to have an effective plan in place against Newcastle.
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Not so long ago, it was all smiles at Old Trafford as Manchester United pursued an ambitious treble, as they were still just about in the Premier League and favourites to win both the Europa League and Carabao Cup.
Fast forward three weeks or so, and the Carabao Cup is in the bag, but the other two are long gone. And now the Red Devils must produce a good stretch of Premier League 2023 resultsto ensure they hold on to their top four spot and this game is their next chance.
Erik ten Hag’s side have a 1-0 loss to West Ham to shake out of their system, while Julen Lopetegui’s Wolves come into the game on the back of a 1-0 win over Aston Villa.
Now safe from any lingering relegation fears, the visitors can play with freedom, and that makes them a dangerous customer.
Talking Points
Red Devils have serious work to do
Manchester United’s away form continued to frustrate ten Hag when the Red Devils went down to the London Stadium on Sunday, as a Said Benrahma goal gave the Hammers a deserved victory.
That made it back-to-back defeats for ten Hag’s side who also returned from Brighton empty handed in another 1-0 loss. And with arch rivals Liverpool on a late charge and just a single point behind, Manchester United desperately need a victory to allay any fears of being caught.
Qualifying for the Champions League is United’s top priority as it would boost the club’s chances of recruiting some top talent in the summer. And it may have some sway on the takeover of the club, with bids on the table of around £5-B reflecting top four status.
It must be said that the Red Devils need some close season reinforcements.
Goalkeeper David de Gea made a weak effort to stop Benrahma’s tame long-range effort in London, but his outfield players were just as poor. West Ham created numerous chances and were denied a fairly clear penalty when Victor Lindelof handled, but neither the on field referee nor VAR spotted it.
Erik ten Hag’s experiment with Wout Weghorst playing just behind Marcus Rashford doesn’t seem to be working, while Casemiro is still struggling to recapture his pre-suspension form.
The return of Christian Eriksen is a big plus though, and the gifted Dane will have the best chance of unlocking a well-organised Wolves defence.
Wolves head coach Lopetegui has done a fine job since taking over at Molineux, building a solid team based on sound defencive foundations and one which eased away from the bottom three.
Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui celebrates after winning their Premier League match against Aston Villa
Now he has the time and opportunity to continue his project and plan for next season. He has a three-game window to see which players can play a part in the club’s next chapter and can take a look at some squad players.
Lopetegui will start with his experienced centre-back pairing of Max Kilman and Craig Dawson, while skipper Ruben Neves pulls the strings in an advanced midfield role. There could be a return up front for the influential Pablo Sarabia, and these players can be in Lopetegui’s 2023-24 core.
History
The Red Devils have had the better of the head-to-heads, winning 14 of the 23 encounters over the last 20 years, while Wolves have won five and there have been four draws.
United have a strong home record of 12 wins, five draws, and one defeat, while Wolves have been shaky on their travels, winning two, drawing five, and losing 10.
But Lopetegui’s side is in better form, winning four of the last six, while Manchester United have won just once in that period.
The Premier League 2023 odds reckon the hosts will get back to winning ways and the Red Devils are hot favourites at a price of 1.37to take all three points, while Wolves are at 5.80 to win and the draw is at 4.45.
Manchester United to win 2-0 is priced at 6.18, and that would be the perfect outcome for the Old Trafford faithful. But I think they’ll have to work hard against the well-drilled Wolves.
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In fact, until their most recent back-to-back defeats at Manchester United and Wolves, the Villains had been unbeaten in nine games.
Spurs, meanwhile, had their eye on a Champions League spot until the wheels came off their season with Antonio Conte, and the reign of a brief interim boss lasting four games ended in humiliation at Newcastle.
So, whoever delivers Premier League 2023 highlights and comes out on top in this one will effectively keep their ambitions alive.
Talking Points
Let’s start with the hosts who, with games also to come against fellow European hopefuls Liverpool and Brighton, will realise their hopes of securing continental football next season remain very much alive and, to a degree, in their own hands.
Having scored in 20 previous league games under Emery, Villa have failed to find the net in back-to-back fixtures under the Spaniard so a return to goals, led by the impressive Ollie Watkins, would be a big boost.
It would be unfair to put all the onus on their leading scorer, of course, and after misses like that of centre-back Tyrone Mings at Wolves, at least one point was left behind at Molineux.
While Villa were having a rare blank in front of goal, Spurs were keeping a rare clean sheet – their first in the top-flight since February – which provided the foundation for victory over in-form Crystal Palace.
Tottenham Hotspur interim manager Ryan Mason with Harry Kane after their Premier League match against Crystal Palace
And with England captain Harry Kane in their ranks, a clean sheet means they always have a chance of a victory.
When he expertly headed in Pedro Porro’s cross in first-half added time to reach 209 goals in the Premier League and surpass former Manchester United and Everton striker Wayne Rooney, Kane became the outright second-highest goalscorer in its history.
It also ended a four-game winless run for a team managed until the end of the season by interim manager Ryan Mason.
The defender has struggled to justify his place in recent weeks and Spurs looked far more secure with Cristian Romero operating alongside left-footed Clément Lenglet in the centre of a back four.
A shutout was Mason’s reward and, if injuries permit, you can see him naming an unchanged side for the trip to Villa Park.
With so much on the line, it should be close and it will likely be tense.
Whoever comes away empty-handed, though, it will surely spell the end of European dreams. A draw will not be much good either.
You have to go back to New Year’s Day 2008 the last time Villa beat Spurs at Villa Park. Back then, Olof Mellberg and Martin Laursen were on target in a 2-1 success with Jermain Defoe netting for Spurs.
This corresponding fixture last season saw Spurs approaching their best form under Antonio Conte and a Son Heung-Min hat-trick inspired a 4-0 rout against Steven Gerrard’s side even if the contest was closely fought for the best part of an hour.
Overall, Spurs have triumphed in 77 of the games with Villa, winning 58 and a further 36 draws.
The SBOTOP Premier League 2023 betting odds actually make Villa slight favourites.
They are priced 1X2 @ 2.23 and Asian Handicap -0.50 @ 2.23 with Spurs on offer 1X2 @ 2.88 and Asian Handicap +0.25 @ 1.92.
Another 2-0 Villa win would pay out @ 11.50 with Correct Score, whereas a repeat of last season’s meeting would give you whopping odds of @ 185.00. Realistically, this should be a close contest with a few goals. And while I’ve even considered Spurs to lead at the break before the contest finishes level pegging – Half Time Full Time Away Draw is available @ 16.00 – I am plumping for a Draw @ 3.30.
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Premier League: Can Dyche Pull off the Result of 2023?
Everton vs Manchester City
We have a relegation-threatened side at home to the Premier League leaders, so what do we expect folks? An away win?
Yep, that’s it for me too. But as this SBOTOP writer is a Burnley fan, I have seen the current Everton manager, Sean Dyche, bloody the noses of the best teams in the land. So, if anyone can pull off a major shock on Sunday, maybe the gravel-voiced warrior is the man.
Everton come into the game on the back of a stunning 5-1 win away to Brighton and nobody saw that coming. Meanwhile, Manchester City drew 1-1 away to Real Madrid in the Champions League and they have less time to prepare.
It would be one of the Premier League 2023 results of the season and it would potentially bring Arsenal back into the title race, but can Dyche really rally his troops to beat the very best?
Talking Points
McNeil is starting to shine for the Toffees
Everton were almost unrecognisable at the Amex Arena on Monday night. Yes, they conceded the vast majority of possession but, with five shots on target each they carried an equal threat to their flamboyant hosts and were more clinical.
The Toffees sold their star striker Richarlison in the summer and goals have been hard to come by, but the walloping of the Seagulls followed a battling 2-2 draw away to fellow strugglers Leicester City and now Everton’s destiny is in their own hands.
With seven goals, Dwight McNeil is top scorer and he’s made four assists. And under his old Burnley boss, the 23-year-old winger is starting to fulfil his potential, scoring as many goals for Everton in 33 appearances as he did for the Clarets in 134.
Everton’s Dwight McNeil celebrates scoring their fifth goal against Brighton & Hove Albion
McNeil has a beautiful delivery with his left foot and has found the confidence to back himself. And alongside Alex Iwobi, who has made seven assists, he can stretch defences to the limit.
Everton sit 17th in the table but now, crucially, two points above the drop zone. And with games against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Bournemouth to come, I can see them repeating last season’s great escape.
Sky Blues Treble aim gathers pace
But beat Manchester City? Let’s bring in a bit of realism. The Premier League 2023 betting odds have pulled the Sky Blues down to odds of 1.08 to win the title, 1.28 to win the FA Cup, and they are hot favourites to win the Champions League.
This is, quite possibly, the best team in the world, and they have a manager underneath the gloss who is as steely as his opponent.
Pep Guardiola wasn’t happy when the Sky Blues failed to see off Leeds more clinically last week, particularly when they had the chance to make it 3-0 from the penalty spot. Erling Haaland gave the spot kick to Ilkay Gundogan who was on a hat-trick, but the German missed and a late Leeds goal made it 2-1.
If Manchester City are on their game then they are unbeatable and, with record goal scorer Haaland now working superbly with his teammates, there is little to fault.
From keeper Ederson and centre-back Ruben Dias, who is back to his very best, through to the fluid front six which is a nightmare to defend against, this is a special set of players.
Jack Grealish is in the form of his life. Kevin De Bruyne proved what a special player he is with a stunning strike against Real Madrid. Gundogan and Bernardo Silva just seem to get better and better, and Julian Alvarez has shown that he can be a lethal partner to Haaland.
Good luck Sean!
History
In the Premier League era Manchester City are leading the head to-heads by 24 wins to 18, while there have been 10 draws, including a 1-1 draw when the teams met at the Etihad on New Year’s Eve.
The Sky Blues are on a 21-match unbeaten run with 17 victories in that sequence, while Everton have just pulled off their first win in eight matches. Can the Toffees make it two from nine?
You know what? I have to be sensible. At 1.33 to win, the Sky Blues should get back to their ruthless best, while Everton have renewed hope and their fans would just love a draw at odds of 4.36 or even a famous victory at 7.14. 2-0 to City at a price of 5.99 is the most likely outcome, and I’m with a two-goal margin all the way.
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Premier League: Gunners Need to Keep Going Against Spirited Seagulls
Arsenal vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Arsenal have made huge strides over the last 12 months and, certainly based on their showing at Newcastle last Sunday, are not about to surrender their Premier League title pursuit.
Yet, that will count for little if they cannot see off Brighton at the Emirates this weekend.
Despite an unexpected home hammering by Everton on Bank Holiday Monday, the Seagulls remain seventh in the table, seven points behind fifth-placed Liverpool with two games in hand.
All in all then, this is far from a home banker and has the potential to be the game of the weekend.
Talking Points
Brighton & Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi celebrates after the Premier League match against Manchester United
That is because Brighton are one of the teams of the season.
They have successfully transitioned from the Graham Potter era to Roberto De Zerbi, who has developed them into a side challenging for a place in Europe.
They also came within a whisker of reaching their first FA Cup Final in 40 years.
Of course, they could not have done so without the massive contributions of Kaori Mitoma and Solly March.
Mitoma, who was out on loan last year, has been a revelation in his first season. The Japanese international has scored seven goals with five assists in 28 appearances, while providing several other Premier League 2023 highlights.
As good as Mitoma has been, perhaps Solly March has been the bigger surprise.
After recording 14 goals and 15 assists in his first 10 seasons on the south coast, March has seven goals and seven assists this season alone, which are impressive numbers.
The work carried out by De Zerbi has been mightily impressive and, if the likes of the sides managed by him, Thomas Frank and Unai Emery continue improving at their current rate while playing their varied and energetic styles, the quality, and intrigue of matches next season promises to be stratospheric.
Monday’s surprise reverse at home to Everton left the Italian coach cutting a frustrated figure as his normally fluent side simply imploded.
Such a chastening defeat came out of nowhere for Brighton, who simply did not turn up before the interval and De Zerbi showed exactly what he thought of that with four half-time changes.
He will demand a reaction in North London. That will only add further to the intrigue.
Arsenal have defeated Brighton 15 times in history – twice as many as the other way round (seven) – but you might expect that figure to be higher given the differing resources between the club from the capital and the club from the south coast.
A further five meetings have ended all square.
The Seagulls have shocked the Gunners not once but twice on home turf in little over a year and are now seeking a second win over them this term.
Then in November, the third round of the League Cup saw Nketiah put Arsenal in front before Danny Welbeck levelled from the penalty spot against his former club, and Kaoru Mitoma and Tariq Lamptey took control in the second half to seal an impressive 3-1 success.
Believe it or not, Arsenal have only won three of their last 11 meetings against the Seagulls in all competitions.
One of those was on New Year’s Eve when Bukayo Saka, Odegaard, Nketiah, and Gabriel Martinelli scored the goals in a 4-2 win. The Seagulls replied through Mitoma and exciting teenager Ewan Ferguson.
Their very first meeting was in the FA Cup in 1935 when goals from the legendary Ted Drake and Joe Hulme sealed a 2-0 victory for Arsenal.
Arsenal’s title bid is over should they fail to win this one, and the SBOTOP odds do not expect that with the Gunners on offer 1X2 @ 1.88 and Asian Handicap -0.75 @ 2.12.
Brighton are attractively priced, mind you. They are available to tip 1X2 @ 3.65 and Asian Handicap +0.50 @ 2.02.
The goal options intrigue me, particularly the likes of Total Goal 0-1 @ 4.60, 2-3 @ 2.01, and 4-6 @ 2.70.
Another 2-1 Brighton victory at the Emirates will pay out @ 12.50 with Correct Score. I do think Arsenal will edge this, perhaps because they need victory that bit more.
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Premier League: Rampant Reds Take Aim at the Foxes in Their Top Four Push
Leicester City vs Liverpool
The clock is ticking for Leicester City and Liverpool to achieve their main objectives with only a handful of Premier League matches this campaign.
For the hosts, Leicester City, a win would catapult them out of the relegation mire. As of this writing, they’re in 18th place with 30 points, level with 19th-placed Leeds United.
As for the visitors, Liverpool, they will move into the Champions League spots if they win this game and if Manchester United can’t stop their rot against Wolves. They’re trailing by one point behind the Red Devils, who have a game in hand.
So, when these two meet on Monday at King Power Stadium, there’s a huge sense of urgency to win this game since it’ll give them much-needed points across the board.
Talking Points
Is Iheanacho fit to play for Leicester City?
Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho reacts during the Premier League match against Manchester City
When Kelechi Iheanacho limped off the field against Leeds United, there was a huge possibility that it was his last game this 2022-23 season. However, he has responded well to treatment for his groin injury, and manager Dean Smith said that he could be back sooner than expected.
Iheanacho is not expected to start against Liverpool, but he could come off the bench for Leicester City, assuming he is closer to 100-per cent on Monday.
The Nigerian international has been one of the team’s most important players this season because of his searing pace and finishing ability in the final third. Iheanacho is the team’s third-leading scorer with eight goals, and he has four assists.
With him out since the Leeds game, Leicester City have recorded one draw and one loss against Everton and Fulham, respectively. Jamie Vardy has taken on the attacking responsibilities in those games, but Dean Smith would, of course, rather have him link up with Iheanacho once again.
There’s more good news for the Foxes, as Ricardo Pereira might make his first appearance under Dean Smith. The Portuguese full-back has been sidelined with a hamstring injury but was back on the bench at Fulham last time out.
But to stand a chance against Liverpool, Leicester City have to tighten up their defence, which has conceded a whopping 18 goals since the start of April.
Salah can extend Liverpool’s undefeated run
Manchester United supporters are nervous nowadays because their top four spot has not yet been clinched, with long-time rivals Liverpool breathing down their necks.
And you can’t blame them because Liverpool have had nothing but positive Premier League 2023 results since the start of April, when they were defeated by Manchester City (W6, D2).
In their eight-game unbeaten run, it’s Mohamed Salah who has been the talisman for the Reds, scoring seven goals to take his total to 30, and he has also tallied 11 assists this campaign. This is his third consecutive year of hitting at least 30 goals in all competitions.
On Monday, Salah should link up once more with Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez in the final third, while Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota are Klopp’s options off the bench.
Liverpool defeated Leicester City 2-1 in their reverse fixture last December. After Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall put the Foxes ahead in just four minutes, they eventually lost the game because of two own goals from Wout Faes.
Jurgen Klopp’s side has won eight of their last 11 Premier League games against Leicester City (D1, L2), which is more than they had in their previous 19 meetings (W7, D5, L7). However, Leicester City have won their last two Premier League home games against Liverpool.
The Reds will be aiming for a league double over the Foxes for the first time since 2019-20, when they won their first-ever Premiership. They have done a league double over the Foxes on two occasions under Jurgen Klopp (also in 2017-18).
Leicester City have only recorded one clean sheet across their last 13 Premier League games against Liverpool (1-0 in December 2021). During the said stretch, the Foxes were conceding 2.1 goals per game (27 goals in total).
The SBOTOP Premier League 2023 odds have Liverpool as the favourites to win on Monday, as they’re priced at 1.56, whereas Leicester City are at 4.50, and a draw is pegged at 4.20 in the 1X2 market. Liverpool have been one of the hottest teams in the Premier League right now, so they should be able to win this one on the road and hope that Wolves will do them a favour at Old Trafford later.
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Yes, it would be hard to criticise either Leeds United or Newcastle after they shared four goals in a contest which was exciting from start to finish.
Yet it leaves one side still in the drop zone and the other still requiring two victories to secure a place in next season’s lucrative Champions League.
The opening match of the Premier League weekend resulted in a dream start for the home side in front of a thunderous crowd (even if one fan went simply too far).
Luke Ayling’s seventh minute strike lifted the majority inside this part of Yorkshire and this SBOTOP writer believes they would have gone onto claim all three points but for a crucial four minute spell midway through the first half.
That was when Patrick Bamford’s penalty was saved by Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope, the disappointment deepening when Callum Wilson restored equality for the visitors from the spot moments later.
Wilson put Newcastle ahead with another penalty with just over 20 minutes remaining after full-back Junior Firpo had handled.
To their credit, under interim manager Sam Allardyce, Leeds continued to fight for their lives in their penultimate home match of the campaign and equalised when a Rasmus Kristensen shot deflected in 11 minutes from time.
They held on even when Firpo was shown a second yellow card for bringing down Anthony Gordon.
A match of Premier League highlights aplenty, Allardyce was right to suggest Leeds had contributed to their own demise.
But if they have a chance of survival going into their final home match in a fortnight’s time (against Spurs), don’t bet against them!
An early goal from Jacob Ramsey and a Douglas Luiz free-kick ensured Harry Kane’s penalty was a mere consolation as Villa moved level on points with their opponents with a sixth straight home league win.
Under Steven Gerrard, the Midland giants were 19th in the table after losing four of their first five games.
With two matches remaining, they now have a chance of qualifying for Europe for the first time in 12 years.
At the other end of the table the Premier League betting odds suddenly look a little healthier for Nottingham Forest whose 2-2 draw at Chelsea was a mightily impressive result.
After Raheem Sterling netted twice in seven minutes at the start of the second period, it would have been easy to imagine Forest may be deflated.
However, within four minutes, Taiwo Awoniyi grabbed his second of the encounter and, following their 4-3 win at home to now relegated Southampton on Bank Holiday Monday, five days had generated four potentially priceless points.
Either side of Sterling’s two quality finishes, Awoniyi punished an error from goalkeeper Édouard Mendy and then headed in from six yards.
It means he has become the first Forest player to score two goals in consecutive Premier League games since Bryan Roy in 1995 as they have taken seven points from their last four games.
The wisdom of their decision to stick with manager Steve Cooper when all around them at the bottom were changing managers – sometimes more than once – could soon be vindicated.
If they can beat Arsenal at home this Saturday, the Gunners’ title bid all but over, then Cooper and his men can celebrate a triumph against the odds.
Arsenal players looking dejected during their match against Brighton & Hove Albion
Ah yes, Arsenal.
Despite their big leap this term, when they needed some composure and leadership it was sorely lacking as Brighton – my team of the season – eased to victory at the Emirates.
The Seagulls were like the home team as they controlled possession against nervy opponents.
Hot on the heels of champions Manchester City’s 3-0 success at Everton, Mikel Arteta’s side knew they had to win and, despite losing promising young talent Gabriel Martinelli to injury after 20 minutes, they were unfortunate not to go in front at the break as Leandro Trossard hit the bar against his former club.
There was a sense of foreboding amongst the home crowd that the title bid was sipping away and, from the moment Julio Enciso directed in a close-range header early in the second period, they were chasing the game.
The seal was put on a very convincing display in the closing stages when substitute Deniz Undav lobbed Aaron Ramsdale before Pervis Estupinan added to the hosts’ misery deep in stoppage time.
The title race is all but over.
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Premier League: Big Ambitions set to collide in Newcastle
Newcastle United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Two of the best young managers in the Premier League come head-to-head on Thursday when Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United host Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton and Hove Albion.
It’s third versus sixth, and this game pits together the Champions League-chasing Magpies with the Europa hopeful Seagulls. The Premier League 2023 betting odds give Howe’s men an edge with the home advantage but there’s one certainty: we’re going to see some great football.
Newcastle weren’t really expected to claim a Champions League place so soon in the new era of Saudi ownership and Howe built his team on a sound defencive foundation. But they have put in some spectacular performances, and it would be a huge shock if the Magpies were to fall out of the top four over the next couple of weeks.
Meanwhile, De Zerbi’s swashbuckling Seagulls have been one of the most watchable sides in the English top-flight and they too have had fans off their seats while picking up some highly impressive wins, beating Arsenal 3-0 at the Emirates on Sunday.
Talking Points
Callum is so cool for Newcastle
A journey to Leeds to face former boss Sam Allardyce last weekend was potentially a banana skin for the Magpies and they had to fight hard for a 2-2 draw. And it was star striker Callum Wilson who scored a brace of penalties to make it 17 goals for the campaign.
Only Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah, Ivan Toney, and Harry Kane have scored more than Wilson, and the Newcastle striker is staking a serious claim for a regular England place. He has struggled with injury, and now that he is 100-per cent fit, he has become one of the most lethal finishers in the game.
Newcastle United’s Callum Wilson celebrates scoring their second goal against Leeds United
His two penalties against Leeds were clinically dispatched in stark contrast to Kane’s ballooned spot-kick in the World Cup against France.
Okay, England boss Gareth Southgate isn’t going to drop King Kane anytime soon, but he should work hard to find a place for Newcastle’s red hot striker.
While Newcastle’s defensive five of Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, Sven Botman, Fabian Schar and Dan Burn picks itself, Howe has more decisions to make in the front six. Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton are shoe-ins in the middle, while the dangerous Allan Saint-Maximum, the fast-improving Alexander Isak and the fit again Miguel Almiron are all in contention to partner Wilson.
Brighton bounce back in Style
One of the biggest shocks of the campaign came at the Amex Stadium on Monday 8th May when relegation threatened Everton plundered five goals in a 5-1 thrashing of the Seagulls.
Nobody saw it coming, neither in Merseyside nor on the South Coast.
But while the result breathed life into the Toffees survival campaign, it also gave Brighton a sharp reminder that they need to be on their game week after week if they are to finish in the top six. And how it worked.
Brighton’s trip to Arsenal at the weekend could hardly have gone better for the Seagulls as they strengthened their case for European football while simultaneously wrecking the Gunners’ title hopes.
Julio Enciso, Deniz Undav, and Pervis Estupian all scored second half goals as Brighton simply ripped the Gunners apart, and the Emirates stadium was all but empty when the final whistle went, except for a couple of thousand wildly celebrating Brighton fans.
It was just the result the Seagulls needed to restart their final push and top scorer Alexis Mac Allister (with 10 goals) said: “We knew this was an important game and we wanted this reaction from the team after the defeat to Everton so we are happy for the win.”
Mac Allister is one of a number of Brighton’s creative stars, and both teams have players who will make the Premier League 2023 highlights well worth a watch. But keep an eye out for the visitors’ 18-year-old striker Evan Ferguson because he looks a real talent.
The Seagulls have won six, drawn six, and lost just three of their meetings with Newcastle.
They drew 0-0 at the Amex Stadium in the second game of the campaign, a match dominated by the Seagulls who were frustrated by Newcastle’s strong defence. Both teams have been hit and miss recently, Newcastle winning three, drawing one, and losing two of their last six games, while Brighton have won three and lost three.
At a SBOTOP price of 1.98, Newcastle are marginally odds on to win this game with Brighton at 2.96 and the draw at 3.49.
I expect a hard fought but entertaining match and, while home advantage is huge at St James’ Park, I suspect the Seagulls’ regained momentum will be hard to stop after such an impressive win.
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Premier League: Leeds Can Sniff a Chance in East London
West Ham United vs Leeds United
There’s no going back now. Two Premier League games left, at least one win needed I’d say, and Leeds United can take a big step towards survival if they can win at the London Stadium on Sunday.
This match between West Ham and Leedsis the penultimate match of a grueling campaign for both clubs. The Whites find themselves in the relegation zone, a point from safety, while the Hammers are six points clear of the drop.
They are not mathematically safe, but only a 10-0 defeat to Leeds would give West Ham fans the jitters going into their last game.
The Premier League 2023 betting odds make this a tough match to call and David Moyes and Sam Allardyce are two of the Premier League’s most experienced managers.
Moyes has been disappointed by his team’s form this term; though in Europe the Hammers have faired much better and are in action this Thursday in Holland.
So Allardyce, who was drafted in to save Leeds with four games to go, has longer to prepare his team against a side which has lost four of its last five league games.
Make no mistake, this could be Leeds’ one big chance.
Talking Points
Moyes will relish this challenge
The Hammers have flirted with relegation this season at the same time as going deep into European competition and with a Europa Conference semi-final away to AZ Alkmaar on Thursday. Said Benrahma and Michail Antonio turned the first leg around to give the Hammers a 2-1 lead which they will fight to preserve in the Netherlands.
The Thursday/Sunday grind of Europa League football can take its toll on the players and the Hammers fell limply to a 2-0 defeat away to Brentford last weekend. But while they have lost four of their last five league games, two of them were against Manchester City and Liverpool and the other a 4-3 loss away to Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace.
So this is not a particularly worrying slump and West Ham did win their last home league game, 1-0 against Manchester United.
West Ham United captain Declan Rice celebrates during their 1-0 win over Manchester United in Premier League
Moyes will embrace the chance to come up against an old foe in the opposite dugout and he will ensure his men will play with pride. Captain Declan Rice is once again the subject of transfer speculation, but he has always led his team from the front and remains one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the business.
How Leeds fans would love to see Kalvin Phillips in the side to combat Rice, but he’s now at Manchester City and last week Allardyce used Robin Koch in the defensive midfield role to good effect.
Big Sam will build on his first point
Leicester City, Everton, and Nottingham Forest will all be watching the Premier League 2023 updates with keen interest, but Leeds must concentrate only on what they can achieve.
The Yorkshire side survived thanks to a final day away win at Brentford last season and they can do it again. But without a win in seven, Allardyce needs to work his magic.
A 2-2 draw against high flying Newcastle would normally be a decent result for Leeds. But results elsewhere, namely at Nottingham Forest have made it a disappointment, particularly as Patrick Bamford missed a penalty when the Whites were 1-0 up.
It was a first point for Allardyce, but what more can you expect when a match against Manchester City was your first game in charge? Even at the Etihad Stadium, Leeds showed more fight than they have for a while, finishing with a 2-1 defeat after Rodrigo scored a late goal.
He’s not afraid to make big decisions and Allardyce has dropped keeper Illan Meslier, bringing in Joel, and has used defender Koch in a more advanced role. I suspect he’ll persevere with Bamford up front to give him the chance to bombard the West Ham box if the game dictates.
But the visitors will be without wing-back Junior Firpo, who was red carded against the Magpies, and he is usually a good source of supply.
Leeds have won 16 of the 30 encounters with West Ham in the Premier League era with the Hammers winning just six and drawing the other eight. But the recent meetings have seen a dramatic switch with West Ham winning four of the last six.
The Whites have been poor on the road, earning just nine points away from home all season and the Hammers have won their last two at the London Stadium, against AZ Alkmaar and the Red Devils.
At a SBOTOPprice of 2.25, the Hammers are favourites to win this game. But with Leeds at 2.64 and the draw at 3.25, all three results are well in play.
It’s like a cup final for the Whites and Big Sam will ensure his players leave nothing on the pitch. But the Hammers have home advantage and the star quality of Rice, so it will be a tough test.
1-1 at 5.60 is the most likely outcome, and that would leave Leeds needing another last day miracle.
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Premier League: Plenty at Stake When Liverpool Meet Villa
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
It turns out that Liverpool’s last home game has a lot more riding on it than we might have expected a month or so ago.
Back in April, the Reds were well adrift of a top four place but they have dragged themselves back into Champions League contention with a spectacular run of results.
Equally, visitors Aston Villa began the season hoping to settle into mid-table comfort. But under the guidance of Unai Emery, they have put together a string of results which keeps their European dram well and truly alive.
Liverpool vs. Aston Villa is one of the weekend’s big Premier League games because, if outcomes elsewhere go their way, the Reds could actually finish the day in third place.
But Villa will have other ideas, because they can finish the weekend as high as sixth if their rivals slip up.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool come into the game on the back of a clinical 3-0 win away to Leicester, while Aston Villa beat Europa rivals Spurs 2-1. And the Premier League 2023 betting odds are going for a home win, but the Reds will need to be at their best to beat a dangerous visitor.
Talking Points
Will Liverpool’s late charge be enough?
Apart from the Reds, only Manchester City have won their last six games. But this impressive run may have come too late for Jurgen Klopp’s men who still trail Manchester United by a point, and the Red Devils have three games left.
If they win two of their last three games against Bournemouth, Chelsea, and Fulham, then Erik ten Hag’s team will be uncatchable.
They can also hunt down Newcastle United, who are on the same points as Manchester United but with a much better goal difference. However, the Liverpool players will try to put that out of their minds and concentrate on getting more positive Premier League 2023 results.
The Reds were at their ruthless best on their visit to Leicester on Monday night, and they will be full of confidence and determination in front of a packed Anfield crowd.
Farewell to Firmino
With 19 goals and 11 assists, Mohamed Salah has once again led the Liverpool line superbly, but it may be one of his old striking partners who will take centre stage at Anfield on Saturday.
Klopp has said that Roberto Firmino should be available for selection, and the fans favourite will likely play some part in this crunch match.
Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino celebrates after their win against Leicester City
The Brazilian forward is ready to leave Merseyside after nine successful years, during which he was part of the best front three in the world alongside Salah and Sadio Mane, now at FC Bayern.
He has not played since the 6-1 thrashing of Leeds United in April, but Firmino did travel with the squad to Leicester on Monday night.
He’s scored 80 goals in 254 games and has picked up winners medals in the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup, and there will not be a dry eye in the house if and when he takes to the pitch on Saturday.
Villa’s Europa dream is still alive
Seventh place will likely be enough to grab a European place next season and Aston Villa are right in there, currently eighth but level on points with seventh-placed Spurs who look as flaky as ever.
The Villains responded to back-to-back away defeats to Wolves and Manchester United with a fine display at home to Tottenham as goals from Jacob Ramsay and Douglas Luiz saw off the Whites who scored a 90th minute consolation through a Harry Kane penalty.
Ollie Watkins, with 14 goals from 35 games (and six assists), and Ramsay form a lively front two and, with the ever dangerous John McGinn on the flank, the Villains will test the Reds’ defence.
The Reds have had the upper hand in the head-to-heads, winning 34 of the 57 encounters in the Premier League era, while Villa have won 13 and there have been 10 draws.
Liverpool won the return match 3-1 with Salah scoring an early goal to put the Villains on the back foot, and that was Pool’s fifth win in a row in this fixture.
