Described by his former boss Jurgen Klopp as one of the club’s modern greats, there is no doubting Mane’s quality and they will naturally miss a player who enjoyed a stellar time at Anfield, winning every major honour available.
Indeed, the Senegal international has shown a positional versatility few possess, excelling in all areas and his form remaining so consistent that his move to Bavaria undoubtedly leaves one of the club’s greatest forward lines shorn of a key component – one who has scored 120 goals in 269 games.
Signed from Southampton where he also impressed and scored the quickest hat-trick in Premier League history, he also won the Premier League Golden Boot when he emerged as the division’s top scorer with 22 goals in 36 games in the 2018-19 season.
Mane departs the stage after a shed-load of Premier League 2022 highlights and with the gratitude of his employers and both Saints and Liverpool followers.
In many ways, so does the next player on my list.
In fact, it speaks volumes for both Mane and Antonio Rudiger, who has left Chelsea for European champions Real Madrid, that the men chosen to replace them have cost transfer fees in excess of more than £100-M.
This SBOTOP observer must admit, Rudiger didn’t convince me at first and he certainly took time to settle following a £31-M move from Roma in 2017.
Yet when he did, the German powerhouse was integral to their success.
Man of the match in the 2018 FA Cup Final victory over Manchester United, he quickly shone through as an aggressive yet efficient tackler and went on to enjoy Europa League and Champions League success with the club.
He has now become the 10th German in Real’s history and one suspects one of the best free transfers for many a season.
All in all, Rudiger played 133 league games for the Blues, recording nine goals and an assist, and will be missed by those of a Blues persuasion who may well have replaced him with like-for-like in terms of talent and playing style in the shape of Kalidou Koulibaly.
Also leaving West London is Romelu Lukaku, the criticism of whom baffles me.
For the Belgian, who has returned to Inter Milan on loan less than a year after joining for £97-M is, I believe, second to none as a goalscorer.
Even last term when his style of play didn’t appear to suit manager Thomas Tuchel and when his comments to an Italian media about his unhappiness caused consternation, his record was still decent.
Eight goals in 26 appearances, a number of them from the substitutes bench, shows what can be done if given a consistent run in the team and his tally of 121 goals and 35 assists in 278 appearances in his Premier League career is a far more accurate reflection of his ability,
Always among the favourites for leading scorer with the Premier League 2022 betting odds, expect him to shine in Italy.
I want to mention two others on my list who have departed this summer.
Both have actually done better than I realised, although I do not think either of them will be greatly missed.
In Alexandre Lacazette, Arsenal had a player who produced some fine performances during his five seasons.
Ok, so 54 goals and 25 assists in 158 Premier League games may be a little lower than they expected when they snapped up the Frenchman from Lyon for £46.5-M.
But he did contribute to his side’s build-up play and, more often than not, suffered from being in and out of the starting XI.
Paul Pogba arriving at Juventus’ Medical Center in Turin
Likewise, his compatriot Paul Pogba played 154 Premier League games for Manchester United, recording 29 goals and 48 assists during six years.
Again, hardly a disaster but not the statistics expected of someone supposed to be one of the best midfielders of his generation.
This Frenchman certainly does have the ability to back up both his price tag and reputation.
Because for all of the rare moments of brilliance, there have been 10 times more of underachievement and body language which portrays a “Laissez Faire” attitude.
After he left United for the second time on a free transfer last month, few associated with Old Trafford – apart from the money men disturbed by a lack of profit following his £89-M recruitment in 2016 – shed a tear.
So farewell to five big names but, in truth, only a few have truly delivered.
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Premier League: 5 Big Breakout Candidates for 2022-23
The new 2022-23 Premier League season is on the horizon, and a new set of stars are ready to emerge.
There will inevitably be a fair number of players who catch everyone by surprise with their brilliant performances. But there are also a handful of players who, based on past performances and overall potential, look primed to ascend and become the league’s next big stars.
So read on below as SBOTOP shares five top candidates to break out in the 2022-23 Premier League campaign.
Luis Diaz, Liverpool
Luis Diaz wasted little time in lighting up the Premier League upon his arrival at Liverpool from Porto in January. The Colombian winger had four goals and three assists in just 13 league appearances as he played an important role in keeping the Reds’ incredible quadruple bid alive.
And after providing a brief glimpse of just how good he can be for a third of a season, Diaz looks set to fully break out in the 2022-23 season campaign.
With Sadio Mane moving on to Bayern Munich, Diaz will take over as the full-time starter on Liverpool’s left-hand side. Playing alongside the great Mohamed Salah and new boy Darwin Nunez, Diaz figures to make a host of Premier League 2022 highlights for the Reds this coming season.
Bruno Guimaraes, Newcastle United
Unlike Diaz, Bruno Guimaraes did not hit the ground running at Newcastle following his arrival to the Premier League in January as head coach Eddie Howe opted to bed him into the side slowly.
But Guimaraes finally got his chance for more consistent playing time in March, and it didn’t take too long for him to show why Newcastle paid upwards of £40 million to sign him from Lyon.
Guimaraes finished the season in remarkable form, with four goals and an assist in the last seven games. His most impressive performance was against Leicester, where he scored a brace – including the stoppage-time winner – as the Magpies came from behind to win 2-1.
With half a season plus a full pre-season now under his belt, the stage is set for Bruno Guimaraes to break out in a big way in 2022/23 as Newcastle target a top-half finish.
Marc Roca, Leeds United
Marc Roca in action against Leon Bailey of Aston Villa during their pre-season friendly in Brisbane
Leeds United have a massive hole to fill in their midfield with the departure of Kalvin Phillips to Man City. But in Marc Roca, the Whites got themselves a holding midfielder who looks quite capable of taking on the challenge of playing in that crucial midfield pivot position.
Roca, who has been compared to Spanish great Xabi Alonso, will be raring to go after hardly getting a look-in during his two-year stint at Bayern Munich. And he will surely get all the playing time he can handle at Leeds.
The 25-year-old has the skill and composure on the ball that seemingly all top Spanish midfielders have, but he also has that extra bit of aggression and toughness that should help him thrive in the physical Premier League.
Michael Olise, Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace was a team full of surprise breakout stars last season. The likes of Marc Guehi, Tyrick Mitchell, and Conor Gallagher all exceeded expectations as the Eagles defied the Premier League 2022 odds to finish 12th in Patrick Vieira’s first season as head coach.
And this upcoming season could be even better for Palace if another talented youngster – Michael Olise – can live up to his immense potential.
The 20-year-old midfielder had a fine first season in the Premier League as he made 26 appearances, scoring two goals and providing five assists. But despite his undeniable talent, he was unable to establish himself as a regular starter, in part due to injury issues.
With better health and more consistent playing time, Olise could easily lift the Eagles to another level this Premier League season.
Liverpool have been spot-on when it comes to their transfer business in recent years, and Ibrahima Konate could be another big hit.
The Reds signed the 23-year-old centre-back last summer for around £36 million, and he came on strong when he was called upon to start over Joel Matip down the stretch in their quadruple quest. Konate ended up partnering Virgil van Dijk in some big games during the Reds’ FA Cup and Champions League runs, as well as their last three Premier League games.
With Matip now in his 30s, Konate looks poised to take on more responsibility in Liverpool’s side this upcoming season. And with the fine form he showed late last season, the young Frenchman seems ready to rise to stardom this season.
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Premier League: Early Gauge For Liverpool and RB Leipzig
Liverpool continue their preparations ahead of their 2022/23 Premier League campaign when they’ll face RB Leipzig in a club friendly at Germany on Thursday. This will be the Reds’ third pre-season game this summer, while this is the second for the Red Bulls.
Although encounters between the visitors and the hosts have come few and far between, these clubs are familiar with each other since several players (and a coach) have been with both squads in their professional careers.
While it will be a homecoming for some, it’s going to be business as usual for Liverpool and RB Leipzig since this match helps them gear up for the Community Shield and DFB Supercup Final respectively.
Liverpool to miss several players
Jurgen Klopp’s side will be undermanned for this game since six of their players are in the recovery room. It isn’t that serious, but Alisson Becker, Diogo Jota, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Calvin Ramsay, Caoimhin Kelleher and Kaide Gordon are all going to be held out as a precaution.
Fellow youngsters Kelleher and Gordon are also absent in their pre-season tour as both stayed in Kirkby to continue their rehab, but Klopp is optimistic that they’ll be fit enough to rejoin the squad soon.
Becker and Oxlade-Chamberlain have both played in their tour so far. But Becker is nursing an abdominal knock, while Oxlade-Chamberlain is dealing with a muscular issue and Jota hasn’t played yet since he’s recovering from a hamstring injury that he picked up while on international duty last month.
Meanwhile, centre-back Joe Gomez was seen back in training with the rest of the squad so he’s poised to return on the pitch.
Naby Keita and Ibrahima Konate to relish Leipzig reunion
Naby Keita and Ibrahima Konate are looking forward to returning to familiar ground on Thursday as both players had their first big breaks at RB Leipzig.
Keita was a product of the Red Bull program, first playing for RB Salzburg from 2014 to 2016 before spending three more years with RB Leipzig where he helped put them on the map in the Bundesliga.
In 2018, Keita was brought in at Anfield as Liverpool paid his £48-M release clause, which was a club record deal at the time. The Guinea international has made 70 appearances for the Red Bulls.
Konate, on the other hand, came to RB Leipzig in 2017 from Sochaux where he established himself as one of the most promising young defenders in Europe. He had 94 appearances for Die Roten Bullen before moving on to Anfield in 2021.
Like Keita, Liverpool also triggered Konate’s release clause worth £36-M to secure his services. In his first season with the Reds, Konate helped them to a domestic cup double.
He is only 23 years old and he is learning a lot alongside the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip, and Joe Gomez. This pre-season is crucial for Konate as he aims for more minutes at the starting XI next season.
On the other hand, Peter Gulacsi was a former Liverpool goalkeeper from 2008 to 2013 but he didn’t play much for the Reds since he was always loaned out. It is in Leipzig where the Hungarian established himself as a regular starter.
Jurgen Klopp also has shared history with both clubs since he coached Mainz 05 and Borussia Dortmund before heading to Anfield. He oversaw 340 Bundesliga games total and guided BVB to back-to-back Bundesliga titles in 2011 and 2012.
Mohamed Salah and Christopher Nkunku set to entertain
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah in action during pre-season friendly against Manchester United
Probably the main reason why this friendly between Liverpool and RB Leipzig is going to be fun to watch is because of the head-to-head matchup between two of Europe’s top goalscorers in Mohamed Salah and Christopher Nkunku.
Salah was the Premier League’s top scorer during the 2021/2022 campaign alongside Heung-Min Son (23 goals) and the SBOTOP Premier League 2022 odds are high on his chances for a repeat since he’s very much capable of creating new Premier League 2022 highlights next term.
Nkunku, meanwhile, finished fourth in the Bundesliga Golden Boot race last season with 20 goals. But he blew the opposition away to be voted Bundesliga Player of the Season for 2021/22.
Another player to look out for is Darwin Nunez, who was the Reds marquee acquisition this transfer window. The former Benfica stalwart is still settling in with his new club since he has yet to find his stride.
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In its 30 years as the most watched football league on the planet, the Premier League has produced some great players, and the ones who wrote the most headlines are the sharpshooters.
There is nothing better for a fan to see your hero bust the net, the roof comes off the stadium and it’s the best feeling in the world. And when he does it three times, it’s pure magic and of course, the red-hot hitman gets to keep the match ball.
The first man to score three in a Premier League game was the enigmatic Frenchman Eric Cantona, who stuck three in the net as Leeds United beat Tottenham Hotspur 5-0.
And since then, over 200 players have emulated that feat, some of them with impressive regularity, and here I’m taking a look at the most prolific five.
Sergio Aguero: 12
He’s the fourth highest Premier League goal scorer of all time and the highest non-English scorer, winning a Golden Boot and plundering 184 goals in 275 games for Manchester City.
Aguero is best known as the man who scored the dramatic injury-time winner against QPR to hand the Sky Blues a first Premier League title in 2012 – the first of his four with the club – and he’s also scored more hat-tricks than anyone else.
He scored his first Sky Blues hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Wigan Athletic on 10th September 2011 on the same day as Wayne Rooney scored his sixth for Manchester United.
Aguero played under some great managers at the Etihad, but the Argentine superstar just seemed to get better under Pep Guardiola and he ended his time at Manchester City in spectacular form.
In 2019, Aguero scored two hat-tricks in a week in a 3-0 win over Arsenal and a 6-1 destruction of Chelsea and, in January 2020, he scored his 12th in a 6-1 win over Aston Villa.
This Geordie hero made his name as a young striker for Southampton before moving to Blackburn Rovers.
During his four years in Lancashire, he was simply devastating, forming a lethal partnership with Chris Sutton. He scored nine hat-tricks for Blackburn before moving to his home club Newcastle United where he scored two more in his 10-year stint on Tyneside.
Shearer scored his 11th hat-trick in 1999 as Newcastle destroyed Sheffield Wednesday 8-0. He actually banged in five goals on the late Sir Bobby Robson’s first home game in charge of the Magpies.
He may have scored most of his hat-tricks for Blackburn, but Shearer will go down in history as a Newcastle legend.
Robbie Fowler: 9
To be Liverpool’s top hat-trick scorer of all time tells us just what a special player Robbie Fowler was. For a club which has worshipped goal scoring heroes such as Kevin Keegan, Kenny Dalglish, Michael Owen, and Mohamed Salah, to score more hat-tricks than anyone is some feat.
He scored 183 goals for the Reds earning him the nickname “God” on the terraces and he remains Liverpool’s top scorer in the league.
Fowler scored eight hat-tricks for his beloved Liverpool, but his last one came in a 3-0 win for Leeds United over Bolton Wanderers in 2001.
Harry Kane: 8
Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane celebrates after the match against Leicester City
The one player on the list who will be producing plenty of Premier League 2022 highlights is Tottenham talisman Harry Kane who, at 28 years of age, still has a good few season left in him.
He scored his first hat-trick in a 4-3 win over Leicester City in 2015 and his eighth in a 5-2 win over Southampton is 2017, so Kane is without a three in almost five years.
But he still has time to catch Aguero. With more investment in players this summer and the Premier League 2022 betting odds pitching Spurs as fourth favourites, he will continue to lead the line and expect some great service.
Kane will also lead England into the 2022 World Cup as one of the favourites to win the Golden Boot. He took that prize in 2018 and the SBOTOP odds setters will place him in a handful of candidates in Qatar.
Michael Owen: 8
Like his fellow Scouse, Fowler, Michael Owen scored all but one of his eight hat-tricks for his boyhood club Liverpool.
He had the best years of his career at Anfield between 1996 and 2004 when he had a better than one in two goal ratio, but Owen struggled to hit those heights again after a short spell at Real Madrid and periods at Newcastle United and Manchester United.
But he did score the “perfect hat-trick” for the Magpies in a win over West Ham – one with his left foot, one with his right foot, and one with his head. Had he stayed at Liverpool throughout his career, then I suspect Owen may well be higher up this list.
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So, what did this all-Premier League friendly encounter between Crystal Palace and Leeds tell us?
Well, for a start it wasn’t all that friendly.
In fact, at times it was feisty which suggests both teams are stepping up their pre-season preparations with the big kick-off just a fortnight away now.
Furthermore, the sides who lined up for this encounter may be quite different to those named on the opening weekend of next season.
Clearly, some of the young players in the Palace touring party will find chances hard to come by when manager Patrick Vieira gets all his squad back together once they return to London.
On the flipside, his compatriot Jesse Marsch, may not have much choice as he endured a frustrating time with two of his players needing to leave the fray through injury before half-time.
Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch reacts during the pre-season friendly in Australia
It may have been Perth but it is far from summer in Australia and this was very English in more ways than one with heavy bursts of rain in the 48 hours before kick-off making parts of the pitch extremely muddy.
Vieira gave 17-year-old midfielder David Ozoh a start at the Optus Stadium, but it was his opposite number who had slightly more to think about in the opening 45 minutes when new signing Luis Sinisterra appeared to have a problem with his hamstring and went down with no one near him.
The Colombian, who has just joined the club from Feyenoord for £21-M, limped slowly towards the dressing rooms in a way which suggested he could be set for a spell on the sidelines before a competitive ball has been kicked.
When Adam Forshaw limped off shortly afterwards, Marsch must have been cursing his side’s misfortune.
All this in a first half which concluded with Tyler Adams squaring up to Palace frontman Jordan Ayew – not for the first time Leeds have been involved in a fiery friendly this summer.
Whether the walking wounded affected Marsch’s half-time alterations is unclear but Leeds made five changes at the break and were rewarded 11 minutes into the second half.
Crysencio Summerville went down quite easily under pressure from Joel Ward, triggering protests from the Palace players and Vieira, but a penalty was awarded and Rodrigo converted from the spot.
As the few fraying tempers remained on the surface, the Eagles were level within 12 minutes, countering quickly before Jean-Philippe Mateta finished from close range after Ayew drove into the area.
This was a pretty gruelling workout for the Yorkshire outfit in what has been a quite rough-and-tumble pre-season to date. Their final match ahead of the new Premier League season is actually next Sunday at Elland Road against Cagliari.
Richards, who joined Bayern from the MLS side FC Dallas in 2018, is expected to sign a five-year deal at Selhurst Park after completing his medical on Thursday. He spent the past 18 months on loan at Hoffenheim.
Leeds certainly should have money to spend following the sales of their two best players in Kalvin Phillips and the excellent Brazilian Raphinha.
Vieira is also hoping to secure a replacement for Conor Gallagher, who has returned to Chelsea after his season-long loan last term, and had identified Gibbs-White as his main target after missing out on Flynn Downes when the midfielder joined West Ham from Swansea.
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Premier League: Tottenham May Be the Dark Horse to Win it All
Tottenham have been the subject of ridicule these past few years because of their dusty trophy cabinet. But contrary to popular belief, they have actually won a good amount of silverware in their history.
The one thing’s missing, though, is the Premier League trophy which has eluded them these last few decades since Tottenham’s last win in the English top-flight dates back to 1961 when it was not even yet named as the Premier League.
This past season, Tottenham have secured their Champions League return for the first time in three years under the guidance of Antonio Conte. And with their successful transfer window thus far this summer, fans at North London have a lot to get excited about.
But can they challenge for the Premier League especially with the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City around? It’s a long shot probably, but here are some of factors why they should at least be considered in the title race.
Antonio Conte is a relentless coach
There’s a reason why Antonio Conte was the Spurs’ first choice as their head coach when they fired Jose Mourinho, and that is because he’s undoubtedly an excellent manager.
Nuno Espirito Santo took over when they were unable to get Conte and Spurs were off to a great start with victories over Manchester City, Wolves, and Watford. But eventually, a streak of poor Premier League 2022 results followed and they were left in a bad spot.
The good thing for Tottenham was that Conte’s available at the time and they immediately appointed him as their new manager. Fast forward to his first season as their boss, Tottenham overtook the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal to finish fourth behind Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester City.
And let’s not forget that he is no stranger to being a disruptor, as shown in the 2021 season when his Inter Milan ended Juventus’ dominant reign in Serie A. But in order to replicate such in North London, he needs the constant backing from the top management to help him get the right pieces.
Spurs have a dangerous frontline
Speaking of having the right pieces, having Heung-Min Son, Harry Kane, Dejan Kulusevski, Lucas Moura, and Richarlison is a great place to start since all of them can bang in the goals.
Meanwhile, Richarlison was Everton’s top dog last season with 11 goals and five assists, and was one of the main reasons why the Toffees maintained their English top-flight status after a whirlwind 2021/22 campaign.
Harry Kane has scored five goals across Tottenham’s last three pre-season friendlies
Tottenham kicked off their pre-season with aplomb by beating the K-League All-Stars with a tally of 6-3, where Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son both had a brace. Against Sevilla last Saturday, Harry Kane also found the back of the net.
They need a few more pieces to keep up
Manchester City and Liverpool are favoured by the SBOTOP Premier League 2022 odds since both sides have deep rosters. And Tottenham, despite the fact they’ve had a great transfer window, they still need one more centre-back and another in the midfield.
Tottenham have added Clement Lenglet on loan, but his form is in question since he was not a consistent starter under Barcelona last season, although he’ll have his chance to prove himself at North London.
Ivan Perisic is another fine addition since he is already familiar with Antonio Conte’s system, but he’s more effective as a winger who could provide competition for Lucas Moura or Dejan Kulusevski.
Tottenham have also signed Yves Bissouma from Brighton, but there’s room for improvement for the Malian midfielder since he only had two goals and two assists last season.
To be successful in football, you need the three C’s – concept, competence, and capital. And with Conte all-in, the Spurs now have all of them to contend for trophies soon. Sad to say that if a coach with Antonio Conte’s calibre can’t lead Tottenham to Premier League glory eventually, then no one can.
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Premier League: Few More Moves to Finalise Before Big Kick-off
It has provided some of the most dramatic moments the sport has ever produced and in, just under a fortnight’s time, the next instalment will begin again as the Premier League circus rolls back into town.
No sooner has the dust settled on the final day drama of 2021-22, then 2022-23 is about to burst into action with the promise of yet more Premier League 2022 highlights, compelling spectacles and talking points.
So, what is happening?
Well, let’s start with the new boys Nottingham Forest who have announced the signing of former Man Utd and England man Jesse Lingard for a figure approaching a reported £200,000 a week.
Keen to demonstrate their ambition after winning promotion via the play-offs, the City Ground will be anything but a dull place to watch football next season.
Steve Cooper has persuaded the owners to splash the cash with three £17 million purchases – Neco Williams from Liverpool, Moussa Niakhate from Mainz and Taiwo Awoniyi from Union Berlin – all snapped up in recent weeks.
Unproven at this level, Cooper needs to get his charges up and running quickly, as he will with the newly arrived duo from Huddersfield Town, Lewis O’Brien and Harry Toffolo.
The experience of someone like Lingard in the ranks can only help and no doubt West Ham, who had been cautiously optimistic that they were going to be reunited with Lingard (he excelled during a loan with David Moyes’s side 18 months ago), are disappointed.
They have reacted by submitting a bid for Eintracht Frankfurt’s Filip Kostic, a player who must have caught their eye during their semi-final clash in last season’s Europa League – a competition the German side went on to win.
They are also close to signing Gianluca Scamacca after agreeing a £30.5 million fee with Serie A club Sassuolo for the Italy striker.
Moyes wants a frontman to compete with and take the burden off Michail Antonio and Scamacca, who scored 16 goals in 36 Serie A appearances for Sassuolo last season and has seven caps for his country, should be a shrewd move.
Elsewhere, the price of dropping out of the top flight is evident once again and it must be galling for relegated Burnley to see their best two centre-backs leave on free transfers.
Former captain Ben Mee is close to joining Brentford. The 32-year-old defender reportedly rejected offers from two other Premier League clubs and interest from Major League Soccer.
You may recall Mee missed the final stages of the season at Burnley through injury, becoming part of the caretaker backroom staff. Had he been fit, I suspect they would have preserved their Premier League status.
Mee’s departure follows that of former defensive partner James Tarkowski who has completed a move to Everton on a free transfer, signing a four-year contract until the end of June 2026. The 29-year-old, who has two England caps, started more than 30 top-flight matches in each of the five seasons prior to his switch to Merseyside.
By contrast, Premier League status is certainly helping another club try and keep hold of one of its prized assets and Brighton have rejected Manchester City’s opening offer of £30 million for Marc Cucurella.
The champions want to sign a left-back after agreeing to sell Oleksandr Zinchenko to Arsenal, but Brighton have set an asking price of £50 million. I still expect it to happen but it may take a week or two with the Seagulls in a stronger financial position after the sale of Yves Bissouma to Spurs.
Amid the wheeling n’ dealing, the SBOTOP Premier League 2022 betting odds predict that last season’s top two will be the next season’s top two and it is hard to argue – although my feeling is that City need to replace Raheem Sterling, whose sale to Chelsea robs them of a genuine talent and a player who has won more Premier League titles than most – a number of Man Utd players, John Terry and former team-mate Fernandinho are the exceptions.
Netherlands’ Frenkie de Jong is all smiles during their Euro 2020 qualifier against Germany in 2019
The final word for now still involves Manchester and the most protracted deal of the entire summer.
Manchester United and Barcelona have already reached an agreement over a fixed fee for Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong.
It is said De Jong’s priority has always been to stay at seemingly cash-strapped Barcelona but it’s understood the idea he’ll take a salary cut – as suggested by Barcelona president Joan Laporta – to do so is highly unlikely.
The news that Laporta has now activated a financial lever, selling 15 per cent of the club’s TV rights to a company for the next 25 years and immediately ploughing 400 million euros into the coffers, could yet prove decisive, although new Utd boss Erik Ten Hag is determined to get his priority summer signing.
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Premier League: Arsenal Thrash Chelsea in Orlando Warm-Up
Arsenal 4-0 Chelsea
Two of the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’ met at the Citrus Bowl in Florida on Saturday. It’s a long way from their London home but Arsenal and Chelsea came to blows and the Gunners were knockout winners.
Gabriel Jesus opened the scoring with his fourth goal for Arsenal in pre-season, before Martin Odegaard made it 2-0 before the break. Chelsea offered little resistance in the second half and Bukayo Saka made it three from close range before Albert Sambi Lokonga planted home an injury-time header.
It has been a difficult pre-season for Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea, but his opposite number Mikel Arteta could hardly be happier with his side’s preparations. This was the Gunners’ fourth consecutive victory, following wins over Nurnberg, Everton and Orlando City. And there was more good news for Arsenal fans as their latest signing, 25-year-old Oleksandr Zinchenko, played 45 minutes, just two days after signing in at the Emirates.
The former Manchester City man received a standing ovation from the crowd and Arteta said of his £32m capture: “He was desperate to play and I knew that. It was a maximum 45 minutes but you could see straight away he was comfortable.
“He understands everything that I want, he understands the process and I thought he had a really good game.”
The Arsenal boss couldn’t hide his delight after watching his team dismantle their London rivals, pointing to: “The attitude from a club perspective to show here, and all the work we have done and understand how big we are and the amount of support that we get.”
Arsenal were desperately close to a top four finish last year and Arteta’s side look ready to go again. They just have one more pre-season match to come, a clash in London where they face La Liga giants Sevilla.
Tuchel not so happy
While Arteta was beaming his rival in the Chelsea dugout was fuming. The Premier League 2022 betting oddssuggest both Chelsea and Arsenal have a tough task ahead of them to finish fourth in the 2022/23 season. At title odds of 15:00 and 39:00 respectively, they are placed fifth and sixth in the pre-season rankings. But on this evidence the Gunners have a much better chance to challenge than their opponents.
Tuchel was withering in his assessment of his team’s performance: “I think we deserved to lose because we were simply not good enough,” he said. “We were absolutely not competitive. The worrying part is the level of commitment, physically and mentally, was far higher for Arsenal than us.
“We can argue they played their strongest line-up. They’ve strengthened their line-up, played the same structure, and this is the line-up they’ll try to start Premier League games.”
Sure, Mikel Arteta gave us some clues as to the Gunners’ likely line-up when they kick off the new campaign but maybe Tuchel should concentrate on the shortcomings of the players he fielded in Orlando. The loss of Antonio Rudiger has meant that the boss has been on the hunt for defenders and his new defensive signing from Napoli, Kalidou Koulibaly, looked sound enough in the 17 minutes he was on the pitch. But Chelsea’s defence looked leaky as Arsenal scored at will, and Tuchel will try to bring more bodies in and he still has slim hopes of landing Sevilla centre-back Jules Kounde.
Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy kicks the ball during a pre-season match against Arsenal in Orlando, Florida
Keeper Edouard Mendy had a shocker; his distribution was particularly bad, one clearance landed at the feet of Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka while another sailed out for a throw in. But there were encouraging signs from Raheem Sterling, who was lively on his debut, though striker Timo Werner’s struggles in the Premier League look set to continue on this showing.
Time is running out for Tuchel. The new campaign is just a couple of weeks away. And we’re looking forward to bringing you the Premier League 2022 updatesas they happen in pre-season… and when the hostilities begin.
