Premier League: Three Reasons Why Arsenal Can Win the Title
Arsenal are inching closer to a 14th first league championship, and a first since they took the 2004 Premier League by storm when they won the title without losing a single game.
Mikel Arteta’s side is five points clear at the top of the table and with a game in hand, and the Premier League 2023 betting odds have shifted towards North London, and away from Manchester, for the first time in a while. This team is not a reincarnation of Arsene Wenger’s Invincibles but this set of Gunners could turn out to be just as good in time. They have lost just once, a match they dominated against Manchester United earlier in the season, and they have won 16 and drawn two of the remainder.
Arsenal are exactly half way through their league campaign and, with 50 points already on the board, some club records could fall this season. At the moment they look like champions; but can this young side see it through?
Well, here are three reasons which convince me they have a good chance.
Arteta’s squad is getting deeper
For so long Arsenal has been a club blessed with talented individuals, but has fallen short for almost two decades, mainly because it has lacked any strength in depth. But Arteta has put together a squad with more players capable of playing in the first 11 and, whenever an injury has happened, they next in line has stepped up and performed.
Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko arrived at the start of the campaign and the ex Manchester City duo took the Gunners to the next level. Jesus was outstanding, scoring five goals and making five assists before the World Cup break. But an injury to the Brazilian has handed an opportunity to Eddie Nketiah, who has been sensational since the turn of the year, and he grabbed a last gasp winner in Arsenal’s thrilling victory over Manchester United last week.
Eddie Nketiah celebrates scoring the third goal for Arsenal with Bukayo Saka against Manchester United
Wide man Gabriel Martinelli has been unplayable at times and he has seven goals, the same number as Bukayo Saka and new recruit Leandro Trossard, signed from Brighton and Hove Albion last week. Meanwhile, in defence, the recall of William Saliba has made a huge difference.
One benefit of leading the league is that it’s easier to attract players and Arteta may not be finished in the January window.
A second Arsenal bid, of £70m, for Moises Caicedo has been turned down, a potential record fee for Brighton in a player sale. Midfield ace Caicedo has announced on social media that he wanted to ‘take up this magnificent opportunity’ and would be proud to bring in a record fee for Brighton. Whether or not the deal goes through it shows just what a pull this new look Arsenal is to the best players in the Premier League and beyond.
Odegaard’s captaincy
Arteta raised a few eyebrows when he appointed Martin Odegaard as club captain, at the age of 23, but the former Real Madrid academy star has risen to the challenge with incredible ease. His calm assurance and clear ability to lead by example has been a key element of Arsenal’s success. With eight goals and five assists he has made a great personal contribution and is highly regarded by the more experienced members of the squad.
Former skipper Granit Xhaka has been in the form of his life, alongside Thomas Partey in midfield, and the Swiss hothead has kept his cool admirably, allowing the boss to trust him with the captain’s armband when Odegaard is rested, as in last week’s FA Cup clash with Manchester City.
Manchester City’s European focus
The biggest threat to the Gunners comes, of course, from Manchester City who are seeking a fifth league title in six seasons. But the Sky Blues’ Premier League 2023 results have not been quite at the expected level, drawing with strugglers Everton and losing to Manchester United in the derby. But when the Arsenal met the Sky Blues last Friday in the FA Cup City triumphed thanks to a second half Nathan Ake effort.
Erling Braut Haaland has been incredible since his arrival at the Etihad and will surely become a City legend, but his arrival has changed the way the Sky Blues play. Pep Guardiola’s team now has a big focus up front and the fluidity of seasons gone by is not always there. I’m sure it will return, but there is little doubt that, having lost to Southampton in the Carabao Cup, Guardiola is picking his battles, and the Champions League must be the biggest priority.
Back to the Premier League.
Next up for Arsenal it’s Everton away and we’ll be previewing that game here at SBOTOP. If, as expected, Sean Dyche is appointed as the Toffees new manager then they will become a different prospect to face and, with a possible ‘new manager bounce’ be a good test of the Gunners’ title credentials.
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The 2022/23 Carabao Cup is well and truly at the business end now folks; and two of the Premier League’s biggest teams have their eyes firmly on the prize.
The latest Carabao Cup 2023 betting odds place Manchester United in pole position at a SBOTOP price of 1.60 to win the trophy with Newcastle United at 2.30, and that’s because they both emerged from the first legs with a handy lead. The Red Devils took a stranglehold on their tie with a 3-0 win away to Nottingham Forest while Newcastle were clinical on the South Coast, beating Southampton 1-0.
All four teams have other priorities to balance. The United’s are pushing at the top end of the league where, in terms of the Champions League places, Chelsea and Liverpool are way off the pace and so both Manchester and Newcastle could be playing among Europe’s elite next term. At the other end of the table Southampton are rock bottom and in a desperate battle to avoid relegation, while Nottingham Forest have jumped put of the bottom three after taking seven points from the last three league games.
It looks to me like the Uniteds will do all they can to ensure they have a crack at the first piece of silverware available this season, and it would take a couple of stunning Carabao Cup 2023 results to deny them that chance.
Newcastle United vs Southampton
(1-0 to Newcastle after first leg)
This is Newcastle’s best chance to win a trophy in the first full season of Saudi ownership and Eddie Howe’s team are half way to the final there after Joelinton gave them a hard earned one goal lead at St Mary’s. They last appeared in a cup final in 1999 and St James’ Park will be bouncing when they meet the Saints again on Tuesday.
The Geordies crashed out of the FA Cup in a third round defeat to League One side Sheffield Wednesday and so they have just had the weekend off, and Howe will play a very strong side to face Nathan Jones’ Saints.
The Saints boss has a bigger task in hand and that is to keep his club in the top flight. But they are still in the FA Cup and have reached the fifth round after beating Blackpool on Saturday. Jones made eight changes to his team and, in the absence of the brilliant James Ward-Prowse, the free kick responsibilities fell to French defender Romain Perraud. And when he had a dead ball opportunity from the right side of the penalty area he fired a beauty into the far corner to open the scoring. And in the second half he bagged his second, another super shot, finishing off a slick move from the Saints. But Southampton failed to kill off their tier two opponents and had a nervy finish when the visitors pulled a goal back midway through the second half.
Newcastle are unbeaten in five games against the Saints, winning four of those clashes, and the South Coast club have failed to win on the last six occasions they have visited St James Park. It’s a 650 mile round trip for the Southampton fans and the away end in Newcastle is not the best, high up in the stands and too far from the players to let them know you are there!
The Magpies have had more time to prepare, they have a goal lead; they have a deeper squad and a passionate home crowd behind them. I can only see this going one way.
Marcus Rashford from Manchester United celebrates their second goal with Wout Weghorst against Nottingham Forest
This second leg is a little more in the balance, in some ways, as the tie is as good as won after Manchester United stormed into a 3-0 lead in Nottingham. The red hot Marcus Rashford fired in another scorcher to set the Red Devils on their way, and Wout Weghorst’s first goal for his new club doubled the lead before Bruno Fernades rounded off the perfect evening for Erik Ten Hag’s men.
The Red Devils lost a five goal thriller to Arsenal in the league last week but they followed up their Carabao success with an FA Cup win over Reading on Saturday night and, with the games coming thick and fast, Ten Hag will make changes.
His opposite number Steve Cooper will try to motivate his players to avoid defeat, as they were in a nice unbeaten run of three before meeting the Red Devils…and losing, just as much as winning, can quickly become a habit. Forest haven’t won any of their last seven meetings with the Red Devils, let alone by three clear goals so their fans won’t be readying themselves for a trip to Wembley, but ex Manchester United player Jesse Lingard will be keen to impress against his former colleagues…if Cooper gives him a start.
The magic of the FA Cup is alive and well, mark my words.
There may still be one tie left to come but, as we approach tomorrow’s fifth round draw, no further evidence is required.
For here was a weekend with a plethora of passion, drama and talent which showed just how much this competition means to players at all spectrums of the game.
And fans, of course. Always fans.
For they are the lifeblood of the game and that was evident across the country as we witnessed FA Cup highlights from Accrington and Brighton to Sheffield and Wrexham.
Let’s start in a small but spirited town in Lancashire where League One Accrington Stanley were up against Premier League outfit and former cup winners Leeds United.
It was always a big ask to cause a shock, the FA Cup betting odds concurred, but this was a tale to warm the cockles of football fans with long memories.
Accrington had been without a football team following the collapse of the original Accrington Stanley in 1966. The original team had been formed in 1891 and played in the Football League from 1921 to March 1962 until falling on hard times.
After being reformed, they finally returned to the Football League in 2006 and this was one of their biggest days since.
As it turned out, Leeds ran out 3-1 winners with a stunning 25 yard drive from Jack Harrison the pick of the goals as the Yorkshire side made a long-awaited return to the last 16 for the first time since 2016.
However, Accrington had a moment to enjoy when 18 year-old substitute Leslie Adekoya scored his first senior goal with a clever dink, just 38 seconds after coming off the bench.
The home side had only booked their place in the fourth round with a replay win over non-league Boreham Wood on Tuesday but they deserved their consolation and it was a moment that Adekoya will never forget.
Two more League One sides who do live to fight another day are Sheffield Wednesday and Fleetwood Town.
After seeing off Premier League high-flyers Newcastle in the third round, Wednesday would have been cursing themselves if they had lost at home to Fleetwood – albeit a side they are in the same division as.
Yet for a while that was a possibility for Scott Brown’s men.
While the hosts could only manage one shot on target against a team they had beaten 1-0 at home last Saturday, that was enough to earn a 1-1 draw and a replay.
The Owls, finalists in 1993, have not lost in 90 minutes since October 4 and are 15 places in the table above Fleetwood who were playing in the fourth round for the first ever time.
After humbling Liverpool in the Premier League a fortnight ago, Brighton were out to cause more south coast misery for the Merseysiders – and my how they achieved it.
In stoppage time, Liverpool had got away with a few agricultural challenges and were arguably fortunate to still have 10 men on the field when justice was done.
Before the ball hit the ground, he had guided it into the far, top corner with the outside of the same boot.
The scenes that followed are what the FA Cup is all about.
Sheffield United fans during the team’s match
They were almost equalled, if not topped, 197 miles away where this SBOTOP observer was brought back to 1992 as he watched the closing stages of non-league Wrexham against Sheffield United.
Then, the Welsh club had knocked out reigning league champions Arsenal in an incredible late show at the Racehorse Ground.
Three decades on, here were Wrexham on the verge of another cup upset but, in the end, they had to settle for being part of a cup classic.
A six-goal thriller also saw them become the first non-league team to score three or more goals in four consecutive games in the FA Cup.
When Daniel Jebbison was harshly sent-off for the Blades with the score at 2-2, Wrexham sensed a famous victory and Paul Mullin’s goal four minutes from time looked to have secured a shock.
Deep in stoppage time, though, John Egan dampened the party mood and showed why he is captain with a leveller in what proved to be the final twist of a enthralling game which pitted the National League leaders against the team second in the Championship.
The magic of the FA Cup eh!
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Premier League: Has Transfer Deadline Day Given Arsenal the Title Edge?
So, a new month begins and, after Premier League transfer deadline day, quite where do you begin?
Which arrivals and/or departures, if any, will prove pivotal during the second half of the campaign? Who will create Premier League highlights? Who may help dramatically change the Sbotop Premier League betting odds at both ends of the table?
Well, certainly leaders Arsenal can be pleased with their work as they have got stronger, while champions and nearest rivals Manchester City have arguably become a bit weaker.
Certainly, the decision to allow Joao Cancelo to head on loan to Bayern Munich was a major surprise.
Sure, the emergence of promising youngster Rico Lewis has clearly affected Cancelo’s game time but no one genuinely thought the Portuguese full-back, arguably the best in the top flight last season, would be allowed to leave.
An unused substitute for three of the past five league games – and taken off at half-time in one of the others – Bayern have snapped him up on loan with an option to buy this summer.
A knee injury to Mohamed Elneny meant the Gunners needed to add depth in midfield and paying £12 million for an Italian international in Jorginho, scooped from Chelsea, seems sensible if unspectacular business following the arrival a few weeks ago of Leandro Trossard from Brighton.
Ah yes, Chelsea.
Even before deadline day, the January transfer window had produced several surprises with Premier League clubs surpassing record spending since the winter window was introduced.
As the Argentine had a medical, I was amused when the Guardian took a few minutes out to commend the Portuguese giants for signing a player for €10m last summer and selling him for €120m six months later!
Chelsea have signed Noni Madueke, Mykhailo Mudryk, David Datro Fofana, Andrey Santos, Benoit Badiashile and Malo Gusto on permanent deals in January, while they have also brought in Joao Felix on loan from Atletico Madrid.
Well, Spurs may well have made an impressive acquisition after Pedro Porro completed his long-touted move from Sporting Lisbon, with the right-back joining on loan before the £39.7m transfer is made permanent in the summer.
That wasn’t the main surprise though.
At the same time, Porro’s arrival cleared the decks for Matt Doherty to move onto Atlético Madrid – surely a move no one would have predicted at the start of the day.
Then there’s Bournemouth who have flexed their muscles in a bid to boost their survival bid.
Dynamo Kyiv defender Illia Zabarnyi has moved to the South Coast, while one of the budding young starlets in Serie A became their second signing of the day as Sassuolo and Ivory Coast midfielder Hamed Traore joined on loan in a deal which will become permanent in the summer.
A French youth international will be arriving at Crystal Palace after the Eagles signed Stuttgart midfielder Naouirou Ahamada on a three-and-a-half-year deal.
Fresh from reaching the last 16 of the FA Cup for the first time in seven years, Leeds appear to have done some good business with an initial loan move for Weston McKennie – the USA midfielder arriving from Juventus – hot on the heels of signing France Under-21 striker Georginio Rutter from Hoffenheim in a club-record deal.
Nottingham Forest have made Jonjo Shelvey their 26th signing of the season after offering the former England midfielder a two-and-a-half-year deal to join from Newcastle with a top-notch veteran goalkeeper in Keylor Navas quickly following.
Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon applauds fans as he is unveiled before their match vs Southampton
And staying with Newcastle, they parted with £40 million to bring in young Anthony Gordon following months of speculation.
In the words of The Athletic, clubs, agents and supporters will have been asking themselves have they got him at a notable discount considering Chelsea were prepared to commit £60m to sign the young English forward last summer.
Time will tell.
He was crowned Everton’s Players’ Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year at the end of last season.
While this serves to highlight Gordon’s undoubted potential, his large fee is further evidence of an unofficial transfer tax being added to the value of young English players.
The final word to Manchester United who, after learning of Christina Eriksen’s injury misfortune, acted swiftly and smartly to bring in Austria midfielder Marcel Sabitzer on loan from Bayern Munich.
It could prove very astute given the congested fixture schedule which lies ahead.
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Premier League: Arsenal Out to Hand Dyche Defeat in Everton Debut
Everton vs Arsenal
It’s top vs second-from-bottom in the Premier League this weekend as relegation strugglers Everton host leaders Arsenal.
The Toffees have brought in a new coach in Sean Dyche, who they hope can get them out of another relegation scrap.
But Dyche will have his work cut out for him on his home debut as he takes on the Gunners, who are riding an impressive Premier League unbeaten run and will be keen to extend their lead at the top even further.
Everton are in trouble once again. The Toffees are second from bottom in the table – ahead of bottom club Southampton only by goal difference – amid a disastrous eight-game Premier League winless skid.
A 2-0 defeat to former manager David Moyes’ West Ham was the last straw as Frank Lampard finally got the sack.
Enter Sean Dyche, who now has the tough task of turning things around for the Toffees. But Dyche will not have many great tools at his disposal. Not only did Everton fail to bring anyone in during transfer deadline day, but they also sold off promising young winger Anthony Gordon to Newcastle.
Gordon was the team’s co-leading scorer along with Demarai Gray with three goals, so Everton’s already limited attacking options will be even more reduced.
There will be a few familiar faces for Dyche in the Everton locker room, with former Burnley players James Tarkowski, Michael Keane and Dwight McNeil. The first order of business for Dyche will be to install that solid defensive structure that helped keep Burnley up for all those years.
And in attack, Dyche will be hoping Dominic Calvert-Lewin can somehow rediscover his old form and provide some Premier League 2023 highlights soon. The 25-year-old, who has been beset by injuries in recent seasons, has scored just one goal in 10 games this season.
Arsenal add new weapon
Arsenal are now out of both domestic cup competitions after losing 1-0 to Manchester City in the FA Cup last weekend. It was the Gunners’ first loss in all competitions since getting knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Brighton in early November.
But Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is unlikely to be too distraught about crashing out of the cups since it will give his side more time to rest and focus on winning the Premier League. They currently lead champions Manchester City by five points with a game in hand.
Jorginho left Chelsea to join city rivals Arsenal on deadline day
The Gunners got some much-needed reinforcements as they signed Chelsea midfielder Jorginho on transfer deadline day. Although, the Italian may need to wait a while before getting his first start as all of Arsenal’s top midfielders are currently healthy.
Aside from Gabriel Jesus and Emile Smith Rowe, Arsenal don’t have any other key absentees at the moment. Eddie Nketiah has done brilliantly in place of Jesus. He is now up to 9 goals on the season after his brace in Arsenal’s 3-2 win over Manchester United.
Newcomer Leandro Trossard got the start in the loss to Man City, but Gabriel Martinelli is likely to return to the left wing against Everton.
History
Arsenal have gotten the better of Everton in the Premier League era. The Gunners hold a 35-11 advantage in terms of wins, while there have been 14 draws.
Although, Everton did go on quite an impressive winning run over Arsenal as they got a hat-trick of wins from December 2020 to December 2021, two of which were at home.
However, Arsenal finally restored order with a resounding 5-1 victory at the Emirates back in May of 2022. Five different Gunners got on the scoresheet, including Eddie Nketiah and Martin Odegaard.
This will be the first meeting between Arsenal and Everton this season; their first match, which was originally scheduled on September 11, was postponed due to Queen Elizabeth’s death.
The SBOTOP Premier League 2023 betting odds have Arsenal installed as massive 1.41 favourites to get the win at Goodison. Everton are priced at 7.20 to begin the Dyche era with a win, while a draw is 4.50.
Dyche will look to make things as tough as possible for the leaders on his debut. Everton have not been a good defensive team this season, but Dyche’s arrival should lead to at least some improvements. Although, the same can’t be said of their attack, which is in need of talent more than a change in approach. With all of that in mind, I expect Sean Dyche’s Everton debut against Arsenal to be a relatively low-scoring affair, with Arsenal likely coming out on top by a narrow margin.
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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Newcastle United are in the EFL Cup final; and that means their fans can head to Wembley for the first time since 1999 when they meet Manchester United in the 2023 Cup showdown.
Wembley way will see waves of black and white decorated with the red of Manchester United as the hoards from the North invade the capital in search of the first silverware of the year. And for the Geordies they have a chance to win a first major competition (outside the second tier championship) since 1955 when they won the FA Cup by beating Manchester City in the final. The EFL Cup 2023 betting odds reckon Erik Ten Hag’s Manchester United have the edge but this is set up to be one of the best finals in years.
Of course Manchester United have won countless trophies since 1955, but in recent years but the youngest generation of Red Devils have had slim pickings as, in the past decade, United have won one FA Cup, one League Cup and one Europa League, so this is a rare chance for them to pick up a trophy as well. It’s going to be an incredible occasion when the two Uniteds meet on Sunday 26th February and one the fans of Newcastle, in particular, will not forget.
Newcastle 2-1 Southampton
(Newcastle win 3-1 on aggregate)
Bruno Guimaraes is sent off after a VAR check
Before a ball was kicked this was the more balanced of the two semi-final ties, with the Magpies starting with just a one goal advantage and the Saints beginning to look more competitive in recent weeks, dumping Manchester City out of the competition in the quarter finals with a superb display. But this was Newcastle’s night and Sean Longstaff ended any doubts of an anticlimax on Tyneside when he bagged an early double to make it 3-0 on aggregate. The midfield star was clinical with both finishes as he converted crosses from Kieran Trippier and Miguel Almiron to put the game beyond the visitors.
Saints striker Che Adams cut the deficit to two when he fired home a beauty from outside the penalty area in one of the most spectacular EFL Cup 2023 highlightsof the week, but the home crowd never stopped singing as the hosts comfortably saw the game out. Eddie Howe’s best signing, alongside keeper Nick Pope, has been attacking midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, but he was red carded for a horrible late challenge on Samuel Edozie though, crucially, he won’t be missing for the final.
The Saints are in a relegation scrap and they will put this disappointment behind them when they visit Brentford on Saturday. But Tuesday was Newcastle’s night and they can now look forward to a scintillating Wembley final.
Manchester United 2-0 Nottingham Forest
(Manchester United win 5-0 on aggregate)
The Red Devils shook off the disappointment of losing a huge league game to Arsenal last week by beating Reading 3-1 in the fourth round of the FA Cup. And this was another golden opportunity to move towards some silverware success. And, in all honesty nobody really expected Nottingham Forest to spring a surprise on Wednesday night.
Manchester United bossed the first half but were almost caught out on the half hour, when Brennan Johnson broke free on the left and forced a strong save from Tom Heaton, though a square ball to Sam Surridge would probably have produced a goal. And then Surridge was unlucky again when he blocked a goal bound effort from Emmanuel Dennis.
It looked like United were going through the motions, but they came within a whisker of scoring when Wout Weghorst headed a sublime Casemiro cross onto the post.
Ten Hag made three changes on the hour, bringing on Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Anthony Martial; and it was Martial who made the breakthrough, on 73 minutes, slamming the ball home after a sweeping move started by the excellent Casemiro. And then three minutes later Fred rounded off another superb move to make it 2-0 on the night. Bruno Fernades swung in a perfect cross for Rashford who was waiting at the back post and he put it on a plate for the Brazilian.
Like Southampton, Nottingham Forest are in a battle to preserve their Premier League survival and they host Leeds United on Sunday. But United are through to their tenth EFL Cup final and are the SBOTOP favourites to win the 2022/23 tournament. But they’ll have to play better than they did tonight to beat the Geordies.
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Premier League: Stealing Points from Old Trafford is a Tall Task for the Eagles
Manchester United vs Crystal Palace
Manchester United will look to get back on track here in the Premier League as they host Crystal Palace on Saturday evening.
The last time these two sides met in mid-January, the Red Devils were poised to claim all three points when they led in the first half. However, they had to settle for one point when the Eagles scored a late goal in added time.
Crystal Palace, meanwhile, are fresh from another draw against Newcastle United on Sunday, and they remain in 12th place.
With the scene shifting to Old Trafford, can the Eagles steal points away from the Red Devils once more?
Talking Points
Sabitzer to make his Manchester United debut?
The loss of Christian Eriksen is a huge setback for Manchester United, as he’s out for at least two months because of an ankle injury he suffered against Reading. So, kudos to Manchester United for acting quickly by bringing in Marcel Sabitzer on loan from Bayern Munich.
Bayern Munich’s Marcel Sabitzer in action during their Bundesliga match against Eintracht Frankfurt
Sabitzer lost his place at Bayern Munich in recent months since he’s playing behind the likes of Jamal Musiala, Leon Goretzka, and Joshua Kimmich, so going to Old Trafford offers the Austrian a platform to prove himself once more.
He has made 54 appearances for Bayern Munich since arriving from RB Leipzig in 2021 for €16-M. He has a contract with the defending Bundesliga champions until 2025, but reports claim that he wants to leave the club permanently in the summer.
The 28-year-old is a shrewd addition given the short notice, and he can make his debut against the Eagles. If he starts, he will likely be paired with Casemiro, while Bruno Fernandes will remain as their No. 10.
Sabitzer can play as a No. 10, striker, or even winger in addition to his primary position as a central midfielder, providing Erik ten Hag with extra options.
Unlike Eriksen, Sabitzer has a high work rate, and he’s an outstanding presser of the ball. He also has an eye for goals.
Huge injury blow for Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace have yet to win this year, but Patrick Vieira is pleased with the heart his team showed. They had to play three games in six days, and they came out with two points against two top-four hopefuls.
After Michael Olise’s heroics against Manchester United, Vicente Guaita did the same against Newcastle United with his timely saves en route to a 0-0 draw.
The Eagles will need more from these two since they received the bad Premier League 2023 news that Wilfried Zaha is out for at least six weeks due to a hamstring injury he sustained against the Magpies.
The Ivory Coast talisman is their top scorer with six goals and three assists this season. He has been a near ever-present for Crystal Palace this season, starting all but one of their league games.
History
Manchester United have won just one of their last five Premier League matches against Crystal Palace (D2, L2) and are winless in their last two. The Red Devils have yet to go winless in three straight league games against the Eagles since October 1970.
After Bruno Fernandes put Manchester United ahead before halftime, Michael Olise replied with a beautiful free-kick in the 91st minute to take points away from the Red Devils in their most recent meeting (1-1).
But the Red Devils are confident since they’re playing at home this time. Erik ten Hag’s side has won their last five league home games and 12 overall across all competitions.
Their home-game winning streak is the longest active streak among clubs in Europe’s top five leagues this term. They’re unbeaten in their last 14, level with Newcastle United, PSG, and Napoli.
Manchester United are backed by the SBOTOP Premier League 2023 odds for this fixture, and their edge over Crystal Palace is bigger since the game is to be played at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils are installed at 1.38, while a victory for the Eagles is priced at 8.00, and a draw is set at 4.50 in the 1X2 market. Total Goal 2-3 at 1.99 is another bet to think about.
Crystal Palace have been something of a bogey team for Manchester United. But the hosts have already learned their lesson from their last encounter, so they will be more composed in the end after making another strong start.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR () BETS ARE WORTH:
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= €10 (CONFIDENT)
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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Premier League: Newcastle Keen to Add to West Ham’s Woes
Newcastle United vs West Ham United
After reaching their first cup final of the 21st century in midweek, it’s back to Premier League action for Newcastle as they host West Ham United.
The Magpies, who are in the midst of an amazing unbeaten run in the league, have added more firepower in their quest to solidify a top-four spot.
Meanwhile, the Hammers – who were themselves challenging for European places for the past couple of seasons – are now desperately hoping not to get sucked into a relegation scrap.
Talking Points
Magpies’ morale sky high
It’s a good time to be a Newcastle United supporter right now. Not only are the Magpies flying high in third in the Premier League – they currently sit third and are riding a 15-game unbeaten run – but they also just secured their first cup final berth since 1999 after beating Southampton 2-1 in the Carabao Cup semi-finals in midweek.
Sean Longstaff’s early brace in the second leg was enough to see the Magpies through 3-1 on aggregate.
However, star midfielder Bruno Guimaraes was shown a straight red card late in the match, which means he will miss Newcastle’s upcoming three matches, starting with West Ham.
With Guimaraes out, Joelinton may need to move back into midfield alongside Longstaff and Joe Willock. And the wide forward role Joelinton would vacate may just be filled by Newcastle newcomer Anthony Gordon.
The 21-year-old arrives following a massive £45million move from Everton, and he might very well be handed a start on his debut. If not, Eddie Howe also has Allan Saint-Maximin to bring in and provide Premier League 2023 highlights.
Newcastle’s attack has been misfiring of late. They have scored just one goal in their last four Premier League games, and that came in the form of a late Alexander Isak winner against Fulham one minute from time.
But on the other end, the Magpies’ defence has been close to impregnable. They have kept six straight clean sheets in the Premier League, and the goal keeper Nick Pope conceded against Saints snapped his incredible run of 10 consecutive clean sheets in all competitions.
West Ham showing signs of life
West Ham United are in a precarious position. They currently lie in 16th in the table, just one point above Wolves and Bournemouth in 17th and 18th, respectively.
However, the Hammers did their Premier League 2023 odds of staying up a lot of good by getting three valuable points in a 2-0 win over fellow relegation strugglers Everton.
West Ham United’s Jarrod Bowen celebrates scoring their first goal against Everton
Jarrod Bowen bagged a brace as he doubled his season tally to four Premier League goals. And he carried that fine goalscoring form over to their FA Cup tie against Derby Country as he scored in a 2-0 win.
On the other end, West Ham seem to be solidifying their defence. The return of Moroccan World Cup star Nayef Aguerd has been a significant boost to the Hammers’ backline. The team has conceded just three goals in the five games he’s started since returning from the World Cup break, two of which came in a 2-2 draw with Leeds United.
Kurt Zouma and veteran Angelo Ogbonna are also back to full fitness, giving Moyes more defensive options.
West Ham have a horrendous away record this season. They’ve collected just five points on their travels – tied for the fewest in the Premier League – with only one win, two draws and seven defeats.
SBOTOP odds have Newcastle installed as big 1.63 favourites against West Ham, who are priced at 5.40. A draw is 3.70.
This match has the potential to be much more competitive than their current positions in the standings may suggest. The absence of Bruno Guimaraes will be a big blow to Newcastle, who are already struggling to score.
West Ham have similar issues scoring goals, but their improving defence could make it tough for the Magpies.
With all of those factors in mind, expect a rather low-scoring match at St James’ Park, with the outside chance of the Hammers snatching a point.
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Premier League: Friday Night in the West End…What’s Not to Like?
Chelsea vs Fulham
Two of West London’s Premier League sides are set to meet on Friday night when Marco Silva’s Fulham make the short trip to take on Graham Potter’s Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
There may well be some new faces on show as the hosts try to restart their stuttering campaign which has left them in 10th place, three behind the Cottagers who have two points more.
The Premier League 2023 betting odds have insisted Chelsea’s title hopes have been long gone for some time, but a win would lift them up to sixth place and seven points behind the top four for 24 hours anyway.
In the away camp, there will be plenty of confidence as Fulham won the return match in January and, like Chelsea, they have strengthened in the January window.
Both teams come into the game on the back of a draw, Chelsea playing out a 0-0 at home to Liverpool while Fulham were held 1-1 by Sunderland in the FA Cup.
Another draw in this match would only suit the Cottagers.
Talking Points
Is Boehly betting the ranch or playing the long game?
Enzo Fernandez from Benfica during their match against Sporting CP at Estádio da Luz in the Primeira Liga
After a record summer of spending the Blues’ bank busting owner Todd Boehly has been at it again. Chelsea’s signing of Enzo Fernandez made the Premier League 2023 news headlines on deadline day and that followed the big money signings of centre-back Benoit Badiashile and attacking midfielder Mykhailo Mudryk.
These three alone cost upwards of £200-M and none of them were household names a year ago. And Chelsea have also brought Portuguese forward Joao Felix in, on loan from Atletico Madrid.
This level of spending is one heck of a gamble on Potter’s ability to mould a new team rapidly, or maybe Boehly is investing for a sustained future of (hopeful) success.
If it’s the latter then that would be a refreshing change from the previous regime of hire and fire but, like any American businessman, Boehly would like to see a return on investment in due course. To be fair, Chelsea have suffered an horrific run of injuries so the incomers are needed.
Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the game when the Blues beat Manchester City three weeks ago and he is one of the established players, alongside Mason Mount who can play a big part in Chelsea’s revival. This fast moving story will be well worth watching.
Ambitious Fulham welcome Soares
Silva’s Fulham have been a revelation this term and, alongside Brighton and Brentford, they are one the three surprise packages of the campaign.
The Cottagers have played an attractive brand of football while being hard to beat, and that’s a combination any newly promoted team would love to have.
And Silva has made two impressive additions to his squad in the window, making a late loan signing of Arsenal’s Cedric Soares, a move which was made possible as the boss shuffled things around in his squad.
Soares is an exciting capture for Fulham, an attacking full-back with 34 international caps for Portugal and he’ll join his compatriot Joao Palhinha who has had a superb first campaign at Craven Cottage.
Soares was the second incoming on deadline day as Serbian star Sasa Lukic arrived from Torino. And he too joins an international teammate in the shape of Fulham’s biggest goal threat.
With 11 goals already this season, Aleksandar Mitrovic has been sensational, and Chelsea’s centre defence of Thiago Silva and Badiashile will know they’ve been in a game.
A top 10 finish is well within Fulham’s reach.
History
The head-to-head meetings are almost as one sided as you could imagine, with Chelsea winning 21 to Fulham’s two over the past 20 years, though there have been 10 draws in this West London Derby.
And of course, one of the Cottagers’ two wins came just three weeks ago when they beat Chelsea 2-1 as Joao Felix was sent off on his debut and former Chelsea winger Willian scored the opener for Fulham.
In terms of recent form, the Cottagers are stronger with three wins, a draw, and two defeats over the past six games while Chelsea have won just one, drawn two, and lost three.
Since the two teams met on 12th January, their fortunes have shifted a little, though.
Chelsea have picked up a win and a draw while Fulham have suffered two 1-0 defeats to Newcastle United and Tottenham. Fulham have not won away to Chelsea on their last 16 visits.
When times are tough, things aren’t going your way and you need a friendly face to cheer you up; my advice would be…don’t go to Molineux!
But that’s where Jurgen Klopp and his Liverpool team is heading, currently ninth in the league table and out of both domestic cups. And with a lengthy injury list of key players, the Reds need to summon all their strength in pursuit of a crucial three points. But their hosts will not be in a charitable mood after losing to these very opponents in the FA Cup just two weeks ago.
Premier League: Wolves vs Liverpool is a chance for the Midlanders to take revenge on an opponent which looks vulnerable and, sitting 17th in the table and out of the bottom three on goal difference alone, Julen Lopetegui’s team needs the win just as badly. The hosts have had a week off after losing the third-round FA Cup tie, so while the Reds were going out to Brighton in the fourth round, Lopetegui was plotting another bad day for his opposite number Klopp.
Liverpool’s top four hopes are in danger of vanishing without trace as they sit ten points behind fourth-placed Manchester United. The Wolves vs Liverpool betting odds back a Reds win but can they cope with the mounting pressure?
Talking Points
Wolves searching for a cutting edge
While Lopetegui has breathed new life into Wolves’ campaign since his arrival in November he still has a great deal of work to do to lift a team with one win in seven matches, in all competitions, and without back-to-back league wins since November 2021. And while Molineux is an imposing place to visit Wolves’ strikers have been misfiring badly, scoring just six goals on home ground, including a Daniel Podence strike in their last home game, a 1-0 win over West Ham United.
Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Ruben Neves in action with Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott during their FA Cup match
The arrival of striker Matheus Cunha from Atletico Madrid has given the hosts another goal threat, and he is sure to make a start after frontmen Adama Traore, Raul Jimenez, and Hwang Hee-chan were all hooked at halftime in a 3-0 loss to Manchester City last time out. And another new arrival, Pablo Sarabia will also be pushing for a start against the Reds.
With Wolves struggling to score freely and the Reds coming into the game on the back of a listless 0-0 draw with Chelsea maybe we shouldn’t expect a glittering array of Wolves vs Liverpool highlights …but hope is always with us!
Is Nunez ready to fire?
Klopp’s mood was not cheerful after his side went out of the FA Cup to Brighton, Lewis Dunk and Karou Mitoma canceling out Harvey Elliot’s early strike. Liverpool’s problems this season don’t fall at just one door and there have been injuries to key players; but desperate times often need a moment of inspiration from an emerging hero. This is a great opportunity for summer signing Darwin Nunez.
Last season the Uruguayan hitman scored 26 goals in 28 appearances for Benfica and won the Portuguese league’s Player of the Year award, prompting Liverpool to splash out £64m on the 23 year old. In terms of attributes Nunez has power and pace and a lethal finish when he’s on his game, but that hasn’t always been the case in a season interrupted by an early red card. He has scored five goals in 14 appearances, not a bad return for a new entrant into the Premier League, but there is much more to come. Liverpool can’t just rely on Mo Salah and, though he scored a wonder goal in the Reds FA Cup win over Wolves, Harvey Elliott is still only 19. Meanwhile January recruit Cody Gakpo is still finding his feet though he started up front for the Reds against Brighton.
Liverpool’s injury situation is going from bad to worse as centre back Ibramima Konate has just joined Virgil van Dijk, Diogo Jota, and Luis Diaz in the treatment room. At least, as far as Liverpool fans are concerned, Everton are in a bigger mess, stranded in the relegation zone, new manager Sean Dyche unable to bring any new players in and, with Arsenal to face in his opener, the former Burnley boss has a mountain to climb.
So it could be worse!
History
Liverpool have won 14 of the head to head meetings with Wolves over the past 20 meetings, drawing three and losing three and, last season, the Reds did the double over Wolves winning 3-1 at home and 1-0 away.
Incredible though it is, these two teams have identical records over the past six games, winning just one game each over that period. Both have drawn two and lost three and that is a trend each are desperate to change.
Our SBOTOP stats and odds team have priced Liverpool at 1.87 to win this game and Wolves at 3.64, and I can make a case for both, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they canceled each other out.
1-1 is the most likely score line at a price of 5.99, and that might be very close to the mark.
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Premier League: Forest and Leeds Duel in Top-Flight for the First Time in Over Two Decades
Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United
Nottingham Forest and Leeds United will finally face off in the Premier League for the first time in 24 years. They were supposed to meet earlier this campaign, but it was postponed in the wake of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
Not much has changed for Forest and Leeds since September because they only have one foot above the dreaded relegation zone, with the hosts in 13th with 21 points while the visitors are in 15th with 18 points – only one point over 18th-place Bournemouth.
Nottingham Forest seemingly built momentum when they secured positive Premier League 2023 results to start the year, but they were sent crashing back to earth when they were comprehensively beaten by Manchester United in the EFL Cup semi-finals.
Steve Cooper’s side were badly outplayed in the two legs against the Red Devils, as they conceded five goals and scored none despite having a decent amount of chances.
Injuries haven’t helped Nottingham Forest, as they were without the likes of Taiwo Awoniyi, Morgan Gibbs-White, Jesse Lingard, Chris Wood, and Dean Henderson.
Nottingham Forest forward Taiwo Awoniyi receives cheers from the crowd after their match against Southampton
Awoniyi is the team’s second-leading scorer with five goals, while Gibbs-White and Lingard are their top playmakers with four goals and six assists combined.
If they are going to be unavailable, this means that Brennan Johnson and Sam Surridge will continue to lead the line for Nottingham Forest. Johnson has been the bright spot for Nottingham Forest this season with six goals and two assists, while Surridge has tacked on three goals and two assists.
They also need to work on their leaky defence since they’ve already conceded 35 league goals so far this season, good for the second-worst in the Premier League.
Nottingham Forest were one of the busiest teams in the recently concluded January transfer window, as they’ve brought in Gustavo Scarpa, Danilo, Felipe, Jonjo Shelvey, and Keylor Navas, who will cover for the injured Dean Henderson.
Leeds United now have three USMNT players on their roster with the arrival of Weston McKennie. The 24-year-old midfielder has joined the team on loan from Juventus, and Leeds United have the option to purchase his contract permanently in the summer if things go according to plan.
He will be a major member of the team, along with other Stars and Stripes stars Tyler Adams and Brendan Aaronson. Jesse Marsch, who has played for the USMNT himself in the past, will continue to serve as their coach.
Unfortunately for Leeds United, their frontline has once again been weakened, as Rodrigo is expected to miss some time due to an ankle injury he suffered against Accrington Stanley.
Patrick Bamford must step up to assist the Whites in moving up the Premier League standings now that Rodrigo is out.
History
Nottingham Forest and Leeds United’s last competitive meeting came back in 2019-20, when the former beat the latter 2-0 in the Championship at City Ground.
Steve Cooper’s side has won their last two home league games against the Whites, and they can win three in a row against them at City Ground for the first time since May 1991.
Leeds United have won just two of their last 15 league encounters against Nottingham Forest (D6, L7), and they’re winless in their last 12 top-flight matches against them (D7, L5).
But since returning to the Premier League in 2020, the Whites have won all five of their away games against newly promoted sides by an aggregate tally of 14-3.
The SBOTOP Premier League 2023 odds see a tight contest between Nottingham Forest and Leeds United. Nottingham Forest were given the slight edge at 2.58 to win, whereas Leeds United are priced at 2.73, and a draw is at 3.15 in the 1X2 market.
It’s hard to predict who will win since these two sides are evenly matched on paper, so we’ll look at the possible goal count of this contest.
With both sides struggling in the final third, we believe that this is going to be a low-scoring contest, making Under 2.50 at 1.96 a viable bet.
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Premier League: Victory Imperative for Both in North London
Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester City
Well, if this Premier League clash is half as exciting as their meeting just over two weeks ago, then football fans could be in for a treat.
The hosts need the points to boost their chances of a top four finish, and the visitors need the points to keep alive their title aspirations.
Cynics may suggest that, with Arsenal top of the table, some Spurs fans would even accept losing to Manchester City if it means the reigning champions can see off their arch-rivals in the race for the title.
Yet, on the whole, both sets of supporters will be keen to roar their sides on to what could be a crucial victory in the final reckoning.
Talking Points
Tottenham Hotspur forward Harry Kane celebrates scoring their first goal against Fulham
Spurs go into the contest on the back of two away victories.
At Fulham, a solitary Harry Kane strike took him level with the late, great Jimmy Greaves as the club’s all-time top scorer.
They followed that up with victory at Preston in the FA Cup, a potential banana skin overcome in impressive fashion.
It was a match in which Son Heung-Min, last season’s joint top scorer in the Premier League, rediscovered his shooting boots.
He was joined on the scoresheet by debutant Arnaut Danjuma, on loan from Villarreal, who could be in line for his first start.
With the likes of Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski on their way back to full fitness, this could be the strongest Spurs squad manager Antonio Conte had been able to select from for a while.
On saying that, Brazilian forward Richarlison missed that encounter and could be a doubt, as he has been limited to only three substitute appearances since the World Cup as he struggles with a hamstring problem.
While Spurs have been active in the transfer market this month with Danjuma joined this week by Pedro Porro, City have been saying farewell, and one was a major surprise.
The emergence of promising youngster Rico Lewis has clearly affected Joao Cancelo’s game time but no one genuinely thought the Portuguese full-back, arguably the best in the top-flight last season, would be allowed to leave.
An unused substitute for three of the past five league games – and taken off at half-time in one of the others – Bayern Munich swiftly snapped him up on loan with an option to buy this summer.
The Premier League champions sanctioned the move after Cancelo told manager Pep Guardiola he wanted to depart.
Whether it proves a masterstroke or a major loss remains to be seen but surely any team would miss a player whose versatility, great feet, and impressive vision mark him out as a special talent.
Putting all this to one side, the fact Spurs may not have their manager in the dugout after Conte had surgery to remove a gallbladder will prove decisive to me.
Historically, this rivalry could barely be closer.
Following a thrilling comeback by the reigning champions barely over a fortnight ago – they won 4-2 after trailing 2-0 at the break – City have 66 victories and Tottenham 65 (a further 36 matches have been drawn), which shows you how well matched they have been over the years as they have each enjoyed their own periods of glory.
Two seasons ago, it was Vintage Mourinho in North London as Tottenham ran out 2-0 winners in a game City dominated for long spells, yet it didn’t matter because of a Jose Mourinho managerial masterclass.
However, City then got the better of Tottenham in the return at the Etihad with a 3-0 triumph before a late Aymeric Laporte goal won them the League Cup Final – made easier by the fact Mourinho had been foolishly dismissed by Tottenham just days earlier.
Last season, Tottenham got a modicum of revenge with a league double of their own.
In London, a Son goal separated the sides on the opening day of the 2021/22 campaign. Then a 95th minute Kane winner settled a five-goal thriller in Tottenham’s favour in Manchester in February.
City have won 14 of the last 24 meetings with Tottenham in the Premier League.
Arguably the best game I have reported on in recent years involved these clubs in 2019 in the Champions League quarter-finals – an epic encounter with which words struggled to do justice, so barely credible were the events which unfolded.
Premier League: Brennan Beauty Gives Forest a Super Sunday
Nottingham Forest 1-0 Leeds United
Nottingham Forest moved six points clear of the Premier League relegation zone on Sunday, thanks to a stunning strike from forward Brennan Johnson.
Premier League: Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United was a clash between two teams fighting for survival and the first top flight duel between these proud clubs in over two decades. The Whites had plenty of chances to draw, or even win the game, but a combination of poor finishing and a cool goalkeeping display from Forest’s new stopper Keylor Navas preserved the win for the hosts, who are now five games unbeaten in the league.
Steve Cooper’s side are up to 13th in the table while Leeds United are in 17th, above the drop zone on goal difference alone. It’s a good time for Forest to go on an unbeaten run and, equally, a bad time for Leeds to stutter. The Whites are desperate to avoid another nail-biting run in but, as things stand, they in the thick of the dogfight.