With a home record of 13 victories, four draws, and one defeat, Klopp’s men have made Anfield a fortress once again, breached only once by Leeds United back in October
The Reds have been ahead at half time in each of their last four games, so I’m backing them to nudge ahead by the break again. 2-1 is the most likely scoreline at SBOTOP odds of 6.56 and, while I expect Liverpool to win in front of their passionate fans, they will do well to keep a clean sheet.
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Premier League: South Coast Showdown Should Be One to Watch
Bournemouth vs Manchester United
The penultimate weekend of the 2022-23 Premier League season approaches and I think it’s fair to suggest both clubs can be quietly pleased with their campaigns to date.
No sooner were Bournemouth promoted a year ago then they were consigned as many people’s favourites, mine included, for the drop – a belief that was only enhanced when they were demolished 9-0 at Liverpool in late August in just their fourth game.
On Saturday they welcome Manchester United to the Vitality Stadium for their final home game of the campaign, safe from danger and looking ahead to a second successive top flight season.
United themselves have bounced back from a shocking 12 months to make tangible progress and are just two victories away from returning to the Champions League from which they were absent this term.
While the Cherries and their fans can acknowledge each other’s efforts this weekend and play with a degree of freedom, there is still work for the Red Devils to do.
That scenario means this should be far from a drab end-of-season encounter.
Gary O’Neil was the man who temporarily replaced Scott Parker after the Anfield debacle and he was officially appointed head coach following the World Cup.
He not only helped turn their form around but has now guided them to a place where they can finish no lower than 16th this term.
That represents a fine achievement for a club which was written off in virtually every pre-season prediction posted last summer with mainstream pundits, analysts and bookmakers united in their conviction the South Coast club was likely to finish in 20th place.
After a shocking start which saw them lose their opening two games and conceded six goals in the process, Premier League highlights quickly returned to Old Trafford, inspired by their new manager Erik ten Hag.
They have played more matches than any other side in Europe this season so can be forgiven for showing signs of fatigue.
However, after only their second week without a midweek game since last September, they should be fresher going into this contest – one in which they will want to end a run of poor away form which has seen them suffer back-to-back defeats on the road (1-0 at Brighton and West Ham respectively).
If they can fix their away form on Saturday, they will be within one game of securing a top four finish – something they would surely have taken before ball was kicked.
History
Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho celebrates scoring their second goal with Antony and Harry Maguire
For clubs of very different stature, there should be no surprise that Bournemouth have only tasted victory over United on a handful of occasions.
However, those occasions have always been ones to savour for those associated with the south coast club.
Two wins have since followed in the Premier League, both at home, in December 2015 and November 2019 which was actually the most recent time they met on home turf as former United youngster Josh King netted the only goal of the contest.
Since then, United have twice beaten them convincingly at Old Trafford.
Later that season, Mason Greenwood scored twice and was joined on the scoresheet by Marcus Rashford (penalty), Anthony Martial and Bruno Fernandes in a 5-2 home win – a match played behind closed doors due to Covid restrictions.
Junior Stanislas and a King penalty had kept Bournemouth in the hunt for a time.
Earlier this season, at the turn of the year, Casemiro, Luke Shaw and Rashford were the marksmen in a comfortable 3-0 win.
It’s United all the way with the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds as the Red Devils are backed 1X2 @ 1.48 and Asian Handicap -1.25 @ 2.13.
That contrasts to the Cherries who are on offer 1X2 @ 5.20 and Asian Handicap +0.75 @ 2.35.
There are always goals in these matches – in fact there has never been a goalless draw – so it’s well worth looking at Over 3.25 goals @ 2.19, Total Goal 0-1 @ 4.90, 2-3 @ 2.08 and 4-6 @ 2.67.
A goalless draw, incidentally, will pay out @ 16.00 with Correct Score, which offers odds of @ 19.50 for a repeat of the last time they met on the south coast.
The 1X2 Draw offers a good payday @ 4.30.
I am going to plump for a goal option as my *** prediction – total goal 2-3 @ 2.08.
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Premier League: Arsenal Aim to Delay City While Forest are Not Yet Out of the Woods
Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal
Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes are hanging by a thread following their capitulation at home against Brighton last Sunday, and that leaves them needing to win all of their remaining games, although that might not be enough.
The Gunners trail Manchester City by four points, and the Sky Blues have a game in hand. So Arsenal will need to beat Nottingham Forest and pray that Manchester City slip up against Chelsea in order to delay their coronation.
For Nottingham Forest, this game is also crucial as they continue to fight against relegation. They’re currently 16th in the standings with 34 points, which is only three points adrift of the drop zone.
Without further ado, continue reading below for the SBOTOP preview of this match.
Talking Points
Martinelli out for Arsenal
Arsenal have a couple of injuries to deal with, and the loss of Gabriel Martinelli is probably the biggest one.
Martinelli left their home loss against Brighton in a protective boot as he suffered ankle ligament damage following a crunch tackle by Moises Caicedo.
Caicedo showed remorse for his foul, especially since Martinelli was declared out for the rest of the season, joining William Saliba, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Mohamed Elneny, and Oleksandr Zinchenko in the medical room.
Martinelli is the joint-top scorer alongside Martin Odegaard with 15 goals, and he has also recorded six assists this season. He could’ve had the chance of setting a new record for most Premier League goals for a Brazilian in a single season if he didn’t get injured.
With his 15 goals now a final tally for the campaign, he now shares the record with Roberto Firmino, who scored the same number of goals during 2017-18.
With Martinelli sidelined, Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson should get more runs in their final two games. Nketiah currently has nine goals and one assist, while Nelson has three goals and three assists.
Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka will join Nketiah or Nelson up front. Saka has 14 goals and 11 assists, while Jesus has 10 goals and three assists.
Nottingham Forest clearly missed Awoniyi
Four weeks ago, Nottingham Forest had the worst goal total in the Premier League. But in their last five games, they’ve scored 12, which is a third of their entire total of 36 goals.
Nottingham Forest’s Taiwo Awoniyi celebrates after scoring a goal during Premier League match against Chelsea
Their upturn in form can be attributed to the return of Taiwo Awoniyi, who missed two months of action due to a groin injury. It’s not a coincidence that during that stretch when he was sidelined, Forest had gone 11 games without a single victory and slipped to 19th in the standings.
Nottingham Forest full-back Serge Aurier said that the team missed Awoniyi up front, and it’s hard to disagree. Since returning last month, Awoniyi has scored four goals with five shots on target. He is currently the team’s second-leading scorer with nine goals, and he has one assist.
Awoniyi was in the Premier League 2023 highlights reel when he scored twice to help Nottingham Forest secure a 4-3 victory over Southampton, and then he had two more against Chelsea during their 2-2 draw on Saturday.
For the first time in a long while, Nottingham Forest look like they have the firepower to possibly get them over the line.
History
Arsenal are aiming to achieve a Premier League double over Nottingham Forest for the second time since doing so in 1998-99. The Gunners are on their way after winning 5-0 against them at the Emirates last October.
Four different scorers were featured in the reverse fixture, as Gabriel Martinelli, Thomas Partey, and Martin Odegaard had one goal each, while Reiss Nelson recorded a brace.
Nottingham Forest have won just two of their last 10 home league matches against Arsenal (D1, L7). This is also the first time they’ve hosted them in the Premier League since a 1-0 defeat in January 1999.
Forest’s last league home win against the Gunners was in December 1996. However, they’ve won their last two meetings overall at the City Ground, winning their FA Cup ties in the third round in 2018 and 2022.
This game gives Arsenal their best chance to get back on track and possibly keep their Premier League title hopes alive.
The Premier League 2023 odds have the Gunners winning at 1.56, whereas Nottingham Forest are the underdogs at 4.80, and a draw is at 3.95 in the 1×2 market.
Arsenal defeated Nottingham Forest in their reverse fixture this season, and we feel that this is going to be the case once again come Saturday, but the scoreline shouldn’t be as big as before.
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Premier League: City’s Coronation as England’s Finest Awaits
Manchester City vs Chelsea
This is a clash of the billionaires but also a prime example that all that glitters is not gold.
There is no doubt that Manchester City and Chelsea’s history has taken an unrecognisable upward trajectory since they were bought out by billionaires in 2008 and 2003 respectively.
Yet, despite the numerous Premier League triumphs that have since followed, they have never seemed as poles apart as they do right now.
That will likely be evident as they meet for the fourth and final time this season on what should be the afternoon we witness a coronation of England’s top team.
Talking Points
It’s just under two years since Chelsea beat City in the final of the Champions League but the reality is they are now poles apart in their own domestic competition, let alone on the continent.
How can a club be enduring its worst season of the 21st century after investing north of £500 million ($626m) on initial transfer fees over the first two windows of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital’s ownership?
Mauricio Pochettino is set to become the new manager of Chelsea
The decline is even more marked when you consider that, since the start of last season, Chelsea have won none of their 14 league matches against sides starting the day above them in the table – losing 10, including each of their last three.
Sunday, of course, is not really about them but instead about a team which is primed to enter English folklore.
Victory for City, regardless of other results, will see them crowned champions for the third year in succession, an achievement only Manchester United (twice), Liverpool, Huddersfield and Arsenal have managed in English football history.
And after reaching the Champions League Final with a majestic display which annihilated reigning champions Real Madrid in midweek, this in a tie which was supposed to be one for the ages but ended up being a one-sided blitz, Premier League highlights should duly follow.
If they can hit three at Everton and put four past Madrid, a Chelsea side which has won just one of its last 11 matches, should put up little resistance.
When the sides met three times in the final weeks of 2020/21, Chelsea won the lot.
The impressed with a 1-0 Wembley victory in the FA Cup semi-final, courtesy of a Hakim Ziyech goal.
If that made people sit up and take notice, they then became something of an annoyance to City when they repeated that success weeks later with a last gasp 2-1 league victory which delayed City’s title coronation.
On that occasion, victory was secured through Ziyech and Marcos Alonso after Raheem Sterling had put City ahead.
City won both league games 1-0 last season to gain revenge – Gabriel Jesus and Kevin de Bruyne the respective scorers – and now they are on course for four victories over the same side in a single campaign.
Indeed, the last five matches have all been City victories, including three times this term.
In the League Cup in November, two goals in five minutes from Riyad Mahrez and Julian Alvarez sealed a 2-0 home win.
Then, in the New Year, they met twice in the space of four days.
A Mahrez goal settled the league encounter at Stamford Bridge before the Algerian led a home rout in the FA Cup third round.
He netted twice and was joined on the scoresheet by Alvarez and Phil Foden in a 4-0 romp.
They were two very different clubs when they first met back in 1907 in the former Division One.
Billy Brawn and George Hilsdon were the Chelsea scorers on that occasion in a 2-2 draw.
Overall, City have 64 successes compared to 71 Chelsea triumphs and 39 draws.
A coronation is anticipated with SBOTOP Premier League betting odds which make a mockery of Chelsea as a leading club.
Have they ever been so far adrift in such a big fixture as they are priced 1X2 @ 8.50 or Asian Handicap +1.50 @ 2.12.
City, by contrast, are on offer 1X2 @ 1.26 and Asian Handicap -1.75 @ 2.03 and -2.00 @ 2.31.
Even the draw is out @ 5.40 and a repeat of last season’s scoreline – Correct Score 1-0 – will pay out @ 7.00.
I think Chelsea will try and hold out until the break and was tempted by Half Time Full Time Draw Home @ 3.75 but even I can’t see that based on current form.
That is why my *** tip is total goal 2-3 @ 2.15 amidst a City victory party.
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Premier League: The Champions League Door is open to Newcastle
Newcastle United vs Leicester City
Monday night football comes to St James’ Park; and there could well be one heck of a celebration on Tyneside as a win will guarantee Newcastle United’s participation in the 2023/24 Champions League.
The Magpies could already be home and dry if Liverpool fail to beat Aston Villa on Saturday, but the Reds are on an impressive winning run so, chances are, Premier League: Newcastle United vs Leicester City will have a whole lot riding on it.
And not just for Eddie Howe’s super Geordies.
At the start of the 2022/23 campaign there would have been plenty of backers for Leicester City to challenge for European places alongside Newcastle, but the harsh reality of a likely relegation has now hit the Foxes and, arguably, they need the points more than their hosts. Leicester parted company with head coach Brendan Rodgers with ten games to go and Dean Smith took over on the 10th April, since when this highly talented but grossly underachieving team has picked up five points.
The old adage that there is no such thing as ‘a team too good to go down’ is a haunting spectre over the 2016 Premier League champions.
Talking Points
One more push for Eddie’s heroes
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe and Dan Burn applaud fans after the match with Leeds United
The Magpies’ Thursday night clash with Brighton was a good test of Howe’s team’s mentality and they passed it comfortably, sweeping the Europe chasing Seagulls aside with a 4-1 win. Newcastle were totally dominant and took a two goal lead by the break thanks to a goal from Dan Burn and Seniz Undav’s own goal. Brighton pulled one back as Undav scored at the right end but late strikes from Callum Wilson and Bruno Guaimaraes made the points safe.
Wilson has now scored 18 for the campaign and he is sure to lead the line against Leicester, but there is a slight doubt over the fitness of Bruno, who has been nursing an ankle problem, while Joe Willock looks likely to miss out having limped off with a hamstring pull against Brighton.
It’s been a long and tough campaign for the Magpies but they have been resilient whenever they have been asked questions. Now they just need one more push and Newcastle are there.
How fast can the Foxes run?
It’s now or never for Leicester City, league champions just seven years ago, FA Cup winners in 2021 and, until this season, regular players in Europe. With stars of the quality of James Maddison, Harvey Barnes and Youri Tielemens it’s hard to see where they have gone wrong, though the sale of keeper Kasper Schmeichel last summer looks like being a big mistake as the Foxes have lost leadership on the field. Now, with one win in 14 games they need to find some strength and run for their lives. If Everton win at Wolves and Nottingham Forest avoid defeat against Arsenal then Leicester will need to beat Newcastle to stay alive.
The tame Foxes were savaged by Liverpool on Monday and now they will face their fourth Monday game in a row with a growing injury list. Kelechi Iheanacho and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall will face late fitness tests, while Caglar Soyuncu remains sidelined. If Iheanacho doesn’t make the cut the old warhorse Jamie Vardy may make a start and he will have a big influence on his team-mates.
The Foxes cannot rely on other teams to help them out. Leeds United have a decent chance of getting something at West Ham, while Forest will fancy their chances at home to faltering Arsenal. But the pre match Newcastle United vs Leicester City betting odds reckon this will be an uphill battle for the visitors and they can’t afford to leave anything on the pitch.
History
These two teams are at the opposite ends of the league table but there’s little to choose between them in terms of head-to-head Newcastle United vs Leicester City results with the Magpies slightly ahead at 16 wins to 14 in the Premier League era.
Howe’s men have beaten Leicester twice already this season, 3-0 in a league game at the KingPower Stadium and 2-0 at home in the EFL Quarter Final in January as Dan Burn scored his first goal for the club and Joelinton wrapped up the victory.
But with one win, two draws and three defeats from the last six games the Foxes are way behind their hosts in terms of recent form. Newcastle have won four of the last six and are on the cusp of making history.
Newcastle’s home record of 11 wins, five draws and two defeats won’t give the Foxes much encouragement and, at a SBOTOP price of 1.31 to win, surely the Geordies will be celebrating Champions League qualification. Leicester are priced at 6.18 to win or 5.03 to draw and they need to massively up their game to even get close.
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Manchester City have won a third Premier League title in a row, and a fifth in six seasons. After a relentless charge which unnerved Arsenal, with three games to go, the trophy is back in Manchester.
The Sky Blues have a home game against Chelsea on Sunday afternoon, but the pressure is off, the title is won and Pep Guardiola’s team will be presented with the Premier League trophy at the Etihad Stadium. The league was already done and dusted on Saturday evening because Arsenal went down 1-0 away to Nottingham Forest, a result which also meant a talented coach, Steve Cooper, has earned Forest another year in the top flight.
For Arsenal, it is hard to take as they have led the league for so much of the campaign, but a return of just nine points from eight games while Manchester City won all eight ended manager Mikel Arteta’s dreams. Nottingham Forest deserved their day in the sun and another shot at elite football as Taiwo Awoniyi’s 19th minute goal won the day in front of 29,000 passionate fans at the City Ground. The celebrations in Nottingham will go on long into the night.
And the same applies to the Sky Blue half of Manchester.
City have bagged the first segment of their triple target and, with the FA Cup and Champions League finals to come, Guardiola will consider resting his big players for the remaining Premier League games. The Sky Blues are hot favourites to beat both Manchester United and Inter Milan in the cup competitions; but, on Sunday, they will allow themselves to celebrate another spectacular league title.
Firmino’s Farewell Goal surely won’t be enough…will it?
Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino reacts after the match vs Aston Villa
While Manchester City’s dominance of the Premier League continues, the scramble for Champions League places involves two other big teams in the North West hotbed of English football. Manchester United thought they had guaranteed a place in Europe’s top competition when Liverpool trailed Aston Villa at Anfield with injury time looming. But then, a fairytale ending to Roberto Firmino’s career on Merseyside kept Pool’s season going.
Firmino, who is leaving Anfield in the summer, struck on 89 minutes to ensure Liverpool stayed within three points of the top four with a game to go. Keep your eyes on the SBOTOP odds for the last round of games, it’s a long shot for Liverpool but the Kop’s favourite Brazilian has just about kept the dream alive.
The Red Devils travelled to Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon and they made hard work of beating the Cherries, whose season is already done. Casemiro’s early volley was enough to win the points but, with 20 shots in the game, Manchester United failed to put the match to bed. United’s form has been a little underwhelming of late, but a top four place is a good outcome for Erik Ten Hag in his first season at the helm and his team is almost there, alongside Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United.
Two big teams are set for the drop
Following the relegation of Southampton the battle to avoid the drop has intensified for the other four teams involved and, with Leicester City due to face Newcastle United on Monday, Everton, Nottingham Forest and Leeds United each had a chance to strengthen their chance to stay in the top flight.
Of course Forest pulled off a superb result to beat Arsenal thanks to Awoniyi’s early strike. In some ways it was one of the biggest Premier League 2023 resultsof the campaign, but then maybe it wasn’t a huge shock as Forest fought hard to keep a quickly fading Arsenal attack at bay. The pre-season Premier League 2023 betting odds didn’t give Forest much hope of survival and, just a few weeks ago, they looked doomed. But a brilliant return of ten points from five games has kept them up and Cooper deserves a lot of credit.
Sean Dyche’s Everton did themselves a favour too as they stole a late point in a 1-1 draw away to Wolverhampton Wanderers. Yerry Mina bundled the ball home after an almighty scramble to give Everton a 99th minute leveller to take them on to 33 points, two ahead of Leeds and three ahead of Leicester. The Toffees deserved their points, winning the shot count by 19 to 13, and now they are in a strong position to survive, with a home match against Bournemouth to come.
Now it’s over to Leeds United who face West Ham away on Sunday, and Leicester who come up against Newcastle on Monday. And, of course, our congratulations to Manchester City…and Nottingham Forest.
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Premier League: Is this the Perfect Time for the Seagulls to Meet the Champions?
Brighton and Hove Albion vs Manchester City
Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton and Hove Albion are the next club to face Manchester City when the Sky Blues head south on Wednesday.
There’s never really a good time to take on Pep Guardiola’s truly brilliant side but, if you had a choice then you’d surely pick the week after they had become champions, and at a time when they are preparing for Champions League and FA Cup finals. Of course City won the league before they even took the field against Chelsea on Sunday afternoon, but they still won 1-0 without ever getting out of second gear.
Premier League: Brighton vs Manchester City should be an entertaining affair but it won’t be an exhibition match because the Seagulls can nail down their sixth place with a positive result, and a win will keep their chances of catching Liverpool in fifth alive. And Guardiola’s City simply hate losing, and are on an unbeaten run of 24 matches in all competitions.
So yes, this is about as good a time as you could wish for to play the Sky Blues, but the Brighton vs Manchester City betting odds still don’t back the hosts.
Talking Points
Sky Blues Treble Strategy
Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez scores the winning goal against Chelsea at home
Guardiola made nine changes for City’s home game against Chelsea on Sunday and there was an odd atmosphere in the Etihad Stadium as the packed crowd waited for their heroes to be crowned champions, while watching some rather pedestrian football after Julian Alvarez scored a 12th minute winner. It probably says more about the plight of Chelsea that the win came so easy.
The Sky Blues started with Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish, Bernardo Silva, Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan and keeper Ederson on the bench. City’s substitutes have scored 64 Premier League goals this season, more than 14 other top flight clubs’ totals and an incredible 24 more than Chelsea.
With an FA Cup final against Manchester United coming up on the 3rd June and a Champions League final against Inter Milan on the 10th Guardiola will do all he can to ensure he has his best players fit and ready. The Sky Blues are odds on the won both games but both could be problematic. The Red Devils will fight tooth and nail to stop their rivals while Inter Milan will be well organised defensively.
This match against Brighton will be a superb warm-up but Pep won’t take any risks.
Brighton in Europe
The Seagulls have qualified for European competition for the first time in their 121 year history and that is huge credit to De Zerbi who has improved on Graham Potters’ ninth placed finish last term. Brighton are in totally new territory; in fact the only national competitions the Seagulls have ever won are the Third and Forth Division titles, though they also reached the FA Cup final in 1983.
But this is a different Brighton, known for its attacking style of football and able to take on the best teams in the land. They secured qualification for Europe with a 3-1 win over relegated Southampton as 18 year old striker Evan Ferguson continued his rapid upward trajectory with a first half double. The Saints pulled one back through Mohammed Elyounoussi but Pascal Gross confirmed the points with a clinical finish.
The result means that sixth place, and Europa League qualification, is all but guaranteed; Aston Villa need to beat Brighton with a 16 goal swing on the final day to overtake them, and that isn’t going to happen. But a point from either that game or the clash with Manchester City will confirm Brighton’s position mathematically.
De Zerbi’s team has blown a little hot and cold recently. The Seagulls’ trip to Newcastle last week ended in a 4-1 defeat and they recently lost 5-1 at home to Everton, but they followed those results up with a 3-0 win at Arsenal and then victory over the Saints.
History
The head to head Brighton vs Manchester City results have been kind to the Sky Blues who have 11 of the 13 meetings with Brighton, losing two; and the Champions won the return match 3-1.
City are also unbeaten in 24 games and have won five from the last six, while Brighton have won four from six.
Manchester City are hot favourites for yet another win, at SBOTOP odds of 1.74, while the draw is at 3.64 and Brighton at 3.64 to win. But with little resting on this game we could see a surprise result.
There have been two goals or more in the first half of three of the Seagulls’ last four games and in two of City’s last three, while Alvarez bagged early in the Sky Blues’ one goal win over Chelsea. So I’m going for a first half with goals.
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Premier League: Is This Manchester City Side the Greatest Ever?
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City are Premier League champions for the third season in a row and the fifth time in six years. They are in the Champions League and FA Cup finals and are strong favourites to win both.
If they do, they will become the first English team to achieve that treble in almost a quarter of a century; and the manner in which they have swept aside all before them, so far, has been breath-taking at times. So is this the best team in English top flight history, the greatest of all time?
My SBOTOP mate James, a lifelong Manchester United fan, would cast the question out pretty damn quickly…but I’m asking it anyway!
This is not the first team to dominate the English elite. In the 1970s and 1980s Liverpool were the top dogs, winning 11 titles; then Manchester United won 11 during the next two decades. The Sky Blues have won seven in 12 campaigns so they are certainly in the right ballpark.
Even though Guardiola’s side trailed Arsenal for much of the current campaign the Premier League 2023 betting odds have backed them since the turn of the year and their relentless march, winning the last 12 Premier League games and unbeaten in 24 in all competitions, has simply crushed the spirit of their rivals. Arsenal’s loss to Nottingham Forest on Saturday handed the title to the Sky Blues who then went on the beat Chelsea with their biggest stars on the bench. Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne watched on as City’s second string coasted to victory against a team assembled for £600m.
Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne celebrates scoring their third goal against Arsenal during their Premier League match
Yes they are winning for fun, but it’s also been a joy to watch for City fans and neutrals alike. In a six match sequence around Easter the Sky Blues scored 27 goals, including a 7-0 mauling of Red Bull Leipzig in the Champions League and a 4-1 win over Liverpool in the domestic league.
But of all the Premier League 2023 results that signalled the return of the title to the Etihad, a 4-1 win over Arsenal stands out as the moment the trophy would be retained. Less than a month ago the Gunners could have stretched their lead to eight points with a victory, but it was reduced to two as De Bruyne, with a brace, tore the Londoners apart.
Take a look at the stats. Manchester City have scored 93 goals, ten more than anyone else, and conceded the fewest in the league at 31. With a goal difference at +62 Guardiola’s team is highly likely to win the league by ten clear points, and that was unthinkable just four weeks ago.
Or was it?
I’m sure Arsenal fans were worried at the time and us neutrals had a sneaky feeling Manchester City would hunt them down… and so they have. But the manner of the victory was devastating as the Sky Blues clicked through the gears and won game after game. Haaland, who has scored freely from the moment he arrived in Manchester has become even better as the season has progressed, in terms of his role within the team, he is now a player who has everything; pace, power, brilliant touch, a lethal finish and total awareness of his team-mates positions and plans.
The big Norwegian is everything City had hoped for and, with 36 league goals the Golden Boot is his, to add to his league medal. De Bruyne is top of the assists table with 16, while midfield ace Rodri has made the second highest number of completed passes in the league.
The Sky Blues have leaders all around the pitch and world class operators in every position. And it’s quite possible that they will become the first team to win four Premier League titles on the bounce and they will start the 2023/24 campaign as favourites. But what makes Manchester City so great? Yes they have the backing of Sheikh Mansour and the Abu Dhabi United Group which has given the club great spending power, to match the previous big spenders in the top flight. Yes they have 25 top class players and future stars coming through their academy. But there is one factor, above all which makes this a great team.
The manager, Pep Guardiola.
Since his arrival in Manchester in 2016, the former Barcelona midfielder has changed the face of English football, much like Arsene Wenger did when he arrived at Arsenal all those years ago. Guardiola became one of the best coaches in world football as boss of the Blaugrana and then FC Bayern. And now he is the best of the lot.
He has raised the standards in English football, with his ethos of fluid play, possession of the ball and quick recovery, displayed by his team better than the rest. And his attention to detail and motivational skills are second to none. He will not rest until City have won the treble and then…he will prepare meticulously for the next challenge.
The Sky Blues have a Premier League game away to Brighton and Hove Albion on Wednesday and Guardiola and his team will be as ready as ever, with one eye on the game and another on the finals on the horizon. Manchester City are lucky to have him and, if Pep Guardiola stays at the Etihad for another few seasons, then the debate will be over.
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Premier League: Chelsea Won’t Stand in United’s Way
Manchester United vs Chelsea
With two games of the league season to play, Erik Ten Hag’s Manchester United are on the cusp of Champions League qualification.
The Red Devils just need one more point to join Newcastle United in next season’s flagship competition and keep fierce rivals Liverpool on the outside, and Premier League: Manchester United vs Chelseagives them the perfect opportunity. Frank Lampard has had a torrid time since he took over as interim manager at Stamford Bridge on 6th April and it seems highly unlikely he’ll spring a surprise at Old Trafford, as the two teams arrive at this point on the back of contrasting seasons.
Manchester United won 1-0 away to Bournemouth last week while Chelsea come into the game on the back of a limp 1-0 defeat away to champions Manchester City, and those two results sum up the campaigns of both teams, as the Red Devils have ground out wins when they need them while the Blues have been all too ready to roll over, and that makes this a fourth versus 12th clash.
Manchester United fans are getting a little weary of hearing about Manchester City’s latest league title as the Sky Blue side of the city continues its seemingly endless celebrations. But this could turn out to be a fine campaign for the Red Devils if they can finish the season with three wins. A victory over Chelsea (or even a point) will confirm their top four place; then a win at home to Fulham on Saturday will see them finish in third place.
But the prize United fans want the most is a victory on 3rd June in front of a packed Wembley crowd against Manchester City. If they can somehow beat the Sky Blues and stop them achieving a famous treble that would be so, so sweet for the Old Trafford faithful. Either way, a third placed finish and a Carabao Cup triumph is more than most expected when Ten Hag took over last summer. He’s done a fine job in steering the club back on course. They have a way to go to challenge for the title but the Red Devils are in the right direction.
United’s trip to the south coast to meet Bournemouth went pretty well as they eased to a 1-0 win thanks to a spectacular Casemiro volley early in the game. On Thursday night Liverpool fans will be watching the Manchester United vs Chelsea updates with hope in their hearts, but I expect them to be disappointed.
The summer can’t come soon enough for Chelsea
What can we say about Chelsea other than, maybe, ‘things can’t get any worse’ as they sit in the embarrassing position of 12th in the league table, sandwiched between Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton Wanderers. Well things could actually get worse for the Blues if they fail to pick up any more points and Wolves win their last game of the campaign against Arsenal…and I certainly wouldn’t rule that out!
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard reacts during their match against Manchester City in Premier League
Looking upwards, Chelsea can overtake the Eagles and finish 11th, but a top half finish is long gone as they trail tenth placed Fulham by nine points. That’s what two changes of manager and a scattergun spending spree gets for you.
Owner Todd Boehly has tried to make his mark and he has brought some exciting young talents to the club in Mykhailo Mudryk and Enzo Fernandez, and Joao Felix if he makes his move from Atletico Madrid permanent. But Chelsea are not playing as a team, as well as being hampered by injuries. The Manchester United vs Chelsea betting odds reckon the Blues will suffer a sixth loss in eight Premier League games and with key players, Ben Chilwell, Reece James and Mason Mount all sidelined I can’t really argue with that.
History
Chelsea have had the better of the head to heads against Manchester United, with 26 wins to 24 in all competitions since 1993, though the last five meetings have all ended in a draw, three at 1-1 and two goalless.
With one win, one draw and four defeats in the last four games the Blues are in a fairly deep gloom while Manchester United, with three wins, a draw and two defeats will hope to finish the campaign strongly.
And with a home record of 13 wins, three draws and a single defeat in the league the Red Devils should be confident of another victory, particularly as Chelsea have failed to win on their last nine visits to Old Trafford.
The Red Devils are big favourites atSBOTOP odds of 1.57 to win this game and 3.73 to draw, with the Blues at 4.55 to pick up a rare victory.
I’m pretty sure the hosts will get at least a point to guarantee their top four place, but I think the value is a bet on another low scoring game between these two.
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EFL Play-Off: Coventry and Luton Battle for the Promised Land
Coventry City vs Luton Town
It’s the most valuable match in world football – and when Coventry City and Luton Town meet at Wembley on Saturday in the 2023 EFL Play-Off Final…they know the outcome could change their worlds.
Burnley stormed to the Championship title followed by Sheffield United and there is one more promotion place to fill by either the Sky Blues or the Hatters. Both teams come into the game in solid form. Mark Robins pushed Coventry on to a late run into the top six with a seven match unbeaten run, while Rob Edwards’ Luton Town, consistent throughout the campaign, briefly threatened Sheffield United before settling into third place.
The EFL Play-Off Final betting odds make Luton the favourites to win promotion, at a price of 1.76, with Coventry at 2.11; there’s very little in it and the winner takes all clash looks set to be a nail-biter.
Talking Points
Route to Wembley
Luton spent most of the campaign in the top six and built a reputation as one of the best organised, most difficult teams to beat in the competition. And the Hatters deservedly made it through to the final when they overturned a 2-1 deficit to beat Sunderland with a superb 2-0 win in the second leg at Kenilworth Road. Gabriel Osho bundled the ball home on ten minutes to level the tie and the home fans roared their team on to victory as Tom Lockyear headed home the winner.
Coventry made the play-offs on the very last day of the campaign, but they were one of the form sides for much of the season after making a dreadful start. They drew 1-1 with Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough to make the top six and then faced them again in the play-offs. After playing out a goalless draw in the first leg, Coventry struck in the second leg thanks to Gustavo Hamer’s beautiful shot, curled into the top corner.