The Gunners visit South London in the Premier League curtain-raiser where they face their former star Patrick Vieira and his Crystal Palace. Arsenal are favourites at SBOTOP odds of 2.03 to win that game and they will be keen to avoid a repetition of last season’s opener, a surprise loss to newcomers Brentford.
Chelsea too come up against an old face in the opposition dugout when they visit Frank Lampard’s Everton. He kept the Toffees up by the skin of their teeth last season, beating Chelsea late in the campaign. The Blues are at a price of 1.73to win at Goodison Park and are unlikely to be in the mood to do their ex-player and coach another favour.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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Premier League: Leeds New Boys Must Hit The Ground Running
When Leeds United kick off their 2022/23 Premier League programme against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 6th August the Whites will be without two former stars.
Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips have transferred to Barcelona and Manchester City and now it’s time to move on.
The club has been busy in the transfer market and on a testing pre-season tour. Leeds have warmed up in Australia with a 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa, a victory over local side Brisbane Roar and a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace. It’s been a useful trip which has helped head coach Jesse Marsch work on his formation and get players match fit; and for his new recruits to find their feet.
Leeds’ early Premier League 2022 results need to yield a good number of points as they have some winnable games in August, and these three new recruits need to hit the ground running.
Rasmus Kristensen
Denmark right back Rasmus Kristensen has been outstanding in pre-season and he looks like he could be Marsch’s best bit of close season business so far. The club signed him from Red Bull Salzburg for a bargain £10m and the 25 year old looks set to claim a starting place when the Premier League action begins.
After he played a big role in Salzburg’s Austrian Bundesliga title win, Leeds beat Borussia Dortmund to his signature and it seems they have signed an all round star. Playing in an advanced role he scored ten goals and made eight assists for Red Bull last season, and in the Champions League he recorded the most successful tackles, per 90 minutes, in the competition.
He has six caps for Denmark, playing in a recent UEFA Nations League victory over France and Kristensen looks set to slot straight into the Leeds side after starring in all three games down under. He works hard out of possession, is fierce in the tackle and willing to support the forward players, and he looks to be a superb replacement for Luke Ayling who continues to recover from surgery.
Brenden Aaronson
Kristensen followed his former Salzburg team-mate Aaronson to Elland Road and, at 21 years of age, the US international looks set for a glittering career in the European leagues. A creative midfielder he can also play in a deeper role and will help to fill the gap left by Phillips, though he is not a like for like replacement. Aaronson is a very neat and tidy footballer, able to operate in tight spaces and with a superb technique.
The Stars and Stripes favourite should cope comfortably with the pace of the Premier League with his speed of thought and touch; he’ll add to Leeds creative muscle and he is not shy of the physical part of the game either, Aaronson is not the biggest of players but he has some steel about his play.
Luis Sinisterra
The sale of Raphinha has left a creative gap in Leeds’ attack which may be part filled by the versatile Aaronson, but Marsch has moved to strengthen further in that department. While the Brazilian was scoring in his first ever El Clasico in Las Vegas, Leeds’ latest signing, Luis Sinisterra was getting to know his new Elland Road team-mates.
Raphinha in action during Barcelona’s match against Real Madrid
Marsch has spent another chunk of the £55m Raphinha fee on the 23 year old Colombian winger, signing him from Dutch side Feyenoord on a five year deal. Sinisterra scored 23 goals and made 14 assists in 49 appearances for Feyenoord as they finished third in the Netherlands top flight and reached the Europa League Conference final, losing to Roma 1-0.
He’s the type of player who can get the fans on their feet with his electric turn of pace, trickery and eye for a goal, and if he starts as he finished in the Netherlands then the Leeds faithful might soon have a new idol on the flanks.
When the hostilities begin Leeds are favourites, at a SBOTOP price of 2.16 to win their opener against Wolves. Anything less than three points will be a slight disappointment against Bruno Lage’s side, who are entering a more difficult period after taking the top flight by surprise, winning European football on their return to the Premier League.
After Wolves, Leeds’ chances to get early points on the board keep coming as they visit Southampton, welcome Chelsea to Elland Road (always a tasty affair), and travel to Brighton before Everton are the visitors to Leeds.
The pre-season Premier League 2022 betting odds have priced Southampton and Everton at 4.20 and 4.50 to be relegated while Brighton and Wolves will likely finish in mid-table. Only Chelsea will be a top six side at the end of the campaign and the Blues’ pre-season preparation has not been ideal, so Marsch will target a minimum of a point a game from this first five matches.
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Premier League: Is Leicester Hero Schmeichel Heading for Nice?
Kasper Schmeichel is a folk hero in Leicester, one of a band of brothers who upset the odds and thrilled a nation to win the 2016 title from under the noses of the “Big Six”.
It was one of the biggest shocks in the history of Premier League football and, at the start of the campaign, here at SBOTOP we joined the rest of the market by pricing Leicester City at 5001.00 to win the title.
But they did it.
And the Foxes owed a lot to the leadership of Schmeichel. There were other heroes of course as striker Jamie Vardy has become one of the best top-level strikers in the game while N’Golo Kante became a World Cup winner with France. But, as the last line of defence, Schmeichel has proved himself to be a born leader and a calming influence.
As a Denmark international he is part of another collective of heroes but, at the age of 35, his domestic career looks likely to take a different direction as reports in the French press have suggested that Schmeichel has agreed to transfer to Ligue 1 side Nice. It would be a wrench for the keeper who has spent 11 seasons at the King Power Stadium and has one year left on his current contract.
French sports paper L’Equipe has reported that Schmeichel is on his way to the south of France club but Leicester, the only Premier League side without a summer signing so far, will want to have a replacement lined up and they are considering a move for either Arsenal’s Bernd Leno or Nantes stopper Alban Lafont.
Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers said: “Clearly we have to do some business out before we can get players in. We just are not in the same position as some of the other clubs. I trust the club implicitly. It’s a club that has always given me everything they have had since I’ve been here.”
But I fear this may be bad news for Leicester who are struggling to keep pace with the league’s big spenders, with Newcastle United likely to enter the race for a Europa League place in the coming season.
Forest going for it big time
Elsewhere in the East Midlands, there’s a real buzz in Nottingham where they are looking forward to top-flight football for the first time this century.
Like Leeds United, Nottingham Forest have a rich history at the top of the English game, twice winning the European Cup in 1979 and 1980 and their first job is to emulate the Whites by extending their latest stay among the elite.
The early Premier League 2022 betting odds have pitched the newcomers as relegation candidates but the marquee signing of Jesse Lingard was one of the big Premier League 2022 news stories last week.
Nottingham Forest fans are thrilled to see Jesse Lingard in their colours
And it has really got the Forest fans dreaming that they will not only survive in the top-flight but they can thrive too. Lingard is a real talent and he was wanted by West Ham, but Forest head coach Steve Cooper persuaded the former Manchester United midfielder to join him at the City Ground.
Lingard is one of 11 incomings so far at Forest and there is about to be a 12th as the club has agreed to lay out £12.7-M to sign Stuttgart star Orel Mangala. The 24-year-old midfielder made 29 appearances for the German side last year as well as making his debut for Belgium.
Forest are also working on a deal to bring Real Betis wing back Alex Moreno to the Premier League and are in the hunt for Burnley winger Maxwell Cornet, while last month they brought in Taiwo Awoniyi, Moussa Niakhate, and Neco Williams, each for a fee of £17-M.
Cooper is spending big and it needs to pay off.
Scamacca is a Hammer
100 miles further south in London, 23-year-old striker Gianluca Scamacca has completed his move to West Ham from Serie A side Sassuolo in a £35.5-M deal. He has penned a five-year deal to join David Moyes’ West Ham and will become the club’s fourth summer signing.
With 16 goals from 36 appearances in Serie A, Scamacca became one of the most watched strikers in the European leagues and he has joined the other new arrivals at the London Stadium – defender Nayef Aguerd from Rennes, goalkeeper Alphonse Areola from Paris Saint-Germain, and Flynn Downes from Swansea City.
The signing of Scamacca is certainly an exciting coup and will soften the blow of missing out on Lingard.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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Premier League: Chelsea, Newcastle Seek More Moves Ahead of Season Opener
The start of the new Premier League season is just under a week away, but teams are still busy trying to complete more transfers, both incoming and outgoing.
Chelsea, who have already had an eventful summer with players big players coming in and going out, could have more of the latter. Meanwhile, Newcastle are hoping to snatch one more big-name attacker before the start of the season.
Elsewhere, the two Manchester clubs also have some more transfer business they’d like to get done before their respective Premier League campaigns begin.
So read on below as SBOTOP rounds up the biggest pieces of transfer-related Premier League 2022 news ahead of the season opener.
Chelsea keen to let Werner, Kepa leave on loan
Chelsea have already seen centre-backs Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christiensen leave on free transfers and Romelu Lukaku return to Inter on loan this summer. And now, it looks like two more players – Timo Werner and Kepa Arrizabalaga – could also be on their way out of Stamford Bridge.
The Blues have reportedly been in talks with Juventus and RB Leipzig for a potential Werner loan deal. Newcastle are also purportedly interested in the German, but they have not yet opened direct talks.
Werner has had a tough time at Chelsea after moving from RB Leipzig in 2020. The 26-year-old German striker has scored just 10 goals in 56 Premier League games over the last two seasons. He made just 21 league appearances last season (15 starts) and is likely to be behind Kai Havertz, Raheem Sterling, and Christian Pulisic in the Chelsea pecking order this season.
As for Kepa, Napoli appear to be closing in on the Spanish international goalkeeper as a replacement for the departed David Ospina. With Eduoard Mendy entrenched as Chelsea’s first-choice keeper, Kepa has made just 11 Premier League appearances over the last two seasons.
Kepa has been reduced to cup duty, and he infamously missed the decisive penalty in the Carabao Cup final defeat to Liverpool last season.
Barca prez declines to comment on Chelsea’s Azpilicueta, Alonso
And staying with Chelsea, there could yet be more departures at Stamford Bridge, with Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso still strongly linked with a move to Barcelona.
Although, Barca president Joan Laporta declined to discuss the possibility of the two Spanish Blues coming to the Camp Nou.
“Azpilicueta and Alonso to Barça? They are under contract at Chelsea and we respect this as well as the new owner. I respect both as are very, very good players. They show their quality and talent. But I don’t want to talk about them,” Laporta said.
Aside from losing Christensen to Barcelona this summer, the Blues have also lost out to the Catalans in their pursuit of both Raphinha and Jules Kounde.
Leicester reject Newcastle bid for James Maddison
While Chelsea are bracing for the potential loss of a few more players, Newcastle are busy trying to add at least one more attacking star.
Leicester City’s James Maddison celebrates after scoring a goal during pre-season friendly with Hull City
Maddison, 25, had the best Premier League season of his career last year as he had 12 goals and 8 assists for the Foxes.
Newcastle already have a potential breakout star in Bruno Guimaraes in midfield, but landing a much-needed creative playmaker could significantly improve their Premier League 2022 odds of a top-half finish.
The 24-year-old Cucurella handed in a transfer request on Friday, but Brighton are holding out for a fee of around £50m in order to sell the Spanish defender to City.
City have targeted Cucurella to replace Oleksandr Zinchenko as Joao Cancelo’s primary backup at left-back following the Ukrainian’s departure to Arsenal.
Cucurella had an impressive debut campaign for Brighton last season as he played in all 38 games, registering one goal and two assists.
Defending champions City are coming off a 3-1 defeat to Liverpool in the Community Shield.
Manchester United ‘exploring’ Benjamin Sesko deal
After Manchester City signed a former RB Salzburg striker in Erling Haaland this summer, rivals Man United might be doing the same as they are “exploring” a deal for Red Bulls centre-forward Benjamin Sesko, per Fabrizio Romano.
The 19-year-old Slovenian scored five goals in 24 league appearances for Salzburg in the Austrian Bundesliga last season.
Romano says it’s Salzburg’s plan to sell Sesko on in 2023, but United’s interest could lead to the teen’s departure a year earlier.
United could have a big hole to fill up front with Cristiano Ronaldo stating his desire to leave in order to play Champions League football. Ronaldo, who missed United’s 1-0 loss to Atletico Madrid and has yet to play in pre-season, is set to return to the side in their upcoming friendly against Rayo Vallecano.
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The Premier League’s richest club is flexing its muscles again. Newcastle United have a clear aim to take on England’s elite and they will stop at nothing to assemble a team capable of achieving that aim.
The Magpies won’t win the 2022/23 title; you heard it here first!
The pre-campaign Premier League 2022 betting odds here at SBOTOP have priced Newcastle at 91.00 to finish top of the pile, but that puts them in seventh place and Europa League football might be enough to keep the club’s owners happy…for now.
With the signings of defender Sven Botman and keeper Nick Pope already done and dusted head coach Eddie Howe is looking further up the field and he has put in a second bid to bring Leicester City’s James Maddison to St James’ Park.
Newcastle’s opening bid of £40m for the England midfielder was quickly rebuffed by Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers who said that £40m would just about pay for three-quarters of his left leg. Newcastle’s money men may not be good at maths, either that or they don’t believe Rodgers, because they have just tabled a second bid amounting to £50m.
That should buy the whole of Maddison’s left leg…minus the foot!
I suspect the Foxes might take an offer of £60m seriously and it remains to be seen whether or not the player wants to go to Newcastle. Either way, Leicester could do with a transfer kitty and this deal might inch closer over the next few days. The 25-year-old just has two years left on his contract so this may be the time for his club to cash in for the maximum amount. But with keeper Kasper Schmeichel seemingly on his way to Nice, Leicester Rodgers will think very carefully when and whether to accept Newcastle’s offer.
Burnley playing hardball with Cornet suitors
The race to sign Burnley winger Maxwel Cornet is warming up as the newly relegated side have told Everton they would have to pay £25m for their star if they don’t want to stump up the £17.5m release clause up front. The Toffees are still looking for a replacement for Richarlison, who is now a Tottenham player, but they will get no help from Burnley who are still angry at the circumstances of their relegation.
Burnley winger Maxwel Cornet talks to interim manager Mike Jackson during a Premier League game versus Southampton in April
Everton, who survived with a stunning set of late results made a loss of over £100m for the third year running, but their creative accountants wrote off £170m to COVID, compared to around £50m written off at comparable clubs. That write-off helped the Toffees to circumnavigate the financial fair play rules and avoid a points deduction… and the Premier League let them.
The Toffees have already offered the player a five-year contract worth £67,000 a week and they have been encouraged by reports on the player from another ex-Claret, James Tarkowski.
But Burnley, who have just sold another wide man, Dwight McNeil, to Everton for £20m will squeeze every last penny out of the Merseysiders, or sell their man to someone else.
Big spending new boys Nottingham Forest have been trying to cut a deal and, of course, Newcastle United are also in the frame.
With nine goals and one assist in 26 appearances for the Clarets, Cornet was considerably more productive than McNeil last season. Sources at Burnley believe the Ivorian would be happy to stay at Turf Moor for Vincent Kompany’s first season as manager as the Clarets try to bounce back at the first attempt.
But as the overhaul of playing staff at Burnley continues, another £20m + could finance another four or five recruits.
In other Premier League 2022 news, Chelsea seem happy to let Timo Werner move on and the German striker’s return to RB Leipzig might well be on the cards. The Bundesliga club is increasingly confident they can agree to a deal with Chelsea and talks are intensifying. Werner has been at Stamford Bridge for two years but has been a shadow of the player they bought from Leipzig, and he may find life more to his taste back in Germany.
There could be a twist in this tale as reports, emerging from North London yesterday, suggested that Arsenal might be ready to table a shock £30m bid for the Chelsea star. Having already recruited Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City the Gunners could see a potent partnership with Werner perhaps.
But there is plenty of competition for the striker. Aside from Leipzig and Juventus expressing interest, Newcastle, who else, have also put in a request to loan Werner.
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Premier League: Can the Gunners Shoot Down the Eagles on Day One?
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal
The waiting is finally over. The pre-season is complete and the return of top flight football is just two days away.
The English Premier League elite are ready and raring to go and the season opens up with a London derby to set the pulses racing. The Gunners will take the short trip from North to South London, where former Arsenal playing legend Patrick Vieira will lead the Eagles into battle again with an impressive debut season under his belt.
The Premier League 2022 betting oddsreckon Mikel Arteta’s side will have too much for the Eagles, but things don’t always turn out as expected on the opening day of the campaign. So let’s take a closer look at the two teams and try to work out how this Selhurst Park clash will pan out.
Arsenal’s North London rivals Tottenham are widely tipped to challenge for a top-four place and maybe even the title, which is particularly galling for Gunners fans who watched their side capitulate at the death of the 2021/22 campaign to let the Whites in for the final Champions League spot.
But the Arsenal faithful will be delighted how the club has responded with a strong pre-season and three excellent signings to boost their 2022/23 hopes. Striker Gabriel Jesus signed from Manchester City for a fee of £45m and he was joined by Porto attacking midfielder Fabio Vieira. But maybe the smartest bit of business was the £32m capture of Manchester City utility man Oleksandr Zinchenko. Arteta’s relationship with Pep Guardiola may have helped smooth the deal but the addition of the Ukraine talisman will add that extra composure on the pitch.
The Gunners will be without attacking midfielder Emile Smith-Rowe, who struggled for fitness during pre-season with a groin injury. Friday’s curtain-raiser might be too early for his return and that could open the door for Vieira too to take his bow.
Who can take the weight off Zaha?
Palace made an unexpectedly strong start under Vieria last term and the Eagles’ coach was highly praised for his faith in young players, and the confidence he gave them to express themselves.
But there is no doubt which player the Arsenal defenders will be most wary of, and that’s 29-year-old Ivorian winger Wilfried Zaha. He scored 15 goals in all competitions, 14 in the Premier League and, while Palace have shaken off the image of a ‘one man team’, Zaha remains crucial to their chances of building on last season.
Zaha will play a big role in supporting his manager to bring on the young players while providing Premier League 2022 highlights on the pitch, but he can no longer do it all on his own.
Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha in action during their pre-season friendly against Montpellier
The signing of Cheick Doucoure from Ligue 1 side Lens is an exciting move. The 22-year-old Mali international played 34 times in the French top flight last season and became a key figure in the deepest position of a midfield three. He is comfortable on the ball and with good vision, but his talents lie in breaking up play and launching attacks rather than creating chances.
The return of Conor Gallagher to Chelsea is a loss and that means more attention will be on 20-year-old Michael Olise. The young French star had a breakout season last term on the right side of midfield where he likes to operate between the halfway line and the penalty area. He is quick-footed with an impressive turn of pace, able to keep the ball in tight spaces and play the killer ball.
Olise looks the most likely apprentice to Zaha but Vieira will also look to Eberechi Eze, the breakout star of 2020/21, and another dangerous attacking midfielder, while former Leicester City winger Jeff Schlupp remains a class act.
History
The Gunners have won half of the 24 head-to-head resultsover the past three decades, while the Eagles have won four and there have been eight draws.
Last season Vieira damaged his former club’s top-four hopes when Palace beat Arsenal 3-0 at their April meeting at Selhurst Park.
Palace are at 4.07 to win and the draw is at 3.50, and with Liverpool, Aston Villa and Manchester City to come the hosts will be keen to take something from this game.
I’m backing Arsenal’s attacking line-up to produce goals, but I’m not ruling out a high scoring draw.
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Premier League: Liverpool’s Title Challenge Starts at the Cottage
Fulham vs Liverpool
The 2022/23 Premier League campaign is up and running this weekend and Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool kick off with a Saturday lunchtime test away to newly promoted Fulham.
At SBOTOP odds of 1.28 to win the Reds are expected to start with a victory and, after they beat Manchester City in the Community Shield last week, the visitors have already gathered some early impetus.
Fulham’s final warm up game was a 1-1 home draw with Villarreal, and head coach Marco Silva’s task is to win back-to-back seasons in the top flight.
Craven Cottage will be bouncing when the two teams take the field and all eyes will be on the strikers in a game sure to provide goals.
Talking Points
Nunez set to start for Liverpool
Liverpool have had one the best attacking front threes in world football over the past few campaigns, but the departure of Sadio Mane to FC Bayern has resulted in a shake-up. As the Senegalese striker exited a replacement arrived in the shape of 22-year-old Uruguay star Darwin Nunez, and the new man has made an explosive start. The deal to bring Nunez from Benfica could rise to £85m and it already looks like money well spent as he has plundered five goals in three games for his new side.
The Reds met RB Leipzig in a pre-season friendly and, after Mo Salah had given them a first-half lead, Nunez came on after the half-time break and scored four! He followed that up by earning a penalty and scoring a goal in Liverpool’s Community Shield victory over Manchester City and he already looks like he belongs in the Premier League.
We should find out on Saturday at Craven Cottage, as Nunez looks set to line up alongside Salah and either Luis Diaz or Roberto Firmino. There is plenty of competition for a place up front, and when Diogo Jota returns to fitness the intensity will increase. The 25-year-old ex-Wolves man has just penned a new five-year contract and, after scoring 21 goals in all competitions last season, he will be pushing for a place as soon as his hamstring injury clears up.
Can Mitrovic cut it in the Premier League?
Fulham’s Premier League 2022 results will depend heavily on striker Aleksandar Mitrovic who scored a record-breaking 43 goals in the Championship. The Cottagers won the league with 90 points, finishing two clear of second-placed Bournemouth, and eight clear of Huddersfield in third place. Silva has strengthened his squad with the additions of midfielder Joao Palhinha in an £18m move from Sporting Lisbon and Manchester United utility man Andreas Pereira for a similar fee.
Aleksandar Mitrovic is back for another chance to prove himself under the spotlight of the Premier League
But the goalscoring responsibility lies heavily on the shoulders of Serb hitman Mitrovic.
He has scored 83 goals in 148 appearances for Fulham, but only 24 in the Premier League and Mitrovic struggled in the 2020/21 campaign, scraping together four goals in 31 appearances. The 27-year-old is a powerful figure with plenty of pace and he is clearly a ruthless finisher but, back in the top flight Mitrovic will come up against defenders with world-class quality and, on Saturday, he will meet Liverpool’s Dutch master Virgil Van Dijk.
Silva will let his striker worry about that because he has concerns of his own at the other end of the pitch. Pre-season injuries have left the Cottagers with two fully fit centre-backs, and that’s not a situation you want to be in when you’re facing Salah, Nunez etc.
History
Liverpool have had much the better of the head-to-heads, winning 18 of the 30 encounters between these two sides this century, losing seven and drawing five.
During Fulham’s 2020/21 relegation season they took four points off the Reds, drawing 1-1 at Craven Cottage and winning 1-0 at Anfield as Mario Lemina scored the only goal of the game on the stroke of half-time.
But Fulham’s last home win against Liverpool came in 2011.
The Premier League 2022 betting odds have placed Liverpool as strong second favourites to win the title, but their Community Shield win over Manchester City will give the Reds’ fans hope that they can beat the Sky Blues to the trophy for the second time in six seasons.
At 9.40 to win and 5.03 to draw Fulham have a tough task ahead of them but the double chance Fulham/Draw at 3.33 might tempt some of the more optimistic home fans.
Sure, it looks like an away win banker, but Silva is a smart coach and he’ll have his players ready to take on the best. I can see Liverpool coming through by the odd goal.
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Premier League: New Looks All the Rage in Season Opener
West Ham United vs Manchester City
The final fixture of the opening weekend of the new Premier League season threatens to be the best of the lot.
It is a place where many of the top clubs have come undone at times – all apart from one.
In fact, that is one of the reasons why Manchester City are the champions and have been for four of the last five seasons.
Their record in east London is, quite frankly, superb and – aside from a League Cup defeat on penalties last term – I cannot remember the last time they came unstuck at West Ham.
Now their slightly new-look team attempts to display all those characteristics once more against a team which has become upwardly mobile in the last two seasons under David Moyes.
He has allowed Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus to leave but will be optimistic their replacements can surpass their achievements – although this observer believes failing to replace Sterling could well prove costly.
As his farewell tweet to the club, Sterling said: “I arrived in Manchester a 20-year-old. Today, I leave as a man.
“Seven seasons, 11 major trophies, a lifetime of memories.”
He should take the goalscoring heat off Michail Antonio and joins £30m recruit Nayef Aguerd and Flynn Downes – the 23-year-old midfielder who has joined the club on a five-year deal from Championship side Swansea City – alongside goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.
Moyes also wants to sign a left-sided attacker and, seemingly struggling to convince Filip Kostic to join his side from Eintracht Frankfurt, the club has reportedly switched its focus to Maxwel Cornet from relegated Burnley.
There have been outgoings too.
Left-back Arthur Masuaku has left the club on a season-long loan to join Turkish side Besiktas and Issa Diop, who has just a year left on his contract at the London Stadium, is said to have been the subject of a £15m bid from newly promoted Premier League rivals Fulham.
With England midfielder Declan Rice taking over the captain’s armband following the long-serving Mark Noble’s exit, West Ham have plenty of talent and will be responsible for some Premier League 2022 highlights and perhaps some cup success.
There is no question Moyes has achieved fine things over the past two years and the progress is there for all to see.
But with a limited depth of squad, and the added exertions of football in the Europa Conference League, are they really equipped though to go higher than last season’s seventh-place finish and leapfrog any of the established big six?
I’m not convinced.
History
West Ham United forward Jarrod Bowen during a pre-season friendly against Reading
City have scored in 22 of the past 23 matches against West Ham in all competitions, dating back to November 2012.
The corresponding fixture last season saw City hit back through Jack Grealish and an own goal after Jarrod Bowen’s first-half double had fired the Hammers in front.
City have actually won 11 of the last 14 meetings with West Ham in all competitions and have not lost any of them (bar the shoot-out defeat last season) – scoring 37 goals and conceding just eight.
Overall, West Ham have won on 38 occasions with 60 City triumphs and 19 draws.
The SBOTOP Premier League 2022 betting odds are all City with the Champions available to back 1X2 @ 1.34 and Asian Handicap -1.75 @ 2.33.
By contrast, the Hammers’ odds include 1X2 @ 8.50 and Asian Handicap +1.25 @ 2.16.
They are well adrift and I think the encounter will be a lot closer in truth.
A repeat of last season’s 2-2 draw is on offer with Correct Score @ 24.00 and while I do think there will be goals, my prediction is for the total to go over 3.25 goals.
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Premier League: A Tale of Two Blues Aiming to Avoid the Blues
Everton vs Chelsea
Ask the core fanbases of either of these Premier League clubs and they will probably tell you they are weaker than last season.
It is hard to disagree when you look more closely with one forced to sell arguably its best player for financial reasons and the other beginning a whole new era and seeing many of its summer transfer plans stall.
Still, a new season brings optimism to many and a good result on the opening weekend for either of these sides would lead to a spring in the step.
This is also a fixture that has produced many Premier League 2022 highlights over the years so, at a raucous Goodison Park, it is unlikely to be one for the faint-hearted.
Talking Points
That’s not to say Chelsea have been quiet in the market, in either direction.
First, club record signing Romelu Lukaku was allowed to return to Inter Milan on loan – why was he signed for nearly £100 million last summer if manager Thomas Tuchel didn’t want him?!.
Then Andreas Christensen departed on a free transfer (although his attitude in refusing to make himself available for selection for last season’s FA Cup Final means he will be no great loss).
And Antonio Rudiger has also left on a free transfer for the bright lights of European champions Real Madrid.
How much those moves had to do with the uncertainty which surrounded the club during the final months of Roman Abramovich’s tenure is unknown, but under new co-owner Todd Boehly, Chelsea have moved to replace them.
Raheem Sterling should make Tuchel’s attack far more incisive, while long-time Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibably is an important signing in defence following the departures mentioned above.
Likewise, the return of Ben Chilwell from long-term injury is a major boost and the club appears to be close to signing the Brighton defender Marc Cucurella for £50 million.
With an agreement in place for the transfer of 18-year-old Carney Chukwuemeka from Aston Villa, the west Londoners have been anything but frugal and will benefit enormously if they can keep N’Golo Kante fit and witness the continued development of Mason Mount, the 23-year-old who has come through the club’s academy.
As it stands, Chelsea will probably fall short of a title chase but are capable of beating anyone on their day.