The teams at the bottom of the table will have been watching the Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United updates with interest, probably hoping for a draw but, while Leeds dominated all the stats it was Forest who collected the three priceless points.
Highlights of the game
Goalkeeper Keylor Navas in action in their Premier League match against Leeds United at The City Ground
Forest hardly had a sniff of the ball as Leeds United dominated the opening exchanges, Luis Sinisterra almost breaking through on three minutes, but keeper Keylor Navas, signed the day before the transfer deadline, made a smart save and a quick recovery to claim the ball. And the visitors camped in their hosts’ half for pretty much all of the opening 12 minutes, but in the 13th, Forest struck. When Leeds failed to properly clear a free-kick the ball dropped onto the boot of Johnson and he sweetly volleyed it home.
Johnson had won the free-kick and may have been offside in the build up to that moment but Forest fans didn’t care about that one bit.
Sinisterra passed up another golden chance to level when Wilfried Gnonto pulled the ball back from the bi-line but, with the goal gaping, the Colombian blasted it high into the stands when the net should have been bulging.
Leeds head coach Jesse Marsch rang the changes in the second half, bringing on Weston McKennie for his debut, after his loan move from Juventus, and Leeds pushed for a leveller, the busy Patrick Bamford denied twice by saving challenges. Forest were always dangerous at the other end though and substitute Sam Surridge came close to doubling the lead but his curled effort sailed just over the angle of post and crossbar.
When the final whistle went, the roof came off the County Ground Stadium as the hosts celebrated a massive win. Leeds have plenty to ponder.
Key statistics
The Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United betting odds pre-match predicted a hard fought game and so it was, but Leeds had the better of the main metrics, with almost 70 per cent possession, nine shots to six and four to two on target. But Forest have made a habit of winning 1-0 and this was the biggest of the lot.
Leeds haven’t won at the City Ground in a top flight fixture since 1971 and when Johnson scored on 13 minutes it was only his third touch of the game, the second winning the foul leading up to the strike. That sums up the game really.
What’s next?
Here at SBOTOP we’ll be previewing and reporting on all the Premier League games over the next seven days as Forest travel away to high flying Fulham next weekend. The Cottagers came up as champions last year and have been at home in the top flight, drawing with Chelsea on Friday to stay eighth in the table.
Leeds United have a very tough February ahead of themselves; they visit Manchester United on Wednesday and then host the Red Devils next Sunday. It is one of the fiercest rivalries in English football and both Uniteds are desperate for points. And if that isn’t enough the Whites then go the Goodison Park to meet Sean Dyche’s Everton who started their life under the former Burnley boss with a 1-0 win over leaders Arsenal.
It’s all hotting up at both ends of the table and Manchester City can close the gap on the Gunners to two points if they come out on top of their clash with Spurs in the final Sunday game; but, right now Nottingham Forest have eased their worries at the bottom…for now.
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To become the all-time leading scorer at the great English football institution that is Tottenham Hotspur FC is a truly fabulous achievement.
After scoring the only goal of this Premier League encounter to defeat the champions – Manchester City have never won or even scored since Spurs moved into their new stadium in 2019 – the England and Spurs captain took the microphone and thanked everyone, family, friends, fans, staff and players.
It was a typical gesture from the man who has now netted 267 goals for his boyhood club.
This one, at a raucous Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, was like so many before him, a composed finish from 10 yards out after Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg did well to find him.
The 15th minute goal was also Kane’s 200th on the Premier League stage – only Alan Shearer (260) and Wayne Rooney (208) have more.
All this on the day when Spurs boss Antonio Conte was recovering at home after surgery to remove his gallbladder.
Who needs a manager when you have Harry?!
Highlights of the game
As well as Conte, there were other absentees from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Matt Doherty has since moved to Atlético Madrid.
The hosts were unchanged from the team that earned a 1-0 success at Fulham which meant new signing Pedro Porro was named on the bench against his former club (Porro failed to make the grade at City as a youngster before being sold to Sporting Lisbon for £7 million in 2020.)
Likewise, for City, life began without João Cancelo who seemingly lost the faith of Pep Guardiola who made four changes to the team that beat Wolves 3-0 a fortnight ago.
Kevin de Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan surprisingly dropped to the bench along with Aymeric Laporte.
When the decisive moment arrived, it was against the run of play after City had bossed the opening stages.
They continued to be well on top without creating too much danger, although they were unfortunate when Riyad Mahrez struck a half-volley against the crossbar on the stroke of half-time.
At this point, the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds favoured the home team which, given City’s comeback a few weeks ago, was quite something.
But they proved accurate.
Striker Erling Haaland of Man City looks disappointed after an away defeat against Tottenham Hotspur
The introduction of Kevin de Bruyne breathed life into City but Erling Haaland received little or no service and the lack of creativity on this particular afternoon only added to my view that the loss of Cancelo has weakened Guardiola’s men.
A second yellow card for Cristian Romero three minutes from time barely mattered as Spurs’ desire and a curiously off-colour City’s own failings added to their frustrations.
Spurs had been desperate for something to spark their season, a first victory over a member of the so-called big six and this was it.
The sight of Kane with his colleagues and supporters at full-time – he even received a call from Conte – simply showed that this day belonged to one man.
A player Spurs fans describe as ‘one of our own’ is now out on his own.
Key statistics
The late, great Jimmy Greaves held the record for Spurs but, bizarrely, the club does not include two goals netted by Greaves against Ipswich in the 1962 Charity Shield.
Kane has now scored five times in 14 top-flight matches versus City.
He has 17 league goals this season and 19 in total, 11 more than the next highest scorer for the club, Son Heung-min.
City have lost all five of their league and cup games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium without scoring.
City have suffered 28 Premier League defeats against Spurs, their highest figure against a particular opponent.
What’s next?
Spurs are at Leicester City next Saturday (February 11) before the first leg of their last 16 Champions League tie at AC Milan three days later.
City, meanwhile, are home to Aston Villa next Sunday before the top of the table clash at Arsenal the following midweek (February 15).
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Premier League: Red Devils Looking Rosy Ahead of Roses Derby
Manchester United vs Leeds United
It’s love month this February, and Manchester United and Leeds United will face off in not one, but two Roses Derbies before Valentine’s Day.
The Red Devils, who are set to host the first of these two derbies to kick off this weekend’s Premier League action, are in fine form of late as they have now climbed up to third in the table.
Meanwhile, the Whites continue to struggle in the league and desperately need a win to keep themselves out of the relegation zone.
Talking Points
Rashford-led Red Devils on a roll
Manchester United have been in magnificent form since returning from the World Cup break – and, perhaps not coincidentally, since the departure of a certain Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Red Devils have reeled off 11 wins in their last 13 games in all competitions, with their lone defeat coming away to leaders Arsenal.
They are through to the final of the EFL Cup after sweeping aside Nottingham Forest and are coming off a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace in the league, which has seen them overtake Newcastle for third.
United held on for the win despite going down to 10 men after Casemiro was shown a straight red card with 20 minutes to go. That means the Brazilian will be suspended for both Roses derbies.
Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford continues to be in phenomenal form. The England international scored once again against Palace, his 10th goal in the league and 19th in all competitions. Bruno Fernandes has also been brilliant post-break, with 4 goals and 4 assists in his last 10 games in all competitions.
Leeds United made some big moves during the winter transfer window to help improve their Premier League 2023 odds of survival, but they are yet to see a return on that investment. The Whites’ winless run in the league has now hit seven games after a 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest last weekend.
That loss leaves Leeds in 17th place, just goal difference ahead of Everton, who occupy the last relegation spot.
Jesse Marsch handed a debut to Leeds’ latest American recruit, midfielder Weston McKennie, and also brought record signing Georginio Rutter off the bench against the Trees. But issues remain as the Whites were held without a goal for the second straight match.
Leeds United’s Patrick Bamford reacts during their match against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League
Leeds were dealt a huge blow with the Premier League 2023 news that leading scorer Rodrigo Moreno will be out for two months with an ankle injury. Second-leading scorer Crysencio Summerville (4 goals) has also missed several weeks with his own ankle knock.
Rodrigo has scored 10 goals this season, and his absence puts the pressure of Rutter and Patrick Bamford to provide the attacking punch for the Whites moving forward.
But after promising substitute outings against Liverpool and Aston Villa as well as a couple of fine performances in the FA Cup against lower-league sides Cardiff City and Accrington Stanley, Bamford still has yet to fully rediscover his best form.
History
The Roses Derby has unsurprisingly been dominated by Manchester United. The Red Devils hold a 49-26 advantage in wins, with 36 draws.
That wins disparity is even more pronounced in the Premier League era, where United have a massive 16-4 edge, with 8 draws.
Man United are still unbeaten against Leeds since the former returned to the Premier League in 2020. The two meetings at Old Trafford have seen plenty of goals; United thrashed Leeds 6-2 in December 2020 and again romped to a 5-1 victory in August 2021.
Bruno Fernandes has scored six goals in four Premier League meetings against Leeds. That includes a hat-trick in last season’s fixture.
SBOTOP odds have Manchester United installed as 1.47 favourites to win at Old Trafford. Leeds are priced at 6.20, while a draw is 4.40.
Without a doubt, the Whites face an uphill battle at Old Trafford once again. They’ve been on the receiving end of two beatings in the previous two seasons, and now they face an in-form United side that’s won 13 home games in a row in all competitions.
But while recent Roses derbies have resulted in quite a few goals, this one could be different. Despite their fine form, Man United aren’t exactly a free-scoring side. And Leeds will be desperate to avoid another drubbing, so they could play a more defensive style this time around at the Theatre of Dreams.
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Manchester City’s reign in the Premier League may not be the only one that’s coming to an end. In fact, they’re in danger of being expelled from the English top-flight altogether.
It’s been a miserable time for the Sky Blues, as they were beaten by Tottenham. And then recent reports emerged that the Premier League was accusing them of breaking numerous rules these past few years.
On the other side of Manchester, United got back on the winning track, but they’ll lose a key player in the upcoming days, while Leeds United now have a head coaching vacancy.
As always, there’s so much happening here in the English top-flight, so continue to read on below to keep up with the latest Premier League 2023 updates.
Premier League charges City for multiple breaches
The Premier League has charged Manchester City with violating its financial regulations, which could lead to the harshest penalties in league history.
They were accused of more than 100 infractions, which include failing to give accurate financial information about contractual payments made to certain managers and players and refusing to comply with the league’s investigation committee.
An independent commission outlined these charges after recently concluding their four-year investigation. The alleged violations are said to have occurred throughout the course of nine seasons, from 2009–10 to 2017–18.
Manchester City issued a statement on Monday, saying that they were “surprised” by these alleged breaches of the Premier League rules and that they’re looking to cooperate to “put this matter to rest once and for all.”
The independent commission can impose severe punishments on Manchester City, including suspensions, point deductions, order compensation, and cancellation of player registrations, or they can remove them from the Premier League altogether.
Since the takeover of Sheikh Mansour in 2008, Manchester City have won six Premierships, six EFL Cups, and two FA Cups. All of those trophies might be delegitimized if the league’s charges against them are upheld.
Pep Guardiola, the man behind the club’s greatest triumphs, has been a staunch defender of the club whenever there are allegations against them. But last year, he said that he told the higher-ups that he would leave his post if they had lied to him.
United get the win, but lose their star in the process
Manchester United improved their SBOTOP Premier League 2023 odds of winning a title last weekend as they beat Crystal Palace in their rematch. It also helped that Arsenal, Manchester City, and Newcastle all dropped points.
Erik ten Hag’s side currently has 42 points, which is only eight points away from the table leaders, Arsenal.
Bruno Fernandes drew first blood for the Red Devils after seven minutes via a penalty kick, and Marcus Rashford put them ahead by two goals 55 minutes later.
Casemiro has been sent off during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Crystal Palace
But the hosts were reduced to 10 men when a scrap broke out after Jeffrey Schlupp shoved Antony into the advertising board. Casemiro was seen grabbing Will Hughes’ neck, and the VAR decided that he deserved to be given a straight red card.
Schlupp, meanwhile, was only given a yellow card, and he scored Crystal Palace’s only goal six minutes later.
United held on to win 2-1, but they’ll be without Casemiro in their next three Premier League games against Leeds United (twice) and Leicester City. However, the former Real Madrid man is expected to be available against Barcelona in their Europa League tie.
Given that he has consistently been a member of Erik ten Hag’s starting XI, the fact that he has 12 days to recover before facing the Blaugrana may really be a blessing in disguise.
In the meantime, newly acquired Marcel Sabitzer is going to be thrust into the starting XI, and he’ll get to prove his worth for the club.
Leeds search for a new coach amid relegation worries
The Whites are in the midst of another relegation battle, and Jesse Marsch is no longer the man trying to get them out of it this time.
After one year in the job, Jesse Marsch has been sacked after they lost 1-0 at Nottingham Forest on Sunday, which extended their drought to seven consecutive Premier League games.
Leeds United are in 17th place with 18 points, which is level with 18th-placed Everton.
Until a replacement for Jesse Marsch is found, the team will be coached by Michael Skubala, Paco Gallardo, and Chris Armas. One name that has been linked to succeeding Marsch is Carlos Corberan, who was one of Marcelo Bielsa’s top assistants. Corberan is now the head coach of West Brom, who are currently sixth in the Championship.
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Premier League: New-Look Chelsea Chase Key Win at West Ham
West Ham United vs Chelsea
Chelsea are set for their third London derby in the space of four Premier League games as they make the short trip to East London to face West Ham United.
The new-look Blues have been held to goalless draws in back-to-back games as they continue to languish in mid-table.
And now, they face a tricky test in the form of a resurgent West Ham, who have picked up some promising Premier League 2023 results in recent games.
Talking Points
West Ham working their way back up
After a disastrous run of form, West Ham United are seemingly back on track. The Hammers picked up a huge home win against Everton, which led to Frank Lampard’s sacking, and followed that up with a 1-1 draw away to fourth-placed Newcastle. They also had a routine 2-0 win in the FA Cup against lower-league Derby County.
With those two positive results against Everton and Newcastle, West Ham have climbed to 16th in the Premier League table, although they are still just one point above the relegation zone.
Michail Antonio has started at centre-forward in each of the last four games in all competitions amid the injury to Gianluca Scamacca, and he has picked up a goal and an assist.
Antonio has scored just two Premier League goals all season, but one of those goals came against Chelsea back in September. New signing Danny Ings has recovered from his recent knock and could potentially come in and give the 32-year-old Antonio a rest.
Meanwhile, West Ham’s defence has seen a resurgence as they’ve conceded just two goals in their last five games in all competitions. But with Kurt Zouma out and Thilo Kehrer doubtful, Ben Johnson will likely continue at the right side of the defence alongside Angelo Ogbonna and Nayef Aguerd.
After their incredible winter spending spree, it’s now time to see whether Graham Potter can coach this new-look Chelsea side back up the table.
They did not look all too impressive last weekend, though, as they were held to a goalless draw at home in the west London derby by Fulham. Record signing Enzo Fernandez made his debut along with fellow winter recruits Mykhailo Mudryk and Benoit Badiashile.
But even after their massive spending, Chelsea are still struggling to score goals. They have scored just seven goals in their last 12 Premier League games.
Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling is back on the pitch during their recent Premier League game against Fulham
There is some good news for the Blues, though, as some key players made their return from injury against Fulham. Star right-back Reece James started and played an hour, while winger Raheem Sterling and wing-back Ben Chilwell both came off the bench. Joao Felix is also available for selection once again after serving out his three-match suspension following his debut red card against Fulham.
James’ return is particularly important for Potter as wing-backs play a crucial role in his system. It will now be interesting to see whether Potter will switch back to his preferred formation of a back three after playing with a back four in recent weeks.
History
Chelsea have dominated West Ham in the Premier League era. They have a commanding 29-15 advantage in wins, with 9 draws.
The Blues beat West Ham at Stamford Bridge 2-1 in their first meeting this season. Antonio gave West Ham the lead just after the hour mark, but Chelsea equalised through Chilwell and got the winner through Kai Havertz two minutes from time.
The win was Chelsea’s fourth in their last five Premier League meetings against the Hammers.
The SBOTOP Premier League 2023 betting odds have Chelsea installed as slight 2.27 favourites to win this London derby. West Ham are priced at 3.20, while a draw is similarly priced at 3.15.
Goals have been at a premium in both West Ham’s and Chelsea’s recent Premier League games. Neither side has been particularly prolific this season – they are both in the bottom half of the league in terms of goals scored – and their defences have been much-improved of late.
But with Reece James and other attacking stars back, I expect Chelsea to be a bit more adventurous in this match as they desperately need a win. That could very well lead to a more open and entertaining London derby with a fair number of goals.
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Kane and Very Able – Harry is True Premier League and World Star
SBOTOP Premier League betting odds aren’t available for top scorers but you can be sure that, if they were, this guy would be an absolute shoo-in.
So, when asked to focus on one man, the timing of the request made this piece extremely straightforward.
Step forward the Premier League’s own Harry Houdini – the Spurs and England captain Harry Kane who has just become a record-breaker for club and is one goal away from also becoming a record-breaker for country.
Now do I think Kane is better than the men he has surpassed and about to surpass in those respective charts respectively (Jimmy Greaves and Wayne Rooney)?
Indeed, does it matter what this SBOTOP writer believes. Of course, it doesn’t.
For what it’s worth, I am of the opinion the late Greaves is the greatest striker English football has ever produced and his tally of 266 goals in 379 games in a Spurs shirt – interspersed between spells at Chelsea and West Ham (including 30 or so fewer penalties than Kane) – will probably never be beaten.
Kane made his Spurs debut in 2011 and has played 416 times for the club.
Likewise, for me, neither Rooney nor Kane’s achievements, while superb, are quite as impressive as Sir Bobby Charlton whose 49 international goals came as a midfielder (Kane and Rooney have 53 apiece).
Again, though, does this really matter for all the aforementioned are footballing greats in their own way and Kane should be lauded as such.
The stats suggest there are plenty more Premier League highlights to come as well.
In fact, if he stays injury-free, would you bet against Kane – who has become the third player to reach 200 Premier League goals, after Alan Shearer and Rooney – adding that record to his tally too.
Kane also deserves respect for staying loyal to his club.
Yes, he did have his head turned by City in the summer of 2021 but that’s hardly any wonder given the lack of support he must have felt the club was receiving from chairman Daniel Levy.
As former Spurs man Garth Crooks outlined this week, there is a certain irony attached to Kane’s accomplishment.
A big screen displays congratulations as Harry Kane became Spur’s all-time top goalscorer
His record goal was scored against City, a side he almost joined. Had he done so, he wouldn’t have achieved the historic feat, but he would almost certainly have one hand on a Premier League title and be eyeing a Champions League success – perhaps the price you pay when you pursue records and not trophies.
Well, Kane stays in North London for the rest of his top flight career of course.
At 29 he is believed to be open to extending his deal, provided certain conditions are met, and only last month confirmed he would hold talks “over the coming months” when heh again reiterated his ambition to win trophies in north London.
The final word comes from the Independent newspaper which observed it is true that very few footballers have had such an illustrious career without actually winning a trophy.
Yet the misunderstanding is that this somehow dilutes Kane’s achievements.
In reality it makes them more impressive.
Here is a man who has performed to a relentlessly high level while playing for Spurs and England, two teams with little history of success in modern times.
Premier League: Conte Planning a Winning Return at King Power Stadium
Leicester City vs Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham can move into the top four of the Premier League table when they visit Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on Saturday night.
Spurs are in fifth place with 39 points, and a win here against the Foxes puts them above Newcastle United – at least for 24 hours.
After sitting out a couple of games because he went under the knife, Antonio Conte is back in the Spurs’ dugout, and his presence would surely give his players a huge morale boost.
Their visitors, Leicester City, finally ended their drought with a much-needed victory against Aston Villa last weekend, and they need to produce more positive Premier League 2023 results to fully get out of the relegation scrap.
The Les Bleus star has kept seven clean sheets in 21 league games this season, so this is a huge blow to the Spurs’ backline.
Fraser Forster is the next man up for Tottenham, whom they signed this summer. Forster is a capable shot stopper, and it’ll be interesting to see how he’ll do between the sticks for Spurs.
The timing of Lloris’ injury is horrible for Tottenham, whose 2022-23 campaign was starting to turn around. Prior to this weekend, Spurs had won three consecutive games across all competitions: against Fulham and Manchester City in the Premier League, and over Preston North End to advance to the FA Cup fifth round.
Lloris has been an integral part of Spurs since he signed from Lyon more than a decade ago, and he has been their captain for eight years now.
Kane will link up with Heung-Min Son up front, while January signing Pedro Porro might make his much-awaited debut to replace Cristiano Romero, who was given the red card against the Sky Blues.
Tete making an impact already for Leicester City
Leicester City’s Mateus Tete celebrates scoring their third goal against Aston Villa
During the January transfer window, Leicester City were in dire need of wing reinforcements, and they finally got one in Tete, who made his debut against Aston Villa.
It didn’t take too long for the young Brazilian to make an impact, as he scored right before halftime to essentially give the Foxes the lead for good after Aston Villa had two early on.
Before joining Leicester City, Tete scored six goals in 17 Ligue 1 appearances for Lyon this season, and he had an xG of 0.35 per 90 minutes.
The Foxes haven’t had a winger like Tete since Riyad Mahrez, who left the team in 2018. The 22-year-old is fast and physical, and he’s not your typical right-winger since he is left-footed.
History
Tottenham have won their last four Premier League games against Leicester City, which is their best winning run against them in their league history. During the said stretch, they edged them by an aggregate tally of 16-7.
Since returning to the Premier League in 2014, Leicester City’s games against Tottenham have produced 71 goals, the most of any fixture in the competition over the last nine years.
Leicester City have only kept one clean sheet in their 16 league home games against Tottenham, conceding at least once in each of the last 13 since a 3-0 victory in September 1997.
Their previous meeting last September was a goal fest, as Tottenham beat Leicester City 6-2 in the reverse fixture in north London.
The game featured six different scorers: Harry Kane, Eric Dier, Rodrigo Bentancur, Heung-Min Son (hat-trick), Youri Tielemans, and James Maddison.
The SBOTOP Premier League 2023 odds predict a tight affair between Tottenham and Leicester City. Tottenham were given the slight edge at 2.14, while Leicester City are priced to win at 3.30, and chances for a draw are at 3.35 in the 1X2 market. When these two sides meet, they usually produce goals. In each of their last four league encounters, we have seen them score at least four goals between them, so we’re looking at Over 2.50 @ 1.76 as the safest bet.
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Premier League: Can Eagles Deal Blow to Brighton’s European Dreams?
Crystal Palace vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Fierce rivals Crystal Palace and Brighton are set to collide for the first time this Premier League season as they meet at Selhurst Park.
The Seagulls are flying high in sixth place and are in the midst of a six-game unbeaten run in all competitions as their dreams of European football continue to look strong.
As for the Eagles, they are trending in the opposite direction as they’ve gone winless in their last six and have just one win in their last 10 matches as the pressure continues to pile on manager Patrick Vieira.
Can Crystal Palace snap their recent skid and deal a blow to Brighton’s Premier League 2023 odds of securing a European spot?
Talking Points
Eagles struggling in Vieira’s second season
Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha in action with Newcastle United’s Kieran Trippier during their Premier League match
Crystal Palace are suffering from a bad case of second-season syndrome under Patrick Vieira. The Eagles are in 12th place – which is where they finished in their first season under Vieira – but they have taken a massive step back in recent months.
Palace’s Premier League 2023 results have been disastrous. They have yet to win this calendar year, with three defeats and two draws.
Scoring goals has been a glaring problem for Palace. They have scored just four goals in their last eight Premier League matches, which is a concerning number.
Star forward and leading scorer Wilfried Zaha missed their most recent match, a 2-1 defeat to Manchester United, due to a hamstring injury, and his continued absence makes Palace’s attacking woes much worse.
It remains to be seen which of Crystal Palace’s forwards will step up in Zaha’s absence. The likes of Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise have been underwhelming, while strikers Odsonne Edouard and Jean-Philippe Mateta have been misfiring all season.
As if Crystal Palace’s attacking problems weren’t enough, they also have issues at the back as starting defenders Joel Ward and Joachim Andersen are both still out injured. Nathaniel Clyne and American Chris Richards will likely continue to deputise in their absence.
Box office Brighton keep winning
Brighton are unbeatable at the moment. They are currently on a six-game unbeaten run in all competitions, including two home wins against Liverpool both in the league and the FA Cup.
Kaoru Mitoma has been a massive reason for the Seagulls’ recent surge. The Japanese international has been in phenomenal form of late, with 5 goals in his last 7 games. That includes the dramatic late winning goals against Liverpool in the FA Cup and Bournemouth last time out in the league.
Roberto De Zerbi brought Moises Caicedo on as a substitute after his failed move to Arsenal, and the young Colombian might make his return to the Brighton midfield against Palace.
Meanwhile, teenager centre-forward Evan Ferguson missed the Bournemouth match after picking up a knock against Liverpool. But the young Irishman escaped serious injury after Fabinho’s poor tackle and might be back in contention to start. if he doesn’t pass fit, veteran Danny Welbeck will likely start once again.
Brighton have been absolute box office away from home this season. They have collected 17 points from their 10 away games, which is tied for third-most in the league. Moreover, they are tied with Leicester City for the most away goals this season with 21.
There have been 10 A23 derbies during the Premier League era, and it has been quite competitive. Crystal Palace have a slight 3-2 edge in terms of wins, while half of the 10 matches have ended in draws.
However, Palace have had the upper hand in this rivalry in recent years. The Eagles are unbeaten in their last six meetings against the Seagulls, with 2 wins and 4 draws.
The two sides drew both matches last season 1-1. Brighton needed a late equaliser on both occasions to pick up a point.
SBOTOP odds have Brighton installed as 2.06 favourites to pick up their first win in the A23 derby since 2019. Palace are priced at 3.55, while a draw is 3.35.
While the form book usually goes out the window in a derby, it’s hard not to back Brighton in this match.
The Seagulls are simply flying at the moment, with Roberto De Zerbi getting a tune out of virtually every player on the squad. Meanwhile, it’s the exact opposite at Palace, where Patrick Vieira is struggling to rediscover last season’s magic.
Look for Brighton to keep their good run going and get that much-awaited A23 derby win against Crystal Palace.
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Premier League: Gunners Hoping to Avoid a Nasty Bees Sting
Arsenal vs Brentford
Premier League leaders Arsenal are hoping to get back to winning ways when they welcome in-form Brentford to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
But they have been stung by the Bees before, and while Thomas Frank’s side beat Southampton last week, the Gunners went down to a shock defeat to struggling Everton.
Arsenal are hot favourites to win this game at odds of 1.36, and Mikel Arteta will be desperate to get his side back to winning ways without delay.
But Brentford, riding high in seventh place, can play without fear. With 33 points already in the bag, relegation is not a consideration while if they can gather momentum, a European adventure is certainly not out of the question.
Without any doubt, the pressure is on Arsenal to win and keep alive their dream of a first Premier League title since 2004.
Talking Points
No harm done at Goodison Park
Midfielder Bukayo Saka celebrates Arsenal’s second goal during their away match against Manchester United
After losing to Everton, the Gunners fans must have expected Manchester City to beat Spurs and climb to within two points of the top, but we all now how that turned out. Harry Kane’s goal cheered up Arteta and his team and the Premier League 2023 betting odds now rate them as clear favourites to win the title at SBOTOP odds of 1.59.
In some ways, the City defeat may be a bigger boost than had they both won because it suggests the much anticipated Sky Blue charge is by no means certain. And off-field problems have plagued the champions this week as the Premier League has charged Manchester City with over a hundred financial and regulatory infractions.
Any worry that Manchester United might creep up on the rails have dissipated somewhat after the Red Devils drew at home to Leeds United on Wednesday night. So Arsenal just need to concentrate on what they are doing, still with just two league defeats all season.
But with an FA Cup loss to City coming just before their visit to Merseyside, another reversal against the Bees would make it three defeats on the run, and the chasing pack will smell blood.
Arsenal’s centre-back pairing of William Saliba and Ben White looked shaky against Everton’s aerial bombardment and they will come up against Ivan Toney, one of the league most prolific strikers.
If they can keep Toney and co. quiet then the Gunners will thrive with the central midfield partnership of Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka likely to dominate, giving the likes of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli the room to work their magic.
Saka scored a beauty in Arsenal’s last home game against Manchester United, and he has seven goals and seven assists this season.
Brentford will never be a one-man team
The Bees’ Premier League 2023 results have been very impressive and they have shown no signs of second season syndrome, currently sitting seventh in the table with a record of eight wins, nine draws, and just four defeats, and now they are at odds of 201.00 to be relegated.
When they arrived in the top-flight last season, the Bees impressed with their vibrant style of play and quick passing and they didn’t have any big name stars until Christian Eriksen arrived midway through the campaign.
This year, striker Ivan Toney has dominated the headlines with his 13 goals but he won’t be a shoo-in for the Bees’ player of the season awards.
Cameroon striker Bryan Mbeumo, with five goals, has been consistently impressive and he put in a man-of-the-match performance against the Saints, assisting the first goal, scoring the second, and being involved in the build-up for the third.
At 23 years of age, Mbeumo is just going to get better and better and Brentford will need him on their journey.
At the other end of the pitch, ex-Burnley defender Ben Mee has brought experience and defencive inspiration to the back four, as he’s one of the bravest players in the game and a threat at set-pieces, scoring three goals for the Bees already.
History
These two London teams met on Brentford’s arrival in the Premier League back in August 2021 when the Bees announced themselves on the elite stage with a 2-0 win. The Gunners have won the other three meetings, though.
Brentford’s recent form is a little better than their hosts, having won four, drawn one, and lost one of the last six games while Arsenal have won three, drawn one, and lost two.
But the Gunners have been outstanding at the Emirates this season with eight wins and one draw so far, while the Bees have been steady away from home with just three defeats on the road, two victories, and five draws.
The visitors are at 4.36 to draw and 7.52 to win, and I’ve made a case for them to pick something up at the Emirates.
But this really is a must win for the hosts, anything else will cause some serious jitters in North London and Arteta’s players will be in no mood to loosen their grip on the top spot.
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The charges detailed, among other things, the club’s failure to provide timely financial information over a number of campaigns. And fans of City’s rival are gleefully speculating just how severe the sanctions may be: from mega fine and points deductions, or even an expulsion.
But for the sake of Sky Blues fans and the rest of us, let’s talk about matters on the pitch where City simply must do the business; it’s between City and Villa on Sunday and that’s a mouthwatering prospect.
Both teams are on the back of a defeat, as Villa lost 4-2 at home to Leicester City while the Sky Blues went down 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur.
The latest Premier League 2023 betting odds say it’s a home win, but Villa have progressed to 11th under Unai Emery and are a real and present danger to Pep Guardiola’s out of sorts Sky Blues.
City are five points behind leaders Arsenal, having played a game more, and that is a gap they can afford to see get any bigger.
Talking Points
Can City win the title with a No. 9?
Having won four Premier League titles in the last five seasons and then signing the scoring sensation Erling Haaland for this campaign, it looked like the Premier crown would stay at the Etihad for another season.
Manchester City’s Erling Haaland looks dejected after their Premier League match against Tottenham
But it hasn’t turned out that way so far.
Sure thing Haaland has been immense. He has scored an unbelievable 31 goals in all competitions, 25 in the league and he has four Premier League hat-tricks to his name, more than Cristiano Ronaldo and the same number as Mohamed Salah. So why aren’t the Sky Blues streets ahead?
Well, other than Phil Foden who has seven goals to his name, no other City players has scored more than four, a remarkable statistic for a team which has previously shared the goals around. Having a big No. 9 has changed the way the Sky Blues play and maybe the focal point has detracted from opportunities elsewhere.
It’s a conundrum Guardiola needs to solve quickly, but surely he must start the upcoming games with his best players Kevin De Bruyne and Foden.
The Sky Blues were undone by the great Harry Kane last week but they rarely looked like winning the match and the absence of their two playmakers from the starting lineup was a head-scratcher.
Manchester City fans will be hoping Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal come a cropper against Brentford this weekend. But even more that, they want to see the old City back and firing as well as Haaland.
Emery has Villa ticking
Since his arrival at Villa Park following the sacking of Steven Gerrard, Unai Emery has turned the Villains around and pulled them successfully away from danger, with good Premier League 2023 results over Southampton, Leeds United, and Spurs in the last five games.
He can’t call on the star names that Guardiola has and top scorer Danny Ings was sold to West Ham in the January window down. But unlike City, Aston Villa are playing like a team in harmony.
They have a serious goal threat in striker Ollie Watkins while Emiliano Buendia is a classy attacking midfielder with great technical skills and a killer pass.
And with World Cup winner Emi Martinez as their last line of defence, they have a big character to give the back four confidence.
History
The head-to-heads have been dominated by the Sky Blues who have notched up 32 wins to Villa’s seven and they are unbeaten in this fixture at the Etihad over the past seven games, but when the two teams met in Birmingham in September, they played out a 1-1 draw.
Recent form has been patchy for City with three wins and three defeats over the past six games, while Villa have won three, drawn two, and lost one.
But with a home record of nine wins, one draw, and one defeat this season, Guardiola’s side has been in championship form on their home turf.
SBOTOP odds of 12.04 on an away win is a big price but it doesn’t tempt me and the draw at 5.60 looks unlikely too.
Yes, Emery has Villa playing well, but I find it hard to believe that Guardiola will allow the Sky Blues’ malaise to continue for another week, otherwise it could become terminal.
Another hat-trick for Haaland wouldn’t be a surprise, though.
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Premier League: Points Mean Much on The South Coast
Bournemouth vs Newcastle United
Saturday teatime in the Premier League and a meeting between one side of high-flyers and another who are too close to the ground for their liking.
For while Newcastle are in fourth place, in a good position to qualify for the Champions League and have also reached this month’s League Cup Final, Bournemouth have slipped into the drop zone and are fighting for survival.
With both in need of the points for different reasons then, it’s easy to see why Premier League highlights are anticipated.
Talking Points
In the home corner are Bournemouth and their manager Gary O’Neil.
Last time out, he handed debuts to January signings Antoine Semenyo and Hamed Traore, while Dango Ouattara made his second appearance following an eye-catching Premier League introduction against Nottingham Forest a fortnight ago.
A wholly positive interim period for O’Neil actually convinced the Cherries board to hire the 39-year-old as their new permanent manager, with negotiations apparently breaking down with Marcelo Bielsa.
His side then found a taste for goals with 12 strikes in their last four games before the World Cup.
The form has not been so good since then, however.
In fact, they have not won in the league since a 3-0 victory over Everton in mid-November and now need to get points on the board quickly to avoid becoming embroiled in a relegation battle.
Personally, I can see two south coast clubs losing their top flight status this season with Southampton also struggling and rock bottom.
Bournemouth have a better chance of staying up though and will be encouraged that new American owner Bill Foley shelled out more than £70 million on six new players last month in a bid to halt their rapid slide down the table.
With games against champions Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal also coming up after facing the Tynesiders, it is going to be a tough ask though.
This match is a reunion with former boss Eddie Howe who guided Bournemouth to the Premier League in 2015.
While the World Cup came at the most inopportune moment for the Cherries, Howe’s Magpies picked up where they left off and have still only lost once in the league all season.
They will be without the suspended Bruno Guimaraes, although he will return for the League Cup Final against Manchester United at the end of the month, but should otherwise be at full strength.
These teams had never met competitively until the League Cup in 1963.
Then Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic, as they were known, emerged 2-1 winners.
Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak scores their first goal vs Fulham
By the time they next met a decade on, the Cherries were known as plain old Bournemouth and the Geordies won the third round tie with the legendary Malcolm Macdonald a scorer in a 2-0 win.
Believe it or not, their inaugural league meeting did not happen until 1989.
That was the former Division Two and a contest Bournemouth won 2-1 – Mick Quinn scored for Newcastle.
Their very first meeting in the top flight came in 2015 when Ayoze Perez scored the only goal of the game at the Vitality Stadium.
This will be the third meeting between the club this term.
In September, Philip Billing put the Cherries in front at St James’ Park before an Isak penalty earned the hosts a draw.
Just before Christmas, an own goal separated the teams as Newcastle progressed from the fourth round of the League Cup.
Overall, Bournemouth have five victories to Newcastle’s seven with a further four draws.
The ‘Geordie boys’ are big favourites with the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds, which is no surprise given their lofty position and the fact the home side are in the bottom three.
You can back the Toon Army to be happy both 1X2 @ 1.48 and Asian Handicap -1.25 @ 2.20.
By contrast, the Cherries are priced 1X2 @ 7.20 and Asian Handicap +1.25 @ 1.76.
If you fancy goals, as I do, the options include over 2.50 @ 2.02, over 2.75 @ 2.33, total goal 0-1 @ 3.10, 2-3 @ 1.92 and 4-6 @ 3.75.
A second 1-0 Newcastle success in as many months will pay out @ 5.20 with Correct Score.
I have briefly considered that, along with 1X2 Draw @ 3.90, as Bournemouth have certainly made life difficult for Newcastle this season, but have decided to opt for total goals 2-3 @ 1.92 as my ** prediction.
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Premier League: The Cross Pennine Derby – Part Two
Leeds United vs Manchester United
Premier League: Leeds United vs Manchester United is the clash of the weekend in England, and the traditionally hostile derby has even more spice as the two teams locked horns only three days ago.
The league fixture list threw up a doubleheader for the old rivals and so Leeds, newly managerless after the departure of Jesse Marsch, crossed over the Pennines into Lancashire to take on the Red Devils on Wednesday …and they came away with a draw. It was a result which dealt a heavy blow to any hopes Erik Ten Hag had of sneaking in between Arsenal and Manchester City to win a first league title in a decade, while it was a good point for Leeds, currently embroiled in a relegation battle.
The pre-match Leeds United vs Manchester United betting oddssay this should be a win for the high-flying visitors…but life is never that simple.
Talking Points
The story so far…
The Red Devils approached their home game against Leeds in good spirits after winning their previous four games, in the Carabao Cup, FA Cup and a league victory over Crystal Palace. But they had one heck of a shock when Leeds rocked up and promptly went ahead on 55 seconds when 19-year-old Wilfried Gnonto drilled a superb low shot into the corner of the net. Raphael Varane scored an own goal at the beginning of the second half and Leeds began to look forward to an unlikely win, but the hosts hit back.
Raphael Varane turns the ball into his own net
The red-hot Marcus Rashford headed the Reds back into the game, with his 20th goal in all competitions, on the hour, and then substitute Jadon Sancho equalised with 20 minutes to go.
It was a missed chance for the Whites; but they would have taken a draw before the game started and the Red Devils had plenty of opportunities to win it, with 24 shots to eight and seven to two on target.
Marching on without Marsch
It wasn’t really much of a surprise when Leeds sacked Jesse Marsch on Monday but the players responded really well two days later and the form of Italian striker Gnonto, who has made an explosive start to the New Year, is a good reason for Leeds fans to be optimistic. He scored in Leeds’ 2-2 draw with West Ham and then he bagged a brace in Leeds’ FA Cup win over Cardiff City before coolly scoring against Manchester United on Wednesday.
Despite losing 1-0 the Whites dominated their clash with Nottingham Forest last week and Gnonto almost teed up a leveller but Luis Sinisterra blazed over. The young Italian could give the Red Devils another headache.
The summer signing of Casemiro from Real Madrid looked suspiciously like a panic buy at Old Trafford, particularly after months of unsuccessfully pursuing Frenkie de Jong; and there were plenty of raised eyebrows when the club agreed to spend £70m on the 30-year-old, apparently no longer needed at the Santiago Bernabeu. But it turned out to be a masterstroke. While Los Blancos trail Barcelona in the La Liga title race, Casemiro has brought a winning mentality to the Red Devils, with midfield dominance rarely seen since the legendary Roy Keane took on all-comers for United between 1993 and 2005.
Of course the big Leeds United vs Manchester United news is that the Brazilian master is suspended for this match after he got involved in an unseemly brawl at the end of the Reds’ win over Crystal Palace, seemingly grabbing Eagles midfielder Will Hughes by the throat. He copped a red card and a three-match ban so he will be missing at Elland Road on Sunday.
And he was badly missed by the Red Devils on Wednesday as Leeds had more room to play, and that may be even more important on home soil.
History
With four wins, a draw and a defeat over the last six games the Red Devils are in better shape than their hosts who have won two, drawn two and lost two in all competitions.
And in the head to heads the Lancashire side has enjoyed the lion’s share of wins with 18 victories to Leeds’ five. There have been eight draws, including Wednesday’s match at Old Trafford, though Manchester’s last visit to Elland Road saw them earn a thumping 4-2 win.
Manchester United are at SBOTOP odds of 1.89 to win this huge match, while Leeds are at 3.54 And 3.49 to draw. They coped well on Wednesday and there will be a different dynamic on Sunday in front of a passionate Yorkshire crowd; so I can see Leeds getting another result.
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Take a look at the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds right now and you will see that leaders Arsenal and reigning champions Manchester City are closely matched.
That is no surprise, given that the Gunners have only lost two league games to date, while City’s pedigree is clear – they have been here, got the t-shirt and, more often than not, come out smiling.
So, after the January transfer window opened and closed, did one of these title rivals grab a Premier League edge?
Well, yes, I thought so.
In fact, I said as much when the window shut and the challengers from North London seemed to have strengthened, while the relentless champions from Manchester seemed to have been weakened.
Current standing of teams in the Premier League table
My view was based on the decision to allow Joao Cancelo to head on loan to Bayern Munch.
At the same time as City were saying farewell to one of the architects of their success last season, Arsenal were strengthening their numbers.
In came an Italian international for £12 million in Jorginho, scooped from Chelsea, hot on the heels of the arrival of Leandro Trossard from Brighton.
Solid rather than spectacular additions, granted, but additions nevertheless to a squad which, in my opinion, lacks the depth of most of the established ‘big six’.
Of course, since the transfer window closed, City bounced back from their reverse at Spurs to see off Aston Villa with plenty to spare on Sunday, while Premier League highlights have been harder to come by for the Gunners who went down to Everton and were then held at home by Brentford at the weekend.
Where does that leave the top two, other than a three point advantage for the leaders with a game in hand?
Well, for me, the loss of ex-City man Gabriel Jesus has been a massive blow for Arsenal and his return could yet prove to be a key difference.
Likewise, after Cancelo headed to Germany, an injury to one of City’s other key men could be one obstacle even the serial champions cannot overcome.
I have felt since last summer that allowing Jesus and Raheem Sterling (to Chelsea) depart would leave them thin on resources in attack should the phenomenal scoring machine Erling Haaland get injured.
Of course, City have a talented Argentine in reserve in Julian Alvarez who has fared reasonably well, despite not too much game time this season.
Now the squad depth of both sides is truly about to come to the fore.
Remember, these two have already faced each other recently, in the FA Cup, when Pep Guardiola’s men beat the north Londoners as both sides made a number of changes.
This week’s highly anticipated match will be a more intense affair and is arguably Mikel Arteta’s biggest game in charge since he took the reins at Arsenal in late 2019.
If the Gunners extend their advantage over City to six points (with a game in hand) this week, they will be clear favourites.
Should Guardiola’s side defeat Arsenal, the reigning champions would move above the leaders due to their superior goal difference.
Few would argue that City’s starting XI is the best in the country.
As it stands, though, the squad with the most depth and clearest run from injuries is likely to prevail in the overall race.
Could the January window have just given Arsenal an edge? I wouldn’t bet on it either way right now.
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Ask any young Premier League fan who his or her favourite player is and they’ll almost certainly pick a striker: Harry Kane, Mohamed Salah, or Erling Haaland. Or maybe they’ll pick a wing wizard such as Riyad Mahrez, Gabriel Martinelli, or Jack Harrison.
But the guys who, week in week out, stop these megastars in their tracks and put them on their backsides will rarely get a mention.
But this SBOTOP writer was a centre-back. Not to any great standard though, but as a result I have a long held admiration for the men who stand at the heart of the defence.
They can block goal-bound efforts, put in the last ditch tackles, dominate the area when a cross comes in, and launch attacks. Some of them even get a handful of goals a season, though I can’t speak from experience.