Rob vs Robins
Former Wolves centre back Rob Edwards made his name as a manager at Forest Green Rovers, leading the club to the League One for the first time in its history and he was named ‘League Two manager of the Season’ in his debut campaign as a head coach. That attracted the attention of Watford, newly relegated from the Premier League and they tempted him to join the Hornets last summer. Maybe Edwards hadn’t looked at the club’s approach to management stability as they had potted 17 head coaches over the past decade, otherwise he wouldn’t have been surprised to be sacked after ten games.
Watford’s loss was the Hatters gain as Edwards then guided Luton to third place, watching their local rivals sack two more managers and finish 11th. It would be hilarious for Luton fans if their manager leads them to the Premier League.
In contrast, former Norwich City striker Mark Robins has been manager of Coventry since 2017 and has since guided them from the fourth to the second tier of English football; and now he has one more step to take to immortalise himself at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
Gyokeres vs Morris
Coventry City forward Viktor Gyokeres during their match against Reading
Each team has a hit man bang in form with Coventry’s Viktor Gyokeres and Luton’s Carlton Morris the second and third top scorers in the Championship this season, with 21 and 20 goals. Gyokeres has attracted attention from Premier League clubs already and would cost in the region of £25m if the Sky Blues fail to get promoted. He’s strong and quick with bags of skill and he could be the man to win this blockbuster match if he gets the chance. He was named the Championship Player of the Month twice this season and Gyokeres is definitely one to watch.
Luton picked up Morris last summer and he’s adapted brilliantly in Edwards’ system, starting strongly with four goals in four games and winning the Player of the Month for September. He’s not as quick as Gyokeres but he’s just as strong and can hold the ball up well and, of course, he knows where the goal is.
History
Both teams have played in the top flight before. In fact Coventry won the FA Cup in 1987, beating Tottenham Hotspur 3-2, and then they were relegated in 2001 after 34 consecutive years in the top flight. Luton were last in the Premier League in 1992 and were in the Conference, the fifth tier of English football, as recently as 2014
Both meetings this season ended in a draw, 2-2 at Kenilworth Road when both Morris and Gyokeres were on target, and 1-1 in Coventry in February.
Luton finished third and ten points ahead of Coventry, who made a late charge into the play-offs and, at SBOTOP odds of 2.34 to win the Hatters have the edge, with Coventry priced at 2.77.
While the relegation battle in the Premier League is shredding plenty of nerves, with so much at stake I expect the EFL Play-Off Final highlights to be tense and cagey rather than expansive and free-flowing… but it will be impossible to take your eyes off it.
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Premier League: Chelsea Searching for Some London Pride
Chelsea vs Newcastle United
The 2022/23 demise of Chelsea has taken up a fair few column inches, here atSBOTOP and in just about every news outlet on the planet. It’s a fascinating story of a club in transition, some would say turmoil.
Those heady days of the reign of Roman Abramovich, Premier League titles and European crowns seems a long, long way away for the club which now sits 12th in the league table and simply can’t wait for the season to end. There’s nothing really riding on this match, other than a final position in the table butPremier League: Chelsea vs Newcastle United is a fascinating clash nevertheless.
While Blues fans are suffering the Magpies faithful are ecstatic, having just qualified for the 2023/24 Champions League. So there will be a party atmosphere in the away end at Stamford Bridge on Sunday but, in their last game of the campaign the Chelsea supporters just want a win, to beat a top four side and to regain some pride.
Talking Points
Are Chelsea getting punch drunk?
Frank Lampard’s young side has had a brutal time of it over recent weeks, playing some of the best teams In Europe and racking up losses to Arsenal, Real Madrid and Manchester City. And before they meet Newcastle they face another top four side on Thursday night, when they travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.
You could almost feel sorry for the Blues when they lost 1-0 away to Manchester City as the hosts celebrated their league triumph and rested most of their best players as they coasted to a 1-0 win, while the fans waited for the main event of the trophy presentation. Chelsea didn’t lay a glove on their super relaxed hosts and the crowd only got off their seats once in the 90 minutes, when Julian Alvarez scored in the 12th minute.
Make no mistake, there is plenty of talent in this Chelsea squad, but most of the big money signings this year have been relatively inexperienced and the Premier League is an unforgiving place to be, with no time allowed to get your bearings. But some pundits are predicting a strong recovery for the Blues next season with the arrival as Mauricio Pochettino as head coach and no European distraction.
And the Chelsea vs Newcastle United betting odds reckon Lamps could sign off with a win, though the Magpies are at a slightly lower price.
Newcastle’s work is done
Newcastle United’s Callum Wilson scores their third goal vs Brighton
The Magpies drew 0-0 with Leicester City on Monday night and also shared the points with another relegation candidate last time they were on the road, drawing 2-2 with Leeds United. But they have done what they needed to do to qualify for the 2023/24 Champions League. The match with the relegation-threatened Foxes was a curious affair as Newcastle won the shot count by 23 to one and hit the woodwork three times; but keeper Nick Pope was called on to make a brilliant save to deny Timothy Castagne in injury time and see his team over the line. Striker Callum Wilson has been sensational this season, scoring 18 goals and making five assists in 30 games. He was one of the unlucky players to be denied by the woodwork on Monday and he is the most likely player to breach the Chelsea defence.
Head coach Eddie Howe has done a great job to guide his team to the Champions League, earlier than expected. But human nature dictates that, with the work done and no potential impact on other teams in this final game, the Newcastle players may find it hard to maintain their level of intensity.
History
With 34 victories to 16 in the Premier League era, the Blues have had much the better of the head-to-head Chelsea vs Newcastle United results, though the Magpies picked up a 1-0 win in the return match at St James’ Park.
But Newcastle haven’t won on their last ten trips to Stamford Bridge and, in terms of very recent form there isn’t a huge amount between the two sides; Chelsea have won one, drawn one and lost three of the last five, while Newcastle have won two, drawn two and lost one with a significantly easier fixture list.
Chelsea are priced at 2.62 to beat the Geordies who can be backed at 2.32 to win or 3.16 to draw. I can see the hosts winning this, as their visitors deserve a breather after their brilliant season… and Chelsea owe their fans big time.
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Little did we know then that Chelsea were set to have such a miserable time themselves, or that both clubs would have three different managers each during the course of the season.
And while I expect Sam Allardyce to guide Leeds to victory on Sunday afternoon – this SBOTOP writer believes they would have been safe by now if they had appointed him earlier – I do not think it will be enough to keep them in the top flight.
Talking Points
So, where did it go wrong?
Well hiring Jesse Marsch was always a risk. But to sack him in February and then take weeks to replace him appeared to be another error.
Javi Gracia’s immediate positive impact didn’t last too long and he, respectfully, seemed an odd choice.
The Athletic this week suggested the close-season promises to be manic if Leeds survive and more frantic again should they return to the Championship, heralding changes which have to amount to an almost total reset.
They got away with it last season but very little in their sorry surrender away to West Ham United on Sunday suggested they are about to dodge disaster for a second year running.
Allardyce has a short-term contract that covers one more match. The club has been without a director of football since Victor Orta parted company with them three weeks ago.
The proposed takeover by 49ers Enterprises is still only a proposal. And what of other issues, like the future of individual players, the management of a sizeable Premier League wage bill and the impact of reduced income?
The fact the home side could be without Patrick Bamford and Rodrigo due to injury – the former has had a luckless run in that regard over the past two seasons – merely adds to the woe amongst the home faithful.
Or is there to be one more unexpected twist?
History
Harry Kane celebrates after scoring for Tottenham Hotspur against Aston Villa
Traditionally these clubs have been well matched and have enjoyed some ding-dong battles.
I can recall an enthralling FA Cup tie a decade ago when Luke Varney and Ross McCormack goals caused a fourth round surprise in a 2-1 win for the hosts at Elland Road.
They had given Spurs a scare in the same competition at the same stage three years earlier when Jermaine Beckford netted twice – including a stoppage time penalty – to earn the then League One side a 2-2 draw at White Hart Lane before Spurs won the replay 3-1 at Elland Road thanks to a Jermain Defoe hat-trick.
That FA Cup win in 2013 is one of only two occasions when Leeds have beaten Spurs in the past 13 attempts.
The other came in this fixture two season ago when Stuart Dallas, Bamford and Rodrigo found the net in a 3-1 win.
Then, like now, Spurs had Ryan Mason in caretaker charge.
After Daniel Levy made a ‘horlicks’ of hiring a full-time replacement, Spurs had another new manager in charge by the time they next met six months later.
When they met three months later in the corresponding fixture, it proved to be a change of helm at Leeds as Marcelo Bielsa was promptly sacked after Spurs ran out 4-0 winners, Matt Doherty, Dejan Kulusekvski, Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min the scorers.
A rousing Elland Road could be a big advantage for the hosts who must attack in a must-win contest.
Of course, Spurs will also want to finish on a high and keep alive their outside chance of securing a European berth next term.
Or will they – given the Europa Conference is probably a distraction they could do without,
They are priced 1X2 @ 2.33 and Asian Handicap -0.25 @ 2.12 with the Premier League betting odds with the home side on offer 1X2 @ 2.59 and Asian Handicap 0.00 @ 2.05.
I do think there will be a few, but not too many goals, which is why Total Goal 0-1 @ 5.20 and 2-3 @ 2.09 have caught my eye, unlike a repeat of the contest last season which sees Correct Score 0-4 on offer @ 80.00.
I am opting for a Leeds win – Asian Handicap 0.00 @ 2.05 as my *** tip, however, I also expect Everton and Leicester City to win to mean their efforts to retain their Premier League status are in vain.
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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Premier League: Luton join Burnley and Sheffield United at the Top Table
Luton Town will play in the Premier League next season, for the first time since 1992, after beating Coventry City in a dramatic penalty shootout at Wembley.
The Hatters took a first half lead through Jordan Clark before Gustavo Hamer hit back for Coventry to take the tie to extra time. This was a fourth tier match as recently as 2018, but when Luton kept their nerve to win the penalty shootout 6-5, they completed a remarkable climb back up the English football pyramid.
Relegated out of the Football League for the first time in their history, in 2009, Luton were promoted to League Two as champions five years later and, within a decade they are now preparing to go toe to toe with Manchester City. It’s a fantastic fairytale story, no big investment, no big names; just a hard working band of brothers who have won the ultimate prize.
With the last round of Premier League 2023 resultsdue on Sunday evening, two of Leeds United, Leicester City and Everton are set to join already relegated Southampton in the second tier to change places with the promoted three. The celebrations for the Hatters will rage on for a few days yet, but then the serious business of trying to stay in the top flight begins.
Let’s take a look at the three promoted teams and try to assess their chances for the 2023/24 season.
Burnley
Burnley manager Vincent Kompany on the victory parade bus as they celebrate winning the EFL Championship
Vincent Kompany’s Burnleyripped up the Championship in a sensational campaign which saw the Clarets promoted with a record seven games to play, they had a record equalling ten-match winning run and had 19 different scorers. Burnley won the title at the home of local rivals Blackburn Rovers and surged through the 100 point mark with a 3-0 win over Cardiff on the final day.
Following relegation in 2022 the club has had a total makeover, Kompany transforming the ‘toughest team in the top flight’ to becoming an expansive, exciting side playing football which is easy on the eye and has an emphasis on youth. The former Manchester City playing legend retained some of the Clarets old guard including Jack Cork, Ashley Barnes, Josh Brownhill and Connor Roberts and blended them with an array of young stars, Annas Zaroury, Manuel Benson, Jordan Beyer and Nathan Tella.
Burnley are set to invest again over the summer and they will be an exciting team to watch next year with Kompany refusing to rule out any possibilities. The only caveat I’d make here is to admit, for those of you not in the know, is that this SBOTOPwriter is a lifelong Clarets fan!
Sheffield United
The Blades, managed by professional Yorkshireman Paul Heckingbottom, were comfortably the second best team in the division, finishing 11 points above Luton who finished third. Sheffield were promoted to the top flight in 2019 and survived one season before crashing out in 2021, and they still have plenty of their ex Premier League stars in their ranks, including Ollie McBurnie, John Egan, Enda Stevens, George Baldock and Oliver Norwood.
This is a big, strong group of players who play a direct form of football; but there is quality in the side from 25 year old midfielder Sander Berge and Manchester City loanee James McAtee, who bid farewell to the Sheffield United fans on the final day of the campaign. The Blades may struggle to hold onto Berge too and their priority is to finish outside the bottom three.
The Play-Off Final between Coventry City and Luton Town pitched together two teams at the lower end of the Championship pecking order, in terms of financial muscle. And the thought of the likes of Erling Haaland arriving at the humble settings of the 10,000 capacity Kenilworth Road is mind-boggling! The fans will make it a difficult place to visit and that will be one of Luton’s best weapons. And manager Rob Edwards is clearly a talented coach and an inspirational leader and he will be plotting a survival plan right now. In his ranks he has record signing striker Carlton Morris, bought for £1.3m (less than a month’s salary for Haaland) and Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, who was bought for £50k in 2013 and is the first player ever to rise from the Conference to the Premier League with one club.
Edwards knows he has a mammoth task on his hands but he can take inspiration from the likes of Wimbledon’s Crazy Gang of the 1990s and, more recently, Sean Dyche’s Burnley who spent seven of eight seasons in the top flight. Of course the pre-seasonPremier League 2023 betting oddswill place the Hatters as the favourites to get relegated but now is not the time to worry about that. And remember, the three sides promoted last year, Fulham, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest, have all avoided relegation this time around…quite comfortably.
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Premier League: Everton Survive as Leeds and Leicester Take the Drop
Leeds United and Leicester City have dropped out of the Premier League and will enter lions den of the Championship after a dramatic final day on the 2022/23 season.
Nottingham Forest did their business, last week away to Arsenal, and that left three teams battling for one remaining survival place and it was Everton who snatched it away from Leicester as Abdoulaye Doucoure hit the Toffees’ best and most valuable goal of the campaign. The pre match Premier League 2023 betting odds backed Everton to escape and it was a job well done by boss Sean Dyche who was drafted in to save the Toffees after Frank Lampard was sacked.
Leicester did all they could, beating West Ham 2-1 but the 2016 Premier League champions and 2021 FA Cup winners are relegated, alongside Leeds, who couldn’t be saved by Sam Allardyce and went down 4-1 to Tottenham on their final game of a gruelling season.
How the nail-biting drama unfolded…
2 mins: The Leeds Whites really needed a Super Sunday when they hosted Spurs. They already had a lot to do, but the day became even harder when Heung-Min Son put a ball on the plate for Harry Kane to fire home his 29th goal of the campaign.
Leicester City’s Harvey Barnes scores the second goal against West Ham United
28 mins: Leicester were taking their game to West Ham, with James Maddison and Harvey Barnes both recalled to the Foxes’ starting 11 and they were inches away from taking the initiative when Kelechi Iheanacho’s angled drive clipped the crossbar.
30 mins: Everton almost took the lead against Bournemouth when Idrissa Gueye was clean through, but he went for power and Mark Travers made a brilliant fingertip save.
33 mins: Leicester fans went crazy as the Foxes climbed out of the bottom three when Barnes played a slick one-two with Iheanacho before curling a sumptuous shot beyond Lukasz Fabianski and into the corner. Goodison Park fell silent and Travers made another superb save to tip over a rasping drive from James Garner.
47 mins: Leeds went 2-0 down when Harry Kane found Pedro Porro and he fired low past Joel and into the corner. The Whites needed a miracle and, as the Premier League 2023 updates from elsewhere came in, Everton should have scored but Demarai Gray headed weakly with the goal at his mercy.
56 mins: Goodison Park erupted as Abdoulaye Doucoure scored the goal which lifted the Toffees clear and it was an absolute screamer. The Mali man met a Cherries clearance with a pile driver which took a slight deflection and flew past Travers to make it 1-0. Then, down in Leicester, Said Benrahma almost drew West Ham level but his shot cannoned back off the post.
62 mins: Leicester were on the way down at this point but they were doing their bit as Wout Faes flicked home a cross from Youri Tielemens to make it 2-0. Everton now had to hang on to their narrow lead.
67 mins: Jack Harrison pulled one back for Leeds with a fine low drive into the bottom left corner but, Spurs went 3-1 up, just two minutes later as Kane scored his 30th goal of the campaign.
78 mins: as the Leicester fans listened anxiously, hoping to hear of a Cherries goal on Merseyside, their own lead was halved when Pablo Fornals burst through and fired home, in off the post, to make it 2-1.
90 mins: The board went up at Goodison Park with TEN minutes of added time, much of it added when Everton keeper Jordan Pickford stayed down for over five after a spat with Dominic Solanke.
94 mins: Pickford made a sharp save to deny Matias Vina who hit a sweet strike goal wards as the Cherries belatedly showed their teeth, and the full time whistle went at the King Power Stadium. Leeds conceded another goal to lose 4-1 and return to the Championship.
100 mins: Bedlam on Merseyside as the final whistle went and the scenes of jubilation exploded onto the pitch. But at the King Power Stadium and Elland Road the fans were subdued, with the thought of trips to Rotherham and Millwall to look forward to.
So another momentous Premier League campaign comes to a close and now the attention turns to the summer transfer window.
In the meantime, the action keeps on coming. So we’ll be busy here at SBOTOP to give you all the best Asian Handicap betting offers on Europa League, FA Cup and Champions League action in the next couple of weeks.
Football…we love it! But spare a thought for Leicester and Leeds…it’s going to be a tough night.
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It’s an unusual position for the Merseysiders to be in but, in some ways, it was possible to see it coming. The 2020 league champions have an aging squad which is in need of a refresh, particularly in midfield. Skipper Jordan Henderson has now reached the grand old age of 32, while James Milner and Fabinho can’t claim to have young legs, and the competition at the top of the table is getting fierce.
When the SBOTOP stats team prepares for next season there is sure to be a cluster of teams in the frame for top four places, with Newcastle United as a new entrant squeezing the opportunities and the news breaking on Sunday that Mauricio Pochettino has been appointed the new boss of Chelsea.
So Liverpool need to be ahead of the game.
Klopp is working on his summer strategy to bring fresh legs into the middle of the park, with Brighton and Hove Albion’s world cup winner Alexis Mac Allister on the Reds’ radar. The South coast club has won Europa League football and the Argentine is one of the players coveted by clubs around Europe. The Seagull’s recent clash with Manchester City was an ideal opportunity for Roberto De Zerbi’s side to show how far they have come and they earned a 1-1 draw. But they will have a rebuild on themselves with Mac Allister seemingly waving goodbye to the Seagull’s fans after their final game of the campaign, a 2-1 loss away to Aston Villa.
Mac Allister is valued at around £70m, and Liverpool will have to spend another tidy sum to bring in Wolves midfield maestro Ruben Neves. The Reds will have competition from Barcelona, particularly as the 26 year old has said he wants to play Champions League football. Neves has been one of Wolves most important players during their five years in the top flight after his £15m move from FC Porto.
Liverpool need two or three midfielders and Mac Allister and Neves are the right calibre.
Is Palhinha set for Old Trafford?
Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha in action with Leicester City winger Harvey Barnes
Much to the amusement of Manchester United fans, Erik Ten Hag’s side put together a good enough set of Premier League 2023 results to beat Liverpool to the Champions League places, eventually finishing above Newcastle United in third. And the Red Devils too are in the market for a midfielder and there could be a potential swap deal on the cards with Marco Silva’s Fulham.
Manchester United may be open to offloading Brazil midfielder Fred who’s contract expires in 2024, and Ten Hag is looking for a player who may be more effective on the ball.
Fulham’s Joao Palhinha is exactly the type of strong midfielder coveted by Premier League bosses and he would be an ideal fit for Manchester United, in the mould of former Red Devils star Nemanja Matic. He has recorded more tackles than any other player in the top flight and the Cottagers struck a brilliant deal to bring him to the club last summer in a £17m switch from Sporting Lisbon.
Palhinha’s value must be nearer £40m now and a swap deal might be the way forward for Ten Hag.
Foxes ready to say goodbye to their stars
The pre-season Premier League 2023 betting odds didn’t have Leicester in their sights as a relegation candidate but the Foxes have just proved the old adage that ‘no team is too good to get relegated’. It’s hard to take for fans of the 2016 champions but, when manager Brendan Rodgers left the club by mutual consent with just ten games to play, the writing on the wall began to come clearer.
Leicester City’s relegation surely means that the club’s more marketable stars will be on their way. The players have underachieved massively but they will still be attractive propositions for top flight clubs in England and Europe’s big leagues. Midfielder James Maddison was the subject of frenzied transfer speculation last summer, with a move to Newcastle on and off throughout the close season. He’s another player who says he wants Champions League football but it remains to be seen whether the Magpies are still interested now that they have hit Europe’s big time.
Harvey Barnes, who scored the opener in Leicester’s final day 2-1 win over West Ham, is sure to find another club as is creative midfielder Youri Tielemens. It’s difficult for diehard Foxes to take but the club needs a reset… and to raise some money.
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It’s the best league in the world with a spectacular array of superstars, the envy of the rest. So to pick a Premier League 11 is some challenge, but that’s what I’m tasked with this morning.
Manchester City and Arsenal battled for the title in a two-horse race before the Sky Blues pulled away on the final stretch, so it’s little surprise that City and the Gunners dominate the SBOTOP selection of the best group of players in the English top-flight.
Some brilliant stars who have excellent seasons are missing out because we’re picking a side one to 11 which could play to a plan on the pitch, and they would be unbeatable.
Goalkeeper: David De Gea – Manchester United
I’ll start with my only controversial selection. After a period of patchy form and mistakes, the Red Devils’ last line of defence has recovered to win the 2023 Golden Glove award with 17 shutouts.
The Spaniard beat off stiff competition with Alisson, Nick Pope, and Aaran Ramsdale all earning 14 clean sheets and he deserves this spot, playing out a campaign in front of an unsettled defence which suffered crucial injuries to Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane.
Left-back: Oleksandr Zinchenko – Arsenal
He was something of an unsung hero at Manchester City, but everyone can see the value the Ukranian star brings to Arsenal.
Zinchenko is a brilliant operator in midfield or at wing-back, and his calm assurance and leadership has given Arsenal’s younger players the confidence to thrive.
Centre-back: Ruben Dias – Manchester City
City’s first choice centre-back is comfortable with both feet and usually operates on the left side, and his ability to dictate play with a superb range of passing make him the perfect defender in Pep Guardiola’s progressive style.
Dias is dominant in the air, strong in the challenge and brilliant in the last ditch tackle.
Centre-back: Lewis Dunk – Brighton
With 3,208 successful passes, Dunk is the perfect partner for Dias, and it’s a real mystery to most neutrals as to why he’s only picked up one England cap, while the likes of Harry Maguire, and Tyrone Mings have plenty.
Maybe it’s because he’s been at Brighton since 2010, but I’d have Dunk in my team every time because he’s a born leader.
Right-back: Kieran Tripper – Newcastle United
Newcastle United’s Kieran Trippier looks dejected after the Premier League match against Arsenal
The Magpies have been sensational this season and former Burnley and Atletico Madrid wing-back Trippier has been in superb form.
He has made an astonishing 393 crosses with Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold the closest with 252, and Trippier is equally strong in defence where his positional sense gives him an edge over most attackers.
Defencive midfield: Joao Palhinha – Fulham
No player has made more that Palhinha’s 147 tackles with Moises Caicedo second in 100, and he has been a mainstay in the Cottagers’ successful return to the top-flight.
He’s powerful in the air and has a good passing range, which makes him the near perfect defencive midfielder. Manchester City’s Rodri could easily take this place, but I’m happy to gamble on Palhinha.
Right midfield: Kevin De Bruyne – Manchester City
He just seems to get better and better and the magical Belgian is once again the best assist provider in the league with 16, and he has built up a special relationship with Erling Haaland.
De Bruyne is a Rolls Royce of a player and, while the Premier League boasts many excellent creative midfielders, he is head and shoulders ahead of the rest.
Left midfield: Gabriel Martinelli – Arsenal
Arsenal’s electrifying young winger Martinelli has provided some scintillating Premier League 2023 highlights as well as producing 15 goals and five assists.
For a wing-back, the Brazilian is the most terrifying sight as he switches direction in the blink of an eye, has a superb delivery, and the fastest feet.
Attacking midfield: Martin Odegaard – Arsenal
Mikel Arteta’s masterstroke to hand the captaincy to Odegaard almost paid off as the Gunners came so close to winning a first league title since 2004.
With 15 goals and seven assists, he has led by example and, at 24 years of age, the former Real Madrid man has his best years ahead of him, which is great news for the Gunners.
His pace, intelligent movement, and clinical finishing have brought him 18 goals and five assists, and he is now an obvious choice for England. Wilson deserves his place after a prolonged period of injury he is now back to his best.
The spearhead of my attack is the easiest selection to make. His 52 goals in all competitions and 36 in the Premier League are incredible hauls and Haaland has just been awarded the Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year Awards by the league.
He’s a beast of a player and one of the main reasons I believe this team is unbeatable.
Manager: Pep Guardiola
Even when Arsenal had a healthy lead at the top of the table the Premier League 2023 betting odds backed Manchester City and the reason? Pep Guardiola, who is without any doubt, the best manager in the world at the moment.
It seems he is giving the Sky Blues another two years, so the trophy count at the Etihad will continue to climb.
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It is the showpiece of the English football season, the grandest stage of all, the most prestigious and romantic cup competition of them all.
Throw in the various subplots and the fact that the 2023 FA Cup Final is the first ever major cup final between Manchester’s finest and the stakes go up several notches. In fact, they could barely be higher.
In the blue corner are the newly crowned champions – for a record equalling third year in succession – and a side trying to emulate the finest achievement ever by an English football team.
In the red corner are their neighbours and city rivals – the record 20-time champions of England – whose achievement stands unsurpassed in the English game.
They will want it to stay that way too, even if the Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is correct when he states that Saturday’s final is not about stopping Manchester City’s treble hopes, rather an opportunity to clinch their own piece of silverware.
So, with an array of stars on show at Wembley Stadium and the final now restored, for this year at least to its traditional 3pm kick-off time, we are all set for the 190th Manchester derby.
Talking Points
Both teams are chasing their second piece of silverware of the season.
Erik ten Hag has worked wonders in his first season at Old Trafford, adding some genuine substance (and the League Cup) after a few horrendous years, most notably last season when English football’s biggest club was hopelessly adrift and in desperate need of leadership on and off the pitch.
Manchester United celebrate after winning the League Cup against Newcastle United
This Saturday, United are without key men in Lisandro Martinez and Anthony Martial, while there is a doubt over Brazilian winger Antony.
They will also contest the Champions League against Italian underdogs Inter Milan on June 10.
Both teams have created FA Cup 2023 highlights along the road to Wembley this season and no one can say they have done it the easy way.
City dispatched Chelsea and Arsenal in the third and fourth rounds respectively, while United have faced Premier League opposition in all but one round with Everton, West Ham, Fulham and Brighton all dispatched en route.
United have the edge historically, winning 78 of their meetings compared to City’s 57 triumphs and 53 draws.
Last season the difference in class was embarrassing.
In November 2021, an early own goal and a Bernardo Silva second in the opening 45 minutes sealed a 2-0 win for City in a contest that was far more comfortable than the scoreline suggested.
It proved to be Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s final home match in charge.
Four months later, with Ralf Rangnick in interim charge of the Red Devils, City ran out 4-1 winners, thanks to doubles from Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez.
Jadon Sancho had briefly drawn United level.
It appeared to be the same scenario in early October when hat-tricks from Erling Haaland and Phil Foden fired the Blues to a 6-3 success – a scoreline that flattered United who were 6-1 down until two goals in the final moments from substitute Martial.
The tide was turned in January in thrilling (and controversial) fashion at Old Trafford.
On that occasion, Jack Grealish had given City the lead just before the hour mark but two goals in the final 11 minutes from Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford turned the match around amid a fervent atmosphere.
The SBOTOP FA Cup 2023 betting odds are very one-sided.
City can be backed 1X2 @ 1.46 and Asian Handicap -1.50 @ 2.36, whereas a repeat of their 1-0 semi-final victory over United from 2011 will pay out @ 7.40 with Correct Score.
United are priced 1X2 @ 5.40 and Asian Handicap +1.00 @ 2.16, while a repeat of their most recent Manchester derby FA Cup clash – a 3-2 success in 2012 – is on offer @ 70.00.
Double Chance United or Draw is available at a very attractive @ 2.48.
If you opt for the 1X2 draw after normal time, then 1X2 @ 4.40 will appeal.
Few expect this to be goalless, which would explain odds of Total Goal 0-1 @ 4.40, 4-6 @ 2.69 and Over 3.00 goals @ 2.02.
I do think there will be goals but not too many.
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It’s been just over a week since another unforgettable campaign of Premier League highlights drew to a close but, given the frenzied speculation and daily news it provides, you wouldn’t necessarily know it.
Because no sooner had the final-day drama been played out as Everton preserved their top flight status at the expense of 2016 champions Leicester City and Leeds United, some eyes immediately started looking ahead to next season.
Questions include, can Spurs keep hold of prolific marksman Harry Kane now they are on the verge of appointing a new manager, is Argentina World Cup winner Alexis MacAllister heading to Merseyside, how will Chelsea react to their latest setback after supposedly being gazumped and how will the newly promoted clubs fare against clubs with much bigger resources?
By the way, there’s only 10 days until the fixtures for next season are released so there’s hardly time to catch your breath in the pulsing world of top flight English football.
This time just over a year ago, the supine performance, mindset and culture of some Manchester United players was being highlighted by respected figures within the game.
Fast forward 12 months and much of the same criticism could be directed at Spurs.
The club has been in a state of flux since parting company with Antonio Conte in March and the impending appointment of Ange Postecoglou, who is fresh from leading Celtic to a domestic treble, should reintroduce certainty.
The Australian has impressed since arriving in Glasgow two years ago and a deal to bring him to north London should be completed soon.
One of the first matters in his in-tray could be trying to persuade the club hero to stay.
Certainly, the decision of Karim Benzema to say farewell to Real Madrid means the Spanish giants will want a new frontman and, with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy unlikely to countenance a sale to an English rival, this summer could be the time the club’s all-time leading scorer moves to pastures new.
United are keen to sign Kane this summer but Erik ten Hag’s rebuilding plans at Old Trafford are being hampered by the club’s takeover saga, which continues to drag on.
Across the capital, Chelsea have no less of a problem, albeit a different raft of issues to Spurs.
After spending more than any club has ever done in one transfer window, incoming manager Mauricio Pochettino will inherit a bloated, chaotic squad.
At least there should be continuity in the dugout next season following seven months in which Thomas Tuchel was sacked and replaced by Graham Potter, who was sacked and replaced by Frank Lampard, who has now been replaced by Pochettino.
Very few players or club hierarchy from Stamford Bridge came out of 2022-23 with any credit.
Up north, Liverpool are also set to splash the cash again (all top clubs surely will) with MacAllister agreeing a contract understood to run to June 2028.
He is due to have a medical in the next 48 hours. The buyout clause in his contract, signed weeks before he went to the World Cup, is said to be significantly less than the £60 million that has been mentioned.
When all these millions are being talked about, penny for the thoughts of the newly promoted teams.
Runway Championship winners Burney and Sheffield United have been here before, of course.
Luton Town fans celebrate club’s promotion to the Premier League
But it was in 1992 when Luton Town lost their top flight status – the following season saw the inaugural Premier League campaign – and they have not been back since…until now.
Relegated out of the Football League for the first time in their history, in 2009, Luton were promoted to League Two as champions five years later and, within a decade they are now preparing to go toe to toe with the big boys for the first time in over 30 years.
No big investment, no big names; just a hard working band of brothers who have won the ultimate prize.
Can they realistically compete?
Well put it this way, another side promoted last summer, Bournemouth, were largely considered everyone’s favourites for the drop last term.
Yet Gary O’Neil pulled off a stunning revival in their fortunes.
Bottom of the table in early March, they went onto beat Liverpool and followed that up in April with victories against Leeds, Southampton and Leicester – the three sides that went down – which ensured they were safe long before the end of the season.