Everton manager Frank Lampard celebrates after their Premier League match against Leicester City
So are Everton, but the fact they needed some of those days simply to preserve their top-flight status last season should act as a reminder of the work facing the club, now managed by former Chelsea favourite Frank Lampard.
He has asked for reinforcements and they have been forthcoming but only to a degree.
As it stands, they have raided relegated Burnley to snap up reliable centre-back James Tarkowski on a free transfer, along with his former team-mate Dwight McNeill, for £20 million, and the on-loan Sporting defender Rúben Vinagre.
In addition, Idrissa Gueye is close to re-joining from Paris Saint-Germain. The midfielder travelled to Merseyside for a medical earlier this week in anticipation of completing the deal as the clubs negotiate the final details.
With Richarlison gone and striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin ruled out this weekend after suffering a “freak” injury in training, they will have it all to do initially.
Over the next nine months, will they have enough to ensure they don’t face such a nail-biting battle again? Probably.
Will they be able to make significant improvement with this squad under Lampard? Probably not.
History
The Toffees won a league game on Chelsea turf.
Much has changed since then but, while Chelsea have not lost any of their subsequent meetings in the capital, they have been frustrated by the Merseysiders on a number of occasions, particularly at Goodison.
Chelsea have won 15 with 12 draws in the last 28 meetings. Overall, Chelsea have a total of 74 victories compared to 58 Everton wins and 54 draws.
Last season was a case in point. At Stamford Bridge in December, Chelsea were title contenders and up against a depleted Everton side. Mount finally broke the deadlock with 20 minutes remaining but, when 19-year-old defender Jarrad Branthwaite, in his first league appearance of the season, converted at the back post four minutes later, the visitors took a surprise point.
In between the show of defiance from the England number one, Richarlison scored in the first minute of the second half to earn Everton what proved to be a crucial winner in their fight against the drop.
Chelsea are clear favourites with the SBOTOP Premier League 2022 betting odds.
The West Londoners can be backed 1X2 @ 1.70 and Asian Handicap -1.00 @ 2.25, compared to the hosts 1X2 @ 4.90 and Asian Handicap +0.50 @ 2.29.
Although I think Tuchel’s men will be keen to impress, Evertonians will make life difficult for them which is why I am opting for this to finish level pegging.
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Premier League: Can Conte’s Spurs Avoid Another Saints Setback?
Tottenham Hotspur vs Southampton
There are big expectations for Tottenham Hotspur this Premier League season. After their impressive turnaround under Antonio Conte coupled with some key summer signings, Spurs look like the team most capable of challenging champions Manchester City and Liverpool at the top of the table.
Conte will be keen to get off to a good start to the season, and he will have quite a winnable opening fixture as Spurs host Southampton.
However, Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Saints avoided defeat in both meetings against Spurs last season and even got a big away win at the London Stadium.
Can Saints defy the Premier League 2022 betting odds once again and deny Conte’s Spurs an opening-day win?
Talking Points
Tottenham begin with title aspirations
Tottenham will head into their first full season under coach Antonio Conte with a lot of optimism. The Italian took charge in November and led an impressive in-season turnaround. Spurs went on to win eight of their last 11 Premier League matches to edge out north London rivals Arsenal for that coveted fourth Champions League spot.
Now, Conte and co. have their sights set on loftier goals, namely challenging Manchester City and Liverpool for the championship.
The dynamic duo of Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son was central to Spurs’ success yet again. The two combined for 40 goals and 16 assists, with Son winning a share of the Golden Boot with 23 goals. Kane and Son were also in outstanding form in pre-season as they combined for seven goals (five from Kane) and three assists (all from Son) in four games.
Harry Kane celebrates with his Tottenham Hotspur teammate Son Heung-Min after scoring against Rangers
The addition of Dejan Kulusevski in January provided an ideal third attacker alongside Kane and Son, and the Swede – who had 5 goals and 8 assists in 18 games – should get the start against Saints with new signing Richarlison suspended.
Conte has fielded a settled 3-4-3 starting line-up during his time at Spurs, although newcomers Ivan Perisic and Clement Lenglet have made a case to break into the side with their strong pre-season play.
But while Perisic could be preferred to Ryan Sessegnon at left wing-back, Ben Davies seems to have recovered from injury and is the favourite to start at left centre-back ahead of Lenglet.
Saints set to start another tough season
Southampton finished 15th last season, the third time in four campaigns under Ralph Hasenhuttl that they’ve ranked 15th or lower in the league.
To be fair to Hasenhuttl, he hasn’t had the deepest or most talented squads at his disposal, and it’s been an achievement to keep them safe from relegation despite their shortcomings.
Hasenhuttl will have another tough job to keep Saints up this season, and it will be made harder by the departure of striker Armando Broja. The 19-year-old was one of Saints’ bright spots last season as he scored six goals in 32 appearances while on loan from Chelsea.
Meanwhile, right-back Tino Livramento – one of the best surprise signings of the season – is expected to miss the rest of 2022 due to a knee injury.
With Broja gone, Che Adams will likely be tasked to lead the line and produce some Premier League 2022 highlights for Saints. The 25-year-old Scot scored seven goals last season, second on the team behind skipper James Ward-Prowse, who had 10.
Saints did splash some cash this summer to strengthen their survival bid. They signed 19-year-old striker Sekou Mara from Bordeaux, as well attacking midfielder Joe Aribo, who played a crucial role in Rangers’ run to the Europa League final.
They also brought in defensive midfielder Romeo Lavia and goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu from Manchester City, as well as centre-back Armel Bella-Kotchap from Bochum.
But apart from Aribo, it’s unlikely any of Saints’ other new signings, who are all 20 years old or younger, will start in the season opener against Tottenham.
History
This will be Tottenham and Southampton’s 47th Premier League showdown in total. Spurs own a sizable 24-14 edge over Southampton in wins, while they have drawn eight times.
Son Heung-Min has a stellar goalscoring record against Southampton. The South Korean has scored 12 goals in 15 games against Saints, by far the most he’s scored against any Premier League club. That includes his fantastic four-goal masterpiece in a 5-2 Spurs win back in September 2020.
However, Saints successfully avoided defeat in their two meetings against Spurs last season. After drawing 1-1 at St Mary’s in December, they stunned Spurs by grabbing a 3-2 win.
Saints came from behind to equalise twice through Armando Broja and Mohamed Elyounoussi. Che Adams then popped up to score the winner eight minutes from time. It was Saints’ first Premier League win at Tottenham since 2016.
SBOTOP odds have Conte’s Tottenham as considerable 1.34 favourites to start their season with a home win. They are the biggest favourites out of the Premier League’s Saturday matches. Southampton are priced at 8.50 to win, while a Draw is 4.90.
While Saints did get a surprising amount of success against Tottenham last season, it’s hard to see slipping up again this year. Spurs are now more used to Conte’s system, which they showed towards the end of last year. Look for Spurs to come out of the gates quickly in their season opener, with Kane and Son leading them to a first-half advantage.
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Elland Road is the place to be on Saturday afternoon when Leeds host Wolves in their Premier League season opener. The stadium will be packed to the rafters and the atmosphere will be electric.
It’s one of the most famous games in top-flight football, but it is a game many Whites’ fans feared would not be on the agenda this season when they went into the last day of the 2021/22 campaign staring relegation in the face. But a brilliant victory away to Brentford, coupled with a defeat for Burnley at home to Newcastle, preserved Leeds’ hard-earned top-flight status.
And now they enter the new campaign with renewed hope and it’s time for Jesse Marsch’s men to kick on.
Leeds’ opponents are sometimes a tough team to weigh up. Over the past three seasons the All Golds have played some scintillating football and won European recognition, but at times they have been too easy to beat. And the Premier League 2022 betting odds reflect just that, installing the Whites as favourites to win the game at SBOTOP odds of 2.23.
Bruno Lage’s Wolves have had a decent pre-season and they will aim to win another top-half finish, needing a strong start to give them a foundation.
Talking Points
Now it’s down to Marsch and his players
Luke Ayling is expected to return in late August
After a patchy pre-season ‘Down Under’, Leeds put on a show last week to beat Serie B side Cagliari as Patrick Bamford made a comeback with two goals and Rodrigo scored a hat-trick. The Leeds attack, now without Raphinha, tore into the Italians and Bamford looked sharper as the game wore on.
This is the first season the Whites will start with Marsch at the helm and so, in effect, it’s the beginning of a new era. The American boss will do all he can to continually improve the quality and passion on the pitch after bringing a feel-good factor to Elland Road in the second half of the 2021/22 campaign.
March has spent money well after the departure of Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips, bringing in midfield ace Marc Roca for £10m, winger Luis Sinisterra for £21m and creative midfielder Brenden Aaronson for £30m.
Right-back Rasmus Kristensen looks like he could be the signing of the summer arriving on an £11m deal from Red Bull Salzburg and showing, in pre-season, what a good attacking wing-back he can be.
Traore and Jimenez doubts for Wolves
After a poor start to the 2021/22 campaign under Lage, Wolves went on an impressive run, hovering on the edge of the top four before falling away and finishing five points adrift of a Europa League place.
Lightning fast winger Adama Traore went on loan to Barcelona and thrived under Xavi and he could be a big player for Wolves this season. But he has featured little in pre-season and looks set to miss out on Saturday with a tight hamstring. Striker Raul Jimenez is unlikely to feature too. After recovering from a horrific head injury, the Mexican returned last season but struggled to recapture his best form and now he has a groin strain.
There is better news for Lage in the pre-season form of 21-year-old defender Nathan Collins, signed for £20m from Burnley, and striker Hwang Hee-Chan is also in line for a start. Wolves’ pre-season ended with two 1-1 draws away to Farense and Sporting Lisbon and Collins in particular has been impressive.
And Wolves are getting increasingly confident of keeping hold of their playmaker Ruben Neves. The Portuguese star has been on the radar of Manchester United all summer but if the Red Devils can land Barca’s Frenkie de Jong then Neves may stay at Molineux.
He shares an agent with United’s want-away star Cristiano Ronaldo and the middle man has more work to do to keep CR7 happy.
Neves should start on Saturday.
History
The last 23 meetings between Leeds and Wolves have been well-contested, with the All Golds ahead by 11 wins to eight and there have been four draws.
Leeds had the better of the exchanges last season, winning 1-1 at Elland Road before earning a crucial three points in a five-goal thriller at Molineux in March. The Whites were two goals down at the break but roared back in the second half and Luke Ayling grabbed an injury-time winner.
Wolves have finished seventh, 13th and tenth in their three seasons since returning to the top flight while Leeds have finished tenth and 17th.
It’s nicely set up to be a fascinating opener. We’ll be back with the Premier League 2022 highlights on Saturday but now’s the time to make our pick.
So with Leeds at 2.23, the draw at 3.11 and a Wolves win at 3.02 all three results are well in play.
The hosts will have a passionate crowd behind them and will push for all three points and they might just edge it, but 1-1 is the most likely scoreline at odds of 5.22.
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Premier League: Foxes and Bees in a Sunday Smasher
Leicester City vs Brentford
Premier League:Leicester City vs Brentfordmay not be the biggest draw of the opening weekend but there’s plenty for neutrals and SBOTOP fans to get stuck in to.
The two sides meet on Sunday afternoon at the KingPower Stadium and it’s a game sure to provide plenty of good attacking football and hopefully some goals. Both teams are in a phase of transition, no major overhauls but key movements in their squads which makes it an uncertain time for both the Foxes and the Bees.
Managers Brendan Rodgers and Thomas Frank both know they can’t afford a slow start but for different reasons. Rodgers’ Leicester have hovered around the top four in recent seasons but flopped last year and ended up eighth. Meanwhile Brentford exceeded all expectations by surviving their first season in the top flight and their fans will be fearing the dreaded ‘second season syndrome’…whether they admit it or not!
At the time of writing Rodgers is the only Premier League manager not to have made a signing so far this summer and we’re into the last month of the transfer window and, of course, the league action begins on Friday night. The Foxes will start their campaign without Kasper Schmeichel for the first time in 11 years, during which time Leicester fans have enjoyed unprecedented Premier League success, famously winning the title in 2016. The 35 year old Danish keeper has headed to Nice for the next chapter in his career and that leaves a big hole in the dressing room, as well as on the pitch.
A keeper will be on Rodgers’ shopping list but, in the meantime, 25 year old Daniel Iverson is likely to be preferred to Wales stopper Danny Ward.
Big spending Newcastle have also been on the phone and Leicester face losing one of their most talented stars. The Magpies have been pursuing Leicester midfielder James Maddison, offering £40m and then £50m so far.
If the Geordies keep going they will probably get their man.
While transfer hassle won’t help the Foxes they do have some good news to start the season with. Centre back Wesley Fofana is fit again and that could be crucial. He was sadly missed last season and, alongside the experienced Jonny Evans, he will form one of the most dependable defensive pairings in the league.
And Rodgers has an exciting young squad with players like Kiernan Dewsbury Hall breaking through last year and Harvey Barmes back to fitness too. Leicester come into the game on the back of a 2-1 friendly win over second tier Preston North End as both Jamie Vardy and Barnes were on target.
Of course Vardy is still one of the most ruthless strikers in England and, after his wife’s costly court case went the wrong way, I’m sure he’ll be delighted to get back on the pitch!
Life post Eriksen could be tough for Brentford
Brentford manager Thomas Frank during the pre-season friendly against Wolfsburg
After a honeymoon period at the start of their 2021/22 campaign the Bees were in freefall by Christmas and were odds on to take the drop. One point in eight games left them three points above the relegation zone and with the bottom teams all picking up points the writing seemed to be on the wall.
Then Frank pulled a masterstroke with the signing of Christian Eriksen; and the transformation was spectacular as the Bees won seven of the ten games he started and they survived comfortably with a 13th place finish.
But the great Dane has gone to Manchester United and that means Brentford are on their own again. Frank is moving for a replacement and he’s had a bid accepted by Serie A side Sampdoria for their 22 year old star Mikkel Damsgaard. The young Dane is a talent for sure, but he doesn’t have Eriksen’s Premier League experience and Brentford will look to Mathias Jensen to take the responsibility of running the attacking midfield.
At odds of 3.50 to be relegated the Bees are expected to finish 16th and that would suit Frank and the Brentford fans just perfectly. Then they can look to grow in season three.
History
In terms of Leicester City vs Brentford results the Foxes have won all four of the previous meetings, twice in the FA Cup, 2020 and 2021, and last term Rodgers’ men did the league double over the Bees, both times by a 2-1 score line.
The Foxes come into the game on the back of four pre-season victories while Brentford have just completed back to back wins, after taking a 4-0 thumping from Bundesliga side Wolfsburg.
The Leicester City vs Brentford betting odds have a clear favourite in the hosts, while Brentford can be backed at 3.35 and the draw too is 3.35. We’re expecting goals, with over 2.50 at 1.78 and a repeat of the last two outcomes when these teams met; a 2-1 win for Leicester, is available at 7.14.
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In an entertaining opener, the newly promoted Cottagers led twice before being pegged back but held on for a deserved point and a result which defied the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds.
Highlights of the game
Marco Silva’s men may have been without Harry Wilson, Nathaniel Chalobah and Joe Bryan but they did have a player with a point to prove – questioned whether or not he could repeat his Championship goalscoring success in the top flight.
Well, if this opener is anything to go by, the answer is an emphatic yes.
Just after the half hour mark, he got the better of Trent Alexander-Arnold to head in a superb cross by Kenny Tete.
And with 16 minutes remaining, he ran at the visitors’ defence, drawing a foul from Virgil van Dijk and dusting himself up to coolly convert the resulting penalty.
They fought back when new signing Darwin Nunez levelled shortly after entering the fray early in the second half and then again when Nunez set up Mohamed Salah for a second equaliser 10 minutes from time.
Yet despite Jordan Henderson shooting against the crossbar in stoppage time, Fulham were not to be denied a fine point.
That was actually the third time in the match the woodwork had been struck with Liverpool’s Colombian international Luis Diaz and new Fulham man Neeskens Kebano both hitting the post in a contest of Premier League highlights.
Fulham, for whom new signings João Palhinha and Andreas Pereira enjoyed fine home debuts in midfield. scored 106 league goals on their way to winning the Championship title last term.
Each of their last three Premier League campaigns have ended in relegation – 2013-14, 2018-19 and 2020-21.
If Mitrovic’s double helps them seal safety this season, they will have been worth just as much as his contribution then.
Key statistics
Mohamed Salah scores late on to split the points at Fulham
Salah has scored on the opening day in all six seasons he has played for Liverpool.
This was his 158th goal for the club, putting him level with Michael Owen in eighth place on the club’s all-time scorers list.
Mitrovic has scored 44 goals in 45 league matches since the start of last season, 15 more than any other player in England’s four divisions.
Nunez is only the third player to score and assist from the bench on his Premier League debut after Sergio Agüero (Man City, 2011-12) and Álvaro Morata (Chelsea, 2017-18).
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 20 Premier League games (won 16, drawn four), a run stretching back to last December.
What’s next?
Fulham travel to the ‘black country’ next Saturday as they visit Wolves before returning home on August 20 against Brentford.
Liverpool have two successive Monday games at home to Crystal Palace (Aug 15) and at arch rivals Manchester United (Aug 22).
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So, as this contest approached the closing stages with the sides evenly matched, it would have been natural for home fans to be quietly optimistic.
Their optimism turned out to be justified.
Highlights of the game
The team news, when it arrived, was of interest for both clubs.
Leeds boss Jesse Marsch named four of his summer signings with Rasmus Kristensen, Tyler Adams, Marc Roca and Brendan Aaronson all included.
Another new boy, Luis Sinisterra, missed out through a hamstring injury.
With Adam Forshaw, Luke Ayling, Junior Firpo and Stuart Dallas also out and Dan James suspended, the home side did have the boost of welcoming back Patrick Bamford in attack, having missed much of last season through injury.
Wolves had their own list of absentees with Joao Moutinho, Adama Traore and Nelson Semedo and, most tellingly of all, forward Raul Jimenez out of action for the next few weeks with a knee injury.
A front three of Hwang Hee-Chan, Pedro Neto and Daniel Podence led the attack and, despite controlling spells of possession, Wolves’ lack of a cutting edge in would ultimately prove costly.
Gibbs-White, who is reportedly wanted by newly-promoted Nottingham Forest, was handed a chance to impress in midfield, while Coady was on the bench with sole summer signing Nathan Collins partnering Maximilian Kilman in the centre of defence.
Six minutes in and Elland Road was silenced as Hee-chan headed into the path of Podence whose shot into the ground bounced over Illan Meslier – a good start to the campaign for a player who only netted twice all last season.
The former made his mark midway through the first half when he snuck in an equaliser at the near post to add to the hat-trick he scored in a friendly against Cagliari last weekend.
Both teams had chances to take the lead before the break but goalkeeper Jose Sa was able to clear just in time, after dribbling rather too close to his own net then he’d have liked, before Leander Dendocker’s close-range effort was blocked by Meslier.
The Premier League highlights continued after the break and it was the visitors who were the better team with Meslier forced to tip over a strong Dendoncker and then holding onto a low Gibbs-White drive.
The SBOTOP Premier League betting odds would have been evenly poised at this stage but there was to be a winner as Bamford squared for Aaronson and the debut boy’s pressure forced Rayan Ait-Nouri to divert into his own net.
It took a stunning one-handed stop from Sa to deny Bamford a goal after a fine cross from young Sam Greenwood but it didn’t matter.
Jesse Marsch’s new-look Leeds United impress in 2-1 win over Wolves
Leeds United, who picked up 15 points in their 12 Premier League games under Jesse Marsch since his appointment in the spring, are up and running.
For Wolves, the absence of Jimenez was a blow, but the fact he was their top league scorer last season with just six goals highlights their lack of ruthlessness and composure in front of goal and is an obvious area where they need to strengthen.
Key statistics
This was only Wolves’ second opening day defeat in their last seven top flight openers. They are, however, on the longest winless run of any Premier League side, failing to win any of their last seven matches last season.
Wolves have only failed to score in one of their last 14 league games against Leeds.
Leeds haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of their last 13 Premier League home games.
Wolves have not kept a clean sheet in 10 league matches.
What’s next?
Leeds are on the south coast next Saturday as they face Southampton before returning to Elland Road to face Chelsea on August 21.
Wolves entertain Fulham a week today (August 20) and then are at Spurs a week later.
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Chelsea got their 2022/23 campaign off to a winning start with a well earned victory over Everton at Goodison Park.
Jorginho gave the Blues a lead from the penalty spot deep into first half stoppage time and while both team had chances to add to the score line that goal was enough to take all three points.
The Saturday teatime fixture gave the rest of the Premier League clubs a chance to weigh up these two teams and the match went pretty much as expected, with Chelsea showing composure while the Toffees struggled to create too many chances.
It could be another long season for Frank Lampard’s Everton.
Highlights of the game
In the first real action of the game Everton centre back Ben Godfrey put in a superb tackle to deny Kai Havertz; but it cost Godfrey dearly and he was stretchered off after receiving treatment for six minutes. It didn’t look good for the young defender.
Chelsea’s move to sign Raheem Sterling from Manchester City looks like a smart one as he and fellow new boy Kalidou Koulibaly were the standout players in the first half, the former Napoli centre back settling easily in to life in the Premier League. And Sterling thought he’d got his first goal for the Blues when he turned in a rebound when Jordan Pickford spilled a shot from N’Golo Kante but the flag went up and Sterling was inches offside.
Kalidou Koulibaly is the first Chelsea player to wear the Number 26 since former captain John Terry
The England forward will make his fair share of Premier League 2022 highlights this season while Koulibaly could be one of the buys of the summer.
In Everton’s best chance of the first half one of their new boys came close to scoring when ex Burnley centre back James Tarkowski powered a header goalwards which Edouard Mendy did well to tip over the bar.
The visitors had a lot of possession but they had to be patient and eventually it paid off when Ben Chilwell made a run into the penalty area; Abdoulaye Doucoure put in a clumsy challenge to give referee Craig Pawson an easy decision to point to the spot.
Jorginho was cool personified as he sent Pickford the wrong way and slotted the ball low into the bottom left corner.
The Toffees came out fighting in the second half and Demarai Gray came close to a leveller when he was clean through on goal, but his angled drive wizzed just wide of the far post. Then Mendy had to react smartly to beat away a shot from Doucoure.
Another former Burnley man, Dwight McNeil, also made his Everton debut but he struggled to get into the game and was replaced by Dele Alli with half an hour remaining. But that change didn’t spark anything and Everton started to toil.
Thomas Tuchel has been busy in the market with the signing of Marc Cucurella from Brighton in a deal worth more than £60m, and he came on for his debut when Koulibaly limped off with cramp. And Cucurella almost created a second goal for Chelsea when he drilled a low ball in the danger area which Sterling met sweetly, but Vitaly Mykolenko made a brilliant goal-line clearance.
MySBOTOP colleague fancied a draw in this game and in the first half, while Chelsea bossed possession and the shot count (by 10 to three and five to one on target) Everton looked reasonably comfortable in defence until the penalty deep into injury time.
Chelsea had a staggering 13 corners in the first half and none of them came to anything. The vast majority were fired in at the near post and two went too long for anyone to get on the end of.
After Everton started the second half brightly Tuchel’s men took control and saw the game out comfortably, finishing with 63 per cent possession and 14 shots to seven, five to three on target.
What’s next?
The Premier League 2022 betting oddspredict these two teams will finish the campaign at opposite ends of the table and this result pretty much confirms that forecast.
After a satisfactory start the Blues have a huge match next week when former boss Antonio Conte brings his Tottenham Hotspur to Stamford Bridge. Spurs opener, at home to Southampton, turned out to be a great start for Conte’s men who ran out 4-1 winners.
With three weeks of the transfer window to work with, Frank Lampard is still hoping to strengthen his squad and Everton have just bought Lille midfielder Amadou Onana to Merseyside. The club is also hoping to bring Idrissa Gueye back from Paris to Goodison as well as luring Wolves centre back Conor Coady.
Next up for Everton it’s Aston Villa away, before new boys Nottingham Forest are the visitors to Merseyside on 20th August.
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Manchester City got their 2022/23 Premier League defence up and running with a classy victory over West Ham United at the London Stadium.
Erling Braut Haaland won and converted a first half penalty to give Pep Guardiola’s champions the perfect start; and he added a second with a brilliant finish midway through the second half. It was a sensational performance from City’s summer marquee signing and their fans must be dreaming of what is to come from the ace hitman.
The Sky Blues’ disappointing 3-1 defeat to Liverpool in the Community Shield was quickly consigned to memory, particularly as the Reds dropped points in their opener, and West Ham will have to wait another week to get their campaign started.
Highlights of the game
West Ham have been busy in the transfer market and they completed the signing of Burnley winger Maxwell Cornet on Friday, but the Ivorian sat this one out as David Moyes started with his trusted front line of Michail Antonio, supported by Jarrod Bowen, Pablo Fornals and Manuel Lanzini. And Bowen had a great effort blocked in just three minutes before Antonio headed over in the same wave of attacks.
It was a bright start from the Hammers but the Sky Blues gradually worked their way into the game and Kevin de Bruyne had the visitors’ first shot in anger, drilling a shot narrowly wide from 20 yards. City were trying to supply chances for Haaland on his league debut, by pinging balls into the box, but it was De Bruyne who came close again, tapping home a cross from Ilkay Gundogan but the German midfielder had strayed offside.
Lukasz Fabianski receiving medical attention during West Ham United’s match against Manchester City
It was Haaland who made the breakthrough though, with a rapid burst into the penalty area; sub keeper Alphonse Areola, who’d only just come on for the injured Lukasz Fabianski, felled the striker and the ref pointed to the spot.
The big Norwegian was calm personified as he slotted the spot kick home, low into the bottom left corner.
The Sky Blues seemed to be finding life a little too easy in the second half and they should have doubled their lead on the hour when De Bruyne squared across the six yard box; Haaland slid in and missed the ball which fell at the feet of Gundogan and he pushed it wide with the goal at his mercy.
Said Benrahma tested Ederson with a low drive and the City keeper saved comfortably but then, in the blink of an eye, the Sky Blues were out of sight. De Bruyne slid a beautiful pass through to Haaland and he was too quick for the West Ham defence as he opened up his body and fired past Areola for his and City’s second.
City’s newest hero earned a standing ovation from the visiting fans as he was substituted, on 78 minutes as Guardiola introduced another new boy, Argentine striker Julian Alvarez. And Kalvin Phillips also came on for a late debut as City pushed the ball around to see out the win.
The last player to score a brace on his Manchester City Premier League debut was none other than…Sergio Aguero.
Haaland’s dad, Alfie, scored 18 Premier League goals in a career with Nottingham Forest, Leeds United and Manchester City. What price the younger Haaland reaches that figure this season?
Short I’d say!
The crowd of 62,442 was a new record for West Ham at the London Stadium
What’s next?
The other big Premier League 2022 results on the opening weekend saw Liverpool held to a draw at Fulham, while Chelsea beat Everton and Tottenham Hotspur had a thumping win over Southampton. On Sunday afternoon Manchester United lost at home to Brighton and Hove Albion to give Erik Ten Hag a difficult start to his career at Old Trafford.
The pre-season Premier League 2022 betting odds are confident the Sky Blues will retain their title and we haven’t seen anything this weekend to cast that into doubt. Next Sunday West Ham visit new boys Nottingham Forest, who suffered a 2-0 opening day defeat away to Newcastle United while City host another newly promoted side Bournemouth, who marked their return to the top flight with a 2-0 victory at home to Aston Villa.
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Premier League: Manchester United Press the Panic Button
We’re just one week in to the new Premier League season and already there is meltdown on some Manchester United fans’ forums after an opening-day defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion.
Cries of ‘don’t panic’ are reverberating around Old Trafford and the news that the club has just tabled a bid for 33-year-old Bologna forward Marko Arnautovic has just tipped some Red Devils over the edge.
This is no criticism of the Austrian goal scorer; he’s been a menace to defences in the Premier League before and has turned in a very decent 14 goals in 33 games for the Serie A side. And he also scored 43 goals in England during his stints with Stoke City and West Ham United.