They may not produce the most sparklingPremier League 2023 highlights,but these boys are the rocks in defence and they ensure that when a goal comes, invariably it is from a great piece of skill.
So I’m in my element here, writing about the best three centre-backs in the league. And in the spirit of the genre, none of them are from Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal or Chelsea (in my opinion of course).
Newcastle have the tightest defence in the league, conceding just 13 goals in 22 games and goalkeeper Nick Pope is forging ahead in the race for the Golden Gloves with 12 clean sheets, three more than any other keeper.
But clean sheets belong to the back five and, in front of Pope, Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has assembled a fine group of defenders.
Experienced right wing-back Kieran Trippier has produced more crosses than anyone this season and the towering Dan Burn is an uncompromising figure on the left or in the centre, commanding in the air.
Swiss centre-back Fabian Schar has been at the club since 2018, and this year he has been joined by the Dutch master Sven Botman following his £37-M switch from Ligue 1 club Lille. Still only 23, Botman has plenty of time to develop but he has settled into the toughest league in Europe impressively, making 20 appearances so far.
He is one of the best left-footed defenders in the league and is yet to taste defeat, so Botman is a crucial fixture in the team.
The latest SBOTOP Premier League 2023 betting odds rate the Magpies as fourth favourites for the title and a Champions League place is very much on the cards. With the best defence in the league, they have every chance.
James Tarkowski: Everton
With 46 blocks, Tarkowski is by far the strongest protector of his keeper in the league with former Burnley mate Ben Mee second on 28.
His keeper Jordan Pickford has only kept four clean sheets, but that has little to do with Tarkowski’s efforts, without which the Toffees may be searching for their first.
He teamed up with Conor Coady in the summer and it’s something of a mystery why this pair is in a team which has struggled so much.
Everton’s James Tarkowski celebrates with Conor Coady during their Premier League match against Arsenal
Everton’s midfield and attack have been woeful at times and that puts more pressure on the defence. Without Tarkowski, the Toffees might already be sunk.
Reunited with his old Clarets boss Sean Dyche, the big centre-back scored Everton’s winner over Arsenal last week and he hit the post with a towering header in the Merseyside derby on Monday. Liverpool broke away and scored, so if Tarkowski’s effort had gone in, it could have been a very different story.
The Jamaican international joined the Bees in 2019 and played 40 games in his first campaign as Thomas Frank’s side missed out in the Championship play-offs. But they were promoted in 2021 and have been a breath of fresh air in the Premier League.
Frank has avoided second season syndrome and linking Mee up with Pinnock was a masterstroke. The Bees faced league leaders Arsenal last week and Pinnock had one of his busiest afternoons of the campaign so far, as the Gunners had 70-per cent possession and 23 shots.
The Jamaican defender was imperious in the air as Brentford won 71-per cent of the aerial duels and kept the Bees in the game long enough for Ivan Toney to grab the equaliser in a 1-1 draw.
Brentford are riding high in eighth place and Pinnock is having the season of his life.
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Premier League: City Must Maintain Focus in Visit to Forest
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City
Manchester City are back on top of the Premier League, and they’re keen to stay there for the rest of the 2022-23 season.
The Sky Blues defeated the Gunners convincingly last night, and they’ve overtaken them despite having equal points. So, a win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday could help them maintain their advantage.
Pep Guardiola and co. cannot afford to take Nottingham Forest for granted since the hosts have improved. Nottingham Forest’s recent Premier League 2023 results have been better compared to earlier this season.
Steve Cooper’s side are now in 14th place with 24 points, and their priority is to steer clear of the relegation zone. Nottingham Forest are seeking vengeance after their humiliating loss to Manchester City in their first meeting earlier this season.
Arsenal surprised everyone when they were on top of the Premier League for much of this season, but their lead has now disappeared, thanks to Manchester City.
The Sky Blues have to be commended for their resolve. Amidst their off-pitch problems, they let their game do the talking, and they might run away with the Premiership yet again.
Now, the challenge for Pep Guardiola is how to manage his squad since they have so many games to cover in the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup.
Manchester City are scheduled to take on RB Leipzig in the Champions League Round of 16 five days after this game against Nottingham Forest, with the second leg on March 14th, while they’ll visit Bristol City on March 1st in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Another huge game on their schedule is the one against Newcastle on March 4th. The Magpies are one of the best defencive teams this season, so they’re going to give the Sky Blues all they can handle.
The good news for Pep Guardiola is that he has enough at his disposal, with only John Stones as their injured player. Stones picked up a thigh injury and is not expected to be available until the start of March.
Nottingham Forest compromised at the back
Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper reacts from the sidelines during a match against Fulham
Steve Cooper is down to just two healthy centre-backs (Felipe and Joe Worrall), which is not the type of news that they need ahead of their match against Manchester City.
Scott McKenna and Willy Boly had to be subbed off in the opening stages of their 2-0 loss against Fulham on Saturday. It was revealed that both McKenna and Boly suffered hamstring injuries, so they are going to be out for at least six weeks.
It’s tough for Nottingham Forest since they’re one of the worst defencive teams in the league, having already conceded 37 goals thus far.
They haven’t been prolific on the other side of the pitch either, as they’ve only managed one goal so far this month. Brennan Johnson is doing his part, but guys like Taiwo Awoniyi, Sam Surridge, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Jesse Lingard need to produce as well.
History
Nottingham Forest are hosting Manchester City in a league match for the first time since October 2001, and the first time in English top-flight since September 1995.
Steve Cooper’s men have been unbeaten in seven consecutive home games since losing three straight at the City Ground in August and September (W4, D3), their longest undefeated run at home in the top-flight since a 20-game stretch between February 1995 and January 1996.
Manchester City have won their last nine league matches against newly promoted sides since losing 2-1 to Leeds United in April 2021. On the other hand, Nottingham Forest have lost their last seven league matches against the defending champions by a whopping aggregate tally of 29-3.
The Sky Blues destroyed Forest during their last encounter in September with a 6-0 scoreline, as Erling Haaland (hat-trick), Julian Alvarez (brace), and Joao Cancelo all found the back of the net.
The obvious choice is to back Manchester City this weekend. The current table leaders are priced to win at 1.30, while Nottingham Forest are the huge underdogs at 9.00, and a draw is at 5.20 in the 1X2 market.
A loss or a draw is going to be a huge blow for Manchester City because Arsenal can reclaim their lead at the table with a game in hand.
The Gunners are favoured by the SBOTOP Premier League 2023 odds in their next seven league matches against Aston Villa, Leicester City, Everton, Bournemouth, Fulham, Crystal Palace, and Leeds United, so the Sky Blues must take care of business.
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Premier League: Another London Test for High-Flying Seagulls
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Fulham
The Premier League match between Brighton and Fulham may not particularly sound like one of the top-flight’s big games but, believe me, it is.
These two sides have entertained throughout the campaign and have reaped their rewards, currently sitting sixth and seventh in the league table. They are ahead of the heavyweights Chelsea and Liverpool, among others, and are locked on 35 points, though Robert De Zerbi’s Brighton has two games in hand.
That means fifth-placed Tottenham, four points ahead, are well within the Seagull’s reach but Marco Silva’s Fulham too can gatecrash the top five if they continue to perform at the highest level.
Brighton come into the game on the back of a 1-1 draw with rivals Crystal Palace, while Fulham drew level with a 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest.
35 points is often enough to avoid relegation from the top-flight, but that is the last thing on these two clubs’ minds.
Talking Points
Brighton sharing the goals around
A match against Crystal Palace is always a tasty affair for the Seagulls and they can feel rightly aggrieved to have been obliged to share the points after registering twice as many shots as their opponents. De Zerbi will task his team to dominate another London club, but this time, pick up the full three.
The loss of Leandro Trossard to Arsenal means Pascal Gross is Brighton’s top scorer with six goals, and when Solly March scored against the Eagles, he made it five for the campaign.
Brighton & Hove Albion’s Solly March hits the ball into the net during their Premier League game against Crystal Palace
Experienced striker Danny Welbeck is sidelined so the Seagulls will continue to share the goals around and they have the creative talents to do just that. With Pervis Estupinan, Moises Caicedo, and World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister all in fine form, this is a team that can pull any defence apart with their Premier League 2023 highlights.
Brighton have been solid at the back too, winning both of their home games in 2023 with a 4-0 aggregate, including the 3-0 thumping of Liverpool.
And defender Adam Webster has delivered a resolute message to the Cottagers, saying: “We’re in a good position and hopefully we can really achieve something in the second half of the season. To do that we’ve got to keep getting the results at the Amex so it’s a very important game for us.”
Fulham are serious contenders too
When the Cottagers met Chelsea on Friday 3rd February, they matched their illustrious neighbours blow for blow and came away with a 0-0 draw.
But it was no surprise.
With 10 wins already in this campaign, the same number as Champions League chasing Newcastle United, Silva’s side is a force to be reckoned with. They stormed the Championship last season and have brought the momentum with them, and a quick look at the team sheet tells us why.
Former Chelsea star Willian was on target in the 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest, but the man most defences fear is striker Aleksandar Mitrovic with 11 goals.
Andreas Pereira – with six assists – is having a great campaign, while defencive midfield ace Joao Palhinha has adapted superbly to the physicality of the Premier League and the last line of defence is former Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno.
This is a group of players which is perfectly at home in the English top-flight and a European place is in their sights.
History
The head-to-heads have been well-contested. And as we stand, the visitors have the edge with six wins to five over the past 14 games, nudging ahead with a 2-1 victory at Craven Cottage in August when Mitrovic was on the scoresheet.
Lewis Dunk scored an own goal to hand Fulham a 2-0 lead before Alexis Mac Allister halved the deficit.
Fulham can now complete a first league double over Brighton since 1993 when they were both in the third tier. But the Cottagers have failed to win on their last four visits to the Amex Stadium.
Both teams come into the game in fine form with two wins and two draws from the last four games, and this one promises to be a fascinating tussle.
To say this match is sixth vs seventh in the table, the Premier League 2023 betting odds have a lot of faith in the Seagulls, pricing them at 1.63 to win, while the Cottagers are at 4.45 to win with the draw at SBOTOP odds of 3.83.
2-1 to Brighton is the most likely scoreline at odds of 6.37 with a 1-1 draw close behind at 6.56, and I reckon that won’t be far from the mark.
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Premier League: Emery Awaits as Arsenal’s Title Hopes in Trouble
Aston Villa vs Arsenal
Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes are in peril. A midweek defeat to title rivals Manchester City has knocked the Gunners off top spot as their recent run of disappointing results continues.
And now, Arsenal will be desperate to get all three points when they pay a visit to old boss Unai Emery and his Aston Villa side, who are also eager to get back to winning ways after suffering back-to-back defeats.
Aston Villa have hit their first rough patch under Unai Emery. The Villans have lost back-to-back games after going down 4-2 at home to Leicester and 3-1 away to Manchester City.
Those subpar Premier League 2023 results come on the heels of a four-game unbeaten run to start the new year, with three wins and a draw.
While there is no shame in losing at City, Emery will be particularly disappointed at how his defence performed at home against Leceister as Villa conceded four league goals for the first time under the Spaniard.
Calum Chambers, who got the start at centre-back in place of the injured Tyrone Mings, committed an error that directly led to a City goal. But Mings’ injury doesn’t appear to be too serious and he should be able to make it back to face Arsenal.
Meanwhile, Emery will be pleased with the form of Ollie Watkins. After a slow start to the season, the 27-year-old striker has rediscovered his best form and has scored in each of his last three appearances.
Although, Emery will be hoping for more production from the likes of Leon Bailey and Emi Buendia, who have both underwhelmed in recent games.
Arsenal’s title hopes hit a snag
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta looks troubled during their Premier League match against Manchester City
Arsenal’s Premier League 2023 odds of claiming their first title in nearly 20 years have taken a massive hit in recent weeks.
After a shock 1-0 defeat away to Everton and a 1-1 home draw with Brentford saw their lead dwindle to just three points, the Gunners were knocked out of top spot in the table after a 3-1 defeat to reigning champions Manchester City.
The Gunners still have a slight advantage as they have a game in hand, but the pressure is now very much on Mikel Arteta’s side.
Arsenal’s defence remains second in the league with just 21 goals conceded, but they have kept a clean sheet just once in their last four games.
Takehiro Tomiyasu made a surprise start at right-back and committed a costly error which led to City’s opening goal. Ben White, who had started every Premier League match prior to the City clash, is almost certain to return to the right side of defence against Villa.
Meanwhile, defensive midfielder Thomas Partey missed the City match with a muscle injury and could be set for another spell on the sidelines. Jorginho got the start in place of Partey and will be the favourite to keep his place.
Arsenal’s loss to Everton at Goodison was just their second away defeat of the season. They still have by far the best away record in the Premier League this season with eight wins out of 11, with 20 goals scored and just seven conceded.
History
Arsenal and Aston Villa have met 55 times in the Premier League era, with the Gunners unsurprisingly getting the better of the Villans. Arsenal hold a commanding 30-11 advantage in terms of wins, with 14 draws.
After Villa reeled off three wins in a row against Arsenal, it’s the Gunners who currently have a three-game win streak going. They won their first meeting this season 2-1 at the Emirates thanks to goals from Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli.
SBOTOP odds have Arsenal favoured at 1.84 to get the victory at Villa Park. The Villans are priced at 4.10, while a draw is 3.55.
After their recent stumbles, Arsenal will be desperate to get back on track against Aston Villa. It won’t be easy as Emery is more than capable of setting his Villa side up to frustrate superior opposition.
But Arteta’s Gunners should have enough weapons to get the better of Emery’s defensive gameplan en route to another away win.
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Premier League: Magpies Aim to Nail Down a Top Four Place
Newcastle United vs Liverpool
High flying Newcastle are in fourth, a Champions League spot in their grasp, but sometimes it’s harder to hold a position than to chase it down; and, on Saturday, the Magpies face one of their toughest tasks of the campaign so far.
Premier League: Newcastle vs Liverpool is a clash between two teams determined to be in the 2023/24 Champions League. At the start of the campaign Jurgen Klopp’s Reds were fully expected to take one of the four places available but they currently sit in ninth place and nine points behind the Magpies.
But this may not be a bad time for the Reds to visit the North East.
After suffering back to back defeats Liverpool got back to winning ways with a 2-0 victory in the Merseyside derby while Newcastle drew 1-1 with Bournemouth. Also Klopp has some of his injured men on the way back and Newcastle are missing their most influential player… and it all gets very interesting.
A win for the Reds would leave them six points behind Newcastle with a game in hand. An in form Liverpool would count that as a three point deficit to make up and, with 15 games still to play, the chase would certainly be on. But the Newcastle vs Liverpool betting odds back the Magpies (just) and so the passionate Geordie fans will do their utmost to keep their team in the box seat.
Newcastle have drawn their last two games. It’s no disaster, but they may have expected more from matches at home to West Ham and away to Bournemouth; but they played out 1-1 draws against both sets of strugglers.
And it’s noticeable that the Magpies’ player of the season, Bruno Guimaraes, was missing for both through suspension. He copped a straight red card during a 2-1 Carabao Cup win over Southampton. Emotions were running high with a cup final place at stake, but Bruno’s tackle on Samuel Edozie was dreadful and he picked up a three game ban.
So Newcastle will miss his midfield dominance and creative spark. His vision and passing skills means Bruno is Newcastle’s most productive player and he will be a big miss.
Without Bruno, top scorer Miguel Almiron, who has ten goals and Callum Wilson, with seven, will rely on the ball play of wingback Kieran Trippier, so the Reds will keep a close eye on the England star.
Newcastle have the best defensive record in the league with the excellent Nick Pope between the sticks and centre back Sven Botman, who has slotted in to Newcastle’s defence superbly.
They have only conceded 13 goals in 22 games so this is a good test for Liverpool’s front men.
Derby win could lift the Reds
Cody Gakpo celebrates after scoring Liverpool’s second goal against Everton
It’s amazing what a win over your closest rivals can do for you and no doubt there were plenty of smiles at the Liverpool training ground on Tuesday. Mo Salah and Cody Gakpo scored the goals to see off the Toffees but the margin of victory could have been bigger as Jordan Henderson dominated the midfield. His return to form and the emergence of 18 year old midfielder Stefan Bajcetic might be enough to overrun a Newcastle without Bruno, while there is more good news for the Reds as Diogo Jota and Roberto Firminho both got game time in the derby.
With Virgil Van Dijk back in the match day squad too, it looks like Klopp’s injury problems are over the worst and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them go on a run.
Liverpool have a Champions League tie against Real Madrid on the horizon and every player will want to be involved in that. The competition for places is back and that can only be good news for the Reds.
History
With 33 victories to 11 Liverpool have totally bossed the head to head Newcastle vs Liverpool results in the Premier League era, winning the last three.
But in terms of recent form there is only one team with much to be pleased about. The Magpies have won three and drawn three of the last six, while the Reds have won two, drawn one and lost three.
Add to that Newcastle’s home form, unbeaten with six wins and five draws then, despite Liverpool’s happy Monday against Everton, the hosts shouldn’t really go into the game with too much fear.
Newcastle are marginal favourites to win this huge fixture, at a price of 2.41, while the Reds are at SBOTOP odds of 2.58. This has all the hallmarks of an end to end classic and, while Liverpool may have the better players, the St James Park crowd will be the extra man.
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However, it proved to be the falsest of dawns as the initial ‘bounce’ effect of a new manager lasted only a matter of weeks and the Toffees only preserved their long, proud top-flight status in the penultimate match.
Leeds, meanwhile, went even closer to the trapdoor and were only guaranteed to be safe in the closing moments of the final day of the season.
Twelve months on and you may not be surprised to hear that both clubs again have new men at the helm (one in temporary charge) and there is a distinct feeling of deja-vu.
Yet this time there is renewed hope in both camps.
Talking Points
Leeds United caretaker Michael Skubala coaching from the sidelines during a match against Manchester United
For a start, Everton have now acquired a manager who, far from a rookie, has a proven track record at this end of the table.
Sean Dyche made a name for himself from solid defensive organisation and shock victories and that was evident in his first outing in charge as he inspired the Toffees to victory over league leaders Arsenal as Everton proved organised and resilient at the back.
The man Burnley fans fondly nicknamed the ‘Ginger Mourinho’ will know that making Goodison a cauldron can play a big part in their bid to beat the drop and the visit of fellow strugglers Leeds is a key contest.
There is still much to do, as shown on Monday night in the Merseyside derby when Dyche admitted his players failed to reproduce the quality or intensity that brought victory over Arsenal.
They weren’t helped either by the loss of Dominic Calvert-Lewin whose absence really leaves them lightweight in attacking numbers.
Yet the improvement is clear.
Unlike Everton, at the time of writing, the Yorkshire club do not have a main man at the helm after Bielsa’s successor Jesse Marsch was shown the door 10 days ago.
An array of names have been linked with the post but, to date, the search has drawn a blank, while the comments of chairman Andrea Radrizzani have done little to bring confidence or certainty to the position.
It is understood the club identified five candidates in their search for Marsch’s replacement.
Former Leeds assistant boss Carlos Corberán has signed a new contract at West Brom, Arne Slot has opted to remain at Feyenoord and an approach for Rayo Vallecano head coach Andoni Iraola was blocked by his club. Celtic’s Ange Postecoglou had also been linked with the vacancy.
It is also understood the club considered a short-term replacement in former Ajax manager Alfred Schreuder but that has failed to progress further.
Whoever takes charge, though, should be able to take heart from two displays under caretaker Michael Skubala who presided over two decent performances as Leeds drew 2-2 at Manchester United last Wednesday before losing to the same side four days later.
Everton have won 35 of their clashes with another 34 matches ending level.
As well as the meeting in the corresponding fixture last season which I referred to – when Seamus Coleman, Michael Keane and Anthony Gordon were the goal-getters – the teams played out a 1-1 draw earlier this season at Elland Road.
On that occasion, Gordon (now of Newcastle) opened the scoring before Luis Sinisterra levelled for the hosts.
Premier League: Foxes Offer No Rest for the Weary Red Devils
Manchester United vs Leicester City
The games keep coming for Manchester United. After drawing with Barcelona in an enthralling Europa League first-leg match last night, they only have 72 hours to recover for their match against Leicester City at Old Trafford.
Manchester United are in third place in the Premier League standings with 46 points, trailing by five points behind leaders Arsenal and Manchester City. And with 15 matchdays left, every game feels like a must-win for Erik ten Hag and co.
They’ll face a Leicester City squad that has improved over the past few weeks. Earlier this season, they were in the relegation scrap, but now they’re safe in 13th place with 24 points.
Read on below as SBOTOP brings you a preview of this match.
Manchester United are probably looking ahead to the second leg of their Europa League tie against Barcelona after last night, but they must first focus on the task at hand in trying to beat Leicester City this weekend.
The Red Devils were dealt a bad hand against Barca since they were without several key players. But they still managed to secure a draw against the current La Liga leaders, a result that should give them some confidence next week.
Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford fights for the ball with Leeds United’s Junior Firpo during their Premier League match
Marcus Rashford was again on the scoresheet as he netted the equaliser after 52 minutes, and he had a hand in Jules Kounde’s own goal seven minutes later.
The Red Devils felt they should’ve had a penalty when they were up 2-1 when Rashford was brought down when he was charging towards goal, but the referees didn’t call it. Instead, they had to settle for a 2-2 draw when Raphinha struck in the 79th minute.
After playing last night, Casemiro is back on the sidelines to serve his domestic suspension. However, we will get to see Lisandro Martinez and Marcel Sabitzer back in action against the Foxes.
Because Manchester United are simultaneously competing in four different tournaments, injuries are piling up. Christian Eriksen and Donny van de Beek are out for a few months, while Scott McTominay, Antony, and Anthony Martial all have knocks.
Erik ten Hag has the mammoth task of navigating through their relentless schedule, hoping to bring home at least one trophy at the end of this season.
Leicester City building momentum
The Foxes are back in business following their good Premier League 2023 results recently, and they’re aiming to finish strong this 2022-23 season.
After an up-and-down January, Leicester City started February on a high note with victories over Aston Villa and Tottenham, defeating them with an aggregate tally of 8-3.
Maddison and Iheanacho are two of the most dangerous Foxes that the Red Devils must contain this weekend. The two of them have accounted for 14 goals and nine assists so far this term.
History
Manchester United beat Leicester City in the reverse fixture with a score of 1-0 at the King Power Stadium, as Jadon Sancho netted after 23 minutes. That result ended a run of four Premier League matches without a win against the Foxes (D2, L2).
The Red Devils have scored in each of their last 27 league matches against the Foxes.
Leicester City are undefeated in their last two Premier League away matches at Old Trafford (W1, D1). They last had a longer unbeaten run against them between August 1972 and April 1977 (W1, D3).
In terms of form, Manchester United have the edge over Leicester City since they have lost just three of their last 21 league games after losing their final two matches of the 2021-22 season and the first two matches of this campaign.
The Premier League 2023 odds favour Manchester United to claim three points, as they’re priced at 1.59, while Leicester City are installed at 5.00 to win, and a draw is at 4.10 in the 1X2 market.
The Foxes have had the Red Devils’ number in their most recent encounters, but the Red Devils are a much different animal right now under Erik ten Hag, as shown in where they currently stand in the English top-flight table.
Manchester United should have enough to beat Leicester City, but it might be a replay of their reverse fixture earlier this season. With that said, another bet to think about is going for Under 2.75 at 2.14.
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Premier League: Are Spurs Heading for a Hammer Blow?
Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham United
There comes a time in every season when the reality becomes clear. The games are ticking by and the targets you set at the start of the campaign loom vividly into view.
Premier League: Tottenham vs West Ham is a really tasty fixture in that respect. Both began the season with haughty aspirations; Antonio Conte’s Spurs eying a top four place and some long-awaited silverware, while David Moyes’ West Ham United were hoping to build on two top seven finishes and extend their stay in European competition.
But neither team had a first half of the season to look back on fondly and they currently sit fifth and 16th in the league respectively. Spurs are two points behind fourth place, while the Hammers are just two points above the drop zone but they have been showing signs of improvement with just one league defeat in five.
Spurs come into the game on the back of a Champions League loss to AC Milan in midweek, while the Hammers put their feet up after drawing with Chelsea.
Talking Points
Bentancur a big loss to Spurs
Last week Conte returned to the dugout after undergoing gall bladder surgery; but he probably wishes he hadn’t after watching his side get thumped 4-1 by Leicester City and one of his most influential players get stretchered off. The club has subsequently confirmed that Rodrigo Bentancur will be out for the season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury midway through the second half, after giving Tottenham an early lead.
That was the fifth goal of the season for the all-action midfield general who has also picked up eight yellow cards. His midfield partner Pierre-Emile Hjobjerg is feeling the pain, saying: “We were speaking to each other day and I told him ‘we are improving each other, we are friends, we are team-mates, but we are pushing each other’.”
Rodrigo Bentancur will miss the rest of the season after an ACL injury
Hjojberg has five goals and five assists and, after missing the Milan game, he will step back into place, alongside either Pape Sarr or Oliver Skipp who paired up in midfield against I Rossoneri and put in strong performances.
Up front the ever-reliable Harry Kane will be hoping to get his team back on track. His 17 goals from 23 matches would put him in good shape for the Golden Boot were it not for the presence of Manchester City’s Erling Braut Haaland. But Conte will be hoping for more from the unusually out-of-sorts Heung-Min Son. He has been a shadow of his former self with four goals and three assists, a respectable return but we are used to the South Korean forward putting in spectacular figures.
David Moyes is a canny coach and any fears that the Hammers are going to be embroiled in a relegation scrap have begun to fade after they picked up five useful points from their last three league games. After beating Everton 2-0 West Ham have gone on to record 1-1 draws with the league’s financial big hitters, Newcastle United and Chelsea.
But they are still too close to the drop zone and Moyes will push his team on, and they will be well organised on Sunday. Our SBOTOP odds make Spurs favourites to pick up all three points but they are sure to have a battle on their hands. A midfield without Bentancur may find it difficult to cope with the experienced pair of Tomas Soucek and Declan Rice, while Jarrod Bowen is getting back to his best in the front line and Nayef Aguerd is emerging as one of the best centre backs in the league.
History
In recent encounters, the head-to-head Tottenham vs West Ham resultshave gone the way of Spurs who have won two of the last three meetings, though the two teams played out a 1-1 draw at the London Stadium earlier this season. Soucek grabbed an equaliser for the hosts after Thilo Kehrer had put through his own net.
The Hammers’ recent form has certainly picked up with just one defeat from the last six games, winning three and drawing two, while Spurs have been dogged by inconsistency with three wins and three defeats.
That hit-and-miss form has been evident at home where Tottenham have won seven and lost four, though West Ham’s away form isn’t much to write home about, with just a single victory, three draws and seven defeats on the road.
The League With More Drama Than Your Best Box Set!
Stoppage time goals, dramatic sending-offs and the most unlikeliest of victories against a club which spent in excess of £300 billion in last month’s transfer window – the only thing predictable about the Premier League is its unpredictability.
That was evident once again during a weekend of Premier League highlights which provided talking points from virtually start to finish.
Nowhere was this clearer than in the opening match of the weekend as Aston Villa hosted deposed league leaders Arsenal.
When the Gunners edged out Manchester United with a late winner almost a month ago, the celebrations amongst the home contingent combined a mixture of relief but also suggested it was a defining moment in the campaign.
A potentially crucial victory in the final reckoning, yes, but some of the talk after that victory (not from the club, in fairness, more the media and fans) suggested the title was theirs to lose.
That appeared premature and, since then, as if to prove a point, they had not won a match and lost their place at the summit.
So a trip to Villa Park and their former boss, Unai Emery, was not exactly the match they would have selected to try and regain that winning feeling.
Bukayo Saka smashed in a loose ball from 16 yards to quickly equalise but when a fine team move was finished off coolly by Philippe Coutinho, Villa had the half-time lead and Arsenal had been pretty much second best.
Even when the impressive Oleksandr Zinchenko rifled in a second equaliser just past the hour mark, it did seem as if Mikel Arteta’s men would have to settle for a point in an end-to-end contest.
Yet after Aaron Ramsdale produced a superb save to tip substitute Leon Bailey’s shot onto the crossbar, Arsenal found more fortune from an almost identical situation.
It was the third minute of stoppage time when new arrival Jorginho shot against the bar only for the ball to bounce off the head of Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez and cross the line.
When Martinez went up for a Villa corner seconds later to try and rescue his team a point, Arsenal broke quickly and Gabriel Martinelli rolled the ball into an empty net with their former custodian up field.
A real boon for Arsenal and their afternoon improved markedly a few hours later when they stayed top as reigning champions Manchester City conceded late on at Nottingham Forest.
How that happened probably remains something of a mystery to City manager Pep Guardiola after his team dominated the game, completing almost three times as many passes as Forest. They registered 23 shots, six on goal, one of which Bernardo Silva rifled in first time from the edge of the box to give the visitors the lead four minutes before the interval.
Yet uncharacteristic misses cost them and, with six minutes remaining on the clock, home substitute Chris Wood tapped in to score his first Forest goal and equalise with his side’s only shot on target.
If that result defied the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds, there was arguably an even bigger shock at Stamford Bridge as managerless and rock bottom Southampton went to Chelsea and came away with all three points.
Midfielder James Ward-Prowse celebrates his first goal for Southampton during their away match against Chelsea
A trademark free-kick from James Ward-Prowse in first half stoppage-time earned the Premier League’s bottom club a surprise victory at Stamford Bridge.
His curling effort over the Chelsea wall and into the corner from the edge of the penalty area was his 17th direct free-kick in the Premier League.
A serious-looking injury to Cesar Azpilicueta compounded a miserable afternoon for the home side who were booed by home supporters after the full-time whistle.
It will also increase pressure on manager Graham Potter who deserves time to bed in a raft of new signings at a club where time for managers has been at a premium over the past two decades.
Newcastle also suffered a home blow.
A 2-0 defeat to Liverpool was bad enough but to lose goalkeeper Nick Pope, sent-off after 22 minutes for a handball outside the area following a slip, means a player who has been a key factor in their revival this season will be suspended for next week’s League Cup Final.
The irony is that his replacement, Martin Dubravka, is cup-tied for Wembley having played for opponents Manchester United in an earlier round.
Talking of United, the importance of a good goalkeeper was obvious as they saw off in-form Leicester City at Old Trafford, this after the Spaniard kept out the visitors on a number of occasions on the afternoon he equalled the great Peter Schmeichel’s record of 180 clean sheets for the club.
The Foxes were fresher for spells, hardly surprising given the schedule United are in the middle of, but De Gea showed his class time and time again, as did Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and Co to cement United’s place in third.
Just behind them are Spurs whose 2-0 home success over West Ham means Cristian Stellini’s record in charge is played three, won three, in the absence of boss Antonio Conte.
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Premier League: Will Leeds Stick With Skubala…or Twist?
The anniversary of Jess Marsch’s appointment as manager of Leeds United is just a week away but, as we know, the American coach didn’t make it.
Marsch took over in the Elland Road hot seat on 28th February 2022, following the sacking of Marcelo Bielsa. At the time the Whites sat precariously in 16th position in the Premier League and the former RB Leipzig boss steered them to safety thanks to a last day win away to Brentford.
Leeds were in 17th place when club bosses sacked Marsch two weeks ago and he left with a win ratio of 25 per cent, with only four victories in the 2022/23 campaign. This poor set of Premier League 2023 results saw the end of Marsch and Michael Skubala took over as caretaker manager.
After opening up with a draw against Manchester United the interim boss lost the return to the Red Devils and then came out on the wrong side of a tight match with Everton, a game his team seemingly approached with some trepidation. In Sean Dyche, Leeds came up against a manager who knows how to win. The former Burnley man had already steered the Toffees to a win over league leaders Arsenal, and when a mistake by Leeds keeper Illan Meslier gifted Seamus Coleman a goal the game drifted away from the Yorkshiremen.
It was a tense affair and neither side pushed the boundaries, both wary of losing a six-pointer, but Leeds need to be brave now, both on and off the field, whether they stick with Skubala or not.
The Whites are in the relegation zone and the very latest Premier League 2023 betting odds reckon they will struggle to escape but, with 15 games to play, there is plenty of time to repeat the success of last season. Wins for Bournemouth and Southampton at the weekend came out of the blue and there will be many twists and turns to come. If Leeds turn the corner quickly and gather some momentum then they can pull away from danger.
UK pundit and former Tottenham Hotspur boss Tim Sherwood has said that he doesn’t expect Skubala to be in charge for Leeds’ next game at home to Southampton. So, with five days to go will we see a new man in the building this week?
Well, the search goes on after the likes of Arne Slot, Andoni Iraola and Marcelo Gallardo all proved difficult to land, while reports suggested that recently sacked Ajax boss Alfred Schreuder was surprised that he wasn’t offered the job after he flew in to watch Leeds play Manchester United last week and was shown around the club’s facilities. His agent was with him but, as rumours of an appointment surfaced there was a fan backlash at Elland Road and, for whatever reason, a deal for Schreuder didn’t materialize.
Leeds fans would presumably prefer a manager with a proven track record in the Premier League; someone like…Marcelo Bielsa!
The popular ex-Leeds man was recently linked with the Everton job, before Dyche took over at Goodison Park but surely a return to Leeds would be too high risk for all parties. The Yorkshire press has mentioned that former Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo could be an option but that would presumably cost a packet to bring him back from his current work in Saudi Arabia.
Former Everton boss Rafael Benitez during their away match against Burnley in the Premier League
And another high profile name has just surfaced in West Yorkshire this weekend. Ex-Liverpool and Real Madrid boss Rafa Benitez is currently doing some media work in the UK and was a TV pundit for Liverpool’s 2-0 win away to Newcastle United on Saturday. He’s a Champions League winner and a name to eclipse all others and, maybe, bring back the excitement Bielsa created at the club, but with a less gung-ho style of football.
A third new name has just dropped into the hat and not quite so well known. Former Olympiacos manager Pedro Martins is working in Qatar as boss of Al Gharafa, but he did win three league titles during his time in Greece. And one fact that Leeds fans would surely love is that Martins made former Leeds favourite Raphinha a star during their time together in Portugal, promoting the Brazilian to the first team at Vitoria Guimaraes.
And Skubala makes up the current list of runners and riders.
In their two games against Manchester United, the Whites showed a lot of fight and no little quality and they have a massive game coming up this weekend when, on Saturday they face fellow strugglers Southampton at Elland Road.
The Whites are at SBOTOP odds of 1.96 to win that six-pointer and that would be a huge victory. Who will be in the dugout remains to be seen…
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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Premier League: Gunners have the Edge after Topsy Turvey Weekend
My SBOTOP pal James says the Premier League is more entertaining than your best box set and, as usual, he’s bang on the money as the action last weekend showed so vividly.
During 24 hours of full on action Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal scored twice in injury time to take three vital points home from Villa Park; and then Manchester City handed two points over to relegation candidates Nottingham Forest. And that means the Gunners are back on top of the league, for now.
There were some spectacular results at the other end of the table too, added pressure to a high profile manager and some poor refereeing which has resulted in some fall out since the weekend.
But briefly back to the action and Arsenal’s win over Aston Villa looked highly unlikely as they entered second half extra time and, if anything, it looked like the Villains would go on and win the game as Leon Bailey saw a thunderbolt tipped onto the crossbar and fellow striker Jhon Duran forced another good save from Aaron Ramsdale. Then the Gunners had an outrageous piece of luck when Jorginho’s shot hit the bar and bounced off Emi Martinez’ head and into the net. And the Gunners’ perfect day was complete when Gabriel Martinelli scored with a breakaway goal at the death.
When Bernardo Silva scored a brilliant solo goal before the break everyone (outside of Nottingham) fully expected Manchester City to wipe Forest away in the second half and with 73 per cent possession and 23 shots (six on target) to four, the Sky Blues should have been out of sight. But Forest’s new signing Chris Wood snatched a point with the hosts’ only effort on target.
The very latest Premier League 2023 betting odds here at SBOTOP have the title race on a knife edge with Manchester City the marginal favourites at 1.95 while Arsenal are priced at 2.05. If the games had been ten minutes shorter the Sky Blues would be top by two points instead of behind by that margin.
At the other end of the table you have to feel for Leeds United, who lost to Everton on a day when all three of the teams which began the weekend in the relegation zone won. The biggest surprise came at Stamford Bridge where bottom club Southampton won, leaving Chelsea’s owner Todd Boehly with a headache…
Potter under Pressure
Chelsea manager Graham Potter from the sidelines during their Premier League match against Southampton
Just one win in ten games, in all competitions, is a terrible return for any club; and for one which has spent more than £400m on players this season it is mind boggling. But that is the position Chelsea are in as they sit tenth in the table, ten points behind fifth placed Newcastle United and even four behind their humble neighbours Brentford in ninth.
Under previous owner Roman Abramovich Chelsea was a sacking club and, indeed, Boehly potted Thomas Tuchel after a poor start to the campaign. But what would pulling the trigger again achieve, with the Blues almost out of the top four race? Potter succeeded at Brighton and Hove Albion but it took him time to mould the team as he wanted, and he is clearly a talented coach with a group of new players still settling in.
I think he’ll be given time to sort things out, but Potter won’t feel comfortable if he suffers many more weekends like the one just gone. A trademark free-kick from James Ward- Prowse won the game for the managerless Saints and it was no more than the basement club deserved, matching Chelsea’s five shots on target.
Last week VAR official Lee Mason left PGMOL, the referees’ organisation, after another shambolic weekend, the highlight being his admission that he forgot to draw the offside lines for Ivan Toney’s equaliser against Arsenal. Mason didn’t actually need to draw the line to spot, as everyone in the ground had, that Christian Norgaard was a mile offside.
This weekend referee Stuart Attwell was in the spotlight after he, and then VAR, missed one of the worst fouls you are likely to see when he was ‘in charge’ of Manchester United’s match with Leicester City. Here in England we like a tough challenge but Marcel Sabitzer’s attack on Leicester’s Wout Faes was truly horrific, as the latest Red Devil clattered in to the defender with his studs up. It was as clear a red card as you are likely to see but Sabitzer was not even cautioned.
If Attwell takes a look at the Premier League 2023 highlights from the weekend again, he might well change his mind. But Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers would have preferred the VAR team to have spotted the ‘clear and obvious error’.
Having watched my team, Burnley, in the Championship this season I haven’t missed VAR one bit…I’d say no-one at Turf Moor has, even though we would probably have won a few more penalties!
The use of this technology is a mess, it is losing credibility week after week and it needs to improve.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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Premier League: Leicester Pose Another Big Test for Arsenal
Leicester City vs Arsenal
Arsenal are back on top of the Premier League and, once again, they have the task of staying there; but a match away to improving Leicester City is one heck of a challenge.
The Gunners are two points clear at the top, partly thanks to Manchester City failing to beat Nottingham Forest last week while Mikel Arteta’s side rode their luck in the Midlands. They come into the game on the back of a thrilling 4-2 win away to Aston Villa while Leicester ended a run of encouraging Premier League 2023 results with a 3-0 loss to Manchester United.
That defeat means Brendan Rodgers’ team still has work to do to ensure they don’t get embroiled in a relegation scrap. The Premier League 2023 betting oddsare encouraging, offering a price of 9.00 on the Foxes taking the drop, alongside Crystal Palace at those odds and better off than seven teams.
Both Leicester and Arsenal have a special talent in their ranks, the Gunners have more than one of course but, when he’s on form, James Maddison can transform the Foxes, and he has very similar statistics this season to Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka. Both have scored nine goals and they haven’t been shy of getting stuck in, the Leicester man is edging the yellow card count by six to five.
Saka has made eight assists while Maddison has made five, so the Arsenal star can claim to be more productive among a side which shares out the goals. But Maddison is clearly a confidence player and with goals in two recent wins he’s starting to get back to his best. I wouldn’t back against either of these stars getting on the score sheet on Saturday.
Foxes determined to maintain momentum
Leicester’s match against Manchester United started brightly for the Foxes but it ended in a 3-0 defeat which broke a run of three consecutive wins for the Foxes, including a 4-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur and a 4-2 win against Aston Villa both in the league. Rodgers has insisted the defeat hasn’t stopped his team’s momentum after they headed to Old Trafford full of confidence. Red Devils keeper David de Gea made two brilliant saves before United opened the scoring and Marcel Sabitzer was very lucky to avoid a red card for his horror challenge on Wout Faes.
The Foxes faded in the second half but they are ready to go again.
Jorginho’s arrival is timely for Arsenal
Jorginho scored the vital third goal in Arsenal’s 4-2 win away to Aston Villa
Arsenal’s 4-2 win away to Aston Villa ended a run of four games without a victory and it was a goal from new signing Jorginho which made it 3-2 late in the match. He fired in a superb strike which hit the bar and then bounced into the goal off Villa keeper Emi Martinez’ head, which the Italian won’t mind one bit! His arrival coincided with an injury to Thomas Partey who has been an integral part of the Gunners midfield this season, linking up with the rejuvenated Granit Xhaka.
There is a chance that Partey may be fit to face the Foxes and that will give Arteta a dilemma around whether he can fit all three into a midfield and sacrifice one of his more creative players. I suspect the boss may start with Partey on the bench.
This is a game Arsenal really need to attack and, at SBOTOP odds of 2.05 to win the league, if they can pick up all three points the Gunners can rightly claim to be back on track.
History
With 21 wins to five the Gunners have enjoyed this fixture in the Premier League era and they have won the last four encounters, including an entertaining 4-2 victory at the Emirates back in August. Maddison gave the Foxes hope at 3-2, with 15 minutes remaining but Gabriel Martinelli made the game safe with Arsenal’s fourth.
While they had contrasting fortunes last time out the recent form certainly favours Leicester, with three wins, one draw and one defeat from five, while Arsenal have had three defeats, one win and one draw.
1.67 on the Gunners to win looks small to me, with the Foxes at 3.83 to win and 3.73 to draw. A 1-1 draw is the most likely score line at odds of 6.56 and an alternative bet on 2-3 goals is at a price of 1.88.
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Premier League: Fulham’s Big Chance to Close in on Top 5
Fulham vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Fulham are having a fantastic return to the Premier League. Under the guidance of Marco Silva, not only are the newly promoted Cottagers virtually safe from relegation, but they are just one win away from tying fifth-place Newcastle on points.
Fulham will look to get that win this weekend as they host Wolves, who are in the midst of that relegation scrap at the moment.
Julen Lopetegui’s side are still struggling to score goals, and with Fulham’s defence looking strong of late, the Premier League 2023 odds of this being a high-scoring game look slim.
Talking Points
Fulham’s improved defence delivering results
Fulham are back on track. After back-to-back 1-0 defeats to the two sides directly above them in the Premier League table – Newcastle and Tottenham – the Cottagers are unbeaten in their last three games and have claimed consecutive wins against Nottingham Forest and Brighton.
Fulham’s defence has seen a massive improvement in recent weeks. Marco Silva’s side have kept three straight clean sheets and have conceded just 4 goals in their last 9 Premier League matches. That’s tied with Newcastle for the best defensive record in the league during that time.
Although, Fulham were slightly fortunate to escape the Amex with a 1-0 win. They were significantly outshot, 21-5, with Brighton emerging with a 2.2-0.3 advantage in terms of xG. But the Seagulls failed to take their chances, which allowed Manor Solomon to come off the bench to score Fulham’s winning goal.
Star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic missed the Brighton match due to a slight knock. The Serb has been in the midst of a slump to start 2023 as he’s gone without a goal in each of his last six matches.
But the Cottagers have managed to stay in games due to their strong defence, and they will fancy their chances of claiming another clean sheet against Wolves, who are the co-lowest scorers in the Premier League.
Wolves’ scoring woes continue
Wolves emerged from the relegation zone after back-to-back wins against Liverpool and Southampton, but they are not out of the woods yet. They are in 15th place in the table with 23 points, just two points clear of the drop, after losing a crucial six-pointer 1-0 against Bournemouth last weekend.
Despite a lion’s share of possession and a 15-5 shot advantage, Wolves once again failed to find a breakthrough. Wolves are tied with Everton for the fewest goals this season with just 17 in 23 games.
Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Diego Costa looks frustrated during their Premier League match against Bournemouth
Matheus Cunha created a host of Premier League 2023 highlights as he had 6 of Wolves’ 15 shots against Bournemouth, but the Brazilian striker – who did not score this season for Atletico Madrid – is still searching for his first goal for Wolves. Diego Costa and Raul Jimenez also came on as substitutes, but they too are still waiting for their first Premier League goal this season.