If a club which has similarly limited income and a small stadium, perhaps they are the benchmark Luton should try and emulate.
If they can be successful in that aim, the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds next term may just be turned on their head again.
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These are the Main Men in the Premier League Dugout
So, the time has come to reveal my top five Premier League managers of the season.
Whether you agree or not, I think they make a compelling case.
So, in no particular order:
Erik ten Hag – Manchester United
This time 12 months ago, English football’s biggest club was hopelessly adrift and in desperate need of leadership on and off the pitch. The team’s performances were regularly shameful and a number of its players embarrassed themselves.
It all ended with the team finishing sixth, a massive 35 points behind champions Manchester City.
That has not been allowed to continue under the management of Erik ten Hag who witnessed a disastrous start to 2022-23– they lost their first two games of the season for the first time in 30 years (the latter a drubbing at Brentford) – and quickly acted.
United are now back in the Champions League following a fine third-placed finish (a position few saw coming), have won the League Cup and were runners-up in the FA Cup.
It was quite a turnaround and this tangible progress means United are on the up, although there remains a big gap to the top and now need to back their manager this summer. A new owner would help.
Roberto De Zerbi – Brighton
There is a phrase I learned of last week which is referred to as ‘doing a Brighton’.
The Brighton’s model appears to be the ideal example of how to operate a club when you are not blessed with untold wealth.
In recent years, their impressive scouting structure has seen them identify targets in countries where they feel they can gain greater value for money than shopping around in Europe.
Look no further than Moisés Caicedo, Liverpool-bound Alexis Mac Allister and their highly promising teenagers Julio Enciso and Ewan Ferguson.
That the south coast club is likely to lose at least a few of those players this summer – less than a year after being unable to keep hold onto other key men to bigger fish (in both the summer and January transfer window) – is a real shame after a record-breaking campaign which means they will play in Europe for the first time next season.
If their progress under the shrewd Graham Potter, since recruited and sacked by Chelsea, was laudable, their development under Roberto De Zerbi has been even more so and he deserves all the plaudits.
If Manchester City do not win the Treble this weekend, De Zerbi will be my manager of the year.
Pep Guardiola – Manchester City
Pep Guardiola is named the Premier League Manager of the Season for a fourth time
Of course, whether that achievement is secured or not, City boss Pep Guardiola needs to be included on this list.
Yes, City’s wealth is unmatched and unparalleled by anyone else and there remains a huge question mark about how they have reached this stage.
The Premier League’s investigation into City’s internal affairs means the sword of justice hangs over the club and, if proven, an array of charges threaten to undermine the entire edifice of English football’s dominant power of the last decade, not to mention call into question the entire basis and motivation of the nation-state club ownership model.
For now, though, an array of Premier League highlights has led to a fifth league title in six years and a league and FA Cup double which cannot be dismissed.
I addition, to those Liverpool supporters and wider pundits who, after a slow start in the Community Shield, wondered if his arrival would prove a mistake, no-one is questioning double player of the year Erling Haaland any more.
Thomas Frank – Brentford
Ok hands up? Who thought Brentford would suffer from second-season syndrome?
Not a chance.
At no point did the Bees look like going down.
They thrashed Manchester United in August, proved too hot for Liverpool to handle in the New Year, won at Spurs on the penultimate weekend of the campaign (meaning they have now beaten all of the established top six since promotion two years ago) and finished the season as the only side to defeat the champions home and away.
There is one club which receives even smaller attendances (and gate receipts) than Brentford that completes my list, although my word Marco Silva at Fulham pushed him close, and that is Gary O’Neil at Bournemouth.
The low point of their season came very early on.
They had already lost 4-0 to City and 3-0 to Arsenal when they were hammered 9-0 by Liverpool at Anfield in August. After that drubbing, manager Scott Parker expressed his concern that the team was ‘ill-equipped’ and not ready for the Premier League.
‘I feel sorry for the fans and the players,’ he said. Three days later, the former England man was out of a job.
O’Neil was appointed as caretaker and it looked like the 39-year-old would keep the hotseat warm until a long-term replacement was found. Yet, after an unexpected upsurge in form, the Cherries were unbeaten in O’Neil’s first six games in charge and he was given the job on a permanent basis, signing an 18-month contract just before the World Cup.
The gamble didn’t seem to be working when the club went on a run of seven games without a win after the World Cup, and they were rock bottom in early March.
However, notable victories over Champions League-chasing Liverpool (in the return game) and Tottenham proved vital and wins in April against Leeds, Southampton and Leicester – the three sides that went down – ensured they were safe long before the end of the season.
To have taken a team that was essentially a dead cert for relegation to safety is a huge achievement for anyone, let alone one in his first job as a manager.
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Premier League: Can the Red Devils Emerge From The Shadows Next Year?
With apologies to my SBOTOP mate James, who is a diehard Manchester United fan, I’m taking a look at the gap between his team and treble winners Manchester City.
Under the guidance of the brilliant Sir Alex Ferguson, the Red Devils dominated the Premier League for two decades and won their own treble back in 1999. Then the balance of power began to shift, following a change in ownership for the Sky Blues, and, while Sir Alex dismissed them as ‘noisy neighbours’ Manchester City set about their own period of domination, culminating in their incredible achievements this season.
Pep Guardiola’s side won the league at a canter and then beat United in the FA Cup final, before seeing off a stubborn Inter Milan in the Champions League final to complete the treble. It is so sweet for fans of the Sky Blues who have watched their team rise from the third tier of English football to become the Kings of Europe.
The Premier League 2023 betting odds have already installed Pep Guardiola’s City as odds on favourites to make it six league titles in seven seasons and I won’t argue with that; but the Red Devils, for so long the top dogs, are now living in the shadows of their neighbours and Erik Ten Hag is trying to set that right. Manchester United finished third in the Premier League and won the Carabao Cup, so it’s been a relatively successful campaign. But I see no reason (yet) to believe they will narrow the 14 point gap between them and the champions.
United need their ownership situation sorted out. Sheikh Jassim of Qatar is the front runner and he has just submitted a fifth bid, totalling around £5bn. And the loyal Red Devils fans hope that, whoever does take over, they will back Ten Hag to strengthen his hand.
But it will take time.
Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane celebrates after scoring against Leeds United
One area the club does need to strengthen is in attack, and United were hopeful of luring Spurs legend Harry Kane to the club after he scored 30 goals last season and has just 12 months left on his contract. The England skipper was said to favour a move to Old Trafford over signing for a European giant, but there has been little progress in recent days and the club may be about to turn their attention elsewhere, with Atalanta’s young striker Rasmus Hojlund on the radar.
There might be a couple of players on the way out of the Theatre of Dreams though, with misfit forward Jadon Sancho attracting interest at Tottenham. United want to recoup as much of the fee they paid out for Sancho as possible, and have valued him at £60m. And, after a torrid campaign, centre back Harry Maguire is also in Tottenham’s sights, though he is said to want to play for his place with United. Ten Hag needs competition for places and Maguire is worth a position in his squad, but the boss also needs to improve the levels at every position, either through recruitment or player improvement, and Maguire has recently reached his 30th birthday.
Chasing pack are already making moves
In other Premier League 2023 news Liverpool have strengthened in a key area as World Cup winner Alexis MacAllister has moved to Anfield from Brighton and Hove Albion for an initial fee of £35m. The Argentine was one of the stars of the Qatar World Cup and he will slot into a midfield in desperate need of reinforcement. The Reds missed out on a top four place and they will be in the market for two more midfield players, but the signing of MacAllister is an impressive start.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have already tied down impressive centre back William Saliba on a four year deal and head coach Mikel Arteta is looking to strengthen elsewhere. The Gunners finished second to Manchester City after leading the title race for much of the campaign and they really weren’t that far short. Now they need to thrive in Europe and cement their position as a top four club, as they were under Arsene Wenger.
West Ham United have said they will allow captain Declan Rice to leave in the summer and Arsenal are the front runners with the player said to be keen on a move to the Emirates. And the Gunners are also preparing an increased bid for Brighton star Moises Caicedo.
The top four race will be more competitive than ever next season, with Newcastle United and Chelsea owners both determined to see their teams at Europe’s top table, while Liverpool are on their way back and Arsenal are already strong. Manchester City will lead the way and the task for United is to keep pace with their neighbours and then maybe, just maybe, they will start to close the gap before too long.
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Premier League: The Players Who Won’t Stay at Their Relegated Clubs
Relegation out of the Premier League is bad enough, but one of the bi-products of falling through the trapdoor relegation is the inevitable circling of vultures from rivals ready to pick off the best players from your struggling club.
There’s very little clubs can do about it, particularly if their best stars want to leave, as wage bills need to be cut in normal circumstances. But it can be a time for optimism; just look how Burnley have been transformed, 12 months after relegation roaring back as record breaking second tier champions.
But after a nail-biting 90 minutes on the final day of the 2022/23 Premier League season, Leeds United and Leicester City took the drop alongside Southampton and all three now need to rebuild, without some familiar faces.
Leicester resigned to losing Maddison
At the turn of the year, the Premier League 2023 betting oddsstill reckoned Leicester City would survive, but the Foxes eventually proved that no side is too good to go down and now they are set to see an exodus of stars. Harvey Barnes will surely leave and Youri Tielemens has already been lined up by Aston Villa; but the highest profile loss will be of creative midfielder James Maddison.
He’s an enigmatic figure and can be infuriating to watch at time, but he seems to have settled down and, on his day, Maddison is poetry in motion. Last summer Newcastle United pursued the player enthusiastically and it looks like the north east could be his destination. The 26 year old is the Foxes’ biggest asset and he is currently away with England, where he has posted an Instagram picture of him playing pool with Magpies star Callum Wilson.
A coincidence maybe, but the speculation has reached new levels.
There are plenty of Leeds fans in theSBOTOP team and there were some glum faces when Brazilian ace Raphinha headed off to Barcelona last season. This summer they are bracing themselves for more departures and winger Jack Harrison has been watched by a number of top clubs. He made his fair share of Premier League 2023 highlightslast season and the 26 year old looks set to continue his career in the top flight, with West Ham United and Aston Villa both keen.
Harrison has been a standout performer for Leeds, with his pace and trickery and ability to score vital and often spectacular goals. He signed a new deal with the Elland Road club mid season and, while fans would love him to stay, all that really means is that Leeds will get a bigger price for Harrison as and when they sell.
Leeds United’s Jack Harrison reacts after missing a chance to score vs West Ham United
Another player set to leave Leeds is centre back Diego Llorente who spent the second half of the campaign on loan at Europa League finalists Roma. I Giallorossi are keen to buy the Spain international but are trying to knock down the asking price of £15m, but Llorente also signed a new deal with Leeds mid term and the Yorkshire club will hold out for a fair price so we’ll keep our eyes on that one.
Mr Southampton is too good for the Championship
James Ward-Prowse is a special player, with a world class dead ball delivery, and he’s been the main reason Southampton have stayed in the Premier League over the past four years but, this time, he couldn’t work the miracle. A host of clubs have been linked with Ward-Prowse, including top four candidates Newcastle United and Liverpool. West Ham United also have a keen interest in the England international, particularly as the Hammers are preparing to lose their captain Declan Rice in the summer. Ward-Prowse would cost a likely £40m which would turn West Ham a nice profit on the sale of Rice.
The newly promoted trio of Burnley, Sheffield United and Luton Town will all need to strengthen and Burnley, in particular, are working hard to get their signings in early. And one player the Clarets fans would love to see at Turf Moor next season is Saints forward Nathan Tella, who scored 19 goals on loan at Burnley last term.
He is on contract at St Mary’s until 2025 but the 23 year old is keen to reunite with Vincent Kompany and the Burnley team and, while the two clubs’ valuations are apart, negotiations have begun and there looks like a deal can be done. As Southampton need to bounce back quickly and Tella has proved himself in the Championship there is a case for the Saints trying to keep him; but that looks increasingly unlikely.
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Premier League: It’s Kompany vs Guardiola on Matchday One
The 2023/24 Premier League fixtures were announced at 9am on Thursday (UK time). And in the Northwest hotbed of football, there were woops of delight and astonishment as Vincent Kompany’s Burnley were pitched against European Champions Manchester City in the top-flight curtain-raiser.
The Sky Blues playing legend has already taken his young Burnley side to meet his old boss Pep in the FA Cup quarter-final last year, and they were duly dispatched by the treble winners as Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick.
Erling Haaland celebrates his hat-trick with Manchester City teammates against Burnley
Kompany spent 11 seasons at Manchester City, four of them under Guardiola. And as captain, he led them to four Premier League titles.
He is one of City’s all-time stars, and there is a statue of Kompany erected at the Etihad Stadium. But when the two teams meet on Friday 11th August, he will plan to make Turf Moor as hostile as possible.
The Belgian leader has said he expects Burnley away to be an unpleasant fixture for anyone, and this is a club which can punch above its weight. Burnley have a habit of beating Premier League champions on the opening day of the season, seeing off Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United 1-0 at Turf Moor in 2009, and then stunning 2017 champions Chelsea with a 3-2 victory at Stamford Bridge.
The SBOTOP stats team are always on the money when picking the teams to watch, and they have installed the Sky Blues as favourites to retain their title, while the Premier League 2023 betting odds suggest the Clarets should survive, but Kompany has set his sights higher.
His team stormed to the Championship title last term, playing a fluid and attacking style of football but with the steel he displayed as a commanding centre-back.
The Belgian ace will be determined to pick up some positive Premier League 2023 results early on, and there is no way he will dismiss this clash as a “free hit”. Whether his young team can cope with Haaland and co. remains to be seen, but this is a match not to be missed.
The other newcomers, Sheffield United and Luton Town, face Crystal Palace and Brighton and Hove Albion on the opening weekend. Play-off winners Luton’s trip to meet the Seagulls is their first top-flight game since 1992, and the Hatters fans will have a party on the South Coast for sure.
Chelsea vs Liverpool is the clash of Round One
While Manchester City have an intriguing challenge away to Burnley, the other 2024 Champions League qualifiers have home games on the opening weekend.
Runners-up Arsenal host Nottingham Forest on Saturday 12th before Aston Villa, who finished strongly in seventh, will take a trip to the Northeast to meet Newcastle United, and the weekend draws to a close when Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United host Wolverhampton Wanderers.
But the other eye-catching clash of the opening weekend pitches together the two underachievers of 2023, Chelsea, who remarkably finished 12th, and Liverpool, who made a late run to scramble up to fifth place.
These are two teams in transition.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool has aged since their title win in 2020, and the German head coach is trying to refresh his squad, particularly in midfield where the recruitment of World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister has been a good start to the Reds’ transfer window.
Mohamed Salah will lead the Liverpool attack again and, at 31 years of age, the Egyptian maestro is still a superbly lethal striker, while Klopp will hope to see Darwin Nunez make a bigger impact in his second season in the Premier League.
While there is a steady evolution going on at Liverpool, there has been something of a revolution at Stamford Bridge since the arrival of American businessman Todd Boehly.
The Blues’ owner has spent eye-watering amounts of money, and there has been some considerable bloodshed too, as he sacked Thomas Tuchel who led the team to Champions League glory only a year earlier.
Boehly appointed Graham Potter, but before the former Brighton man could make his mark, he too was bulleted and Frank Lampard was brought in as an interim manager and the season went from bad to worse.
The appointment of former Spurs head coach Mauricio Pochettino is a progressive move for the club and, providing Boehly gives him time, Poch should lead Chelsea to a successful domestic campaign with no European distractions.
If he can improve the performance of the expensive band of young recruits, including Mykhailo Mudryk and Enzo Fernandez, while inspiring the established players to reach former heights, Chelsea could well be a team worth watching.
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Premier League: Bournemouth Sack O’Neil After Survival Success!
We should never be surprised by the wild and whacky world of the Premier League, but this season’s managerial sack race has kicked off before the 2023/24 campaign has started.
The fixtures came out just last week and this morning the owners of Bournemouth Football Club have announced they have sacked manager Gary O’Neil after he led the Cherries to a 15th placed finish last term. That Bournemouth were never really in the relegation scrap and finished five points clear of the bottom three might be seen as a successful campaign, particularly as some big hitting teams, Leicester City, Leeds United and Southampton actually took the drop.
When this SBOTOP writer was taking a look at this morning’s Premier League 2023 news I picked out some decent transfer gossip, but then the bombshell of O’Neill’s dismissal landed to surprise us all. He took over from the sacked Scott Parker who, by the way, was potted after just 25 days into the season, and was given an 18 month deal in November. But just eight months on O’Neill is on his way with the club saying a new man will be in the hot seat pretty soon.
The former Middlesbrough player picked up 36 points from his 34 games in charge but, clearly that wasn’t enough for Bournemouth owner Bill Foley who said: “We have identified a number of significant targets in the transfer market. This change in direction will provide us with the best platform from which to build.”
I’m not entirely sure what he means by that, but it will be interesting to see who the trigger happy Cherries appoint next.
Bayern talk to Walker
Manchester City’s Kyle Walker celebrates after winning the Champions League
The early Premier League 2023 betting odds are already backing Manchester City to defend their title and boss Pep Guardiola will already be shaping his squad again for the next push and, while the champions will bring in some new blood, there may well be some high profile outgoings from the Etihad. With Ilkay Gundogan’s contract expiring and talk of a return to Borussia Dortmund, another Bundesliga giant is circling the Etihad as FC Bayern are reported to be in negotiations to sign right back Kyle Walker. The 33 year old has been with the Sky Blues since 2017, but Guardiola may well be happy to see him go if he can bring in a replacement, and his speed and all round experience would be huge assets to the Bavarians.
On the incomings, City are close to agreeing a deal to bring Chelsea’s box-to-box midfielder Mateo Kovacic to the club. The Croatia international is reported to have agreed terms and that move may happen sooner rather than later.
A rather more speculative idea is that Brazilian ace Neymar might fancy a stint in the Premier League and apparently former Barcelona boss Guardiola has called the unsettled PSG striker to discuss his options.
Arsenal are planning another assault on the league title and have been trying to sign West Ham skipper Declan Rice, but their opening offer of £80m plus add-ons is short of the Hammers’ valuation. West Ham boss David Moyes has said Rice can leave the club but at the right price, and that may be over £100m. And Arsenal are also short of the mark in their attempt to bring Chelsea forward Kai Havertz to the Emirates. The Blues are having a shake-up at Stamford Bridge and new boss Mauricio Pochettino is getting some control over the transfer dealings at the club. Havertz will be allowed to go but Arsenal’s first bid needs to increase. If Mikel Arteta wants his men then the board will back him after an impressive 2022/23 campaign.
Another Chelsea player likely to move on in the summer is Rice’s England team-mate and big friend Mason Mount. He was an integral part of Chelsea’s team under Thomas Tuchel, 12 months and three managers ago, but Pochettino is willing to let Mount go and Manchester United are at the front of the queue. The Red Devils are set to make an improved bid of £50m for the midfielder and that might be enough to tempt Chelsea owner Todd Boehly.
Manchester United are also rumored to be preparing an offer to bring England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford to Old Trafford, a move which is dividing opinion among United fans. Pickford has performed well for the Three Lions but has made mistakes as Everton stopper during two desperate survival campaigns.
Red Devils fans may be happier to stick with Golden Glove winner David de Gea but this story is well worth following.
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Premier League: Which of the New Boys Will Survive?
The 2023/24 Premier League fixtures are out and the fans of Burnley, Sheffield United, and Luton Town can look forward to clashes with the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal, and Liverpool.
The three promoted teams will approach the new campaign with optimism and, hopefully, realism as they are about to take part in the toughest league in the world.
It’s always a huge challenge for any promoted side to retain its top-flight status but, last season, all three of the new boys did it as Fulham, Bournemouth, and Nottingham Forest all avoided the drop.
So which, if any of the Clarets, Blades, and Hatters, will still be Premier League teams in 12 months’ time? My bet is just one.
Kompany’s Burnley will take on the big guns
The big news in SBOTOP’sopening fixtures analysis l last week was the clash between Vincent Kompany’s Clarets and his old friends at Manchester City. Burnley vs the Sky Blues is the curtain raiser on Friday 11th August, who’d have thought it?
There will be an electric atmosphere at Turf Moor as the second tier champions take on the Premier League kings, and if ever there was a time to take on City, the opening fixture is surely it.
Burnley won the Championship in some style, breaking the 100-point barrier and becoming the first team to be promoted with seven games still remaining. And Kompany has transformed the Clarets from being the toughest team in the English league to one of the most exciting.
Burnley’s Jordan Bayer in action during their match against Sheffield United
Flair players like Anass Zaroury, Manuel Benson, and Scott Twine were scintillating in the second tier and will get more protection from Premier League referees. And in Germany U21 skipper Jordan Beyer and Belgian international Ameen Al Dakhil, Burnley have a highly impressive centre-back pairing.
Kompany understands Burnley and has said he will ensure a trip to Turf Moor is the most unpleasant prospect for any visiting team, and the passionate Clarets fans will back him up. And owner Alan Pace will continue to support the Belgian coach in the market.
I predict Burnley to return to mid table in their seventh Premier League campaign in eight years.
Blades are a little too blunt
Sheffield United followed Burnley into the Premier League after an impressive campaign of which they spent the vast majority in second place.
Paul Heckingbottom’s team lost some momentum and, in the run in, it looked like Middlesbrough and then Luton Town might chase them down. But they held their nerve and were deserved runners-up to return to the top flight for a second chance after a two-year stint in 2020 and 2021.
The problem I can see is that Sheffield’s best players, other than loans, are the guys who were the stars of the Blades’s last Premier League experience.
Oliver Norwood, John Egan, Chris Basham, and Enda Stevens are all quality players. But somewhere between the top two leagues, Sander Berge is a sought-after talent, and the Blades may struggle to keep hold of their midfield ace.
Sheffield will try to make things awkward for the Premier League big guns, and they will have some successes in their Premier League 2023 results, but whether they have enough to survive remains to be seen.
Heckingbottom will have the likes of Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest, and maybe Burnley in his sights, but I suspect it will be a long, hard winter in South Yorkshire.
Luton will enjoy the ride
It’s great to see Luton Town back in the top-flight after an absence of over 30 years and less than a decade since the Hatters were a non-league outfit.
The pre-season Premier League 2023 betting odds don’t hold out much hope for Rob Edward’s side, but then neither did the Championship odds last season.
After being sacked by the basket case of a club Watford, Edwards was snapped up by Luton and he worked wonders moulding a well-drilled team that was hard to beat and dangerous on the break.
Record signing Carlton Morris, bought for a fee less than £2 million, led the line magnificently last term, and he is in the mould of an old-fashioned centre-forward, a handful for defenders and with a fierce shot.
But Luton will need a lot more than tight organisation and aggression, and it will be difficult for Edwards to tempt top young players to join his tight band of warriors.
Luton’s aim must be to stay in the fight as deep into the campaign as possible.
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Premier League: Can Gunners Edge Closer to Becoming the Real Deal?
If all the players linked with Arsenal in recent days end up at the Gunners next season, then they will have quite a team. Dare I say, they could even become the ‘real deal’ and a team capable of claiming the prize they so crave.
Because, for all their undoubted Premier League progress last term, at no point did I think they were ready to be crowned England’s top team.
Yes, if they could have maintained the consistency they displayed in the first half of the campaign, they may have been there or thereabouts. But I suspected their best chance of success would be because fixture congestion or a spate of injuries affected Manchester City – which, of course, didn’t materialise.
Yet if the likes of Kai Havertz – all but sealed – Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber end up in North London next term, Arsenal will be significantly stronger.
What’s more, Gabriel Jesus should start next season fresh and fit: William Saliba should return – a player whose loss to injury some pinpointed as the turning point in their league form – and the continued development of Bukayo Saka (for club and country) and Eddie Nketiah – a year older and wiser in the top flight – should all make Mikel Arteta’s men that bit more durable.
Arsenal are prepared to make room for new incomings by selling Granit Xhaka, who has an offer from Bayer Leverkusen, and Thomas Partey. There is reported interest in Partey from Saudi Arabia and Juventus, although he would prefer to stay in Europe.
Interestingly Havertz appears to be lined up for a different role for the Gunners than at Chelsea where he spent most of last season playing as number nine.
Chelsea’s Kai Havertz in action with Manchester United’s Luke Shaw during a Premier League game at the Old Trafford
The exciting German talent actually arrived from Leverkusen for an initial club record fee of £72 million in August 2020 and with the reputation as one of the most exciting young prospects in Europe.
Manager Arteta appears every bit as beguiled by Havertz’s tantalising talent as Chelsea’s then-owner Roman Abramovich and they have moved quickly since formalising their interest once the transfer window officially opened.
Indeed, he is moving from west London to north London in a deal worth around £65million, approximately the same as the initial price Chelsea paid to acquire him three years ago.
There were flashes of his talents at Chelsea, of course, but, in general, he underwhelmed, in large part from being deployed as a central striker, which is not his preferred position.
While we wait to see a potentially exciting vision of his fit within Arteta’s dynamic system, it’s easier to see where Rice would figure should he be snapped up from east London, in this case West Ham.
Arsenal will want to get any deal sewn up with reports that champions City are showing an increased interest.
Rice is said to prefer to stay in London and be close to his family. He also knows that he would be a regular starter at Arsenal, whereas the competition for places at City would be much fiercer.
Either way, he looks set to become the second most expensive Englishman ever after Jack Grealish with the Hammers seemingly wanting at least £90 million.
Then there’s Timber. The 22-year-old Dutch defender may well have ended up at Manchester United last summer but wanted guaranteed football with the World Cup on the horizon.
The outlook is very different now with Qatar been and gone and Ajax coming off the back of a miserable campaign.
Certainly he, or RB Leipzig’s Mo Simakan, another player linked with a move to North London, would reinforce a backline that struggled in April during Saliba’s absence, conceding 11 goals in four games against Liverpool, West Ham, Southampton and City as the team fell away in the title race.
In January, I remember covering Arsenal’s last-gasp victory over Man Utd and, while I was impressed, thought the reaction at full-time, rather than a combination of elation and relief, was so over the top it suggested they had taken a giant leap towards the title. At that point, the campaign was barely halfway.
My view held sway.
If they sign the three aforementioned, however, my view will change and their SBOTOP Premier League betting odds will look a lot more attractive.
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Premier League: How will Manchester United Line up in August?
With no men’s World Cup or Euros this summer the 2023/24 Premier League season is under the spotlight in the UK, as England’s biggest clubs all try to strengthen their hand, with a title push the chief ambition.
Manchester United is one of the main challengers to Manchester City’s dominance and the early Premier League 2023 betting oddsplace United in fourth place, but the former kings of England and Europe are currently off the pace and have some serious strengthening to do in the close season.
But it won’t be easy.
Erik Ten Hag’s task is to bring the Red Devils out of the shadow of the Sky Blues, and sooner rather than later. But the club is in a state of limbo at the moment, waiting for a takeover deal to be completed and, until then, funds will be carefully used. The proposed takeover of Manchester United has dominated the Premier League 2023 newson the red side of Manchester. Neither of the two main bidders Sheikh Jassim or Qatar and Jim Radcliffe if Ineos are near to taking the reigns at Old Trafford and, here at SBOTOP, we’ll continue to watch this story, though we don’t expect a new owner to be in place before the campaign begins, and that means incomings will be covered by outgoings.
Harry Maguire, Scott McTominay, Fred, Anthony Martial, Eric Bailly and Alex Telles all seem likely to leave for pastures news, though no exits have yet been confirmed.
Manchester United want Mason Mount as he’s showing strong desire to join
The Red Devils are currently pursuing Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount and, while two offers have been rebuffed so far it seems the two parties are not so far apart and a deal can be done. Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo is on the radar as a possible alternative but I suspect Mount will become a Red at a cost of around £65m. That would take up a big chunk of United’s war chest; but Ten Hag also desperately needs to bring in a striker.
Spurs talisman Harry Kane looks like he might finally be heading away from North London, but it seems that The Red Devils’ interest has cooled and they may be looking for a younger model to continue the Ten Hag evolution. Eintracht Frankfurt’s rising star Randal Kolo Muani would fit the brief but he may be too expensive, so Atalanta’s 20-year-old star Rasmus Hojlund could be the man. The United boss is a fan of the Danish star who has scored six goals in six games for his nation and would be able to link up with countryman Christian Eriksen at Old Trafford.
Hojlund could play alongside Marcus Rashford in attack with exciting young left winger Alejandro Garnacho set to play a bigger role this season. There may well be more movement in the market and, particularly up front, there is plenty of uncertainty. With Martial on the way and Burnley forward Wout Weghorst unlikely to renew his loan in Manchester, there is a gap. Brazil striker Antony will probably push on and there may even be a return for disgraced star Mason Greenwood, but I think some new blood will start the campaign up front.
Brazil ace Casemiro is a shoe-in to sit in the centre of midfield and the back five too looks settled. David de Gea isn’t totally certain to be at the club in August and is yet to sign a new contract, with Manchester United reported to be interested in Everton and England stopper Jordan Pickford. That would seem an odd move to me. Pickford always performs well for the Three Lions but his form for Everton has often come under scrutiny, while De Gea won the 2022/23 Premier League Golden Glove, which is some achievement up against the likes of Ederson, Allison and Nick Pope.
Even if Maguire stays at Old Trafford I can’t see him dislodging the centre back pairing of Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez. Former Real Madrid star Varane is a Rolls Royce of a defender while Martinez has become a fans favourite with his high octane, ‘in your face’ defending. While neither wingback are particularly impressive going forward, United have gifted wingers and Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Luke Shaw both improved defensively as the 2022/23 season went on.
After finishing third in the Premier League last season, there’s a sense of optimism at Old Trafford, but that will all go for naught if Manchester United do not improve their roster this summer.
Meanwhile, their biggest rivals, Manchester City, just keep getting better and better, even if they just won the treble last season, while teams such as Arsenal, Chelsea, and Newcastle United are looking to boost their Premier League 2023 odds next season with moves of their own.
Learn more about the latest SBOTOP Premier League 2023 updates by continuing reading below.
United turn to other targets after talks reach impasse
Manchester United are looking to avoid the same mistake they made last summer when they waited too long to go to Plan B after Plan A failed.
Last year, the Red Devils went hard for Frenkie de Jong, who made it clear at the time that he wouldn’t leave for Barcelona. Talks dragged on, especially when Barcelona’s complicated financial situation was brought up, but Manchester United ultimately missed out on him.
This time, getting a top striker is their main priority, while they’re also looking at acquiring another centre-back, midfielder, and goalkeeper.
It’s unlikely that they’ll get Harry Kane now because of Daniel Levy’s stubbornness, while Chelsea are holding out on Mason Mount, and David de Gea has yet to sign a new deal.
Chelsea’s Mason Mount looks dejected after the Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur
Manchester United’s third bid, worth £55 million, for Mount was rejected by Chelsea. Mount wants to move to Old Trafford, but the Red Devils may be forced to look elsewhere for now, with the likes of Adrien Rabiot and Moises Caicedo next on their list.
Randal Kolo Muani was offered to Manchester United, but they are unwilling to pay Eintracht Frankfurt’s asking price of at least £86 million. While they’re officially holding talks with Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, they’re also looking at Atalanta’s Rasmus Hojlund.
Andre Onana is being eyed to become the team’s new No. 1, given that David de Gea has yet to sign a new contract. Onana had worked with Erik ten Hag before at Ajax, although he has been an enigma these past few years.
Because they adhere to the FFP rules (unlike certain teams, it seems), Manchester United are also trying to raise funds, and they’re reportedly willing to listen to offers for up to 13 of their current players, namely Harry Maguire, Scott McTominay, Anthony Martial, and Jadon Sancho.
City not resting on their laurels
Manchester City fans were sad to see Ilkay Gundogan go on a free transfer, but they’re still in great shape, given their progress so far this summer.
Declan Rice is expected to leave West Ham United this summer, but the Hammers have put a huge price tag on the midfielder. Arsenal were the first team to try and sign Rice, but West Ham United rejected the Gunners’ two bids.