But when the long-suffering United fans spent the weekend watching Erling Braut Haaland score a brace for Manchester City and Darwin Nunez open his account for Liverpool, news of a £7.6m bid being tabled for Arnautovic is not exactly what they hoped to see.
Fans expect Cristiano Ronaldo to wander through the exit door during the last couple of days of the transfer window and if their Premier League 2022 results don’t pick up quickly, starting with a perilous visit to Brentford next week, there could be a revolution in Salford.
In other Manchester United news the club is also working on a deal to bring 27-year-old Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot to the club. He has just one year left on his contract and the Old Lady could be ready to cash in. But the news suggests that United might be prepared to move on from their long-term target Frenkie de Jong.
Chelsea’s opening-day win over Everton had a notable absentee in the Blues’ matchday squad as striker Timo Werner was nowhere to be seen. The German forward has struggled to make a real impact in his time at Stamford Bridge and talks are progressing to take him back to RB Leipzig, where he scored 78 goals in 127 games.
With just ten goals in two seasons for Chelsea it seems Werner might be homesick, and the Leipzig fans would certainly welcome him back with open arms. Of course, Manchester United would surely be interested if Werner was happy to stay in the Premier League but I strongly suspect he’s on his way.
Werner has had behind-closed-doors meetings with Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel, who seemingly doesn’t agree that he deserves a starting place, and the two have reached an impasse.
The Bundesliga has already kicked off and Leipzig played out a 1-1 draw with Stuttgart in their opener. Christopher Nkunku scored the Red Bulls’ goal and the idea of him linking up with Werner is a mouth-watering prospect.
Forest continue to roll the dice
Newly promoted Nottingham Forest are fast becoming the club that fans of other teams are curious to watch. Their first season in the top flight this century has got their fans dreaming, but the way the club is spending money might alarm the more cautious. There are plenty of examples of newly promoted teams spending hundreds of millions and promptly being sent packing back to the Championship.
The Premier League 2022 betting odds here at SBOTOP price Forest at 2.00 to be relegated, second favourite for the prize no-one wants, behind only Bournemouth, and the Cherries got their season off with a win, while Steve Cooper’s team lost 2-0 to Newcastle United.
The most eye-catching signing at the City Ground has been Jesse Lingard who turned down West Ham to play for Forest, and the former Manchester United man won’t come cheap. In addition, Cooper has spent £85M on 12 signings so far, and he is looking to splash more cash before the window slams shut.
Alex Moreno playing for Real Betis during their match against Barcelona last season
Having failed to lure Angelino from RB Leipzig – he has opted for Hoffenheim instead – Forest have revived their interest in Real Betis wing-back Alex Moreno. Cooper is hoping to sign the 29-year-old for 9m and push through a medical as soon as possible.
And, believe it or not, the Midlands club is reported to be close to meeting Wolves’ huge valuation of attacking midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White. The 22-year-old had an impressive spell at Sheffield United last season, but is unproven in the top flight, so Wolves boss Bruno Lage is likely to snap Cooper’s hand off if he improves on the current offer of £35m including add-ons.
I suspect £40m would do the job, and if Forest take their summer spending beyond £135m then they better make sure it works! In the meantime Wolves look set to make an exciting signing of their own, as Valencia’s attacking midfielder Goncalo Guedes is about to have a medical in the Black Country. And that might well smooth the way for the sale of Gibbs-White.
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Premier League: Can Foxes Continue to Flourish Amidst the Frustration?
Arsenal vs Leicester City
In recent years, this has been a meeting between the underachievers and the overachievers.
When I describe Leicester City as the latter, it is no way meant disrespectfully.
Their success over the last six years – most notably last year’s FA Cup triumph and the unforgettable never-to-be-repeated Premier League title in 2016 – is the stuff of folklore and defied the odds in the modern world of the super club.
By contrast, North London giants Arsenal mustered just three FA Cup successes in Arsene Wenger’s final 12 years in charge.
Considering five of those seasons came after his old adversary Sir Alex Ferguson had retired and you can see why the Gunners have under achieved and been given a bloody nose by the likes of the Foxes on more than one occasion.
However, now in 2022, it seems these two clubs are heading in opposite directions.
Not for one minute do I think Arsenal are in a position to challenge for the title this term. But the fact they appear to making progress under Mikel Arteta and have spent more than £110 –M in the transfer market this summer is what you’d expect.
By contrast, Leicester have not made a single signing and are laudably fending off bids for their star players left, right, and centre – even though it is reported they need to sell to bring new faces in as the squad is currently at its limit of 25 players and they have no desire to let their key men leave.
For that is the reality given the size of the clubs and shows just how fine Leicester’s achievements have been in recent years, initially under Claudio Ranieri and now with Brendan Rodgers at the helm.
This match, however, may show how the tide appears to be turning back towards the status quo.
Talking Points
Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus reacts during a Premier League match against Crystal Palace
Arsenal were actually responsible for the first thrall of Premier League 2022 highlights as they won at Crystal Palace last Friday in the opening match.
Could their additions, coupled with uncertainty at both Chelsea and Manchester United, help them secure a top four finish this season and a return to the Champions League?
Well, certainly games like this weekend’s encounter will need to be overcome to achieve that goal.
It appears to be a good time to play Leicester City whose involvement in a Sunday smasher last weekend didn’t turn out as they had hoped, throwing away a 2-0 advantage to draw at home with battling Brentford.
Rodgers spoke of the need for a heathy shakeup of his squad towards the end of last season and has a good relationship with the club’s owner and chairman, Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, so will not criticise the board for a lack of signings.
Yet, with just under three weeks left in the transfer window and teams circling for star players, they find themselves in a precarious position.
That situation was highlighted last week with the news that Ricardo Pereira – who has had bad luck with injury over a number of years – has been ruled out for up to six months due to a ruptured Achilles, while winger Harvey Barnes will miss the next few weeks with a knee problem.
If Leicester can say farewell to a few fringe players and strengthen, they will benefit. What they can’t afford is to lose key men and not replace them. Not if they want to keep giving the established clubs a bloodied nose anyway.
When Leicester won on Arsenal turf in October 2020, it not only sent shockwaves around the Premier League but was their first triumph against them in North London since 1973.
Arsenal gained revenge in the Midlands the following February when David Luiz, Alexandre Lacazette (penalty), and Nicolas Pepe scored three quick goals in a 3-1 win.
They then went onto complete a league double over the Foxes last term, winning both games 2-0, including this corresponding fixture in North London when Thomas Partey found the net along with another Lacazette penalty.
They have won 70 of their clashes since the very first meeting in 1895 in the old League Division Two when Leicester Fosse defeated Woolwich Arsenal 3-1.
Overall, Leicester have 33 successes and a further 45 meetings have ended all square.
Premier League: Spurs Aiming to Break Chelsea Dominance
Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur
Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur meet in a London blockbuster on Sunday, both hoping to build on a perfect start to the 2022/23 Premier League campaign.
Thomas Tuchel’s Blues eked out a highly professional 1-0 win away to Everton last weekend while Antonio Conte’s Spurs swept Southampton aside with a 4-1 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
This game is the perfect opportunity for each team to set down a marker as the most serious challengers to the North West dominance of the Premier League. If the 2022/23 title trace is to be anything other than a Manchester City/Liverpool tussle then it will fall to Chelsea or Tottenham, or maybe Arsenal, to stake their claim.
But Tottenham have had little success against Chelsea recently, losing five and drawing one of the last six meetings.
Talking Points
Chilwell so crucial for Chelsea
Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure fouls Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell leading to a penalty
Chelsea’s opening day win was a triumph for the Blues in many ways, but one of the brightest moments for their fans was seeing left wing-back Ben Chilwell make a first appearance since he injured his cruciate ligament back in November.
While Tuchel has a deep squad to call on, the loss of the England man was harshly felt as, not only is he a top class defender, he also has a superb delivery in attack.
After a turbulent time off the pitch, the return of Chilwell was just the sort of Premier League 2022 news Thomas Tuchel wanted to give to the fans, and he put in a good, strong hour against the Toffees – later joking that it was an exhausting experience after being sidelined for so long.
With England colleague Reece James raiding down the right flank, Tuchel has a pair of assist-making wing-backs to rival the partnership of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson at Liverpool.
Chilwell made his mark at Goodison Park with a bursting run into the penalty area to win a penalty when Abdoulaye Doucoure hauled him down and Jorginho duly dispatched the spot-kick to give Chelsea a winning start.
New boys Kalidou Koulibaly and Raheem Sterling both had excellent debuts as Koulibaly looking ready made for the hustle and bustle of defending in the English league, while Sterling presented the biggest threat up front.
Kulusevski can be at his best with Tottenham
An open day clash at home to Southampton turned out to be a rout for Tottenham as they came back from a goal deficit to win 4-1, and the curious thing was, neither Harry Kane nor Heung-Min Son were on the score sheet.
The South Korean star made an assist, but the rest of the goalmouth action came from elsewhere, and attacking midfielder Dejan Kulusevski was in on the act with a superb curling finish to make it 4-1.
The flying Swede made a big impression on his arrival from Juventus last January at the start of an 18-month loan agreement, and Spurs will surely activate their option to buy if he continues in the same form.
With five goals and eight assists in 18 matches last season, Kulusevski has already justified the €10-M loan deal and the additional fee of €35-M could represent good value for the North London club.
Conte started the match against the Saints without any of his summer signings and he was proved right again with such an emphatic outcome.
But Ivan Perisic, Clement Lenglet, and Yves Bissouma could all soon make an appearance while Richarlison is completing his suspension earned at the end of last season when he was still an Everton player.
History
Chelsea have been dominant in their relationship with Tottenham in the Premier League era, winning 39 and drawing 21 of the 70 meetings since 1993, while Spurs have managed just 10 victories.
The Blues have won the last four, including the two legs of the 2022 Carabao Cup semi-final and a 2-0 home win in the Premier League back in January as Hakim Ziyech and Thiago Silva were both on target.
Both teams have won four of the last six and come into this game in good shape.
The latestPremier League 2022 betting odds have Tottenham and Chelsea at 12.00 and 18.00 respectively to win the title, and that puts them clearly in third and fourth positions. And this game has the potential to confirm that order or switch the two teams around.
This match is in the balance with the Blues favourites at SBOTOP odds of 2.21 while Tottenham are at 3.06 to take all three points home. In the end, though, I’m backing for a draw here.
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Premier League: Leeds Look for Big Away Win at Saints
Southampton vs Leeds United
Leeds United got off to a winning start in the new Premier League season as they edged past Wolves last weekend.
And now, the Whites will be looking for back-to-back wins when they travel to St Mary’s to face Southampton.
The two sides were separated by just two points last season as they successfully survived the relegation scrap.
But their Premier League 2022 odds of relegation are among the lowest outside the three newly promoted clubs, so this will be a crucial match that both teams will be desperate to win.
Talking Points
Southampton’s struggles begin
Southampton are a popular pick to be serious relegation strugglers this season, and they did not do much to dispel those fears as they were thrashed 4-1 by Tottenham in their season opener.
Saints took an early lead through captain James Ward-Prowse but surrendered four unanswered goals as they were completely outclassed by Spurs.
Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse with Jan Bednarek during a Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur
Coach Ralph Hasenhuttl started a front two of Adam Armstrong and new signing Joe Aribo up front, with Che Adams – last season’s second-leading scorer with 7 goals – surprisingly an unused substitute.
In the latest Premier League 2022 news, Adams has been linked with a potential move to Everton or Nottingham Forest, so he could very well be left off the starting lineup once again amid his uncertain future with the club.
With Armando Broja gone and Theo Walcott still out injured, Hasenhuttl has very few other options in attack beyond Aribo and Armstrong, who had a disappointing debut campaign last season with just two goals in 23 appearances.
Meanwhile, Hasenhuttl still has a lot of work to do to fix a struggling defence that conceded 67 goals last season, which was the fourth-most in the Premier League.
Leeds new boy shines in win
Leeds United got the new season off to a good start as they edged out Wolves 2-1 in their home opener. After going behind just six minutes into the match, Leeds equalised through Rodrigo and then got the winner through a Rayan Ait-Nouri own goal 16 minutes from time.
Leeds coach Jesse Marsch praised new signing Brenden Aaronson for a strong Premier League debut. The young American was denied a debut goal due to Ait-Nouri’s intervention, but he had a fine performance overall as he displayed the work rate that convinced Leeds to splash over €30m for his services.
Striker Patrick Bamford still doesn’t seem quite at his sharpest in front of goal, but he linked up play well, which is a promising sign as he looks to regain top form. Meanwhile, veterans Rodrigo and Jack Harrison provided the end product in front of goal.
Leeds still have a bunch of injury concerns at the back, with full-backs Junior Firpo, Luke Ayling, and Stuart Dallas still sidelined, and captain Liam Cooper still a doubt.
That means Pascal Struijk will likely continue to deputise at left-back, with Robin Koch and Diego Llorente the preferred centre-back partnership.
Leeds dominated Southampton in their first season back in the Premier League in the 2020-21 season. They did the double over Saints as they won the two matches 5-0 on aggregate. Patrick Bamford scored in both games.
However, Saints successfully avoided defeat in both games against Leeds last season. Southampton won the home fixture 1-0 thanks to a lone Armando Broja goal. And they held Leeds to a 1-1 draw at Elland Road, with James Ward-Prowse cancelling out Jack Harrison’s opening goal.
SBOTOP odds have Southampton installed as slight 2.29 favourites to get the home win. Leeds are priced at 3.05 to win, while a draw is 3.25.
With Saints’ ongoing struggles on both ends of the pitch, Leeds look more than capable of getting at least a point out of their trip to St Mary’s.
It could be quite cagey, especially with both coaches (Hasenhuttl and Marsch) schooled in the Red Bull system. But Whites should have enough to pick up a positive result.
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The moment Nottingham Forest fans have been waiting for is almost here. After a 23-year absence from the top-flight, the Reds are back among the elite.
The Premier League tiff between Forest and West Ham is the type of fixture the County Ground faithful were dreaming of as they made their assault on the Championship play-offs last season.
It brings together a top-flight newcomer and a well-established side. It also has a glamorous sound of yesteryear to it and, crucially, it’s a game Forest might just be able to win.
Both teams come into the game on the back of a 2-0 opening day defeat. David Moyes’ Hammers wouldn’t have expected too much from their home game with Manchester City, and they were right not to as Erling Haaland announced himself to the Premier League with a brace.
Meanwhile, Steve Cooper’s Forest had a reality check away to moneybags Newcastle United.
The Premier League 2022 betting odds reckon the visitors will take all three points away from the City Ground, but it promises to be a fierce battle.
Did Lingard make the right choice?
Much of the pre-match Premier League 2022 news is centred on the player who performed so well during his loan spell with the Hammers last season.
Unwanted by Manchester United, Jesse Lingard was high on David Moyes’ shopping list and it looked like the attacking midfielder was likely to return to the London Stadium. That was until Nottingham Forest stepped in with an offer the England international found too hard to refuse.
The newly-promoted side have already spent £85-M without attracting too many players with Premier League experience and so the capture of Lingard could be crucial to their survival hopes. He needs to make it work to further his won career too.
Jesse Lingard in action vs Newcastle United last weekend in the Premier League
And Cooper hasn’t finished his spending yet.
Forest have apparently renewed their interest in Watford winger Emmanuel Dennis who, along with Ismaila Sarr, is pivotal to the Hornets’ hopes of returning to the Premier League at the first attempt.
Cooper is reported to have tabled a £20-M offer for Dennis and that might be enough to land their man – making it another sound addition as he bagged 10 league goals for Watford last season.
But despite the club’s impressive spending, Forest are still second favourites to be relegated, odds on at a price of 1.96 with only Bournemouth lower and the Cherries got their campaign off to a winning start with a 2-0 home win over Aston Villa.
Can Forest now follow their fellow newcomers and get a much-needed win?
West Ham building around Rice
After he missed out on Lingard, David Moyes has been working hard to bring more creative muscle into the side.
Having signed Maxwell Cornet (another of Forest’s targets) in a £20-M switch from Burnley, the Hammers have been linked with a big money move for Barcelona’s Memphis Depay and they are also close to signing speedy centre-back Thilo Kehrer from Paris Saint-Germain.
But the most important business Moyes can do is to keep captain Declan Rice at the club. The 23-year-old has already made 168 appearances for West Ham and 32 for England and he is much admired by the league’s top sides, particularly Chelsea.
Moyes has slapped a £150-M price tag on Rice’s head and he wants to build his team around the young captain. His midfield partner Tomas Soucek was unusually quiet against Manchester City, but if he finds his best form then West Ham can dominate the midfield with creative players Jarrod Bowen, Pablo Fornals, and Cornet able to stretch any defence.
History
These two teams have met 17 times since 1994 and West Ham have had much the better of the encounters, winning 10, drawing four, and losing three.
But Forest fans would dearly love a repeat of the last time they met at the City Ground when the Championship side dumped West Ham out of the FA Cup with a 5-0 hammering as Jamie Paterson scored a hat-trick.
Both team has had a sparkling pre-season and they both come into the game with one win in six. But West Ham have a slight edge with three draws and two defeats, compared with Nottingham’s two draws and three defeats.
I’m sorry to rain on Forest fan’s parade but at a SBOTOP price of 3.73, I just can’t see them beating a side which Moyes has transformed into a top 10 regular and a Europa League semi-finalist.
West Ham, at odds of 1.88, is the most likely outcome. But I believe that while Nottingham will struggle to get the wins, they need to stay up and they will pick up points at home against some very decent sides.
I also think they may well get their campaign up and running with a point on Sunday afternoon.
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Thirty Years On, Palace Out to Make Another Premier League Statement
Liverpool vs Crystal Palace
Monday night football returns in the Premier League and, with it, last year’s runners-up at home to one of the most improved teams of the past 12 months.
In fact, this match comes on the 30th anniversary of the very first day of the Premier League when Palace drew 3-3 with big-spending Blackburn Rovers (an occasion when Alan Shearer scored the first two of his record 260 goals).
They would no doubt settle for a repeat scoreline because, based on recent form and history, this is a home banker.
However, ever since putting 10-man Spurs to the sword last September, I have had to reconsider my view on the Eagles and how they can make life tough for the big boys on their day.
Patrick Vieira’s team actually started with a home defeat against Arsenal, a match which suggested they will miss Conor Gallagher – on loan from Chelsea last term – in midfield.
Yet if new signing, Mali international Cheick Doucouré, brought in from Lens to play in the holding role, can quickly become the heartbeat of Palace’s team their momentum may continue.
Of course, the goals and creativity of their talisman, Wilfried Zaha, will remain key, as will the burgeoning partnership between Marc Guéhi and Joachim Andersen at the other end.
There are rumours of a swap deal involving Gallagher and Zaha but if that was to happen it would be a bittersweet move many as the Ivory Coast international is a true fans favourite with some even believing he is the best player the club has ever had.
Come next May, if Palace can match, or better, last season’s 12th place, it will have been a productive campaign.
Liverpool know if they can go one better than last term they will end up in first spot and, in my view, they have a stronger squad (although not the best starting XI) than champions Manchester City.
It was also a contest in which new signing Darwin Núñez polished his case to start against Palace after making a big impact when coming off the bench.
Games like this should be home bankers for any championship challengers although, ironically, City lost at home to the Eagles last term – playing half of the match with 10 men.
Palace should be no pushovers.
History
Liverpool have a fine recent record against Palace, winning their last 10 meetings in succession including a league double last term.
They won the corresponding fixture at Anfield 3-0 when Sadio Mane, Mo Salah and Naby Keita on target.
And it was a similar scoreline at Selhurst Park in January when the Merseysiders ran out 3-1 winners.
On that occasion, the outcome remained in the balance until a fortuitously awarded 89th minute penalty which Brazilian midfielder Fabinho converted.
Overall, Palace have won 14 of their meetings with the Merseysiders who, themselves, have 35 victories to their name. There have been a further 11 draws.
Palace last defeated Liverpool at Anfield five years ago when Christian Benteke came back to haunt his former team with a double in a 2-1 success – this after Philippe Coutinho had put the home side in front.
It’s a home win all the way with the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds.
They back Liverpool 1X2 @ 1.21 and Asian Handicap -2.00 @ 2.09.
In complete contrast, Palace are priced 1X2 @ 13.50 – great odds if it comes off – and Asian Handicap +1.75 @ 2.13.
Even the draw is not considered likely given it’s on offer @ 6.00.
For a re-run of last season’s 3-0 home win, Correct Score will pay out @ 6.60.
If the Eagles can repeat their 2-1 win from five years ago, then a bumper payday awaits you @ 60.00.
It is hard to see past a home win in this one, unless Palace can be as disciplined as they were when holding champions City to a goalless draw at Selhurst Park in March.
Goals are expected and the betting options include over 3.25 goals @ 2.16, total goal 0-1 @ 4.90 and 4-6 @ 2.60.
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Premier League: Saints Snatch Point to Rouse South Coast
Southampton 2-2 Leeds United
To the amazement of this SBOTOP reporter, there is supposedly pressure on Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl.
How that is the case after what the Austrian has achieved in the last three and a half years is beyond me.
So perhaps this fine comeback will remind people of the good job he is doing on the south coast.
Furthermore, if all Premier League second halves can be as exciting as this, it could be a season to remember.
Highlights of the game
It’s easy to forget that when it comes to recruitment, Southampton have a fine track record.
Over the last decade, since their return to the top flight, the Saints have become renowned for brilliance in both producing talented players from their academy, as well as their shrewd moves in the transfer market.
A look at this team made up of former players proves the point, but how long can they carry on with that policy of constantly selling their best performers?
With three games to go in that campaign, Hasenhuttl bemoaned his side’s lack of “energy and sometimes belief”, but many fans who convened at St Mary’s will have expected more.
Hasenhuttl made four changes with Mohamed Elyounoussi, Stuart Armstrong and Che Adams all recalled and 20 year-old German defender Armel Bella-Kotchap handed a debut.
In a game full of Premier League highlights, Leeds had the better of the early exchanges and Patrick Bamford, who had scored in his last three top-flight appearances against Southampton, threatened after 12 minutes with a shot which was blocked.
The England hopeful, one short of 100 career league goals, then fired narrowly past the post five minutes later after more good work from Rodrigo.
Since getting injured 12 months ago, Bamford has had nothing but misfortune and that continued just before the half hour when he was forced to leave the fray.
Bamford, whose first ever top-flight goal also came against Saints for Middlesbrough in May 2017, was replaced by Dan James and, in between all that, debutant Kotchap strode forward before firing a dipping shot just wide.
James almost made an instant impact and his goal-bound effort was tipped away by Gavin Bazunu before the home custodian kept out a Rasmus Kristensen header as half-time approached.
Leeds had the edge and that was rewarded within a minute of the restart as Rodrigo flicked in a low cross from Jack Harrison.
That made it two in two for the Spaniard and it was soon three in two as he nodded in from close range after Pascal Struijk flicked on from a corner.
Is the club record signing finally starting to consistently show more glimpses of his talent?
At this point the Premier League betting odds were in favour of the visitors and, with home capacity temporarily reduced in a bid to prevent anti-social behaviour, the Saints could have had a sinking feeling.
Not with Hasenhuttl though.
With just under half an hour remaining, he brought on Joe Aribo and Adam Armstrong and within 10 minutes they had combined with Aribo converting at the second attempt.
Then with nine minutes left, the home fans were in raptures as another sub, Sekou Mara, produced a fine cross and there was Kyle Walker-Peters to level the scores.
Rodrigo takes his season tally to three goals in two games after Leeds’ draw with Southampton
Illan Meslier prevented Mara from grabbing a winner late on, while Leeds also had a chance to snatch it when Bazunu palmed away a Rodrigo effort.
However, it stayed 2-2 and Hasenhuttl’s changes had proved their worth.
Key statistics
Southampton have now scored 100 league goals in this fixture.
They have also won four of their past six home league matches against Leeds, with those successes coming across the top three divisions.
The Saints have failed to win either of their opening two Premier League matches in eight of the past nine seasons.
Leeds have won both of their opening two league fixtures only once in the past 13 seasons – 2018-19 in the Championship – and have not done so in the Premier League since 2002-03.
What’s next?
Southampton now face two away games, at Leicester City, and at Cambridge in the League Cup, before hosting Manchester United two weeks today (August 27).
Leeds, meanwhile, entertain Chelsea in the top flight and fellow Yorkshire club Barnsley in the League Cup and then return to the south coast to meet Brighton (also, August 27).
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Premier League: Kane Grabs a Point in the Battle at the Bridge
Chelsea 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur
A late leveller headed home by Harry Kane gave Spurs a priceless point and denied Chelsea their habitual win over Tottenham.
A full crowd at Stamford Bridge made for an electric atmosphere in the first ‘Big Six’ clash of the 2022/23 Premier League season and a stunning volley from Kalidou Koulibaly sent the home fans into raptures, and the Blues in to half time with a 1-0 lead. But a second half leveller from Pierre Emile Hojbjerg caused a row on the touchline which only calmed down when James popped up with Chelsea’s second.
The hosts were favourites at SBOTOP odds of 2.21 and they deserved the three points after dominating for much of the match, but football is a cruel game sometimes and this weekend’s other Premier League 2022 results, with Manchester City and Arsenal both picking up second wins, mean Chelsea and Spurs are both two points off the pace.
Highlights of the game
Tottenham Hotspur coach Antonio Conte clashes against Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel
Chelsea were ruthless in their opening day win over Everton last week and they started this match in the same mood, dominating play in the first 15 minutes as Mason Mount ran the midfield, allowing Spurs little time to settle. And it was one of the debutants who played so well at Goodison Park who lifted the roof off Stamford Bridge with a superb volley. It was Marc Cucurella the provider and he found Kalidou Koulibaly, 15 yards out with a beautifully delivered corner which the France defender smashed first time into the net.
Antonio Rudiger didn’t score goals like that!
The goal sparked a response from Tottenham and when Harry Kane took a quick free kick he found Ryan Sessegnon who hit his shot from a tight angle which Edouard Mendy saved brilliantly. And then, as the game swung back to the other end Koulibaly sent an acrobatic effort into the stands. Chelsea remained on top though and, after good work from Raheem Sterling, Mount curled an effort inches wide with Hugo Lloris beaten.
Kane and Heung-Min Son have been a lethal partnership over the years and the two combined in the first action of the second half as Kane lobbed a ball over for the South Korean and Mendy reacted well to block. And then Chelsea had a great chance to double their lead on the hour after a quick passing move, but Sterling’s effort flew over the bar.
As Chelsea pushed for a second Spurs were dangerous on the break and Kane had a golden opportunity with a one on one but he shanked his effort wide. And then the equaliser came from an unexpected source. Hojbjerg finished clinically, but the drama was at the other end of the pitch where Rodrigo Bentancur fouled Kai Havertz but play was waved on, leading to the Spurs leveller.
The tow head coaches, Antonio Conte and Thomas Tuchel, squared up on the touchline as tempers erupted both on and off the pitch.
Havertz missed a sitter moments later; but Chelsea went ahead again when James latched on to a through ball from Sterling and slid the ball cooly home.
Ivan Perisic’s 96th minute corner was swung in and Kane showed all his determination and guile to head home the leveller.
A small section of Stamford Bridge celebrated; but it wasn’t Blue.
Key statistics
Spurs came into this game with five losses and a draw in the last six meetings with Chelsea and, with seconds on the clock there was another defeat on the way.
It’s a big point for Tottenham, who have still won only one of the 31 visits to Stamford Bridge, but it was a blow to Tuchel who had won all of his previous seven games in management against Tottenham.
What’s next?
The early season Premier League 2022 betting odds say that both these teams will finish in the top four and on this evidence they probably will.
The Blues’ dominance and Spurs’ resilience both deserved something.
Chelsea are away to Leeds next week before returning home to Stamford Bridge to face Leicester City. Jesse Marsch’s Whites have made a good start with a home win over Wolves and then a draw in Southampton, while the Foxes are yet to win, with just a point against Brentford to show for their efforts.
Spurs are at home to Wolves, who also have just one point so far, before they go on their travels again to face Steve Coopers Nottingham Forest, who won their first Premier League match this century with a dramatic 1-0 victory over West Ham United on Sunday.
