Premier League betting tips: A goalless Manchester derby, Chelsea to concede first, Liverpool to continue strong, and more
Despite England's swaggering masterclass that swatted surly Serbia aside in their own Belgrade citadel, you still can’t convince me that these international breaks aren’t a load of old s**t.
Happily, we are back. And thank f*** that Alexander Isak saga is over. Nobody - the player or the respective clubs - came out of it looking particularly great to be honest.
But it underlined once again that player power rules in the modern game. What did the old boxing promoter Mickey Duff used to say? “If you want loyalty, buy a dog.”
Fed up with your job? Simply down tools and refuse to work, and Et Voila, you will be offered a better position elsewhere on substantially more cash.
Anyway, read on for a breakdown of the best bets from the Premier League's TV games from Sports News Blitz’s generational wordsmith, the Bookie Basher, including Sunday’s Manchester derby.
Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest will likely be reeling from that heavy defeat to West Ham at home, and now head coach Nuno Espirito Santo has been sacked after 21 months in charge.
Despite the club's success on the pitch during Nuno's time as boss, his relationship with maverick owner Evangelos Marinakis became increasingly strained, and the Greek shipping magnate has wasted no time in giving Ange Postecoglou the City Ground gig.
The Gunners are unbeaten in 14 games on home soil against Forest, a run stretching back to 1989.
Give what we know, I fully expect Arsenal to show their class at home with a comfortable win, and I’m becoming increasingly convinced that this ends 3-0. "Dream it, believe it, achieve it," as Barry Chuckle used to say.
Suggested Bet: Arsenal to win 3-0 at 9/1 (bet 365)
READ MORE: Everton vs Aston Villa - Five key battles and score prediction ahead of the Premier League clash
West Ham United vs Tottenham
It’s hard work trying to figure Spurs out. Brilliant away at Manchester City, appalling at home to Bournemouth (a result that knocked me out of a £4,400 Last Man Standing competition by the way).
Can punters really be sure which Tottenham will turn up here? The Hammers will fancy this after that Forest win. However, their form before that was atrocious, so all results are possible.
Thankfully, I have a Bet Builder. A Bet Builder so cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel.
Jarrod Bowen to score. Both teams to score. Pedro Porro to be booked. Après moi, le deluge.
Suggested Bet: Bet Builder - Jarrod Bowen to score / Both teams to score / Pedro Porro to be booked at 16/1 (bet365)
Brentford vs Chelsea
This is Chelsea’s fourth London derby in four Premier League matches this season.
I mean, ‘ave a word. What in the name of Tom Skinner eating a chicken curry at 7am at Dino's Cafe and pointless ULEZ charges is going on?
Igor Thiago has three in two games for Brentford. And he is bigger than 7/1 to score first against Chelsea.
Who doesn’t love a maverick Brazilian? The first Brazilian to play in English football? That would be Mirandinha, who signed for Newcastle United in 1987.
Mate was a Toon season ticket holder when they had Mirandinha. Apparently, he used to walk round Safeway (old supermarket from the 1980s) with his family for hours and hours, as he'd never seen a supermarket.
The chant the Toon fans used to sign back in the day in honour of their South American hero was also epic:
“We've got Mirandinha, He's not from Argentina, He's from Brazil, He's f***ing brill!”
Suggested Bet: Igor Thiago to score first at 17/2 (Unibet)
Burnley vs Liverpool
Ominously, Liverpool is the only club in the top flight with a 100% record after three fixtures. Will their new £125 million striker make his debut at Turf Moor?
This won’t be a cake walk for the Reds, who could have a few key players missing. Burnley were brilliant in the second half against Manchester United the other week, and in the end could count themselves unlucky not to leave Old Trafford with a point.
It’s going to be a noisy old Sunday in Lancashire - and all eyes will be on Mr Isak, who notched in both of his league appearances against Burnley last season.
Burnley’s home form means they won’t just roll over. Lyle Foster is a threat up top, and they can definitely grab a goal.
However, Liverpool’s attacking prowess is a joke, and I fancy them to get the job done again.
Suggested Bet: Liverpool to win & both teams to score at 15/8 (skybet)
Manchester City vs Manchester United
Two Premier League giants who could really do with three points meet at the Etihad in Sunday’s late TV game.
Matheus Cunha suffered a hamstring injury during United's win over Burnley at Old Trafford before the international break, and he will be a huge miss.
Meanwhile, the Cityzens are set to assess forward Omar Marmoush before Sunday's clash after he suffered a knee injury while on international duty with Egypt.
This feels like a must-win game for Pep Guardiola, who has seen his side lose two out of their first three games.
This wasn’t in the script, and Man City fans are concerned about their squad depth despite another summer of heavy spending.
A failure to sign a new right-back looks like a mistake, and worries persist over the midfield balance. Also, are players who occupy their wide positions up to the standard of previous years?
Guardiola needs to find solutions, and he needs to find them fast.
The hosts are around the 4/6 mark here to win. Could you trust them with the rent money? Not for me, Clive.
Since the 2015/16 season, the home team has ended on the winning side in just six out of 20 Premier League meetings in the Manchester derby (D4 L10).
With so much on the line for both managers, would a 0-0 stalemate - which is 16/1 in places - really be such an outrageous outcome?
For entertainment’s sake, I hope I am wrong. For my bank balance’s sake, I hope I am right.
Suggested Bet: No goalscorer at 16/1 (bet365 / skybet)
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