The former West Ham United captain is seen as the perfect replacement for Gundogan, so they sent out a bid worth £80 million plus £10 million in add-ons.
Josko Gvardiol is also expected to leave the Bundesliga this summer. The towering Croatian burst onto the scene in the 2022 World Cup, and RB Leipzig want at least €100 million for him. Gvardiol has a release clause in excess of €110 million that can be triggered next summer.
The Sky Blues are looking to strengthen their defence, as they’re expected to sell Aymeric Laporte this summer. Chelsea are reportedly keeping tabs on the out-of-favour Manchester City centre-back.
The Manchester-based clubs are not the only ones making headlines, as Arsenal, Chelsea, and Newcastle United have done their bit as well.
Arsenal’s bid for Rice has been rejected, and it would be a huge blow for them if they lose him to Manchester City. But they’ve managed to bolster their frontline with the addition of Kai Havertz, and they’re in advanced talks with Jurrien Timber.
Chelsea, who sold Hakim Ziyech, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Edouard Mendy to Saudi Pro League teams, have confirmed Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson, and Kendry Paez as their newest signings.
But there remains uncertainty over a host of their players, such as Mason Mount, Trevoh Chalobah, Conor Gallagher, Cesar Azpilicueta, Christian Pulisic, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Romelu Lukaku.
And last but not least, Newcastle United signed Sandro Tonali on a £60 million deal, who’s coming off a solid campaign for AC Milan.
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The Premier League transfer window is well and truly open and, with many player contracts expiring on 30th June, the off field action is about to heat up.
The Premier League 2023 news has been full of speculation over the future of the likes of Harry Kane and Declan Rice, but there have already been some big moves among the top flight clubs and here are five of the most eye-catching deals.
Kai Havertz: Chelsea to Arsenal
The player exodus from Chelsea has come as no surprise as the 2022/23 spending spree at Stamford Bridge left a glut of players who have now become surplus to requirements and, with new head coach Mauricio Pochettino looking to get his squad together, there was bound to be a rush through the exit door. But Chelsea’s loss could easily become Arsenal’s game as Kai Havertz has swapped West London for North London.
The German attacking midfielder arrived at Chelsea with high hopes after a sparkling career at Bayer Leverkusen but, despite scoring the winning goal in the 2021 Champions League final, his stay at Chelsea has not met his or the club’s expectations. Arsenal were sensational last term and the upwardly mobile player, still only 24, could be the perfect fit for the Gunners.
James Maddison: Leicester City to Tottenham Hotspur
James Maddison in action during Leicester City’s match
Even when Leicester City were in the Premier League they struggled to keep hold of creative midfielder James Maddison as, particularly Newcastle United, top end clubs were circling. He’s an enigmatic player in many ways, a brilliant dribbler and a world class dead ball expert. But his form sometimes drifts and he has struggled to break into the England team.
This could be an exciting signing for Tottenham as the North London club tries to break into the top four but could Maddison turn out to be a little too Spursy?
Christopher Nkunku: Red Bull Leipzig to Chelsea
With 18 players already through the Stamford Bridge exit there is some room for the Blues to invest and the signing of Nkunku could turn out to be a masterstroke. The France forward has been one of the best players in the Bundesliga over the past two campaigns and, while £52m is a lot of money, he is one hot property in European football.
Nkunku has scored 47 goals in 119 games for Leipzig and was lined up to play for France at Qatar 2022, but an injury in training kept him out; and Les Bleus could have done with his livewire play as they fell short in the final, losing to Argentina. The latest Premier League 2023 betting odds reckon the Blues will struggle to break into the top four next season but, without the distraction of European football and the recruitment of Mauricio Pochettino as head coach, they are sure to have a much better season than last year.
Nkunku could be one of the most talked about players in England 12 months from now.
The move of Alexis MacAllister from the Seagulls to Liverpool made the headlines but today I’m focussing on the utility player who went the other way. James Milner has been one of the most consistent players at the top end of the Premier League over the last decade and he’ll be a real asset to the upwardly mobile Seagulls.
Awarded an MBE for his services, Milner has served Manchester City and Liverpool with distinction over the past decade and his versatility and experience will be invaluable in Brighton’s first campaign in Europe. He can play at full back or in midfield and his fitness levels are second to none, and Milner adds the elite touch to Brighton’s talented bunch of players.
Jordan Beyer: Borussia Monchengladbach to Burnley
This is one transfer which may have gone under the radar, but not for this SBOTOP
writer as the Clarets have made permanent the Germany U21 captain’s move, after he excelled while on loan at Turf Moor last season. Beyer is a cultured player, nicknamed ‘Beckenbeyer’ by the Burnley faithful in homage to the great German sweeper from the 1970s.
He’s a well organised defender, strong in the tackle and with a good range of passing, but his runs from his own penalty area deep into opposition territory will get fans off their seats in the coming campaign. Borussia Monchengladbach were obliged to sell Beyer to Burnley as he had a clause in his deal in the event of the Clarets winning promotion.
Burnley boss Vincent Kompany had no hesitation… but Monchengladbach must be kicking themselves.
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With the 2022/23 Premier League season still fresh in the memory fans up and down the country are counting down the days until the new season starts.
The players are back in training and, with no major international responsibilities, there are some pretty tasty friendlies in the schedule as the league’s biggest clubs take their game around the world. Much of the current Premier League 2023 news concentrates on the transfer activity and some stars will be settling in with new clubs.
So let’s take a look at four eye-catching matches set to take place this month.
22nd July: Arsenal vs Manchester United at the MetLife Stadium, USA
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal came so close to glory last season, finishing runners up to Manchester City after leading the table for much of the campaign and the Gunners will hope to kick on again this season. Manchester United too made progress under Erik Ten Hag. The Red Devils won the Carabao Cup and reached the final of the FA Cup, while earning a Champions League place with a top four finish.
Both teams will hope to push Manchester City hard in 2023/24 and are looking for players who can improve their first elevens. Arsenal have already made a move, signing Kai Havertz from Chelsea and travelling fans will be able to see the German forward in action. The Red Devils have plenty of support in the United States and the MetLife Stadium will be full of expectation to see two of the Premier League’s most exciting teams.
23rd July: Leicester City vs Tottenham Hotspur at the Rajamangala Stadium, Thailand
Former Leicester City midfielder James Maddison in action against Newcastle United
So Leicester City, the 2016 Premier League Champions and 2021 FA Cup winners, are now a second tier club after suffering relegation last season. And when they face Spurs in Thailand they may well come up against their former star James Maddison who has arrived at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a £40m deal. Vincenzo Maresca, one of Pep Guardiola’s assistant coaches at Manchester City has taken the reigns at Leicester and will be hopeful of taking the Foxes straight back to the Premier League. But the Championship is a hard league to get out of, with 46 games to play, and Maresca will try to get his squad settled in good time.
Spurs have a new boss too, with Ange Postecoglou heading to London after two successful campaigns as Celtic boss and the jury is out as to whether he can make the leap into the best league in the world. The new Tottenham manager may have to start the campaign without talisman Harry Kane who is subject to much transfer speculation with Bayern Munich at the head of the queue for the England striker’s signature.
26th July: Bayern Munich vs Manchester City at the Japan National Stadium
The SBOTOP stats team is working hard on the Premier League 2023 betting odds but there is little doubt that Manchester City will start the next campaign as favourites. And as part of the Sky Blues’ pre-season preparations they have this blockbuster clash against the German champions to test their sharpness. Having won the treble in 2023, Pep Guardiola’s side are searching for more success and, if Erling Braut Haaland continues to progress they could be unstoppable. The former Borussia Dortmund striker will welcome the chance to face his old Klassiker foes and get scoring again.
Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel got the better of the Sky Blues when he was manager of Chelsea, notably at the 2021 Champions League final, but the Bavarians struggled to win the 2023 Bundesliga title, pipping BVB at the post on a dramatic final day and Tuchel has some serious work to do in the transfer market.
27th July: Chelsea vs Newcastle United at the Mercedez Benz Stadium USA
There’s more entertainment in store for fans in the USA when Todd Boehly’s Chelsea take on Saudi owned Newcastle United in Atlanta, Georgia. Blues fans may have a chance to see new signing Christopher Nkunku who has joined the Londoners in a £52m move from Red Bull Leipzig. New boss Mauricio Pochettino may not have long to mould his squad and pre-season is vital for Chelsea, who will have a difficult job to fight their way into the top six.
Eddie Howe’s Newcastle did just that last season and they will play in the Champions League next term, with a chance to meet the likes of Real Madrid, FC Bayern and Napoli. This will be a fascinating friendly between a club which has tasted much success over the past two decades and one which is desperate to join the world’s elite. Newcastle won’t be slow to spend over the summer and Magpies fans might see some new faces too.
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Dominik Szoboszlai had completed his move from Leipzig to Liverpool as Jurgen Klopp’s midfield overhaul gathers pace. And the 22 year old Hungarian will wear the number eight shirt made famous by Reds Legend Steven Gerrard.
The Premier League transfer market is as lively as ever with some pretty chunky deals already over the line. Kai Havertz to Arsenal and Christopher Nkunku to Chelsea have been the biggest stories so far, and there are plenty more bubbling. And with Szoboszlai arriving at Anfield this weekend the focus has turned to the Northwest, where Manchester United are active in the market too as the big teams prepare for pre-season.
The Premier League 2023 news on Sunday was dominated by the transfer of Szoboszlai from Red Bull Leipzig to the Reds of Merseyside in a £60m deal with a five year contract, and it’s another marquee signing for Klopp after he secured the services of World Cup winner Alexis MacAllister at the start of the window. The Liverpool boss disrupted his family holiday to speak to Szoboszlai and he successfully beat off competition from Newcastle United as the player completed his medical over the weekend.
Once Szoboszlai had spoken to his new boss he had no hesitation, and Liverpool triggered the player’s £60m release clause on Friday. The new recruit is a multi-functional midfielder who can play in a number of roles, but he revels in a more advanced role where he has scored 12 goals in 62 games for Leipzig and seven in 32 games for his country. Liverpool briefly considered making a move for Mason Mount, but they see their new man as a more flexible option with greater potential, so Manchester United have been left alone to continue their own midfield evolution.
Tchouameni to Old Trafford?
The Red Devils have agreed a deal to bring Mount to the Theatre of Dreams at a cost on £55m on a five year contract as the 24 year old is set to become’s Erik Ten Hag’s first signing of the summer. And the Dutch boss is determined to add further numbers to strengthen in midfield. Old Trafford negotiators are due to fly to Madrid to speak to the representatives of Los Blancos’ defensive midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni who is due to leave the Spanish capital in the summer, just one year after his arrival from Monaco in an eye watering £80m switch.
France and Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni during training ahead of the Euro 2024 qualifiers
The France star is keen to leave Spain and has been impressed by United’s ‘special willingness to welcome him into their ranks’ and if he does make the move he will join another former Real Madrid star Casemiro, who made the same switch in summer 2022.
Ironically, Tchouameni was signed by Real Madrid as a natural replacement for Casemiro, but the player most likely to make way in Manchester is Fred. The 30 year old Brazil star has blown hot and cold during his five years with the Red Devils and Fulham, who have recently announced SBOTOP as their principal partners, are at the front of the queue to sign Fred.
Sky Blues home in on Gvardiol
Over on the Blue side of Manchester the 2023 treble winners look set to smash the transfer record for a defender as they inch closer to the signing of Red Bull Leipzig centre back Josko Gvardiol in a £86m deal. The Croatian star caught the eye at the World Cup in Qatar with a series of commanding performances and he has been a powerful figure at the heart of the Leipzig defence.
At 21 years of age Gvardiol looks set to become one of the star defenders of the next decade and he is sure to pick up medals if he makes the move for the Etihad. The pre- season Premier League 2023 betting odds back the Sky Blues to make it four titles in a row and Pep Guardiola’s side will start as favourites in the Champions League and the FA Cup too. The deal is expected to go through this week with Gvardiol’s people insisting he wants to move to Manchester and centre back is a position that Guardiola has prioritised. The fee makes it more than the £85m Manchester United paid for Harry Maguire in 2019, which, in turn eclipsed the amount changing hands when Virgil Van Dijk moved to Liverpool.
I’m sure Maguire will be a little relieved when he loses the tag of the ‘world’s most expensive defender’ as his stay at Old Trafford has been rather uncomfortable at times. I think United were impressed by his performances at the 2018 World Cup but his highlights tended to be in attack where he made some surging runs and towering headers. The Red Devils wanted a defender and Maguire has become renowned more for his errors than his defensive capability, notably in the club’s 3-0 defeat to Sevilla in the Europa League.
The 30 year old made only 16 appearances last season and is way behind Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez in the pecking order, and manager Ten Hag says he has a decision to make.
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Premier League: Aleksandar Mitrovic, Fulham’s Cult Hero
Fulham’s first season back in the Premier League was a rousing success, as they finished within the Top 10. At one point, they were within striking distance of a spot in Europe, which just goes to show how good they were.
And a huge reason why was Aleksandar Mitrovic, who was undoubtedly one of the team’s best players. The Serbian international was the only double-digit scorer for the Cottagers last season, registering 15 goals, making him a regular in the Premier League 2023 highlights reel.
With Mitrovic leading the way, Fulham have emerged as one of the teams to watch out for, as they have the capability to punch above their weight and defy the Premier League 2023 odds once again.
It’s an exciting time to be a Fulham fan, so today, allow SBOTOP to chronicle Aleksandar Mitrovic’s journey to Craven Cottage.
Life before Fulham and with the Serbian national team
Aleksandar Mitrovic already has a ton of football experience despite being only 28 years old because he started playing the beautiful game at such a young age.
At 11 years old, Mitrovic started his football journey with Partizan. He spent six years there before moving to Teleoptik on loan, eventually helping them win the Serbian SuperLiga in his first season.
Mitrovic then moved on to Anderlecht, where he scored 44 goals in 90 matches across all competitions in two seasons. Just like at Teleoptik, he won the Belgian Pro League title in his first campaign and then followed it up with the Golden Boot award in his second season.
At the age of 18, Mitrovic was listed as one of the Top 10 young talents under the age of 19 in Europe. He helped Serbia win the 2013 European U-19 Championship and was voted the best player of the competition.
A few months after that, he played his first match for the senior national team, and the rest is history. He has earned 80 caps, representing Serbia at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, and he’s also the nation’s all-time leading goal scorer with 52 and counting.
When he moved to Newcastle United in 2015, Mitrovic played three seasons for the Magpies, recording 14 goals in 65 appearances as well as winning the Championship in 2016-17.
In his final season at St. James Park, he was loaned to Fulham, eventually signing permanently on a five-year deal after a successful loan stint.
Bringing back Fulham to the Premier League
Fulham manager Marco Silva celebrates after the Premier League match against Nottingham Forest
When Fulham were relegated to the Championship in the 2021-22 season, Mitrovic didn’t run away from the grind. Instead of leaving for another team, he signed a new extension that will last until the summer of 2026.
Mitrovic was on a mission to bring the Cottagers back to the Premier League. His hat-trick in their 3-1 home win over Swansea City set the tone for the rest of the season, as he finished with a staggering 43 league goals, breaking the record for most goals in a Championship campaign.
Fulham won the Championship despite a late wobble when they ended their campaign with two losses in their last three games.
Mitrovic was voted EFL Championship Player of the Season and was also named to the Team of the Season, alongside teammates Antonee Robinson, Harry Wilson, and Tosin Adarabioyo.
Mitrovic is Fulham through and through
Mitrovic started the 2022-23 season with a bang, recording a brace in the 2-2 home draw against Liverpool. He continued his scoring binge until he was dinged up by injuries before the World Cup break.
He regained his rhythm following the World Cup break, but his campaign ended prematurely when he was slapped with an eight-game ban during Fulham’s FA Cup quarter-final match against Manchester United in March.
The Serbian striker was sent off after arguing and making contact with the referee following a handball decision that also saw Willian and manager Marco Silva sent off.
With Mitrovic unavailable, Fulham were never the same as they limped towards the end of the campaign, failing to win in their final two league matches against Crystal Palace and Manchester United.
Despite this, Mitrovic’s stock has never been higher because he is one of the most underrated strikers today. Since he’s in his prime, rival clubs are keeping tabs on him, particularly Chelsea and Manchester United.
But as he has proven time and time again, his affinity for Fulham goes deep. With a few more years left on his current contract, Mitrovic will aim to make the most of his time at Craven Cottage, and he has the “it” factor to lead them to new heights.
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Chelsea Soap Opera is Tailor-made for Premier League
There’s over a month until the daily soap opera that is the Premier League returns in earnest for the 2023-24 campaign.
That leaves you with plenty of time to assess the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds on who will win the title (no surprise on who are overwhelming favourites) and who are going to be facing an uphill battle to beat the drop (again, some, if not all, of the new boys may well be up against it).
Yet despite the hecticness of the world’s most watched football league, as far as ins and outs are concerned, it’s been a case of little and often at most clubs during the first month of the transfer window.
Liverpool are the exception to the rule, forking out almost £100 million on two midfielders, Alexis Mac Allister and the Hungary captain Dominik Szoboszlai.
They will soon be joined by a host of others, though, one suspects.
Kai Havertz looks on during Chelsea’s game against Liverpool in the Premier League
With Jurrien Timber said to be on the verge of a move to North London from Ajax, the Gunners may well have far more substance next term and are more likely to embark on a sustained title challenge.
Their arch rivals Spurs have also strengthened by bringing in James Maddison from relegated Leicester, a player who has clear talent but, to me, went missing too often last season when the Foxes needed him.
Newcastle, preparing for their first Champions League campaign in 20 years. have also opted for dynamic midfield talent by bringing in Sandro Tonali from AC Milan.
And then there’s Manchester United who refused to cave to knockbacks and held firm in recruiting Mason Mount from Stamford Bridge.
Of course, all of those clubs just mentioned are bound to strengthen further during the close season but it is Chelsea where the main activity has been played out – just not as you’d expect.
Because, as well as selling Havertz and Mount, five other players have headed out the door in recent weeks with the new-found attraction of the Saudi Arabian Pro league proving a welcome option for a club with a bloated squad which needs slimming down.
Mateo Kovacic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, César Azpilicueta, Kalidou Koulibaly, Édouard Mendy and N’Golo Kanté have all departed – the latter three to the Middle East – and they would have been joined there by Hakim Ziyech had his £8m move to Al-Nassr not collapsed after a knee problem was flagged up during the winger’s medical.
In addition, Christian Pulisic is poised to leave for Milan, with final details being discussed about an £18.8 million transfer for the winger.
Subject to a medical, the American will follow Loftus-Cheek in moving from Stamford Bridge to the Serie A club this summer.
While some Chelsea supporters will be, quite rightly, disappointed and angered that some young home-grown talent, tipped to be long-term fixtures in the west end of London, has been allowed to depart, they can console themselves with arrivals of others with the potential to bring Premier League highlights.
France forward Christopher Nkunku, the Bundesliga player of the season 12 months ago, has arrived from RB Leipzig, as has the 20 year-old right-back, Malo Gusto, from Lyon and Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal.
The striker has joined for around £32m and signed an eight-year deal.
Their new manager Mauricio Pochettino knows there has been a sea change at the club over the last 12 months since the consortium of American Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali arrived on the scene.
Chelsea finished 12th in the Premier League last term, missing out on European qualification for the first time since 2016 and, were Pochettino so inclined, he could make the case for needing time and patience, although would be unlikely to receive it.
After the mass exodus in recent weeks, he can also count on only a handful of players over the age of 24. The identity of the group – or the lack of one – is among the many issues he faces.
It can end in glorious success or glorious failure – or perhaps not so glorious – and that story will be fascinating as it develops; just one of many as the Premier League edges ever closer to a return.
It’s Britain’s biggest soap opera with so many strands.
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Barely a month since the transfer window opened, which signing has caught your eye and who is most likely to produce a plethora of Premier League highlights?
There’s a fair few to look at so far – and more will inevitably follow – so fans will naturally be intrigued to see how they fare.
Yet the one that excites me is no stranger to the Premier League.
He has developed into a real talent and, after being at his boyhood club since the age of six, it was a wrench for him to leave them and for them to lose him.
His versatility is also a strength and, given Bruno Fernandes played around 70 games for club and country last term, the need for another influential creative player of this stature at Old Trafford was clear.
Capable of operating in an attacking role at number 10, or in from the right or left, he occasionally operated as a false nine for the Blues.
He will be an option in a front three behind a central striker, but with Fernandes, Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Christian Eriksen, Ten Hag is hardly short of players in that role. Marcus Rashford is another who could play in that three, particularly if Manchester United sign a striker this summer.
Mount does not seem to have stopped smiling during his first week at the club, although he obviously will be judged on what he does on the pitch rather than how positively he talks away from it.
That bodes potentially well and, while performances in pre-season will not dictate the success of his signing, friendlies over the next month could well indicate how he’ll be used and who he will be ahead of in the pecking order.
The view that he appears to be a very good acquisition for United has also been described as part of a masterplan for his former team – they may deem it a triumph of negotiating – although that is doubtful given the club did not want to sell him.
Letting Ruben Loftus-Cheek join AC Milan was understandable; Chelsea can lament what might have been if a huge talent had stayed fit but, at 27, he had only made 155 appearances for them.
But Mount was different: Chelsea’s player of the year in two of the last three campaigns and a footballer who looked among the best suited of their squad to new manager Mauricio Pochettino’s requirements.
Many felt he should have been a Stamford Bridge lifer; maybe a future captain, possibly ending up with 500 or 600 appearances to his name.
Over the last year the soap opera of Chelsea has seen them contrived to hire three managers and 18 players – plus bidding for dozens of others – and given several of their existing squad new deals without managing to extend Mount’s contract.
It should have been one of the top priorities for the new regime; it did not feel that way and, while Chelsea can claim they had to sell the midfielder to prevent him from leaving on a free transfer, it has the air of a situation they created themselves. His sale was an indictment of their powerbrokers.
How United will line-up in August when the Premier League season begins is anyone’s guess, but their SBOTOP Premier League betting odds will only be enhanced by the arrival of such a talent.
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Premier League: It’s Going to be a Grind for Fulham
After finishing 10th in the Premier League last season, Fulham will aim higher in the 2023-24 campaign, with the best-case scenario being a return to European football.
The Premier League 2023 odds don’t like their chances of making it there, especially with rumours about their stars leaving the club soon. But every season is a new slate for all 20 teams, and as the saying goes, anything is possible in football.
The Cottagers will be hoping for a great start to their second foray in the English top-flight, with Everton as their first league opponent on August 12.
Our SBOTOP team has skimmed through their Premier League schedule, and here’s our list of some of the top fixtures to look forward to in the 2023-24 campaign.
Fulham vs Brentford, August 19
West London rivals Fulham and Brentford gave us a lot of Premier League 2023 highlights last season, and football fans from both sides are hoping for more when they meet on August 19 during the second matchday.
Both meetings yielded a 3-2 result, with Fulham winning the first one at Craven Cottage and Brentford winning the next one at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Bobby Reid scored the fastest Premier League goal in Fulham history before Joao Palhinha added another one to give the Cottagers a 2-0 lead in the first meeting before Christian Norgaard and Ivan Toney drew level after 71 minutes. But Aleksandar Mitrovic saved the day when he scored in the last minute.
Not to be outdone, Ethan Pinnock also set the record for the fastest Premier League goal for Brentford when he scored the first goal (5:37) in their reverse fixture last March. Ivan Toney and Mathias Jensen also scored for Brentford, while Manor Solomon and Carlos Vinicius scored goals for Fulham.
Brentford actually finished one spot above Fulham in the 2022-23 standings, which just goes to show how evenly matched they are.
Chelsea are another West London nemesis that Fulham are going to face this upcoming season.
Their first league meeting in January was Joao Felix’s Chelsea debut, and it was a night to forget for him because he was sent off with a red card for his reckless challenge on Kenny Tete.
The numerical disadvantage proved to be too much for the Blues, as Fulham secured a 2-1 win, their first victory against Chelsea since 2006. Willian managed to score against his old club, and Carlos Vinicius ended his goal drought, while Kalidou Koulibaly scored the consolation goal for Chelsea.
These two teams would meet again in February, which ended in a goalless draw. Fulham maintained their impressive away form as they frustrated Chelsea with their defencive display.
The February game also featured the Chelsea debuts of Enzo Fernandez, Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke, Wesley Fofana, and Benoit Badiashile, their haul during the January transfer window.
Chelsea actually finished two spots lower than Fulham in 2022-23, which is embarrassing on the Blues’ part. Fulham supporters share the same hope that Marco Silva’s men will finish above them yet again in 2023-24 just to stick it to them.
Fulham vs Manchester United, November 4
Fulham are seeking revenge against Manchester United, and they’ll get their first chance when they host them on November 4 at Craven Cottage.
There will be no love lost for these two sides, especially for Fulham fans, as they saw their team lose each of their three meetings last term.
Their first encounter was at Craven Cottage in November, the last league game before the World Cup break. The Red Devils had the early lead when Christian Eriksen scored his first goal for them, but former Manchester United man Daniel James answered back in the second half.
The match was supposed to end in a 1-1 draw until Alejandro Garnacho came off the bench and scored the stoppage-time winner through Eriksen’s pass.
These two teams met again in the FA Cup quarter-finals in another pulsating encounter.
Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic before their Premier League match versus Wolverhampton Wanderers
Fulham were in control when Mitrovic gave them a 1-0 lead, but it was erased when he was sent off along with Willian and head coach Marco Silva.
Down to nine men, Manchester United eventually won the game 3-1 because of Bruno Fernandes’ brace and Marcel Sabitzer’s goal in the 77th minute.
Mitrovic was given an eight-match ban for his unsportsmanlike behaviour in the said match, which severely compromised the Cottagers. And that was evident in their 2-1 defeat during the final matchday.
Hopefully for Fulham, cooler heads will prevail this time because they need all hands on deck.
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It’s hardly been the best kept secret in the Premier League this summer, but the saga of Declan Rice’s move from West Ham United to Arsenal has now reached its natural conclusion.
There’s something about these Claret and Blue clubs producing megastars…watch out for Burnley next!
The deal blows the £72m Arsenal paid Lille for Nicolas Pepe out of the water and it makes Mikel Arteta’s team an even better prospect to challenge Manchester City for the 2023/24 title. The signing comes on the back of Arsenal’s capture of Chelsea striker Kai Havertz and there is little doubt that Rice will have a glittering career at the Emirates where he has signed a long term contract.
Arsenal beat off competition from Manchester City for Rice’s signature. The Sky Blues offered £90m for the player before pulling out of the race last week; and he will fit straight into a defensive midfield role at Arsenal, which he performed to a brilliant standard at Euro 2021 and the 2022 World Cup where he was one of England’s first names on the team-sheet. He has been capped 43 times by the Three Lions and has scored 15 goals in 245 games for the Hammers scored…and Rice is till only 24 year old. Much like England team-mate Mason Mount, who has made the move from Chelsea to Manchester United, Rice is ready for a new challenge.
At 6ft 1in the now ex-Hammer is known for his tackling, speed and stamina and his ability to make surging runs deep into opposition territory; and he is the powerful box to box midfielder the Gunners have been seeking for almost two decades since the great Patrick Vieira left Arsenal for Juventus in 2005. The Premier League 2023 betting odds here at SBOTOP have installed Arsenal as second favourites, behind Manchester City, to win the title; and that is in recognition of how Arteta has improved the Gunners, and this latest addition emphasises the point nicely.
The UK media has reported, though, that this signing has moved Arsenal’s current defensive midfielder, Thomas Partey, closer to a move to Saudi Arabia.
Rumours are circulating around Manchester and North London that Manchester United’s out of favour centre back Harry Maguire is being made available by Old Trafford boss Erik Ten Hag. And that news has attracted the interest of new Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou who is looking to strengthen his options in defence.
Maguire slipped down the pecking order at United following a run of inconsistency and the superb form of Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane. Ten Hag is now reported to be ready to offload the £200k a week England man and both Tottenham and newly monied West Ham are said to be interested.
Manchester United’s Harry Maguire during their Premier League game against Manchester City
The Red Devils, who bought Maguire from Leicester City for £80m back in 2019 are hoping to recoup £35m and that could make good business sense for Tottenham. In the meantime former Manchester United star Jonny Evans has been seen at the club’s training ground, working with the Manchester United squad to boost his fitness. The 35 year old ex Leicester City skipper has been helping the younger defenders in training, and he’s received a warm welcome at Carrington by players and staff alike.
Burnley set to sign England U21 keeper
In other Premier League 2023 news breaking on Sunday Vincent Kompany’s Burnley are set to smash their transfer record with the £19m signing of England U21 goalkeeper James Trafford. It is the second time the Burnley boss has called in at his old club for a keeper, signing Aro Muric from Manchester City last season.
Trafford is ready to undergo his medical at Turf Moor after the two clubs agreed a deal which will see Burnley pay an initial £15m to Manchester City with add-ons taking it to £19m. Kompany watched Trafford play for Bolton Wanderers against Barnsley in their League 1 play-off semi-final when the keeper was on loan with the Trotters and he sees the 20 year old as the ideal player to challenge Muric for the Number One spot. At the U21 Euros, Trafford kept six clean sheets and saved a penalty in the final as England beat Spain to lift the trophy.
He also kept 26 clean sheets in 52 games for Bolton last season and now Trafford looks set to join the youthful and exciting Burnley on their return to the Premier League.
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After finishing 10th in the Premier League last season, Fulham will aim higher in the 2023-24 campaign, with the best-case scenario being a return to European football.
The Premier League 2023 odds don’t like their chances of making it there, especially with rumours about their stars leaving the club soon. But every season is a new slate for all 20 teams, and as the saying goes, anything is possible in football.
The Cottagers will be hoping for a great start to their second foray in the English top-flight, with Everton as their first league opponent on August 12.
Our SBOTOP team has skimmed through their Premier League schedule, and here’s our list of some of the top fixtures to look forward to in the 2023-24 campaign.
Fulham vs Brentford, August 19
West London rivals Fulham and Brentford gave us a lot of Premier League 2023 highlights last season, and football fans from both sides are hoping for more when they meet on August 19 during the second matchday.
Both meetings yielded a 3-2 result, with Fulham winning the first one at Craven Cottage and Brentford winning the next one at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Bobby Reid scored the fastest Premier League goal in Fulham history before Joao Palhinha added another one to give the Cottagers a 2-0 lead in the first meeting before Christian Norgaard and Ivan Toney drew level after 71 minutes. But Aleksandar Mitrovic saved the day when he scored in the last minute.
Not to be outdone, Ethan Pinnock also set the record for the fastest Premier League goal for Brentford when he scored the first goal (5:37) in their reverse fixture last March. Ivan Toney and Mathias Jensen also scored for Brentford, while Manor Solomon and Carlos Vinicius scored goals for Fulham.
Brentford actually finished one spot above Fulham in the 2022-23 standings, which just goes to show how evenly matched they are.
Chelsea are another West London nemesis that Fulham are going to face this upcoming season.
Their first league meeting in January was Joao Felix’s Chelsea debut, and it was a night to forget for him because he was sent off with a red card for his reckless challenge on Kenny Tete.
The numerical disadvantage proved to be too much for the Blues, as Fulham secured a 2-1 win, their first victory against Chelsea since 2006. Willian managed to score against his old club, and Carlos Vinicius ended his goal drought, while Kalidou Koulibaly scored the consolation goal for Chelsea.
These two teams would meet again in February, which ended in a goalless draw. Fulham maintained their impressive away form as they frustrated Chelsea with their defencive display.
The February game also featured the Chelsea debuts of Enzo Fernandez, Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke, Wesley Fofana, and Benoit Badiashile, their haul during the January transfer window.
Chelsea actually finished two spots lower than Fulham in 2022-23, which is embarrassing on the Blues’ part. Fulham supporters share the same hope that Marco Silva’s men will finish above them yet again in 2023-24 just to stick it to them.
Fulham vs Manchester United, November 4
Fulham are seeking revenge against Manchester United, and they’ll get their first chance when they host them on November 4 at Craven Cottage.
