Another weekend, another dollar as Liverpool travel to Chelsea on Sunday and Wag provides his best picks. Wag went 4-6 over the weekend as he predicted an upset by Crystal Palace, not Norwich City. So close, but here are Wag’s picks.
Rough, rough weekend for me. I’m shaking my head towards Everton because, like wtf! All this offensive power that can play keep away but not actual football. The difference between football and keep away is that the ball has to cross the line in front of this rectangular shape for you to score what’s called a goal. The team with the most goals wins. Somebody relay that message to Everton. Much appreshh! I’m also shaking my head towards Crystal Palace because that was an abysmal performance on their behalf. If only I put into account Norwich was playing at home, however, good thing I told y’all to bet the Over when they played Manchester City. The Over continues to be our best friend!
Onto matchday 6, we have a (Drum roll please) top 6 fixture between Chelsea and Liverpool come Sunday! Leicester City is still sitting in the top 4 after their 1-0 loss to Manchester United as Chelsea find their Premier League feet. Even West Ham United are putting in a little fight after their 0-0 tie on Monday. Liverpool has a five-point lead after Manchester City’s blunder against Norwich City. Sure enough, Liverpool will piss away the lead come January, although I really hope not because I have them winning the damn thing. Onto the games. I will still be giving you Over/Under predictions, I just couldn’t fit it all into this image. Deal with it 🙂
MatchDay 6 William Hill Lines
Southampton vs. Bournemouth
PREVIEW
Friday night lights will be switched on in Southampton as Bournemouth travel along the coast to visit the Saints. Bournemouth beat Everton 3-1 with the help of Callum Wilson’s brace ending Bournemouth’s two-game skid. Bournemouth has scored two free-kick goals in three Premier League games like the free-kick specialist they are… whatever that means. Southampton scored the lone goal against Sheffield United as they now sit 10th in the table even though Southampton did not deserve the win as Sheffield was the more dominant team. A Billy Sharp red card helped seal the deal for Southampton, gaining confidence as Bournemouth strut into town.
KEY STATS
- Southampton lost 1 of 8 PL meeting with Bournemouth
- Bournemouth have never won in Southampton (15 attempts)
- Bournemouth won their previous Friday game vs. Brighton (2017)
- Southampton lost their last 4 Friday games (3 in the Championship)
PREDICTION
This game is a SOB to predict. Southampton hasn’t in four games, beating Brighton, Sheffield, Fulham (in the Carabao Cup) and tied Manchester United. Bournemouth got whooped by Leicester City on their last away trip but the brace from Wilson and Frazer getting on the score sheet can prove to be a confidence booster for the cherries. I can’t decide on what team to bet on, but I am sure that the Under is a steal!
Leicester City vs. Tottenham
PREVIEW
Tottenham Hotspurs travel to Leicester City for their early match day 6 fixture. After Tottenham played the best 45 minutes of their lives against Crystal Palace, they shit the bed against Champions League side Olympiakos. A penalty call for the greek’s saw them grab a point at home against the Spurs. Leicester suffered an away defeat against Manchester United undeservedly. Leicester was the clear better team with full control of the game, but the United defense prevailed Vardy from scoring. This can only mean 1 thing..
KEY STATS
- Leicester won 1 of 6 home games vs. Spurs
- Spurs won 4 of last 5 games vs. Leicester
- Leicester have scored more goals vs. Spurs than against other teams
PREDICTION
I’m not going to lie, Vardy not scoring against United tingles my brain in that he will score in this game. Especially at the King Power Stadium, even though Leicester has a bad record versus the Spurs at the King Power. If there is an upset that would happen this week, it’s going to be the Foxes ravaging the Spurs.
Burnley vs. Norwich City
PREVIEW
14th place Burnley host a Norwich squad who just beat the Premier League Champions of Manchester City. Norwich City is buzzing as the fans and the team hopes to carry that momentum into Burnley. Teemu Pukki continues to be the driving force of this Norwich team. Burnley is struggling to find their identity since their matchday 1 victory over Southampton. Burnley squeezed themselves a point leaving the coast of Brighton last weekend, thanks to a 91st-minute cracker from Jeff Hendrick.