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Premier League: Man United Mess, Chasing Chelsea, Free-Spending Forest
The new Premier League season is just a couple of weeks old, but Erik Ten Hag’s Manchester United are already in turmoil. The Red Devils are reeling after another demoralising defeat and are scrambling to give their new coach some much-needed reinforcements.
Elsewhere, big spenders Chelsea are still busy chasing more big-money signings while Premier League new boys Nottingham Forest have added yet more new players to their completely rebuilt squad.
Read on below as SBOTOP serves up the hottest Premier League 2022 news and transfer rumours.
Ten Hag fumes over Man United’s poor performances, transfer business
Erik Ten Hag’s tenure at Manchester United is off to a tough start. After a humiliating 4-0 defeat at Brentford, Ten Hag has lost his first two Premier League games in charge and his Red Devils currently sit at the very bottom of the table.
Meanwhile, Ten Hag is reportedly furious at the club’s failure to land his preferred transfer targets this summer, most notably midfielder Frenkie de Jong.
Man United are currently scrambling to secure a few more signings for Ten Hag. Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot has been strongly linked with a move to Old Trafford, and the Red Devils are reportedly set to hold new talks with the Italian club over the next day or two.
And after aborting the much-maligned move for Marko Arnautovic, there have been rumblings that United have contacted Mauro Icardi’s representatives over a potential move. The 29-year-old Argentine striker is surplus to requirements at Paris Saint-Germain, where he has struggled to get consistent playing time with Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi all ahead of him in the pecking order.
Chelsea chasing a couple more big signings
Chelsea have been the biggest spenders in the Premier League thus far with around €186.59m worth of transfers. But the Blues could potentially blow well past the €200m mark as they continue to chase more players.
The Blues remain strongly linked with Barcelona’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as they look for a replacement for the departed Timo Werner.
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel gives instructions from the sidelines during a Premier League clash against Tottenham
Meanwhile, Chelsea are still not giving up their chase for Leicester City centre-back Wesley Fofana. The Foxes have already rejected a couple of bids from the Blues as they hold out for £80m for their star centre-back.
The Blues could very unload a couple of youngsters to fund their transfer business. Midfielder Conor Gallagher has been linked with a £40m move to Newcastle while winger Callum Hudson-Odoi could join Borussia Dortmund on loan.
Nottingham Forest are enjoying their first Premier League season in 23 years, and they are pulling out all the stops to stay in the English top flight.
The Trees have already made several signings this summer – most notably striker Taiwo Awoniyi and former Manchester United man Jesse Lingard – and they have added a trio of new players in veteran midfielders Remo Freuler and Cheikhou Kouyate and forward Emmanuel Dennis and to further strengthen their squad.
And Forest aren’t quite finished yet. Aside from closing in on a deal to sign Brighton striker Neal Maupay for a reported £15m, they have reportedly submitted a bid for Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar.
Maupay’s deal would push the Trees’ total transfer expenditure to well over €130m, which is a massive gamble on their part.
Although, Forest did pick up their first win of the season this weekend as they edged out West Ham 1-0 at the City Ground. And while the additions of Freuler and Kouyate in midfield and Dennis and Maupay up front are unlikely to significantly impact the Trees’ Premier League 2022 odds of staying up, they should at least have a fighting chance of survival.
Tottenham Hotspur have once again loaned out the midfield duo of Giovani Lo Celso and Tanguy Ndombele. Lo Celso will return to Villarreal, where he spent the second half of last season, while Ndombele looks set to join Napoli after spending part of last season at Lyon.
The two midfielders both came over to Spurs in the summer of 2019 in big-money moves. Lo Celso cost £29m from Real Betis, while Spurs broke their transfer record to sign Ndombele in a £54m deal.
However, neither one was able to settle in the Premier League and don’t appear to be in the plans of head coach Antonio Conte.
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Premier League: Tottenham Plan to Sustain Solid Start by Extending Wolves’ Winless Run
Tottenham Hotspur vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Tottenham will use all their pent up energy against the Wolves in trying to get their second win of the 2022-23 Premier League season.
Last weekend’s “Battle at the Bridge” proved to be as good as advertised as tempers flared between Tottenham and Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, especially when Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte had a heated confrontation at full-time.
Harry Kane was the Spurs’ hero since he scored the equaliser during added time and it was a priceless point for them because they denied the Blues their usual dominance over them.
On the other hand, Wolves have yet to hit the ground running after going winless in their first two league matches. They’ve had some success against Tottenham lately, but it might not matter at all come Saturday night.
Spurs have had a busy summer which has paid off. But with more money left to spend and with a few days to go, they are reportedly working on a few more signings to further strengthen their title credentials.
Reports in the Italian media claim that Tottenham are linked with Ruslan Malinovskyi from Atalanta. The Ukrainian’s current deal with the Bergamo outfit is expiring after one year so he’s likely up for sale.
Meanwhile, Tottenham are also interested with Manchester United’s James Garner and Blackburn Rovers centre-back Ashley Phillips, and both could be available for just under £15-M each.
As it is right now, Tottenham boast a formidable roster led by the front trio of Harry Kane, Heung-Min Son, and Dejan Kulusevski. However, they’ll face question marks at the back since Cristian Romero is likely to miss a month’s worth of action due to a muscular injury.
Wolves get much-needed midfield boost
Wolves are hoping that the third time’s a charm after they’ve endured a couple of lacklustre Premier League 2022 results to start their campaign.
It looked like they were on their way when Daniel Podence scored their first goal of the season after six minutes against Leeds United at Elland Road. However, they weren’t able to secure the win when the Whites scored one goal each in the first and second half.
They were then held to a goalless draw by newly-promoted Fulham, in a game that featured limited attacking opportunities as both sides only had 16 shots total.
Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Joao Moutinho reacts during a pre-season friendly with Besiktas
Wolves are lacking creativity in the midfield so the forthcoming return of Joao Moutinho should lift their spirits.
The 35-year-old Portuguese has missed the club’s first two games due to a “strange” foot injury, although it remains to be seen whether he’ll be at 100-per cent in the next few days.
There’s more good news for Wolves as they recently signed Matheus Nunes from Sporting CP for a club record fee of £38-M. The 23-year-old playmaker can make his debut for the Midlands outfit this weekend.
History
Wolves surprisingly have gotten the better of Spurs as they’ve won four of their last seven league games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (L2, D1). Those four losses for Tottenham is as many as they’ve had in their first 38 home league matchups with them (W27, D7).
However, Wolves are winless in their last nine top-flight games dating back to April (D3, L6), which is their longest streak since a run of 17 between February 2012 and August 2018.
Tottenham, on the other hand, have lost just one of their last 13 league matches (W9, D3) – scoring 33 goals and conceded only eight after having lost five of their previous eight before this run.
Harry Kane could achieve another goalscoring milestone. If he finds the back of the net against Wolves, he would have the record of most goals scored for a single Premier League side with 185 to surpass Sergio Aguero (184 with Manchester City).
Tottenham are backed by the SBOTOP Premier League 2022 odds to emerge victorious. Spurs are pegged at 1.39, whereas Wolves are the underdogs since they’re priced at 7.20 and chances for a draw are at 4.80 in the 1X2 market.
Wolves will certainly like their chances since they’ll have a more complete lineup, but their overall quality pales in comparison to Tottenham – who may very well be the dark horse candidate for the domestic title this season.
Under 3.00 @ 1.70 is another bet worth considering since neither have scored more than twice in their most recent encounters, but Tottenham should score at least once in this contest to grab all three points.
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Premier League: Arsenal Aiming for Another Victory at the Vitality
AFC Bournemouth vs Arsenal
Arsenal have started the new Premier League season all guns blazing. Armed with a new striker in Gabriel Jesus, the Gunners have won each of their first two games, the only team apart from champions Manchester City to still have a 100 per cent record intact.
Next up for Mikel Arteta’s men is a trip to the Vitality to face newly promoted Bournemouth, who will be keen to bounce back after getting smashed 4-0 by City last time out.
However, the Premier League 2022 betting odds will not favour Scott Parker’s side as they face the in-form Gunners, who have dominated the Cherries over the years.
Talking Points
Cherries continue to deal with injury concerns
Bournemouth manager Scott Parker gestures after their Premier League match against Manchester City
After a surprise 2-0 win over Aston Villa on opening day, Bournemouth were brought back down to earth as they were battered 4-0 away to reigning Premier League champions Manchester City. City had the win clinched well before half-time as they completely stifled the Cherries.
Scott Parker has started the same 3-4-2-1 formation in each of the first two games, although Dominic Solanke and Jordan Zemura were both late drop-outs for the City match. Solanke missed out due to an ankle injury, while Zemura tested positive for Covid. It remains to be seen whether either will make it back in time to face Arsenal.
New signings Joe Rothwell and Ryan Fredricks also missed out, as did David Brooks, who is still on the comeback trail after his Stage 2 Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis last October. None of them are expected to return over the weekend.
Those absentees have further reduced the available options in Parker’s already limited squad. Ryan Christie got the start up front against City in Solanke’s absence, but the Scottish midfielder doesn’t offer the goal threat that Solanke, who scored 29 goals in the Championship last season, does.
Gunners still perfect through two games
Arsenal have made a perfect start to the Premier League season with two wins out of two. After taking care of business with a 2-0 away win over Crystal Palace, they beat Leicester 4-2 at the Emirates last weekend.
They are the only team aside from champions Manchester City to maintain a perfect record through the first two rounds.
New Gunner Gabriel Jesus provided plenty of Premier League 2022 highlights against the Foxes as he scored two goals and set up the other two. Jesus had a terrific preseason, and Arsenal fans will be glad that form has carried over to the new season.
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s other Brazilian forward, Gabriel Martinelli, has also begun the season in impressive fashion. The 21-year-old has scored in each of the first two games.
Mikel Arteta has named an unchanged starting XI in the first two games of the season, and it’s unlikely he will make any alterations to his lineup amid his side’s current winning streak.
Although, he will be glad to have right-back Takehiro Tomiyasu and Emile Smith Rowe back from injury to provide more options. The two came on as substitutes against Leicester, but they may need to wait to get their first starts of the season.
Ben White has been filling in at right-back in Tomiyasu’s absence, and he will likely continue there with William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes performing well as the central defensive partnership.
History
Arsenal have absolutely dominated Bournemouth over the years. The two sides have met 12 times in total; the Gunners have won nine of those games, with the Cherries coming out on top just once, in 2018.
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last four Premier League meetings, with three wins. They also won their most recent matchup in the FA Cup in 2020. Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah both scored as Arsenal went through with a 2-1 win.
Despite being away from home, SBOTOP odds still have Arsenal priced at 1.39 to win at the Vitality, making them the biggest favourites in Saturday’s group of Premier League matches. Meanwhile, Bournemouth are pegged at 7.20 and a draw is 4.70.
Arsenal have won both of their matches thus far by two clear goals, and they have a great chance to do so again at newly promoted Bournemouth.
Despite being a bit shorthanded, the Cherries will offer stiff competition, but the Gunners should have enough quality in the final third to pick up another comfortable win.
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Premier League: White-Hot Atmosphere Set to Await Chelsea
Leeds United vs Chelsea
Four wins from two games is a decent start for any Premier League side but, ahead of Sunday’s clash at Elland Road, one club will be much happier with their lot.
For in beating Wolves and drawing at Southampton last Saturday, Leeds have a positive foundation to build on – especially given they only preserved their top-flight status on the final day of last season.
Chelsea will have been pleased with their opening weekend win at Everton – so often a tricky place to visit – but last Sunday’s draw at home to Spurs will have felt more like a defeat considering they led until the final seconds.
So, who will be smiling come Sunday teatime – an American or a German?
Their main concern though will be how they cope if they are without the services of main striker Patrick Bamford, a player whose misfortune with injury over the past 12 months was so keenly felt last term after he had helped fire them to a ninth place finish the previous campaign.
With their other two best performers. Raphinha and Kalvin Philips, departing for pastures new this summer then they can ill afford to lose Bamford, even with £26-M man Rodrigo finding his feet in the first two games of the new season.
Yet the result doesn’t alter the suspicion they lack a killer instinct and, on the evidence of what I’ve read so far, Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner will need to be replaced even if their contributions last term were far below what was expected.
In Raheem Sterling they have a genuine winner but someone whose best position may not be as an out-and-out centre-forward.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel gestures from the sidelines during a match against Tottenham Hotspur
It will be interesting to see if Thomas Tuchel recruits someone between now and end of the transfer window.
They have had two bids rejected and are expected to be successful with their third offer, which could be as much as £12-M.
Whatever happens, they won’t have a new frontman in time for the visit to Elland Road.
Will that give Jesse Marsch’s Leeds the chance to deliver some rare Premier League 2022 highlights against the West Londoners?
History
It says much for Leeds’ hold over Chelsea historically that – even accounting for the Roman Abramovich era which began in 2003 – the Yorkshire club are still ahead in their head-to-head record. Leeds have 39 wins, Chelsea had 37 successes, and there have been 30 draws.
That said, Leeds have not defeated the West Londoners for 19 years.
It was December 28, 2002, to be precise, when goals from Jonathan Woodgate and a young James Milner secured a 2-0 win at Elland Road – ironically, those names throw back to a time when Leeds had a fine Aussie contingent which my colleague has reminded readers of.
How Leeds fans would love to be able to call upon the likes of Harry Kewell or Mark Viduka this weekend.
In fact, that remains their only success against Chelsea in their last nine meetings in all competitions stretching back 20 years.
Last season, Chelsea earned a double over the Yorkshire club when a last-gasp Jorginho penalty, his second of the afternoon, edged a five goal contest at Stamford Bridge.
The corresponding fixture towards the end of last term saw Chelsea run out comprehensive 3-0 winners, courtesy of Mason Mount, Christian Pulisic, and Lukaku goals.
Leeds’ cause wasn’t helped when, were already a goal behind, Dan James was shown a red card midway through the first half.
The occasion of their very first meeting was in December 1927 in the former Division Two – a 5-0 home Leeds triumph.
Arguably the most famous meeting between the sides was in the 1970 FA Cup Final.
After an initial 2-2 draw at Wembley, Chelsea won the replay 2-1 at Old Trafford.
After Mick Jones gave Leeds a first half lead, Peter Osgood equalised 12 minutes from time before David Webb scored an extra-time winner.
It was the first FA Cup final to require a replay since 1912 and attracted a British television audience of more than 28 million, the second highest UK audience for a sports broadcast (behind the 1966 World Cup Final).
I do think this will be closer than last season’s equivalent, although the SBOTOP Premier League 2022 betting odds are not so sure with Chelsea firm favourites.
Either way, we expect goals to be generated from these two sides at Elland Road.
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Premier League: Seagulls Can Prolong the Hammers’ Wait for Points
West Ham United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
West Ham’s search for their first points of the new Premier League season continues on Sunday when Graham Potter’s Brighton and Hove Albion visit the London Stadium.
It’s a game for the football purists and we will have plenty of neutrals watching the game between two teams which love to entertain, but it’s also a deadly serious proposition for Hammers boss David Moyes who wants to get his side’s campaign up and running.
Teams in the top half of the table will be paying close attention to the Premier League2022 updatesas both have designs on a run towards the Europa League places, having finished seventh and ninth last season.
The Hammers have been in the top seven over the past two campaigns and come into this match on the back of a Europa Conference League win over FF Viborg, but Moyes’ side are one of three sides to have lost both their league games so far alongside Everton and Manchester United.
Meanwhile, Brighton come into the game in good shape and with four points, which puts the Seagulls level with third place.
Talking Points
Europa success launches West Ham’s season
There was little the Hammers could do to avoid an opening day defeat to Manchester City as Erling Haaland scored two stunning goals, but then a 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest was a serious shock to the system.
West Ham had a goal harshly disallowed, plus they hit the woodwork twice, and Declan Rice missed a penalty as the Premier League new boys won their first points of the season.
With 57-per cent possession and 19 shots on goal, West Ham should have left the Midlands with something. And the Forest defeat came as a huge shock.
Despite one or two disappointments over the summer, West Ham have been active in the transfer market, bringing in Sassuolo striker Gianluca Scamacca and Burnley winger Maxwell Cornet for a combined figure approaching £50-M. Moyes already had a talented and well-drilled squad to work with and these additions should keep the Hammers competitive in the top half of the table once they gather some momentum.
Scamacca scored his first West Ham goal against Viborg, getting on the end of a Cornet cross and planting a strong header home. The victory over the Danish minnows is nothing to get too excited about but it does giveMoyes options, in the knowledge that his summer recruits have opened their accounts.
Potter’s Brighton continue to progress
Pascal Gross scored twice in a spectacular first half against Manchester United, giving Brighton & Hove Albion a 2-1 victory against Manchester City
The Premier League 2022 betting oddsgive the Seagulls an excellent chance of getting a result at the London Stadium and that’s no surprise when you consider how Potter’s side have started this campaign.
An opening day win at Old Trafford and a home draw with Newcastle is a pretty good return and Brighton have looked as fluid and well organised as ever.
Veteran midfielder Pascal Gross scored twice in a brilliant first half against Manchester United, first getting on the end of a cross from Danny Welbeck and then knocking in a rebound when David de Gea parried a cross shot from Solly March.
History
In terms of head-to-head matches, Brighton have had five wins to West Ham’s three and there have been seven draws in all competitions since 2004.
The last time the two teams met, the Seagulls won 3-1 at the Amex Stadium back in May as Welbeck, Gross, and Joel Veltman hit back after Michail Antonio had given the Hammers a first half lead.
Earlier in the season, the two teams drew 1-1 at the London Stadium after West Ham had led for 84 minutes, with Tomas Soucek opening the scoring on five minutes and Neal Maupay levelling on 89.
In terms of recent form, the visitors are in the better shape. West Ham were without a victory in six games before their midweek win over Viborg while Brighton have won four of their last six.
And the Hammers’ Europa Conference win on Thursday night was their first at the London Stadium in seven attempts.
West Ham are at a SBOTOP price of 2.37 to win this clash and the draw is at 3.16 with Brighton at 2.92, and I believe we’re all set up for a tight game.
While the Hammers have home advantage, they have toiled on their own turf in recent times and Moyes has only had three days to prepare his team while Brighton have eight days to work with since their 0-0 draw with Newcastle last Saturday.
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It was the summer of 2008 when the history of Manchester City Football Club changed forever.
That was when the club was purchased by Sheikh Mansour and the rest is very much history.
Until then, City had gone more than 30 years without a major trophy, sat in the shadow of their city rivals and, at times were a parody of themselves.
That summer changed everything and, although it took four years before their maiden Premier League title was won, the momentum was fast paced and, arguably inevitable.
On Sunday, the champions travel to Tyneside to face Newcastle United who, themselves, were taken over by billionaires last autumn.
Before meetings like this, the comparisons are inevitable about just how far Newcastle could go under their new ownership model.
Talking Points
Newcastle United fans during a Premier League match against Brighton & Hove Albion at the Falmer Stadium
Yet the fact is the majority of fans of either club will not care if there is a chance of success.
And the route City have taken is one that the new owners of the “Toon Army” must have looked at as an example to follow.
Newcastle have also wasted no time in putting their new found wealth to good use, even if manager Eddie Howe – who signed a new long-term contract at St James’ Park a fortnight ago – has warned supporters that financial fair play regulations will prevent him from spending heavily in the transfer market for some years to come.
It is true that, despite the vast wealth of their new Saudi Arabian owners, Newcastle have still to develop the commercial revenue streams which would enable them to invest significantly in players while remaining within the rules.
This weekend, the Geordies should welcome back Ryan Fraser to the squad after he recovered from the back spasm that caused him to miss out against Brighton last weekend.
Matt Targett could return from a dead leg, although Dan Burn is ready to deputise at left-back again.
Newcastle and City are the only sides yet to concede a goal after the first two games of the new season and the champions’ latest recruit, full-back Sergio Gomez, has been named in their matchday squad.
Manager Pep Guardiola has revealed that Kalvin Phillips and Cole Palmer are also back after minor injuries.
City’s first set of Premier League 2022 highlights arrived with a double from Erling Haaland and should they make it three wins out of three – something they have not managed at the start of a campaign since 2016 – it will be a mighty impressive beginning.
Likewise, Newcastle would make people sit up and take notice if they can win their opening two home matches of a Premier League campaign for the first time since 2000, achieved under the late great Sir Bobby Robson.
The last time the Magpies kept a clean sheet in their first three games of a top-flight season was in 1902.
If they manage another one on Sunday, it will give them real belief they are heading on an upward trajectory.
Overall, Newcastle have beaten City 72 times, just two behind their 74 victories, while there have been a further 40 draws.
City have won the last six meetings in a row, including a league double last season.
The game on Tyneside saw City run out 4-0 winners just before Christmas when Ruben Dias, Joao Cancelo, Riyad Mahrez, and Raheem Sterling found the net on an afternoon when the champions turned on the style.
Newcastle have only beaten City once on Tyneside since 2005. That was in January 2019 when second half goals from Salomon Rondon and Matt Ritchie (penalty) sealed a 2-1 victory.
Premier League: United vs Pool Spells Monday Mayhem!
Manchester United vs Liverpool
Premier League:Manchester United vs Liverpool is one of the biggest matches on the planet, with millions watching worldwide, but only a 35 mile stretch of the East Lancs Road separates these two proud cities… and the rivalry is off the scale.
My SBOTOP colleague, James, is an ardent Red Devils fans and he would simply love it if his team turned up on Monday to give Liverpool a shock. And there is something of a revenge mission to be had too, as last season Jurgen Klopp’s side handed out two thrashings to the Red Devils; 4-0 at Anfield and 5-0 at Old Trafford.
Referee Michael Oliver’s task is to keep a lid on the tension on the pitch as the atmosphere in the stadium will be white hot. The Manchester United vs Liverpool updates will be flying around the world from the moment Oliver blows his whistle and I’m expecting an action packed game with plenty of goals.
Liverpool will be going for the win, and another big one, as they already have ground to make up on the leaders having played out two draws.
For the hosts it’s all about pride.
United are one of three teams in the top flight yet to win a point, alongside West Ham United and Everton, and both of the other strugglers have home games which should yield a point or three this weekend, against Brighton and Nottingham Forest.
There is a whole lot at stake in this clash and it won’t be one for the feint hearted.
Manchester United head coach Erik Ten Hag has made no secret of his opinion that his team doesn’t have a player capable of patrolling the middle of the park, just in front of his defence. Scott McTominay and Fred have been used in this role and while the Brazilian has showed signs he can play some part, McTominay has picked up two yellow cards already and all too often looks out of his depth.
Having tracked Frenkie de Jong all summer it looks like Manchester United may be getting close to signing another holding midfielder, Real Madrid’s Casemiro. The 30 year old Brazilian may struggle for game time at the Bernabeu and reports in Manchester suggest he is due to arrive for a medical once personal terms have been agreed.
United will have to shell out around 70m to sign Casemiro, it’s another expensive gamble, but United’s transfer window has been a mess so far and the arrival of a proven winner at club level may do something to appease the fans.
But Casemiro isn’t yet a Red Devils and Liverpool have the opportunity to dominate the midfield on Monday and create plenty of chances. Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson is a commanding figure between the boxes and his creative colleagues can pick holes in the hosts’ defence.
And the pressure at Old Trafford is mounting.
A 2-1 defeat at home to Brighton in the season opener was bad enough, but the Red Devils were humiliated last week as Brentford slapped them down with a 4-0 win.
Things have to start improving quickly.
Darwin disaster for Pool
Luiz Diaz’s individual goal forced a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace
It’s been a peculiar start to the 2022/23 campaign for Liverpool and particularly the Reds’ expensive summer recruit Darwin Nunez. The Uruguayan hitman climbed off the bench to score a goal on his league debut in a 2-2 with Fulham. After that result a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace was hardly the response Liverpool wanted; but it could have been worse.
At 1-0 down and mid way through the second half Nunez head butted Joachim Anderson and was sent off. But a brilliant goal from Luis Diaz saved Liverpool’s blushes.
Striker Roberto Firminho is fit and read to replace Nunez who starts a three match ban on Monday.
History
Manchester United have had the better of the head to head meetings with Liverpool in the Premier League era, winning 32 to 23 and there have been 14 draws.
But last season was a nightmare for the Red Devils as they suffered a 9-0 aggregate walloping at the hands of the Merseysiders. When the two teams met in a pre-season friendly, United finished on the right side of the game with a morale boosting 4-0 victory against a scratch Liverpool side.
The pre-match Manchester United vs Liverpool betting odds strongly back an away win at a price of 1.59, while the Red Devils can be backed at 4.36 to win and 4.16 to draw, long prices for a home game.
I’m backing goals, as each of the last five meetings between these two juggernauts Liverpool have yielded at least four. And, I’m sorry James, but I fear most of them will end up in the Red Devils’ net!
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Premier League: Gunners Go Top with a South Coast Rout
Bournemouth 0-3 Arsenal
Arsenal went top of the Premier League table on Saturday night thanks to a comfortable win away to Bournemouth, and it was especially sweet for the Gunners as they knocked Tottenham Hotspur off the top spot.
Attacking midfielder Martin Odegaard has shown plenty of promise since his transfer to Arsenal from Real Madrid in January 2021 and he has been handed the captain’s armband by Mikel Arteta. And boy did he lead from the front on Saturday as his two early goals set the Gunners on course for a third consecutive league victory.
Bournemouth tried to respond but centre back William Saliba curled in a superb third early in the second half and the three points were no more than Arsenal deserved. After agonisingly missing out on a top four place last season the Premier League 2022 betting oddshave woken up to the prospect of Arteta’s team returning to Champions League football, and that’s a worrying thought for Spurs and Chelsea fans.
But it looks like this could be a long season for Scott Parker’s Bournemouth who looked a little out of their depth against the slick Gunners.
Highlights of the game
Gabriel Jesus has been named player of the match after his outstanding involvement in Arsenal’s 3-0 rout at Bournemouth
After two impressive victories Arsenal came into the game with bags of confidence and it only took five minutes for them to get their noses in front after some brilliant work from summer recruit Gabriel Jesus. The Brazilian striker controlled a high ball with such skill, before slipping the ball through to Gabriel Martinelli, and when his shot was parried Odegaard fired home the rebound.
And on 11 minutes the Norwegian star doubled his tally and the Gunners’ lead after another flowing move which put Jesus in a shooting position. But his captain took over, collecting the ball and expertly guiding the second into the corner.
The Cherries have been beset by injury worries and it was already difficult to see how they could recover from such a disastrous start, but they made it to half time without conceding again as Arsenal, totally dominant, seemed to take their foot of the gas. And for ten minutes of the second half it seemed the hosts may be able to find a foothold in the game, with more possession and some forays into the Arsenal half.
But then Saliba hit the third and it was a beauty.
Former skipper Granit Xhaka controlled a long ball and teed it up for the centre back who curled a brilliant shot into the top corner and the game was over. The 21 year old has made a great impression since his return to the club from a loan spell at Olympique Marseilles and he could be the answer to Arsenal’s defensive questions.
With 20 minutes remaining the excellent Jesus latched on to a great ball from Odegaard and sweetly hit the ball home, but VAR took a look and judged the Brazilian ace to be an inch or so offside.
Key statistics
At a SBOTOP price of 1.39 to win Arsenal were the biggest favourites to claim a victory in Saturday’s group of matches and the result was never in doubt once the Arsenal captain had made his mark.
Arsenal were totally dominant with 60 per cent possession, 13 shots to five and five to one on target and, while keeper Aaron Ramsdale had a quiet afternoon his front players put on a show.
The Gunners won their opening two games by two clear goals and went one better today; while Odegaard’s top flight double was the first he has scored since October 2014 when he bagged two for Stromsgodest against Lillestrom in the Norwegian league… when he was just 15 years old.
With a perfect set of Premier League 2022 resultsto start the new campaign, Arsenal fans can look forward to their next three fixtures with real optimism. They have new boys Fulham at home next Saturday before Aston Villa travel to the Emirates on the following Wednesday. If they can win those two matches the Gunners will hardly be able to contain themselves when they travel north to take on Manchester United on the first Sunday in September.