There will be no love lost for these two sides, especially for Fulham fans, as they saw their team lose each of their three meetings last term.
Their first encounter was at Craven Cottage in November, the last league game before the World Cup break. The Red Devils had the early lead when Christian Eriksen scored his first goal for them, but former Manchester United man Daniel James answered back in the second half.
The match was supposed to end in a 1-1 draw until Alejandro Garnacho came off the bench and scored the stoppage-time winner through Eriksen’s pass.
These two teams met again in the FA Cup quarter-finals in another pulsating encounter.
Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic before their Premier League match versus Wolverhampton Wanderers
Fulham were in control when Mitrovic gave them a 1-0 lead, but it was erased when he was sent off along with Willian and head coach Marco Silva.
Down to nine men, Manchester United eventually won the game 3-1 because of Bruno Fernandes’ brace and Marcel Sabitzer’s goal in the 77th minute.
Mitrovic was given an eight-match ban for his unsportsmanlike behaviour in the said match, which severely compromised the Cottagers. And that was evident in their 2-1 defeat during the final matchday.
Hopefully for Fulham, cooler heads will prevail this time because they need all hands on deck.
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Premier League: Uncertainty Looms Large for Fulham This Summer
The 2023-24 Premier League campaign is going to be a grind for Fulham, especially with what’s been going on so far this summer.
Over the past few years, the Cottagers have been normally quiet in the transfer window, but that’s no longer the case.
Rival clubs are circling around the key members of their squad after they finished in the top half of the standings last season. And if they are successfully poached, then the Premier League 2023 odds don’t like their chances of making it again in the Top 10.
Without further ado, read on below to learn more about the latest Premier League 2023 news about SBOTOP’s partners, Fulham.
Mitrovic out, Jimenez in
In what is a stunning turn of events, Aleksandar Mitrovic looks on his way out of Craven Cottage, as he’s not listed in Fulham’s pre-season tour squad amid interest from the Saudi Pro League.
Mitrovic has been a cult hero of sorts for the Cottagers after being a servant for the club for the past five years, and he was mainly responsible for bringing them back to the Premier League last year.
Many thought that he was going to be a Fulham player through and through, including myself. But we were wrong, although you can’t blame him that much.
The Serbian striker reportedly told his friends and family that he’ll no longer play for Fulham, and he’s furious that he is being priced out of a move to Al-Hilal.
Al-Hilal have reportedly tabled two unsuccessful bids for Mitrovic since Fulham put a £52 million price tag on him. Mitrovic’s agent has urged the management to lower his value to somewhere between £35 million and £45 million to make the transfer happen.
Because of this, Mitrovic has not joined Fulham on their ongoing pre-season tour, and there are doubts about his willingness to play in their opener against Everton on August 12.
Raul Jimenez in action during Wolves’ Premier League match against Arsenal
Negotiations will continue between Fulham and Al-Hilal, and it feels like they will reach a compromise soon because Fulham has already acted on their contingency plan.
The Mexican striker is expected to lead the line for Fulham once they cash in on Mitrovic, although he’s coming off a subpar campaign with only three goals across all competitions last season.
Fulham are also close to agreeing new deals to sign defenders Mohammed Salisu and Calvin Bassey from Southampton and Ajax, respectively.
Fulham dealt with big injury blow
Fulham started their pre-season tour on a good note with a 3-2 win against Brentford. Harry Wilson, Bobby Decordova-Reid, and Carlos Vinicius scored for the Cottagers, while Yoane Wissa and Kristoffer Ajer scored for the Bees.
However, the mood is somber for the Cottagers, as they lost Joao Palhinha due to injury in the process. When quizzed about the status of his midfielder, head coach Marco Silva said that Palhinha likely dislocated his left shoulder after he landed badly on the pitch on the stroke of half-time.
If the initial prognosis for Palhinha is correct, then it’s undoubtedly a huge blow for the Cottagers since a full recovery can take up to six months because shoulder dislocations often require surgery.
Palhinha was one of the top-performing midfielders in the Premier League last season. This summer, he has been a target for Liverpool and West Ham United, and Fulham are understood to be holding out for at least £60 million for him.
It’s safe to say that Palhinha will no longer play for the rest of the pre-season. After Brentford, Fulham will play Aston Villa in Orlando on Wednesday.
Marco Silva admitted that he received an offer to be Al-Ahli’s next manager on a deal that is believed to be worth around £40 million over the course of two years.
However, he said that he’s “fully committed” to Fulham, as he rejected the big-money bid to coach in the Saudi Pro League next season. He also said that he isn’t keen on managing other Premier League clubs anytime soon.
He has 12 months left on his current deal at Craven Cottage, and after their successful campaign last term, Fulham want to reward him with a new extension.
But extension talks between Silva and Fulham have stalled thus far, as the Portuguese manager is reportedly frustrated at the team’s failure to acquire new players, with seven players already leaving the club.
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Manchester United have agreed terms on a deal to bring Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana to Old Trafford in a projected £47m transfer.
The Premier League giants have been in intense talks with current stopper David de Gea, who won the Golden Glove in the 2022/23 campaign, but the Spanish star recently confirmed he is looking for a new challenge. And so United boss Erik Ten Hag has wasted no time in bringing in a top-quality replacement, a player he worked with as manager of Ajax.
The Nerazzurri keeper has made it clear he wanted to be united with Ten Hag, and the feeling is mutual as the Old Trafford chief believes the 27-year-old is more suited to the modern game than his previous Number One. He’s a ball-playing keeper in the mould of Manchester City’s Ederson, happy to take risks and play out from the back and the Cameroon star was a key player during Inter’s march to the Champions League final last season.
He’ll be making plenty of Premier League 2023 highlights next season and Manchester United fans will have to get used to a new style of guardian.
In other Old Trafford news the Red Devils are reported to have offered striker Marcus Rashford a new five-year contract, as a reward for his best season yet at the club. The player had been below par for a couple of campaigns but he was totally rejuvenated last season as Ten Hag got him focussed and firing. Rashford ended up with 30 goals in all competitions, the first Manchester United player to reach that benchmark since Robin Van Persie in their last title-winning season in 2013.
Marcus Rashford signs a new contract to stay at Old Trafford
He has been at Old Trafford since he was at primary school and Rashford has apparently had offers to move elsewhere, but the 25-year-old wants to stay loyal to his boyhood club and help them to continue their progress. The Red Devils are back in the Champions League and while the pre–season Premier League 2023 betting oddsreckon Manchester City are hot favourites for the 2023/24 title; United will be a force to be reckoned with.
The contract renewal is in its final stage of negotiations and that takes a little pressure off United’s recruitment team who are still trying to nail a deal to bring Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund to the club.
Chelsea turnover continues
Like every other media outlet, here at SBOTOP we never cease to be amazed by the circus that has been performing in Chelsea over the past 12 months as the frantic activity at Stamford Bridge shows no sign of slowing down; and now there have been rumours of two imminent outgoings.
West Ham United are reported to be close to agreeing a deal to bring young midfielder Conor Gallagher to the London Stadium to bolster David Moyes’ squad in time for the 2023/24 Premier League campaign. The Europa Conference League champions are hoping for another successful campaign and Gallagher is the type of player they need to make a move on the top seven in England, as well as going deep into the cup competitions.
The England international could cost the Hammers up to £30m but, as an all-action midfielder, he would be a huge asset. Gallagher can play a holding role or in a more advanced position and is entering the prime of his career. Following the record-breaking transfer of Declan Rice to Arsenal the Hammers boss David Moyes has been in the market for a midfielder, though he said they won’t get a ‘like for like’ replacement.
But he has cash in the bank if he is determined to bring Gallagher to East London I think this move will happen.
The other player likely to exit Stamford Bridge is Gabon striker Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang. The 34-year-old was a legend at Arsenal and starred at Barcelona, but since his £10m move from the Camp Nou to Chelsea last year things have gone from bad to worse.
It was never going to be easy for an ex-Gunner to play in Blue, but the chaos at the club which resulted in a bottom-half finish pulled many players down and Aubameyang had a wretched time, scoring just three times in 21 appearances in West London. He is not in new manager Mauricio Pochettino’s plans and a move to the Saudi Pro league has been mooted, but it now looks likely that Auba is on his way to Ligue 1 side Olympique Marseilles.
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Can you believe it? August 11th signals the start of the 2023-24 Premier League campaign, and it doesn’t seem long at all since Manchester City completed their historic treble.
The reigning champions open their title defence on Friday 11th with a mouthwatering clash away to Burnley. It’s Pep Guardiola versus his ex-Sky Blues captain Vincent Kompany at Turf Moor in the top-flight curtain raiser.
The Clarets are back in the big time after a season in the Championship, and there will be a lot of interest in the new-look Burnley.
The summer is flying by, and there has been none stop Premier League 2023 news on the transfer front, in particular, and there is still the matter of Harry Kane’s future to resolve.
And of course, there has been much attention on the happenings in the Middle East where the Saudi Pro League has been recruiting from Europe’s top leagues.
So that’s where we’ll start with this latest SBOTOP update.
Liverpool name Van Dijk as captain
Jordan Henderson’s move to Al-Ettifaq has left a void in the midfield at Anfieldand has also opened up a vacancy for a new captain, and centre-back Virgil Van Dijk is the man.
Virgil Van Dijk is Liverpool's captain for the 2023-24 Premier League season
Liverpool’s Virgil Van Dijk battles for the ball during club friendly with Leicester City
The Dutch master has been given the captaincy with Trent Alexander-Arnold as his vice-captain. It’s the end of an era on Merseyside, as Henderson has been the skipper at Liverpool for eight seasons since the retirement of Steven Gerrard, and now he is joining his predecessor, who is the head coach at Al-Ettifaq.
The 6’5” Van Dijk is a commanding figure, and he has captaincy experience with the Netherlands, leading them to the inaugural UEFA Nations League final and, with 161 appearances for Liverpool, he has plenty of red blood in him.
As well as Henderson, Fabinho has also gone to Saudi and James Milner has departed to Brighton, so the Liverpool midfield is going through a transition. Trent morphed successfully into a midfielder last season, and Alexis Mac Allister has arrived on a switch from Brighton.
The early Premier League 2023 betting odds seem happy with the goings on at Anfield, installing Jurgen Klopp’s team as third favourites ahead of Manchester United, Chelsea, and Newcastle United.
Could Mbappe land in the Premier League?
PSG star Kylian Mbappe’s future is still in the balance, and the deadline for the player to activate a contract extension passed on 31st July. He is surely about to be sold now, but the Frenchman is owed a whopping £34 million in loyalty bonuses, so there is a lot of work to be done on all sides.
Real Madrid have been the favourites to sign Mbappe, but guess who is the latest club to be linked? Yep, it’s Todd Boehly’s Chelsea, the fastest spending club in modern European history.
To be fair, Arsenal and Liverpool have also been rumoured to be tracking the striker, but Chelsea fans were teased by footage in the aftermath of Chelsea’s friendly victory over Fulham when a player was heard saying “And Mbappe ain’t here”.
Read into that what you like, but some sections of the UK press are suggesting Chelsea are mooting a player plus cash deal to bring Mbappe to West London.
Money talks, but I’m struggling to see Mbappe going to a club without Champions League football, which would make Arsenal a more likely candidate.
Newcastle and Arsenal join the race to sign Lindstrom
Eintracht Frankfurt’s attacking midfielder Jesper Lindstrom is a man in demand, and two Premier League clubs have joined the race for the Danish international’s signature.
The 23-year-old is one of Denmark’s hottest properties because he can play on the wing or through the middle, and he is now ready for a new challenge, with all respect to Frankfurt.
Women’s World Cup 2023
Korea Republic
Germany
1X2 Korea Republic @ 7.60
Over 2.75 @ 1.90
Total Goals 0-1 @ 3.65
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
CLICK HERE
Lindstrom made 22 starts for the Bundesliga side last season, scoring seven goals and making two assists, and he made seven Champions League appearances, scoring one goal.
Bundesliga title hopefuls RB Leipzig have been linked to Lindstrom along with Serie A big guns Napoli, Inter Milan, and Juventus, and now Newcastle United and Arsenal have joined the list of the player’s admirers.
The Gunners have allegedly already been in touch with Frankfurt who value the player at £35 million. That price may be too much to tempt Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, and he is already blessed with a number of attacking midfielders, such as Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard, and Bukayo Saka.
A move for Lindstrom might make more sense for Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United, who won Champions League football with a fourth place finish last term, and they have owners with very deep pockets.
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This message was edited by SBOTOP on 03-Aug-2023 at 6:04 PM
The wait is nearly over and that reality is possibly dawning, more than ever, on a number of Premier League clubs.
Sure, even after the big kick-off on Friday night, the transfer window will remain open for another three and a half weeks.
Yet ask any top-flight manager and they want to have their ‘wish list’ complete before a ball is kicked in earnest.
Questions at the top end of that list right now include: will England captain Harry Kane still be a Tottenham Hotspur player or will he leave English shores for German lands; how exactly will Chelsea line up after another summer in which the word hectic would again be an understatement to describe events at Stamford Bridge; and will West Ham, fresh from their first trophy in more than 40 years, also say farewell to the manager, hot on the heels of their captain?
We may know more before the opening contest of the season between newly promoted Burnley and champions Manchester City on Friday.
While they cannot afford to be complacent – Leicester City showed as much last season – if the Clarets maintain the form they displayed under Vincent Kompany last summer, this SBOTOP observer expects they will have enough to survive.
And what of the other new boys?
Well, it may be tougher for Sheffield United and Luton Town to provide Premier League highlights.
The Brammall Lane club was flying high until Covid intervened in the spring of 2020 when the team was being talked about as possible contenders for a European spot.
When action resumed three months later, they were never quite the same and finished well adrift at the bottom the following season.
Women’s World Cup 2023
Spain
Netherlands
1X2 Draw @ 3.40
First Half Under 0.75 @ 2.08
Total Goals 0-1 @ 2.60
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
CLICK HERE
Now they are back and raring to show they can become established in the top flight.
Initially, though, survival would be a triumph, as it would be for Luton Town whose fairytale return to the top division, after an absence of 31 years, provides the romance ahead of the new campaign.
Given the resources at their disposal, many will expect the Hatters to be the Premier League’s whipping boys.
So, can they become success stories like Brentford and Bournemouth or will they fall into the category occupied by Swindon Town (1993-94) and Derby County (2007-08) and be out of their depth.
Luton certainly offer the work ethic to meet the survival formula. Whether they have the quality is a rather different question. Promotion was built on a miserly defence that conceded 42 goals in 46 Championship matches, and Ethan Horvath, the American goalkeeper who has returned to Nottingham Forest after a loan, was a big part of that.
Going back to Leicester, one club which appears in a similar position to them 12 months ago is West Ham.
No-one expected the Foxes to go from 2021 FA Cup winners to relegation just two years later but their failure to strengthen their squad proved costly.
As it stands, West Ham, fresh from securing their first piece of silverware for more than 40 years, are in the same boat.
Despite receiving a massive fee for captain Declan Rice from Arsenal, they have yet to sign one player and now a reported dispute is threatening to undo all the progress made under David Moyes in recent years.
Moyes has struggled to agree on signings with Tim Steidten, West Ham’s new technical director, and faces missing out on one of his top targets, Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse.
As I write, the reality may well have dawned on Steidten that new recruits are essential as the club has agreed a £32 million deal to sign the Ajax midfielder Edson Álvarez and are trying to buy Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay from Manchester United. Álvarez has agreed terms on a five-year deal and is set to fly to London for a medical.
As for new recruits to watch out for, well it will be interesting to see how Moussa Diaby fares at Aston Villa.
Premier League: Moussa Diaby joined Aston Villa from Bayer Leverkusen
Moussa Diaby in action during Aston Villa’s pre-season match against Lazio
Unai Emery appears to have pulled off something off a coup by signing the Bayer Leverkusen and France winger for a reported club record £51.9m.
Diaby, one of the quickest players in Germany, can play anywhere across the front line; he scored 49 goals and made 48 assists in his 173 games for Leverkusen.
And what of Newcastle United who made midfielder Sandro Tonali Italy’s most expensive footballer when they signed him from AC Milan.
There are others, of course, and full previews (and more ins and outs) will come thick and fast over the next few days but, with the big kick-off fast approaching, you can be forgiven, depending on who you support, for being excited, experiencing some trepidation or, perhaps, a combination.
The SBOTOP Premier League betting odds make City clear title favourites ahead of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United with Chelsea, Newcastle and Spurs behind. They also make the newly promoted clubs and Bournemouth as favourites for the drop. These odds are not usually wrong!
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This message was edited by SBOTOP on 08-Aug-2023 at 3:28 PM
It’s here folks…the 2023/24 Premier League season is finally upon us and there is a blockbuster clash ready to open the campaign when Pep Guardiola’s champions head to East Lancashire on Friday to meet Vincent Kompany’s Burnley.
Manchester City are aiming to be the first team to win four Premier League titles on the bounce and they face a Burnley side back in the top flight after a season in the Championship. The Clarets took the second tier by storm, accumulating 101 points and winning promotion with a record seven games remaining. And now Kompany’s side are ready to take on the Premier League again.
The Premier League 2023 betting odds are backing the Sky Blues to win the 2023/24 title at a price of 1.68, with Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal the nearest contenders with the SBOTOP stats team pricing the Gunners at 5.75 and Liverpool at 9.00. Guardiola won’t count on winning this tricky opener but he will be confident of winning the long race.
Talking Points
Will City’s Croatian recruits appear on Friday?
A couple of departures from Manchester City have made a noise in the Premier League 2023 news with Ilkay Gundogan moving to Barcelona and Riyad Mahrez heading to the Saudi Pro League. But while city rivals Manchester United are working on putting a competitive squad together the current Premier League kings have moved smartly in the market to gradually improve their squad. The loss of Mahrez is less of a problem when you consider the riches Guardiola has in creative attacking players. And Gundogan’s departure has made room for former Chelsea star Mateo Kovacic to take his place.
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New signing Kovacic is an impressive box to box player who will play with the intensity that Guardiola expects from his teams and make space for the likes of Jack Grealish and Phil Foden to operate; and he is joined by another Croatian international as Josko Gvardiol has also signed for City this summer. The 21 year old central defender impressed at the 2022 World Cup and was a dominant figure in Red Bull Leipzig’s Bundesliga campaign.
The two Croats could make their debuts at Turf Moor and they may also be joined by a City stalwart who looked likely to be exiting the Etihad this summer. The press in Manchester are reporting that Kyle Walker has agreed to stay at the Etihad having previously agreed to a move to FC Bayern and he will play another big part on City’s defence of their title.
Kompany’s cultural revolution
The Burnley that Vincent Kompany brings to the Premier League is a far cry from the band of brothers that fought their way through six consecutive top flight campaigns under Sean Dyche. This Burnley is less backs-to-the-wall and more an entertaining, free flowing football side which passes crisply, moves opponents from side to side and scores goals for fun. It will be difficult for the Clarets can dominate possession in the Premier League as they did in the second tier, but they will not be easy to beat. Kompany insists he has retained the famous toughness of Burnley while adding real quality, and in Jordan Beyer and Ameen Al-Dakhil they have a centre back pairing which will sit happily in the Premier League.
Vincent Kompany could become the first Belgian to manage in the Premier League
Burnley return to the Premier League after last season’s success under Vincent Kompany.
And with young flair players such as Moroccan star Anass Zaroury, Scott Twine and Zeki Andouni in the side this is an exciting team to watch.
History
In the 22 games played between these two teams this century, City have won 18, Burnley have won one and there have been three draws. In defence of the Clarets they have met the Sky Blues during the best period in their history.
The two teams met last season in the quarter finals of the FA Cup and Erling Braut Haaland hit a hat-trick as the Citizens won 6-0. Kompany said that was a great experience for his team so it will be interesting to see how much they have learned.
Burnley’s last home win against City came in 2015 as George Boyd hit home a second half sizzler to lift the roof off Turf Moor.
Betting Tip
⭐⭐
Burnley VS Manchester City
Aug 12, 03:00 (GMT+8)
Burnley Asian Handicap +1.50
@ 1.94
The first weekend of a new campaign always throws up some surprises and this is the best time for Burnley to take on the reigning champions. But can they really spring a major surprise at odds of 7.33? Maybe not but a draw at 4.84 wouldn’t really shock anyone.
A price of 1.28 on Manchester City is not an attractive proposition and I’m sure Guardiola will be delighted to escape Turf Moor with a narrow win. So I’m backing a one goal win for the Sky Blues and a correct score-line of 1-2 at odds of 7.52 may be worth a closer look.
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This message was edited by SBOTOP on 09-Aug-2023 at 1:21 PM
Premier League: Can Fulham Convince Mitrovic to Stay With Opening Win Against Everton?
Everton vs Fulham
Fulham start their 2023-24 Premier League campaign with a trip to Goodison Park, where they’ll take on Everton this Saturday.
In their second consecutive year back in the English top-flight, Fulham are aiming to build on their 10th-place finish last season, with the best-case scenario being a return to European football.
Everton, meanwhile, escaped relegation last term with a last-day victory over Bournemouth, and they’re looking to make amends for the poor domestic campaign.
Both teams were busy this summer because they dealt with transfers while playing a handful of club friendlies. The Toffees, surprisingly, come into this match in superb form, while not so much for the Cottagers.
So, who will draw first blood on the first matchday? Read more below for the SBOTOP preview of this game.
Talking Points
Everton’s lineup misfortunes
Last season, Everton were the lowest-scoring team with only 34 goals, and it didn’t help that they conceded 57 goals on the other end.
So to avoid being in the relegation scrap this upcoming season, Everton must be better in the final third, and head coach Sean Dyche will have to make a decision on who will start up front against Fulham.
Sean Dyche will be hoping to give Everton a win over Fulham in upcoming Premier League season opener
Everton manager Sean Dyche reacts in the sideline during a Premier League clash against Aston Villa
It’s unfortunate that they’re already dealing with injuries, as Dwight McNeil, Dele Alli, and even team captain Seamus Coleman aren’t available this weekend. McNeil, in particular, is a huge loss since he was their top scorer last term with seven goals.
Demarai Gray, the second-leading scorer behind McNeil last season with six goals, is not listed in the squad because he was put up for sale this summer. Ironically, he has reportedly agreed personal terms to leave for Fulham.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin, on the other hand, has been dogged by injuries and is not yet 100-per cent fit.
With all of them unavailable, this opens the door for the likes of Arnaut Danjuma and Neal Maupay to start up front this Saturday.
But Maupay only had one goal from 27 appearances last season, which says a lot, so the logical choice is Arnaut Danjuma, who joined the Toffees on loan from Villarreal.
Danjuma was loaned to Tottenham last season but only scored twice in 11 appearances. He should get his opportunities to create Premier League 2023 highlights here on Merseyside.
Mitrovic might play amid transfer stand-off
Fulham are determined to keep hold of Aleksandar Mitrovic, who has been the subject of interest from Al-Hilal in the transfer window. Last month, the Serbian striker reportedly told his family and friends that he would “never play for Fulham again” after having his Saudi move blocked.
Right now, he is still a Fulham player, and he played 23 minutes in their 2-1 club friendly win against Hoffenheim last weekend. In his cameo, there were a handful of boos, but there were cheers too.
Marco Silva insists that he will look to maximise his time left with Mitrovic, especially if Al-Hilal improve their offer to Fulham. Given that they’ve worked well in the past, Mitrovic is likely to start up front, with summer signing Raul Jimenez also an option.
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History
Everton have lost each of their last two home Premier League games against Fulham, including a 3-1 result last April, after winning their first 14 home Premier League games between 2002 and 2018.
Fulham have won three of their last five Premier League matches against Everton (D1, L1), which is as many as they had in their previous 18 games against them (D2, L13). They are aiming to beat the Toffees in two consecutive league meetings for the first time since 2005.
Saturday marks the third opening league game in which Everton and Fulham face off. Everton won their previous two openers: a 3-0 result in 1963-64 and a 1-0 result in 1966-67.
Everton have only lost one opening game in their last 11 Premier League campaigns (W4, D6), with the defeat coming against Chelsea last season.
The Toffees are also undefeated this pre-season with four wins and one draw, albeit against weaker competition, while the Cottagers have won two and lost two this summer.
Betting Tip
⭐⭐
Everton VS Fulham
August 12, 22:00 (GMT+8)
1X2 Draw
@ 3.25
The Premier League 2023 odds predict a tight contest between these two sides. Because they’re playing at home, Everton were given the slight edge at 2.25, whereas Fulham are priced at 2.89 in the 1X2 market.
But despite the difference in their recent forms, we’re inclined to go for a draw at 3.25. That is because Everton and Fulham are evenly matched, and both are dealing with some uncertainty lineup-wise.
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This message was edited by SBOTOP on 10-Aug-2023 at 5:52 PM
Time for a ‘Fresh Start for All’ as New Premier League Season Kicks Off
Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest
As Premier League starts go, Nottingham Forest could have been forgiven for wanting to avoid this one.
After all, they have been beaten 5-0 on their previous two (and only) visits to the Emirates Stadium.
Yet those results have been consigned to history and the opening weekend of a new season provides a fresh start for all.
Talking Points
Now, do not get me wrong.
It is difficult to see past Arsenal as they aim to go one better than last time.
But Forest have proven to be more than capable of producing Premier League highlights and last term enjoyed some super moments and key victories when it mattered.
Back to the Gunners and, from where this SBOTOP writer is sitting, they will need two factors to achieve their aim.
Firstly, the consistency they showed in the first half of last season will have to be matched in the second half of the campaign.
And, secondly, they will need to have a degree of better fortune on the injury front.
The Gunners didn’t have particularly bad luck in that regard but, when the injuries did come calling, the lack of squad depth was telling.
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That latter point appears to have been addressed with smart recruitment this summer, albeit for big money.
With Declan Rice (who has a huge price tag to fulfil), Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber now in the ranks, the Gunners should have far more substance and be more likely to embark on a sustained title challenge.
Forest were the side which put the final nail in the coffin of their title aspirations which lasted far longer than I or many others expected.
That 1-0 win in May confirmed that the club’s decision to keep faith with Steve Cooper was duly rewarded.
In the final push for survival, Forest won three out of their final six to stay up. The squad is stable and some smart summer signings have added to a team that has proved itself capable of staying in the Premier League. It is not very exciting but the main ambition will be for a calmer season that ends with a higher finish that 16th.
There will not be the huge turnover in playing staff this time around and many of those recruited, either last summer of in January, will be far more settled.
That can only lead to a calmer, less chaotic and more familiar looking Forest – all three are characteristics they will require if they are to get the new season off to a positive start.
History
Last season’s meetings – a 5-0 home success at the Emirates and a 1-0 home win at the City Ground – were the first league clashes between the two clubs since the final season of the last millennium (1998/99).
Yet they have met in a few memorable FA Cup clashes in more recent times – memorable if you are a Forest fan, that is!
Nottingham Forest return to Premier League action this weekend as they visit the Emirates Stadium
Nottingham Forest celebrate survival last season
In the third round in 2018, Forest recorded an unforgettable 4-2 victory in the third round at the City Ground to send the holders packing at the first time of asking.
Two first half goals from Eric Lichaj set the tone with Ben Brereton Diaz and Kieran Dowell netting the others as Per Mertesacker and Danny Welbeck replied for Arsenal.
Then at the same stage in 2022, Lewis Grabban scored the only goal seven minutes from time to spark wild home celebrations.
Arsenal have enjoyed two big League Cup wins over Forest during the past seven years.
Going back to last season, Gabriel Martinelli. Reiss Nelson (two), Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard scored the goals in a 5-0 romp last October.
It was a very different story in May as Taiwo Awoniyi’s 19th minute goal gave Forest a fine 1-0 win which not only secured Premier League survival against the odds but ended Arsenal’s title hopes.
Their very first meeting came in the then Division One in October 1904 when Forest defeated Woolwich Arsenal, as they were then known, 3-0.
Ironically, the scoreline was reversed when they met again in the return fixture two months later.
Overall, the Gunners have 52 victories in their head-to-heads, compared to 29 Forest triumphs and 22 draws.
Betting Tip
⭐⭐⭐
Arsenal VS Nottingham Forest
August 12, 19:30 (GMT+8)
Arsenal First Half Asian Handicap -0.75
@ 1.84
It’s Arsenal all the way with the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds.
They can be backed 1X2 @ 1.22 and Asian Handicap -2.00 @ 2.09.
This contrasts with Forest 1X2 @ 9.00 and Asian Handicap +1.50 @ 2.31.
The draw will pay out @ 6.00.
Goals are expected, including total goal 0-1 @ 5.80, 2-3 @ 2.23, 4-6 @ 2.40 and over 3.50 goals @ 2.21.
There hasn’t been a goalless draw between these teams since March 1987 and another this time is on offer @ 20.00 with Correct Score.
Buoyed by their Charity Shield success and a smattering of new signings, though, I cannot see beyond a home win with a bit to spare and my *** tip is First Half Asian Handicap Arsenal -0.75 @ 1.92.
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This message was edited by SBOTOP on 10-Aug-2023 at 5:55 PM
Premier League: Will Brentford 2.0 or Kane Succeed on Sunday?
Brentford vs Tottenham Hotspur
At the start of the week, I noted that one of the burning Premier League questions was whether Harry Kane would still be a Spurs player by the time of the big kick-off.
With that now upon us, it seems he could well be after the club reportedly turned down the latest offer from Bayern Munich – a good price for a 30-year-old it must be said.
Yet this 30-year-old is not just any player. He is the Spurs and England captain, a player who has scored more goals for his club than any other in history and is also the all-time record scorer for his country.
So, if he does figure this weekend, judging by his record, that could spell bad news for Brentford.
On saying all of that, how many times were the Bees written off last term only to prove the doubters and the so-called “experts” wrong.
Talking Points
For this is a Brentford side which has produced Premier League highlights aplenty over the past two years – both seasons in which they were considered among the favourites to go back down the lower leagues they had graced for much of their existence.
Yes, it is easy to forget that this is just Brentford’s third season in the Premier League. The club has been in transition for a few years – from Championship to top tier, from Griffin Park to Gtech Community Stadium, from tiki-taka style to a more counterattacking high press – and a period of stability would do just fine. Keeping hold of Thomas Frank, who was linked with Spurs but recently spoke of moving towards Brentford 2.0 is key to that.
The absence of Ivan Toney is a blow and means tactical adjustments will be required, but you’d have confidence in Frank achieving just that.
They may also have a new player in their ranks by then.
Certainly, they should have some money to spend after it was announced in the Premier League 2023 news that they will sell goalkeeper David Raya to long-time admirers Arsenal.
They made multiple bids for the Spain international in the summer of 2020 and, three years on, Brentford have achieved a significant return on a player who cost them £2.7 million when he signed from Blackburn in 2019.
Spurs seem to be building for the future, judging by their transfer business in recent days.
Tottenham have completed deals for Netherlands under-21 defender Micky van de Ven and Argentina under-20 forward Alejo Veliz.
Spurs signed van de Ven, 22, from Wolfsburg for an initial £34 million which could rise to a reported £43 million with add-ons.
Veliz, 19, has joined the London club from Rosario Central for a reported £13 million fee, subject to a work permit.
Both players have signed six-year contracts at Tottenham.
Judging by glimpses I caught of the friendly defeat to Barcelona in midweek, albeit a second-string Spurs side, their fans should have reason to be optimistic about the future.
History
Overall, Spurs have dominated this fixture with 24 victories, 15 draws, and just seven defeats. But not last season as the Bees secured a fine Boxing Day draw before winning in North London towards the end of the campaign.
Harry Kane is still in doubt to play for Tottenham in upcoming Premier League season opener against Brentford
Tottenham Hotspur superstar Harry Kane celebrates after scoring a goal during pre-season friendly with Shakhtar Donetsk
Vitaly Janelt and Toney goals had them dreaming of a Christmas to remember until Kane and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg hauled Spurs level.