KEY STATS
- Burnley lost 1 of last 9 vs. Norwich (All from Championship)
- Burnley lost 1 of 17 home games vs. Norwich
- Norwich lost 15 of 17 away games in the PL
PREDICTION
A lot of people will be riding the Canaries wave after their shocking victory over Manchester City. And Burnley is due for a win. But do I want to bet against Pukki, who has scored in every game when Norwich scores? It doesn’t help that their last fixture was seven years ago. Welcome to my brain. I’m going to say ‘Fuck it’ and bet the Over 2.5! So you probably should bet the Under haha!
Everton vs. Sheffield United
PREVIEW
Sheffield head west to visit Everton as they look to bounce back without club legend Billy Sharp. Sheffield’s loss to Southampton brought the newly promoted team down to 15th place in the Premier League standings. The Toffees were whooped by hosts Bournemouth even though Everton had a majority of the possession. It is a fact that you can’t win games by keeping most of the possession. Just an FYI for individuals who are confused about how football works “coughcoughEvertoncoughcough”, excuse me. Either way, this is a matchup that will cash us out with the big bucks.
KEY STATS
- Everton lost 3 of last 4 PL games against promoted sides
- Everton conceded 19 goals from set-pieces, more than any other team since August 2018
- Everton lost 20 games when they are behind a goal
PREDICTION
As much as I love the underdog story, this one will not be a happy ending for the Blades. Although Everton is struggling to convert goals, their confidence rises high when they play at Goodison Park. Everton’s last loss at home was against Manchester City back in February, riding a six game win streak at home. Beating Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester United within that streak. Everton Money Line is the smart bet!
Manchester City vs. Watford
PREVIEW
Last place Watford travel to Manchester as they are scheduled to face Man City on Saturday. Watford snagged a point from Arsenal thanks to a taunt by David Luiz’s mini-me. It is unfortunate that Watford has to face a City team that just lost to promoted Norwich City. Remember the beginning of the Battle of Winterfell in ‘Game of Thrones’? Manchester City is that smog running towards the Armies. But instead of *SPOILER ALERT* Arya killing the Night King at the end, Manchester City will take over Winterfell. Manchester City bounced back against Shakhtar in the Champions League fixture, putting the Norwich fixture behind them as they focus to catch Liverpool.
KEY STATS
- Manchester City have scored at least 2 goals each game vs. Watford
- Watford has lost each of their last 15 PL away games vs. Top 6
PREDICTION
The oddsmakers have changed the Over/Under to 4 goals for this fixture. You can’t blame them, City is practically married to the Over. But they failed to hit the Over against Shakhtar. Too many ineffective shots were taken, as this could be the indicator to a City cool down for the next few fixtures. Even though City is playing at the Etihad, I don’t think they will score 5 goals to hit the Over
Newcastle vs. Brighton
PREVIEW
Newcastle host Brighton in their sixth fixture of the season as both teams desperately need 3 points, especially Newcastle. Newcastle’s only win is against the Spurs, but did you really expect them to beat Liverpool at Anfield? Yikes man. Joelinton needs to be more prolific for Newcastle so they can stay in the top flight. Brighton was heartbroken after a Jeff Hendrick last-minute stunner for Burnley to tie the game. These two teams have a very low scoring history when they go head-to-head.
KEY STATS
- Since both teams were promoted in 16/17, Newcastle has not beaten Brighton
- 4 goals were scored in 4 meetings between the two teams
- Brighton won 1 of last 14 PL matches, scoring 8 goals total
PREDICTION
Welcome to the snooze fest. This game will make you get up from the couch and do all the chores your significant other has assigned to you. But overall the lack of offense both teams possess is overwhelming me to bet BIG on the under. And I might add my car keys to that bet as well.
Crystal Palace vs. Wolves
PREVIEW
Crystal Palace will play host to the Wolverhampton Wanderers Sunday morning as both teams look to bounce back after their loses. Crystal Palace was beaten after the first-half in Tottenham as I take a deep breath and realize how stupid my prediction was. The Wolves are on a shocking decline sitting second-to-last in the table. Their Europa League qualification rounds prove to have hit a toll on the Wolves. The two teams split their fixtures last season as both were winners as visitors.