Co-leading scorer Daniel Podence (5 goals) missed the match with a groin injury, but he could be back to give Wolves’ attack a boost. Although, the Portuguese winger has started just one of his last six appearances, so he may need to settle for a spot on the bench.
Fulham and Wolves have met 13 times in total in the Premier League. Wolves have a 6-2 advantage in wins, with 5 draws.
But even dating back to their championship days, Wolves have had the better of Fulham. Wolves have won 8 of their last 12 matches, with 3 draws and just one defeat.
Wolves have gone five games unbeaten against Fulham in the Premier League. The matches between the two clubs have been quite low-scoring, with just 6 total goals scored in those 5 games.
Despite Fulham’s success this season, SBOTOP odds still have them as only slight 2.29 favourites to get the home win. Wolves are priced at 2.85, while a draw is 3.20.
The signs point toward this match being a fairly low-scoring one. Both attacks have not been all that prolific – Wolves’ especially so – while the two defences are quite capable.
Recent Premier League meetings between the teams have seen no more than two goals in total, and this upcoming matchup will likely follow suit.
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These two don’t like each other very much and it shows.
I’ve alluded to this in a previous Premier League clash between the two – certainly some sections of their respective support make it clear and that has been very much mirrored on the pitch at times also.
Now the two clubs are preparing to meet in the Premier League again this Sunday and, after just one win in their past 12 clashes, Spurs could be forgiven for scenting blood.
Talking Points
That is because Premier League 2023 highlights have been so hard to come by for Chelsea of late.
Sure, they have had key absences at times this season – none more than N’Golo Kante and Raheem Sterling – and their January outlay on players was vast adding to the pressure, even if the recruitment proves financially worthwhile in the long term following the arrival of many young talents with the capacity to be key figures for the next decade or more.
Combined though, all these factors add to the pressure manager Graham Potter is currently facing as he attempts to blend a new-look squad and, with each passing result, the scrutiny grows on the ex-Brighton man.
Yes it has been noted within the club’s new hierarchy that Potter has had to deal with injuries to several key players and he retains the board’s support, even if some fans who were taken with predecessor Thomas Tuchel are becoming impatient.
But while the talk of giving Potter time to build continues, he is not doing a great job of winning over the sceptics.
Chelsea are 10th after winning two of their past 14 games and there was no excuse for losing at home to the league’s worst side.
That is why they could do with beating their old rivals again; old rivals who scent blood and are keen to avenge recent defeats.
History
After holding a hoodoo over Spurs for so long, Chelsea then struggled for a few years against their London rivals.
Yet they have enjoyed the upper hand again of late, including five victories in their last six.
Four of those came last season, three within as many weeks of each other.
In January, they were 2-0 home winners in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final as Kai Havertz and an own goal put them in control before Antonio Rudiger scored the only goal of the second leg for a 3-0 aggregate success.
When they met in the league at Stamford Bridge little over a week later, Chelsea – managed by Tuchel – again triumphed as Hakim Ziyech and Thiago Silva scored two quick goals early in the second half without reply.
The earlier season meeting in North London had resulted in a comfortable 3-0 win for the Blues, Silva, Kante and Rudiger the marksmen – which meant over four games last term, Chelsea were 8-0 winners.
Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane celebrates scoring against Chelsea during their Premier League match last August 2022
Although Spurs won a penalty shoot-out after a League Cup clash in September 2020, it is November 2018 since they beat their adversaries in the league.
On that occasion, Dele Alli, Kane and Son Heung-Min scored in a dominant 3-1 victory.
Overall, Chelsea have triumphed in 77 of their meetings with Spurs enjoying victory 55 times and 42 matches ending all square.
Premier League: Leeds Can Escape the Drop Zone if They Beat Southampton
Leeds United vs Southampton
Two teams that are desperate to get out of the relegation scrap are set to go head-to-head at Elland Road as Leeds host Southampton.
The 19th-seeded Whites are still ahead of the last-placed Saints in the Premier League standings, but only one point separates them. So, whoever wins here will not only have the edge over the other but will also move up at the table.
One of the biggest Premier League 2023 news stories this week is the appointment of Javi Gracia as new Leeds coach, and we may see him for the first time at the Whites’ helm should he get his work permit sorted ahead of Saturday.
Meanwhile, Southampton boss Ruben Selles will look to prove why he should be the team’s next permanent manager by getting another positive result.
Javi Gracia and Ruben Selles were thrust into bad situations because their clubs are in the relegation mire, so these next few weeks will help determine how long they’ll stay at their respective clubs.
Selles is already ahead of Gracia, progress-wise, as this will be the third time he’ll take over as caretaker.
The 39-year-old first took control of an EFL Cup match against Sheffield Wednesday, which they won on penalties after sacking Ralph Hassenhuttl, and then they defeated Chelsea 1-0 last Saturday at Stamford Bridge.
A key to their victory is Selles’ re-installing Hasenhuttl’s preferred 4-2-2-2 system, which reminded Southampton of two of their greatest strengths: verticality and pressing.
Reports indicate that Selles is well liked by the Southampton players because of his no-nonsense attitude and passion for the game. Moreover, Selles made it clear that he is ready to become the club’s next permanent manager, so this is a great start.
Gracia, meanwhile, is back in a similar situation here at Leeds, as he’s tasked with guiding another Premier League side out of the relegation zone. He did this successfully with Watford before, so he’ll look to do it again.
Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse and Theo Walcott celebrate after their match against Chelsea
With Rodrigo out for several months with an ankle injury, Patrick Bamford must step up for Leeds. Bamford looked like a shell of himself during last Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Everton, and that must change.
Leeds need the 2020-21 version of Bamford, where he smashed 17 goals. Unfortunately for Bamford, injuries have taken their toll, and he has only notched three goals and four assists in 18 games this term.
James Ward-Prowse, meanwhile, was the main reason why Southampton won last time out. He scored the winning goal via a direct free-kick, his 17th in the Premier League, and only David Beckham has managed more with 18.
The 28-year-old midfielder has been a bright spot for the Saints this season with eight goals and two assists.
History
Leeds have lost just one of their 14 Premier League home matches against Southampton (W7, D6), and they’re undefeated in their last eight since losing 1-0 in February 1998.
But the Whites haven’t won in their last 10 Premier League matches (D4, L6), which is the longest current winless run in the English top-flight, and the Saints have won three of their last eight Premier League matches against Leeds (D3, L2).
Southampton’s four of their five Premier League victories have come away from home this term, including last week’s victory over Chelsea. This season, they’ve notched 67-per cent of their points on the road.
These two teams last met in August, when SBOTOP football fans were treated to a four-goal thriller. Rodrigo struck twice to give Leeds a two-goal lead in the second half, but they had to settle for a draw as Joe Aribo and Kyle Walker-Peters netted two late goals to draw level.
The Premier League 2023 odds back Leeds to win at home this weekend, as they’re installed at 2.00, while Southampton are priced to win at 3.30, and a draw is at 3.40 in the 1X2 market.
This fixture between Leeds and Southampton is going to be quite competitive. But in the end, we feel that the hosts should be able to eke out a vital win.
A replay of their previous meeting (Correct Score 2-2 at 15.00) seems unlikely on Saturday. However, you also might want to consider going for Over 2.50 at 2.03 since it offers a great payout.
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All is not well at Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s men are not looking like the dominant force they’ve been in years past, particularly away from home.
After drawing away to newly promoted Nottingham Forest, the defending Premier League champions will be desperate not to drop more points against another newly promoted side in Bournemouth, who are busy battling relegation.
But the Premier League 2023 betting odds will heavily favour the champions, who have beaten Bournemouth in all of their Premier League meetings to date.
Talking Points
Bournemouth backline improving
Bournemouth gave their survival bid a significant boost last weekend as they got a 1-0 win away at Wolves. That win snapped the Cherries’ disastrous run of Premier League 2023 results, which saw them go winless in their last seven games (2 draws, 5 losses).
But Gary O’Neil’s side still have a lot of work to do. They are still in 17th place, just one point above the drop zone.
Brazilian goalkeeper Neto has been in good form of late, and he will need to be at his best once again as he takes on the champions.
Bournemouth still have the worst defensive record in the division with 44 goals conceded in 23 games. However, they have shown signs of progress as they’ve given up just three goals in their last four league games.
In terms of the attack, Bournemouth remain quite limited. January signing Dango Outtara has provided a decent spark with 2 assists in his four games, but the Cherries are still lacking a consistent goalscorer. Centre-forward Dominic Solanke has just three Premier League goals and has not scored since early November.
Co-leading scorer Kieffer Moore (4 goals) has been on an extended goal slump, with his last goal also coming in November.
Meanwhile, Marcus Tavernier – who scored the winner against Wolves – might miss time once again after suffering another hamstring setback. Tavernier, who has 3 goals and 4 assists in his last five games, had only just returned after missing eight games with a hamstring injury, so his absence would be a big blow for Bournemouth.
After a strong first-half showing, City’s performance completely fell off in the second half as they once again failed to hang onto their early lead.
Pep Guardiola was not pleased that his players had their heads down after the final whistle, which is perhaps a sign that the current confidence level within the club is not all that high.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola looking disappointed after their 1-1 draw against RB Leipzig in the Champions League
City clearly have some issues away from home. They have won just one of their last six away matches in all competitions, although that lone win did come against Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Kevin De Bruyne and Aymeric Laporte both missed the Leipzig match due to illness, although they are likely to be ready to face Bournemouth.
Guardiola curiously did not use any substitutions in midweek, so he is likely to make some changes against Bournemouth. Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez were unused substitutes and could be handed starts.
History
Man City vs Bournemouth has been as one-sided as it gets. The two clubs have met 18 times overall, and City have gone unbeaten with 16 wins and 2 draws.
In the Premier League era, City are a perfect 11 of 11 in terms of wins against Bournemouth, with an astounding aggregate score of 34-5.
The two sides’ first meeting this season came on the second matchday. Man City once again dominated as they rolled to a 4-0 win.
Unsurprisingly, SBOTOP odds have Man City installed as 1.27 favourites to maintain their perfect record against Bournemouth. The Cherries are priced at 7.80 to win at home, while a draw is 5.40.
While Bournemouth have shown signs of improvement and City have had their stumbles of late away from home, it’s tough to pick anything other than a comfortable City win.
De Bruyne’s likely return to the lineup after his illness will be a massive boost, and I expect him to lead the Citizens to a convincing win to stay very much alive in the title chase.
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The EFL Cup final is a tale of two Uniteds this weekend as Manchester and Newcastle go head to head in search of the first silverware of the 2022/23 campaign.
Newcastle’s Eddie Howe is in his first final as a head coach while Erik Ten Hag won three Eredivisie titles at Ajax and two KNVB Cups. Both clubs are desperate for a chance to open the trophy cabinet, the Red Devils for the first time since they won this competition in 2017, and the Magpies who have had a much longer wait, last winning something in 1955 when they lifted the FA Cup.
Manchester United beat Aston Villa, Burnley, Charlton Athletic and Nottingham Forest to make it to the final and the pre-matchEFL Cup 2023 betting oddssuggest they will go one further.
Meanwhile, Newcastle United beat Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Leicester City and Southampton and they too will fancy their chances. The Magpies are in the hunt to win a top four place in their first full season under Saudi ownership, currently fifth, though they will go fourth if they win their game in hand over Spurs. They lost 2-0 to Liverpool last week, a rare defeat and the Magpies will be desperate to give their long suffering fans something to celebrate.
The Red Devils come into the game on a high, having beaten La Liga leaders Barcelona in a two leg Europa League tie on Thursday and Ten Hag has taken his team up to third place, and the Dutch coach is showing signs that he could be the first Old Trafford boss since Sir Alex Ferguson to genuinely challenge for the league title.
But on Sunday his team only has one thing in mind, to keep the Magpies away from the shiny prize.
Talking Points
Rashford Doubtful
Marcus Rashford is a doubt for the EFL Cup final after suffering an injury vs Barcelona
Manchester United’s player of the moment is striker Marcus Rashford who is having the season of his life. The England man has five goals in the competition and he was on target again in Manchester United’s clash with Leicester City last week, a goal which made it 13 goals for him in 15 appearances in all competitions since the World Cup.
But the Old Trafford crowd collectively held its breath on Thursday when their red hot striker limped off during the game with Barcelona, which the Red Devils won thanks to goals from Fred and Antony. Now Rashford is doubtful for the Wembley date and the manager will make a late call once his player has undergone further treatment and tests at the club.
If he doesn’t make it Rashford will be a big miss.
Goalie conundrum for Newcastle
In other EFL Cup 2023 news, Newcastle’s number one keeper Nick Pope will miss the game after he was sent off during the Geordies’ defeat to Liverpool and he will, arguably be a bigger miss than Rashford would be for the Reds. Pope has been magnificent since his transfer from Burnley to Newcastle and his absence will cause uncertainly in a defence which has been the meanest in the top flight.
Second choice Martin Dubravka is cup tied as he played for Manchester United when he was on loan at Old Trafford and that means, with Karl Darlow on loan at Hull City, Howe is left with German keeper Loris Karius and Englishman Mark Gillespie. Karius seems likely to get the call having joined the club in September, though he hasn’t played a competitive game since February 2021 when he represented Union Berlin in the Bundesliga. Gillespie hasn’t made an appearance for the Magpies since his 2020 switch from Scottish club Motherwell.
Karius will be remembered for his catastrophic showing for Liverpool in the 2018 Champions League final when he gifted Real Madrid two goals in a 3-1 victory for the Spaniards.
It’s no surprise that the SBOTOP odds took a turn away from Tyneside when Pope got his marching orders last week, and the man who takes his place will be under a huge amount of pressure.
History
Manchester United have won 34 of the last 57 encounters with the Magpies, drawing 16 and losing just seven.
The last two meetings ended in low scoring draws a 1-1 at St James Park last season and a 0-0 at Old Trafford in October when Ten Hag was frustrated by the Magpies’ time-wasting tactics, saying: “It’s an annoying team to play against. So we have to make sure we play our game and focus on our game.”
Manchester United are unbeaten in nine and I’m backing them to make it ten.
The Red Devils are at 2.05 to win the match in 90 minutes while Newcastle are at 3.01 and the draw is 3.20. I think it will be a tight game and Under 2.50 goals is available at odds of 1.88. Newcastle will do all they can to protect their keeper and it could be another frustrating 90 minutes for the Manchester club; but I think Ten Hag will triumph after extra time.
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Leeds Look to End Two Decade-Long FA Cup Quarter-Final Drought
Fulham vs Leeds United
Leeds United are one win away from reaching the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time in 20 years.
The Whites got an important win in their fight for Premier League survival on the weekend, and they will look to carry over that form to their FA Cup fifth-round tie against Fulham at Craven Cottage.
The Cottagers are in the midst of an impressive six-game unbeaten run and the FA Cup 2023 betting odds will be backing them to end their 13-year wait to return to the quarter-finals.
Talking Points
Fulham’s unbeaten run continues
High-flying Fulham missed their chance to close in on the top five in the Premier League as they were held to a 1-1 home draw by Wolves. But still, they extended their unbeaten run to six games in all competitions.
Manor Solomon came on as a substitute to score Fulham’s equaliser against Wolves. It’s the third game in a row that the 23-year-old Israeli has come off the bench to score.
With leading scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic missing the last two games due to a hamstring injury and their other centre-forward options misfiring – Carlos Vinicius and Bobby De Cordova-Reid have combined for just one goal thus far in 2023 – the Cottagers will be hoping the in-form Solomon delivers some FA Cup 2023 highlights.
Fulham manager Marco Silva coaches from the sidelines during their Premier League game against Nottingham Forest
Fulham coach Marco Silva has heavily rotated his squad in the first few rounds of the FA Cup against lower-tier opposition, but he might field a strong side this time around with a quarter-final berth on the line against a fellow Premier League opponent in Leeds.
Fulham’s run of three straight clean sheets came to an end in their draw with Wolves. But they did extend their run of allowing just one goal or fewer to 10 games in a row, which is a testament to their much-improved defence.
Leeds get big win under new boss Gracia
Leeds significantly boosted their Premier League survival hopes as they scored a 1-0 win at home against last-placed Southampton in new coach Javi Gracia’s debut. Full-back Junior Firpo popped up with the winning goal 13 minutes from time. The win lifted Leeds to 17th place, one point out of the relegation zone.
Gracia fielded a conventional 4-2-3-1 formation, with Patrick Bamford once again spearheading the attack in leading scorer Rodrigo’s absence. Bamford remains without a goal since his brace in Leeds’ 5-2 win over Cardiff City in the FA Cup second round.
With Premier League survival of utmost priority for Leeds, it remains to be seen whether Gracia will field a strong side against Fulham. Record signing Georginio Rutter has made just one start for Leeds, which came in the previous round against Accrington Stanley, and he could be handed another runout.
Pascal Struijk and Liam Cooper both missed the Saints match due to injury, but they will likely be available to provide Gracia with more defensive options.
Leeds’ win over Accrington was one of their only two away wins this season. Their other win was at Anfield against Liverpool. They have suffered nine defeats, with four draws.
The head-to-heads between Fulham and Leeds have been quite even. The two have met nine times in the Premier League era, and both teams are tied at 4 wins with a draw.
However, Leeds did the double over Fulham on their return to the Premier League in 2020-21. They also came out on top in the EFL Cup that season, winning on penalties.
But Fulham finally ended their losing skid against Leeds in their first meeting this season. Thanks to goals from Mitrovic, De Cordova Reid and Willian, the Cottagers came away with a 3-2 win at Elland Road.
SBOTOP odds have Fulham installed as 2.04 favourites to get the win at Craven Cottage. Leeds are priced at 3.15 to win in London, while a draw is 3.40.
This is a great opportunity for both clubs to make it to the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time in over a decade, so even with a few changes to the sides, expect this to be quite a competitive match.
But with both sides likely missing their top goalscorers, this might end up being another low-scoring affair decided by the odd goal.
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It mattered a whole lot to the players, the fans and the new man at the helm and when a second half shot from Junior Firpo hit the net there was a mixture of elation and relief at the famous old stadium.
If ever there was a six-pointer this was it.
Leeds’ Premier League 2023 results have been poor and they started the day in 19th place with only the Saints below. A draw would have been a big disappointment and a defeat would have spelt disaster for the West Yorkshire giants. Leeds took the game to their visitors and dominated for long periods but without making many clear cut chances, though Brenden Aaranson and Jack Harrison were both lively throughout and had the Saints defence chasing shadows.
But without a goal and the tension increasing Firpo finally broke through, on 77 minutes, when he latched on to a flick from Harrison and hit his shot through the legs of Jan Bednarek and underneath keeper Gavin Bazunu to send the home fans wild and give the Whites a first win since November.
Crysencio Summerville had a great chance to tee up a second when he broke through on the right, but with the unmarked Harrison waiting for a square ball and a tap-in, Summerville went for glory and fired wide.
The 52 year old Gracia, who led Watford to the FA Cup final in 2019, was delighted with his debut win, and at home, saying: “I’m very happy because when I came I could feel people around the club really needed a good result. I think this is good for the confidence of all of us; it’s an important step.”
Leicester City head coach Brendan Rodgers looks disappointed during their home match against Arsenal
Arsenal stayed two points clear at the top of the table thanks to a hard earned 1-0 win away to Leicester City. Gabriel Martinelli scored the only goal of the game, early in the second half, though Arsenal should have already been ahead but Leandro Trossard’s brilliant curling strike was ruled out by VAR… with no infringement immediately obvious. This was another big win for the Gunners who are chasing a first league title since 2004, but a worrying display from the Foxes who were without their most creative player, James Maddison.
Leicester have scored an average of 1.9 goals a game when Maddison has started and under 1.0 in those when he hasn’t. And against Arsenal the home side registered just one shot all game, and none on target. The Premier League 2023 betting odds reckon the Foxes have too much quality to take the drop, but they are certainly in the mix at the moment.
Manchester City in the Mood
There have been some suggestions in the UK media that all is not well at the Etihad and the Sky Blues, in search of a third successive title, may have lost their appetite. But in a ruthless display against Bournemouth the champions rubbished any such notion, racing into a three goal lead by the break and eventually winning 4-1.
The Bournemouth backline has been improving of late, but goals from Julian Alvarez, Erling Braut Haaland with his 27th of the league campaign, and Phil Foden in a devastating first 45 finished the game, before a Chris Mepham own goal made it four. Jefferson Lerma’s late goal gave the Cherries fans a consolation but they were brutally beaten, and City boss Pep Guardiola was a satisfied man, saying: “I’m very pleased with what I am seeing every day. The mood of the locker room is exceptional, the training sessions are really, really good.”
There will be twists and turns to come over the remaining 13 games. Here at SBOTOP we’ll be right with you every step of the way and, on this evidence the Sky Blues mean business.
Hammers can fly with Ings
Two goals from new striker Danny Ings gave West Ham United a much needed 4-0 victory over Nottingham Forest to ease the Hammers’ relegation worries. Forest held out until the 70th minute but two poacher’s goals, within three minutes, from the experienced Ings gave West Ham lift-off. Declan Rice curled in a beauty from 25 yards to seal the points and Michail Antonio climbed off the bench to complete the rout.
Manager David Moyes notched up his 250th Premier League win with this result, but he’ll be more pleased that his team climbed out of the drop zone and in emphatic style.
After a decent little run Forest have lost two of the last three and, with just a four point gap separating them from the bottom three, they still have work to do if they are to avoid a swift return to the Championship.
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Premier League: Can Dyche’s Toffees Trip Up Gunners Again?
Arsenal vs Everton
For the second time in the space of just under a month, Premier League leaders Arsenal are set to face off against Everton.
The Toffees memorably tripped up the Gunners in their first game under new coach Sean Dyche as they continued their recent run of success against Mikel Arteta’s side.
But the Premier League 2023 betting odds will be significantly in favour of the Gunners, who will look to keep their title charge on track at the Emirates.
Talking Points
Arsenal’s title charge back on track
Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes seemed to be on the ropes after a run of three games without a win in February, which began with a 1-0 defeat to Everton at Goodison Park.
But Mikel Arteta’s men have recovered well from that brief blip as they’ve won back-to-back games to reclaim control at the top over Manchester City.
Arteta has started January signing Leandro Trossard in both games, with the Belgian even leading the attack against Leicester. Trossard impressed in that role as he had two shots and delivered the assist for Martinelli’s winning goal.
Eddie Nketiah is expected to return to that starting centre-forward role against Everton, but it won’t be entirely surprising if Arteta sticks with Trossard against Everton after the Belgian’s strong performance last time out.
Arsenal’s Thomas Partey in action against Everton’s Amadou Onana during their Premier League match in February 4, 2023
Meanwhile, midfield general Thomas Partey made his return from injury late in the Leicester match and should be ready to reclaim his place from Jorginho.
Partey’s return to the heart of midfield should be a significant boost to a Gunners defence that kept a clean sheet for the first time in six Premier League matches.
Everton showing signs of life
Everton’s survival hopes have received a significant boost under Sean Dyche. They have won two of their first four games under their new boss after just three in their first 20 games under former boss Frank Lampard. Although, they are still in the relegation zone, one point from safety.
Both of Everton’s wins – against Arsenal and Leeds – have come at Goodison Park. Meanwhile, they lost 2-0 to Liverpool at Anfield in the Merseyside derby and fell 2-0 at home to Aston Villa.
Oft-injured striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin has missed the last three games due to injury and is doubtful to return against Arsenal. But Neal Maupay has done a decent job of producing Premier League 2023 highlights as the starting centre-forward, with three shots in each of his last two starts.
Dyche has settled upon a standard defensive 4-5-1 formation, one that conceded over 70 per cent of possession and allowed 15 shots in their first meeting against Arsenal. Although, they did limit the Gunners to just three shots on target.
Everton could very well lean even more defensively in this second meeting against the leaders away from home, especially given their disastrous away record.
Dyche will have a big task in improving Everton’s away form. The Toffees have won just one of 11 games away from Goodison Park, with four draws and six defeats. Their six goals scored is second only to Nottingham Forest in terms of the fewest away from home.
History
Arsenal have a considerable 35-12 win advantage over Everton during the Premier League era, with 14 draws.
However, the Toffees have been a bit of a bogey team for the Arsenal, especially since Mikel Arteta took charge. The Gunners have won just two of their last eight Premier League meetings against the Merseysiders, with one draw and five defeats.
SBOTOP odds have Arsenal installed as massive 1.35 favourites to get their third win in a row against Everton, who are priced at 7.00 to pull off a stunning double on the leaders. A draw is 4.70.
Arsenal enjoyed over 70 per cent of possession in their first meeting, and that could very well be the case again at the Emirates, with Everton likely to sit deep and defend for long stretches of the match.
Arsenal will likely emerge victorious this time around thanks to home advantage, but this figures to be another low-scoring affair against Everton.
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Well, Manchester United have ended their six-year wait for a trophy with a 2-0 win in the Carabao Cup final and Red Devils fans think this is the start of something bigger.
The win over Newcastle United, who had the lion’s share of possession in the Wembley showcase, and more shots on goal, sparked celebrations in Salford of the like we haven’t seen in over a decade. Erik Ten Hag’s team were clinical in their performance, making the most of their chances and, as former Red Devil Gary Neville says, this group of players could be quite dangerous with a winners’ medal around their necks.
And now they turn their attention to the FA Cup and a Round of 16 clash against West Ham United, which brings them together with former boss David Moyes.
While Manchester United were re-opening their trophy cabinet this weekend the Hammers hammered Nottingham Forest on Saturday to climb out of the Premier League relegation zone, and their confidence levels will have grown.
TheFA Cup 2023 betting odds, here atSBOTOP,make the Red Devils second favourites, at a price of 4.50, to lift the FA Cup while the Hammers are joint fifth favourites at 21.00. And at 3.22 to get through this tie, West Ham are clear underdogs with Manchester United at 1.31 to make the last eight.
Talking Points
World-class Casemiro is enjoying himself
The Red Devils’ midfield dynamo, Casemiro, who scored the opener in the Carabao Cup final, has two goals in this competition and he is the man West Ham will be most wary of. Any concern that the Brazilian ace headed to Old Trafford for one final payday, or to take it easy after his transfer from the trophy collectors at Real Madrid, has been totally trashed as he has instilled the winning mentality back into Old Trafford.
Alongside former Los Blancos colleague Raphael Varane he has helped to make Old Trafford a venue to be feared once again. He is the all-round midfielder with defensive nous and the ability to break up play, a superb array of passing and a taste for goals, much like a previous Old Trafford enforcer, Roy Keane.
Victories over Everton and Nottingham Forest and impressive draws with Newcastle United and Chelsea have pulled the Hammers away from the drop zone; and with just one defeat in the last six, in all competitions, the East Enders will be keen to keep the momentum going.
West Ham’s January arrival Danny Ings will be ready to produce some FA Cup 2023 highlightsafter he opened his Hammers account with a brace in the 4-0 win over Nottingham Forest. Ings loves playing in Claret and Blue having represented Burnley, Aston Villa and now West Ham United in these bold colours. He just has Scunthorpe United to go to make a full set. But the Northern Iron are currently in the National League so a move there for Ings looks unlikely!
West Ham United’s Danny Ings celebrates scoring their second goal against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League
The arrival of a proven goal scorer has taken the weight off the shoulders of the likes of attacking midfielders Jarrod Bowen and Said Benrahma, and has given the Hammers a lethal edge to go with the quality they have in deeper positions. Declan Rice continues to dominate the midfield while Nayef Aguerd has emerged as one of the best centre-backs in the English game.
Of course, Moyes had a short stint as manager of Manchester United as the immediate successor to Sir Alex Ferguson and, while he didn’t last long, he fared as well as anyone, in the Old Trafford hot seat over the following decade. Ten Hag seems to be making progress where Moyes couldn’t in the short time he was allowed and the determined Scot has a point to prove.
History
Manchester United have won the FA Cup 12 times, only Arsenal have won more while West Ham are three times winners, the last time in 1980 when the legendary Trevor Brooking scored a rare header to beat the Gunners.
Manchester United have had 38 wins in this encounter, to West Ham’s nine in all competitions since 1993, and they have won five of the last six. And we have a statistical curiosity in this fixture with five of the last six meetings resulting in a 1-0 win, four for Manchester United and they won the other game 2-1.
The Hammers are in decent form with three wins, two draws and a single defeat over the past six games but Manchester United are unbeaten in ten games and in 18 at Old Trafford.
Premier League: Did Leeds Make Right Decision with Javi Gracia?
For the second season in a row, Leeds United have made a major decision to change managers mid-season in a bid to keep themselves in the Premier League.
The Whites have gone with former Watford manager Javi Gracia to take charge of this latest relegation scrap. But is the Spaniard the right man to steady the ship and save Leeds from the drop?
Read on below as SBOTOP provides more background on the new Whites boss and whether he can keep the club up this season.
Javi Gracia is hardly a household name in terms of top European managers. The 52-year-old has bounced around clubs throughout his coaching career, with spells in Spain, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and England. His longest tenure with a club is with Malaga, where he managed for 84 games from May 2014-May 2016.
But arguably Gracia’s best managerial job might be his 20-month spell at Watford when they were in the Premier League.
After Marco Silva’s dismissal in January 2018, Gracia took charge of a Watford side that, while not in immediate threat of relegation, had the form of a club that could easily go down. Gracia stepped in and capably steered the club to safety.
The following season, Gracia again succeeded in keeping the Hornets out of relegation trouble as they finished a comfortable 11th. And if that wasn’t enough, he led to their first FA Cup final since 1984. Although, they were summarily smashed 6-0 by Manchester City.
But despite that massive accomplishment, coupled with one-and-a-half fairly strong seasons, Watford let Gracia go after a slow start to the following campaign.
So while he does not exactly have an extensive resume, there is decent evidence that Javi Gracia is a capable manager who can lead a Premier League team to safety, which is what Leeds are desperate for.
Pragmatism over philosophy
However, it should be noted that Gracia was far from Leeds’ top choice to succeed Jesse Marsch, who was sacked after a string of disappointing Premier League 2023 results. The Whites were linked with several managers such as Andoni Iraola of Rayo Vallecano, former River Plate boss Marcelo Gallardo and former Leeds Under-23 boss Carlos Corberan. Even former manager Marcelo Bielsa was linked with a shock return to the club.
Former Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch looking frustrated during their match against West Ham United
Iraola, Gallardo and Corberan all have close ties to Bielsa, which was likely a significant factor in why they were considered for the job. Leeds are trying to build an identity of exciting and energetic football that Bielsa had established at the club, and as with Jesse Marsch, they have been targeting managers who share that same style of play.
But things did not work out for the Whites as their preferred philosophical targets turned them down. And so they went with Gracia, who was more of a pragmatic choice, both because he was a free agent and because of his more functional way of setting out his football teams.
Unlike Iraola, Gallardo and Corberan, Gracia does not have the Bielsa DNA. Instead, the Spaniard is a more flexible manager in terms of his systems and formations. He is more inclined to play a more defensive style when needed, but he does share some similarities in that he prefers his sides to press and play with a high intensity.
Gracia himself is a hard worker. He recently revealed that he has been sleeping just a few hours a night as he tries to find solutions to Leeds’ problems, so he is more than committed to the task of trying to rescue the club from the drop.
Possibly the right man for Leeds’ promising squad
For all of Leeds’ struggles this season, their underlying numbers point to a much better team than their 17th place in the standings suggests. Leeds have an expected goals goal difference of -4.7, which puts them comfortably at midtable, just behind Chelsea. But their actual goal difference is -10, which is tied for sixth-worst.
Those stats suggest that Gracia will inherit quite a capable squad, one that has been significantly strengthened over the last few transfer windows. Willy Gnonto has quickly emerged as one of the most exciting youngsters in the Premier League, while American midfielders Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie are capable of covering a lot of ground in the middle of the park.
With the chaotic energy Jesse Marsch brought both on and off the pitch now out of the picture and the cool and calm Gracia now in charge, perhaps Leeds can finally start to play more to their potential.
Gracia has shown in the past that he can put a cohesive and controlled plan in place, and he has a fine collection of bright young players at his disposal that can execute that plan on the pitch. So while Leeds’ process in ending up with Javi Gracia as their new manager was not what they had planned, the result could end up being to their benefit as he might just be the coach they need to defy the Premier League 2023 odds and successfully escape relegation yet again.
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Premier League: Is a Quadruple in the Cards for Manchester United?
Manchester United may have tired legs, but they wouldn’t have it any other way, as they’re still competing on three fronts: the Premier League, the Europa League, and the FA Cup.
The Red Devils recently ended their six-year trophy drought after beating the Magpies in the EFL Cup final, but now it’s back to work as they have the Hammers to worry about next.
Speaking of the Magpies, it’s been a bad week for them following their lacklustre stretch of results. And the same can be said for Chelsea, who continue to experience the blues on and off the pitch.
Continue to read below as SBOTOP rounds up some of the biggest Premier League 2023 updates.
Manchester United get back to work
The Red Devils finally did it. They ended their trophy drought on Monday, but for Erik ten Hag, he’s just getting started.
Manchester United should remain focused when they play West Ham United tomorrow for their FA Cup fifth round match, as well as Liverpool in the Premier League four days later at Anfield, after celebrating their EFL Cup victory over Newcastle United.
They have come a long way since suffering embarrassing defeats to Brighton and Brentford at the start of the season because they now have a puncher’s chance of completing the unprecedented quadruple.
Right now, they’re the favourites both in the FA Cup and in the Europa League, and they’re currently in third place in the Premier League.
In terms of recent form, Manchester United haven’t lost a game since January 23 against Arsenal, despite their hectic schedule.
Erik ten Hag could use the West Ham United game to rotate his starting lineup, with the likes of Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Tyrell Malacia, Marcel Sabitzer, and Scott McTominay all considered starters.
Overall, he has restored belief among the Manchester United fans as he ushers in a new era of success. With his expert man management and tactical nous, the Red Devils are in good hands under the Dutchman.
The 38-year-old centre-back sustained the injury in Sunday’s defeat to Tottenham after a challenge on Harry Kane during the first half, and his absence is going to be a huge blow for the Blues’ backline.
Chelsea’s Thiago Silva walks off the pitch after suffering an injury in their Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur
Silva joins Cesar Azpilicueta, Edouard Mendy, Christian Pulisic, and Armando Broja on Chelsea’s growing injured list.
Chelsea haven’t won a game since January 15, so they’ve fallen out of the European places and are in 10th place with 31 points.
Because of their dire run of form, Chelsea supporters are growing impatient with Potter, and they’ve filed a petition demanding for the ex-Brighton manager to get sacked soon. As of this writing, the petition has tallied around 45,000 signatures.
Potter said that the Chelsea board wants to give him more time to improve their results and performances, but turning the situation around will be much harder without Silva, who is one of their key leaders.
Chelsea are set to take on Leeds United on Saturday and Borussia Dortmund for the second leg of their Champions League tie on Wednesday. The Premier League 2023 odds favour them to beat the Whites, who are doing their best to stave off relegation once more.
Newcastle United suffer a double blow
The Magpies have lost back-to-back games this week. As a result, they’ve missed out on a trophy, and they’ve fallen out of the Champions League picture for now.
Newcastle United are now in fifth place in the Premier League standings, as Tottenham have been in fine form recently, although they can still catch up and nail a top four place with two games in hand.
Nick Pope, who was given the red card against Liverpool, is expected to be back for their upcoming league match, which is a welcome development for Eddie Howe and co.
Prior to his dismissal against Liverpool, Pope had been in outstanding form, and his absence against Manchester United in the EFL Cup final was obviously felt.
They’ll look to bounce back against Manchester City on Saturday, but they must break out of their funk in the final third since they have only scored three goals in their last seven Premier League matches.
The fourth and final Champions League berth remains up for grabs, and it figures to be a six-way battle, so this go-time for Newcastle United.
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Premier League: Trip to the Etihad Spells Trouble for Newcastle
Manchester City vs Newcastle United
After coming so close to winning the Carabao Cup and just falling short, Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United needs a pick-me-up; but they are unlikely to get it when they meet Manchester City in this weekend’s Premier League curtain raiser.
Newcastle come into the match without a win in four games while Manchester City breezed through to the quarter finals of the FA Cup with a 3-0 win away to Bristol City. And with City manager Pep Guardiola recently having to field questions on the mood of his team, the boss has been ebullient and his players have done their talking on the pitch.
After winning a first trophy in six years Manchester United fans are getting a bit giddy and dreaming of more silverware to come this season but, while the Red Devils are improving for sure, it is the Sky Blue side of the city which already has a team established as a serial league winner.
At odds of 1.38 to win this game the Sky Blues are red hot favourites; and with renewed determination at the Etihad I can’t see any other outcome.
Talking Points
Foden can inspire the Sky Blues
Manchester City’s Phil Foden celebrates scoring their third goal vs Bournemouth
Pep Guardiola has an embarrassment of riches, of that there is no doubt, but his team still has a lot of work to do if they are to deny current leaders Arsenal a first title in almost two decades. Erling Braut Haaland, with 27 goals already, is going to break plenty of records during his stay with City, however long that may be, and Kevin de Bruyne, with 12 assists so far this season, has arguably been the best player in the league over the past five years.
And in 18 year old wingback Rico Lewis the Sky Blues have one of the most exciting young talents in world football.
But it is attacking midfielder Phil Foden who can take the Sky Blues to the next level in the run in. He lost his place in the team due to a niggling ankle injury and the form of Jack Grealish has kept him out of the starting line-up. Foden has returned with three goals in two games and Guardiola’s policy of bringing players back slowly is likely to pay off again. Riyad Mahrez showed fantastic form when he returned after a lay-off and Foden will be desperate to show that he is one of the best players in the world.
He has eight goals and six assists from 22 games, and those stats will increase by some margin. Foden is in the mood and he has the ability to produce some of the best Premier League 2023 highlights we are likely to see in the coming months; and that is an exciting prospect for City fans.
Prior to Arsenal’s clash with Everton on Wednesday night the Premier League 2023 betting oddscould hardly separate the Sky Blues and the Gunners, with City at a SBOTOP price of 1.98 and the Gunners at 2.00.
Are the Sky Blues about to move up a gear?
How will final defeat affect Newcastle?
Eddie Howe led Newcastle to the brink of a first major competition win since 1955 but they missed out agonisingly, losing 2-0 to the Red Devils courtesy of a Casemiro header and a wickedly deflected second from Marcus Rashford. The Magpies dominated possession but it was at either end of the pitch where they fell short.
Goalkeeper Nick Pope missed out after picking up a red card the previous week and he will be back for sure, but Howe must somehow lift his players, which will not be easy to do after such emotional turmoil. Midfielder Bruno Guimaraes was in tears at the end of the game, which shows how much the club means to him following his transfer from Lyon last year. He’s been the Geordies’ bets outfield player and they need him to maintain his form if they are to climb back into the top four.
Newcastle have the tightest defence in the Premier League, conceding just 15 goals, but they must find more creativity to beat teams like the Manchester duo. Callum Wilson and Miguel Almiron are both lively strikers, while Kieran Tripper and Alain St Maximim provide a good supply of chances.
This could still be a great season for the Magpies but they can’t afford their winless run to continue for much longer.
History
Manchester City have dominated the head to head encounters with Newcastle, winning 30 of the 48 meetings in the Premier League era, while the Magpies have picked up nine wins and nine draws.
The two teams played out a thrilling 3-3 draw at St James’ Park in August as both defences were uncharacteristically generous, but I can’t see a repeat of that on Saturday.
Recent form favours the Sky Blues who have recorded four wins and two draws from the last six, while Newcastle United have won two, drawn two and lost two.
And, despite failing to grab this title race by the throat so far, City have been superb at home, winning ten, drawing one and losing just one.
The Magpies are at 4.45 to earn a point and at 5.60 to take all three. The visitors won’t be easy to break down but the Sky Blues have the players, the home advantage and momentum all pushing this game in their direction.
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It’s a famous old top flight fixture and when Wolves welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Molineux on Saturday we’ll see some Premier League entertainment at its finest.
They aren’t the best in the league by any stretch, but this is a fascinating clash between two teams separated by 11 places in the league table and each with a clear objective. Wolves are currently 15th and only three points above the drop zone, but they have been on a steady upward trajectory since the arrival of Julen Lopetegui as head coach.
Meanwhile Spurs are in a Champions League spot and head coach Antonio Conte will be desperate to hang on to it, while his team is still in two cup competitions, the FA Cup and the Champions League.
Wolves are after safety while Spurs are searching for long awaited glory, and that makes this a high stakes clash for both.
Talking Points
Lopetegui’s January deals paying off
Wolves have a tough game away to Liverpool on Wednesday but they have picked up seven useful points from the last four games, including a 3-0 win over Liverpool at home, another win over Southampton and a 1-1 draw away to Fulham last time out. The only blemish came in a surprise 1-0 defeat to lowly Bournemouth.
Pablo Sarabia scored his first goal since his January switch from Paris-Saint Germain to give Wolves a deserved lead against Fulham last week. The 30 year old started and finished off a flowing move and that will give him the confidence to kick on. He’s a player with real pedigree, starring at Sevilla and in Paris and he has nine goals in 26 appearances for Spain.
Sarabia is another quick and skilful forward to work alongside the talented duo of Ruben Neves and Daniel Podence who have scored five goals each, and Lopetegui will be looking for big contributions from all three in the coming months. At the back, the signing of centre back Craig Dawson was a shrewd move; the former West Brom and West Ham star is a proven Premier League defender and a leader on the pitch, with an added attacking threat at set pieces.
The Premier League 2023 betting odds are getting increasingly confident that Wolves will avoid the drop with five teams at shorter odds to fall into the second tier. Their current uptick in form and some smart January recruits should see them over the line a little before the nail-biting climax.
Kane back to his best for Spurs
Tottenham recovered from a 4-1 mauling at the hands of Leicester City and a setback in the Champions League clash with AC Milan which they lost 1-0, with consecutive 2-0 victories at home to West Ham and Chelsea in the league. Those two derby wins took Spurs ahead of Newcastle United and into the Champions League places.
The clash with Chelsea was a grudge match and Harry Kane lifted the roof by scoring his 18th goal of the campaign to seal the points. He also bagged the winner when Tottenham upset title favourites Manchester City earlier last month and his all round play has been fantastic in recent weeks. Kane is quite unique as a goal scorer in that he willingly goes deep and has an amazing array of passing skills. His strike partner Heung-Min Son has been a little off the pace this season but he bagged in the win over the Hammers which will have done his confidence no harm at all. In midfield, the injured Rodrigo Bentancur is a big miss for Spurs but Oliver Skipp has stepped up so far in a deep lying role alongside Pierre Emile Hojbjerg.
Harry Kane celebrates after scoring Tottenham Hotspur’s second goal against Chelsea
Newcastle are four points back but with two games in hand, so Spurs need some Premier League 2023 results from elsewhere to go their way. The Magpies are away to Manchester City on Saturday so they may not have to wait long; then it is up to them.
But before they meet Wolves, Tottenham have a tough test on Wednesday night in an FA Cup clash away to Championship high flyers Sheffield United.
History
Wolves were one of the 12 founding members of the football league, way back in 1888, and these two famous clubs were in their heyday sixty odds years ago. Tottenham were champions of England in 1961 while Wolves were top dogs in 1958 and 1959.
They have been mainstays of the Premier League in recent years and both sets of fans are dreaming of glories past, though it’s the North Londoners who have been the closest in recent years finishing as runners up in the 2019 Champions League.
Spurs have won ten of the last 18 encounters while Wolves have won five and there have been three draws.
Wolves’ last victory at home to Tottenham came way back in 2010. In terms of recent results the visitors are in better shape with four wins and two draws from the last six, while Wolves have won two, drawn one and lost three.
In terms of recent results the visitors are in better shape with four wins and two draws from the last six, while Wolves have won two, drawn one and lost three.
The hosts are at SBOTOP odds of 2.81 to win this match with Spurs at 2.20 and the draw at 3.16. I’m going to take a punt on Lopetegui’s men on the basis that they are improving, they are at home, their new signings are bedding in nicely and, every now and then, Spurs throw one in!
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Premier League: Can Leeds Capitalise on Chelsea Crisis?