It was very different in the penultimate week of the season as Frank’s men recovered from going a goal behind to Kane early on and hit back with three second half goals to seal a superb victory.
An impressive double from Bryan Mbeumo overturned Tottenham’s first-half lead before Yoane Wissa capped things off, as Brentford completed a clean sweep of victories against the established big five since returning to the top echelon of English football.
It was in March 1902 when these teams first met in the former Southern League.
Then the Bees ran out 2-1 winners before Spurs won the return game 3-0 at White Hart Lane just six weeks later.
For the next six years, their meetings were all in the then Southern, Western, or London leagues.
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Aside from one FA Cup clash in 1922, the two clubs didn’t meet between 1908 and 1946, again in the FA Cup, a tie Brentford won on penalties.
After some games in the old Division Two in the late 1940s, the hiatus was then even longer as Brentford and Spurs failed to lock horns again until League Cup ties in 1992, 1998, and 2000.
When they met for the first time in the top-flight in 2021, Spurs won 2-0 at home courtesy of an own goal and Son Heung-Min.
They then fought out a goalless draw at Brentford in the return in April 2022.
Betting Tip
⭐⭐⭐
Brentford VS Tottenham Hotspur
August 13, 21:00 (GMT+8)
1X2 Draw
@3.45
The SBOTOP Premier League betting odds edge towards the visitors 1X2 @ 2.29, while Brentford are close by @ 2.69.
This is going to be a fun one, and I predict a draw at Gtech Community Stadium this weekend.
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The pick of this weekend’s Premier League fixtures brings together two of the biggest hitters of all, but two clubs which barely landed a blow in the 2022/23 campaign.
Chelsea vs. Liverpool would have been a top of the table clash in very recent times, but neither made it into the top four last term, finishing fifth and 12th in the table.
But the pundits, the Premier League 2023 betting odds, and most importantly of all the fans at Anfield and Stamford Bridge reckon this year will be better. Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are third favourites to win the title behind Manchester City and Arsenal at a price of 9.00 to win the league, while Chelsea are ranked fifth at 20.00.
In pre-season, the Blues have already looked a different prospect under Mauricio Pochettino, and they will fancy a tilt at the top four without the distraction of European football, while the Reds have the Thursday/Sunday routine of the Europa League to look forward to.
But this is the greatest show on Earth, and both Liverpool and Chelsea have big parts to play. Bring it on!
Talking Points
Poch and Thiago can lead Chelsea to greater heights
Pochettino is the man to make Chelsea less of a soap opera this term, and his calming influence makes the current changes at Stamford Bridge seem more like an evolution than the chaotic revolution that has engulfed West London since the arrival of Todd Boehly.
So many players (and head coaches) have arrived and left the club that the playing staff is virtually unrecognisable from the team of 2020.
Thiago Silva remains at the Bridge. The 38-year-old Brazilian is still a Rolls Royce of a defender and, since his 2020 arrival, he has been the one beacon of outstanding quality as lesser players have huffed and puffed around him.
While wing-back Reece James has been given the captain’s armband, Thiago can help the young England man to be Pochettino’s mouthpiece on the pitch, and his experience at the back will allow Chelsea’s creative players to thrive.
World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez is one of the few big money stars who arrived last season who looks like he can settle comfortably into a first team role, while the signing of Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig has set the pulses racing among the fans.
Premier League: Christopher Nkunku is out for an extended period due to his knee injury
Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku in action during their pre-season match against Borussia Dortmund
The 25-year-old France star has been one of the standout players in the Bundesliga over the past two campaigns, and he has been mightily impressive in pre-season. Nkunku will produce plenty of Premier League 2023 highlights to get the fans off their seats, that’s for sure.
They won’t be getting ahead of themselves, but the Chelsea faithful certainly have more reason to be optimistic this season.
Salah stays loyal to Liverpool
While Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane are now in the Saudi Pro League, the third member of the best striking threesomes in recent history, Mohamed Salah, is still a Liverpool player with two years left on his contract.
Since the retirement of the legendary Sergio Aguero, the Egyptian has jostled with Tottenham talisman Harry Kane for the mantle of the Premier League’s most lethal hitman until, of course, the arrival of Erling Braut Haaland.
Salah has been a model of striking excellence, scoring 30 goals or more in all competitions in each of the last three campaigns. Liverpool’s supporters simply love him, and he has returned their love in spades.
Reds fans will be excited to see their two new signings in action. Alexis Mac Allister, a World Cup winner with Argentina, has arrived from Brighton, and he is one of the league’s most improved players over the past two campaigns.
As an attacking midfielder, he will link up with Salah to devastating effect. And Liverpool could also unveil another creative talent in Dominik Szoboslai, who has arrived in a big money deal from RB Leipzig.
Liverpool fans will be cautiously optimistic this season, but they know their team needs a good start, which would mean at least a draw on Sunday.
History
These are two of the Titans of Premier League football, and the head-to-heads could hardly be closer with Chelsea edging it at 31 victories to 30 in the Premier League era, while there have been 23 draws.
Both games ended 0-0 last season, but we’ll hopefully see some goals at the Bridge on Sunday.
Betting Tip
⭐⭐
Chelsea VS Liverpool
Aug 13, 23:30 (GMT+8)
Chelsea Asia Handicap 0.00
@ 2.17
Chelsea are at SBOTOP odds of 2.67 to win this blockbuster tie with Liverpool at 2.16 and the draw at 3.44, and I think Poch will get off the mark with a much-needed win.
But it will be a hard-fought game, so I’m taking the Draw no Bet option, and 1-1 is the most likely outcome at a price of 5.80.
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This message was edited by SBOTOP on 16-Aug-2023 at 5:47 PM
Premier League: Grounding the Seagulls is the First Puzzle to Solve for the Hatters
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Luton Town
Luton Town took the football world by storm when they secured their promotion to the English top-flight after beating Coventry in the Championship playoff final last season, and their Premier League journey will start against Brighton at the AMEX Stadium this weekend.
A game against the Seagulls is far from an ideal opener for the Hatters considering the talent gap, but upsets are more likely to happen on the first matchday.
Brighton can somehow relate to Luton Town if you consider what they did in the league last season. Like the Hatters, the Seagulls managed to secure a spot in European football despite working with a relatively shoestring budget compared to the others.
It’ll be interesting to see if Luton Town can follow in Brighton’s footsteps here in the Premier League, and this game is a great litmus test for the newly promoted side.
Talking Points
Brighton’s stars being poached one by one
Given their success last season, much of Brighton’s summer is all about the Premier League 2023 news surrounding their biggest stars, and perhaps it has taken a toll on them.
World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister was the first to go after a productive campaign where he led the team with 12 goals and three assists, while his midfield partner Moises Caicedo made it clear that he wants out, with Chelsea as his potential destination.
Moises Caicedo will aim to score goals for the Seagulls when they host Luton Town in the Premier League
Brighton and Hove Albion’s Moises Caicedo during one of their matches in the Premier League
Brighton and Chelsea continue to negotiate about Caicedo, but talks have stalled after the former rejected the latter’s mouthwatering $103 million bid. The Seagulls wouldn’t want a disgruntled star in their camp, so they must resolve his situation as soon as possible.
To be honest, it feels like it’s going to be a matter of time before both sides reach a compromise. Once they cash in on Caicedo, Roberto De Zerbi will lean heavily on the likes of Kaoru Mitoma, Evan Ferguson, and Julio Enciso to carry the offencive cudgels.
Mitoma has become one of the most exciting wingers in the Premier League after recording 10 goals and eight assists this season.
Evan Ferguson and Julio Enciso, on the other hand, had 14 goals and six assists combined, and they’re only going to get better since they have yet to reach 20 years old.
Morris and Adebayo to lead Luton Town
Luton Town didn’t do anything significant this summer transfer window, so it’s safe to say that they will lean on the same players who helped them secure their promotion to the Premier League.
Enter Carlton Morris and Elijah Adebayo, who will be tasked with leading the way for Luton Town this season, particularly in the final third.
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Morris was the Hatters’ top scorer last term with 20 goals, and he also has eight assists, while Adebayo is right behind him with 10 goals and five assists.
Another key player for the Hatters is their veteran, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, who’s their anchor in midfield. He is Luton Town through and through because he is the first player to play for the same club from the National League to the Premier League.
History
Brighton and Luton Town will compete in a league match for the first time since 2007-08. In the said season, the Seagulls achieved a double in League One over the Hatters.
But in the top-flight, Luton Town got a double against Brighton in 1982-83, beating them with scorelines of 5-0 and 4-2.
The Seagulls have won their opening league match in each of the last two seasons after last doing so in three consecutive seasons between 1974-75 and 1976-77. This is also the first time that these two clubs will face off in their first league games of a season since 1928-29 in the Third Division South.
However, perhaps there’s hope for Luton Town this weekend, as Brighton have lost three of their six Premier League matches against promoted teams last term (W2, D1), which is as many as they had in their previous three campaigns combined (W8, D7, L3).
Betting Tip
⭐⭐
Brighton & Hove Albion VS Luton Town
August 12, 22:00 (GMT +8)
Total Goals 2-3
@ 2.03
Unsurprisingly, Brighton are being favoured by the SBOTOP Premier League 2023 odds to win on Saturday. The hosts are priced at 1.31 in the 1X2 market, whereas Luton Town are the underdogs at 7.20.
Snatching a point from the Seagulls is already considered a win for the Hatters, and should it happen, it will give you a substantial payout since it is priced at 5.00.
But it would be foolish to bet against Brighton since they’re too good under Roberto De Zerbi, and they should score a handful of goals to teach the new boys a lesson.
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This message was edited by SBOTOP on 16-Aug-2023 at 6:01 PM
Premier League: Red Devils Smell Blood on the Ailing Wolves
Manchester United vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Erik ten Hag’s second season in charge of Manchester United starts with a battle against Wolves for their opening match here in the 2023-24 Premier League campaign.
The Red Devils have improved their roster overall given their busy summer transfer window. Even if they’ve had mixed results in their club friendlies, Manchester United fans look ahead to this season with optimism compared to last year.
But the same can’t be said about the Wolves, who are experiencing a difficult summer. Much of their offseason was about trying to alleviate their dire financial situation in order to abide by the FFP regulations. As a result, they haven’t done much to improve their squad.
In fact, many pundits have them as a relegation candidate, but that could all change if they somehow get a positive start against the Red Devils on Monday.
Talking Points
Hojlund’s Manchester United debut will have to wait
Here at SBOTOP, we made a prediction on how Manchester United would line up this August. We got them right for the most part, except for the goalkeeper and centre-forward spots.
Andre Onana has replaced David De Gea as the team’s first-choice goalkeeper, while Rasmus Hojlund, who was introduced to Old Trafford last week, is unfortunately unavailable due to a back injury.
The addition of Hojlund has drawn mixed reactions from pundits and fans alike because of his £72 million price tag. There are questions about his capability, and his back injury doesn’t help either.
Manchester United hope Rasmus Hojlund to get well and make his Premier League start as soon as possible
Rasmus Hojlund during his presentation at Old Trafford
At Atalanta last season, Hojlund registered nine goals and two assists across all competitions, but take note that he only played 32 matches. More than anything, Erik ten Hag sees him as a project because he just turned 20 and he has unlimited potential.
For now, the obvious choice for the centre-forward position is their top scorer last season, Marcus Rashford. The English international had his best individual campaign last season, scoring 30 goals and dishing out nine assists across all competitions.
Another option is Jadon Sancho, albeit as a false nine. During pre-season, Erik ten Hag deployed the former BVB man in the said position several times, which has yielded decent results.
Wolves have a new boss
The Wolves will have a new manager to lead them this year. After parting ways with Julen Lopetegui, they tapped Gary O’Neil, as reported in the Premier League 2023 news.
Lopetegui decided to leave because he didn’t like the direction the club was heading, and it’s hard to blame him. O’Neil, on the other hand, was surprisingly dismissed by the Cherries despite guiding them to safety in 15th place last term.
O’Neil has the unenviable task of restoring belief in the dressing room, and it starts in the final third. The Molineux outfit were the Premier League’s lowest scorers as they only had 31 goals, and they sold the talismanic Ruben Neves to Al-Hilal for £47 million.
The key player for Wolves is Sasa Kalajdzic, for whom the team forked out £15.5 million to pry him away from VfB Stuttgart last year. The Austrian striker sustained a knee injury that knocked him out of commission for the 2022-23 campaign, so hopefully he is 100-per cent fit because they need him badly.
LA LIGA
Atlético MadridGranada
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History
Manchester United have lost just one of their last 12 league home matches against the Wolves (W8, D3), which was a 1-0 result in January 2022.
The Red Devils also had the most wins in the opening matchday of the Premier League (W20). However, they lost on the first matchday in two of the last three seasons.
One of them was last year, in Erik ten Hag’s first game in charge. Brighton came away 2-1 winners when Pascal Groß scored twice in nine minutes, while Alexis Mac Allister had an own goal in favour of Manchester United.
Last season, the Red Devils achieved a league double over the Wolves with scores of 1-0 in December and 2-0 in May. Wolves have now lost five of their last six games against their hosts.
Betting Tip
⭐⭐⭐
Manchester United VS Wolves
August 15, 03:00 (GMT+8)
Manchester United Asian Handicap -1.50
@ 1.90
Going for a Manchester United victory seems like the obvious choice this weekend, as they’re priced at 1.29 to win, whereas the Wolves are the underdogs at 8.00, and a draw is priced at 5.00 in the 1X2 market.
Another reason why the Premier League 2023 odds like the Red Devils’ chances is because they’ve been virtually unbeatable at home since last season, and that should stay the same now that they have a stronger roster.
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It’s the best league in the world and it can be the most unforgiving but, for the three newly promoted teams, the Premier League is the only place to be.
Burnley, Sheffield United and Luton Town all took their top flight bows this weekend and they all came crashing down as the reality hit. But while the Clarets showed enough to suggest they will be fine, the Blades and Hatters endured a chastening first match.
Burnley are regulars at the top table, embarking on their seventh campaign among the elite in the last eight seasons, and they started against a familiar foe with a defeat at home to Manchester City in the Friday night curtain-raiser. Sky Blues manager Pep Guardiola has recently said that to repeat his side’s treble winning season is impossible.
Who is he kidding?!
The Premier League 2023 betting odds reckon City will make it four domestic titles on the bounce for starters and the way they schooled Vincent Kompany’s Burnley at a packed Turf Moor suggests they are right. It took the Sky Blues only 185 seconds to go ahead when Erling Braut Haaland found half a yard of space from a corner and finished brilliantly. The big Norwegian’s second, on 35 minutes, was a stunning strike from 12 yards which crashed in off the underside of the crossbar.
When Rodri poked home after a goalmouth scramble on 77 minutes the game was up for the Clarets, who also saw Anass Zaroury sent off for a late tackle on Kyle Walker.
City were at their clinical best; but what of Burnley?
Well, Kompany has things to work on; conceding from two set pieces will have irritated the former centre back, but there was much from the Clarets’ play to be optimistic about. His young team kept their shape throughout and played some quick and neat football, even stretching the Sky Blues defence during bright spells in either half. Their heads didn’t drop after going behind so early and losing a second goal when they were on top, and they have already taken strides since they lost 6-0 to Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter final last term.
Lyle Foster impresses in his debut, but Burnley failed to win their Premier League opener
Burnley’s Lyle Foster during their Premier League opening match against Manchester City
Burnley limited their illustrious opponents to very few clear cut chances (though they took all three) with defenders Jordan Beyer and Ameen Al Dakhil particularly impressive, and they showed plenty of invention up front with Lyle Foster, Manuel Benson and the 18 year old winger Luca Koleosho all very lively.
Manchester City have won the previous 12 meetings between these two teams, and scored 45 of the last 46 goals in this fixture. Add to that the fact that City’s current defensive unit costs more than Burnley have spent in their entire 140 year history and you can see why this was as tough a start as you could encounter.
And the Clarets will only have to face Haaland once more this season!
While the early evidence suggests that Burnley’s Premier League 2023 results will pick up pretty soon I fear for Sheffield United and Luton Town as they succumbed, rather meekly, to Crystal Palace and Brighton and Hove Albion. The Blades spent two years in the top flight recently, but second season syndrome saw them relegated in 2021 having won just one of the opening 18 games. Crystal Palace at home was a chance to get a point or three on the board, but Roy Hodgson’s Eagles dominated throughout, with 68 per cent possession and eight shots on target to one. Odsonne Edouard scored the Palace winner while the Eagles had a goal disallowed either side of the break.
PREMIER LEAGUE
Nottingham Forest
Sheffield United
1X2 Draw @ 3.35
Under 2.25 @ 1.90
Total Goals 0-1 @ 2.70
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Unlike Burnley, Paul Heckingbottom’s Sheffield United has a workmanlike look about it and they will leave everything on the pitch, but whether they have enough quality to score goals is another question.
Meanwhile Luton, first Premier League match in 30 years ended in a rather predictable 4-1 beating away to buoyant Brighton, who have established themselves as a free-flowing top ten side under Roberto de Zerbi. After the Seagulls had gone two goals up Carlton Morris halved the deficit from the penalty spot, but two late strikes saw off Rob Edwards’ brave Hatters.
Yet to get off the mark, Luton and Burnley were scheduled to meet next Saturday but the game has been postponed due to ongoing work at Kenilworth Road. That won’t faze Kompany or Burnley who are used to being in the top flight and have a home match against Aston Villa the following week. The Villains were thrashed 5-1 by Newcastle United on Saturday; they looked dangerous in attack but were all at sea in defence. Luton will be desperate to get a point on the board but their next game is away to Chelsea and the SBOTOP odds will only point to another defeat.
Sheffield United have a chance to get off the mark when they make the short trip to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest who are in their second season in the Premier League.
That game looks like a six-pointer already.
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This message was edited by SBOTOP on 16-Aug-2023 at 6:05 PM
Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga has just completed a loan deal which takes him to the Santiago Bernabeu to play for La Liga giants Real Madrid.
Los Blancos’ number one stopper, Thibaut Courtois, has suffered an ACL injury which could keep him out for the entire campaign; and Los Blancos have been pondering a move for Sevilla keeper Yassine Bounou, but on Monday morning they swooped for the Chelsea man. Kepa is the latest big name to leave Stamford Bridge since the arrival of Mauricio Pochettino as head coach, following Kai Havertz, Mason Mount and N’Golo Kante out of the door.
Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has also headed for pastures new in Saudi Arabia and the Premier League giants have potentially left themselves a little short between the sticks.
PREMIER LEAGUE
Fulham
Brentford
1X2 Fulham @ 2.54
Fulham Asian Handicap -0.25 @ 2.29
Over 2.50 @ 1.99
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Following his £20m transfer from Brighton and Hove Albion, Robert Sanchez took the goalkeeper’s jersey for the Blues’ 1-1 draw with Liverpool on Sunday and he performed pretty well, though Chelsea were dominant for much of the game and he had solid protection from Thiago Silva at the heart of the Blues’ defence.
Pochettino is overseeing a significant change at the Bridge and the signs were encouraging against Jurgen Klopp’s title hopefuls, but I suspect he may be in the market for another keeper in the coming days. Chelsea have a number of promising U21 stoppers but the only experienced back up is 31 year old former Fulham keeper Marcus Bettinelli.
There is an incoming to Chelsea on the cards as Brighton and Hove Albion defensive midfielder Moises Caicedo is set to complete a medical in advance of a planned £115m transfer to West London. He is set to sign an eight year contract, not unusual at Chelsea, and the sale is yet another example of savvy business for the Seagulls, who bought the player for £4.5m just two years ago.
The Blues are also in the hunt for Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia, who has also been tracked by Liverpool. It is likely to come down to the player’s choice and a move to London may appear more attractive than Merseyside. The Premier League 2023 betting odds here at SBOTOP rate Chelsea as sixth favourites to win the title at a price of 26.00, and that could look quite handy if Poch gets his team together quickly.
James Ward-Prowse from Southampton has signed with West Ham United until June 2027 in the Premier League
Former Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse during one of their matches in the Premier League
Over on the East side of the capital city another Saint has made an appearance as Southampton skipper James Wad –Prowse has just completed a £30m move to West Ham United. The 28 year old has been with the South Cast club since the age of eight and he has signed a contract to stay at the London Stadium until 2027. He played in the Saints 4-4 draw with Norwich City on Saturday, but nobody expected a player of his quality to spend a year in the second tier. Ward-Prowse has appeared for the Saints 410 times and scored double figures in both of the last two seasons and he will be a huge player for the Hammers this term. The club is upwardly mobile having won the Europa Conference League and it’s a good move for Ward-Prowse. And the transfer may smooth the way for another West Ham player to exit East London. Manchester City, who opened their league defence with a 3-0 win away to Burnley, are pushing to sign creative midfielder Lucas Paqueta and the player reported to be is keen to move to the Etihad Stadium. He would be a like for like replacement for the departed Riyad Mahrez though, like every player Pep Guardiola buys, he may have to bide his time in Manchester if he makes that move.
The Hammers value Paqueta at £85m and the Citizens are well short with their first approach.
In other London based Premier League 2023 news Harry Kane’s move to Bayern Munich has ended a saga which lasted at least three years and now Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou is looking forward to a bright future without Tottenham’s former talisman. The new head coach expressed delight at his team’s resilience in their opening match away to Brentford, which ended in a 2-2 draw. The visitors enjoyed 69 per cent possession and had 18 shots at the Brentford goal and Postecoglou believes they can thrive without the distraction of Kane’s protracted move: “I think that 2-1 down, having conceded a penalty and an own goal, it would have been very easy for us to drop our heads but I never sensed that in the group,” said the happy boss.
A draw away to Thomas Frank’s dangerous Bees is a decent start for Tottenham and, I must say, that type of spirit isn’t exactly Spursy!
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This message was edited by SBOTOP on 16-Aug-2023 at 6:06 PM
Just three miles separate Brentford from Fulham, and the Bees visit Craven Cottage on Saturday for a West London Derby to savour.
Fulham vs Brentfordis a clash between two of the top-flight’s relative newcomers, and two with progressive young managers and a style of play which is easy on the eye.
Both finished in the top half of the table last season, with Thomas Frank’s Brentford in ninth place and Marco Silva’s Fulham in 10th, and they will both aim for another Top 10 finish this term.
The Premier League is an unforgiving place to be at times, but Fulham and Brentford have both made decent starts to the new campaign, as the Cottagers earned a 1-0 win away to Everton, while Brentford drew 2-2 with a new-look Tottenham Hotspur.
The Cottage, on the banks of the River Thames, will be bouncing on Saturday. With sunshine expected in London, it’ll be a great day out for the fans, though it will be deadly serious business on the pitch.
PREMIER LEAGUE
Manchester CityNewcastle United
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Talking Points
Cottagers aim to replicate last term’s ruthlessness
Fulham’s strength last season was in their superb form against teams in the bottom half of the table and unrelenting consistency. They beat almost every team from 11th to 20th, including neighbours Chelsea, and they had a knack of pulling out gritty wins away from home, a useful trait they repeated in their first game of this campaign.
The Premier League 2023 betting odds make the hosts marginal favourites to win this match, and a return of six points from two games would be an amazing start for Silva’s team.
An opener away to Sean Dyche’s Everton presented a stiff test which they passed with a 1-0 victory thanks to a goal from substitute Bobby Decordova-Reid, who was making his 400th senior appearance. It was an almost perfect away win, as the Toffees’ boss was left to bemoan his team’s wastefulness in front of goal.
But winning the shot count by nine to two on target means nothing when Everton failed to beat the excellent Bernd Leno, and Reid showed the hosts how to do it late in the game.
Brentford can thrive without Toney
Brentford are hoping to secure their first Premier League win as they visit Fulham for Gameweek 2
Brentford manager Thomas Frank applauds fans after the Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur
Last season, Thomas Frank’s team took the Premier League by storm, demolishing Manchester United and Liverpool and picking up plenty of shock Premier League 2023 results with their fearless style of play.
They did have a lethal weapon in Ivan Toney, who scored 20 goals to finish third in the race for the Golden Boot, but the prolific goal scorer is banned until January for betting irregularities, so the Bees must find a way to win without him.
They managed pretty well last season, winning four and drawing one of the games they played without Toney, and the Bees came close to beating Tottenham on Saturday as goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa gave them a 2-1 lead before Emerson Royal equalised for Spurs.
In Cameroon striker Mbeumo, Brentford have a livewire in attack, while the addition of Mikkel Damsgaard last summer added more strength to the Bees’ frontline, and the 23-year-old could be one to watch in Toney’s absence.
Frank’s Brentford has a strong Danish presence in it with club captain Christian Norgaard an inspirational figure and 27-year-old Mathias Jensen the heartbeat of the team. The Bees will win a lot more admirers this year.
History
The Bees have had the better of the head-to-heads over the past decade, winning eight of the 16 encounters to Fulham’s five, and there have been three draws.
Each of the last three meetings have produced a five-goal thriller. The hosts won 3-2 on both occasions in last season’s Premier League, and when the two teams met in pre-season in a neutral venue in Philadelphia, this time it was Fulham who came out on top with a 3-2 victory.
Pre-season form was patchy in both cases, and the Cottagers have won three and lost three of the last six games, while the Bees have lost two and drawn four.
Betting Tip
⭐⭐
Fulham VS Brentford
August 19, 22:00 (GMT+8)
1X2 Draw
@3.05
There is not much to choose between these two teams at all and, at SBOTOP odds of 2.48, the hosts have the slightest of edges.
Brentford can be backed at 2.58 and, the way they played against Spurs, you can’t rule out an away victory. I think these two teams will cancel each other out, and I can see a 1-1 outcome at odds of 5.22 or a 2-2 draw at 11.52.
But if you fancy a bit of fun and expect the five-goal thrillers to keep coming, then Fulham can be backed at a price of 28.84 to win 3-2, with the Bees at 30.76 to take all three points with a 2-3 victory.
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This message was edited by SBOTOP on 16-Aug-2023 at 6:09 PM
Premier League: Newcastle United to Give Manchester City an Early Litmus Test
Manchester City vs Newcastle United
Manchester City and Newcastle United are on top of the Premier League table following their resounding victories during the opening matchday of the 2023-24 campaign.
The Sky Blues kicked off their title defence with a 3-0 win against newly promoted Burnley, with Erling Haaland recording a brace and Rodri adding another late goal for good measure.
Meanwhile, the Magpies defeated Aston Villa at home with a scoreline of 5-1, with four different scorers on board for Eddie Howe’s side.
With that said, only one of them can stay on top of the English top-flight table when they square off at the Etihad this Saturday night.
Normally, the pre-game SBOTOP betting odds would favour Manchester City, but injuries in their ranks would make this game against Newcastle United trickier than usual.
PREMIER LEAGUE
FulhamBrentford
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Talking Points
Manchester City facing fitness questions
Pep Guardiola has some tough decisions to make since this is a busy week, as prior to the Newcastle United game, they’ll take on Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup tomorrow.
Against Burnley, there were some noticeable absences on his roster, namely Kevin De Bruyne, Ruben Dias, and John Stones.
De Bruyne is feared to be out until the New Year after hurting his hamstring, which was already diagnosed with a Grade 3 tear a few months ago. He is not expected to play against Sevilla and Newcastle United, which will leave a gaping hole in their midfield.
Ruben Dias, on the other hand, might play against the Magpies should he clear concussion protocol ahead of this weekend. The Portuguese international suffered the blow during practice before the Burnley match, and Guardiola said that he wouldn’t be available against Sevilla.
The same goes to John Stones, who sustained an adductor injury and will also not play against Sevilla. Guardiola has also given him a questionable tag for Saturday.
Manchester City looked alright against Burnley, as Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji, Rico Lewis, and Mateo Kovacic deputised well for the injured trio.
Summer signing Josko Gvardiol came off the bench against Burnley, and we won’t be surprised if he gets his first Sky Blues start either tomorrow or on Saturday.
Tonali lets his game do the talking
Newcastle United's Sandro Tonali is expected to produce more Premier League highlights in their next game
Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali celebrates after scoring a goal during their Premier League match against Aston Villa
Sandro Tonali was a key talking point in the Premier League 2023 news last weekend, much to Newcastle United fans’ delight, as he recorded the fastest goal by an Italian on his Premier League debut.
Other than his goal in the 6th minute, Tonali also recorded 66 touches with a passing accuracy of 89-per cent, delivered three crosses, won three duels, and recorded one tackle and one interception.
Prior to his debut, Tonali had doubters, but he must have turned them into believers now because of his stellar performance.
The 23-year-old joined the Magpies from AC Milan earlier this summer on a £60 million deal, and if he keeps producing the way he did on Sunday, then Newcastle United have themselves a bargain.
History
Manchester City have won their last 14 Premier League home games against Newcastle United, scoring 48 goals while conceding seven on the other end. It’s both the Sky Blues’ longest winning home streak and the Magpies’ longest losing away run in their league histories.
Overall, the Sky Blues have lost just one of their last 31 Premier League matches against the Magpies (W25, D5), with their last loss being a 2-1 result at St. James Park in January 2019.
Newcastle United haven’t won a single Premier League game against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. In fact, their last league away win was in September 2000, when the Sky Blues were still playing at Maine Road.
Their most recent meeting was a 2-0 win for Manchester City in March, as Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva found the back of the net. Prior to that, these two sides figured in a 3-3 draw last August.
Betting Tip
⭐⭐
Manchester City VS Newcastle United
August 20, 03:00 (GMT+8)
Man City Asian Handicap -0.75
@ 1.76
The Premier League 2023 odds like Manchester City’s chances of winning since they’re priced at 1.61, while Newcastle United are at 4.60, and a draw is at 3.80 in the 1X2 market.
But with a depleted roster, Newcastle United can take advantage of Manchester City. Overall, this game is a tough call, and if the Sky Blues win this one, it won’t be as easy as compared to before.
Other than the Asian Handicap bet mentioned above, you won’t go wrong going for either Over 2.50 at 1.73, Total Goal 2-3 at 1.97, or even 4-6 at 3.10 as your alternative bets considering the trend in their recent head-to-heads.
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This message was edited by SBOTOP on 18-Aug-2023 at 12:21 PM
Premier League: Ange’s Spurs Sniff a Chance to Beat Red Devils
Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United
He’s announced himself as a lover of England cricket’s ‘Bazball’ approach and Spurs head coach Ange Postecoglou has already endeared himself to the fans with his positive attitude to life and football.
Tottenham Hotspur have entered a new era, they have a different type of manager to the recent incumbents in North London and talisman Harry Kane has left for Munich, but one big factor remains; Spurs have been without a trophy in 15 years.
Is Postecoglou the man to deliver a cup? Time will tell; but it looks like it may be more fun for Tottenham fans as their team tries, and Premier League: Spurs vs Manchester United is a chance for the new man in the dugout to get more support in the stands. His first match in charge yielded an entertaining 2-2 draw with Brentford, while Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United squeezed past Wolves on Monday night with a 1-0 victory.
This is a clash between two sides with top four aspirations and so that makes it a six pointer, and a great match for us neutrals to get stuck into.
Talking Points
Can Tottenham thrive without Kane?
Spurs’ opening day match against Brentford was a good test of the North Londoners’ pre-season preparations and their ability to live in a post Kane world. The England star has been a scoring sensation in North London, plundering 213 goals in 317 games but the reality is that in his 16 years with Spurs the club has won nothing.
And in recent seasons, chairman Daniel Levy has turned to some well known and highly successful pragmatists, Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, and to a lesser extent Nuno Espirito Santo, in an attempt to prize the trophy cabinet open. But they all failed, and they also failed to entertain the fans, and that is what Postecoglou aims to rectify, in a swashbuckling style akin to the England cricket team.
Without a domineering centre forward Spurs will have to adapt and try to emulate teams which score goals from all over the pitch, the best exponents of that art being Manchester City and Spurs’ North London rivals Arsenal. Against Brentford Tottenham dominated possession and won the shot count by 18 to 11, both teams recording six shots on target. And Tottenham’s defenders contributed the goals; centre back Cristian Romero opened the scoring and wingback Emerson Royal scored the leveller.