KEY STATS
- Crystal Palace are riding a 3 game unbeaten streak at home
- Crystal Palace only have 2 players score at least 1 goal this season
- Willy Boly is back for the Wolves
PREDICTION
The oddsmakers are allocating the Wolves team to be the favorite in this matchup, and I don’t like it when people tell me what to do. This matchup seems like the game where the home team is going to win three points, although both Palace and Wolves had away wins. I’m going against all the stats here and betting on Crystal Palace to come away with the dub.
West Ham United vs. Manchester United
PREVIEW
Manchester United continue to prove me wrong as they visit West Ham United on Sunday. Doesn’t matter if I want them to win or lose, they will do the complete opposite. Marcus Rashford scored the lone goal against Leicester as he brings United back to their winning ways, or at least tries to. West Ham continues to not lose games since the season opener after a scoreless draw at Aston Villa Monday night. It was a scrappy game that seems all too familiar for Monday night’s which cost West Ham a Masuaku suspension. But West Ham have won 2 of their last 4 home games against Manchester United, so we will be in for a wild ride.
KEY STATS
- Manchester United scored more goals vs. West Ham United all time
- West Ham have the best record from 30 PL games out of all the non-big-six teams
PREDICTION
It’s not like Manchester United had a convincing win over Leicester City, they won by an early penalty, and De Gea was playing for his contract extension. Manchester United haven’t recorded an away win since their comeback against PSG!! I have to keep my distance from the Manchester United money line. However, West Ham and United hit the Over in their previous head-to-head fixtures (3-1 & 2-1). I have to commit to the Under during this game!
Arsenal vs. Aston Villa
PREVIEW
Aston Villa looks to win their second game of the season against a very strange Arsenal team that gave up 2 points to Watford. Arsenal tied Watford 2-2 after Guendouzi gestured ‘2-1’ towards the Watford fans, gifting Watford their 2nd point of the season. But that is what happens when you sign David Luiz. Aston Villa played a scoreless draw against West Ham on Monday keeping them above the relegation zone. Aston Villa continues to struggle offensively as their former striker Abraham is having a baller season as Chelsea’s striker.
KEY STATS
- Aston Villa have scored 4 goals, tied for the lowest amount of goals scored
- Aston Villa have conceded 6 goals, tied for second-best defense (tied with 5 other clubs)
PREDICTION
The oddsmakers have allocated the over/under at 3.5 goals in this game. Only Manchester City and Liverpool were allocated at that number, and they both hit the over. Kind of crazy that the oddsmakers are predicting that Arsenal could score half of the number of goals they scored so far this season. Although Aubamayang is responsible for 5 of those goals, I don’t think the over is going to hit in this fixture.
PREVIEW
Chelsea and Liverpool suffered defeats during their Champions League opener from the week. Chelsea couldn’t find the back of the net against, what seemed like a disgruntled Valencia squad after the sacking of their manager. The Blues just couldn’t find a way to put the ball into the net and paid the price for it. Napoli was given a bullshit penalty call that gave them momentum to beat Liverpool in their Champions League opener. Basically, both Liverpool and Chelsea are pissed off that things didn’t go their way, and the only way to be satisfied is an all-out war between the two clubs on Sunday. Tammy Abraham called out Liverpool as he wants to ‘unleash his anger’ from Tuesday into Sunday. Liverpool also won the Super Cup over Chelsea in penalties before the start of the Premier League season.
KEY STATS
- Liverpool failed to win at Stamford Bridge in their previous 2 visits
- Liverpool beat a ‘different’ Chelsea team in the Super Cup
PREDICTION
Liverpool did not look convincing in their Super Cup triumph over Chelsea back in August. It was practically the Sadio Mane show along with a penalty gift from the footballing gods for Chelsea. But it’s a completely different Chelsea that doesn’t feature Pulisic, Giroud, Kante, and even Pedro as the youngsters of Abraham and Mount continue to thrive. I think Liverpool have this game in the bag. Chelsea’s youth is experiencing their first top-six fixture in the Premier League that will prove to be fatal against an experienced Liverpool team.