Chelsea vs Leeds United
The crisis at Chelsea continues to get worse. Now winless in their last six games in all competitions – five of which coming in the Premier League – the clock is ticking for Graham Potter to turn things around.
After a shock home defeat to bottom club Southampton the previous week, another poor result at Stamford Bridge against relegation-threatened Leeds United could potentially spell the end for Potter.
The Whites suffered a setback as they were knocked out of the FA Cup by another west London club in Fulham in midweek.
But given Chelsea’s current struggles, Javi Gracia’s men have a great chance to claim some crucial points as they continue their quest to avoid relegation.
Talking Points
Problems and pressure keep piling up for Potter
How much lower can Graham Potter’s Chelsea go? The Blues lost 2-0 to Tottenham last time out, extending their current losing skid to three in a row and their winless run to six. Moreover, they have now won just one of their last nine league games.
That disastrous run of Premier League 2023 results has seen Chelsea remain in 10th place, just goal difference ahead of Aston Villa.
The Blues’ big problem has been in attack. Chelsea have scored just one goal in their last six games as Potter remains unable to solve this glaring issue that has blighted him since his Brighton days.
In his desperation, Potter brought on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang off the bench against Spurs, but the 33-year-old striker does not appear to be the answer. Neither does Kai Havertz, who has scored just once in 11 appearances in all competitions in 2023.
Chelsea’s Thiago Silva looks in pain after suffering an injury in their Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur
As if those problems in attack weren’t bad enough for the Blues, they have now been dealt a massive blow in defence as veteran centre-back Thiago Silva looks set to miss several weeks after picking up a knee injury against Spurs.
The now-fit Wesley Fofana made his second straight substitute appearance in the loss to Spurs, and he will compete with the likes of Benoit Badiashile and Kalidou Koulibaly for a starting spot at centre-back.
Leeds looking to bounce back after FA Cup exit
After winning his Leeds debut against Southampton, Javi Gracia experienced his first defeat in charge as the Whites were dumped out of the FA Cup by Fulham in midweek.
Although, Gracia’s side did show some flashes of promise in defeat. Gracia fielded the young trio of Willy Gnonto (19), Georginio Rutter (20), and Crysencio Summerville (21) in attack as Leeds outshot Fulham 16-7 and had 6 shots on target. Rutter had a team-high 3 shots, one of which hit the woodwork. He also had a goal disallowed.
With Patrick Bamford still struggling to rediscover his tremendous form from a few years ago – he hasn’t scored a Premier League goal since mid-January – Rutter’s performance has given Gracia a big choice to make in terms of who should start at centre-forward.
Outside of the starting attacking trio, Gracia fielded essentially a full-strength side, one that is unlikely to be altered against Chelsea. Defenders Liam Cooper and Pascal Struijk are still dealing with injuries, although centre-back Max Wober – who wasn’t part of the squad against Fulham – could return to the backline.
History
It may surprise some to learn that Leeds actually have the advantage in wins over Chelsea in their all-time record. The Whites have 40 wins to the Blues’ 37, with 30 draws.
But Chelsea have the 11-9 edge in wins during the Premier League era, with 9 draws. Prior to this season, the Blues went unbeaten in their last seven meetings against Leeds (5 wins, 2 draws) in the Premier League.
But Leeds finally ended that run earlier this season as they won 3-0 at Elland Road. Brenden Aaronson, Rodrigo, and Jack Harrison got the goals for the Whites.
Despite Chelsea’s current struggles, SBOTOP odds still have the Blues installed as big 1.62 favourites to get the home win. Leeds are priced at 4.60 to win, while a draw is 3.80.
Given the glaring goalscoring issues both clubs have, it’s unlikely that this match will be a high-scoring affair.
That is why I like Leeds’ chances of defying the Premier League 2023 odds and leaving Stamford Bridge with at least a point.
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Premier League: This Mersey/Manchester Clash is as Big as it Gets!
Liverpool vs Manchester United
The North West of England is the centre of football this weekend folks as two of the most famous clubs in the world come face to face in a high stakes clash.
And I’m not talking about Blackpool versus Burnley!
Premier League: Liverpool vs Manchester United is one of the biggest games in world football and when the two juggernauts collide on Sunday it could make a huge difference to the season for both of them. The hosts are beginning to show signs of shaking off the malaise of a poor first half of the campaign and have their sights set on a Champions League place, while the visitors, so long in the shadow of Liverpool and Manchester City, are up in third place and with an outside chance of winning the league.
That dream will all but disappear if they lose at Anfield though.
This is one of those games when you can throw out the form guide and the league position because passions run high and both teams have plenty of players who can win a match. And referee Andy Madley has one of the most difficult jobs in football this weekend, there is no love lost between these two teams and the Liverpool vs Manchester United betting odds make this the tightest clash for a while.
The pressure on the ref will be massive.
Liverpool come into the game on the back of a 2-0 win over Wolves while Manchester United reached the quarter finals of the FA Cup with a comeback win over West Ham.
Talking Points
Top four is on for Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp has a fair amount of credit in the bank but in a league where owners hire and fire for fun the Liverpool board hasn’t wavered. They are probably spending more time working on a sale of the club but, either way, it would be madness to sack their coach. He has been very unlucky with injuries in an aging side but, with one or two players coming back, results are picking up.
Liverpool have won ten points from the last four league games without conceding a goal.
Mo Salah and Virgil Van Dijk were on target as the Reds beat Wolves 2-0 on Wednesday to move up to sixth in the table, and within six points of fourth placed Tottenham and with a game in hand. Spurs have a difficult trip to Wolverhampton to negotiate on Saturday so Liverpool’s top four destiny may drop into their own hands if results go their way.
The return to fitness of Diogo Jota has come at a perfect time; he provided the assist for Van Dijk to open the scoring against the stubborn Wolves, and his presence takes the pressure off Salah and Darwin Nunez who is still finding his feet in his debut season in the Premier League.
While their defence has been superb in recent league games Liverpool were totally destroyed by Real Madrid in their Champions League match last week and that will make their fans nervous in another high profile game.
How can Liverpool stop Casemiro?
Erik Ten Hag is understandably playing down talk of a quadruple but you can’t blame United fans for dreaming of better times again, because the signs are definitely there. Manchester United have lost just one game in the last 22 in all competitions and lifted their first trophy in six years, winning the Carabao Cup last week.
They are at SBOTOP odds of 3.00 to win the Europa League, 12.00 to with the Premier League and 3.00 to win the FA Cup… so that would make a nice Acca!
Manchester United’s Casemiro celebrates scoring their first goal before it is disallowed after a VAR review
Marcus Rashford has been in sensational form in front of goal, but United’s player of the season so far is Casemiro, who has proved what a world class operator he is in the centre of midfield. The Brazil star scored the crucial opener in the Carabao Cup final and he has been the perfect box to box player, tough in the tackle and with a superb passing range.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Klopp slot in Fabinho alongside Jordan Henderson in an attempt to try to win the midfield battle.
History
The Red Devils are still in front of the head to head Liverpool vs Manchester United results with 33 wins to 23 in all competition since 1994.
The two teams met in the third round of this Premier League campaign and Manchester United grabbed an unexpected 2-1 win, after losing their opening two games of the season. Rashford gave a hint of what was to come when he ended a run of 997 minutes without a goal, with the vital second.
In terms of recent form United have had five wins in the last six games while the hot and cold Liverpool have had three.
But Anfield can be a fortress on the big occasions. Manchester United have failed to win there on their last seven visits, losing 4-0 last season and, with a home record of eight wins, three draws and a single defeat the Reds have been strong again in front of their own fans.
At odds of 2.26 Liverpool are the favourites to win this game with the visitors at 2.58. A draw at a price of 1-1 is priced at 5.80; but I just give the Mersey Reds the edge courtesy of home advantage and renewed hunger.
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On the other hand, Brentford are also having a remarkable season, currently in ninth place with 35 points and two games in hand.
Both teams are in great recent form, as they haven’t lost in any of their last four Premier League games, but only one of them can extend their unbeaten streak when they clash at the Gtech Community Stadium on Monday.
Ivan Toney is one of the main reasons why Brentford are dreaming of Europe, as he’s their only double-digit scorer with 15 goals and four assists so far this year.
But according to the Premier League 2023 news, the 26-year-old striker recently pleaded guilty to breaking FA gambling rules, and he’s likely to face a lengthy suspension, which hurts the Bees’ European hopes.
Toney was charged with 232 breaches of the FA’s gambling laws between 2017 and 2021 last November, and 30 more were added that took place between 2017 and 2019 the following month.
Because of this, Brentford are gearing up for Toney’s absence, and they’re reportedly aiming to sell him this summer, when he will have two years left on his current contract.
In the meantime, Brentford will look to Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa to provide the goals. Both of them have accounted for nine goals and five assists, so those numbers have to go up.
Brentford are never a one-man team, so they need all hands on deck, especially against Fulham. In other team news, they could be boosted by the returns of midfielder Frank Onyeka and goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha, while skipper Pontus Jansson may join them on the bench.
Fulham to lose influential Palhinha
Fulham manager Marco Silva gives instructions to players during the Premier League match against Brighton & Hove Albion
Fulham have been dealt a major blow by the absence of marquee summer signing Joao Palhinha, as he will serve his two-match ban starting on Monday due to an accumulation of yellow cards (10).
Palhinha has been the Cottagers’ most influential figure in midfield, as he’s great at setting the tempo with his ability to disrupt the rhythm of opponents and carry the ball.
The Portuguese has made the most tackles in the Premier League this season, with 101 as of this writing, which is at least 11 more than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues.
It doesn’t help either for Fulham that Layvin Kurzawa, Neeskens Kebano, and Tom Cairney are also out, but star striker Aleksander Mitrovic should be good to go after he started in their 2-0 FA Cup fifth-round win over Leeds United last Tuesday.
History
Fulham defeated Brentford in the 2020 Championship play-off final with a score of 2-1, but Brentford got their revenge when they eliminated Fulham in the EFL Cup Round of 16 with a 3-0 clean sheet two months later.
It took two years for these two sides to meet again, this time in the Premier League, when the Cottagers beat the Bees in a five-goal thriller that featured five different goal scorers (Bobby Reid, Joao Palhinha, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Christian Norgaard, and Ivan Toney) at Craven Cottage.
The Cottagers have only gotten a Premier League double against three different clubs (Charlton in 2002-03, Tottenham in 2003-04, and QPR in 2011-12), and the Bees can be the fourth on Monday.
The Bees have won four of their last five home league games against the Cottagers (L1). Their last league meeting at the Gtech Community Stadium was in December 2019, when Brentford beat Fulham with a 1-0 tally.
The Premier League 2023 odds favour the hosts for this matchup, as Brentford are installed at 2.05 to win, whereas Fulham are priced at 3.15, and a draw is at 3.45 in the 1X2 market.
Both sides look evenly matched on paper, so this is quite a tough call to determine who the winners are. So, instead, we’ll focus on the possible goal count for this match.
This Monday’s draw won’t be short on goals, as shown in their most recent encounters, so we’re going for Over 2.50 at 1.93. You may also consider picking Total Goal 4-6 at 3.50 if you’re swinging for the fences since it offers a good payout.
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Premier League: Gunners’ Late Show is the Stuff of Champions!
Was this the moment that Arsenal fans started to believe this is their year?
A 97th minute winner, rifled in by Reiss Nelson, gave the Gunners the most dramatic of three points which preserved their five point lead at the top of the Premier League table. They recovered from 2-0 down to claw their way back to 2-2 and when Arsenal won their 17th corner of the game they had one last throw of the dice.
And they got it right.
Oleksandr Zinchenko swung in the corner and when the half clearance fell to Nelson, he took one touch and then smashed his shot from 15 yards high into the net to spark bedlam at the Emirates.
Mikel Arteta and his team celebrated like they had won the league and who can blame them? The boss, his players and everyone at the club know there is plenty of work still to be done; but this was the first time the Gunners had recovered from a two goal deficit to win 3-2 since 2012 when they beat North London rivals Spurs.
It isn’t often you see a match where there is a goal in the opening ten seconds of the game and another in the last ten seconds, but that’s what we had here as Phillip Billing gave the Cherries a shock lead with just nine on the clock. It was the second fastest goal in Premier League history; and Bournemouth were in dreamland when Marcos Senesi doubled the lead just after the break.
But the Gunners roared back with goals from Thomas Partey and Ben White to set up Nelson’s grandstand finish. With 81 per cent possession and 31 shots to four this was no more that Arsenal deserved but they left it late and you have to feel sorry for the Cherries.
These are the moments which can decide a championship but, with 12 games still to play, Arsenal need to cut out defensive errors and then…keep the faith.
Fantastic Foden has his Mojo back
Phil Foden celebrates scoring the first goal for Manchester City against Newcastle United at home
The latest Premier League 2023 betting odds can hardly split the top two but, while the Gunners had to pull out all the stops to beat Bournemouth, Manchester City coasted to a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United; and it was Phil Foden again who put on a star performance to see off the Magpies. His first half goal was a masterclass of balance, vision and determination as he picked up the ball some 30 yards out left three defenders in his wake to fire an unstoppable shot past Nick Pope and into the net.
City made it 2-0 when Erling Braut Haaland turned a ball into the path of Bernardo Silva, who had only been on the pitch for two minutes, and the Portuguese star shot past Pope and into the right corner of the net.
Newcastle have lost 14 Premier League matches in a row at the Etihad and they are on a tricky run, with just three points from the last five.
Massacre on Merseyside
Liverpool met Manchester United in the clash of the weekend in a game which provided more than its fair share of Premier League 2023 highlights as Jurgen Klopp’s Reds ran out 7-0 winners. This is a clash which means so much to the fans of these two juggernauts who really don’t like each other…and that’s putting it lightly.
There will be some glum faces in Manchester and some sore heads in Liverpool!
As the hosts ran riot January signing Cody Gakpo announced himself on the Premier League stage with two brilliantly taken goals, showing superb composure and delightful finishing skills, the second drinking his first time effort over David de Gea from a tight angle. Gakpo’s goals were punctuated by a Darwin Nunez headed goal and Mo Salah smashed in the fourth.
When Nunez guided in his second header and Salah poked home his second to make it six it was, officially, a rout!
And when Roberto Firmino slid home the seventh it was a dream for Liverpool and the very worst nightmare for Manchester United.
Lady Luck deserts Spurs
All fair minded folks should have some sympathy for Spurs fans…shouldn’t we? Well the Whites have been potless for longer than they care to remember and, even this season it must be mightily frustrating to see them stutter again, with Liverpool now just three points behind in fifth.
Spurs came so close to scoring in their match against Wolves as Pedro Porro and Heung-Min Son both hit the woodwork and then, on 82 minutes, Adama Traore fired his shot inches under the crossbar to give Wolves three vital points.
Here at SBOTOP we previewed this game and backed a Wolves win (Draw no Bet), so while the woodwork wrecked Spurs’ fans weekend these fine margins made it a Saturday for Wolves fans to enjoy.
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Premier League: Gunners’ Late Show is the Stuff of Champions!
Brentford’s European dream took a step closer to becoming a reality on Monday as Thomas Frank’s Bees beat Fulham 3-2 to cement their place in ninth and move to within a point of the seventh placed Cottagers.
In the Premier League’s Monday night match between the West London rivals we saw two upwardly mobile teams go toe to toe, and the Bees came out on top of a five goal thriller thanks to another stellar performance from talisman Ivan Toney, who converted a 53rd minute penalty to put Brentford in charge.
That made it 22 successful spot kicks from 22 for the Bees hitman and it took him up to third place in the Premier League top scorers list, on 15 for the season and behind only Erling Braut Haaland and Harry Kane.
The hosts made an explosive start when Ethan Pinnock fired them into a sixth minute lead with the help of a deflection off Tim Ream but the Cottagers fought back when Manor Solomon continued his run of form, heading the ball home after Andrea Pereira’s free-kick had hit the post. But the key moment came on 53 minutes when Issa Diop fouled Christian Norgaard and Toney stepped up to send Bernd Leno the wrong way.
Toney exudes confidence with his penalties, with a short run up and his eyes on the goal, not the ball, and he has become one of the best dead ball specialists in the world.
Mathias Jensen made it three, with five minutes remaining and Carlos Vinicius halved the deficit nine minutes into stoppage time, but it was no more than a consolation as Frank’s team ran out winners at SBOTOP odds of 2.02.
The only cloud on the horizon is that Toney faces a ban after breaking FA betting rules but, for now, the Bees are buzzing.
Are the Red Devils out of hiding yet?
We can’t talk about thePremier League 2023 news without discussing the fallout from Liverpool’s stunning 7-0 victory over Manchester United on Sunday, a result which sent the red half of Merseyside into sense of disbelief and utter joy, while a cloud of despair gathered over Old Trafford. The seven goal spanking equalled Manchester United’s biggest ever defeat, a mauling at the hands of Wolves way back in 1931.
Manchester United legend, Roy Keane, who never shied away from a fight, was disgusted, saying that he would go into hiding for a few days if he put in a performance like that!
His team’s second half performance was woeful, but Red Devils skipper Bruno Fernandes was singled out for the harshest criticism after he seemingly had a tantrum when Erik Ten Hag failed to substitute him when the sixth goal went in. But as bad as United were, Liverpool were magnificent; the best they have been all season. Cody Gakpo scored two great goals, Darwin Nunez bagged a well deserved brace, Mo Salah became the Reds top Premier League scorer of all time and Anfield legend Roberto Firmino also got on the scoresheet.
Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes in action against Liverpool in the Premier League
The Premier League 2023 betting oddshave now installed Liverpool as clear fourth favourites, so a Champions League spot, for the first time this season, is within their grasp. But they do look likely to bow out of the Champions League very soon after being walloped 5-2 by Real Madrid at Anfield.
Manchester United are still in European competition with a Europa League clash against Real Betis looming on Thursday. The La Liga side, managed by Manuel Pellegrini, a Premier League winner with Manchester City, is on a good run of form and drew 0-0 with Real Madrid on Sunday, and the visitors will be no pushover.
This is a serious test of the Red Devils’ mental strength.
Off the field the proposed sale of the club is still featuring in the world business press after the announcement that at least two US private equity funds are willing to buy minority shares in the club, but the Glazer family, who are still not overly keen to sell, look more likely to pass the ownership of the club to one of Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani or Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
The club is set on a full takeover at a value of around £6 billion and both major players are said to be ready to meet that price, so the process is set to continue as the bidders prepare to meet the Raine Group, which acts for the sale. Fans at the famous old club just want this resolved as quickly as possible. While the current owners have shelled out some eye-watering fees on players in recent seasons, the club is still streets behind Manchester City and desperately needs a period of continuous improvement.
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Premier League: Can Leeds Fight Off the High Flying Seagulls?
Leeds United vs Brighton and Hove Albion
The biggest city in Yorkshire will come to a standstill at 3pm on Saturday, except for the area around Elland Road where Premier League: Leeds United vs Brightonis on the agenda.
We’re two thirds of the way through the campaign and, with just 13 games left to shape your destiny, time is running out at both ends of the table. Leeds United are in a precarious place, just outside the drop zone, while Brighton and Hove Albion are in the hunt for European football, currently in eighth place but with games in hand; three on fourth placed Spurs who are just seven points ahead.
Leeds appointed Javi Gracia as head coach to steer the club to safety and this, despite the Seagulls’ fine form, is a fixture he will target for points; meanwhile Roberto de Zerbi’s Brighton are sure to be on the front foot, which all adds up to a fascinating battle.
Leeds come into the game on the back of a 1-0 defeat away to Chelsea last week while Brighton hammered the Hammers 4-0.
They are outside the Premier League bottom three on goal difference alone but Leeds’ performances have been better than their results in recent weeks. After a poor run in February the Whites rekindled their campaign with a crucial 1-0 victory over Southampton on Gracia’s first game in charge at Elland Road, but they went down by the same score line to Chelsea last Saturday. Graham Potters Blues have been struggling themselves but they have a squad packed with expensive talent and Leeds matched them for much of the game.
With 57 per cent possession, 13 shots to 11 and three to two on target it’s fair to say that Chelsea edged it, and Leeds were unlucky to go home empty handed. But the Whites have been worryingly toothless since top scorer Rodrigo Moreno was injured in an FA Cup win over Accrington Stanley; and in the seven games since the 32 year olds injury Leeds have failed to hit the net on five occasions. Rodrigo has ten league goals to his name and he could be back after the international break, but in the meantime Gracia must rely on his other forwards, Crysencio Summerville, Wilfried Gnonto and maybe Patrick Bamford, who has struggled with injury himself. Jack Harrison, with five assists, can provide the ammunition and Gnonto is a tricky customer but, when the chances come Leeds need to strike.
Brighton & Hove Albion celebrate after Danny Welbeck’s goal against West Ham United
Under Graham Potter Brighton had built a reputation for attractive football as they established themselves in the top flight, but all too often they lacked a cutting edge. The arrival of former Sassuolo and Shakhtar Donetsk head coach Roberto de Zerbi was greeted with some nerves among the Brighton faithful. But when he took charge for the first time, on 1st October, he led the team to a 3-3 draw away to Liverpool.
Since then the club sold top scorer Leandro Trossard but under De Zerbi, they have become more productive and are alongside Manchester City and Arsenal in terms of possession stats. The goals are shared around; Kaoru Mitoma, Alexis MacAllister and Pascal Gross all have six and Solly March has five goals and four assists and, for opposing defences, there are multiple threats to repel.
History
The Seagulls have had the better of the head to head Leeds United vs Brighton results with 13 victories to six in all meetings since 2004.
Brighton won the return match 1-0, at the Amex Stadium, as Goss hit the winner and recent form favours the Seagulls too; they have won four of the last six and are unbeaten in six matches on the road, while Leeds have lost four of the last six; and the pre-match Leeds United vs Brighton betting odds reflect the form right on the money.
The Seagulls are odds on at 1.98 to win but the Elland Road crowd will be right up for this game with the hosts are priced at 3.11 and the draw at 3.30.
While De Zerbi’s team will be gunning for all three points it’s a ‘must not lose’ game for the Whites who need to pick up points consistently and I don’t think a 1-1 draw, at SBOTOP odds of 5.80, will be far off the mark.
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Premier League: Can Crystal Palace Claim First 2023 Win Against City?
Crystal Palace vs Manchester City
When will Crystal Palace win a game in 2023? The Eagles remain winless in all competitions during this calendar year and could very well be dragged into a Premier League relegation scrap if they don’t show any improvement.
And the Premier League 2023 betting odds will be heavily against them as they host reigning champions Manchester City at Selhurst Park.
Palace have been a thorn in City’s side in recent years, but the champions are in the midst of another unbeaten run as they continue their chase of leaders Arsenal.
Talking Points
Crystal Palace remain winless in 2023
Crystal Palace cannot get a win these days. Patrick Vieira’s Eagles are currently on a nine-game winless run in the Premier League in 2023 as they continue to languish in mid-table mediocrity.
Palace suffered a 1-0 defeat away to Aston Villa last time out after a Joachim Andersen own goal. It was another listless display by the Eagles, who did not have a single shot on target. They also played the last half-hour down to 10 men due to midfielder Cheick Doucoure’s sending off.
Doucoure will now be suspended for the visit of City, which will be a huge blow for Crystal Palace. Jeffrey Schlupp and Will Hughes are likely the main candidates to play alongside Albert Sambi Lokonga in midfield, while James McArthur – who just made his season debut after returning from injury – and Luka Milevojevic are options off the bench.
Crystal Palace finally got top scorer Wilfried Zaha (6 goals) back from his injury layoff, but scoring goals remains a major issue for the Eagles, who have a mere 21 goals in 25 Premier League games this season.
Vieira started Zaha through the middle given the ongoing struggles of centre-forwards Jean-Philippe Mateta and Odsonne Edouard, and he is likely to stick with that formation against City, where they will play primarily on the counter-attack.
Man City making another unbeaten march
Manchester City are in the middle of one of their trademark unbeaten runs once again. The defending champions have now gone five games unbeaten in the Premier League after a routine 2-0 home win against Newcastle United.
Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva celebrates with Phil Foden after scoring against Newcastle United in the Premier League
Foden has been in fantastic form of late with four goals and an assist in his last three appearances. But he might miss out against Palace after suffering a flare-up of his lingering foot injury.
The likes of Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez, and Julian Alvarez are all candidates to return to the starting lineup, though, and are more than capable of providing some Premier League 2023 highlights in Foden’s absence.
Meanwhile, there is good news for City at the back as both Aymeric Laporte and John Stones are returning to full fitness. After reverting to a standard 4-2-3-1 formation against Newcastle, it remains to be seen whether Pep Guardiola will return to the back-three system that he has been using with more frequency this season.
Manchester City hold a 15-4 win advantage over Crystal Palace in the Premier League era, with six draws.
However, the Eagles have been a bit of a bogey team to City in recent years. They have claimed two wins and three draws against the Citizens in their last 10 meetings.
Although, City reclaimed control with a dominant 4-2 victory in their first meeting of this season. After Palace took a shock 2-0 lead at the Etihad, Erling Haaland exploded with a second-half hat-trick to lead City to victory.
SBOTOP odds have Manchester City installed as massive 1.32 favourites to pick up an away win at Palace, who are priced at 7.00 to win at Selhurst Park. A draw is 5.00.
Given Crystal Palace’s recent struggles, this should be a relatively straightforward win for City as they continue to chase another championship. Even without Foden, City have too many attacking weapons to throw at Palace, who can’t seem to score any goals.
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Premier League: Conte Needs to Deliver as His Seat Gets Warmer
Tottenham Hotspur vs Nottingham Forest
After being eliminated by AC Milan in their Champions League tie, Tottenham now only have the Premier League to focus on.
Tottenham are clinging to the fourth spot in the English top-flight standings with 45 points, and they may still save their season by finishing in the top four.
Next up for them are Nottingham Forest, an opponent they cannot take for granted because they’re fighting for their safety away from the drop zone.
Futures in limbo as Tottenham endure another trophyless campaign
Now that they’re only competing on one front, Tottenham are aiming to secure the final Champions League spot for next season.
And it looks like they’re on their way because of their recent run of Premier League 2023 results, but they cannot take their foot off the gas pedal with Liverpool and Newcastle lurking.
There’s enormous pressure on Tottenham to nail down the final Champions League spot because of their potential departures after this term. Conte’s position with the club is uncertain, and other teams are interested in bringing in Harry Kane via transfer.
Antonio Conte made the painful admission that he might be sacked soon by the club since it has been a tough 2022-23 campaign for them. The Italian’s current deal with Spurs expires this summer.
The Three Lions captain has now been linked to Manchester United, especially after they ended their own trophy drought that lasted for six years by bringing home the 2022-23 EFL Cup.
Bayern Munich are also said to be interested in Kane, but Tottenham are expected to drive a hard bargain for the Englishman’s transfer.
Against Nottingham Forest this weekend, Antonio Conte is likely to rotate his squad, as he may consider putting in Richarlison, Davinson Sanchez, and Pedro Porro into the starting XI. Top scorers Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son are to lead their frontline as usual.
Nottingham Forest need several players back
Nottingham Forest haven’t won in a while because they’re thin both at the back and up front. Chris Wood and Emmanuel Dennis are the only fit centre-forwards, while Joe Worrall and Felipe are the only centre-half options.
Attacking midfielder Brennan Johnson has been the bright spot for Nottingham Forest because he’s their top scorer with nine goals and two assists so far this year.
Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper commanding from the touchline during their match against Everton
Steve Cooper is hoping that he’ll have a healthier squad to choose from ahead of their game against Spurs, and he might get his wish because Taiwo Awoniyi, Cheikhou Kouyate, and Moussa Niakhate are back in training.
Awoniyi is the team’s second-leading scorer with five goals, and his return would alleviate the load on Johnson’s shoulders, while Kouyate and Niakhate are towering defenders who could give Worrall and Felipe the night off.
History
Tottenham won their last three league games against Nottingham Forest, including their reverse fixture in August, where Harry Kane’s brace secured a 2-0 victory for Spurs at City Ground.
But following their loss in their August game, Nottingham Forest had their revenge when they knocked Tottenham out of the EFL Cup third round with a scoreline of 2-0, as Renan Lodi and Jesse Lingard found the back of the net in the second half.
Should the Spurs beat Nottingham Forest on Saturday, it would mark the first time that they’ve beaten them in four league games in a row since a run between August 1963 and December 1964.
Antonio Conte’s side has won 28 of their last 31 Premier League home games against newly promoted sides (D2, L1), with their only loss in that run coming against Wolves in 2018-19.
The SBOTOP Premier League 2023 odds favour Tottenham, as they’re installed to win at 1.42, while Nottingham Forest are the underdogs at 6.00, and a draw is at 4.40 in the 1×2 market.
On paper, Tottenham should be able to win this one at home, but Nottingham Forest have beaten them in their previous encounter, making this a tougher call than usual.
Fatigue will also play a role for Tottenham since they only have three days to prepare, while Nottingham Forest are enjoying their one-week rest. But what we’re sure of is that we’re going to see a bunch of goals from this fixture. So, going for Total Goal 2-3 at 1.98 is your best bet, while Over 2.50 at 1.76 is another one to think about.
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We pay our hard earned cash to go and cheer on our heroes week after week, never wavering in our resolve to be the ‘twelfth man’ roaring them to victory.
Supporters will moan from time to time, but their undying love is unshakeable, though every now and then it can be seriously tested. Manchester United’s last outing was a nightmare for their fans as they fell to a 7-0 drubbing at the hands of Liverpool.
Liverpool…of all teams!
The rivalry between the two North West giants is, at times, brutal. The Red Devils fans have suffered and now it’s down to Erik Ten Hag’s team to pay them back. And Premier League: Manchester United vs Southampton gives them the opportunity.
But Southampton are in a relegation battle and fighting for their Premier League survival and have picked up six points from their last three games, to give their fans hope that they can stay in the top flight.
Talking Points
Rashford backs his captain
The Red Devils will experience few more harrowing days than their 7-0 thrashing at the hands of their fiercest rivals and the soul searching continues. But Manchester United’s man of the moment, Marcus Rashford, has rallied round his under fire captain Bruno Fernandes, who was widely criticised for his failure to lead the team when they came under serious pressure.
Rashford has 14 goals in the campaign of his life, so his endorsement is valuable as he insisted Fernades was acting out of character when the skipper was visibly disappointed not to be substituted during the rout. Fernandes has been such a big player for United during a fallow period but, now the team has stepped up, won a trophy and many admirers, he too needs to act like a winner.
Ten Hag has taken great strides at the club and last week’s debacle was just one game, but it probably did more damage than that. He has questions to answer on the pitch too. Wout Weghorst has done a good job since joining on loan from Burnley but, as a number ten it didn’t work out, he is more effective as a target man who can shield the ball and make clever short passes.
Also wingback Luke Shaw had a shocker in the second half against Liverpool and he may need a rest.
Talk of a quadruple has all but disappeared but the Red Devils can recover. They are still in the Europa League and well placed for a top four spot. The Manchester United vs Southampton betting odds reckon the Red Devils should win on Sunday and that is the least they can do for their fans.
Can Selles save the Saints?
Survival in the Premier League means better football for the fans and financial stability for a club the size of Southampton, but decisions in the boardroom have hardly helped this season. First they sacked Ralph Hassenhuttl, the much admired head coach who had been at the helm since 2018. Then they appointed Nathan Jones, an unproven boss (outside Luton) who led the Saints to seven defeats in eight and the club was staring relegation in the face.
Southampton manager Ruben Selles coaching during their match against Leicester City
So Jones was potted in February and replaced by former Valencia youth coach Ruben Selles, who has promptly led the team to two victories from his first three league games, the first a 1-0 win over Chelsea as James Ward-Prowse scored a brilliant trademark free.
The two victories have lifted the Saints off the bottom of the table and within a point of safety, and just three points behind Leicester City in 15th. They have a real chance of survival and a little momentum. Ward-Prowse is their one top class player and if he stays fit then Southampton can win any game on their day, as Chelsea will testify.
History
With 31 victories to seven in the Premier League era the Red Devils have bossed the Saints in the Manchester United vs Southampton results and the South coast club has failed to win any of their last six games at Old Trafford.
Manchester United have been very strong at home this term with nine wins, two draws and a single defeat, but the Saints are dangerous on the road with four wins and nine defeats from their 13 away games.
Manchester United, at SBOTOP odds of 1.33, should see off the Saints who are priced at 5.99 while the draw is 4.84. But the Red Devils have a big Europa League game against Real Betis on Thursday and I’m unsure how they will respond to the nightmare of Anfield. So I’m hedging on a game with two or three goals; a 1-1 draw or a 2-1 to Manchester United.
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Premier League: Every Week Brings Another Test of Arsenal’s Title Credentials
Fulham vs Arsenal
Two of the Premier League’s brightest young managers come face to face at Craven Cottage on Sunday when Marco Silva’s Fulham welcome Mikel Arteta’s league leading Arsenal.
The Gunners are five points clear at the top of the table and, so far, have managed to hold Manchester City at bay. With every passing round of fixtures a long awaited title inches closer to the Emirates, but it’s going to be nail-biting, just like the drama which unfolded last week.
Arsenal picked up three points from their last league outing in a dramatic 3-2 win over Bournemouth, while Fulham lost by the same margin to Brentford. But that was a rare defeat for the Cottagers who have genuine top seven aspirations and Silva will have his team ready to push the Gunners all the way.
Talking Points
Solomon on fire for Fulham
The Cottagers are sitting pretty in seventh place, and that might be enough to get them into Europe if they can hang on, with 12 games left to play. Brighton and Brentford have games in hand and Chelsea aren’t too far behind but Fulham are playing without fear and aiming to win every game. Aleksandar Mitrovic is top scoring with 11 goals but the man who has provided the bestPremier League 2023 highlightsfor the Cottagers in recent weeks is Israel star Manor Solomon who has bagged four goals from the last four games.
He signed from Shakhtar Donetsk last summer and the 23 year old can play on the wing or as an attacking midfielder behind Mitrovic, and he has taken some of the weight off the Serb’s shoulders. Arsenal and Manchester City were reported to be keen on the star but Fulham swooped to take him on loan and they have a real talent on their hands.
Fulham’s Manor Solomon celebrates scoring their first goal with Tim Ream
The Cottagers, along with Brentford, have astounded neutrals with their attacking play and tactical awareness. But they will be missing a key player in midfield enforcer Palhinha, who picked up his tenth yellow card of the campaign in a recent 1-1 draw with Wolves and is sitting out the second game of his two match suspension.
Arteta’s balancing act
The Gunners are fighting on two fronts as the campaign nears its run-in. They have their eyes on a long awaited Premier League title but are also in contention in the Europa League, with a Round of 16 first leg tie away to Sporting Lisbon on Thursday night. Those Thursday/Sunday weeks that Europa football brings often causes teams problems but Arsenal have coped superbly as Arteta has trusted his full squad.
Many of his first eleven will be rested in Lisbon, though it’s possible that long term injury Gabriel Jesus may be travelling with the squad and a return to fitness of the Brazil star would be a timely boost to the Gunners.
Arsenal’s late, late winner against Bournemouth was a big moment in the title race and it was an unlikely hero in Reiss Nelson who hit the last gasp winner. The Gunners goals have been shared out with stand out stars Bukayo Saka, making nine assists and scoring ten goals while inspirational skipper Martin Odegaard has nine goals and seven assists.
These are exciting times for Arsenal and the very latest Premier League 2023 betting oddsput the Gunners marginally in front at odds of 1.90 to win the title, while Manchester City are at 2.00. Should Arsenal slip up at Craven Cottage then the two contenders will swap places, particularly if the Sky Blues win their game away to Crystal Palace on Saturday.
But these young Guns won’t go down anywhere without a fight.
History
Arsenal have won 22 of their 31 encounters with Fulham this century while the Cottagers have managed just three victories and there have been six draws. The Gunners won 2-1 when the two teams met at the Emirates earlier in the campaign.
But recent form is identical with both teams winning four, drawing one and losing one of the last six games.
Even without Palhinha, Fulham will be a threat to Arsenal’s march to the title; though the hosts are at SBOTOP odds of 4.55 to win, with the visitors at 1.56 and the draw is at 3.78.
But the Gunners are in Europa League action on Thursday while Fulham have had a week to prepare, and none of the big six have beaten the Cottagers by more than a single goal this term.
I’m not saying Arsenal’s brilliant players won’t win; I’m saying it will be another nail-biter.
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Premier League: Climbing Wolves Could be Newcastle’s Problem
Newcastle United vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
If this match, Premier League: Newcastle vs Wolves, had arrived a couple of months ago we would have had a home banker on our hands…but not now.
The arrival of Julen Lopetegui as manager of Wolves, at a time when the All Golds were engulfed by the relegation mire, turned out to be a pivotal moment in the Midlands club’s season and a decent run of results have seen them climb to 13th in the table with a handy five point cushion and, if they continue their recent form, they can start to look upwards.
Newcastle, on the other hand, are looking over their shoulders. Eddie Howe’s Magpies have won fantastic plaudits throughout the first half of the campaign, settling comfortably into the top four, but a downturn in form has seen them drop to sixth and a Champions League place seems to be slipping from the Magpies’ grasp. The Geordies have had a bruising couple of weeks, losing 2-0 three times, to some big guns; Manchester City and Liverpool in the league and Manchester United in the Carabao Cup final. Meanwhile, Wolves picked up three superb points last week, beating Tottenham Hotspur 1-0, a result which put Spurs’ head coach Antonio Conte under pressure.
The turnaround in fortunes of both clubs makes this a fascinating clash and the Newcastle vs Wolves betting odds say it can go either way.
Talking Points
Magpies desperately need a win
It may seem strange to say this is a must win game for a team which, this time last year was fighting relegation and now sits in the Premier League top six. But times have changed on Tyneside. Eddie Howe’s tenure at St James Park has been charmed so far but without a win in five games and the richest owners in world football, questions are being asked of him for the first time.
Attacking midfielder Bruno Guimaraes has been Newcastle’s best player and he’s being tracked by Manchester City and Chelsea, and Geordie fans will be delighted to hear that their club is looking to tie their 25 year old Brazilian star down to a longer term deal. That doesn’t mean he won’t move to a more established club, but Newcastle don’t need to sell, and his commitment so far suggests he’d be happy to stay in the North East.
Champions League football would help of course.
Bruno has been carrying a niggle; but he has trained all week and looks set to start against Wolves, as is influential centre back Fabian Schar.
Howe needs a win and he has a decision to make up front, whether to partner Callum Wilson and Miguel Almiron, or whether Swedish striker Alexander Isak is ready to make a start.
Sarabia’s Quality is a perfect fit for Wolves
Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Pablo Sarabia celebrates scoring their first goal vs Fulham
The visitors will be on a high after beating Spurs, thanks to a late Adama Traore goal, and they now have a bit of space between them and the bottom three. Head coach Lopetegui has bought well and his January recruits have settled quickly and I expect Pablo Sarabia in particular to provide plenty of the Newcastle vs Wolves highlights.
The capture of the Spanish international from Paris Saint-Germain, for a fee of £4.4m, could prove to be an inspired move. He was on loan at Sporting Lisbon last year, scoring 15 goals and making eight assists in 29 appearances, and is just the type of player to fit into Wolves’ swift counter attacking style. The All Golds played some attractive football on their return to the Premier League but lost their way a little over the past year and Lopetegui is bringing back the quality.
Sarabia is keen to make his mark, saying: “It was amazing to play with Messi, Mbappe and Neymar and a very good experience, but for me the crucial thing is to feel important for the team.”
History
The head to head encounters are beautifully symmetrical over the past 20 years, with each side winning five and their have been ten draws.
The return match at Molineux resulted in a 1-1 draw as a late Allan Saint-Maximin volley equalised after Ruben Neves gave Wolves the lead.
Wolves’ recent form has been better than their hosts with three wins, one draw and two defeats, while the Magpies have just one victory, two draws and they have lost the last three.
But Newcastle have been strong at home with six wins, five draws and a single defeat at St James Park.
Newcastle are priced at 1.65, here at SBOTOP, and Wolves are at 4.16. I suspect it will be another disappointing day for the Magpies and another good result for Wolves, with a repeat of the 1-1 draw at Molineux priced at 6.37.
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Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal showed no signs of nerves as they preserved their five point league at the top of the Premier League table, thanks to a hugely impressive victory over Fulham.
A Sunday afternoon London derby at Craven Cottage looked like a potential danger to the Gunners, against Marco Silva’s side with their sights set on Europa League football. But first half goals from centre back Gabriel, sensational striker Gabriel Martinelli and sipper Martin Odegaard took this game away from their hosts.
And it could have been more at the break as Arsenal totally dominated Fulham from the off. They had already had a goal ruled out by a very tight VAR decision when Gabriel headed home from a corner. One became two when the Gunners broke at pace and Leandro Trossard stood up a beautiful cross for Martinelli to nod home. And Odegaard made it 3-0 in first half injury time when he controlled a lofted pass on the right side of the penalty area, took out two defenders with a lovely second touch and then fired his shot beyond Bernd Leno and into the far corner.
It was more of the same in the second period as the Gunners passed the ball around superbly and probed the Cottagers’ defence; but the hosts finally had a crack at the visitors’ backline, midway through the second, half when Bobby Dec-Cordova Reid brought a fine save from Aaron Ramsdale and then Aleksandar Mitrovic crashed a heard against the crossbar.
To make it a near perfect day for Arsenal, Gabriel Jesus made his first appearance since picking up a knee injury at the World Cup, as the Gunners comfortably saw out the win.
It was a magnificent response by Arteta’s men after Manchester City had cut their lead to two points by beating Crystal Palace on Saturday, courtesy of an Erling Braut Haaland penalty. The Premier League 2023 betting odds have nudged back in the direction of the Emirates but it’s going to be a nail-biting couple of months.
A week is a long time in the Premier League
Isn’t it strange?
This time last week this SBOTOP writer was reporting, in some disbelief, how Jurgen Klopp’s newly rejuvenated Liverpool dismantled Manchester United with a 7-0 thrashing at Anfield. It was the best performance we’ve seen from the Mersey Reds this season and their fans were convincing themselves that a top for place was theirs for the taking.
Then, this week, step up Bournemouth and midfielder Philip Billing, who scored the goal which handed the Cherries a 1-0 win over Liverpool.
It was no fluke as Bournemouth should already have been ahead when Dango Quatarra sprung the offside trap and rounded Alisson, but he could only find the side netting when his touch took him too wide. The forward made amends soon enough, when he left Virgil Van Dijk for dead and squared for Billing to poke home the winner.
Last week Mo Salah was one of the Reds’ heroes when he bagged twice against Manchester United to become Liverpool’s top Premier League scorer of all time. This week, he had a golden opportunity to haul the visitors back into the game from the penalty spot, but he smashed his spot kick high, wide and not so handsome!
Mohamed Salah from Liverpool looks frustrated after missing a penalty in their away match against Bournemouth
The victory took Gary O’Neil’s Bournemouth out of the bottom three, while Liverpool drifted six points behind fourth placed Tottenham, who beat Nottingham Forest 3-1.
Meanwhile Manchester United, who recovered from the mauling at Anfield by beating Real Betis in the Europa Cup. And they had a chance to get back to winning ways in the league with a home game against Southampton. But they drew a blank in a goalless draw as Casemiro was sent off for a studs up challenge on Carlos Alcaraz.
Jack the Lad is alright for Leeds
Javi Gracia’s Leeds United picked up a valuable point in a thrilling 2-2 draw at home to high flying Brighton. The Whites came from behind twice thanks to an all action performance from winger Jack Harrison, who put in more than his fair share of Premier League 2023 highlights. World cup winner Alexis MacAllister headed Roberto De Zerbi’s team ahead on 33 minutes, but Harrison teed up Patrick Bamford to unleash a spectacular shot past Jason Steele with the help of a deflection off Adam Webster.
Harrison scored at the wrong end on the hour, when Solly March put him under pressure; but he put things right when he cut in from the left and curled a beauty beyond Steele and into the far corner.
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Premier League: Liverpool are Looking Forward Already…
It’s been a difficult year on Merseyside, the Red side that is. Yes Everton are embroiled in a relegation battle again but Liverpool fans aren’t having all their own way by any stretch.
Jurgen Klopp’s side has been out of the Premier League race since October, they have said goodbye to both domestic cups and are just about to leave the Champions League at the first knockout stage, unless they can overturn a three goal deficit against Real Madrid on Wednesday.