The only other top flight club to start the weekend with a 100 per cent record is defending champions Manchester City, and the Sky Blues travel to Newcastle on Sunday to take on Eddie Howe’s Magpies.
The Cherries have two very different challenges coming up. Next Tuesday they travel to Norfolk to take on Norwich City in a tough Carabao Cup tie and then, next Saturday…it’s Liverpool away.
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If Leeds United have enjoyed better days than this since returning to the top flight in 2020, then I am yet to remember one.
Sure, they managed to beat Spurs (May 2021) and champions-in-waiting Manchester City (April 2021) during their maiden campaign back but, in both cases, there were extenuating circumstances for their opponents.
Not so this time.
From start to finish, Jesse March’s men were on it, their work rate and hunger eventually wearing Chelsea down after two goals in four minutes stunned the aristocrats from West London.
He got his wish when the ban was confirmed on Friday and Tuchel was all but helpless as the home side turned the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds on their head and made it a day of Premier League highlights for the hosts to savour.
Highlights of the game
Leeds made one change from the side which drew 2-2 at Southampton last week with Patrick Bamford ruled out with a groin injury and Daniel James starting in his place.
For Chelsea, who were left rueing the same result, pegged back by a last-gasp Harry Kane equaliser at home to Spurs, Conor Gallagher got his moment in the spotlight as the youngster was handed a berth in the starting XI. This was to replace N’Golo Kante who is facing a month on the sidelines with a hamstring strain.
It was a big moment for Gallagher, who spent last term on loan at Crystal Palace, and a league debut for the player who has come through the ranks as a Chelsea academy graduate.
Raheem Sterling threatened first for the visitors, striking just wide early on and Ruben Loftus-Cheek saw a shot blocked.
In a relentless start, the next two moments proved pivotal.
Nine minutes in and Chelsea new boy Kalidou Koulibaly was booked for holding back home player Brenden Aaronson.
Then another new recruit, Sterling, curled the ball into the far corner of the net, but was offside. Had that gone in the momentum may have gone the other way.
Instead, after Rodrigo went close and Mason Mount forced a top save from Illan Meslier, an uncharacteristic error led to the opening goal.
Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy dwelled on the ball too long from a backpass and, in keeping with the nature of the contest, was given no time as Aaronson nipped in and tapped into an empty net.
As Leeds grew in confidence, one quickly became two as the in-form Rodrigo flicked a header into the far corner and Elland Road was bouncing.
For all their efforts at a comeback, Chelsea were again matched stride by stride for Leeds after the break.
The visitors came close when Gallagher turned his man and rifled in an effort which dribbled narrowly wide but, with 21 minutes remaining, the home fans were in dreamland when Rodrigo touched a James cross into the path of Jack Harrison and Leeds had their first Premier League victory over Chelsea in seven attempts.
What’s more, Marsch’s men avoided setting a new Premier League record of 14 consecutive home games without a clean sheet – their longest run since a club top-flight record of 17 between October 1946 and August 1956.
The referee showing a red card to Chelsea’s Kalidou Koulibaly during their match against Leeds United
Chelsea’s misery was compounded when Koulibaly was shown a second yellow card for tripping home substitute Joe Gelhardt.
Key statistics
Aaronson’s opener was the first time that an American player has scored a Premier League goal under an American manager.
Rodrigo has become just the fourth Leeds player to score in their first three top-flight matches in a season, after Arthur Hydes in 1933-34, Mick Jones in 1968-69 and Bamford in 2020-21.
This was Leeds’ first win in eight Premier League meetings with Chelsea, a run stretching back to December 2002.
Since the start of the 2017-18 season, Koulibaly has been sent off six times in Serie A and the Premier League combined – the most of any player in the big-five European leagues during this period.
Leeds have only kept six clean sheets in their past 42 Premier League matches.
They have now won their opening two home matches of a season for only the second time in 13 years.
What’s next?
Leeds host fellow Yorkshire side Barnsley in the League Cup in midweek before facing Brighton in the Premier League next weekend.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are home to Leicester City on Saturday (August 27).
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Premier League: Ten Hag’s Manchester United Humble Liverpool
Manchester United 2-1 Liverpool
Monday night Premier League football came to Old Trafford this week and it was a night which few Manchester United fans will forget for a while.
Last season was a nightmare for the Red Devils as they suffered a 9-0 aggregate walloping at the hands of the Merseysiders. But tonight it was a different story as Jadon Sancho gave Manchester United a half time lead with a sublime finish. The Red Devils could have been further ahead at the break, but they did double their lead when Marcus Rashford slotted home early in the second half.
Mo Salah scored an 82nd minute goal to make it a nervy last ten minutes but United hung on, and Erik Ten Hag has just become a hero in the Red half of Manchester, for masterminding a rare win over Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.
Highlights of the game
United’s midfield had been overrun in their opening two games, and when here at SBOTOP we took a look at this game, it seemed to us like Liverpool could make hay in the middle of the park. But it didn’t work out that way in the first half as the Red Devils dominated and looked a completely different team from the one humiliated by Brentford last week. They were in the faces of their big rivals, the home crowd responded and Liverpool were taken aback. And the Red Devils were almost ahead on ten minutes when Bruno Fernandes crossed and Anthony Elanga hit a first time shot but it crashed back off the post.
But six minutes later the roof came of Old Trafford as United, against all the odds, went ahead.
Marcus Rashford made progress down the flank and squared the ball to Sancho and he brilliantly wrong footed James Milner and Alisson, before side footing the ball into the net.
United were all over Liverpool and Christian Eriksen tested Alisson with a long range effort which the Brazilian stopper did well to tip over the crossbar.
Last week’s dismissal of summer signing Darwin Nunez meant a start for Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino but neither he nor Mo Salah had much of a sniff in the first half; and it was James Milner who came closest to levelling when his header was cleared off the line by Lisandro Martinez.
Liverpool started the second half better but before they could make inroads they were 2-0 down. The visitors were ponderous at the back and Anthony Martial picked up the ball and fed Rashford who fired home. VAR took a look but Rashford was marginally onside and Old Trafford celebrated again.
Liverpool tried to respond and Luis Diaz, Harvey Elliot and Firmino all had chances but failed to beat David de Gea. But United looked the more likely to score and Rashford shimmied past three weak tackles before blasting his shot narrowly over the bar.
Then, just as United looked to be coasting to a win, Liverpool were back in it. Fabio Carvalho shot, De Gea parried and Salah headed home the rebound to make it 2-1.
Liverpool threw everything at United but the hosts hung on to move ahead of their visitors in the league table.
Key statistics
Mohamed Salah in action during Liverpool’s match against Manchester United at Old Trafford
Sancho’s opener was the ninth time Liverpool had conceded first in their last ten competitive matches.
Rashford’s strike ended a run of 997 minutes without a goal for the England striker; he last scored against West Ham United in January.
Salah’s goal made him the first player in Liverpool’s history to reach double figures against Manchester United.
This was only the second time Manchester United have beaten Liverpool in their past 13 Premier League meetings. And it was Liverpool’s first defeat in the Premier League in 2022.
What’s next?
Arsenal, who have a maximum nine points after a thumping 3-0 win over Bournemouth on Saturday, are top of the league with a chasing pack on seven points and led by Manchester City and Leeds United. The Premier League 2022 betting odds are still right behind City, despite the Sky Blues settling for a draw against Newcastle United on Sunday.
Neither Liverpool nor Manchester United’s first two Premier League 2022 results were satisfactory; but the Red Devils have banished the memory of two bad defeats while Liverpool’s season hasn’t got started yet, and this was certainly a night to forget for Klopp’s men.
The Red Devils are back in action to open the next round of fixtures with a tricky visit to Southampton, who put in an impressive performance to beat Leicester City last time out. Meanwhile, Liverpool are back at Anfield where they will entertain Bournemouth, most neutrals’ favourites for relegation. The Cherries come into the game with back to back defeats, to Arsenal and Manchester City, but they did get off the mark on the opening day of the season with a 2-0 win over Aston Villa.
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It has been some time since all three newly promoted clubs managed to survive in the top flight – in fact, I think this has only happened twice in the past two decades (most recently in 2017 when Newcastle, Brighton and Huddersfield Town stayed up in the campaign immediately following promotion).
While I expect one of Fulham, Bournemouth or Nottingham Forest to succumb after a long slog of a season, they have all given themselves a starting foundation in the opening weeks of the campaign.
Elsewhere, the strong starts made by a number of the established big-hitters – champions Manchester City, Spurs and Arsenal among them – are not surprising but the likes of Brighton, under the quietly impressive Graham Potter, certainly are when you consider they sold two of their best players to much bigger clubs this summer.
Then there are their M23 rivals, Crystal Palace, whose strong start shows the belief Patrick Vieira is instilling at Selhurst Park. It may be early days but, again, progress seems tangible.
Brentford will never forget the day they humiliated Manchester United, even though, without taking anything away from Thomas Frank’s team, it was very much self-inflicted.
Having achieved top-flight status for the first time in 74 years, the Bees were meant to be immediately relegated last term. Instead, they finished 13th.
If the Bees can stay up again it will be an achievement to prove wrong so many doubters and once more show scant disregard for many of the Premier League 2022 betting odds.
Elsewhere, West Ham have had a disappointing start but will not stay downbeat for too long and, having overachieved in many ways during the past two seasons, will surely climb the table to a respectable placing.
Everton are going to struggle again one suspects and, while I cannot see them breaking into the top half, they should not be taken quite to the wire this time in the battle to beat the drop.
At the time I questioned the decision, thinking that Smith deserved longer at the helm, despite five successive league defeats.
The initial bounce was clear and Gerrard’s reputation as a player helped attract talent to Villa Park. But are they really going to progress any further under his management? Time will tell.
One club which has had a ring of uncertainty around it since February has been Chelsea.
World events which led to Roman Abramovich ultimately selling the club clearly had a destabilising impact on and off the pitch and, although new owner Todd Boehly has backed manager Thomas Tuchel in the transfer market, there has been a lot of change in a quick period.
Combined, that has left them with gaps in their squad.
Chelsea’s new owner Todd Boehly present in the stand ahead of their Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur
Whether they could have done more to keep hold of players like central defenders Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen (both departed on free transfers) is unknown as it seems their hands were tied for many months due to sanctions imposed on the club.
But they have yet to strengthen significantly across the piece, not helped by the run of misfortune N’Golo Kante is experiencing on the injury front (when the influential Frenchman is missing, so is their beating heart).
Further forward, having allowed the likes of expensively acquired strikers Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner to depart, they will need more than Raheem Sterling, however talented the four-time Premier League winner.
Of course, there is still over a week until the transfer market closes but, without strengthening, the west Londoners may be hard pushed to match last season’s place finish and run to both domestic cup finals.
In fairness, Boehly, who took on the role of interim sporting director after the departures of Marina Granovskaia (who ran the club’s recruitment on behalf of Abramovich), and Petr Cech, the club’s former technical and performance adviser, has been thrown in at the deep end. The American is learning on the job.
As many have learned the hard way, the Premier League can be a most unforgiving place to learn on the job.
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Newly-promoted Fulham make the short trip to North London on Saturday night to take on pacesetters Arsenal at a packed Emirates Stadium.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are top of the league and the fans are once again full of expectation, so the boss will see this Premier League fixture as an opportunity to cement that position. But Marco Silva’s Cottagers have made a great start on their return to the top-flight and they sit in seventh place with five points.
The Premier League 2022 betting oddsare pointing to another three points for Arteta’s men, but we can expect a real battle from the underdogs who have a lethal striker firing on all cylinders.
Two exciting young managers and players with a hunger for goals: it all adds up to a mouthwatering capital city clash.
Talking Points
Gunners have multiple threats
Having agonisingly missed out on a top four place last season, Arsenal have given themselves the perfect start this time around with positive Premier League 2022 results, including Patrick Vieira’s Crystal Palace 2-0 on the opening day and following that up with a 4-2 win over Leicester City.
And last time out, newly-appointed skipper Martin Odegaard scored twice in Arsenal’s 3-0 win away to Bournemouth which took the Gunners clear at the top of the table. Arteta’s decision to give the captain’s armband to the 23-year-old Norwegian star could well be a masterstroke.
When Granit Xhaka led the team, there was always a concern that the captain. The Swiss was known for his loose temperament and he would get himself and the club into trouble, but Odegaard is a more measured individual and seems comfortable with his new responsibility.
And Xhaka seems to be happy to play under him.
Summer signing Gabriel Jesus scored two and made two goals in Arsenal’s 4-2 win over Leicester City, and the Brazilian has three assists in total, while his 21-year-old Selecao teammate Gabriel Martinelli also has two goals.
Jesus has been given the vice-captain role and is relishing that, while Martinelli looks capable of becoming a world star any time soon after some spectacular showings last season.
This is an exciting and youthful team with a lot of intelligence, characterised by the signing of Ukraine utility man Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City.
It’s all looking pretty good so far for Arsenal who were rock bottom with no points from three games this time last year. Now they are top of the pile with a maximum nine.
Mitrovic is Premier quality
Draws with Liverpool and Wolves and then a home win against Brentford represents a very impressive start for the Cottagers, and Silva will be delighted by the form of his star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, who has three goals already.
In Fulham’s 2020/21 relegation season, the Serb only scored three goals in 27 appearances, but he ripped up the Championship last term hitting a staggering record of 43 goals in a 46 match campaign.
Fulham’s first goal was shot by Aleksandar Mitrovic during their head-to-head game with Liverpool
The big question on all Fulham fans’ lips was whether their main man could step up a league this time, and so far, the answer is a resounding yes.
Mitrovic has already matched his 2020/21 tally and announced himself spectacularly with a brace on the opening day against title hopefuls Liverpool. And last week after Brentford had pegged back Fulham’s two-goal lead, he popped up with a 90th minute winner.
After missing a host of chances, he nodded in a back post header to score his 98th goal for the Cottagers. The fact that Mitrovic keeps getting into scoring positions is great news for Silva as goals will increase the striker’s confidence and it won’t be long before he registers 100 for Fulham.
History
The head-to-headshave been very one-sided with the Gunners winning 21 to the Cottagers’ three in all competitions this century, though there have been six draws.
In fact, the last meeting on Arsenal’s home turf in April 2021 ended in a 1-1 draw as Eddie Nketiah denied Fulham a famous win with a 97th minute equaliser.
That last-gasp leveller meant Arsenal have not lost at home to Fulham in the last 15 meetings at the Emirates.
And in terms of recent form, Arsenal have won six of the last six games while Fulham are unbeaten in five.
At SBOTOP odds of 1.26 to win, the Gunners are highly fancied to make it four wins from four and to end Fulham’s unbeaten start.
The draw is at 5.22 and Fulham are at 8.92 to spring a surprise, but I’m backing Arsenal to be ahead at the break as they have been in every game so far.
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Premier League: Foxes Can Expect a Chelsea Backlash
Chelsea vs Leicester City
Chelsea hope to get their Premier League campaign back on track when Leicester City are visitors to Stamford Bridge on Saturday and the Foxes too need a pick-up.
Thomas Tuchel’s Blues come into the game on the back of a defeat to Leeds while Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester had a disappointing reversal at home to Southampton, and they also have some ground to make up.
Both teams began the season with high expectations of Champions League and Europa qualification but, at this early stage, they languish in the bottom half of the table.
A win for either would make it a decent, if not spectacular start, but I expect the hosts to take out their frustration on the Foxes.
Talking Points
Chelsea still searching for a striker
With only four points from three games, Chelsea are already badly off the pace and some five points behind leaders Arsenal.
The Blues have become known as the biggest threat to Manchester City and Liverpool dominance in recent seasons, but a quick look at the latest Premier League 2022 betting odds show that Tuchel’s team now ranked behind Arsenal and Spurs in the title race.
Losing 3-0 to Leeds United was a big wake-up call. After impressing in his opening two games for Chelsea, Kalidou Koulibaly had a nightmare in his third, receiving a red card late in the game while another new signing Marc Cucurella is still bedding in at the Bridge.
The move to Chelsea from Manchester City of England forward Raheem Sterling was big Premier League 2022 news and he has been one of the Blues’ most dangerous players in the opening fixtures. But following the departures of Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner, Tuchel is looking for a proven goal scorer to lead the line.
The Chelsea boss is reported to be in advanced talks to bring Barcelona’s Pierre Emerick- Aubameyang back to the Premier League. The former Arsenal skipper is one of the players the Blaugrana will consider selling to help them register new players and Tuchel is a big admirer of the Gabon striker.
Aubameyang scored 79 goals in two seasons for him at Borussia Dortmund and the 33-year-old would be happy to work with Tuchel again.
Another rumour has surfaced that Chelsea may be preparing an approach for AC Milan star Rafael Leao, while Everton winger Antony Gordon has also been linked with a move to West London. But I believe the Aubameyang link may come to fruition sooner rather than later.
Big year for Maddison
James Maddison celebrates scoring Leicester’s lone goal against Southampton
An opening day draw with Brentford and then defeats to Arsenal and Southampton have left Leicester City at the wrong end of the Premier League table with only a pointless West Ham United below them.
Without an outfield signing made throughout the whole of the transfer window, head coach Brendan Rodgers may be prepared to go with what he has.
With two strikes from attacking midfielder James Maddison, the pressure will be lifted from leading striker Jamie Vardy if the goals keep on coming from midfield. Maddison put the Foxes ahead against Southampton with a well-taken free-kick before Leicester capitulated late in the game.
Rodgers’ left centre-back Wesley Fofana out of the line-up as he believed his defender wasn’t in the right frame of mind following speculation of a transfer to Chelsea.
Fofana is a big player for the Foxes and so is Maddison. The England star burst onto the scene four years ago, but he has suffered from inconsistency and some off field issues.
But a maturing Maddison is just what Rodgers needs and he has put his most creative player back into the attacking midfield position, having used him on the wing last season.
That means, with Harvey Barnes and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall also commanding advanced positions, Youri Tielemens will have to fight for his place.
The Foxes had a decent pre-season, beating Preston, Derby, and Sevilla in the three games immediately before the league began. And Rodgers might well be satisfied with the squad he has, but he can’t afford injuries or players who are not up for the fight.
History
Chelsea have had the better of the head-to-heads, winning 21 of the 38 meetings between these two teams in the Premier League era, while the Foxes have managed seven wins and a draw.
Last season this fixture was a 1-1 draw, while Chelsea won the return match at the King Power Stadium 3-0.
Thomas Frank meets Frank Lampard on Saturday when Everton are the visitors to the Brentford Community Stadium in a battle for three priceless points.
Premier League: Brentford vs Evertonis a clash between two sides expected to be in the bottom half of the table this season and that is never a comfortable place to be. But the Bees, who confounded all the critics last term with their fearless style of football which took them to safety, have made another sound start. They are on four points in eighth place and will fancy their chances for more this weekend.
In contrast, Everton, who have spent heavily in recent years, still don’t seem to be able to find a winning formula and Lampard will come under increased pressure if results continue as they have, with two defeats and a draw so far.
Talking Points
No sign of second season nerves for Brentford
When a team makes it into the top flight for the first time in a while they can sometimes catch opponents by surprise and amass enough points to avoid relegation. Then comes the dreaded ‘second season syndrome’ when opposition teams have worked you out and points are harder to come by.
But Frank, a positive and progressive coach, has put together a group of players which plays its football with a spring in the step and knows how to hurt teams. There is no magic to it; they are simply very talented operators who work well together.
A 2-2 draw away to Leicester on the opening day of the campaign and a 3-2 reversal away to Fulham at the weekend sandwiched one of the results of the season so far when Brentford thumped Manchester United 4-0. The Red Devils next game was against Liverpool and it seems that the Bees’ sting prompted them into some stunning action, as Erik Ten Hag masterminded a rare victory over the Merseysiders!
Brentford manager Thomas Frank applauds fans after the match with Colchester United
Star striker Ivan Toney didn’t score against Manchester United but he already has two goals, one against the Foxes and the other against Fulham, and looks set to match or better his double figure tally of 12 goals last season. Toney has also made two assists, as has midfield ace Mathias Jensen, while Josh Da Silva has two goals to his name.
Denmark’s attacking star Mikkel Damsgaard is settling in nicely and the signing of Burnley’s out of contract centre back Ben Mee is another shrewd move on Frank’s part. Mee is a vastly experienced top flight defender, fearless and a great leader and, at 32 years of age, still has some of his best seasons to come.
The loss of last season’s saviour Christian Eriksen may have worried some Brentford fans but, so far, their faith in Frank is unshaken as the Bees continue to entertain and win points.
Sticky start for the Toffees
In contrast to their confident hosts, Everton have made a nervy start to the 2022/23 campaign, just three months after wild celebrations at Goodison Park greeted a miraculous escape last season as, on a dramatic last day when Burnley was the team to go down.
Leeds United, who were also in the relegation mire along with the Toffees last season, have made a great start this time around and have just thrashed Chelsea 3-0. And Brentford, who could feasibly find themselves in and around the relegation battle at some time, have also started well.
So the pressure is beginning to mount on Lampard and Everton, who find themselves in 17th place on a single point, and ahead of three teams expected to climb the table fairly quickly, West Ham United, Leicester City and Wolves. And the pre-matchBrentford vs Everton betting oddsreckon it could be another tough day for the Toffees on Saturday.
After losing their two opening games to Chelsea and Aston Villa, Everton picked up a first point in a 1-1 draw at home to new boys Nottingham Forest as Demarai Gray scored a late equaliser with an assist from Jordan Pickford. Everton’s only other goal was an own goal by old boy Lucas Digne in the loss to Villa, and that is a big worry in the post Richarlison era.
Ben Mee’s old Burnley partner, James Tarkowski, has signed and is a class act in defence; but another former Claret, winger Dwight McNeil, is yet to convince. With Yerry Mina, Ben Godfrey, Dominic Calvert Lewin and Andre Gomes all sidelined Lampard is missing some experienced players but he needs the fit and healthy to earn their money this weekend.
History
These two teams have met only four times since 2010 and the Bees have had the better of the head-to-head Brentford vs Everton results, winning three to the Toffees’ one.
Last season Brentford did the league double over Everton, winning 1-0 at home and 3-2 at Goodison Park in May, while the Toffees had some revenge, dumping Brentford out of the FA Cup with a 4-1 Fourth Round victory.
The draw is at a SBOTOP price of 3.20 and Everton is available at 3.48, but I’m struggling to see further than a Brentford victory and more misery for the Toffees.
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Premier League: Leeds and Brighton Duel for the Top Spot Bragging Rights
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Leeds United
It wasn’t too long ago when Leeds were fighting for their Premier League lives andthis fixture against Brighton last May was one of their turning points.
Jesse Marsch’s men were about to lose which would’ve put them in such a precarious position at the table since they were down 1-0 late, but Pascal Struijk’s added time goal rescued a point for Leeds and they went on to secure another season in top-flight with their final matchday win over Brentford.
Fast forward to today, Leeds and Brighton meet again and both are in superb form. Given their strong starts, the Whites and the Seagulls are in the Top 5 and one of them can climb to the top spot with a victory at the AMEX Community Stadium this weekend.
Talking Points
A new star has emerged for Leeds United
Rodrigo Moreno has been the man of the hour for the Whites. He’s their top leading scorer with four goals in his first three games – which is good for No. 1 in the league as of this writing.
He is unlikely to win the league’s Golden Boot at the end of this season, but his goals will be invaluable for Leeds nevertheless as they’ll aim for a top half finish – similar to 2020/21 where they were at ninth.
Leeds United’s Rodrigo celebrates scoring against Chelsea during their recent Premier League match at Elland Road
The Spaniard opened his account against Wolves and then he scored a brace to save a point against Southampton. Against Chelsea last weekend, he was also superb, but he got help from Brenden Aaronson and Jack Harrison.
Jesse Marsch putting Rodrigo Moreno in a more advanced role in lieu of Raphinha’s departure has worked wonders for the Whites, and the Spaniard’s form suggests that he’s not an early-season flash in the pan.
Brighton continue to head in the right direction
Pascal Groß looked spry and he was brilliant against Manchester United during the opener, while Alexis Mac Allister and Leandro Trossard were the heroes against West Ham last Sunday, and their only minor setback was their goalless draw against Newcastle.
Also, they’ve only conceded one goal so far, which was an own goal from Mac Allister – a sign that their backline has improved.
Besides their positive Premier League 2022 results, Brighton have been shrewd business-wise too.
Their entire senior squad is just worth €118-M, making it one of the cheapest in the entire Premier League. Their biggest buy most recently was Enock Mwepu last year for around €23-M, while their top addition in this transfer window is Pervis Estupinan from Villarreal for also a cheap deal.
This summer, they sold both Marc Cucurella and Yves Bissouma for a total of more than €100-M, which just goes to show how good they are in developing players and turning them into profits.
Many are doubtful on whether Brighton can replicate their top half finish last term. But the Seagulls’ future is looking bright, thanks to their top management and Graham Potter’s ability to bring out the best from his players.
Brighton have won eight of their last 11 league games against Leeds (D2, L1), though the two draws came during their season series last term.
Leeds have defeated Brighton in three consecutive away league games between 2007 and 2009. But since then, the Whites have failed to win in their last eight visits (D3, L5). They also haven’t scored in their last six away matches against the Seagulls – which is their second-longest run without a goal on the road in their league history.
The Seagulls are undefeated in their last eight Premier League games (W5, D3), which is their joint-longest run in the top-flight since a stretch between October to November 1981.
The Whites, meanwhile, are also unbeaten in their last five league matches (W3, D2), and a win in this match would see them reach double-digit points in their first four games of a season for the only the second time after 1995/96.
Unlike in their last meeting, Brighton are backed to win by the pre-match SBOTOP Premier League 2022 odds. They’re priced to win 1.90, while Leeds are at 3.90 and chances of a draw are at 3.45 in the 1X2 market.
The Seagulls are favoured since they’ll be playing at home, but the Whites are well-equipped to beat them especially if they’ll start the game on a great note.
But this looks to be another low-scoring affair so Under 2.75 @ 1.76 is your best bet, while Total Goal 2-3 @ 1.90 is another option to think about.
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Premier League: Can the Eagles Push the Sky Blues to the Limit?
Manchester City vs Crystal Palace
Manchester City are determined to recover from their hard-fought draw against Newcastle when they’ll host Crystal Palace at the Etihad for their next Premier League match.
The Sky Blues were left disappointed at St. James Park as they’re currently behind top seed Arsenal in the pecking order, with the likes of Leeds United, Tottenham, and Brighton level with them on points.
They’ll face Crystal Palace, who are slowly finding their stride after a shaky start to their 2022-23 campaign. After going winless against Arsenal and Liverpool, the Eagles have won back-to-back against Aston Villa and Oxford United yesterday during the Carabao Cup second round.
Recent encounters between these two sides have been closer than expected, so SBOTOP football fans can anticipate another thrilling tiff this weekend.
Talking Points
Back-to-back draws for Manchester City
City’s 3-3 draw against Newcastle was easily one of the top games of the 2022-23 season as it was filled with so many Premier League 2022 highlights.
Ilkay Gundogan put the Sky Blues out front after scoring within the first five minutes, but Miguel Almiron and Callum Wilson responded later in the first half, and both were aided by Allan Saint-Maximin’s exploits.
And when Kieran Trippier scored via a free-kick near the hour mark, the supporters watching at St. James Park were in euphoria.
But the Sky Blues, being the champions that they are, flexed their title credentials and they rescued a point thanks to late goals by Erling Haaland and Bernardo Silva.
The Sky Blues were also trailing against the Blaugrana, but this time, it was Riyad Mahrez who bailed them out with his penalty during added time.
Besides Mahrez, Julian Alvarez and Cole Palmer also scored for Manchester City while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Frenkie de Jong, and Memphis Depay scored for Barcelona.
Against Crystal Palace, Pep Guardiola is likely to have a similar starting XI versus Newcastle and Barcelona with Nathan Ake, Aymeric Laporte, and Jack Grealish all sidelined due to knocks.
Wilfried Zaha still firing for Crystal Palace
Patrick Vieira has made Crystal Palace one of the most entertaining teams to watch in the Premier League and getting back to European football is a realistic aim for them.