These are early days for the new Spurs head coach, but the signs are encouraging.
Rusty Red Devils yet to convince
Raphael Varane heads home Man United's first goal of the Premier League season
Manchester United’s Raphael Varane scores their first goal vs Wolves
Manchester United’s opener at home to Wolves looked, on paper, to be a dead cert home win but the Red Devils played like the underdogs for much of the game. They conceded 23 shots and six on target while only recording 15 and three themselves. And this was against a team widely tipped for relegation following upheaval at Molineux.
The top class defensive partnership of Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez earned a shut out, with the help of an incredible miss by Wolves striker Matheus Cunha, and Varane headed home a late winner. And a bizarre decision not to award Wolves a penalty in the dying moments confounded the visitors further. United keeper Andre Onana failed to claim the ball and smashed into Wolves forward Sasa Kalajdzic and, remarkably, the referee didn’t point to the spot. It was equally astonishing that VAR declined to intervene as you will hardly ever see a more obvious error.
The decision did hand the Red Devils three welcome points and Ten Hag knows his team needs to step up and win games for themselves.
History
In the Premier League era the Red Devils have won exactly two-thirds of their meetings with Tottenham, winning 44 of the head to head Spurs vs Manchester United results from a total of 66 encounters. There have been 12 draws and ten Tottenham wins, while the corresponding result last season ended in a 2-2 draw.
Spurs last home win against Manchester United came in 2018.
In terms of pre-season and opening day form, the Whites are a little stronger with three wins, one draw and two defeats from their last six outings while the Red Devils have won two, drawn one and lost three.
Betting Tip
⭐⭐
Tottenham Hotspur VS Manchester United
August 20, 00:30 (GMT+8)
Spurs Asian Handicap 0.00
@ 2.17
At a SBOTOP price of 2.27 the pre-match Spurs vs Manchester United betting odds make the visitors marginal favourites to win this match but the opening day performances of either team hardly bare that up.
Spurs at priced at 2.60 and the draw is at 3.30 and my prediction is that one of those two offers will pay out.
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This message was edited by SBOTOP on 18-Aug-2023 at 12:22 PM
Premier League: Bournemouth Return to Merseyside a Year on from Mauling
Liverpool vs Bournemouth
The two Premier League meetings between these sides last season were certainly defining moments in the campaign.
In late August, Liverpool put nine past Bournemouth without reply to equal the record for the highest ever Premier League victory.
It was a win which highlighted the Merseysiders’ undoubted talent, but also suggested the Cherries were ill equipped for the top flight.
What followed was as surprising as it was breathtaking.
No one could have been too taken aback when Scott Parker received his P45 72 hours later but, that he was replaced by an even more inexperienced coach, initially on a temporary basis, had this pundit and many others believing they were certs for the drop.
Oh, how wrong we were!
Gary O’Neil did such a good job that he was appointed on a permanent basis and, with the south coast club, struggling in early spring, masterminded a shock, 1-0 home victory over Liverpool in the return game to trigger their run to safety against clubs with much bigger budgets.
It was another defining moment during a season in which Bournemouth survived with weeks to spare and Liverpool missed out on qualifying for the Champions League – a position no one would have predicted after that initial contest.
Now 12 months on, here we go again for two clubs seeking Premier League highlights.
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Talking Points
Both opened with 1-1 draws last weekend.
Liverpool were at Chelsea where both sides delivered a prime example of why they were doing battle over Moises Caicedo, the Ecuadorian talent who has subsequently joined Chelsea from Brighton.
Their search for midfield reinforcements is continuing with the arrival of World Cup winner Alexis MacAllister and Dominik Szoboszlai earlier this summer, offset by the departures of former captain Jordan Henderson and Fabinho.
It appears they are close to a deal to sign Stuttgart captain, Japanese international Wataru Endo who has already agreed personal terms and views the move as the biggest opportunity of his career.
The transfer has been driven by Liverpool’s new sporting director Jörg Schmadtke, who was appointed in May.
Meanwhile, Dominic Solanke salvaged a draw for Bournemouth against West Ham in Andoni Iraola’s first Premier League game in charge of the Cherries.
Iraola is in charge at the Vitality Stadium after O’Neil was harshly sacked.
Dominic Solanke scores for Bournemouth to level the scoreline against West Ham in the Premier League
Dominic Solanke celebrates with teammates after scoring against West Ham
Iraola was known in Spain for direct attacking football with full-backs heavily involved, and he gave debuts to summer signings Max Aarons and Milos Kerkez in the two full-back slots.
They also have in their ranks Dutch winger Justin Kluivert, son of Patrick who has signed from Roma, joining a select group of players in the process.
He is the fourth player to feature in each of Europe’s top five leagues – the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and Serie A – after Florin Raducioiu, Christian Poulsen and Steven Jovetic.
If Kluivert junior can produce moments similar to that enjoyed by his father, Bournemouth may be in for some special times.
History
These sides have only met 19 times in their history – and 15 of those have been since 2014.
But while Liverpool have a dominant record, the Cherries have had a few moments to savour.
Not least in 2016 when they won one of the games of the season, fighting back from 3-1 down with quarter of an hour remaining to clinch a seven-goal thriller.
They followed that up four months later with a 2-2 draw at Anfield when Josh King scored a late equaliser.
The 9-0 romp last term was led by two goal Luiz Diaz and Roberto Firmino, while Philip Billing was the star on the south coast in March.
Betting Tip
⭐⭐
Liverpool VS Bournemouth
August 19, 22:00 (GMT+8)
Liverpool First Half Asian Handicap -1.00
@ 2.17
The gap is vast as you’d expect with the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds.
For example, Liverpool are priced 1X2 @ 1.21 with Bournemouth far out @ 11.50.
It is similar with Asian Handicap odds as the home side are on offer -2.00 at 2.02 with Bournemouth +1.75 @ 2.14.
The draw will earn you a payday @ 5.40.
There are usually goals aplenty in this match and that is reflected with odds of over 3.75 @ 2.21, total goal 2-3 @ 2.35 and 4-6 @ 2.20.
Compare that with 0-1 @ 6.80 and you can see a distinct difference.
I am plumping for a home win and my ** prediction is First Half Asian Handicap Liverpool -1.00 @ 2.17.
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This message was edited by SBOTOP on 18-Aug-2023 at 12:24 PM
Premier League: Can Fulham Stop the Sky Blue Juggernaut?
Manchester City vs Fulham
Marco Silva’s Fulham is the next team to face up to Premier League champions Manchester City; it’s a huge task for the Cottagers but they’ll be right up for it.
Not that being up for it is usually enough to beat the treble winners, Fulham will need to play to their best; and if they do that is a level which can trouble the top sides in the country, as Arsenal discovered last weekend. Silva’s boys took a point away from the Emirates, despite going down to ten men, and that makes it four points from three games for the Cottagers.
The Sky Blues have picked up three wins from three and are already at the top of the Premier League table; and they are fully expected to see off the Londoners. And they have a player who has hit superb form in the first three games.
Talking Points
Rodri can dominate any midfield
The Premier League 2023 betting odds have dropped the price on a Sky Blues title to 1.45 already, following wins over Burnley, Newcastle United and Sheffield United. And sure as night follows day, the goal-scoring machine Erling Braut Haaland has already scored three goals. But the man who has received the most enthusiastic plaudits at the Etihad is midfield general Rodri.
Rodri will feature for Manchester City against Fulham in the Premier League
Manchester City’s Rodri celebrates scoring their second goal vs Sheffield United
The Spain star scored the goal which won the 2023 Champions League for the Sky Blues, hitting the only goal of the final against Inter Milan. He is not a prolific scorer, with just one goal in 43 internationals but he has bagged 16 for his club from 141 games, and two already this season. He scored the killer goal in Manchester City’s opening day win over Burnley and he was on target again last weekend. The Sky Blues didn’t exactly coast through their match with Sheffield United but it was a major shock when Jaden Bogle equalised for the Blades with just five minutes remaining. Haaland had missed a penalty and then scored the opener; and once they had been pegged back the Sky Blues flew into action again and Rodri sent an unstoppable rocket into the Sheffield net.
He’s better known for his passing range, driving runs, positional sense and clean tackling and, now that he has added goals to his game, Rodri is one of the every best midfield players in the world.
While Pep Guardiola recovers from his back surgery Juanma Lillo will be in the dugout for the Sky Blues; but the caretaker has plenty of leaders on the field to help him, not least his Spanish star.
Fulham searching for consistency
The Cottagers have had a full set of Premier League 2023 results over their first three games. A 1-0 win at Everton and a 2-2 draw away to Arsenal were punctuated by a 3-0 loss at home to Brentford; two strong performances and a day to forget and, while it will be difficult to take anything from the Etihad Stadium, Silva will be determined to ensure his team doesn’t roll over again. Consistency is hard to come by but, once it is achieved, it will guarantee success.
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The loss of Aleksandar Mitrovic to Al-Hilal means that goals may be harder to come by, but the signings of Raul Jimenez and Adama Traore from Wolves will give the Cottagers more muscle up front. The man who can make the difference for Fulham, though, is midfield ace Joao Palhinha. After another new recruit, Calvin Bassey, was red carded against Arsenal with the score at 2-1, Palhinha was the man on the spot to make it 2-2 late in the game.
He had a superb debut Premier League campaign last season and is one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the competition. His tussle with Rodri could be the key battle in this match.
History
Manchester City have had much the better of their meetings with Fulham, winning 24 of their 36 encounters since the turn of the century while Fulham have won four matches and there have been 12 draws.
Guardiola’s team won both meetings by a 2-1 score line last season and the Sky Blues are unbeaten in 12 matches at home to the Cottagers; and it is difficult to make a case for the visitors to the Etihad this weekend.
Betting Tip
⭐⭐
Manchester City VS Fulham
September 02, 22:00 (GMT+8)
Under 3.50
@1.89
Manchester City are at odds of 1.15 to win this match, with the Cottagers at 12.04 and the draw is at 5.99. Fulham have plenty of quality in their team and are coming to terms with life after Mitrovic, but I think this is a step to far for Silva’s men.
A 2-0 win for City at SBOTOP odds of 5.99 is the most likely outcome and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Haaland to score again…or maybe Rodri!
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This message was edited by SBOTOP on 31-Aug-2023 at 5:17 PM
Premier League: Traditionalists Set for Turf Moor Test
Burnley vs Tottenham Hotspur
Now here is a Premier League clash for the traditionalists, as two of English football’s great clubs meeting at one of English football’s famous old grounds.
Two clubs with pedigree and heritage; two clubs with a reputation for paying attractive football; two clubs who have witnessed the good times and the bad times (particularly the hosts).
I know of two lifelong friends from the Isle of Man who travel to this game. They travel by ferry and train together to Lancashire. One goes in the home end, the other in the away end.
They then, presumably, reflect on the 90 plus minutes they have seen and share tales of yesteryear. What stories they must have.
I wonder if they will be heading to Turf Moor again this weekend.
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Brighton & Hove AlbionNewcastle United
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Talking Points
Burnley are far more in need of a kickstart to their season after two home defeats thus far, albeit against the champions Manchester City and an impressive Aston Villa.
Spurs, meanwhile, are three games in and have enjoyed some early season Premier League 2023 highlights with victories over Manchester United and Bournemouth following their opening weekend draw at Brentford.
Those results have made Spurs fans smile again after the sadness of losing Harry Kane to Bayern Munich on the eve of the new campaign.
They also have a midfielder who must feel like a new signing. Yves Bissouma was Antonio Conte’s first acquisition at Spurs last summer but made just three forgettable league starts after Christmas.
While James Maddison took the headlines in victory at Bournemouth, Bissouma, who has started all three games under new manager Ange Postecoglou this campaign, was again excellent.
The Bournemouth manager, Andoni Iraola, picked out the Mali international’s renewed form last weekend and his dynamism was evident throughout. The all-action midfielder, for whom Tottenham paid an initial £25 million, is among those reinvigorated so far by a fresh man at the helm.
In midweek, Postecoglou made nine changes for the League Cup clash at Fulham. Micky van de Ven and Richarlison were the only two players to remain in the starting XI from the weekend, with Ben Davies taking on the captain’s armband as Son Heung-min, James Maddison, and Cristian Romero were named on the bench.
I would expect them all to return for this one.
As for Burnley, it would be unfair to judge last season’ runaway Championship winners just yet. They were carved open too easily by Villa on Sunday and, after conceding two early goals, were always up against it.
Vincent Kompany and Burnley suffered defeat in their last two Premier League games
Burnley manager Vincent Kompany during their match against Aston Villa
Their best chance of getting a positive result in this one will be to keep it tight (they also conceded against City just four minutes in) as the learning curve in the top flight continues, a factor manager Vincent Kompany has been quick to acknowledge.
I do not think Burnley will go straight back down this season unlike the other two promoted clubs, and I do not think Spurs will finish in the top four.
However, few can argue they are not making potential progress under a Belgian and a Greek boss both beginning their first campaigns as top flight managers.
History
Historically, these two clubs have been evenly matched with 42 Burnley successes, 52 Spurs victories and 28 draws.
Their most recent matches in the top flight two seasons ago saw each record a 1-0 win at home.
Ben Mee, now of Brentford, netted the only goal as the Clarets enjoyed a 1-0 success at Turf Moor.
It was Kane who scored a penalty to reverse the scoreline in North London three months later.
That Burnley success in February last year remains one of only two wins in their last 17 clashes.
Their very first meeting came in the FA Cup first round in 1906 when goals from Peter Kyle and Vivian Woodward secured Spurs a 2-0 win at White Hart Lane.
Betting Tip
⭐⭐
Burnley VS Tottenham Hotspur
September 2, 22:00 (GMT+8)
1X2 Draw
@ 3.85
The SBOTOP Premier League 2023 betting odds are backing Spurs including 1X2 @ 1.85 and Asian Handicap -0.75 @ 2.07. The home team is priced 1X2 @ 3.35 and Asian Handicap +0.25 @ 2.40.
A 1X2 Draw has attractive odds of @ 3.85, while a re-run of their last meeting in this part of Lancashire will ensure you enjoy a payout of @ 13.50 with Correct Score.
If you fancy goals, how about over 3.00 @ 2.14 or Total Goals 4-6 @ 2.85? I don’t think there will be quite that many goals but I do think there will be a few, and I’m going for a draw.
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This message was edited by SBOTOP on 31-Aug-2023 at 5:20 PM
Premier League: South Coast Peril for Nervous Magpies
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Newcastle United
Two of the top flight’s brightest young managers come face to face on Saturday when Premier League: Brighton vs Newcastle United will be main attraction South of London.
Following the departure of Graham Potter to Chelsea, Roberto de Zerbi took the Seagulls to the next level and they are embarking on their first ever European adventure. Pep Guardiola has described the Brighton boss as ‘one of the most influential managers in the last 20 years’ and, if he continues to deliver on the South Coast, De Zerbi will become a hotter property by the year.
His opposite number Eddie Howe made his name when he led Bournemouth to the Premier League, back in 2015, and now he is the head coach of the richest club in England….if not the world.
Which coach is under more pressure? I’d say Eddie; the club’s Saudi owners expect success and Newcastle’s start to this campaign has yielded three points from three games, while the Seagulls have six. The fact this is a sixth place versus 13th match doesn’t tell us much, so early in the season, but back-to-back defeats for the mega-rich Magpies is a rarity, though the did face Manchester City and Liverpool. Brighton have arguably had an easier start, winning games against Luton Town and Wolves, before losing to West Ham and De Zerbi’s bright young team will fancy this one.
Talking Points
New look Brighton can still rock
The Seagulls’ model worked like a charm last season. The club is well backed by their owners and they buy young and little known talent, develop it and sell for a huge profit. Last season Leandro Trossard went to title chasing Arsenal and this summer Alexis MacAllister and Moises Caicedo have departed for a combined £150m – as well as goalkeeper Robert Sanchez for a further £25m.
Brighton's Solly March has high hopes for the remainder of the Premier League season
Brighton & Hove Albion’s Solly March celebrates scoring their third goal with Julio Enciso and teammates
The £30m paid to bring forward Joao Pedro from Watford smashed the Seagulls’ incoming transfer record and, apart from that swoop, De Zerbi has brought in highly rated keeper Bart Verbruggen from Anderlecht and the evergreen utility man James Milner from Liverpool. These three astute signings are integrating nicely into a squad which retains many of the players who took the Seagulls into Europe.
Captain Lewis Dunk remains one of the most under-rated centre backs in the game, though not by Brighton fans; experienced winger Solly March has already weighed with three goals and 18-year-old striker Evan Ferguson is one of the most exciting prospects in the Premier League.
The Seagulls’ bank holiday meeting with West Ham turned out to be anything other than a treat but De Zerbi will ensure his players have learned from that and are ready to move on. He has the perfect blend of youth and experience and these are exciting times at the Amex; Brighton fans have never had it so good.
Newcastle may need a little patience
Three points from three games isn’t a spectacular return but after losing to champions Manchester City the Geordies clash with Liverpool was always going to be a tough assignment, and two late goals from Darwin Nunez stunned the Geordies. This is not yet the time to panic, though that is never really a risk for the super cool Howe.
Last season he guided the team to the Champions League by moulding together a carefully recruited group of players; and he has bought well again this summer, bringing in attacking midfielder Harvey Barnes from Leicester for £39m and midfield ace
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Sandro Tonali from AC Milan for £55m. The Italian star should link up well with Bruno Guimaraes who was the Magpies’ best player last season. He was absent for six league games last season and Newcastle didn’t win any of them. Bruno is a key man at both ends of the pitch, breaking up attacks, he has a neat passing game but can also hit the longer defence piercing balls, and he can drive at a defence and shoot with either foot.
With the Champions League set to keep the fans’ excitement mounting, Howe, along with his assistant Jason Tindall, has plenty to handle and he needs to balance domestic and European priorities. With Brentford, Sheffield United and Burnley to come after the international break the Magpies will surely pick up more points soon, so I’d say a draw would suit Howe on Saturday.
History
The Brighton vs Newcastle United results tell a story of a close battle between two upwardly mobile clubs, with the Seagulls edging the recent wins by six to five and there have been six draws.
Brighton won ten, drew four and lost five of their games at the Amex Stadium last season while Newcastle lost just three games on the road. But the Magpies have failed to win on their last six visits to Brighton and last season the fixture ended in a goalless draw.
Betting Tip
⭐⭐
Brighton VS Newcastle United
September 03, 00:30 (GMT+8)
Brighton Asian Handicap 0.00
@ 1.99
The latest SBOTOP odds on the 2023/24 Premier League title winner places Newcastle sixth at a price of 28.00 and Brighton eighth at 81.00. So we are confident the Magpies will chase down the Seagulls long before the end of the campaign.
But can they do it on Saturday?
That’s a tough call to make and the Brighton vs Newcastle United betting odds reckon it will be very tight indeed, with the visitors marginal favourites at a price of 2.39 and the hosts at 2.48. So how about the draw at 3.25? Well that may well be the outcome but if either team is to sneak it, I’m going for the Seagulls.
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This message was edited by SBOTOP on 31-Aug-2023 at 5:22 PM
Premier League: Free-Spending Chelsea Have Momentum Ahead of Forest Clash
Chelsea vs Nottingham Forest
Chelsea are set to host Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge on Saturday with the aim of recording back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time in the 2023-24 season.
The Blues won against the newly promoted Luton Town on Saturday with a 3-0 scoreline, and they are in good spirits following their 2-1 comeback win against AFC Wimbledon in the second round of the EFL Cup.
In stark contrast, Nottingham Forest are not in a great mood because Steve Cooper’s boys are fresh from a 3-2 Premier League loss against Manchester United and they are already out of the EFL Cup after losing to Burnley 1-0.
Will Nottingham Forest break out of their rut, or will it continue because of Chelsea’s recent run? Take a look at today’s SBOTOP preview for this contest.
PREMIER LEAGUE
Manchester CityFulham
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Talking Points
A healthier squad would be nice for Chelsea
The Blues have been criticised (or even ridiculed) for spending a ton this summer transfer window to reinforce their squad. But given their lineup situation, it’s understandable why they had to do it.
Sure, having a rich owner like Todd Boehly helps, but they also managed to sell several players in order to not go overboard with the FFP rules.
Perhaps before the summer transfer window deadline, they will get another player or two, but the fact remains that Mauricio Pochettino won’t have a full squad to choose from, with a huge chunk of their roster expected to be fit in mid-September after the international break.
Team captain Reece James (hamstring), Carney Chukwuemeka (knee), Mykhailo Mudryk (fitness), and Romeo Lavia (fitness) are the latest blows for Chelsea. As it stands today, the Blues will miss at least 10 players ahead of their game against Nottingham Forest.
Wing-back Malo Gusto has slotted in nicely for Reece James, while Raheem Sterling, Nicolas Jackson, Conor Gallagher, and Enzo Fernandez have also played well recently for Chelsea. Prized acquisition Moises Caicedo is also adapting well, to his credit.
With the exception of Gallagher, all of them were rested against AFC Wimbledon, so they should get back into the starting lineup on Saturday.
Awoniyi putting Nottingham Forest on his back
Nottingham Forest will rely on Taiwo Awoniyi to score in their next Premier League game against Chelsea
Nottingham Forest’s Taiwo Awoniyi celebrates after scoring their first goal against Manchester United
Taiwo Awoniyi scored probably the quickest goal of his career when he put one past Manchester United after the first two minutes of the game. Willy Boly added another one for Nottingham Forest two minutes later, but it was all gone for naught as the Red Devils made a furious comeback.
In their EFL Cup loss against Burnley last night, Awoniyi was rested and only came off the bench in the 88th minute.
The game would’ve been much different if he was started up front alongside Brennan Johnson and Morgan Gibbs-White, but Steve Cooper decided to save him for this weekend in favour of Anthony Elanga and Chris Wood instead.
The Nigerian striker is in great form, to say the least, as he has already scored three goals in three league games for Nottingham Forest. All in all, Taiwo Awoniyi has scored in each of his last seven league matches (nine goals), dating back to last season.
History
Chelsea and Nottingham Forest had back-to-back exciting draws last season: 1-1 in January and 2-2 in May this year. Raheem Sterling scored all three goals for Chelsea, while Taiwo Awoniyi registered two and Serge Aurier scored one for Nottingham Forest.
The Blues are undefeated in their last nine meetings with Nottingham Forest across all competitions since a 2-0 loss in January 1997.
The visitors have won just one of their last 14 road matches against the Blues in all competitions (D5, L8). Their last road win against them was a 2-0 result in January 1995.
And since their return to the English top-flight last season, Nottingham Forest have won just one of their 21 Premier League road matches (D5, L15).
Betting Tip
⭐⭐⭐
Chelsea VS Nottingham Forest
September 02, 22:00 (GMT+8)
Chelsea Asian Handicap -1.00
@1.62
The Premier League 2023 odds have the hosts as the favourites to win on Saturday, as Chelsea are priced at 1.34, while a Nottingham Forest win is at 6.80, and a draw is pegged at 4.80 in the 1X2 market.
Nottingham Forest managed to draw with Chelsea twice last season, but that also means that Chelsea are unbeaten against them in quite some time, and that speaks for itself.
Moreover, with these two teams in good scoring form, there should be a handful of goals that will be in the Premier League 2023 highlights reel this weekend, making Over 2.50 at 1.67 a viable alternative bet.
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This message was edited by SBOTOP on 31-Aug-2023 at 6:49 PM
Premier League: Arsenal vs Manchester United is Always a Blockbuster!
Arsenal vs Manchester United
It’s box office stuff and Premier League: Arsenal vs Manchester United is one of those top-flight fixtures etched in history. During the clubs’ golden periods of the 2000s, there were some epic clashes, notably the Pizzagate battle of 2004 when Sir Alex Ferguson was allegedly struck by a flying slice of Pizza in the after-match melee in the player’s tunnel!
My SBOTOP colleague James, a diehard Manchester United fan, sees the Gunners as the team to beat, alongside Liverpool and Leeds United. There is a unique blend of mutual respect and bad blood between these two sides and James will be glued to the telly on Sunday. It may be difficult watching for him though as Mikel Arteta’s Gunners are aiming to maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign. They beat Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace but were frustrated in a 2-2 draw with Fulham last week, while the Red Devils edged past Nottingham Forest in a five goal thriller to make it two wins from three.
With seven points and six, we’re set up for another Arsenal vs Manchester United cracker so let’s take a look at the early team news.
PREMIER LEAGUE
Luton TownWest Ham United
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Talking Points
Jesus to start for Arsenal?
The Gunners could give a start to Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus on Sunday after reports in North London confirmed he has recovered from a knee injury. Arteta has played his opening three games without an out-and-out striker and has relied on goals from Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah who have two each. Saka has scored in each of his last three matches against Manchester United and no player in Arsenal’s history has scored four times in a row against the Red Devils.
Bukayo Saka is expected to lead his side when Arsenal take on Manchester United in Premier League
Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka in action during their Premier League match against Fulham
While Baka is sure to start there is a slight doubt over the fitness of Nketiah who suffered a knock to the knee in the match against Fulham and Arteta will make a late check on him. If he is unfit then Jesus will surely step in. With Jurrien Timber out for the foreseeable future Arteta could bring Oleksandr Zinchenko back into the starting line-up, while Takeshiro Tomiyasu is available again after serving a one match ban for his red card against Crystal Palace.
The Manchester City juggernaut is already gathering pace and Arsenal don’t want to lose touch. But they have lost just two of their last 24 home league games and have a good recent record against the Red Devils.
Varane out for United
The bad news for Manchester United is that one of their best defenders is out of action. Raphael Varane is sidelined for a few weeks and he joins midfielder Mason Mount and full back Luke Shaw in the treatment room. Varane is the biggest loss of the three as he forms a dominant centre back partnership with Lisandro Martinez and head coach Erik Ten Hag has a decision to make. He is likely to bring in Victor Lindelof who replaced Varane when he limped off at half time against Forest.
Up front, new £72m striker Rasmus Hojlund could be set to start while Bruno Fernandes remains the Red Devils’ key player. The midfield ace is hitting a good run of form, scoring three goals in his last five Premier League games having bagged just once in the previous 15.
History
Away from Pizzagate there have been plenty of tasty clashes between these two teams and the Red Devils have had the better of the head to head Arsenal vs Manchester results, with 34 wins to 22 in the Premier League era.
There were two cracking battles last season. United stunned the Gunners with a 3-1 win at Old Trafford, early in the campaign; but Arsenal got their revenge at the Emirates when Eddie Nketiah scored a 90th minute winner in a 3-2 thriller.
The Red Devils have failed to win at the Emirates on their last five visits, losing four, and recent form suggests they will struggle to break that sequence. Ten Hag’s side have won three, draw one and lost two of the last six games, while Arsenal have won five and drawn one.
Betting Tip
⭐⭐
Arsenal VS Manchester United
September 03, 11:30 (GMT+8)
Total Goals 2-3
@ 2.09
The Arsenal vs Manchester United betting odds are backing a home win at a price of 1.78, while the Red Devils are priced at 3.49 to win, 3.54 to draw or 1.85 with the Double Chance: Win or Draw.
I’m sorry James but I think this is going to be tough for your boys and I suspect Ten Hag would be delighted with a draw. I’m going to hedge on 2-3 goals and I think that means a 2-0 win to Arsenal or 2-1 at 6.76; but hey, a 1-1 draw is priced at 6.95 and that would be a winner too, particularly for our friends up North!
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This message was edited by SBOTOP on 05-Sep-2023 at 1:42 PM
Premier League: Fati is Fairytale Story of Transfer Deadline Day
Whether you are a fan of the transfer window or not, there is no denying that summer deadline day is one of the most compelling shows in town.
The Premier League is the top attraction too with television money ensuring many of the top flight clubs can splash the cash at a level not previously witnessed.
Yet before seeing how the movers and shakers have influenced the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds, there is one story which comes along every so often which gives you a glow.
This time it has focused on a player who has been mooted as one of the game’s bright young talents for a fair few years now.
Only in bursts has he been seen up to date but no-one, not even the most ardent fan, could have predicted he would leave the bright lights of Catalonia for the south-coast and the seaside of Brighton.
Step forward Ansu Fati.
You may remember him as Barcelona’s second youngest debutant when he came on against Real Betis aged 16 in August 2019. Four days later, he became the club’s youngest ever scorer by finding the net against Osasuna.
The Spain international has suffered injury issues but still made 51 appearances last season, scoring 10 goals and assisting four more as Barca won the La Liga title.
Deemed surplus to requirements at Barca this season, where would he go?
Well, as Scott McCarthy from a popular fan site associated with his new home, eloquently put: ‘September 1, 2023, will go down as one of the most surreal days in the history of the Albion. Little old Brighton signing the best players from Barca’s academy on the same day the Europa League draw gives us matches against former European champions Ajax and Marseille, along with a trip to AEK Athens.’
And it is so true.
Brighton had spent 35 years out of the top flight until 2018 and now they are so attractive that they can attract a player of his talent.
It also shows how attractive the football served by manager Roberto De Zerbi is proving.
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1X2 Manchester United @ 3.70
Arsenal Asian Handicap -1.00 @ 2.29
Under 3.00 @ 2.05
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The manager himself says he has an ‘overwhelming duty’ to help the player and he has been entrusted to do just that.
De Zerbi, who recently lost Julio Enciso to a long-term knee issue, says he simply “can’t make mistakes” as he bids to develop the exciting forward during his stay at the Amex Stadium.
At a time when the giant clubs flex their muscles seemingly on a whim, what a heartening signing this is for Brighton and the game generally.
The club’s burgeoning ability to improve youngsters has clearly made players – and clubs – sit up and take notice. If they can get Fati firing again, what a fine team they’ll be to watch.
Of course, when the big clubs start moving, that’s what triggers everything else and that was very evident on deadline day.
Who were the winners apart from Brighton?
Well, having already made a promising start to the new campaign, there is also another club which is going places under a smart and experienced figure that appear to have recruited well.
Aston Villa have further strengthened by sealing the loan signing of French international Clément Lenglet.
The centre-back joins Villa from Barcelona and returns to the Premier League having spent last term on loan at Spurs.
Lenglet started his career with Nancy in his native France before going on to enjoy a spell at Sevilla and will be a useful addition after centre back Tyrone Mings sustained a leg injury on the opening weekend.
He is one of a number of arrivals at Villa Park this summer, including Youri Tielemans, Pau Torres and Moussa Diaby.
There are some promising moves elsewhere too.
Nottingham Forest, who have sold winger Brennan Johnson to Spurs, seem to have bought well too in Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, midfielder Nicolas Dominguez from Bologna, goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos from Benfica and Arsenal full-back Nuno Tavares.
Less so Everton, who appear weaker, and Luton who, presumably, have not had the funds to go shopping anywhere other than the bargain basement. It may prove telling come next May.
Of course, all of the established big hitters are starting from a position of strength and are expected to deliver the main Premier League highlights over the next nine months.
But I ask a final question, what do you make of Chelsea’s recruitment?
On Friday they signed their 13th player of the summer by completing the initial £40m signing of Cole Palmer from champions Manchester City.
The winger has signed a seven-year deal with the option of an extra year in a boost to manager Mauricio Pochettino, who has been pushing his employers to buy an attacking player since losing Christopher Nkunku to a long-term knee injury last month.
This is a player who made an encouraging start to the season, scoring against Arsenal in the Community Shield and Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup, and also played a pivotal role in England’s Under-21s winning the European Championships this summer.
Matheus Nunes scored only once and provided just one assist for Wolves in the Premier League last season
Matheus Nunes fights for the ball during Wolves’ game against Manchester United
However, with Belgian Jeremy Doku and Matheus Nunes now recruited, Palmer needs regular football and his sale will strengthen City’s Financial Fair Play position. Money received for academy products counts as pure profit in FFP terms.
So, there you have it.
While the big clubs will continue to have a distinct advantage, but there are smart, astute moves to be had.
Who are your winners and losers?
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This message was edited by SBOTOP on 05-Sep-2023 at 1:45 PM
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