Liverpool’s loss to Bournemouth on Saturday was hardly good preparation for a trip to the Santiago Bernabeu and, in all probability, all Klopp has left is his quest to climb into the Premier League top four…and that won’t be easy.
And then he needs to prepare for next year.
Reds fans would much prefer to be looking forward and the optimistic among them will see this as a year of transition, with some exciting young players, such as Harvey Elliot and Darwin Nunez establishing themselves. And reports are emerging from Anfield that the club is preparing to improve its creative midfield. Jordan Henderson is an excellent general but he needs more spark alongside him in support of Elliot.
The two names to emerge this week are Barcelona’s young star Gavi, and Leicester City’s creative muscle James Maddison. Liverpool tried to land the Barca youngster last year but failed, and they are now ready to try again according to the UK press. And the second on the list, Maddison, could be an ideal fit for the Anfield club. He has been tracked enthusiastically by Newcastle United and his decision may be swayed by whichever club is in the 2023/24 Champions League.
Despite their recent frustrations, my money is still on Liverpool.
Red Devils are weaker without Casemiro
Manchester United’s Casemiro reacts after being shown a red card
In other Premier League 2023 news Manchester United’s’ midfield lynchpin Casemiro is suspended again after he was sent off on Sunday during a 0-0 draw at home to struggling Southampton. His studs up challenge on Carlos Alcaraz was awarded a yellow card by referee Anthony Taylor but the ex Real Madrid star could hardly have been surprised when VAR upgraded it to red.
Casemiro’s sending off against Southampton was his second of the campaign and that means he will be out for four games, which will make Manchester United’s run in so much more difficult. His technical brilliance at both ends of the pitch and, above all, his winning mentality has transformed the Red Devils, who are unrecognisable from the dysfunctional collection of individuals who occupied the first team before he arrived.
Not too long ago there was talk of a first league title at Old Trafford in ten years. Maybe that was a little too ambitious, and the Premier League 2023 betting oddsnever really suggested it was on. And now and there is more worrying news seeping out of Old Trafford with the report that wonderkid Alejandro Garnacho may be out for longer than expected after he limped off during the draw with Southampton.
His exciting cameos for United put him in the frame for an Argentina call up next week, but that now seems highly unlikely as the club assesses the damage.
The very latest relegation odds, here atSBOTOP, are backing Southampton and Bournemouth to be joined by one of Everton and Nottingham Forest to take the drop. But, at odds of 7.00, 12th placed Crystal Palace are in trouble, just three points ahead of the bottom three and on a ten match winless run, the longest in the league. And the latest news at Selhurst Park is hardly likely to cheer anybody up as it has been reported that talisman Wilfried Zaha has been the subject of a huge £9m a year offer from Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad.
Wolverhampton Wanderers are 13th and at odds of 6.00 to take the drop, but they are looking upwardly mobile since the arrival of Julen Lopetegui as head coach, and have enough quality to continue their climb. The pressure on Antonio Conte was hardly relieved when Spurs beat Nottingham Forest on Saturday, but Forest boss Steve Cooper will be feeling the heat. His team has been superb at home and woeful away all season but they are now only two points above the drop zone and look vulnerable in 14th.
Everton, Leicester City and West Ham United occupy the next three places, and I think they will all escape the fall into the Championship. Toffees boss Sean Dyche has already got them playing as a hard-to beat team. Meanwhile the Foxes and Hammers, with players like James Maddison and Declan Rice, have real star quality.
The bottom three, Southampton, Leeds United and Bournemouth are all fighting for their lives and showing signs they can escape and, with just five points separating the bottom nine teams, this will be the most spectacular relegation scrap in years.
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Premier League: Leeds Aim to Exploit the Vulnerable Wolves
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Leeds United
The Premier League relegation battle this season is one of the tightest we’ve had in quite some time, as teams from 12th place down to 20th are within striking distance of one another.
That includes Wolves and Leeds, so when they face off at Molineux this Saturday, expect fireworks because there’s so much on the line.
The Wolves are currently in 13th place with 27 points, and they’re fresh from a 2-1 loss against Newcastle United on Monday.
Leeds, on the other hand, are coming off a thrilling 2-2 draw against high-flying Brighton at Elland Road on Saturday. They’re in worse shape than the Wolves because they’re in 19th place at the table with 23 points, but things can change if they get a rare road win here.
The Whites were fighting for their top-flight status towards the end of last season. They survived when they won each of their last three Premier League games, including a crucial victory over Brentford on the final day.
Fast forward to today, and they’re in the exact same position, and the road to securing their Premier League status is going to be tougher than the last time.
Leeds couldn’t get consistent positive Premier League 2023 results because of the injury bug. Their top scorer, Rodrigo Moreno, was one of their biggest casualties, as the 12-goal man suffered an ankle injury.
Rodrigo Moreno had ankle surgery at the start of February, and it was expected that he would be unavailable for at least two months. However, he made a surprise substitute appearance in their last match against the Seagulls.
In the past few weeks, Javi Gracia has rotated his frontline as he tries to find the right combination. The good news is that Gracia has a good share of talent up front with the likes of Rodrigo Moreno, Patrick Bamford, Jack Harrison, Brendan Aaronson, Willy Gnonto, Crysencio Summerville, Luis Sinisterra, and Georginio Rutter.
But the real issue for the Whites, as it has always been, is their porous backline. They have conceded 42 goals already this season, which is good for fourth-worst in the entire Premier League.
It doesn’t help that there is currently no set date for the returns of defenders Liam Cooper, Adam Forshaw, and Stuart Dallas due to injury. Robin Koch, Max Wober, Junior Firpo, Luke Ayling, and Ilian Meslier will continue to have their hands full trying to hold it down back there.
One injury setback after another for Wolves
Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Julen Lopetegui looking disappointed after their loss to Newcastle United
The Wolves’ frontline depth has also been hampered by injury, so they haven’t had much luck there either, just like Leeds.
Hwang Hee-Chan and Matheus Cunha recently returned from injuries. But Diego Costa, Pablo Sarabia, and Boubacar Traore are back on the sidelines, in addition to long-term absentees Sasa Kalajdzic and Chiquinho.
Goals have been hard to come by for the Wolves this season, but they do have some quality in the final third, and they need to show it in front of their home fans this weekend.
After going undefeated in six league games for this fixture between 2017 and 2021, the Wolves have lost their last two against Leeds.
One of them was at the start of the 2022-23 season, when Leeds beat the Wolves at Elland Road with a scoreline of 2-1. After a quick goal by Daniel Podence, the Whites answered back with Rodrigo Moreno’s goal in the 24th minute and an own goal from Rayan Ait-Nouri 50 minutes later.
Should Leeds win again this weekend, it’ll be their first league double over the Wolves since the 2015-16 season and their first in the English top-flight since 1973-74.
However, the Whites are winless in their last seven away league games (D2, L5), while the Wolves have won three of their last four home league games (L1), which is more than they had in their previous 12 such games (W2, D3, L7).
The SBOTOP Premier League 2023 odds predict a tight contest between the Wolves and Leeds. The hosts were given the slight edge at 2.21 to win, whereas a draw or a win by Leeds is priced at 3.10 in the 1X2 market. With both sides dealing with numerous injuries, we would not be surprised if this game went either way. However, we expect goals from this exciting Molineux duel.
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Premier League: Struggling Saints Have No Reason To Fear Spurs
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
The Premier League’s bottom club hosts the team in fourth place on Saturday and their fans will have high hopes of getting some sort of positive result.
Yes folks, the Premier League game between Southampton vs Spurs is not an away banker despite the relative positions of the two clubs.
That is because the Saints under Ruben Selles are showing some fight, while Tottenham are spending too much time (in my opinion) naval-gazing and they are pretty poor on the road.
The Saints come into the game on the back of an impressive 0-0 draw away to Manchester United, while Tottenham got a much needed 3-1 win at home to Nottingham Forest.
The pre-match Premier League 2023 betting odds back an away win for sure. But with a passionate St. Mary’s crowd behind them, the hosts can give their visitors a tough afternoon.
Talking Points
Where would Saints be without Ward-Prowse?
Southampton are still bottom of the table, though they can climb out of the relegation zone if they can beat Brentford on Wednesday.
Under Selles, they have picked up seven points from the last four league games. And if they continue that kind of form, they will be fine. But they do have a tough run-in starting with the Bees and then Spurs.
Attacking midfielder and captain James Ward-Prowse remains Southampton’s most creative player and he is particularly dangerous when he gets a dead ball opportunity, as he proved quite brilliantly when he scored the winner in a recent match against Chelsea from a free-kick on the stroke of half time.
With six goals and two assists this term, Ward-Prowse is the Saints’ most influential player. And if he stays fit, then his team always has a chance.
Another potential match winner is newly signed Argentine striker Carlos Alcaraz, who arrived in a £12-M switch from Racing. He’s already showed he can get stuck in and get under the skin of opposition players and fans, and that is an attribute which will help the Saints in a relegation scrap.
He’ll feature heavily in the Premier League 2023 highlights that’s for sure, and the 20-year-old has already scored two goals, including the winner against Leicester City two weeks ago.
Ruben Selles is Southampton’s third head coach of the season, replacing Nathan Jones who lasted just 14 games. He has said he’d like to stay at the helm for 15 years and a win against Spurs would put him in the right direction.
Conte and Kane are hogging the Spurs news
Tottenham are in the Champions League places, but it’s not all smiles in that part of North London as their fiery manager has been shooting from the hip.
Conte was under pressure in the lead up to Spurs’ home game against Nottingham Forest, and he let rip at the fans and his players, saying the supporters were too impatient and some of his stars were too soft.
And then there’s talisman Harry Kane who has already scored 20 goals, but his future at the club is again under the spotlight.
Before the inevitable media speculation around the future of Kane gathers pace, the Tottenham owners have made a pre-emptive strike, saying on Tuesday that regardless of whether he signs a new deal in the summer, they will be unwilling to sell as he enters the final year of his current deal.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte during their match against Nottingham Forest
That means he could get to next January without the situation being resolved, but it seems that is a risk the club’s board is willing to take.
Pundits and fans of Spurs are talking about Conte and Kane rather than looking at the opportunities that the club has if its stars, young and older, can play to their full potential and consistently.
They are missing injured midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur for sure, but Spurs need to get a grip or they could drift out of the top four race.
History
These two teams have met 48 times over the past three decades, and Spurs have come out on top with 25 victories to 15 and there have been eight draws. Conte’s team won 4-1 when they hosted the Saints back in August.
Despite sitting at opposite ends of the table, there isn’t a lot to choose between Spurs’ recent form with three wins, one draw, and two defeats from the last six, and Southampton have two wins, one draw, and three losses.
But Spurs have lost their last three games on the road.
The Saints have a midweek game against Brentford, while Tottenham have a week off so the visitors have that advantage, and Spurs are odds on at a SBOTOP price of 1.80 with Southampton at 3.73 and the draw is at 3.30.
But I’m not convinced Conte’s men will take their chance and end a poor run on the road. Five of Spurs’ last six games have yielded fewer than 2.50 goals, the exception being the recent win over Nottingham Forest, while Saints have had two or fewer goals in four of their last six, with three goals in the other two.
So I’m backing a low-scoring, tense affair on the South coast.
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Premier League: Title Tilt Begins Here Against Shot-shy Eagles
Arsenal vs Crystal Palace
So, is this the moment where the unlikely Premier League title contenders can sow a seed of doubt in the minds of the established challengers?
Certainly, with champions Manchester City not in league action this weekend, Arsenal know victory at home on Sunday will move them eight points clear at the summit – a position that will remain unchanged until at least after the international break.
Psychologically, could that be a tangible step on the path to glory?
Standing in their way, a Crystal Palace side managed by a figure who was skipper of Arsenal the last time they were champions of England – 19 years ago.
Talking Points
Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira and Albert Sambi Lokonga look dejected after their match against Brighton
Patrick Vieira played a key part in all three of Arsenal’s Premier League triumphs (1998, 2002 and 2004 – the last one when they went through the league campaign unbeaten).
Now, after a good first season in charge in east London, the resurgence of Palace has been hampered somewhat, even though they are in a mid-table position many clubs of a similar stature would be content with.
On their day they remain tricky opponents as City found out last weekend when only a late Erling Haaland penalty separated the sides.
It is clear where their main concerns lie, however, because while the return from injury of Joachim Andersen has clearly strengthened their backline, they have not been anywhere near clinical enough at the other end of the pitch.
Indeed, the Eagles have managed just four goals since the turn of the year –only fellow strugglers Everton, Wolves and Southampton have scored less than their 21 league goals to date.
While they had opportunities in that game which they failed to take, against City they became the first team on record to go three Premier League games without registering a single shot on target.
Furthermore, Palace are yet to record a victory in 2023 in 12 matches and one media report has even suggested the club has begun sounding out potential replacements for Vieira.
Given those factors, Sunday would be a good time for them to not only find their shooting boots but deliver some Premier League highlights as, while placed in what you would think would be a relatively comfortable 12th place, they remain just three points clear of the drop zone.
A lack of goals has never been an issue for Arsenal this season, of course, although they have had mixed news on that front in recent days.
That’s after 23 year-old striker Eddie Nketiah, who has proved important to their title charge and shouldered some of the goalscoring duties in the absence of Gabriel Jesus, was ruled out of action.
On the upside, the Brazil international – who suffered medial ligament damage against Cameroon while on international duty at the World Cup – made his first appearance in more than three months when he came off the bench at Fulham last weekend.
The fact remains that the Gunners have coped with his absence extremely well, something I feared what put an end to their title bid.
If Jesus, who returned to London from the tournament for surgery on his knee before being enrolled on a lengthy rehabilitation program, can rediscover the form he displayed before the World Cup, it could be crucial as he aims to win a third successive title following back-to-back triumphs with City.
His return to fitness, coupled with their exit from the Europa League in midweek, could be just the boon they need as their focus will solely be on the title race.
Over the years Palace have endured a miserable time against the Gunners with only six wins alongside 16 draws and 30 defeats.
Although one of their most memorable triumphs came at Selhurst Park just under a year ago.
That was when the Eagles were 3-0 winners at Selhurst Park, a result which proved costly Arsenal in their bid for a top four spot as Jean-Philippe Mateta, Jordan Ayew and Wilfried Zaha (penalty) found the net.
Earlier this season, in the very first match of the new campaign in fact, Arsenal won 2-0 at Palace, thanks to Gabriel Martinelli and an own goal.
Their very first clash came in the fourth round of the FA Cup at Highbury in 1934 – a day when Arsenal ran out 7-0 winners and a contest in which the legendary Cliff Bastin netted twice.
That set the tone really, although the gap between the clubs meant they did not meet again for 35 years – a first ever league meeting in 1969 in which Arsenal were 5-1 victors.
It is almost impossible to go against the hosts, given they seem in buoyant mood and as Palace seem to be in a bit of a rut.
The hosts are priced 1X2 @ 1.24 and Asian Handicap -1.75 @ 2.07 with the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds.
That contrasts with the visitors 1X2 @ 8.50 and Asian Handicap +1.25 @ 2.42.
Or could the Eagles unsettle the Gunners again and claim a point with 1X2 Draw @ 5.60 and a repeat of last season’s encounter – Correct Score 2-2 – on offer at a whopping @ 46.00.
Goal options include total goal 0-1 @ 3.70, 2-3 @ 2.01 and 4-6 @ 3.15.
I do expect a close game actually and my *** tip is over 2.75 goals @ 2.01.
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Arsenal stretched their lead at the top of the Premier League to eight big points on Sunday, with a quite brilliant 4-1 victory over managerless Crystal Palace.
With Manchester City in FA Cup action this was a chance for Mikel Arteta’s team to put their case forward and they did so in emphatic style as man-of-the-match Bukayo Saka scored a brace. The Eagles have been terribly shot shy in recent weeks, failing to register a win in 2023 and with only four goals since the turn of the year, but they came within a whisker of going ahead at the Emirates when Wilfried Zaha fired a shot against the upright. But Arsenal are clinical when they get the chance, and Gabriel Martinelli and Saka both netted to make it 2-0 at half time.
Midfield ace Granit Xhaka made it three, just after the break, but then Palace pulled one back when Jeffrey Schlupp netted their first goal in five games. Saka scored his second to make it 4-1 as Arsenal sent a statement to Manchester City who have scored 13 unanswered goals in two cup matches this week.
The Gunners are holding their nerves and have a great chance of winning their first Premier League title since 2004, but the Eagles, without a win in 13, are in a relegation scrap.
Spurs bottle it in Southampton
James Ward-Prowse scored Southampton’s third goal against Tottenham Hotspur
While Arsenal put in another impressive performance their North London rivals continued to frustrate their fans as Tottenham Hotspur surrendered a two goal lead to draw 3-3 with battling Southampton.
We previewed this game here at SBOTOP and said the Saints had no reason to fear Spurs and so it turned out, though we expected a low scoring affair and that was wide of the mark as goals rained in at both ends of the pitch. Pedro Porro blasted two efforts over the bar to give the Saints a warning but then he beat Gavin Bazunu to give Tottenham a lead. It was Porro’s first goal for the Whites but it was cancelled out, minutes after the break, when Theo Walcott pulled a ball back for Che Adams to poke home to make it 1-1.
Harry Kane, with a trademark header, and Ivan Perisic with a clinical finish put Antonio Conte’s team in charge and it looked like the Saints were heading for defeat with just 15 minutes remaining. But the Whites couldn’t see it through and when Walcott halved the deficit on 77 minutes the home fans sensed a comeback. The Saints piled forward and when Pape Sarr tripped Ainsley Maitland- Niles on 92 minutes the referee pointed to the spot.
James Ward-Prowse stepped forward and did the business to give Southampton a crucial point.
Tottenham would have climbed to third place in the table with a win, but they remain fourth and just two points ahead of Newcastle United who have two games in hand. The latest Premier League 2023 betting odds rank Spurs as outsiders for a top four place now, with the Geordies in the best position and Liverpool circling.
Newcastle United’s record signing Alexander Isak finally announced himself on the Premier League stage with two goals to re-ignite the Magpies top four challenge. Emmanuel Dennis gave Nottingham Forest a first half lead but Isak levelled. Elliot Anderson thumped a header in to make it 2-1 but his celebrations were spoiled by a VAR intervention which spotted an offside in the build up. But when Newcastle won a penalty in stoppage time and Isak fired the spot kick home to give the Magpies a 2-1 win.
Nottingham Forest have relied entirely in their home form in a brave attempt to avoid relegation back to the Championship, so this was a major blow to Steve Cooper’s side.
Rodrigo back as Leeds march on
Leeds United top scorer Rodrigo made a triumphant return to action as the Whites won crucial three points in a thrilling 4-2 win away to Wolverhampton Wanderers, which lifted then out of the relegation zone. Jack Harrison put the Yorkshiremen in front with just six minutes on the clock and Luke Ayling and Rasmus Kristensen made it 3-0.
But the Wolves fought back with a screamer from Jonny and another from Matheus Cunha and the hosts sniffed a result. Btu Jonny’s sending off changed the game in Leeds’ favour and the returning Rodrigo made the points safe.
If the Whites can put a decent set of Premier League 2023 results together, between now and May, then Gracia will steer them to safety and another campaign in the top flight.
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Premier League: Haaland – the Perfect Goal Machine
Much has been written about Erling Braut Haaland and his incredible start to life in the Premier League with Manchester City.
And not all of it has been ultra positive.
There is school of thought which suggests that having such a powerful focal point has somehow unbalanced a team which has thrived thanks to a squad of speedy, skilful players who can all pass through the eye of a needle, have a tough edge and a winning habit.
But surely, the addition of the most prolific young striker in world football would only make Pep Guardiola’s team even better. Well…after a week in which the Sky Blues have hammered two in form teams, scoring 13 unanswered goals things might just be starting to click for the reigning Premier League champions.
Haaland plundered five goals as City slaughtered Red Bull Leipzig 7-0 in the Champions League and he followed that up with his sixth hat-trick of the campaign in a 6-0 FA Cup rout over Burnley.
This SBOTOP writer is a passionate Clarets fan and after watching Haaland dismantle my team I say, yes, he is a brilliant striker.
So let’s take a look at the stats.
The giant Norwegian has scored 42 goals so far this season, including his six trebles. He has scored 28 in the Premier League from 26 games, ten from six in the Champions League, three in the FA Cup and one in the Carabao Cup. So he’s highly likely to pick up the Golden Boots in both Europe and England… and all this at the age of 22.
Erling Haaland playing for Borussia Dortmund against Sevilla in 2021
Haaland has been prolific from the moment he appeared on the European stage as an 18 year old, signing for Austrian Bundesliga champions Red Bull Salzburg and scoring 17 goals in 16 games, a return which earned him a move to Borussia Dortmund. In his second season at the Signal Iduna Stadium, 2021/22, he was sidelined with a hamstring injury early in the campaign and then suffered a hip flexor injury which kept him out for two months. He returned in November to score his 50th goal for BVB, becoming the youngest player in German football to reach that benchmark. His goal to game ratio in the Bundesliga was phenomenally high as he plundered 62 goals in 67 appearances for Die Schwarzgelben. And that was a record which persuaded Manchester City to sign the player and he has somehow increased his goals to games ratio in the English league.
Haaland has also scored 21 goals in 23 appearances for Norway and it won’t be long before he becomes his nation’s top scorer of all time, with Jorgen Juve’s record of 33 goals in sight.
Any fears that he may be injury prone have not materialised at the Etihad Stadium and his powerful performances have increased Haaland’s stock further. With Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden supplying the ammunition he is never short of chances and he is a lethal as it comes in front of goal.
So what makes Haaland such a devastating attacker?
The number of Premier League 2023 highlights he has already produced are testament to his Haaland’s all round ability. At 6ft 5in, he is a man mountain with a rock solid frame, and that makes him the perfect centre forward to hold up play and link with his attacking midfielders. But he also possesses a frightening turn of pace which helps him get behind the last line of defence and then he displays his devastating finishing skills. Haaland can shoot clinically with either foot and he is powerful in the air, while his positional sense ensures that when the killer ball comes in he is there to bust the net.
For such a big man he is remarkably nimble on his feet and can work in tight spaces, and he is at his most dangerous when he is seemingly having a quiet game. When he was growing up Haaland idolised Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cristiano Ronaldo and, while these are relatively early days, he is well on target to match or even eclipse the incredible achievements of those two legends.
Part of Haaland’s success will be measured by how he improves each club he plays with and Manchester City are in the hunt for a treble. The Sky Blues have drawn FC Bayern in the Champions League quarter finals and they have eight points to make up in the Premier League, with one game in hand. Leaders Arsenal took on Crystal Palace while City were destroying Burnley and held their nerves to run out 4-1 winners and that puts some pressure on Pep Guardiola’s team.
The Sky Blues are clear favourites to win the Champions League and the FA Cup but the latest Premier League 2023 betting odds are backing the Gunners. But with 11 games to go there will be twists and turns to come and this could turn out to be a spectacular campaign for Haaland and his club.
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Premier League: Clock Ticking on Conte at Spurs After Stunning Tirade
Antonio Conte’s tumultuous tenure at Tottenham Hotspur has taken another spectacular turn. The Italian went on a spectacular rant slamming his players and the club after their 3-3 draw with bottom-side Southampton.
Following his latest tirade, it’s starting to feel as if Conte’s time at Tottenham – and the Premier League – is coming to an end.
Meanwhile, a couple of England international midfielders are being linked with big moves, and Chelsea could have a shock replacement lined up for one of them.
Read on below as SBOTOP has rounded up all of the latest and greatest pieces of Premier League news and updates.
Antonio Conte goes off on Spurs, ‘selfish’ players
Antonio Conte did not hold back his displeasure at his players after they surrendered a two-goal lead in a 3-3 draw with Premier League cellar-dwellers Southampton.
Conte slammed his players for being ‘selfish’ and criticised the club as a whole for their lack of success over the years.
“We are 11 players that go into the pitch. I see selfish players, I see players that don’t want to help each other and don’t put their heart (in),” said Conte.
“Why? Because they are used to it here, they are used to it. They don’t play for something important. They don’t want to play under pressure, they don’t want to play under stress.
“It is easy in this way. Tottenham’s story is this. Twenty years there is the owner and they never won something but why? The fault is only for the club, or for every manager that stays here. I have seen the managers that Tottenham had on the bench.”
Conte, who has won five league titles during his times with Juventus, Chelsea, and Inter Milan, only agreed to an 18-month contract upon joining Spurs in November 2021, and the deal is set to expire in June 2023.
But with the way things are trending with him and his relationship with his players and the club, it seems as if a parting of ways is inevitable – if not in the summer, then even sooner.
Chelsea prefer Andreas Pereira as potential Mason Mount replacement
After going on a massive spending spree in the last few transfer windows, Chelsea could now potentially lose a key player in midfielder Mason Mount.
Mount is under contract until 2024, but his contract extension talks have reportedly stalled, causing Chelsea’s competitors to circle as they look to lure the England international away from Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s Mason Mount gets a yellow card in their match against Tottenham Hotspur
And should the Blues decide to cash in on Mount before his contract runs out, they might already have their preferred Mount replacement in mind in the form of Fulham’s Andreas Pereira.
Pereira is having a fine debut season for Fulham, who have been defying the Premier League 2023 odds for most of the campaign. The 27-year-old has been a key part of their success, with two goals and a team-leading six assists in 27 Premier League starts.
Man City confident in signing Jude Bellingham
And in other massive England midfielder news, Manchester City are reportedly confident they will win the race to sign Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham in the summer.
Bellingham is having another brilliant season for Dortmund, who are currently top of the Bundesliga. The 19-year-old has got four goals and four assists in 24 Bundesliga appearances.
City’s last big purchase from Borussia Dortmund has gone quite well as Erling Haaland has been scoring goals for fun in his first season in the Premier League. And Bellingham’s arrival should strengthen the Citizens even further.
After a turbulent few weeks in North London Tottenham Hotspur have finally parted company with fiery Italian boss Antonio Conte, with six weeks of the Premier League season still to play.
Conte has been an unhappy man for some time and he has rounded on his players, calling them selfish and simply not playing as a team. And matters came to a head after Spurs threw away a two goal lead to draw 3-3 with bottom club Southampton before the international break when the now ex-boss said: “I’m not used to seeing this type of situation. I see a lot of selfish players and I don’t see a team. I see players that don’t want to help each other and don’t put their heart in. They don’t want to play under pressure. It is easy in this way. Tottenham’s story is this.”
In other words – his team was a bit Spursy!
Conte couldn’t help himself pointing out that Tottenham haven’t opened their trophy cabinet in 15 years; his angry words sounded a little like a resignation and his 16 months tenure at the club promptly ended by Chairman Daniel Levy who said: “We have ten Premier League games remaining and we have a fight on our hands for a Champions League place. We all need to pull together.”
Spurs are out of Europe and the FA Cup so a top four place is the only priority, but with Manchester United, Newcastle United and Liverpool all pushing for two places. Acting head coach Cristian Stellini has a tough task on his hands.
Royd Hodgson waving to fans during Crystal Palace’s game against Arsenal
In another change at the top of a London club, Patrick Vieira has departed from Crystal Palace after a dismal run of form in 2023, which has left the Eagles in a nine team relegation scrap. And now, former boss Roy Hodgson has taken over until the end of the campaign. Following a run of 12 games without a win the Palace board moved quickly to bring in Hodgson, now 75 years old, to use his wealth of managerial experience at the club, which now sits precariously just three points above the drop zone.
The Eagles’ returning hero said: “It is a privilege to be asked to return to the club, which has always meant so much to me, and to be given the important task of turning the team’s fortunes around.”
The former England manager knows the club inside out; he knows the owners and many of the players and, crucially, he knows how to win games. The Premier League 2023 betting odds reckon Hodgson will steer the South Londoners to safety, but there will be some nervous people at Selhurst Park over the next few weeks. A first victory under the new boss will be golden for the Eagles.
In other Premier League 2023 news it seems that Everton’s ‘creative accounting policy’ might be catching up with them. The Merseysiders squeezed their way to safety last season after appearing to be doomed with a handful off games to play. But relegation rivals Burnley, who went down, and Leeds United wrote a letter to the league last season and an investigation opened.
The club insists it has done nothing wrong but their finance team managed to write off around £170m to COVID losses, compared with around £50m written off by clubs of a comparable size. The club may now face a points deduction for breach of financial fair play rules and they are set to strongly contest the charges.
The lawyers will be rubbing their hands and I doubt whether a deduction will be made in time to relegate the Toffees this season who sit in 15th place and just two points above the bottom three. Burnley and Leeds out their complaint in during May of last year but former Everton manager Frank Lampard was permitted to spend another £80m on players in the following transfer window.
Ex Burnley boss Sean Dyche is now in the Goodison Park hot seat and he, like Hodgson, has the experience to pull his new club clear of danger. The latest SBOTOP odds reckon he will succeed, but if the Premier League gets its act together in time to dock points this season that could be a devastating blow to Everton.
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Premier League: Arsenal Can’t Joke Around Leeds on April Fool’s
Arsenal vs Leeds United
We’re down to the final 10 (or 11 for some teams) matchdays in the 2022-23 Premier League campaign, and most of the clubs are already feeling the fatigue, both physically and mentally.
It’s hard to find a team that is 100-per cent healthy, and that is the case for Arsenal and Leeds when they clash at the Emirates this Saturday night.
Arsenal are still on top of the pack with 69 points, and they can extend their lead to 11 should they win again this weekend. The Gunners have had nothing but positive Premier League 2023 results since losing to Manchester City last February.
As for Leeds, they have ground to make up because they’re in 14th place with 26 points. They won against the Wolves before the international break, and they need more of those to ensure their top-flight status for next season.
Talking Points
Saka shining, Smith Rowe out to prove something
With Arsenal sweating on the fitness of the likes of William Saliba, Thomas Partey, and Eddie Nketiah, this opens opportunities for the other Gunners, assuming the three of them are unavailable this weekend.
Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe are two players who can fill in for those possible absentees. This just goes to show how deep Arsenal are, which is the main reason why they’re poised to win the Premier League this year.
Saka has been Arsenal’s top scorer with 13 goals and 10 assists, and he shone for England this international break, scoring in their 2-0 victory over Ukraine in the Euro 2024 qualifiers.
Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka celebrates scoring their second goal with Gabriel
He is one of the best wingers that we have today, and rival clubs are keen on acquiring him this summer. However, Saka has agreed to an extension with Arsenal after months of negotiations.
Smith Rowe, meanwhile, found the back of the net in England U-21’s 4-0 victory against France, which served as a timely reminder of how efficient he is in the penalty box.
He is determined to hit the ground running at Arsenal once again, as he was limited for the most part this season due to a nagging groin injury.
Rough international break for Leeds
Leeds’ escape from relegation just got a little more difficult, as they’ll take on the league leaders without possibly their five senior team players.
Stuart Dallas and Adam Forshaw remain long-term absentees, while Tyler Adams is out for an extended period, and Willy Gnonto and Max Wober are listed as doubtful.
Adams just had surgery on his hamstring, forcing him to withdraw from the USMNT squad for their CONCACAF Nations League victories over El Salvador and Grenada. Gnonto and Wober, on the other hand, picked up knocks while playing for Italy and Austria, respectively.
But even with their spate of injuries, Leeds are not to be counted out easily since they still have the likes of Patrick Bamford, Rodrigo Moreno, Crysencio Summerville, Luis Sinisterra, Jack Harrison, and Georginio Rutter capable of scoring goals on any given night.
Arsenal are undefeated in their last 13 games with Leeds across all competitions (W11, D2). Arsenal’s last defeat was in May 2003, when Leeds beat them 3-2 at the Emirates to essentially end their title bid that season.
Leeds haven’t drawn or kept a clean sheet in any of their subsequent 13 league away visits against the Gunners (W3, L10), conceding 31 total goals since their goalless draw in their first-ever Premier League away match against them in February 1993.
The Gunners eked out a 1-0 win in their reverse fixture last October, as Bukayo Saka scored the only goal during the 35th minute.
The hosts are on a six-game winning streak here in the Premier League, which is their joint-longest run under Mikel Arteta. They can extend their run to seven in a row for the first time since October 2018 under Unai Emery.
The SBOTOP Premier League 2023 odds are not optimistic on Leeds’ chances to win, unfortunately, as Arsenal are the favourites at 1.28, while Leeds are the underdogs at 8.00, and a draw is at 5.20 in the 1X2 market.
While an Arsenal victory seems like the obvious choice, our recommendation here is to go for Over 2.75 at 1.66 since this has the potential to be a high-scoring affair, especially with Leeds’ porous backline.
If you want to double down on this, you may also go for Total Goal 2-3 at 2.13, while Correct Score 2-1 at 7.80 and 3-0 at 8.00 in favour of the Gunners are also good bets.
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Premier League: Different Horizons for Previously Dominant Duo
Manchester City vs Liverpool
For the last four years Manchester City and Liverpool have been widely recognised as the country’s top two teams.
Indeed, this fixture has often not just been billed as such, but has proved pivotal in the outcome of the Premier League title race.
That is not the case this season, which is surprising given both clubs were again the favourites at the start of the campaign.
City are doing their bit, however, as they aim to become only the second team in the Premier League era to win three titles in succession.
With Arsenal holding an eight point lead at the summit though (having played one game more), it means there is little room for Pep Guardiola’s charges to slip up; albeit there is no guarantee the Gunners will not stumble.
And with a much heavier fixture load, the pressure is on City to maintain their challenge on both the domestic and European fronts – beginning with the lunchtime visit of the inconsistent Merseysiders who themselves need the points to seal a top four spot and a return to the Champions League.
Should we expect more Premier League highlights at the Etihad Stadium?
Much may depend on whether their goal machine Erling Haaland is fit to return after he missed international duty with Norway due to injury.
In the week leading up to the international break, Haaland plundered five goals as City slaughtered Red Bull Leipzig 7-0 in the Champions League and he followed that up with his sixth hat-trick of the campaign in a 6-0 FA Cup rout over Burnley.
The giant Norwegian has scored 42 goals so far this season, including six trebles. He has scored 28 in the Premier League from 26 games, ten from six in the Champions League, three in the FA Cup and one in the League Cup.
That means he’s highly likely to pick up the Golden Boots in both Europe and England – and all this at the age of 22.
As my SBOTOP colleague Stuart Wilkin observed last week: ‘At 6ft 5in, he is a man mountain with a rock solid frame, and that makes him the perfect centre forward to hold up play and link with his attacking midfielders. But he also possesses a frightening turn of pace which helps him get behind the last line of defence and then he displays his devastating finishing skills. Haaland can shoot clinically with either foot and he is powerful in the air, while his positional sense ensures that when the killer ball comes in he is there to bust the net.’
Of course, the focus should not be just on one man as there are matchwinners all over the park for both sides.
One man who will be missing is Phil Foden who has undergone surgery this week to remove his appendix.
While City need the points to keep the pressure up on Arsenal, Liverpool – their own title hopes long since evaporated – need the points for a top four push and a return to the Champions League next season after they were knocked out a fortnight ago by Real Madrid.
There is still plenty on the line for the dominant duo of recent years.
History
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah in action against Manchester City during their Carabao Cup match
This is their fourth match-up this season.
Liverpool enjoyed victory in the Community Shield at the start of the campaign before a Mo Salah goal secured them a 1-0 league victory at Anfield in October.
Both last season’s league matches were compelling and both finished 2-2.
It was City, of course, who had the last laugh as they pipped Liverpool for the Premier League title by a solitary point in a thrilling and dramatic last day.
Overall, Liverpool have won 107 of their clashes with 58 City successes and 56 draws.
The SBOTOP Premier League betting odds are stacked highly in the hosts’ favour.
While Liverpool will present good value for many, both 1X2 @ 5.20 and Asian Handicap +0.75 @ 2.17, the smart money will be in a home win.
City can be backed 1X2 @ 1.54 and Asian Handicap -1.25 @ 2.25.
A repeat of their 2-2 draw last term is on offer @ 16.50 with Correct Score, while another 3-2 City success will earn you a pay day of @ 21.00.
There have been a few but it’s unusual for this fixture to be goalless and that is reflected with odds of total goal 0-1 @ 4.50, 2-3 @ 2.04 and 4-6 @ 2.89, as well as Over 3.25 goals @ 2.29. I have considered the 1X2 Draw @ 3.90 but will plump for City to edge this.
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Premier League: The Battle for Champions League Places is Back On
Newcastle United vs Manchester United
Premier League action is back on the agenda folks, and what better way to get into the swing again with this game between Newcastle and Manchester United?
While Arsenal and Manchester City chase the title, there is quite a fight bubbling up for the other two Champions League places and these two titans of the game are in the middle of the battle.
Manchester United, in third position, are favourites to claim their place. But Newcastle United, in fifth, are three points behind with a better goal difference, and so a home win could see these two change places.
Liverpool, seven points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, are gathering momentum and you can’t rule out Brighton, on the same points as Pool but with a game in hand.
Both teams were desperate for silverware and the Magpies wait goes on, but if they can beat Manchester United on Sunday, the disappointment will be gone.
Talking Points
Players flooding back for Magpies
The pre-match Premier League 2023 betting odds give the hosts an edge, and with Eddie Howe’s squad looking stronger than before the break I can see why.
In defence, Fabian Schar has recovered from a foot injury, while Sven Botman seems to have shaken off the virus he picked up when he joined the Netherlands squad.
Two creative players are back in action too, as winger Anthony Gordon has recovered from an ankle injury while the livewire Allan Saint-Maximin, who was subbed at half time against Nottingham Forest with a tight hamstring, should be okay.
Keeper Nick Pope has been one of the Magpies’ big players this season, performing at a consistently high standard. He withdrew from England squad but is fit to face the Red Devils.
Meanwhile, up front, there is mixed news.
Callum Wilson is in good health and ready to start after a few weeks struggling with illness and injury, while advanced midfielder Joelinton is back having served a two-match suspension, but top scorer Miguel Almiron is still sidelined with a thigh injury.
Can McTominay step up for Red Devils?
Manchester United’s fringe midfielder Scott McTominay scored four goals for Scotland in two wins this week and his international form might persuade head coach Erik ten Hag to give him a start against the Magpies.
The defencive midfielder has struggled for game time since the arrival of Casemiro and the improvement in form of Fred, but Casemiro’s suspension may open the door for the big Scot. The Brazilian star picked up a second red card of the campaign when he hit Southampton’s Carlos Alcaraz with a nasty challenge.
He has never had a straight red in his career before his arrival at Old Trafford, but now Casemiro has a four-match ban, missing the win over Fulham, and the oncoming games against Newcastle, Brentford, and Everton.
Manchester United’s Casemiro walks off the pitch after being shown a red card
Manchester United are a different team without Casemiro. The midfield ace scored the crucial first goal in the Carabao Cup final before Marcus Rashford added a second, and the Red Devils need Rashford to continue his rich vein of form if they are to pick up maximum points in Casemiro’s absence.
Manchester United’s last away league game resulted in a 7-0 hammering by Liverpool and, while the Magpies are unlikely to get near to that, this is a real test for the Red Devils and they need to win, or at least compete in, the midfield battle.
History
In 58 games since the start of the Premier League, Manchester United have won 35 and drawn 16 of the head-to-head meetings with Newcastle picking up just seven victories.
The last two league matches have both ended in a draw; 0-0 at Old Trafford earlier in this season and 1-1 at St James Park in the 2021/22 campaign.
Recent form favours the visitors with four wins, one draw, and one defeat while the hosts have won two, drawn one, and lost three.
But after a run of three losses, Newcastle have recorded back-to-back wins to get their season back on track.
Newcastle’s home record of seven wins, five draws, and a single defeat has been the bedrock of their top four challenge and they will be hard to beat again on Sunday.
The other teams around the top four race will be watching the Premier League 2023 updates with interest and the Magpies are favourites to win this game at a SBOTOP price of 2.31, but the Red Devils at 2.71 are well in the match.
I suspect the other teams in the mix will be pleased to see these two earn a single point each and the most likely outcome is another 1-1 draw at odds of 5.22.
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Premier League: Everton and Tottenham Seeking Light at the End of the Tunnel
Everton vs Tottenham Hotspur
Following the departure of Antonio Conte at Spurs, Cristian Stellini is set to take over once again, and he’ll face the task of trying to secure a top four spot here in the Premier League.
With Newcastle also hosting Manchester United this weekend, the Champions League spots may have different owners at the end of this matchday, but a win here for Tottenham would surely boost their hopes.
As of this writing, Manchester United are in third place with 50 points, while Tottenham are right behind them with 49, and Newcastle are in fifth with 47.
15th placed Everton, meanwhile, still have a lot of work to do in order to secure their top-flight status next season, and beating Tottenham is a step in the right direction.
Talking Points
Top-flight or bust for Everton
Everton are two points above the relegation zone, having played more games than four of the clubs below them, but they are at risk of a points deduction, which would be a crushing blow to their hopes of survival.
The Toffees have improved lately with two draws and one win prior to the international break after losing to the Villans and Gunners. Abdoulaye Doucoure has been key to their positive Premier League 2023 results before the international break, anchoring their midfield.
Everton manager Sean Dyche during the Premier League match against Chelsea
Under Sean Dyche’s leadership, Doucoure has re-established himself after receiving little playing time under former manager Frank Lampard. This season, he has two goals and two assists.
Abdoulaye Doucoure, Dwight McNeil, and Demarai Gray will have to be at their best when the Spurs visit Goodison Park on Monday, especially with Dominic Calvert-Lewin still injured.
Does Stellini have what it takes?
Antonio Conte’s harsh outburst forced Tottenham to remove him. But the good news is that Cristian Stellini has previous experience in this capacity because he stepped in for the Italian a few months back when the latter underwent gall bladder surgery.
Stellini actually boasts a 100-per cent record as Spurs boss, winning all four of his games against Marseille, Manchester City, West Ham United, and Chelsea. The Chelsea win was notable since it was their first victory against them since 2018.
So the question is whether he can keep it up as their permanent manager because his previous stint in that capacity wasn’t exactly great.
His only spell as permanent manager of a professional side came in 2017, when he was with Alessandria, a third-tier Italian side. He only lasted 16 matches because he was fired in November after winning only three games.
Here at Tottenham, Stellini is in a bad situation not only because of their poor performances but also regarding the club’s state as a whole.
That’s because managing director Fabio Paratici decided to take an immediate leave of absence after he was handed a 30-month ban by FIFA when his former club Juventus was found guilty of false accounting.
It’s been a tumultuous week for Tottenham, so staying in the Champions League race will be their main consolation.
Everton have won only one of their last 20 Premier League games against Tottenham (D9, L10). Their last win was a 1-0 result in North London in September 2020.
Tottenham are undefeated at Goodison Park in nine consecutive games since losing three straight between January 2011 and December 2012 (W3, D6), although their last three meetings there ended in draws.
They also have kept more clean sheets against Everton in the Premier League (24) than against any other opponent, including their last three encounters.
But Everton have won three of their last four Premier League games at Goodison Park (L1) since Sean Dyche became their head coach, which is more than in their first 10 matches under Frank Lampard (W2, D2, L6).
In their previous meeting last October, Tottenham came away with a 2-0 win against Everton when Harry Kane and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg scored one goal each after a goalless first half.
The SBOTOP Premier League 2023 odds favour Tottenham to win on Monday, but their margin for error is not that big despite their places in the standings. The Spurs are priced at 2.20 to win, whereas Everton are at 3.05, and a draw is pegged at 3.15 in the 1X2 market.
Regardless of the outcome, Spurs should have goals in this match, so Total Goal 2-3 at 1.90 is a good option. Another bet to think about is going for the replay of their reverse fixture, Correct Score 2-0 for Spurs, which is installed at 9.75.
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Leeds and Nottingham Forest Continue Fight for Premier League Lives
Leeds United vs Nottingham Forest
Leeds United have 10 games left to save their Premier League lives. And the Whites are set to play perhaps their most winnable game left as they host another relegation-threatened side – Nottingham Forest – at Elland Road.
The Trees currently sit in 14th place in the Premier League table, one point ahead of Leeds and two points clear of the relegation zone.
But the Premier League 2023 betting odds will back the Whites to get the much-needed home win in this relegation six-pointer.
