the premier league is back after a short break for the world cup qualifiers. and it’s certainly back with a bang as the first game on saturday sees liverpool host man city. come may, the result in that one could have huge implications but for football and betting fans it’s sure to be a great clash.
we’re also covering saturday’s late kick off, as united travel to stoke, and sunday’s swansea versus newcastle match. as well as our tips and predictions for those three games, our odds comparison helps you find the best betting odds for these matches – and all the other premier league games and outrights.
man city v liverpool – reds to outscore citizens
man city versus liverpool is unquestionably the biggest game of the weekend. it could prove to be a title six-pointer and if either side can claim a convincing win here they will send a real message to the other championship contenders.
city are the favourites, both for this game and in the premier league outright winner betting. our odds comparison shows them at 17/20 (bet365) for this one, whilst liverpool are out at 16/5 with unibet and the draw is priced at odds of 3/1 with a range of bookies.
liverpool’s record against the top sides has been superb under jurgen klopp. last season they were the best of the top six in clashes with their rivals and already this season they have hammered arsenal.
given city have made a shaky start this term, needing late goals to rescue the points and looking far from convincing, we fancy the visitors can cause an upset here. given both sides are much better offensively than they are at the back, our prediction is liverpool to outscore pep’s city in a thrilling contest.
our main betting tip, therefore, is liverpool to win and btts. other options would be the reds to win and over 2.5 goals, over 3.5 goals by itself or, simply, the away win. however, liverpool and btts, priced at 5/1 with betway, looks the best value of them all to us.
stoke v man united – united to win again
stoke have usually been superb on home soil, frequently bloodying the noses of the so-called “big” teams. they beat arsenal last month but it is debatable whether the gunners count as a top side at the moment.
there is no doubt that man united do though, as the premier league leaders travel to the britannia having won three from three. they are yet to concede a goal in the league and have scored 10. impressive stats and with paul pobga getting better all the time, romelu lukaku taking to his red shirt like a duck to water, along with increased defensive stability, the spine of jose mourinho’s team looks imposing.
our odds comparison shows the away side to be big odds-on favourites at just 8/15 with coral. in contrast the hosts may tempt some punters at 13/2 (bet365), as might the odds on the draw – 16/5 at unibet.
backing short odds favourites away from home is a dangerous game in the premier league but we fancy the red devils for the win. stoke actually did poorly against the better sides last term and beating arsenal this time around doesn’t really impress us.
we think united’s fine defensive record will continue so back an away win to nil at nice betting odds of 6/4 with betvictor.
swansea v newcastle – tight game to end with points shared
the pick of sunday’s live action sees newcastle travel to swansea in a game between two sides who haven’t started the season well. that said, they both got their first wins of the campaign last time out, before the international break.
swansea won 2-0 at struggling palace, whilst the toon army were celebrating as they swept aside woeful west ham 3-0 at st james’. swansea did some good business in the transfer window but losing gylfi sigurdsson was a big blow. they will fancy they get the win here and are priced at odds of 13/10 with plenty of betting sites.
in contrast newcastle had a poor window and they look short on quality and depth. it could be a long old season for them. that said, we predict they will avoid defeat here in what may be a dour game. the draw is our betting tips, available at odds of 9/4 with bet365.