Last term, they were buoyed by their exciting forwards with Conor Gallagher pulling the strings, but the 22-year-old midfielder has now returned to Chelsea after a year-long loan.
Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha celebrates after scoring their first goal during Premier League game against Aston Villa
With Gallagher no longer there, Vieira is hopeful that new signing Cheick Doucoure will be an instant hit, and the Malian midfielder will inherit the task of feeding the likes of Wilfried Zaha, Jean-Philippe Mateta, and Odsonne Edouard for goals.
The Eagles are also hopeful that talisman Wilfried Zaha stays healthy throughout the year. The Ivory Coast-based striker is off to a sparkling start with three goals in their first three games, and he has always been their difference maker.
History
Crystal Palace have fared better against Manchester City in their recent meetings. The Eagles were one of the four teams that the Sky Blues didn’t beat in the league last term (D1, L1), and they were the only side that the defending champions failed to score against as well.
Overall, the Eagles have claimed seven points from their last four league matches at the Etihad against the Sky Blues (W2, D1, L1), which is as many as they had in their previous 15 visits (W1, D4, L10).
Should Crystal Palace win on Saturday, they will become the second team besides Manchester United to win three consecutive away Premier League matches against City boss Pep Guardiola.
But in terms of recent form, Manchester City have the slight edge since they’re unbeaten in four straight matches in all competitions, while Crystal Palace are also undefeated in three straight games.
The Premier League 2022 odds have Manchester City as the overwhelming favourites to win in this contest. They’re installed at 1.19, while Crystal Palace are priced lowly at 16.00 and chances for a draw are at 6.00 in the 1X2 market.
Wary of Crystal Palace’s threat, Manchester City shouldn’t let their guard down but they will probably come out on top in front of their home fans simply because they have stronger quality.
However, the Eagles have improved a ton so they should bring the fight to the defending champions. Under 3.50 @ 1.82 is a plausible alternative bet since we expect another grinded-out affair.
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Premier League: Reeling Reds Badly Need to Beat Bournemouth
Liverpool vs AFC Bournemouth
A Premier League season that held a lot of promise has quickly gone pear-shaped for Liverpool. The Reds remain without a win in their first three games and are already way off the pace in the title chase.
The Cherries, who are one place above the Reds in the Premier League table at the moment, have been crushed in recent matches against Man City and Arsenal. But can they add to Liverpool’s misery at Merseyside?
Talking Points
Liverpool lacking form, players
Liverpool were expected to once again be Manchester City’s biggest title challengers this season, but the Reds’ Premier League 2022 odds of dethroning City have taken a big hit with their disappointing start to the season.
After back-to-back draws against newly promoted Fulham and Crystal Palace, they were handed a shock 2-1 defeat by Manchester United at Old Trafford.
With just two points in their first three games, Liverpool currently lie in 16th in the Premier League table, seven points adrift of leaders Arsenal and five behind City.
Liverpool’s Fabinho makes a tackle against Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha during their recent Premier League game at Anfield
The rash of injuries and absentees has been a big factor in the Reds’ surprisingly slow start. Centre-backs Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate are out injured, as are midfielders Thiago, Curtis Jones, and Naby Keita, as well as striker Diogo Jota. Meanwhile, new star striker Darwin Nunez is still serving out his three-match suspension after his sending off against Crystal Palace.
However, Klopp also made the puzzling decision to drop defensive midfielder Fabinho against United, which did not go well. Look for the Brazilian to return to the starting lineup against Bournemouth.
With his options limited, Klopp might be once again be forced to turn to teenagers Harvey Elliott and Fabio Carvalho with veterans James Milner and Roberto Firmino struggling.
Bournemouth keen to avoid another beating
Newly promoted Bournemouth are being tipped as one of the favourites to get relegated this season, and the last two weeks are indicative of the uphill battle they face to survive.
After their 2-0 win over Aston Villa in the season opener, they promptly lost to Premier League heavyweights Manchester City and Arsenal by an aggregate score of 7-0.
The Cherries were hardly competitive in either match as the vast gulf in quality between them and those clubs was clear for all to see.
However, new signings Joe Rothwell and Ryan Fredricks are still unlikely to make their season debuts, while attacking midfielders David Brooks and Junior Stanislas are also sidelined.
Meanwhile, former Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke is progressing after missing the last two games with an ankle injury and could get fit in time to face his old side.
The Cherries are already quite light up front, and they have sorely missed Solanke’s ability to provide Premier League 2022 highlights. They have just two shots on target in the last two games.
History
Bournemouth’s records against Manchester City and Arsenal are both abysmal, and their results against Liverpool are no better. The Reds have won 13 of their 16 all-time meetings, including eight of 10 matches in the Premier League. The Cherries’ lone win over Liverpool came in the 2016-17 season, a 4-3 barnburner at the Vitality.
But the Reds have gone unbeaten in their last seven meetings and have won the last six, with Bournemouth scoring just one goal in those six games. Mohamed Salah scored in both meetings against the Cherries the last time they were in the Premier League in the 2019-20 season.
SBOTOP odds have Liverpool installed as astronomical 1.092 favourites to beat Bournemouth, the biggest favourites in this round of Premier League matches. The Cherries are a whopping 22.00 to pull off a massive upset at Anfield, while a draw is 9.25.
Despite Liverpool’s recent downturn in form and long list of absentees, it’s hard to see them slipping up at home to Bournemouth.
However, with the Reds yet to hit their stride and Bournemouth desperate to avoid another blowout, this might end up being a relatively low-scoring match with under 3.50 goals.
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Premier League: City Ground Clash Evokes Memories of Famous Rivalry
Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Hotspur
The return of this fixture evokes many memories for me as a schoolboy, in the years when the Premier League was just a twinkle in the eye.
It was period in the late 1980s and early 1990s; when Brian Clough was well into his domain as the King of Sherwood Forest and when Terry Venables had arrived to set the white half of North London believing again.
Among the games I can recall were a league encounter in October 1990 when David Howells scored two late goals at the City Ground to earn Spurs a 2-1 win in Nottingham.
Then there was the League Cup semi-final second leg of 1992 when Roy Keane headed an extra-time winner for Forest at White Hart Lane.
Forest had a bit of a hoodoo over their opponents in those days in cup competitions.
Three years earlier they had won 3-2 at White Hart Lane in a League Cup quarter-final replay en route to winning the trophy.
All in all, this game reminds me of two of English football’s great clubs and their first top flight meeting for 23 years this Sunday afternoon should be savoured.
Talking Points
Nottingham Forest welcome Jack Colback to their squad for the first time since the opening day of the season following illness.
Moussa Niakhate and Omar Richards are long-term absentees but boss Steve Cooper has no fresh concerns for a team which has secured four points to date from a hard fought win at home to West Ham and a draw at Everton.
Tottenham remain without Cristian Romero and Oliver Skipp, both of whom will return to training next week, while manager Antonio Conte will make a late decision on Lucas Moura and Bryan Gil after the pair missed training.
The likelihood of Premier League highlights appears strong given both sides seem to have confidence.
The Italian has this week said his club’s hierarchy knows he wants two players for every role as he prepares for a stage of the season where he feels the true competitors will become known.
That stance means he is keen to recruit if the likes of fringe players such as Harry Winks, Sergio Reguilon or Bryan Gil depart to find regular first-team football.
Whether he gets his wish is unclear but he has certainly been backed in the market this term and their strong starting XI, backed up from the bench, means they will start as strong favourites in Nottingham.
Yet the ambition shown by the newly promoted men, who have forked out transfer fees totalling almost £150 million as they commit to spending big to boost their hopes of survival in a first top-flight campaign for more than two decades, is brave and their lack of fear has been refreshing to see on and off the pitch.
History
Harry Kane scored 250 goals for Tottenham Hotspur in all competitions
This will be the first Premier League meeting between the sides since April 1999 when Steffen Iversen scored the only goal of the game against soon to be relegated Forest.
Their very first clash in the Premier League era came in April 1993, also at the City Ground, when Kingsley Black and Robert Rosario scored in a 2-1 victory for the hosts, although they would lose their top flight status a few weeks later.
Overall, Forest have 36 successes to Spurs’ 55 wins and an additional 29 draws.
Forest have won six of the last 10 league meetings but lost both fixtures in 1998-99, their most recent top-flight campaign.
Indeed, they have not won any of the last five in league and cup – a run stretching back to 1997.
Their most recent meeting came in the third round of the League Cup in 2014 – a year in which Spurs went onto reach the final – when three goals in the last 18 minutes from Ryan Mason, Roberto Soldado and Harry Kane earned the North Londoners a 3-1 success against their Championship opponents.
Premier League: Gross Fires Seagulls to a Near Perfect Ten
Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0 Leeds United
A second half goal from Pascal Gross was enough to edge out Leeds United and take Brighton up to second place in the table on ten points from four games.
This fixture, Premier League: Brighton vs Leeds, gave the winner the incentive of top spot in the league table, but Manchester City’s victory over Crystal Palace nudged the Seagulls out on goal difference.
Last week Leeds had their greatest day in recent Premier League history, beating Chelsea 3-0, but on Saturday it just didn’t work out for the Whites. The Brighton vs Leeds betting odds backed a home win and the visitors could have few complaints.
Seagulls fans are well used to seeing their team dominate matches at home and fail to take their chances; and that was the tale of the first half as Leandro Trossard was the next player to waste an opportunity, slicing a far post volley into the stands when he had time to control the ball. And then Webster had another chance when Lewis Dunk headed down to him but he smashed his effort from 12 yards off target.
As half time approached Leeds began to get a foothold in the game and only a great interception from Joel Veltman stopped Brendan Aaronson in his tracks. Rodrigo has been outstanding in Leeds’ opening three games and he started the day as the league’s top scorer, on four. And the Spanish attacker had Leeds’ opening shot on target, in the last minute of the half, with a well struck free kick which was deflected wide.
Brighton started the second half as they did the first and Estupinan slid a ball across to Pascal Gross but he screwed his effort wide of the post. And then Solly march had a huge chance when he was clean through on goal, but Leeds stopper Illan Meslier made a brave block to keep the scores level.
March missed another chance after more good work from Estupinan, but then Leeds hit back and Aaronson almost broke the deadlock but his cross shot skidded wide, before Rodrigo hit the side netting with another effort.
But then, on 66 minutes, the Seagulls got their goal.
Danny Welbeck picked up the ball and fed Trossard who, in turn, passed to Gross who calmly fired home. There was a nervy minute while VAR took a look but Welbeck, who seemed like he may have been offside in the build up, was marginally on the right side of the line and the stadium erupted again.
Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch was shown a second-half yellow card
Leeds boss Jesse Marsch was frustrated and he became the fourth Leeds man to go into the book when he slammed the ball down in the direction of the ref.
His players were still in the game and they had a huge late chance when Adam Forshaw swung in a beauty of a ball which Diego Llorente met but thundered his header agonisingly wide.
Key statistics
At SBOTOP odds of 1.90 to win the Seagulls were strong favourites and while Leeds had the lions share of possession the hosts won the shot counts by 13 to ten and four to two on target.
Brighton set a new club record of nine Premier League matches unbeaten and they have conceded just one goal so far in this campaign, and that was an own goal.
What’s next?
Arsenal fans have been watching the Brighton vs Leeds news updates with interest before the Gunners embark on their Saturday teatime quest to cement their top spot at home to Fulham. If they do win, Mikel Arteta’s team will knock the Sky Blues off their perch.
There are two match days over the next week and the Seagulls take a trip to West London to take on Fulham, who they hope will have been severely softened up by Arsenal. And then they return to the Amex Stadium for a home game against Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City.
Leeds host struggling Everton on Tuesday night before heading to Brentford next Saturday at a ground which holds happy memories for the Whites after they pulled off a spectacular win there, on the last day of last season, to secure another year in the top flight.
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Premier League: Gunners Still Top After Dramatic Fightback
Arsenal 2-1 Fulham
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League on Saturday night after a hard fought win over London neighbours Fulham.
The Cottagers went ahead through Aleksandar Mitrovic, early in the second half, and the hosts replied through Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard. And the winner came, five minutes from time when Gabriel, whose howler let Mitrovic in for Fulham’s goal, scrambled home the winner.
ThePremier League 2022 betting odds have brought Arsenal in as third favourites to win the title and Fulham are outside the bottom three in the relegation stakes. And on the evidence of this game that makes a lot of sense.
Highlights of the game
Odegaard has been in inspirational form, and he almost created a goal in the opening minutes when he robbed the Fulham defence before slipping Gabriel Jesus through on goal but former Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno just beat the Brazilian to the ball. Then Odegaard and Jesus linked up to set up Granit Xhaka but the Swiss midfielder fired wide.
The Gunners have multiple goal threats, and here at SBOTOP we backed them to be ahead by the break, and their best chance of the opening half hour fell to Bukayo Saka who tried to lift his shot over Leno but the keeper armed the ball away. Odegaard continued to set the tempo while Jesus put the Fulham defence under pressure with his pace and clever footwork, and he won the free-kick which led to Saka’s chance.
As Arsenal pressed Jesus had the last chance of the half but Fulham defended well and blocked his effort. 0-0 at the break and the Gunners, knowing they needed a win to retake their top spot, came out in the second half all guns blazing. Jesus crossed for Gabriel Martinelli but his header went straight into Leno’s arms and then the Fulham keeper frustrated his former team twice in a minute, parrying a fierce shot from Odegaard and then holding on to an effort from Jesus.
And then, unbelievably, Fulham scored…and it was a moment Arsenal defender Gabriel will try to forget.
Arsenal attempted to play the ball out of defence and Gabriel collected a chipped pass in the middle of the penalty area. He took a bad touch and Mitrovic pounced, robbing him of the ball and sliding it past Aaron Ramsdale and into the net.
The Gunners responded and it was captain Odegaard, who had been superb throughout, who levelled with a shot from the edge of the box which took a slight deflection to beat Leno.
Incredibly, Mitrovic almost hit back immediately with a bullet header which Ramsdale saved and, as the game became more stretched, Martinelli tested Leno with a low drive at the end of a jinking run at the Fulham defence, and then Eddie Nketiah fired a shot narrowly wide.
Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored his 100th goal for Fulham at the Emirates
Ten minutes to go and it was all out attack as Martinelli squared for Nketiah and his shot went straight down Leno’s throat, and then Martinelli curled an effort inches wide. And finally the big goal came as Gabriel redeemed himself. A corner swung in and the centre back challenged Leno; and when the ball broke free he fired it into the empty net and the stadium erupted.
Fulham weren’t done and Ramsdale was forced into a reaction save when Nathaniel Chalobah met a cross with a first time volley, but the Gunners held out for a vital win to maintain their 100 per cent record.
Key statistics
Arsenal had plenty of possession in the first half, 73 per cent, and they were winning the shot count by eight to four, but the hosts only managed one attempt on target in the first 45 as the Cottagers defence put in a well drilled performance.
Arsenal had scored 13 goals in their previous four games against Fulham but it took them 67 minutes to break them down in this clash, but the stats by the end of the game, eight shots to three on target, fully justified Arsenal’s win.
What’s next?
The other Saturday Premier League 2022 results threw up some eye-catching score lines. In the earlier kick offs Brighton’s clash with Leeds United ended up in a 1-0 victory for the Seagulls and Manchester City beat Crystal Palace 4-2 as Erling Braut Haaland scored his first Premier League hat-trick. But many Bournemouth fans will be sitting in a darkened room tonight after their team was thrashed 9-0 by Liverpool.
Next up Arsenal are at home to Aston Villa on Wednesday before heading to Old Trafford next Sunday for a classic top flight clash away to Manchester United.
The Cottagers have a tough week coming up, with a home game against Graham Potter’s Brighton on Tuesday followed by a short trip to North London to take on Tottenham Hotspur.
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Premier League: Leeds Welcome Winless Everton to Elland Road
Leeds United vs Everton
Jesse Marsch and Leeds United will be quite pleased with where they stand four games into the new Premier League season.
Despite suffering their first defeat this past weekend, they still find themselves comfortably in the top half of the table with seven points, three of which came in a famous 3-0 win over Chelsea.
The Whites will look to bounce back from their loss to Brighton as they host a struggling Everton side this midweek.
Frank Lampard’s Toffees, who finished a point ahead of Leeds last season, are once again down near the relegation zone and are still searching for their first win of the campaign.
Talking Points
Rodrigo resurgence continues
Leeds United’s undefeated run to start the new season finally came to an end as they lost 1-0 away to Brighton this past weekend. Jesse Marsch’s side had significantly more of the ball – 57 per cent possession – but they were still outshot 13-10 by the Seagulls and had just two shots on target.
Rodrigo alone accounted for half of the Whites’ shots with five, although he was unable to convert any of them. Nevertheless, the Spaniard’s early-season form has to be one of the biggest bright spots through the first month. The 31-year-old has scored four goals in his first four games with 18 shots, 13 more than his next closest teammate.
Patrick Bamford is on the road to recovery after the muscle problem he suffered against Southampton, but the striker’s return remains up in the air. Meanwhile, the full-back trio of Junior Firpo, Luke Ayling, and Stuart Dallas is also still on the sidelines.
Leeds’ starting wingers Daniel James and Jack Harrison were both disappointing against Brighton, and Marsch could potentially make a change in that position. Luis Sinisterra, who got his first Leeds goal in their 3-1 Carabao Cup win over Barnsley, provided a spark as a substitute and is an option to start for either.
Everton’s struggles persist
Four games into the new season, Everton are still searching for their first win. After losing their first two games, the Toffees have drawn their last two 1-1 against Nottingham Forest and Brentford.
Those underwhelming Premier League 2022 results see Everton down in 17th, one point above the relegation zone.
The attack remains a major concern for Everton, who are still without injured striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Frank Lampard fielded a fluid front three of Demarai Gray, Anthony Gordon and Dwight McNeil last time out against Brentford, and he could very well stick with that formation at Leeds with veteran centre-forward Salomon Rondon struggling to provide much offensive punch.
Everton manager Frank Lampard before their Premier League match against Brentford
Gordon, who looks set to stay at Everton despite interest from Chelsea, has been by far the Toffeess’ brightest player thus far. He scored his first goal of the season against Brentford and has 11 shots (9 on target) over his last two games.
Meanwhile, the remade Everton defence is also not in the best shape. Yerry Mina and Ben Godfrey remain out, so Conor Coady and James Tarkowski will continue to play in the back three alongside Mason Holgate.
History
Everton vs Leeds has been quite a competitive matchup during the Premier League era. Everton have a slight 9-8 edge in wins, while there have been 11 draws.
The Toffees have had the upper hand on Leeds since the Whites’ return to the Premier League. After losing their first matchup at Goodison Park, Everton have gone unbeaten in their last three meetings with Leeds, with two wins. They drew 2-2 with Leeds at Elland Road last season, before smashing Leeds 3-0 at Goodison Park.
Of course, Leeds are now without Brazilian winger Raphinha, who scored three of the team’s four goals in four games against Everton.
SBOTOP Premier League 2022 betting odds have Leeds installed as 2.12 favourites to get back to winning ways at home. Everton are priced at 3.40 to pick up their first win while a draw is 3.30.
This is a tremendous opportunity for Leeds to bounce back right away from that Brighton defeat as they face an out-of-form Everton side. Their pressing can cause a disjointed Toffees team some real problems, and Everton’s lack of a legitimate goal threat will ease the pressure off the Leeds defence.
Look for the Whites to keep Everton winless as they get a much-needed home win at Elland Road this midweek.
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Last time at home, Forest shower character and resilience, every ounce of which will do them no harm in their bid to ensure their first top flight season or 23 years is not a brief one.
And that same confidence was on display once more as he saved a penalty for the second successive home game – this time from England captain Harry Kane.
It proved immaterial to the final result – Kane had already netted after five minutes and added a second on what proved to be a landmark day personally – but it was another example of why Forest will not be pushed around this term.
After a bright start from the hosts, Kane was played through following a fine run and pass from Dejan Kulusevski and the prolific marksman did the rest, rifling the ball into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
In an end-to-end game, both teams enjoyed spells on top and, but for some dogged defending, Forest may have hauled themselves level.
Yet discipline is a trait Antonio Conte stores much faith in and the home side struggled to find a way through, despite enjoying long spells of possession.
Eight minutes into the second half, his team was handed a golden chance to double their advantage as Steve Cook handled an Ivan Perisic cross into the box but Henderson guessed right and clawed away the spot-kick.
They were nearly made to pay as Ryan Yates laid the ball off to Neco WIlliams, whose shot bobbled wide.
The SBOTOP Premier League betting odds had always favoured Spurs but they needed a second goal to make sure and, after Henderson kept out a drilled Son Heung-min effort, they made the game safe nine minutes from time.
Dean Henderson during Nottingham Forest’s match against Tottenham Hotspur at The City Ground
In what was another afternoon of Premier League highlights for Kane, he was initially denied by the goalkeeper who cut out a Ryan Sessegnon cross but fellow substitute Richarlison kept the ball in play and produced an inviting delivery which the number 10 converted from close range.
That finally ended the spirited resistance of Forest.
As for Kane, he is now the joint-third top scoring Premier League player, with 187 goals – level with Andy Cole.
Kane and very able!
Key statistics
Only Alan Shearer (260) and Wayne Rooney (208) have scored more in Premier League history.
Kane’s 200 league goals have come mainly for Spurs (186) with seven for Millwall, five for Leyton Orient and two for Leicester.
He has now netted against 31 of the 32 sides he has faced in the Premier League, failing to score only against Brentford in two appearances.
Until today, he had scored his last 15 Premier League penalties.
Spurs have won five of their last six meetings in all competitions and this was their 50th ever league win against Forest.
The last time they avoided defeat in their opening four league matches (2016-17) they went onto finish as runners-up.
Spurs kept a clean sheet in all six meetings versus promoted opposition last season.
What’s next?
Forest now face the ultimate test since they were promoted – a trip to champions Manchester City.
That will be followed up with a home match against fellow newly promoted club Bournemouth next Sat (September 3). Spurs are at West Ham on Wednesday night before entertaining the third newly promoted club, Fulham, next weekend
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Premier League: Hammers Have a Win, Now Can They Beat Spurs?
West Ham United vs Tottenham Hotspur
Premier League action comes to East London on Wednesday in a full midweek programme as Tottenham visit their old mates West Ham at the London Stadium.
Antonio Conte’s Spurs have made a strong start to the campaign and are just two points off the top, while West Ham started with three defeats before finally breaking their duck on Sunday.
The two teams have had contrasting starts but David Moyes’ West Ham have been very strong over the past two campaigns, and his talented squad will be confident of climbing the table fairly quickly. It all adds up to a fascinating contest, with the hosts trying to make up lost time against a highly ambitious opponent.
Talking Points
West Ham have lift off
After a difficult opening to the campaign a 1-0 win away to Aston Villa has lifted the mood around the London Stadium as the Hammers climbed out of the bottom three. Of course these are early days but you don’t want to be down there too long. Pablo Fornals had a bit of luck with his 74thminute winner which took a deflection to beat Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez. It was their first goal of the campaign, but sometimes you need that bit of luck to climb out of a rut.
In a midfield three, with the powerhouses Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek, Fornals can provide creativity and goal chances with his pace and vision, and with similar players such as Manuel Lanzini and Maxwell Cornet on the bench, Moyes has options if he is chasing a game. The Hammers boss will hope that summer signing Gianluca Scamacca will soon get off the mark as he is seen as the natural successor to experienced striker Michail Antonio.
Scamacca has already scored twice for West Ham in the Europa Conference qualifiers. Two wins over Viborg are all well and good, but the Hammers lost 2-0 to Brighton on their last league game at home and their fans will do all they can to make the London Stadium a fortress when the big guns come to town.
Fast start for Kane
He has been Tottenham’s best striker for almost a decade now and is one of the best finishers in world football. But a peculiarity about Harry Kane’s form in recent seasons is that he hasn’t always been quick out of the blocks. In the 2021/22 campaign he was particularly quiet before Christmas, before racking up the goals in the second half of the season.
Well folks, this time around the England man has kicked off at a spectacular rate, bagging four goals in four games. Kane scored two and missed a penalty in Sunday’s win over Nottingham Forest and he has made a fine start in the race for the 2022/23 Golden Boot, with four goals.
Tottenham Hotspur star Harry Kane celebrates following their 0-2 Premier League win against Nottingham Forest
But he is already two behind Manchester City’s Erling Braut Haaland while, incredibly, Mo Salah didn’t get on the score sheet during Liverpool’s 9-0 destruction of Bournemouth.
Kane’s double on Sunday made it 201 career goals and he was thwarted from the penalty spot for the first time in 22 attempts as Forest keeper Dean Henderson made the save.
His first goal against Forest was created by the ever improving Dejan Kulusevski and his second by Richarlison who continues to delight one moment and infuriate the next. The Brazilian overstepped the line with his showboating at 2-0, and was wiped out by Forest full back Brennan Johnson who earned a yellow card and the admiration of the vast majority in the Nottingham crowd.
Richarlison can be a great attacking asset but he is a red card waiting to happen.
Spurs’ north London rivals, Arsenal, are top of the league after beating Fulham 2-1 and Conte will have no problem in motivating his men to overhaul the Gunners, as that is priority number one for their fans. The Premier League 2022 betting odds reckon they could both finish in a top four place; but Chelsea will have plenty to say about that.
History
There’s been a mighty tussle between these two London rivals in the Premier League era with the head to heads giving Tottenham a lead of 29 to 19 wins, while there have been ten draws in all competitions since 1993.
West Ham won the corresponding fixture 1-0 last season as a goal from Michail Antonio took the Hammers up to fourth place, though Spurs later beat their London neighbours twice at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Both teams come into the game with three wins in the last four in all competitions though Spurs have been significantly better in the league, ten points putting them in third place while West Ham sit in 16th with three.
At SBOTOP odds of 3.67 West Ham are outsiders for this game with Spurs at 1.92 and it promises to be a hard fought game. A draw at a price of 3.25 will be a popular bet and a 1-1 draw at odds of 5.99 is the most likely score line.
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This message was edited by SBOTOP on 30-Aug-2022 at 2:08 PM
Premier League: Sky Blues Set Their Sights On Forest
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
The top flight of English football is a fantastic place to be, but it can also be pretty daunting, as Steve Cooper’s Nottingham Forest are about to find out.
The newcomers have just been beaten by top four hopefuls Tottenham Hotspur and now they head to the Etihad to take on Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. The Sky Blues are second in the Premier League table, on ten points and two behind leaders Arsenal, and on Saturday they came back from a two goal deficit to Crystal Palace to win 4-2 with a ruthless second half display.
It is very likely that City will retain their league title, while Nottingham Forest, despite spending heavily in the transfer market, are realistic enough to know that the betting market and neutrals have then down as relegation prospects.
The outcome of this match will have little bearing on the battle for survival but, if Forest can spring a huge surprise then it might shake things up a little at the top.
City’s clash with the Eagles turned out to be quite an event as, while title rivals Liverpool had romped into a 5-0 lead against Bournemouth, the Sky Blues trailed Crystal Palace by 2-0 at the break. Bernardo Silva halved the deficit just after half time to set the stage for Erling Braut Haaland; and he plundered a hat-trick in 19 minutes to make it six for the season and put him in early charge of the race for the Golden Boot.
Last season the Sky Blues won the league without a prolific striker and, alongside Silva, Ilkay Gundogan, Kevin de Bruyne and Phil Foden have all got on the score sheet already this term and that is not a comforting thought for the other title hopefuls; or City’s next opponents.
Arsenal’s late comeback against Fulham, winning 2-1, kept City off the top spot but the signs are ominous and the latest Premier League 2022 betting odds have priced Guardiola’s men at 1.37 to retain their title for a fifth season in six.
A free hit for Forest
Head coaches throughout the Premier League will denounce the idea of a free hit, saying it’s an insult to their team and maybe even disrespectful to their opponents. But when a team which is aiming purely for survival is about to face Manchester City they can be forgiven if they end the game empty handed.
That’s why I say this game is a free hit for Forest. And the SBOTOP odds agree me, pricing Guardiola’s team at 1.08 to take all three points.