Talking Points
Leeds’ unconventional lineup gets smashed by Gunners
After entering the international break with a thrilling 4-2 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Leeds were on the wrong end of another high-scoring affair as they were rocked 4-1 by Premier League leaders Arsenal. The Whites were simply outclassed by the Gunners, who had too much attacking quality in their ranks.
Rasmus Kristensen celebrates after scoring the first goal for Leeds United against Arsenal
Leeds boss Javi Gracia surprised many with his unconventional 4-3-3 formation which saw Brenden Aaronson as a false nine. Meanwhile, winger Jack Harrison and full-back Rasmus Kristensen comprised two-thirds of a midfield three.
This was despite having Patrick Bamford, Georginio Rutter, and Rodrigo all available to play at centre-forward, while central midfielder Weston McKennie was also on the bench.
But with Leeds likely to be on the front foot at home against Forest, Gracia is expected to return to a more straightforward starting XI.
That should spell the return of a nominal centre-forward to lead the Leeds attack. Bamford had started the previous two games and was seemingly getting back to form, although Rodrigo remains Leeds’ leading scorer with 11 Premier League goals.
Kristensen was one of the main bright spots for Leeds against Arsenal and may have done enough to earn another start at central midfield after scoring for the second game in a row. But with Luke Ayling in poor form, the Dane may be deployed at right-back, with McKennie or Tyler Adams possibly partnering Marc Roca in midfield.
Nottingham Forest keep dropping valuable points
Nottingham Forest missed another big chance to pick up some valuable points as they drew 1-1 at home with Wolves last time out. The Trees surrendered a Daniel Podence equaliser seven minutes from time after Brennan Johnson put them ahead in the first half.
That comes on the heels of Forest’s heartbreaking 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle before the international break. Alexander Isak scored a brace, including the winning penalty in the 93rd minute, to complete the comeback.
After those two disappointing Premier League 2023 results, Forest have now gone winless in their last seven matches, with three draws and four defeats.
Brennan Johnson has been brilliant for Forest; he’s the team’s leading scorer with 8 goals, three of which have come in his last four games. But he has had precious little support as Forest remain tied for the second to last in scoring with just 23 goals all season. Winter signing Chris Wood has been ruled out for the rest of the season after his thigh injury against Tottenham.
However, Taiwo Awoniyi finally made his long-awaited return from injury against Wolves. Awoniyi is the team’s second-leading scorer with 4 goals and should add a much-needed attacking threat off the bench.
History
Leeds and Nottingham Forest faced off for the first time in the Premier League in the 21st century when they met back in February. Forest won that match 1-0 thanks to an early Brennan Johnson goal.
That win furthered Forest’s run of dominance against Leeds dating back to their days in the Championship. The Reds have now won eight of their last 16 matches against the Whites, with six draws and just two defeats.
SBOTOP odds have Leeds United installed as significant 1.78 favourites to get the crucial win at home. Nottingham Forest are priced at 4.20, while a draw is 3.35.
This is without question a huge match for both clubs, but Leeds are especially in need of all three points seeing as this is one of the most winnable matches they have left on their schedule.
After his changes against Arsenal, look for Javi Gracia to revert to a more usual starting XI against Nottingham Forest, and expect that Leeds lineup to deliver enough energy and effort to get the crucial home win.
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Pick any season from the past decade and Premier League: Chelsea vs Liverpool would have been a top four clash. It’s still a box office draw but neither club has had a domestic season to remember and it got worse for both of them on Saturday.
Graham Potter’s Chelsea suffered a damaging 2-0 defeat at home to Aston Villa, an incredible run when you consider the wealth of talent the beleaguered boss has at his disposal. Meanwhile Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool were shown just how far they are adrift from the current elite when they were pulled apart by Manchester City in a 4-1 mauling at the Etihad.
In terms of the SBOTOP odds for next season’s Champions League it’s unlikely either will be in the mix, Europa League footy looks more likely and that will be difficult for their fans to swallow.
But hey – there are still ten games to play, 11 for Liverpool and the Reds haven’t given up yet.
Talking Points
Potter under pressure
Another defeat for Chelsea has just piled more pressure on Potter, one of the brightest young managers in the game but with an expensively assembled team. The Blues now sit in 11th place; London rival Spurs have just sacked Antonio Conte and they are fourth, while Leicester City announced, on Sunday, that they had parted company with Brendan Rodgers.
Mykhailo Mudryk in action during Chelsea’s Premier League match against Aston Villa
In contrast, Aston Villa are upwardly mobile and they leapfrogged the Blues into the top half of the table as Ollie Watkins and John McGinn scored either side of half time, to leave the home fans singing, ‘You don’t know what you’re doing,’ in the direction of their head coach. Potter wasn’t helped by the form of some of his players though, particularly January signing Mykhailo Mudryk who is yet to settle fully at the Bridge. He had a poor game, missing two great chances and he needs to show more composure in front of goal.
The return of wing back Ben Chilwell has strengthened the Blues and he provides support for the creative players like Kai Havertz and Joao Felix. But Chelsea, and their manager, desperately need a result.
Chelsea can exploit Liverpool’s home sickness
Back to back defeats have left Liverpool seven points behind fourth place Tottenham and, after receiving a harsh lesson in Manchester they have now lost eight Premier League away games this season, as many as they lost over the past three campaigns combined. And while Liverpool only managed four shots against Manchester City, it was the showing from his defence which will have concerned Klopp the most. His team missed chances to stop the Sky Blues and lost too many one-to-one encounters. Trent Alexander Arnold’s defending for City’s fourth goal was awful as he gave the in form Jack Grealish all the space he needed; but to be fair to the England wing-back, all four of the Reds’ back line were woefully short when the Sky Blues moved up a gear.
Kostas Tsmikas came on and he showed more resilience and he may get a start against the Blues, but Klopp will be hoping centre back Virgil Van Dijk can rediscover his form of previous seasons. Liverpool need leaders and Van Dijk isn’t currently at his best. Of course Manchester City away is not the best benchmark for most teams in the league; but Liverpool would like to think they should compete at the top.
But if they defend like they did in the second half when they meet Chelsea then Havertz, Felix and even Mudryk could have a good night.
History
The Chelsea vs Liverpool results could hardly be closer for these two Premier League ever presents. In all competitions since 1993 the Blues have won 31 games to the Reds’ 30 and there have been 22 draws. The last five meetings have ended in stalemate after 90 minutes; and last season Liverpool had the better of Chelsea twice in Wembley penalty shootouts, winning both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup finals.
This season they played put a 0-0 draw at Anfield in January.
In terms of recent form the hosts are slightly stronger. Liverpool have lost three in a row and have lost their last three games away from Anfield.
The Chelsea vs Liverpool betting odds suggest a tight game with all three results well in play. Liverpool are at 2.62 and the Draw is at 3.16 with Chelsea at 2.32 to win. It’s a tough one to call but I think Potter will get a reaction from his players and Liverpool’s away form makes them vulnerable.
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Premier League: Champs Lead the Way as Foxes Part Company with Brendan
The Premier League run-in starts here and the champions started the first weekend of April by showing the way.
The way they ruthlessly despatched their closest rivals of recent seasons on Saturday lunchtime had all the hallmarks of the best side in the country.
In Jack Grealish they also had a player who was at the heart of so many of their best moments, showing pace and creativity in attack and awareness in defending.
Yes, Liverpool should not have been this easy to work out and the break of the ball went against them in a few key moments but that wasn’t City’s concern as they recovered from conceding an early goal to run out 4-1 winners as Grealish romped, feinted, pranced and trotted like a pedigree dressage horse.
Anything the champions can do, the leaders can too it seems as, no sooner had the full-time whistle blown at the Etihad Stadium, then Arsenal were restoring their lead at the summit by the same scoreline at the Emirates Stadium.
Leeds had chances, a fair few of them, but two goals early in the second half ensured the Gunners were never going to be pegged back from Gabriel Jesus’s first half penalty.
They remain eight points clear (City have a game in hand) which perhaps should be no surprise as when Jesus scores, Jesus usually wins.
That was the same again on Saturday as – recalled to the Arsenal starting line-up in place of the unwell Bukayo Saka – he netted his second of the game 10 minutes into the second half as the home side eased to a comfortable win.
If that was the top two accounted for, the Premier League highlights continued apace throughout the afternoon, not least on the south coast.
Two of the most impressive teams of the season – Brighton and Brentford – threw up a six goal thriller as the Bees led three times before being pegged back three times by the hosts, on the final occasion via a last minute Alexis MacAllister penalty.
It was a breathless encounter which showed just how well both clubs are faring.
In a campaign which they have shocked the big boys and defied the Premier League betting odds time and time again, both are in contention for a European berth.
If one of them achieves such a feat, it is this SBOTOP writer’s belief that the manager of the year gong should go to Roberto De Zerbi or Thomas Frank – they are both working small miracles at their respective clubs.
Not too far away, Bournemouth leapt out of the bottom three with a second-half turnaround as goals from Marcus Tavernier and Dominic Solanke helped them beat Fulham at Vitality Stadium.
Solanke bundled home the winner 11 minutes from time, his first league goal since November arriving at an opportune moment.
Substitute Tavernier had earlier struck a stunning, curling equaliser into the top corner to cancel out an opener from Andreas Pereira, enjoying a fine season since his move to the Thames.
The action on Sunday saw the third south coast club in the top flight, Southampton, go down narrowly at West Ham which means the Hammers move out of the drop zone while the Saints remain rock bottom.
Newcastle also climbed to third after gaining a modicum of revenge for their League Cup Final defeat at the hands of Manchester United.
The final word has to be in the East Midlands.
Brendan Rodgers during Leicester City’s match
It was easy to see why Leicester City parted company with Brendan Rodgers on Sunday, less than 24 hours after a last-gasp defeat to Crystal Palace.
A fifth defeat in six league games, it had dropped them into the relegation zone and was the latest setback in what must be a frustratingly inconsistent season for Foxes fans.
The summer departure of Kasper Schmeichel was a massive blow and Leicester began the campaign with seven defeats from their opening 10 Premier League games, slumping to the bottom of the table before a run of four wins from five games going into the World Cup break.
Since the restart, however, they have again struggled, collecting just seven points from 33 available.
Rodgers guided Leicester to successive fifth-place finishes in his first two full seasons – but for the Covid-enforced break he would probably have taken them into the Champions League on the first of those occasions too.
He could not maintain that level but he will always have Wembley and the FA Cup in 2021 – his place in the club’s history long assured. Now his successor needs to keep them up.
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Premier League: Red Devils are Looking for Revenge
Manchester United vs Brentford FC
Fourth plays seventh when Premier League: Manchester United vs Brentford is the entertainment on offer as we have a full midweek programme of football in England’s top flight.
The Red Devils come into the game on the back of a 2-0 defeat to top four rivals Newcastle United, while Brentford played out a pulsating 3-3 draw with fellow European hopefuls Brighton. Seventh place may well win a Europa League spot and the Bees have hovered around that position for much of the season, but with Liverpool, Aston Villa and Fulham in pursuit Thomas Frank’s team needs to hit a spectacular run of form to hold off the fierce competition.
His opposite number Erik Ten Hag has improved the Red Devils hugely since the start of the campaign and he, as much as anyone, is looking to avenge a 4-0 spanking his team took at the hands of Brentford back in August. And that extra spice makes this a fascinating prospect, and fans of fifth-placed Spurs and third-placed Newcastle will be watching the Manchester United vs Brentford updates with interest.
At a SBOTOP price of 1.57 to win, the hosts are under a little pressure in this game and they’ll need to perform considerably better than they did against the Magpies on Sunday. Manchester United’s trip to Newcastle was never going to be easy but they never really tested their hosts who were dominant throughout and, after he had missed two sitters, Joe Willock punished the Red Devils and Callum Wilson confirmed the win with a late header.
Ten Hag said his team’s performance was simply not good enough, lacking the determination and desire in their hosts, and they got what they deserved. Some of the stats are damning: Newcastle had 22 shots to six and six to one on target as the visitors failed to test Nick Pope; and this was the first time they failed to have a first half shot on target in this campaign. And now Manchester United have failed to score in three consecutive Premier League games for the first time in three years.
Newcastle star Bruno Guimares dominated the midfield, as the Red Devils were again without the suspended Casemiro, and he won the man-of-the-match. Ten Hag’s team needs to get the upper hand on the Bees midfield but then, when the strikers get space they need to be clinical. Marcus Rashford has been superb this season, but neither he nor Wout Weghorst gave the Magpies defence anything to worry about. And without the injured top assist maker Christian Eriksen and midfield lynchpin Casemiro the Red Devils looked short of ideas.
Brentford’s multiple threats
In contrast the Bees have been buzzing and they scored freely again in an entertaining tussle with Brighton. Bryan Mbeumo didn’t score but he made two assists as his team went ahead three times through Pontus Jansson, top scorer Ivan Toney and centre back Ethan Pinnock, but a late penalty from World Cup winner Alexis MacAllister earned the Seagulls a deserved point.
Bryan Mbeumo made two assists in Brentford’s 3-3 draw with Brighton
The Manchester United vs Brentford betting odds say this is a tough task for the Bees, but if Toney gets a chance he will add to his 17 goals this season. Only Erling Braut Haaland and Harry Kane have scored more and Toney is one of the best penalty takers in the business. But the Bees goals come from all over the pitch. Pinnock’s defensive partner Ben Mee is a threat at set pieces, while the Danish pair of Christian Norgaard and Mikkel Damsgaard are superb attacking midfielders.
Sure; Manchester United want revenge but if they are off their game they could easily get stung again.
History
Manchester United have won two of their four previous meetings with Brentford, drawing one and famously taking that 4-0 hammering at the beginning of this campaign. Toney made two assists that day but he wasn’t on the score-sheet as the Bees had four different scorers.
Recent form is pretty close with Manchester United winning three, drawing one and losing two of the last six games, while Brentford have won two, drawn two and lost two.
Manchester United’s home record of nine wins, three draws and one defeat is strong but there is some mileage in a draw at 3.73 and the Bees, at odds of 4.55 will believe they have a fighting chance. Frank’s men have lost just four times on the road, winning three and drawing six.
United are weaker without Casemiro for sure, but 2-1 to the hosts is the most likely score line at odds on 6.37, but the visitors will fancy themselves for a 1-1 draw at a price of 6.76.
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It’s a Managerial Merry-Go-Round in the Premier League!
So, what’s hot in the world of the Premier League?
Well, there’s rarely a dull moment at the best of times but the controversy/topic (delete as you see fit) this week is the debate being played out in the media, online, in the pubs, in the cafes and that you and I frequent.
The issue you and I could be forgiven for referring to as the managerial merry-go-round.
Indeed, more than half of top flight clubs have parted company with their bosses since the start of the campaign and you would not bet against there being one or two more casualties come season end if their objectives are not met.
In luring the 47 year-old away from the stable surroundings of Brighton and a team he had been allowed to build with patience, time and stability, they forgot to tell him he was swapping it for a club where those three commodities are alien concepts.
In some eyes, he was always on a hiding to nothing before a ball was even kicked.
After all, some Chelsea supporters were opposed to losing a coach (Thomas Tuchel) regarded as one of the finest in world football – who had brought them the Champions League in 2021 – with the man who took Brighton to ninth last season, despite his growing reputation.
After being appointed and spending almost £600 million since last summer (how many of those signings were his is unclear), he deserved to be given more time to see if he could develop into the strong, confident manager they yearned with a powerful, consistent vision of how he wanted to play.
If they had such doubts, he should not have been appointed in the first place!
There will be a certain irony if Chelsea can oversee holders Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals this month (as I suspect they won’t) and then face Bayern Munich where Tuchel last week rocked up and made a winning start.
‘See what you had and lost’, would be the clear message from the German who admitted he remains deeply hurt by both his sacking and the manner of it last autumn.
In a joint statement announcing Potter’s dismissal, Chelsea’s co-owners said they had “the highest degree of respect for Graham as a coach and as a person”.
Yet that wasn’t enough to keep him in post.
An exhaustive search will now surely follow with Mauricio Pochettino (who has been out of work since leaving Paris Saint-Germain), former Spain boss Luis Enrique (who lost the Spain job after the World Cup) and Tuchel’s predecessor at Bayern, Julian Nagelsmann, among the names linked with a move to west London.
They cannot wait too long to make an appointment given PSG could be looking for a new manager this summer, while Tottenham are searching for a replacement for Antonio Conte.
Brendan Rodgers has been relieved of his duties as Leicester City manager after four years in charge
The other boss to lose his job on Sunday was Leicester City’s Brendan Rodgers and there is something of an irony that Potter could be an ideal long-term fit to replace him.
Rodgers has never been in the top tier of bosses but deserves credit for his work at Celtic and, more impressively, in the east Midlands.
Firstly, he guided Leicester to successive fifth-place finishes in his first two full seasons – but for the Covid-enforced break he would probably have taken them into the Champions League on the first of those occasions too.
Needing to cashing in on the club’s most valuable assets to meet financial fair play regulations meant a downturn in fortunes for the Foxes was inevitable and it may prove difficult for anyone to better his record if the slide cannot be reversed.
Like Potter, he will be back – if there were the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds on it I’d wager a good amount. After all, the managerial merry-go-round in football ensures that no-one is ever out of work for too long should they wish to return!
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Premier League: Brighton’s Big Shot to Close Gap on Spurs
Tottenham Hotspur vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Who would have thought at the start of this Premier League season that Brighton would be in the thick of the Champions League race three-quarters into the campaign?
But that’s where we are as the Seagulls – who are sixth in the Premier League standings – look to close the four-point gap on fourth-placed Tottenham as they continue their quest for a spot in Europe’s top competition.
Spurs started off the Cristian Stellini era like they ended Antonio Conte’s tenure – by dropping points to a relegation-threatened side after a late equaliser.
Now they must take on a surging Seagulls team that is on an impressive unbeaten run under Roberto De Zerbi.
Talking Points
Spurs seek spark under Stellini
Tottenham Hotspur’s Premier League 2023 odds of finishing in the top four took another hit as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Everton in interim boss Cristian Stellini’s debut.
Michael Keane’s 90th-minute strike condemned Spurs to their second straight draw against a relegation-threatened side. They drew 3-3 with bottom side Southampton before the international break, which proved to be Antonio Conte’s last match in charge.
The draw leaves Spurs in fourth, tied with Newcastle and Manchester United at 50 points and four points clear of sixth-placed Brighton, but they have played two more games than those three teams.
Spurs’ first showing under Stellini was not impressive as they were outshot 15-8 despite controlling nearly 61 per cent of possession.
Tottenham Hotspur star Harry Kane reacts after clashing with Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure in recent Premier League game
Harry Kane scored his 22nd Premier League goal of the season from the penalty spot, but Heung-Min Son – who had shown signs of life with a goal and an assist in his last two games before the international break – was disappointing as he finished with no shots.
Tottenham’s injury list remains quite lengthy, with the likes of Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur, and Emerson Royal still out. But on the bright side, captain Hugo Lloris made his return after two months out and looked sharp, making five saves.
Tottenham have been in stellar form at home lately, with four wins in a row and just one goal conceded.
Brighton’s unbeaten run continues
Brighton are not backing down in the race for Champions League football. In a week where their former boss Graham Potter was sacked by Chelsea, Roberto De Zerbi still has the Seagulls flying high in sixth.
Brighton beat Bournemouth 2-0 last time out as they extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to five games, with three wins and two draws.
Teenagers Evan Ferguson and Julio Enciso scored the goals for the Seagulls, who continue to churn out promising young talent.
Meanwhile, breakout Japanese star Kaoru Mitoma continues to produce Premier League 2023 highlights as he extended his impressive streak of having at least a goal or an assist to seven straight games in all competitions.
Brighton have been brilliant away from home this season. They have the third-best away record in the Premier League behind only leaders Arsenal and champions Manchester City.
The Seagulls are on a seven-match unbeaten run away from home, with four wins and three draws. Those have been generally high-scoring affairs, with four more goals scored in five of those seven games. Their 2-0 win over Bournemouth was their first away clean sheet since holding West Ham scoreless back on Aug. 21.
History
Tottenham and Brighton have met 11 times previously in the Premier League era. Unsurprisingly, Spurs have the advantage in wins at 7-3, while there has been just one draw. Spurs came out on top 1-0 in their first meeting this season at the Amex thanks to a Harry Kane goal.
Recent Premier League encounters between the two clubs have been low-scoring; each of their last four games have had just two goals or fewer.
The SBOTOP odds for this match are somewhat surprising as Brighton have been installed as slight 2.49 favourites. Tottenham are priced at 2.54 despite being at home, while a draw is 3.30.
Based on recent form, Brighton are certainly more than capable of going into Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and dealing another defeat to Spurs, who still have plenty of issues to sort out after the departure of Antonio Conte.
But it would be foolish to overlook Spurs and the overall quality of their squad. With Champions League football potentially at stake, look for Spurs to raise their game against Brighton and end the Seagulls’ unbeaten run.
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Premier League: Brentford and Newcastle Have European Football in Mind
Brentford vs Newcastle United
Brentford and Newcastle have their sights set on playing European football next season. But there are only a limited number of slots here in the Premier League, and it’s likely that only one of them can achieve its main objective.
Newcastle are in a great position because they’re in third place. Eddie Howe’s men are on a three-game winning streak following their most recent victory against Manchester United.
The Bees, on the other hand, are seven points adrift of the Magpies. Brentford are in ninth place in the standings with 43 points, but they can make a huge jump if they win their next two games.
Brentford and Newcastle have little time to rest as they’ll take on Manchester United and West Ham tomorrow, respectively. But whatever happens in those games, this weekend’s matchup is still a must-win contest.
Talking Points
Brentford are all-in for Europe
Brentford have continued to show progress ever since they were promoted to the English top-flight last year. After finishing in 13th place last season, the Bees are now in contention for European football.
A huge reason why the Bees are in the position they’re in right now is because of the 12-game unbeaten league run that they had stretching back to October.
Since seeing their streak ended by the Toffees last month, the Bees have notched one win and two draws. And they’re confident that they can win against Manchester United, whom they embarrassed at the Gtech Community Stadium earlier this season with a 4-0 tally.
Ivan Toney is Brentford’s top attacking threat because he already has 17 goals and four assists in the Premier League so far this season. He is third in the Golden Boot race behind Harry Kane and Erling Haaland, which is impressive.
But Toney is not the only one who can create Premier League 2023 highlights for Brentford, as Bryan Mbeumo is a genuine threat in the final third too. Even their centre-backs, Ethan Pinnock and Pontus Jansson, have scored goals recently as well.
There’s more good news for Thomas Frank, as Shandon Baptiste is back after serving his one-match ban. Baptiste’s return will boost Brentford’s midfield, which is already without Vitaly Janelt and Frank Onyeka.
Newcastle coping well without their talisman
Newcastle have not skipped a beat despite competing without top scorer Miguel Almiron, who has 11 goals and three assists. The Paraguayan is sidelined due to a thigh injury that he suffered during international break.
Newcastle United’s Miguel Almiron celebrates scoring their second goal against Wolverhampton
It’s been three weeks since they received the unfortunate diagnosis on Almiron, but Eddie Howe’s side has found a way to win their matches against Nottingham Forest and Manchester United.
Alexander Isak recorded a brace against Nottingham Forest, while Joe Willock and Callum Wilson scored against Manchester United. Jacob Murphy has deputised well for Almiron on the right wing, and he should continue to do so on Saturday.
The Magpies’ defence has been formidable too, as they’ve conceded the fewest Premier League goals so far this season (19). Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, Dan Burn, and Sven Botman will continue to make up their back four to provide adequate cover for goalkeeper Nick Pope.
History
Brentford have yet to beat Newcastle here in the Premier League in three attempts (D1, L2), including their 5-1 result in their reverse fixture last October.
It was a game that featured four different goal scorers and an own goal. Newcastle benefitted from goals by Bruno Guimaraes (brace), Jacob Murphy, Miguel Almiron, and an own goal by Ethan Pinnock, while Ivan Toney converted a penalty to prevent a clean sheet for the Magpies.
Brentford’s last league victory against Newcastle was a 1-0 result in January 1948. Overall, they are winless in seven league meetings with Newcastle (D1, L6), conceding at least twice in each of these seven matches (22 goals in total).
Newcastle have prevailed in their last three away league games against Brentford, winning in October 1992, January 2017, and February 2022.
The SBOTOP Premier League 2023 odds favour the visitors to win this game. Newcastle are priced at 2.14 to win, whereas Brentford are not far behind at 3.05, and a draw is at 3.30 in the 1X2 market.
Newcastle’s undefeated streak over Brentford here in the Premier League is hard to overlook, and we feel that they will extend their run against the Bees on Saturday.
Because of their combined quality on the pitch, we’re also confident in going for either Over 2.50 at 2.06 or Total Goals 4-6 at 3.95.
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Premier League: Beat Liverpool…and Arsenal Fans can Believe
Liverpool vs Arsenal
This could be the big weekend in the 2022/23 Premier League title race folks; Arsenal’s last big challenges to their title credentials are on the horizon and the first one, a trip to Anfield, is a whopper!
Okay, Liverpool are not the team they were last season but, on home ground, they can be a formidable opponent; just ask Manchester United who were thumped 7-0 by Jurgen Klopp’s team only four weeks ago. Since then the Reds have stumbled but, believe me, they will be up for this one.
Mikel Arteta’s Gunners are finally favourites to win the title, according to the latestPremier League 2023 betting odds,but their eight point lead will be reduced to five if Manchester City beat bottom club Southampton on Saturday. Arsenal still have Newcastle United and Manchester City to play away from home, and Chelsea at the Emirates, not to mention a tasty London Derby away to West Ham.
It’s a daunting fixture list but if they can emerge from Anfield with three points, then the title will be Arsenal’s to lose.
Talking Points
Klopp searching for the right mix
Mo Salah started on the bench against Chelsea but is sure to start against Arsenal
Following their destruction of Manchester United, Liverpool’s run of three defeats sparked a series of meetings at Anfield as the manager and his senior team looked for a solution. Trent-Alexander Arnold and Andrew Robertson have been devastating as wing-backs for a number of seasons; but injury to the Scot and a terrible loss of form for Trent has blunted one of Klopp’s main weapons.
Kostas Tsimikas and Joe Gomez operated at full back in a 0-0 draw against Chelsea on Tuesday; but they are not as creative as the established pair, and the absence of Virgil Van Dijk meant they had more defensive work to do. At the other end of the pitch the Reds were totally toothless during their tip to Stamford Bridge as Klopp started with Darwin Nunez and Roberto Firmino up front, and substitutes Mo Salah and Cody Gakpo didn’t have enough time to make an impact.
In midfield Fabinho has lost some sharpness and is a red card risk, so if Thiago is fit he should step in, or there might be a chance for 20-year-old Fabio Carvalho to step in alongside Jordan Henderson.
I expect Klopp to make at least four changes to his team on Sunday, with Salah and Robertson surely in the starting eleven.
Arsenal sweating on Saliba
Arsenal have been sensational in attack this season, but they have been equally impressive in defence with French centre back William Saliba enjoying a brilliant season. But the 22-year-old limped off during the Europa League defeat to Sporting Lisbon last month and he missed the last two games, 4-1 wins over Crystal Palace and Leeds United. With respect to the Eagles and the Whites they are not a comparable force to a fully firing Liverpool, and Mikel Arteta will hope Saliba makes it; though Rob Holding has deputised well over the past two weeks.
The Gunners met Leeds on April Fools Day but Arteta’s team didn’t mess around as they dispatched the Whites with ease, and the return of Gabriel Jesus from injury has come at the perfect time as the Brazil striker scored twice in the win. He had a brilliant first half of the campaign and, in an attack which boasts the exciting talents of Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard, his re-appearance might just be icing on the cake for the Gunners.
History
Liverpool have won 27 of their last 70 encounters with Arsenal, losing 22 and drawing 21, but they lost a five-goal thriller at the Emirates as Bukayo Saka scored a second half brace for the Gunners.
In terms of recent form; while Arsenal have won three of the last five the Reds have struggled badly since they thrashed Manchester United; losing three before they played out that limp 0-0 draw away to Chelsea.
But, as always, Klopp’s team has been dominant at home with nine wins, three draws and one defeat this season.
Arsenal areSBOTOP favourites to win this game at a price of 2.34 with Liverpool at 2.54 and the draw is priced at 3.25.
The Reds’ Premier League 2023 resultshave been unconvincing so far but I wouldn’t put it past them to give the Gunners a big test, and if Arteta’s men can pass it, then their fans will start to believe this is their year.
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Upwardly mobile Leeds have another huge Premier League clash on Sunday when Crystal Palace are the visitors to Elland Road.
At this stage of the campaign 13th hosting 12th would sound like a fairly meaningless mid table match…but this game is anything but. Only three points separate Palace from 18th placed Bournemouth, and Leicester City are only two points further back, while Southampton are rock bottom and four from safety. It’s any three from nine and there will be plenty of twists and turns to come.
The Eagles have moved to cement their place in the top flight with the appointment of former boss Roy Hodgson who, at 75 years of age, is the senior statesman in English football and a master tactician. Hodgson was appointed manager of Palace following the departure of Patrick Vieira and, after a sequence of four consecutive losses, he led them to a 2-1 victory over Leicester City, a result which saw the end of Foxes’ boss Brendan Rodgers. Meanwhile the Whites climbed out of the bottom three with a 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night and they will be looking to follow that up with another victory against a relegation rival.
According to the latest Premier League 2023 odds neither Leeds nor Palace have too much to worry about, with six clubs at shorter odds to go down; but neither team will be taking anything for granted.
It’s far too close for comfort.
Talking Points
Rodrigo return so important for Leeds
Since Javi Gracia arrived at Elland Road Leeds’ fortunes have turned around from his opening game, a 1-0 win over Southampton. And the new boss’s league record reads three wins, one draw and two losses: ten points from six games which is top seven form.
With a good set of Premier League 2023 results under his belt Gracia has justified his appointment, but Leeds’ two wins from the last three games has coincided with the return of top scorer Rodrigo, who scored his 11th goal in a 4-2 win over Wolves. Gracia is using him sparingly but, among a relatively young group of creative players, the 32 year old Spain international has the experience and guile to see Leeds over the finish line.
Tuesday’s match at home to Nottingham Forest was a real relegation six-pointer and the Whites emerged victorious in front of a frenzied crowd at a packed Elland Road as Jack Harrison and Luis Sinisterra scored Leeds’ goals. Rodrigo did his job, stretching the Forest defence as the visitors pushed for a leveller; but the unlikely star of the night was midfielder Roca who has been dogged by inconsistency in recent weeks. He put on a masterful display and fired in the shot which was parried for Harrison’s equaliser.
Eagles without Zaha
Roy Hodgson during Crystal Palace’s match against Leicester City
The big news coming out of Selhurst Park is that talisman and top scorer Wilfried Zaha will be missing for the Leeds game after he picked up a groin strain during the Eagles’ 2-1 victory over Leicester. In his last stint as Palace manager Hodgson was at pains to insist he wasn’t managing a one-man team, though it often looked like it as the Ivorian winger carried his team-mates to safety.
While the Eagles have plenty of other players with flair, such as Odsonne Edouard and Eberechi Eze, they will miss Zaha who is consistently the most inventive in the forward line. It’s a major blow for the 30 year old who was making his fifth appearance since recovering from an earlier injury and he was visibly upset as he pulled up when taking a pass on the left flank. In the end Palace won as substitute Jean-Phillipe Mateta scored a beauty and the 25 year old Frenchman will hope for a start at Elland Road.
History
Leeds have had the better of the head to head encounters with the Eagles, winning 12 to six and there have been four draws, and Palace have failed to win on their last seven visits to Elland Road.
But the Eagles won the return match 2-1 with Eduoard and Eze both on target, so Gracia knows his defence will face a lively challenge from the visitors – even without Zaha.
At odds of 2.03 Leeds have a great chance to make it back to back wins at a crucial time of the campaign, while Palace are at odds of 3.11 with the draw at 3.16. The Premier League managerial merry-go-round has been spinning furiously, and these are nervy times for the bottom nine; but Hodgson is undoubtedly the man to calm things down at Selhurst Park. He’ll have his team ready for the challenge and it’s going to be a hard fought clash.
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Premier League: City Won’t be Kind to the Relegation-Threatened Saints
Southampton vs Manchester City
Southampton are fighting for their Premier League lives, and they’ll face their biggest test yet when they host Manchester City at St. Mary’s Stadium this Saturday.
The Saints already beat the Sky Blues earlier this year, and a lot has happened since then. What hasn’t changed, though, is the fact that there’s still a sizable gap between these two sides.
The hosts have changed their manager, but they’re still at the bottom of the Premier League standings. The visitors, on the other hand, are in second place, but they’re miles away from league leaders Arsenal.
The SBOTOP betting odds expect a Manchester City victory this weekend, but the Sky Blues cannot underestimate the desperate Saints.
Talking Points
Selles worried about Southampton pair
Southampton manager Ruben Selles reacts during a Premier League match against West Ham United
Che Adams and Mohammed Salisu were missing from Southampton’s 1-0 loss to West Ham at the London Stadium last Sunday, and Ruben Selles is hoping to have them both back against Manchester City.
The group particularly missed Adams and Salisu because they were injured over the international break.
Adams is the team’s top goal scorer (especially in open play) with 10 goals, and he has three assists. If he is out on Sunday, Sekou Mara or Theo Walcott will continue to lead up front.
Southampton need more muscle at the back, and Salisu beefs up their centre-half. With Armel Bella-Kotchap sidelined due to a dislocated shoulder, Duje Caleta-Car has taken his place in the starting lineup, but he hasn’t really done well.
James Ward-Prowse will have to be the star against Manchester City, regardless of whether Adams and Salisu are available. The 28-year-old is a maestro in midfield, and the Sky Blues would be wary to give him any free-kick opportunities.
Saints manager Ruben Selles has brought improvements to the club, but those need to be turned into points for them to survive in the English top-flight.
Haaland probable to return
Erling Haaland has returned to training, which is a huge boost for Manchester City ahead of this Southampton game.
Haaland suffered a groin injury in their 6-0 victory against Burnley during the FA Cup quarter-finals. Because of this, he also had to withdraw from Norway during the first two games of the Euro 2024 qualifiers.
He was also absent last Saturday, but was seen celebrating in the stands as Manchester City thumped Liverpool with a 4-1 scoreline at the Etihad.
Pep Guardiola would want to whip Erling Haaland into top shape as soon as possible since they have a big Champions League quarter-final tie against Bayern Munich on Tuesday.
Haaland is a fixture in the Premier League 2023 highlights reel. He has scored 42 goals in 37 games across all competitions for Manchester City this season, and City fans can’t wait to see him back in action because he has been as good as advertised.
This is going to be the third meeting of the season between Southampton and Manchester City. The Sky Blues won their Premier League encounter last October, while the Saints got their revenge in the EFL Cup quarter-finals.
Manchester City crushed Southampton at the Etihad with a 4-0 scoreline, as Joao Cancelo, Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez, and Erling Haaland all found the back of the net.
Southampton have only won one of their last 13 Premier League matches against Manchester City (D3, L9). Their last victory was a 1-0 result at home in July 2020.
Manchester City have won four of their last six away league games against Southampton (D1, L1).
Manchester City are the huge favourites to win, according to the Premier League 2023 odds. They are priced at 1.25, and they have a big edge over Southampton, who are installed at 9.00. On the other hand, a draw is at 5.40 in the 1X2 market.
Southampton have made this a competitive fixture given their recent success over Manchester City, and overall, they’ve improved against big teams under Ruben Selles.
However, Manchester City haven’t lost a Premier League match against the Saints, and such a trend should continue this weekend. Football fans at St. Mary’s can expect another high-scoring affair between these two, although the visitors are likely to score more. So, you can’t go wrong by betting on either Over 2.50 at 2.14 or Total Goals 2-3 at 2.09 as alternatives.
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Premier League: City Won’t be Kind to the Relegation-Threatened Saints
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Chelsea
Mighty Chelsea – champions of Europe just a couple of seasons ago – find themselves in the bottom half of the Premier League table in early April.
And after moving on from Graham Potter, the Blues have now called upon former hero Frank Lampard to lead them for the remainder of the season, starting with their trip to Molineux to face Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Like Chelsea, Wolves are also without a win in their last three games as they remain dangerously close to the relegation zone. But can they defy the Premier League 2023 betting odds and capitalise on Chelsea’s current struggles?
Talking Points
Wolves remain in danger of relegation
Wolves’ recent Premier League 2023 results do not make for good reading. They have won just one of their last seven games, with four defeats and two draws.
They needed a late equaliser from Daniel Podence to pick up a point away at Nottingham Forest last time out, which kept them one point clear of the relegation zone.
Wolves will still be without full-back Jonny, who got a red card in their 4-2 loss at home against Leeds United. Centre-back Toti got the surprise start at left-back, and he may have earned another start after a solid performance.
Wolverhampton manager Julen Lopetegui looks disappointed after their 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest in recent Premier League match
Meanwhile, it’s anyone’s guess how Julen Lopetegui will choose to line up his attack. The Wolves boss has simply been unable to find a starting combination that can consistently deliver goals.
Although, Wolves have had a substitute score in each of their last four games, so Lopetegui does have options in terms of changing the game off the bench.
Wolves’ home form has let them down this season. They have picked up just 17 points in 14 games at Molineux – the third-fewest in the Premier League – and their 12 home goals is dead-last.
Frank Lampard set for Chelsea return
After dismissing Graham Potter, Chelsea’s first match under interim manager Bruno Saltor – a goalless draw at home against Liverpool – played out similarly to how they fared under Potter.
The Blues were the better team against the Reds, but once again they failed to convert their chances. The front two of Kai Havertz and Joao Felix had four shots each, but they were simply not clinical enough in front of goal.
There was good news for the Blues, though, as N’Golo Kante looked quite solid in his first start of 2023. The French midfielder should provide some much-needed stability in the middle of the park.
The Liverpool match was likely Saltor’s first and last game as Chelsea boss as the is club reportedly bringing former manager Frank Lampard back as caretaker for the remainder of the season.
If Lampard is indeed in charge this weekend, it remains to be seen what changes he will make to the starting XI, especially with their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Real Madrid coming up next week.
Raheem Sterling and Myhailo Mudryk are the main candidates to come in and refresh the attack. Meanwhile, Mason Mount, who hasn’t appeared in the Blues’ last six games, is a Lampard favourite and could finally get recalled.
History
While Chelsea will come into this match with an interim manager – either Bruno Saltor or Frank Lampard – it was Wolves who had the interim boss during their first fixture of the season back in October. Graham Potter’s Chelsea ran out 3-0 winners against Steve Davis, who had taken charge of Wolves after Bruno Lage’s dismissal.
But prior to that, Wolves had had quite a decent record against Chelsea. They had gone four straight games unbeaten against the Blues, with a win and three consecutive draws.
But of course, Chelsea still have a superior record in the Premier League era, with 9 wins to 3, and 4 draws.
SBOTOP odds have Chelsea installed as 1.98 favourites to end their current winless slump at Molineux. Wolves are priced at 3.50 while a draw is 3.25.
While Chelsea have had their issues of late, they are simply too good not to win against Wolves. The return of Frank Lampard should re-energise the players, who will now be fighting for places for the remaineder of the season. So look for the Blues to finally break their winless skid at Molineux.
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Premier League: Moyes and Hammers Need Lift-Off by the Thames
Fulham vs West Ham United
At the time of writing this, I’m not convinced David Moyes will last the day as manager of Premier League strugglers West Ham.
Then I think again and feel that the task of replacing the Scot with a better option at this stage of the season – when the games are coming thick and fast – will probably prove difficult.
Yet surprisingly, after everything they have achieved in the past few years, Premier League survival is on the line, never mind Europa Conference hopes.
The experienced Scot and West Ham should have more than enough to pull clear of the danger zone – despite the precarious position they find themselves in but they need to find points fast.
Yet Wednesday’s 5-1 humbling at home to Newcastle will not be forgotten by many of the Hammers’ faithful – a good number of whom left long before the final whistle – and it remains to be seen if the club owners are prepared to keep faith with the current managerial team this summer, even if they pull clear of the drop zone.
For now, it’s off to the Thames to face Fulham and a contest they dare not lose.
Talking Points
When you consider West Ham are currently in 15th place in the standings you might think they were clear of trouble.
Yet they are the highest of four teams on 27 points, thanks only to a superior goal difference, and have not won away from home in the Premier League since August,
Fulham’s Andreas Pereira celebrates scoring their first goal with Harrison Reed
He is due to miss the club’s next seven matches following his meltdown moment in the Cottagers’ FA Cup quarter-final defeat.
That means that Carlos Vinicius is likely to continue up front.
Manager Marco Silva will also serve the first of his two-match touchline ban following an incident in the same game.
Neeskens Kebano and Layvin Kurzawa remain out for the home team.
Fulham have won three London derbies in the Premier League this season and could secure four such victories in a single top-flight campaign for the first time in their history if they see off West Ham on Easter Saturday afternoon.
With tension rising amongst the east end faithful, this could be an intriguing encounter full of Premier League highlights.
That was one of four Hammers’ victories in their last five matches.
It was in 2014 when Fulham won this contest.
New Year’s Day 2014 actually as Steve Sidwell and Dimitar Berbatov scored the goals after Mo Diame had put West Ham ahead.
The very first meeting between these clubs came in the Southern League Second Division in 1898 when West Ham were 2-1 winners – B. Gresham and J. Reynolds the scorers.
Arsenal drew 2-2 with Liverpool on a huge weekend of Premier League football packed with action and drama, a result which means the 2022/23 title is now in Manchester City’s hands.
The Gunners are still six points clear but City have a game in hand and a home clash with the league leaders to come. Put simply, If Pep Guardiola’s team win their remaining games they retain their title. If Arsenal win theirs… they are champions.
Away from Anfield goals flooded in the length and breadth of the country, Kevin de Bruyne and Heung-Min Son both reached century landmarks while Erling Braut Haaland racked up 30 goals in the Premier League season.
The Premier League 2023 betting odds have nudged towards North London in recent weeks but Arsenal had lost their last six Premier League matches at Anfield and this was a massive test of their title credentials, and they almost passed. In remembrance of the 1989 Hillsborough tragedy, when 97 Liverpool fans lost their lives, the ground stayed silent as fans observed a minute silence.
And then to the action…
Eight minutes was all it took for Arsenal to strike and it was a combination of slick attacking and a soft Liverpool centre which opened up the way for Gabriel Martinelli to slide the ball past Allison and into the net. The young Brazilian has been sensational this season and he was the man who created the second, midway through the first half, when he spun past Trent Alexander-Arnold before sending over a perfect cross for his compatriot Gabriel Jesus who rose majestically to head home.
The Gunners were coasting; but then a clash between Granit Xhaka and Trent woke the crowd up and they in turn roared their team on to a response. The Reds pulled one back with a great team goal: Curtis Jones to Diogo Jota who squared to Jordan Henderson and he found Mo Salah who poked home.
Game on!
The momentum was with Liverpool and when Rob Holding brought Cody Gakpo down Salah had a chance to level from the penalty spot. But, just as he did against Bournemouth recently, the usually lethal Egyptian passed the ball the wrong side of the post. Liverpool pressed and Arsenal keeper Aaron Ramsdale made a fine save to deny Darwin Nunez, but when Trent stood up a cross for Roberto Firmino the Liverpool man became the third Brazilian to score.
In a frantic finish Ramsdale made two incredible saves to preserve a point for the leaders and how important might they be?
Manchester City are relentless
Pep Guardiola’s Sky Blues have been rampant in recent weeks, winning nine on the bounce and scoring for fun, and they took Southampton apart at the St Mary’s Stadium, winning 4-1 to put pressure on the Gunners for the second week running. The reigning champions had to wait until the 45th minute before Haaland broke the deadlock and then he scored his 30th of the campaign with a spectacular scissor kick after the excellent Jack Grealish had made it 2-0.
De Bruyne’s cross for the opener was his 100th assist in the league while Grealish scored in back to back games for the first time in his City career. Sekou Mara scored a consolation for the Saints before Julian Alvarez made it 4-1 with a late penalty.
The Sky Blues have a mouth-watering Champions League tie with FC Bayern on Tuesday, it’s a clash we’ll be reporting on here at SBOTOP and it promises to be another cracker.
Son shines but VAR gets in wrong again
Heung-Min Son celebrates his 100th goal for Tottenham Hotspur against Brighton and Hove Albion
In other Premier League 2023 highlights, Heung-Min Son scored his 100th league goal for Tottenham as the Whites ran out 2-1 winners over Brighton and Hove Albion. It was a match full of controversy but Son’s goal was a thing of beauty as he curled in a cracker to be the first Asian player to reach the century. Lewis Dunk powered in a header to level for Brighton but then the technology took over.
Seagulls boss Roberto de Zerbi was understandably dismayed by the intervention of VAR which ruled out two Brighton goals for handball, both of them highly questionably, and he was red carded, along with Spurs head coach Cristian Stellini after a series of touchline spats. It’s probably a good job De Zerbi was on his way down the tunnel when Kaoru Mitoma was chopped down by Pierre Emile Hojbjerg in the box, and that he was having a cup of tea when Lewis Dunk was later dragged back in the penalty area.
To compound matters Harry Kane predictably netted the winner before the PGMOL issued their third apology of the campaign to Brighton for losing them games…which is nice. I wonder if the VAR officials have received any thanks from Spurs!
Frank fails at Molineux
Frank Lampard’s return to Stamford Bridge was greeted by a sentimental welcome from Blues fans and some bewilderment from the rest of us. After being sacked as head coach by Chelsea in 2021, he took Everton very close to relegation last season before being potted by the Toffees in January this year.
The former Chelsea playing legend just doesn’t seem to be able to cut it on the touchline and, though these are very early days, he masterminded a 1-0 defeat to strugglers Wolves in his first game back in charge. His team was beaten by a stunning Matheus Nunes volley at Molineux and, despite having more possession and shots, they barely troubled the Wolves keeper registering just one effort on target. The Blues have plenty of flair players but it’s plain as day that Chelsea need a striker who can hit the net…this defeat makes it three matches without a goal.
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Does anybody really know what’s happening at Stamford Bridge? Can anyone explain the board’s strategy? Here we are, with just a few weeks of the 2022/23 campaign to go and Frank Lampard has returned to coach the club which sacked him two years ago.
The former playing legend is the third manager to sit in the Chelsea dugout this term after Thomas Tuchel, now at FC Bayern, and the highly rated Graham Potter were shown the door. Having shelled out almost half a billion pounds on players since his arrival at Stamford Bridge last summer, owner Todd Boehly probably did not expect to see his team sitting in the bottom half of the Premier League table midway through April.
Remember, this is a club which, under the previous ownership of Roman Abramovich, won five Premier League titles, five FA Cups and two Champions Leagues. The Blues and their fans are not used to swilling around in mid table, just above the nine teams which are in a furious relegation scrap.
I dare say if Tuchel, who led Chelsea to the 2021 Champions League and had a win ratio of 60 per cent when he was axed, was still at the club they would be significantly higher. But having made his move for Potter and backed him in the January market it’s a bit of a head-scratcher as to why Boehly pulled the trigger again. Does he have a long-term plan for the club?
We thought the hire and fire days of the Abramovich regime were over and the departure of Tuchel was down to a clash of personalities; but sack Potter…what on earth is that all about?
Lampard, who was recently spotted by struggling Everton, oversaw a 1-0 defeat to Wolves on his first game back in charge, and more worryingly the Blues registered just one shot on target. The Premier League 2023 betting oddshave long since forgotten Chelsea in terms of the title race but results like that are hard to stomach in any situation.
And Lampard’s upcoming run of fixtures don’t provide much comfort. Home games against Brighton and Hove Albion and Brentford don’t sound too ominous but both the Seagulls and the Bees are above Chelsea in the league, then matches away to Arsenal and Manchester City couldn’t be much harder. Only a meeting at home to relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest looks like a banker for the Blues. Fail to win that and I’d love to see what Boehly does next!
Chelsea’s Joao Felix talks to manager Frank Lampard during their Premier League match against the Wolves
Some of the best young players in the world have arrived at Stamford Bridge, including Joao Felix and World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez, to join the likes of Kai Havertz, Mason Mount, Reece James and Christian Pulisic. These should be exciting times at Chelsea, and, with the experience of Thiago Silva, Mateo Kovacic, N’Golo Kante and Raheem Sterling in the group, the club looks like it should be a top-four cert.
But they will be very lucky to make a Europa League place.
Chelsea also have a Champions League quarter-final tie against Real Madrid to take care of, with the first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday. Could they possibly beat Los Blancos and have a shot at European glory? The latest SBOTOP odds price the Blues at2.75 to navigate the tie with Madrid at a much shorter price of 1.43.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side are out of the running in the La Liga title race, losing at home to Villarreal at the weekend, but they are a dominant side in Europe, tearing Liverpool apart in the last round and Ancelotti is one of the best tacticians in the business.
I don’t hold out much hope for the West Londoners.
So, If Lampard is an interim appointment who will be in the dugout at the start of the 2023/24 season? We can’t rule the caretaker out entirely. If the former midfield ace can string together a spectacular set of Premier League 2023 resultsand/or win the Champions League then Boehly may be tempted to stick with him.
But I doubt it.
If not Lampard then the 35-year-old Julian Nagelsmann, recently sacked by FC Bayern, and former Barcelona and Spain manager Luis Enrique are the front runners. They both have the pedigree and playing style to please the Chelsea fans; but they, and the owners, will want to see a return on investment…and that means a top-four place and a trophy.
Former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane and Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone have been mentioned. They are both proven winners and Simeone has the pragmatic approach of Chelsea’s Special One, Jose Mourinho and another successful Blues manager, Antonio Conte. This is a club in transition, though it looks like turmoil at the moment, and there won’t be a dull moment at the Bridge over the next 12 months.
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Of course, you don’t need this SBOTOP writer to tell you that.
Nor do you need to study the Premier League betting odds or the league table to know just how much is at stake over the next few weeks.
That is because there is always plenty to talk about where the Premier League is concerned.
Ever since it was formed 31 years ago, the top flight of English football has provided stories and headlines few other sporting contests – or even non-sorting contests – can compete with.
So, where shall we start this week?
Well, how about with the incident – and I use that term in the loosest sense of the word – which occurred at half-time in the match between Liverpool and table toppers Arsenal on Sunday.
The assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis has been stood down while an investigation takes place after it was suggested he elbowed Liverpool defender Andy Robertson.
Liverpool’s Thiago Alcantara with Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale
Surely, anyone watching television evidence can see that but no, there is a drawn-out process which has seen the assistant stood down from officiating this weekend.
Former Manchester United skipper Roy Keane said after the match that Robertson acted like a ‘big baby’ and it’s hard to disagree.
By making a big issue out of this, once again the spotlight is falling on the side-show, rather than the issues that actually matter.
The latest has seen Leicester City turn to Dean Smith in a bid to preserve their top flight status after appointing the former Aston Villa manager on a short-term contract until the end of the season.
He met the Leicester squad before taking charge of training on Tuesday and there is an irony that Smith has been joined by Craig Shakespeare and John Terry, both of whom were part of his coaching staff at Villa.
Shakespeare, who was sacked four months into his reign as Leicester manager in 2017, actually worked as an assistant to Nigel Pearson and Claudio Ranieri, who led the club to the Premier League title against all odds in 2016.
Leicester have lost eight of their past nine matches in all competitions and are two points from safety with eight games to play.
Smith will know that precarious position can be overcome but, second bottom in the table, he may have to wait to start working wonders given his first game up is at champions Manchester City this weekend.
As for City, is a third successive league title now a reality?
Certainly, they will have worked out if they win their remaining league games – including a showdown with leaders Arsenal – they should grab top spot (perhaps on goal difference).
Even accounting for their resources, that would be a fine achievement for a club which possesses the league’s most potent weapon.
In the words of their manager Pep Guardiola: ‘As a top scorer we lived two incredible decades with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, but he is on that level.’
He is, unsurprisingly, talking about Erling Haaland whose phenomenal goal record speaks for itself – the manager clarified he was pinpointing that rather than suggesting the Norwegian’s all-round package was comparable with the other two greats.
Yet in Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne, City have two players who could make their title (and Champions League) dreams a reality.
Haaland now has 30 top-flight goals this season and will surely beat the 34-goal record Alan Shearer and Andy Cole share for the Premier League era over 42 league games (not the current 38).
Last weekend, De Bruyne also notched his 100th Premier League assist, making him the quickest player to reach that tally by a margin of 56 games from ex-Arsenal and Chelsea man Cesc Fabregas.
‘Kevin is back,’ smiled Guardiola, who was frustrated with his playmaker’s form earlier in the spring but is no more.
Players of this quality often win top prizes. Would you bet against the champions as they ignore the noise and focus on the football?
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Premier League: All change for Lilywhites and Cherries
Tottenham Hotspur vs AFC Bournemouth
The Premier League season is gearing up for an intriguing final six weeks at all ends of the table and these two clubs are stuck right in the middle of that narrative.
Spurs, who began the season with such high hopes after a strong second half to the last campaign, are now looking for a new manager after the Antonio Conte era lasted less than 18 months.
Bournemouth, who began the season following an impressive promotion with the odds stacked firmly against them before quickly parting company with their boss after being on the receiving end of a 9-0 demolition, have now given themselves a glimmer of hope in their bid to beat the drop.
Bournemouth celebrate after Dominic Solanke scored their second goal against Fulham
The hosts need all three points to try and qualify for the Champions League and the big money boon it brings.
The visitors need all three points to try and pull away further from the drop zone and stay in the cash-rich top flight instead of making an immediate return to the Championship.
Given what is at stake, perhaps its not unreasonable to expect Premier League highlights this weekend.
Talking Points
Spurs fans are generally frustrated and unhappy right now.
Their ire can center on a number of factors: the Daniel Levy effect (the under-fire owner), the need to keep hold of captain Harry Kane who has little more than a year remaining on his contract, the Conte fall-out and the clamour for a return of Mauricio Pochettino are among the topics.
At the same time as their North London rivals Arsenal lead the table and are vying for a first league title in almost two decades, it is not difficult to see why they are angry after tangible progress last term has not been built upon in recent months.
Even last weekend’s victory over Brighton was somewhat fortuitous with the visitors since receiving an apology from PGMOL chief Howard Webb to acknowledge a mistake which denied them a penalty.
All in all then, perhaps Spurs can use that good fortune to their advantage as they eye another home game against opponents from the south coast.
Bournemouth may not be as straightforward as they seem though.
They climbed three points clear of the drop zone with a 1-0 win at Leicester City last Saturday in which they were sharper to the ball and ran out deserved winners.
The Cherries’ form on the road has been very poor, losing eight of their last nine on their travels before that, but their second clean sheet in 25 away games left the visiting supporters serenading the players with chants of ‘The reds are staying up’.
Another three points, or even a point, away from home this weekend and that belief will grow even stronger.
History
Only twice in 12 meetings have the Cherries prevailed over the North London giants.
The first time was in their very first meeting in 1957 in the FA Cup when the then Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic were 3-1 winners in a fifth round tie – this against a Spurs team that would go on to clinch a league and cup double four seasons later.
That was when Ryan Sessegnon, Ben Davies and, in the final minute, Rodrigo Bentancur scored to render Kieffer Moore’s well-taken double all in vain.
The last time they met in London was in November 2019 when Spurs also won by the same scoreline, edging home with goals from Dele Alli (two) and Moussa Sissoko before a late Harry Wilson double added respectability for the south coast club.
Both clubs need the points for different reasons but I do think Spurs should have enough and will play better than they did in their 2-1 win over Brighton on Easter Saturday when they were fortunate to secure all three points.
The Sbotop Premier League betting odds reflect that with the home side on offer 1X2 @ 1.44 and Asian Handicap -1.50 @ 2.28.
That compares to the Cherries who are priced 1X2 @ 6.00 and Asian Handicap +1.00 @ 2.19.
The draw @ 4.20 will earn a decent payday, as will a repeat of their meeting six months ago with Correct Score 3-2 available @ 27.00.
This time I simply cannot see past a league double for Spurs and that is reflected in my *** tip of Half Time Full Time Home Home @ 2.16.
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Premier League: Penny For The Thoughts Of An Absent Friend
Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
There will be an elephant in the room, or more accurately, in the stadium at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon.
He won’t be in attendance at this Premier League match, certainly I very much doubt it, but thoughts will inevitably turn to him before his two recent employers battle it out.
Talking Points
Graham Potter started the season in charge of Brighton with a growing reputation and an ever-improving pedigree.
The former Ostersunds FK and Swansea City manager had led the Seagulls to a ninth-place finish last season, the club’s highest ever in the top flight.
And he picked up where he left off, winning at Old Trafford on the opening weekend of the campaign and guiding them to fourth in the table after winning four and drawing one of their opening six Premier League games.
Then came a call which was too good to turn down.
Chelsea needed a new boss after the harsh sacking of Thomas Tuchel and Potter’s progress had been noted.
In fact, within a few days his assistant Billy Reid, first-team coaches Bjorn Hamberg and Bruno, goalkeeping coach Ben Roberts and assistant head of recruitment, Kyle Macaulay, all joined him in West London as Chelsea paid Brighton in excess of £21 million in compensation.
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard during their Champions League match against Real Madrid
Fast forward little over six months and Potter (and Reid) have gone and Chelsea have a caretaker manager in Frank Lampard and are sitting in 11th place in the Premier League, four places and seven points behind Brighton who have continued to thrive, if not, improve under Roberto de Zerbi, who has also guided them to the FA Cup semi-finals.
So, despite probably spending more in one transfer window than Brighton have spent in their entire history, it is the visitors who appear in much better shape ahead of this clash which has the potential for Premier League highlights.
What next for Chelsea is a question that will be asked plenty of times between now and the end of the season.
Whatever the answer is, if Lampard doesn’t guide his team to victory this weekend, there will be more murmurs of discontent amongst the home faithful.
Indeed, De Zerbi’s team exhibited a real verve rarely seen in the N17 postcode of late and were victims of poor decisions on at least one occasion – most notably when Kaoru Mitoma was tripped in the box but referee Stuart Attwell failed to spot the infringement. The error was compounded when the video assistant referee (VAR) failed to overturn the decision.
The PGMOL’s chief refereeing officer, Howard Webb, has since made contact with Brighton to apologise for the officials’ failure, although they would have rather a point or three than an apology!
Will their luck change on Saturday or are lavish Chelsea due a change in fortune?
History
Brighton have only tasted victory twice in this fixture – in their very first game in the third round of the 1933 FA Cup, and earlier this season when they were terrific, racing into a half-time 3-0 lead enroute to a 4-1 success which was the return Potter and Marc Cucurella (who had left Brighton a month before Potter) must have dreaded.
As well as own goals from Cucurella and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Leandro Trossard and Pascal Gross were on target with Kai Havertz netting what was a mere consolation for the aristocrats from west London.
To show the rise of Brighton, the previous three meetings had also been draws, including the corresponding fixture last season when Danny Wellbeck netted a 90th minute equaliser to cancel out Romelu Lukaku’s opener.
Overall, Chelsea have 12 wins and there have been five draws out of their 19 games.
Brighton should have no fear taking on the big boys of west London and that is reflected in the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds which show Chelsea as only marginal favourites.
They can be backed 1X2 @ 2.50 and Asian Handicap -0.25 @ 2.23.
Brighton are available 1X2 @ 2.61 and Asian Handicap -0.25 @ 2.38.
I have been so tempted to go for a Brighton win, while a repeat of their 1-1 Draw last term – on offer @ 5.40 with Correct Score – also appealed. I so nearly plumped for Double Chance Draw Away @ 6.40 too but I am going to sit on the fence on this one.
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Premier League: Showdown of Surprise Top-Six Clubs at Villa Park
Aston Villa vs Newcastle United
Two of the most in-form teams in the Premier League outside the two title contenders will square off as sixth-placed Aston Villa host third-placed Newcastle United.
The Villans have undergone a spectacular turnaround under Unai Emery as they’ve gone unbeaten in their last seven matches. Now, they are set to go head-to-head with Eddie Howe, who took over the Newcastle job after Emery turned it down in 2021.
Howe has done an equally brilliant job leading the Magpies to the cusp of a top-four finish – and a return to the Champions League.
And they can further improve their Premier League 2023 odds of clinching that top-four spot with a key win at Villa Park.
Talking Points
Emery’s Aston Villa riding seven-match unbeaten run
Unai Emery passed on his chance to return to the Premier League as he turned down Newcastle United in 2021. But he made the decision to join Aston Villa after they sacked Steven Gerrard earlier this season, and that move has proven to be an outstanding one for both parties.
The Spaniard has spearheaded a remarkable turnaround at Villa Park, with the Villans rising to sixth in the Premier League on the strength of a seven-match unbeaten streak (six wins and a draw).
While it has been a relatively easy stretch of their schedule – all seven of the teams they faced were in the bottom half of the table – Villa’s consistency has nevertheless been quite impressive.
Emery has instilled his trademark defensive solidity onto a side that doesn’t possess the greatest individual talent; they have conceded just two goals during their recent unbeaten run.
Meanwhile, Ollie Watkins has consistently been producing Premier League 2023 highlights as the main man in the Villa attack, scoring 9 goals in his last 11 games.
Watkins’ strike partner, Leon Bailey, picked up a hamstring injury in their 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest last time out and will miss the match. Bertrand Traore, who has scored in back-to-back games, is expected to start in Bailey’s place.
Howe’s Newcastle still on course for Champions League
Newcastle United are not really regretting missing out on Emery, as Eddie Howe has the club close to a coveted Champions League spot. The Magpies are in third place, tied on points with Manchester United and three points clear of Tottenham with a game in hand.
Newcastle did not let the recent disappointments of their EFL Cup final defeat to Manchester United, coupled with back-to-back Premier League defeats to Liverpool and Man City, get them down.
They have come back strong after those setbacks, winning each of the last five Premier League games. That includes a 2-0 win over Man United, as well as back-to-back away wins at West Ham and Brentford.
Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak celebrates scoring their second goal against Brentford in the Premier League
Alexander Isak has been instrumental in their current winning run. The Swede has scored five goals in his last five games and is starting to look like the top centre-forward Newcastle broke their transfer record to sign.
They also have Callum Wilson returning to top form. After scoring just once in the span of four months, Wilson has three goals and an assist in his last three games to provide Howe with a dangerous weapon off the bench.
However, Howe will be without electric winger Allan Saint-Maximin, who is dealing with a thigh injury. Leading scorer Miguel Almiron has also missed the last month with a thigh issue, but while he has returned to training, it remains to be seen whether he will be ready to start this weekend.
History
Aston Villa and Newcastle have squared off 51 times in the Premier League. Newcastle hold a commanding 24-11 advantage in wins, with 16 draws.
Villa went unbeaten in their last seven Premier League meetings, but Newcastle have since won back-to-back games at home. That includes a 4-0 thumping at St James’ Park in October, when Villa had caretaker manager Aaron Danks in charge. Callum Wilson bagged a brace, while Joelinton and Almiron scored the other two goals in the win.
SBOTOP odds have Newcastle installed as slight 2.16 favourites to come up with the away win at Villa Park. The Villans are priced at 3.10, while a draw is 3.20.
This match is a close one to call, with both clubs in fantastic form. Emery has Villa playing impressive defence, and it will be tough for Newcastle to break them down, especially without both Almiron and Saint-Maximin. Therefore, this showdown of surprising top-six clubs could very well end in a stalemate.
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If ever there was a Premier League mismatch, I think we may have one looming on Saturday folks when title-chasing Manchester City entertain relegation-threatened Leicester City at the Etihad Stadium.
Pep Guardiola’s Sky Blues are looking unbeatable on current form with Erling Haaland now working brilliantly with the talented bunch of players around him. The big Norwegian may be the last part in City’s Champions League jigsaw and, with 45 goals already this season, the Foxes have good reason to run scared.
But Leicester can’t afford to hide from their current predicament. They are in 19th place and two points from safety, a position they never dreamed they’d be in having finished fifth, fifth, and eighth over the past three campaigns and winning the FA Cup in 2021.
Manchester City come into the game on the back of a hugely impressive 3-0 victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League, while Leicester lost a relegation six-pointer at home to Bournemouth, so it doesn’t look good for the beleaguered visitors with the Sky Blues at SBOTOPodds of 1.14 to win this game.
But this is the club which won the 2016 Premier League title at odds of 5001.00, so their fans are accustomed to seeing the unlikely happen.
I just can’t see it this time.
Talking Points
Treble chasers are in devastating form
Over the last five games, City have scored 24 goals and conceded just two in a spectacular run for performances including the big win over Bayern, a 4-1 education of Liverpool, and a 7-0 hammering of RB Leipzig.
Bernardo Silva was simply sensational against FC Bayern wing-back Alphonso Davies, who has pace to burn but simply could not cope with the Portuguese ace’s movement and trickery.
Erling Haaland scored his 45th goal in all competitions against the Bavarians, and he already has 30 in the Premier League from 27 games.
That’s to mention but two of City’s stars who are banging in form, and Pep has 18 or more.
Striker Julian Alvarez has delivered every time he has been called upon, while Jack Grealish is now looking like the £100M player the Sky Blues bought in 2021.
Such is the fluidity of this team that central defender John Stones played in a roving midfield role against Bayern and was superb.
And the latest Premier League 2023 betting odds on a Sky Blue title have come in to 1.66. Guardiola’s side is also favourite to win the FA Cup and the Champions League, and it’s becoming hard to see where they will slip up.
Can Smith save the Foxes?
In sharp contrast, the Foxes have put together an abject set of Premier League 2023 results since the World Cup, and the club has made a change in the hot seat in an attempt to change fortunes on the pitch.
Following the departure of Brendan Rodgers, former Aston Villa and Norwich City boss Dean Smith has been drafted in to try and save Leicester’s season, but not everyone in the East Midlands is excited by the appointment.
Former Norwich City head coach Dean Smith is set to take over Leicester City as a new manager
In November 2021, Smith left Aston Villa, the club he had guided to promotion from the Championship through the play-offs. At the time he left Villa Park, his team had been on a run of five consecutive defeats.
He then took over a Norwich City almost immediately but failed to keep them in the top-flight, and he was sacked by the Carrow Road hierarchy after the Canaries fell off the promotion pace early in the current Championship campaign.
Recent defeats to relegation rivals Southampton, Crystal Palace, and Bournemouth have been particularly damaging to the Foxes, and maybe the owners are looking for a pragmatist to dig them out of trouble, as indeed the Norwich fans were underwhelmed by the playing style Smith brought to their club.
The first thing he will try to do is make the Foxes hard to beat, and that’s easier said than done against Manchester City, particularly following the departures of defender Wesley Fofana and legendary keeper Kasper Schmeichel.
Current centre-backs Wout Faes and Daniel Amartey need to find some steel and consistency because, if they can keep things tight at the back, flair players Harvey Barnes and James Maddison will have more opportunity to impact games.
History
The Sky Blues have had much the better of their encounters with Leicester in the Premier League era, winning 19 of the 31 meetings, losing eight, and drawing four.
Guardiola’s side have won the last three, including a 1-0 win at the King Power Stadium earlier in the campaign, and they took the Foxes apart in a 6-3 victory at the Etihad Stadium last season.
In terms of recent form, the Foxes are without a win in nine while their opponents have won their last nine. And Manchester City’s home form reads 12 wins, one draw, and one defeat.
Surely only a diehard and supremely optimistic Leicester fan would back their team at a price of 12.56 and even a draw at 6.56 should be a step too far.
For a correct scoreline, 3-0 to City at 6.37 or 4-0 at 8.92 are both more likely than a Foxes win.
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Eight games to go, eight results needed, it’s a simple as that for Premier League leaders Arsenal as they prepare to meet West Ham in a fizzing London clash on Sunday.
More accurately, if they can avoid defeat against Manchester City when they visit the Etihad Stadium on 26th April and win their other seven games then had coach Mikel Arteta will have guided the Gunners to a first league title in 20 years.
Arsenal dropped points in a dramatic 2-2 draw with Liverpool last week, and that made the Premier League 2023 betting odds take a shift northwards towards Manchester City who are now odds on favourites at a price of 1.66 to win the 2022/23 title. The Gunners are still at odds of 2.00, and a twist in their favour could still happen. Indeed, should both title contenders win this weekend and then Arsenal triumph at home to Southampton while City are on FA Cup manoeuvres, Arteta’s side could go to Manchester with a nine point lead and that would add a just a little more pressure on the Mancunians.
The first hurdle to jump over is a tricky encounter at the London Stadium, against a West Ham side, which is on the up. David Moyes has guided his team to two wins from the last three, a 1-0 victory away to high flying Fulham which lifted them away from the relegation zone.
With Manchester City hosting Leicester City on Saturday, the gap will likely to down to three points when these London neighbours meet…and that is when the Gunners need to hold their nerve.
Talking Points
Saliba out for Arsenal
Centre back Rob Holding looks set to deputise again for the injured William Saliba after the France international has missed training again this week. While the Gunners have wowed fans with their flair players this term, Saliba has been brilliant at the back with his calm defensive performances and ability to launch and support attacks. He has missed the last three games with a back injury and with the winner-takes-all clash against Manchester City looming, Arteta will be reluctant to rush him back too early.
Holding has been a capable deputy but there was little he could do to stop a late Liverpool onslaught on Sunday and it was down to keeper Aaron Ramsdale to make three outstanding saves, late in the game, to preserve what could be a crucial point for the Gunners.
The much discussed spat between Liverpool’s Andrew Robertson and linesman Constantine Hatzidakis was an unhelpful distraction during the game as it happened after the Londoners had raced into a two goal lead as the brilliant Gabriel Martinelli scored one goal and made another for Gabriel Jesus.
But it turned out to be a frustrating afternoon for the Gunners who had to settle for a point when Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino struck.
Hammers in Europa action
While West Ham have toiled for much of the Premier League campaign, they have been superb in Europe and have a Europa League Conference quarter final against Gent on Thursday night. Moyes will use his full squad with the visit of Arsenal on the horizon but will put out a strong team in a competition he feels he can win.
And winning is a habit.
After a handy run of Premier League 2023 results, the Hammers are out to a SBOTOP price of 15.00 to go down, with six teams below seemingly set for a battle to the death. But, Moyes’ boys are still only three points above the drop zone, with a game in hand and they could easily get dragged into the scrap, so they will be up for the fight against Arsenal.
Declan Rice of West Ham United celebrates winning in their away match against Fulham
The key battle will be in the midfield where West Ham’s best players, Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek, will aim to dominate against Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey, as Liverpool did in the second half at Anfield.
History
Arsenal have had a lot of success against their East London neighbors in the Premier League era, winning 37 of their 55 encounters, while drawing ten and losing just eight over the last three decades. In fact, the Gunners have won five of the last six, drawing the other, a six goal thriller at the London Stadium in 2021.
But in terms of recent form the Hammers have the edge, winning four of their last six games while Arsenal have won three.
Arsenal are unbeaten in five games on the road and they will have to be at their best to keep that run going. At odds of 1.53 to win Arteta’s team would be delighted with another three crucial points while, at 4.84 to win and 3.83 to draw the Hammers will fancy their chances of eking out a result.
The Gunners might just squeeze through but I think this would have been an easier task for them a month ago.
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Premier League: Red Devils Can be Too Hot for Forest
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United
Nottingham Forest are in trouble. There’s no hiding from the fact that, in their first season back in the Premier League, Steve Cooper’s side is in danger of making a quick return to the Championship.
Sitting 18th in the league table and on a terrible run of results, Forest are in the mire and the visit of Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United top-four chasing is unlikely to help.
United come into the game on the back of a 2-2 draw with Sevilla in the Europa League and, having surrendered a two goal lead, I suspect the boss has made it clear he doesn’t expect to see that kind of sloppiness again.
Meanwhile, Forest slumped to a 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa last weekend, and I fear they maybe about to see the ruthless side of the Red Devils.
After a month-long suspension, Brazilian midfield ace Casemiro made a return to action in Manchester United’s clash with Sevilla and he was joined by the long-term injured Christian Eriksen who climbed off the bench midway through the second half.
Both players were a welcome sight for Manchester United fans after they had, along with centre-back Raphael Varane, introduced a long-awaited winning mentality in the dressing room.
Casemiro has been the perfect box-to-box midfielder since his arrival on the transfer deadline in August. He’s combative when needed, has a brilliant array of passing, and has popped up with some crucial goals.
And Eriksen, with his wand of a right foot, was the most productive assist-maker for United before his injury. Both are likely to make a start against Nottingham Forest and the hosts don’t have any players to match their calibre.
But there may be a couple of key players taking Casemiro and Eriksen’s places in the physio room after the centre-back pairing of Varane and Lisandro Martinez both picked up injuries against Sevilla.
Harry Maguire is likely to step in and that won’t inspire much confidence among the United faithful. He came on a substitute for Varane and scored the own goal which gave Los Sevillinos a draw.
But the Red Devils have been in the shadow of Manchester City for a decade now and, if their fight-back is to continue, ten Hag’s men simply have to beat Nottingham.
Forest floundering
Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper looks dejected after their loss to Aston Villa
Not so long ago, Nottingham Forest were edging towards mid table and talk of “three or four more wins needed for another season in the top-flight” reverberated around the red part of the East Midlands. But take a look at the latest relegation Premier League 2023 betting odds and you see a stark reality.
Forest are priced by SBOTOP as low as 1.36 to drop through the trapdoor with only Southampton lower. The next two up are Leicester City in turmoil but with stacks of top-flight talent, and Everton, coached by Sean Dyche who is an expert in scrapping for results.
What does Nottingham Forest have?
A bright young coach and 20-plus players, thrown together at great cost in the hope of making an immediate impact in the toughest league in the world.
The first half of the campaign went okay, but Forest relied too heavily on home form and now they need a pretty good run of Premier League 2023 results to help them survive.
Without a win in nine league games, Cooper’s side has eight left against Manchester United, Liverpool, Brighton, Brentford, Southampton, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Crystal Palace.
Can you see three wins there?
History
Manchester United have won eight of their 11 meetings with Nottingham Forest, drawing two and losing one, winning the league clash at Old Trafford 3-0, and putting Forest out of the Carabao Cup with an aggregate 5-0 victory.
With four wins, a draw, and a defeat, the Red Devils are in decent shape while, with two draws and four defeats, the hosts are anything but.
The only thing that gives Forest fans some hope is a solid home record of five wins, six draws, and four defeats.
Forest are at odds of 4.36 to earn a vital three points or 3.54 to draw, with Manchester United at 1.63 to win. And for a correct score line 2-0 to the Red Devils are priced at 7.33.
The hosts will fight hard in front of a passionate crowd and they will get chances .But anything other than a United win with Casemiro and Eriksen back in the fold would be a big surprise.
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Premier League: Expect Goals from Leeds and Liverpool at Elland Road
Leeds United vs Liverpool
The Whites’ bid for Premier League survival continues at Elland Road this Monday, as they’re set to host Liverpool in what will be another fascinating encounter.
Leeds are coming off a crushing 5-1 loss to Crystal Palace last week, while Liverpool managed to hold league leaders Arsenal to a 2-2 draw on Sunday.
Liverpool are currently eighth in the standings with 44 points, and they’re desperate to spark a late push for a spot in Europe next season, although finishing in the top four sounds unrealistic at this point.
Meanwhile, Leeds, who are in 16th place, are gunning for points to put them clear of the relegation zone.
The pre-game SBOTOP betting odds expect Liverpool to cruise past Leeds, but it should be taken with a grain of salt since Leeds already beat them earlier this season.
The jury is still out on Javi Gracia, but so far, Leeds have improved. Under his tutelage, Leeds recorded three wins in their first seven league games under him, which is more than in their previous 20 league games.
Gracia has been mixing it up with his rotations, and he has yet to find a consistently winning combination, but there are a few players that you have to keep an eye on if you’re Liverpool.
Rodrigo Moreno and Crysencio Summerville, the guys who scored on them last time, should be factors on Monday. And they should be ready to go after being rested against Crystal Palace.
But the star man for Leeds in this match is Jack Harrison, who recently signed a five-year deal to extend his stay at Elland Road. Harrison has been solid this year, scoring four goals and dishing out six assists to keep opposing defences honest.
When Harrison finds the back of the net, it’s almost guaranteed that Leeds will win. He has scored in 30 matches, and the Whites have won 26 of those games (87-per cent).
In other team news, Tyler Adams is still sidelined for the hosts due to a hamstring injury that he sustained before the international break. Weston McKennie will continue to fill in for his compatriot in midfield alongside Marc Roca.
Salah will be vital for Liverpool
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah in action against Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney during their Premier League match
Mohamed Salah seems to love playing against Leeds since he has notched seven goals and one assist in his four games against them, which is the highest mark by any Liverpool player.
He also became one of only four players to have at least 20 goals and assists in six consecutive Premier League seasons after scoring against Arsenal last weekend, joining Thierry Henry, Sergio Aguero, and Harry Kane.
Furthermore, the return of Luis Diaz and Thiago will further benefit Liverpool. Diaz hasn’t played since October, while Thiago came off the bench against Arsenal.
History
Leeds had one of the biggest Premier League 2023 results against Liverpool at Anfield during their reverse fixture last October with a score of 2-1.
Rodrigo Moreno scored first for the Whites after just four minutes, and then Mohamed Salah drew level 10 minutes later. But Crysencio Summerville came up clutch when he put the Whites ahead for good with his late goal.
Should Leeds win again on Monday, it’ll only be their second ever Premier League double against Liverpool, having previously achieved it in the 2000-01 season under former manager David O’Leary.
But Liverpool haven’t lost any of their last five league games at Elland Road (W3, D2) since losing 4-3 in November 2000, although they’ve been terrible on the road this campaign (13 points in 15 away games – their lowest mark so far since 1992-93).
The Premier League 2023 odds have Liverpool as the favourites to win on Monday, as they’re installed at 1.72, whereas a win or draw for Leeds is priced at 3.85 in the 1X2 market.
Since their 7-0 win over Manchester United, Liverpool have yet to win a game across all competitions, but they’re poised to end their winless run against Leeds because they have the stronger squad on paper.
But the Whites won’t back down against the Reds, and these two teams should entertain the fans at Elland Road once again, so we’re going for Over 2.75 at 1.74. You can also go for Total Goal 2-3 at 2.06, but Total Goal 4-6 is also worth considering at 2.74.
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Whatever happens between now and the end of the season, it’s been a wonderful Premier League campaign for Brighton and a dismal one for Chelsea.
If ever a contest summed up their respective 2022/23, it came at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
That was when the Seagulls completed a league double over the west Londoners for the first ever time.
It left the lavish hosts – who have spent a record-breaking amount in the past two transfer windows – 17 points off the top four, closer to the relegation zone than the Champions League spots.
The focus should be on Brighton, however, as goals from Danny Welbeck and teenage Paraguayan forward Enciso helped them continue their European qualification push.
After they defeated Brighton, with a big dose of good fortune on Easter Saturday, a home match against another team from the south coast was their chance to return to the top four.
Bournemouth players celebrate with Dango Ouattara scoring their third goal against Tottenham Hotspur
Yet Bournemouth, after failing to win away from home since early September, made it back-to-back away triumphs and a potentially vital three points in their bid to beat the drop.
They had far from the ideal preparation when kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes after their coach got stuck in traffic following a crash.
Son Heung-min opened the scoring for the hosts in the first half before Uruguay left-back Matias Vine marked his first Premier League start with a deserved equaliser.
The Cherries looked set to clinch all three points after Dominic Solanke put them in front early in the second half, only for Arnaut Danjuma to come off the bench and equalise against his former club on 88 minutes.
However, again they fought back when substitute Dango Ouattara scored a stunning stoppage-time winner.
The Cherries have now secured back-to-back victories in the Premier League for the first time since February 2020 – and successive top-flight away wins for the first time since October 2018.
As for the hosts, with fans repeating their chants of ‘we want Levy out’, Spurs did not look like a team competing for a place in the top tier of European football.
Meanwhile, Gary O’Neill’s men have pulled away further from the teams around them such as Leicester – who were always expected to be beaten at champions Manchester City – and Everton whose fine home form deserted them against impressive Fulham.
Marco Silva’s men had lost five in a row and seemed ideal opponents but the former Toffees boss had a point to prove.
Harrison Reed put the visitors ahead midway through the first half with a composed finish after Harry Wilson’s curling shot had come back off the post.
Everton responded well, levelling through Dwight McNeil’s low drive 13 minutes later and ending the half in the ascendancy but it was to be a false dawn.
Six minutes after the restart and, against the run of play, Fulham went ahead when Willian picked out Wilson who confidently found the corner.
Stunned by the goal, Everton lost their way and Daniel James extended the Cottagers’ lead after 68 minutes, racing onto Kenny Tete’s long ball and slotting past Jordan Pickford.
One team which do seem doomed is Southampton as they went down at home to Crystal Palace, rejuvenated under Roy Hodgson, as Eberechi Eze struck twice in 14 second half minutes.
He netted from a rebound after Jordan Ayew’s strike was palmed into his path by home keeper Gavin Bazunu before turning away from his marker and arrowing a precise finish into the bottom corner for number two.
At the top, leading City’s charge is irrepressible frontman Erling Haaland, who continues to wreak havoc with his goals coring, taking his tally to 47 in 40 games in all competitions.
He has enough Premier League highlights of his own to create a DVD.
The SBOTOP Premier League betting odds aren’t paying out on the champions just yet but after being pegged back for the second time in succession, this time at West Ham, Arsenal are losing their grip at the top at precisely the wrong moment.
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One of the Premier League’s biggest stories this season has been the transformation of Chelsea from one of the most powerful clubs in the English top flight to becoming a decent impression of a basket case!
It’s hard to imagine anything much worse than the Blues’ chronic under-performance this season, and the 2021 Champions of Europe are in danger of becoming a laughing stock, certainly among fans of the other ‘Big Seven’ teams. FC Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel followed up Chelsea’s European crown by guiding Chelsea to third position last year in the world’s toughest league.
Then American businessman Todd Boehly took over.
To be fair to the US investor has put his money where his mouth is and backed his managers to the tune of an eye-watering £425m in transfer fees in his first eight months at the helm. But after sacking Tuchel very early in the campaign and, more recently, sending his replacement, Graham Potter, packing, Boehly is overseeing a club in 11th place after appointing a previously sacked manager, Frank Lampard.
After watching his team being totally outplayed by Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday, Lampard has become the first Chelsea manager since Tommy Docherty in 1961 to lose his first three games in charge, and only the third in the club’s 118-year history. Boehly was harangued by the Stamford Bridge faithful at the end of defeat to the Seagulls, and he headed straight to the home dressing room before emerging an hour later.
Who knows what was said between those four walls?
Fans and pundits were scratching their heads at the appointment of Lampard as interim manager until the end of the campaign, particularly as it seemed Chelsea had a chance to recruit former Spain head coach Luis Enrique. Apparently the 52-year-old was keen to take the job and met the Blues board via Zoom, and he was somewhat disappointed to hear that Lampard had been drafted in to lead the team against Real Madrid in the Champions League…a game they lost of course.
While Chelsea have been making the Premier League 2023 newsfor all the wrong reasons, attention is growing on the plight of another London club which, until very recently, was having an amazing campaign. Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have led the way in the title race for much of the campaign but, in a 2-2 draw away to West Ham United on Sunday, the Gunners surrendered a 2-0 lead for the second time in two weeks.
Last week, Arsenal drew against Liverpool and it seemed like they were on the way back to the winning trail when Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard gave them a two-goal lead at the London Stadium. But West Ham rallied when Said Benrahma halved the deficit from the penalty spot, and when Bukayo Saka missed a penalty for the Gunners the door was open for Jarrod Bowen to complete the comeback.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta taking notes during their Premier League match against West Ham
After the game, Arteta insisted that his players weren’t feeling the pressure… but they are human. Manchester City are now just four points behind with a game in hand and the latest Premier League 2023 betting oddshere at SBOTOPback the Sky Blues at a price of1.45 to retain their title. With Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle United and Brighton still to play, the Gunners have a tough run-in and they need to rediscover their winning form without delay.
The Sky Blues are coming.
Premier League target Osimhen happy in Naples
So Chelsea and Arsenal both have their challenges at the moment but, over in Italy, Napoli have had a brilliant campaign and are heading for a Scudetto triumph. And the London giants have been looking enviably at the Azzurri’s prolific striker Victor Osimhen. With 21 league goals in 24 games the Nigerian hitman is the hottest property in Serie A and he’s a player Chelsea would love to have, after scoring just one goal in five games.
Arsenal too are keen on Osimhen but they may have a tough task to lure him away from Naples. Luciano Spalletti’s team is 14 points clear at the top of the table and in decent shape in the Champions League quarter-finals, with just one goal to make up in their home leg against AC Milan. But Osimhen, who has struggled with injury in previous campaigns, is now a firm favourite with the Napoli fans and he insists he is keen to continue his journey with Gli Azzurri, saying: “We are close to the objective and cannot wait to make our dream come true, to make it a reality.” The Gunners are dreaming too, though a little nervously, while the Chelsea fans are having a nightmare!
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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Premier League: Record-Breaking Burnley Back Up, Blades Up Next?
After a brief one-season absence, Burnley are Premier League-bound once again. The Clarets – under the leadership of Manchester City great Vincent Kompany – clinched Premier League promotion in record time as they have run away atop the Championship.
Sheffield United are a distant second, 12 points back of Burnley, but the Blades are in a great position to claim the second automatic promotion place alongside the Clarets.
Read on below as SBOTOP checks out the first Championship club to earn promotion to the Premier League, and the other that could be soon to follow them there.
Kompany reinvents Burnley to secure record Premier League return
Burnley manager Vincent Kompany celebrates his side’s promotion to the Premier League with Jack Cork
After suffering relegation last season, Burnley have bounced right back up the Premier League, and they did so in record time. The Clarets clinched promotion on Good Friday after a 2-1 win at Middlesbrough, and they sealed their spot in the top flight with seven games still remaining in the Championship season.
It has been a brilliant debut managerial season by Vincent Kompany, who has completely overhauled the club’s playing style – from the physical and pragmatic philosophy of the Sean Dyche era to a more positive, possession-based type of play reminiscent of Kompany’s old club – Manchester City.
Kompany’s Burnley are second in the Championship in scoring with 78 goals. Nathan Tella, on loan from Championship-bound Southampton, has been the team’s big breakout star; after scoring just one senior goal in 33 appearances for Saints, the 23-year-old has emerged as Burnley’s leading scorer with 17 goals in 38 matches.
The fact that Kompany has been able to successfully pull off this philosophical transformation while still relying on veteran forwards Jay Rodriguez and Ashley Barnes is a testament to the Belgian’s coaching acumen. He has turned what is on paper quite a mediocre squad on a midtable team into the Championship’s runaway winners.
But as Kompany knows all too well, defence wins championships, and he has successfully instilled that strong defensive backbone that has been a big part of Burnley’s success. The Clarets have conceded just 30 goals this season, far and away the best defensive record in the league.
Of course, the big question now is whether Komany can successfully translate this style of play into the Premier League. Based on the current makeup of his squad, the answer appears to be a definitive ‘no’. As good a coach as Kompany might be, he is lacking the types of players capable of creating Premier League 2023 highlights, and that will be a problem when they return to the top flight.
As Nottingham Forest are finding out first-hand, simply buying an entire squad’s worth of players is not enough to secure their survival. The Tricky Trees are currently third-bottom, and after 10 games without a win, their Premier League 2023 odds of survival are not looking good.
Those are concerns for another time, though. Right now, already-promoted Burnley have earned the right to enjoy the remaining few games of the season as they close in on the Championship title.
So who will accompany Burnley to the Premier League? At the moment, it appears to be Sheffield United. The Blades have a firm hold on the second automatic promotion spot as they are five points clear of third-placed Luton with a game in hand.
After missing out on promotion in the play-offs last season, the Blades have come back better this season under Paul Heckingbottom. The front three of Iliman Ndiaye, Ollie McBurnie, and James McAtee has been outstanding as they’ve combined for 31 goals and 12 assists.
They may have only scored 64 goals, which is a distant third behind Middlesbrough and Burnley, but the advanced statistics suggest they may actually be a close second-best in attack, with 63 expected goals, just behind Boro at 66.5.
Meanwhile, their defence has been up there with Burnley’s among the best in the division, with just 36 goals conceded.
But while Sheffield United still have some remnants of the side that finished a surprising ninth on their return to the Premier League back in 2019-20, there are serious upgrades that must be made if they hope to make a similar splash.
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