Even if Haaland hadn’t just flexed his muscles against Crystal Palace, Guardiola’s team would still strike fear into any opponent and often it’s a case of damage limitation. Sure, Cooper will prepare his players to give 100 per cent and search tirelessly for a chink in City’s armour, but the games against the teams around Forest are more pivotal, they can end in triumph or disaster; whereas this is a stunning result or an expected defeat.
Dean Henderson celebrates after saving Harry Kane’s penalty during Nottingham Forest’s match against Tottenham Hotspur
So how can Forest make the most of their free hit?
Well, keeper Dean Henderson is going to be a busy boy and he proved he’s up for the fight with a brave display against Spurs, brilliantly saving a Harry Kane penalty.
Newcastle earned a 3-3 draw with City last week by getting in their faces and that is what Forest must do. If the visitors defend then the hosts will eventually pick them off.
With Aymeric Laporte out injured for City, John Stones will start at the back and, while he is a fine defender, he has a mistake in him, scoring an own goal to give Palace a lead on Saturday.
Forest must be brave and go on the front foot, while Henderson needs the game of his life.
History
If you look at the head to head results then Nottingham Forest fans have nothing to fear, as both teams have won four of the last 11 games and drawn the other three.
But this is the first meeting between the two teams in the Premier League this century, and the last time they clashed in a league game was in the Championship in 2002 when Manchester City won 3-0. They met more recently when Forest upset the odds to win 3-0 in a third round FA Cup tie in 2009.
City are unbeaten at home in 11 games and, at a whopping price of 28.84 to win, this would be one of the Premier League 2022 results of the season if Cooper can mastermind a victory… or even a Draw at 8.44.
I just can’t see it happening.
For a Correct Score-line a repeat of the 3-0 from the last league meeting in 2002 is the shortest odds at 5.88.
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Their success over the last six years – most notably last year’s FA Cup triumph and the unforgettable never-to-be-repeated Premier League title in 2016 – is the stuff of folklore and defied the odds in the modern world of the super club.
But it could not last surely?
Since then, my view has only strengthened for, with 48 hours remaining in the transfer window, Leicester are yet to make a single signing (for a fee) and are yet to register a league win as pressure slowly mounts.
That is the reality and shows just how fine Leicester’s achievements have been in recent years, initially under Claudio Ranieri and now with Brendan Rodgers at the helm.
Yes, they are laudably fending off bids for their star players left, right, and centre and have no desire to let their key men leave, but it is reported they need to sell to bring new faces in since the squad is currently at its limit of 25 players.
On Thursday night, Manchester United are in town and they, better than most, know all about pressure.
Talking Points
This time just over a week ago, they were the “crisis club” in the top-flight following two embarrassing defeats and six goals conceded.
Now, after back-to-back wins, the world seems a brighter place for all those associated with Old Trafford so the Foxes will know their current rut could also change quickly.
In fairness, they were somewhat unfortunate to come away from Stamford Bridge empty handed on Saturday – a 2-1 defeat against 10-man Chelsea.
Rodgers has insisted he is not feeling the pressure despite Leicester’s poor start but he has now lost three successive games for the first time in eight years and his team is without a top-flight win in its opening four for the first time since 2003.
The Leicester boss may have felt hard done by when a goal was ruled out with the game goalless, but the visitors then found themselves 2-0 down despite their numerical advantage.
Wesley Fofana’s impending exit could mean Leicester belatedly spend some money over the next 48 hours – goalkeeper Alex Smithies on a free transfer the only arrival so far – with Rodgers’ outfit looking in need of reinforcements.
It would appear Wout Faes will be his replacement from French club Reims, but any deal will not come in time for this match.
Likewise, United’s acquisition of Brazilian winger Antony is all but done but his debut will have to wait.
Putting that to one side, there is still enough talent on both sides to look forward to Premier League 2022 highlights at the King Power Stadium.
Question is, who will be feeling the pressure after the full-time whistle?
History
These two sides were so well matched just over two years ago that it came down to a final day shootout in the East Midlands to determine who secured a Champions League spot.
Even a brilliant goal from youngster Mason Greenwood and a late equaliser from substitute Marcus Rashford could not stop the Foxes who found the net through Youri Tielemans, Caglar Soyuncu, Jamie Vardy, and Patson Daka.
The return game at Old Trafford finished 1-1 with Kelechi Iheanacho and Fred trading quick goals.
Overall, United have won 68 of their meetings with 36 Leicester successes and 31 draws.
Premier League: Mersey Derby is a High Stakes Drama
Everton vs Liverpool
Premier League: Everton vs Liverpoolis known as the Friendly Rivalry, but that bonhomie may have to be put to one side on Saturday…because both teams are in desperate need of a victory.
No game is a must-win at this stage of the season, but a draw would not be a whole lot of use for either of the City rivals. A slow start to the campaign has left Liverpool seven points off the top of the table and, crucially, five points behind Manchester City. Meanwhile, Everton are three places behind Liverpool, currently in 15th place and without a victory so far.
Everton don’t want another relegation battle while Liverpool certainly don’t want to wave City through for another title, so both teams will be desperate to make a big statement on Saturday and that means we’re in for high stakes drama.
Talking Points
Nunez available for Liverpool
After this campaign was billed as another race between Liverpool and Manchester City, the early results have changed the mood a little. Arsenal are still setting the pace at the top of the table and have come in to a price of 13.00 to lift the title, while Liverpool have drifted out to 7.00. Of course, Manchester City are the team to beat with the Sky Blues at a short price of 1.37 to retain their title.
The summer signing of Darwin Nunez set the pulses racing at Anfield and he started with a bang; scoring in the Community Final victory over Manchester City and in the season opener against Fulham. Then he was red carded against Crystal Palace; so he missed the shock defeat to Manchester United and the subsequent massacre of Bournemouth. He will also miss the Reds’ midweek fixture at home to Newcastle, so that means he can face Everton.
Liverpool’s slow start meant their match against newly promoted Bournemouth was a big opportunity to begin to put things right and boy, did they do that?! The Reds’ 9-0 drubbing of Bournemouth has been quickly followed by the departure of Cherries boss Scott Parker, which seems excessively harsh after four games. The other peculiarity was that Mo Salah played the whole game without scoring while Roberto Firmino and Luis Diaz scored twice each.
Diaz now has three goals and he may well start again in a front three alongside Firmino and Salah, but Liverpool fans will be desperate to see Nunez again, after his self inflicted forced absence.
Coady and Tarkowski so important for Everton
Everton’s Conor Coady during their match against Leeds United at Elland Road
Everton head coach Frank Lampard is a man under pressure to deliver. Last season the Toffees escaped relegation by the skin of their teeth and they are winless after five games of the new campaign. Following back to back defeats Everton have picked up three draws, against Nottingham Forest, Brentford and Leeds United.
Of course there are at least ten teams in the relegation fight at the beginning of every Premier League campaign, but the way Fulham have started, Everton have become one of the three favourites for the drop. The Toffees are at a SBOTOP price of 2.88 to go down, with only newcomers Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest at a lower price.
Injuries to Yerry Mina, Ben Godfrey and Mason Holgate mean that summer recruits Conor Coady and James Tarkowski have been paired together, and they looked like they had been in the Toffees defence for years as they repelled much of what Leeds could throw at them on Tuesday night. They have both played big parts for their former teams, Wolves and Burnley in the Premier League, and have both represented England.
Coady talked of his team’s hard graft and bravery in the draw with Leeds and Everton will need that all season, but Liverpool’s attack will present a different problem.
Up front, following the departure of Richarlison, a lot is resting on the shoulders of young winger Anthony Gordon, who has scored two goals so far, and striker Demarai Gray.
History
With 28 wins to ten in the Premier League era, the red half of Liverpool has enjoyed the head-to-head Everton vs Liverpool results more than their blue neighbours over the past three decades, though there have been 25 draws.
Liverpool did the double over their Mersey rival last season, with a 2-0 win at Anfield and a 4-1 at Goodison Park as Salah helped himself to a double, while Jordan Henderson and Diogo Jota piled more misery onto the Toffees, Gray getting their consolation.
Neither team is in sparkling form with Liverpool winning two, drawing two and losing two of the last six (before Wednesday’s match against Newcastle), while Everton have won one, draw three and lost two; but the pre-match Everton vs Liverpool betting odds
At odds of 6.36 to win and 4.74 to draw Everton have an outside chance of frustrating the Reds. But Liverpool were at their ruthless best against the Cherries and they will surely be ready to gather some momentum; and they have too much quality for the Toffees.
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Premier League: Leeds Can Prolong Brentford’s Winless Drought
Brentford vs Leeds United
When Leeds visited Brentford last May, it was all or nothing for the Whites as they had to win that match in order to stay alive in the Premier League.
They did come out winners to ensure their survival. And fast forward to today, they’re enjoying a decent start to their 2022-23 campaign – placing sixth with eight points after the first five fixtures.
Leeds will face a Brentford side who have struggled since their dominant 4-0 win against Manchester United last August. The Bees have fallen to 10th in the table since they’ve yet to register a victory in their last three matches.
With both sides aiming to win, this should be another intense affair and SBOTOP has you covered for the preview of this fixture.
Talking Points
Brentford can’t afford another slow start
The Bees are no strangers to late drama as they would find themselves in a losing position, only to try and a make a comeback in the end. Sometimes they’ll succeed, but it has led them to dropping points more often.
Save for their second round Carabao Cup triumph over Colchester where they were the superior side all game long, Brentford had subpar Premier League 2022 results versus Fulham, Everton, and Crystal Palace last night.
Brentford boss Thomas Frank during their Premier League home game against Everton
Their backline inexplicably surrendered a goal from Fulham’s Bobby Reid after just one minute and Joao Palhinha put the Cottagers up by two goals, but the Bees answered back with scores from Christian Norgaard and Ivan Toney.
If it weren’t for Aleksander Mitrovic’s late goal, Brentford would’ve gotten a point.
Against Everton and Crystal Palace, they were also trailing when Anthony Gordon and Wilfried Zaha scored, but Vitaly Janelt and Yoane Wissa’s equalisers bailed them out.
Head coach Thomas Frank may be happy with his team’s character, but for sure deep inside he has mixed feelings. Resiliency is definitely an admirable trait, but this isn’t a sustainable formula for Brentford moving forward.
Leeds United mulling attacking reinforcements
The Whites will aim to make a late swoop before the summer transfer window ends as they’re sweating about the fitness of their top forward Rodrigo Moreno.
The resurgent Spaniard, who has netted four goals so far this season, dislocated his shoulder after trying to beat Jordan Pickford during their match against Everton yesterday.
Leeds were down by one after Anthony Gordon’s 17th minute goal, but Luis Sinisterra saved them a point by scoring 15 minutes after half-time.
Meanwhile, Patrick Bamford has yet to regain his form since he’s still bothered by his adductor injury, and Leeds are going to be handicapped if he and Rodrigo won’t be 100-per cent fit soon.
To try and address this, Leeds are looking at Cody Gakpo and Hwang Hee-Chan. Gakpo is fresh from a superb campaign with PSV, while Hwang has worked with Jesse Marsch before at RB Leipzig.
But they are in danger of missing out on these two as Wolves rejected their bid for the Korean, while Gakpo is closer to joining Southampton after the Hampshire side increased their bid to PSV.
This is going to be the third league encounter between Brentford and Leeds since 1947. The sample size of their top-flight head-to-heads is small since it took both of them decades to re-establish themselves the Premier League.
Their most recent meeting took place few months ago where the Whites defeated the Bees 2-1 on the road as Raphinha scored via a penalty kick and Jack Harrison put on the finishing touches during added time.
Sergi Canos equalised for the hosts after Raphinha’s score but was sent off after he got two yellow cards, and that proved to be costly.
Prior to the said loss, the Bees were unbeaten at home in their last 10 meetings against the Whites since a 2-1 defeat in August 1950. Leeds, on the other hand, have lost just one of their last seven games against Brentford (W3, D3).
Despite being not in the best of form, Brentford are being favoured by the Premier League 2022 odds. The Bees are installed 2.12, but Leeds aren’t far behind at 3.25 and a draw is priced at 3.45 in the 1X2 market.
Compared to before, there’s a bigger sense of urgency this time for Brentford to win in order for them to stay afloat in the top half. As for Leeds, a victory would put them back into the Top 5.
In the end, we feel that goals are guaranteed for this fixture so we’re backing Total Goal 2-3 @ 1.96 as your surefire bet.
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Premier League: Spurs and Fulham Have London Style
Tottenham Hotspur vs Fulham
Arsenal may be top of the Premier League after five games but the rest of the London contingent is looking strong, with Tottenham Hotspur in third place and newly promoted Fulham in seventh.
And the two meet on Saturday afternoon in a mouth-watering clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Spurs come into the game on the back of a 1-1 draw away to West Ham while Fulham pulled off another impressive result in midweek, beating an in form Brighton and Hove Albion 2-1.
The latest Premier League 2022 betting odds here at SBOTOP have moved Tottenham in to 19.00 to win the league, fourth favourites, and they have moved Fulham out to 4.00 to get relegated, also fourth favourites. While Spurs boss Antonio Conte might settle for a Champions League slot, I suspect his Fulham counterpart, Marco Silva might be aiming significantly higher than 17th.
Fulham fans just love the idea that England centre forward Harry Kane is striving to keep up with their striker in the early stage of this campaign. Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored five goals already while Kane is one behind on four. Of course they are both trailing Manchester City’s scoring sensation, Erling Braut Haaland, but Mitrovic stands alone in second place in the top scorers chart, dispelling any thoughts that he may struggle to replicate his Championship form in the Premier League.
He scored his fifth of the campaign, sneaking in at the back post to set Fulham on the way to victory over Brighton on a night in which the high flying Seagulls would have gone top with a victory. Mitrovic is a fox in the box and a powerful header of the ball, not unlike his opposite number Kane.
The main difference between the two players, in terms of style, is that England captain Kane can operate in a deeper role and has a superb range of passing, as well as being one of the best finishers on the planet, from distance or in the six yard box and equally lethal with either foot. He scored his 200th and 201st career goals for Spurs against Nottingham Forest last week and almost certainly would have had another against West Ham on Wednesday night, had VAR not overturned a penalty decision given following an Aaron Cresswell handball.
His manager was furious…
Conte vs Silva
Silva is confident in himself and his players to help the Cottagers succeed in their forthcoming Premier League encounter
…and it is unbridled passion which has been a hallmark of Antonio Conte during a glittering career as a head coach. The 53 year old Italian has won four Scudettos as a manager and the Premier League with Chelsea in 2017. In the opposite dugout, at 45 years of age, Silva has time on his side. He won the Greek Superleague with Olimpiacos and the EFL Championship with Fulham last season. He has Premier League experience with Hull City, Watford and Everton and now manages a team which can compete, particularly after the deadline day signing of former Chelsea and Arsenal star Willian.
Conte is a master of grinding out results and Spurs overcame a spirited Nottingham Forest last week to make it three wins from five. They also beat Southampton and Wolves while drawing with London rivals Chelsea and West Ham. But Spurs relied on an own goal from Thilo Kehrer to take the lead against the Hammers before Tomas Soucek levelled the scores.
Kane is a world class striker and in Ivan Perisic and Dejan Kulusevski, who have two assists each, he has a good supply of crosses, but so far Spurs have been over reliant on their talisman and Conte must address that.
Fulham’s early Premier League 2022 results have been as good as they could have expected. After drawing 2-2 with Liverpool on the opening day of the campaign the Cottagers followed that up with a point against Wolves. Silva’s side has lost just once, a 2-1 reversal to Arsenal and that was sandwiched by wins over Brentford and Brighton.
Fulham’s start has certainly put more pressure on the likes of Everton and Brentford and Silva has the confidence in himself and his players to help the Cottagers to thrive.
History
Spurs have won 19 of the 35 encounters with Fulham since the turn of the century, eight have been drawn and the Cottagers have won eight as well. When the two teams met in the 2020/21 season, they drew 1-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and then Spurs took all three points in a 1-0 victory at Craven Cottage.
He is widely regarded as one of the very best strikers in world football and he’s certainly one of the most prolific goal scorers in Premier League history, but Tottenham hitman Harry Kane has never picked up a team winners medal in his 13 seasons in the game.
Kane knows that his loyalty to Tottenham Hotspur has cost him dearly when he looks at his medal cabinet, but he’s a rare beast these days to show such commitment to one club.
He did waver last season, though, hoping for a move to Manchester City but that didn’t materialise and he still leads the line for Spurs.
Now 29, he’s hoping that he can finally break this duck either with Tottenham Hotspur in domestic football or with England in the Qatar World Cup.
And at Spurs, he has a proven winner in the dugout with head coach Antonio Conte brought in to bring some long-awaited silverware to the club. The early season Premier League 2022 betting odds pitch Tottenham as fourth favourites at the moment but they could be dark horses.
Kane has won plenty of plaudits personally in his prolific scoring career where he has established himself as one the best hitmen the big European leagues have ever seen.
He ranks as the second-highest scorer in Tottenham’s history, behind only the legendary Jimmy Greaves, while only Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney have scored more than Kane in the history of the Premier League.
In 2016 and 2017, the Spurs talisman was the league’s top scorer, and in the following campaign he scored a whopping 41 goals from 48 games in all competitions while also winning the Golden Boot at the Russia World Cup in 2018 as England reached the semi-finals.
He has scored 50 goals in 71 internationals and is fast approaching the all-time top scorer Rooney, who bagged 53 goals in 120 appearances.
Here at SBOTOP, we were set to report on Spurs’ game with Manchester City this weekend. But following the sad passing of the Queen, football fixtures have been postponed.
So let’s take the time to analyse if Kane can pick up a medal or two this season.
Can Harry finally win team silverware?
Kane has had some near misses in terms of winning trophies with both club and country.
In 2016, when Leicester City stunned the football world by winning the Premier League at odds of 5001, Spurs had their biggest chance.
With Manchester City and Chelsea both underperforming, it looked like Tottenham would be the team to chase down the Foxes but they choked and finished third.
The following season they did finish second behind Antonio Conte’s Chelsea. In 2019, Mauricio Pochettino led them to the Champions League final but Spurs simply didn’t show up in a 2-0 loss to Liverpool.
Antonio Conte says Tottenham are still a long way off their Premier League rivals
And last year for England, Kane suffered his biggest heartbreak as the Three Lions lost a penalty shootout final to Italy after he had put his team ahead, smashing home his own spot-kick.
Back to the present. While Arsenal have taken the early season plaudits and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland is dominating the Premier League 2022 news thanks to his explosive start to life at Manchester City, Spurs have been ticking along nicely and sit in third place in the table, level on points with the Sky Blues and one point behind leaders Arsenal.
We are still at the early stage of the campaign but Spurs could well last the course on current evidence as Conte has begun to put his personal mark on the team.
The Italian loves to win and hates to lose, and he will take both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup deadly seriously.
Meanwhile, England are set to embark on a World Cup journey in Qatar where they will start the tournament as one of the favourites.
More personal glory?
Kane has won his fair share of Golden Boots for club and country but it will be a big ask for him to finish this Premier League campaign as top scorer.
He has made a quicker start than he normally does and is currently in third place on five goals, alongside Brentford’s Ivan Toney and one behind Fulham’s Alexandar Mitrovic but crucially five behind City’s scoring machine Haaland.
Kane’s regular rivals, Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Leicester’s Jamie Vardy, are nowhere to be seen.
Kane wouldn’t wish injury on a fellow professionals, but that is his best chance of winning the Premier League Golden Boot.
So why not more World Cup glory? He’s the current favourite to win the Golden Boot in Qatar ahead of the French pair of Kylian Mbappe and Karin Benzema, and it helps Kane that they play for the same team. England are third favourites to win the trophy behind Brazil and France, so the Spurs man has a few chances to open his trophy cabinet again and only time will tell.
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Premier League: Gunners Must Evade a Nasty Bee Sting
Brentford vs Arsenal
Premier League pace-setters Arsenal are looking to avoid back-to-back league defeats on Sunday when they visit West London to take on dangerous Brentford.
Mikel Arteta’s side won its first five games of the new campaign but suffered a setback against Manchester United last week, though they still sit proudly at the top of the league table. But a visit to the Community Stadium is not the most comfortable way to spend a day out as Arsenal found out last season and many other teams have discovered to their cost.
Thomas Frank’s Brentford surprised everyone in their first season in the Premier League and they have started their second campaign just as well; they come into this game having thumped Leeds United 5-2 last time out.
Brentford’s early-season Premier League 2022 results have been pretty impressive, with just a single defeat in their opening six games as they sit happily in eighth place. Centre-forward Ivan Toney has been in outstanding form and he bagged a hat-trick in the Bees destruction of Leeds.
The 26-year-old striker has scored 48 goals in 84 games for Brentford, including 12 in his first Premier League season with Brentford and five from six games this year.
His tussle with Arsenal centre-back William Saliba will be well worth watching and, if he comes out on top then Brentford have a realistic chance of upsetting the odds against the Gunners.
Alongside Toney, Bryan Mbeumo has two goals and he will also stretch the Arsenal back line while, at the back, former Burnley skipper Ben Mee has added some real steel and composure to the rearguard. Christian Norgaard and Sergi Canos are both sidelined, which won’t upset Arsenal fans too much as they both scored for Brentford in this meeting last year.
The Bees are at a SBOTOP price of6.50 to be relegated, longer odds than the three newcomers, as well as the likes of Aston Villa, Wolves, Leeds United and Leicester City; a mid-table position is clearly Frank’s objective.
Arsenal looking for a speedy bounce back
Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus during the Europa League match against FC Zurich
Losing 3-1 to Manchester United was an unexpected blow to the Gunners and now they need to get back to winning ways quickly. Another loss would seriously damage their early-season momentum and undo much of the good work that has been done.
The Premier League 2022 betting odds pitch Arsenal as joint-third favourites at a SBOTOP price of 13.00, alongside Manchester United, ahead of London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea and trailing hot favourites Manchester City and the chief chasers Liverpool. A top-four finish and a piece of silverware would represent a successful campaign for the Gunners and this is the type of game they should really win.
Summer recruit Gabriel Jesus is joint-second favourite for the Golden Boot at a price of 11.00, with only Erling Braut Haaland more likely to win. The former Manchester City player has scored three goals alongside skipper Martin Odegaard and fellow Brazilian star Gabriel Martinelli.
Incidentally folks, Brentford’s Toney is in the top ten at odds of 41.00.
History
These two London teams have met three times recently and Arsenal have won two of the encounters, a Premier League match at the Emirates last season and a third-round Carabao Cup clash in 2018. But the Bees announced themselves spectacularly on the Premier League stage with an opening-day win over the Gunners just over 12 months ago. Canos and Norgaard were both on target and will be sadly missed by the home fans this time around.
Recent form has been very good for both teams. Arsenal have won five out of their last six games, while Brentford have won three, drawn two and lost one in that period.
The Bees have been impressive at home, winning one and drawing the other. But they are odds against to continue their unbeaten home run against the high-flying Gunners.
Arsenal should win this tricky encounter at a price of 1.79, but the Bees fans will fancy their chances of another upset at odds of 4.17 or even a draw at 3.45.
I think Arsenal will win but you never can quite tell with Thomas Frank’s Brentford, especially at home, so I’m going for a game with two or three goals. Both clashes last season were within this margin, 2-0 to Brentford and 2-1 to Arsenal in the return. For a correct scoreline, a 2-1 win for Arsenal is one of the most likely outcomes at odds of 6.56, while a repeat of Brentford’s 2-0 win last season is out there at 27.88.
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Premier League: What Can Potter Mould Out of Chelsea’s Clay?
What a magical first few months of the Premier League season it has been for Graham Potter. After leading Brighton to a fantastic start which sees them in the top four, Potter then earned a massive move to Chelsea, where he will replace Thomas Tuchel.
The fact that the Blues would sack a Champions League-winning coach in Tuchel and replace him with Potter – who has no prior experience managing a club of Chelsea’s magnitude – is a testament to the tremendous work Potter did at Brighton.
But now that he has swapped the Seagulls for Stamford Bridge, what exactly will Potter bring to the Blues, who have gone off to a rough start in the Premier League?
Read on below as SBOTOP discusses what new Chelsea boss Graham Potter can bring to the Blues moving forward.
Potter to bring a more calming presence
Based on the Premier League 2022 updates after Tuchel’s sacking, there were clearly tensions within Stamford Bridge. Tuchel, ever the strong and aggressive personality, not only had his disagreements with the club’s new ownership, but he had also begun to fall out with some of the club’s top stars.
Well, Potter’s arrival could help calm things down at Chelsea. Potter’s a less explosive personality, one who is unlikely to butt heads with his bosses. At least, that’s what Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly hopes is the case.
And in terms of the team, the players may appreciate the change in management style that Potter will provide. Based on his time with Brighton, Potter comes across as a much cooler figure, especially when compared to the fiery Tuchel, who is not afraid to get stuck in with Antonio Conte or whoever else rubs him the wrong way.
Potter’s defensive possession game similar to Tuchel
In terms of tactics, Tuchel and Potter do have similarities, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. They both prefer back threes while utilising wing-backs – and of course, Potter is already quite familiar with Marc Cucurella, who came over from Brighton in the summer.
Like Tuchel, Potter used possession to maintain their defensive solidity, so there should not be much of an adjustment period to Potter’s system.
Although, Potter may need to adjust his tactics now that he is at Chelsea, since teams will now be more content to sit deep and have the Blues keep the ball more than he was used to at Brighton.
Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante runs with the ball during a Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur
But with a significantly more talented squad now at his disposal – he can call upon the likes of Jorginho, N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic and Mason Mount in midfield – Potter has the potential to get Chelsea back to the heights they reached earlier in Tuchel’s tenure.
Potter shares Pep-esque attacking philosophy
Aside from sharing a similar defensive possession system with Tuchel, Potter has also incorporated some of the attacking philosophy of a certain Pep Guardiola into his system.
Potter’s Brighton side typically searched out the highly effective cutbacks that Pep’s City have used to great effect over the years. But now, Potter will have players of notably higher quality to execute his system, which could make it that much more effective.
Raheem Sterling, who became an expert at the art of the cutback during his time at City, could be a crucial player for Chelsea now that Potter is in charge. He can get in behind defences and help pick out the likes of Kai Havertz and Mason Mount, who have both had an underwhelming start to the season.
Meanwhile, Reece James could also have a vital role to play moving forward. Despite looking like the Premier League’s next dominant wing-back last year – he had five goals and nine assists in 26 Premier League games – James had been utilised more as a centre-back by Tuchel this season.
James could very well return to the right wing under Potter, who knows how to get the best out of his wing-backs. Cucurella had a fantastic season under him at Brighton, and former Chelsea youth product Tariq Lamptey also showed some promising signs under Potter.
Getting James back to the form he showed last season would significantly boost the Blues’ Premier League 2022 odds of cracking the top four.
Of course, Potter could also bring some new elements to the table at Chelsea. As he showed at Brighton, he’s a bright manager who is capable of adjusting to his situation. And Potter will surely be keen to mould this Chelsea side brimming with potential into a masterpiece.
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Premier League: City Seek to Go Back on Top at Wolves
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Manchester City
Manchester City missed their chance to return to the top of the Premier League table after they drew with Aston Villa last time out.
But after a bit of a break, the defending champions will have another shot at reclaiming top spot when they face Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.
Wolves finally got their first win of the season last time out against Southampton. And with Diego Costa now on board, they will look to defy the Premier League 2022 betting odds against the champions.
Talking Points
Wolves add Diego Costa to the pack
After going winless in their first five games (two draws, two defeats), Wolves finally got their first victory of the new Premier League season as they edged out Southampton 1-0. Daniel Podence’s strike just after half-time was enough to hand Wolves all three points.
Diego Costa on the pitch during Atletico Mineiro’s Brasileiro Championship match against Flamengo
Costa scored an impressive 52 goals in 89 Premier League games over three seasons for Chelsea. He spent the 2021 season in Brazil with Atletico Mineiro, where he scored 4 goals in 15 appearances.
It remains to be seen whether he will be ready to make his debut for Wolves against City as he needs to work himself back into shape.
Wolves desperately need help scoring goals; they have found the net only three times in six games, tied for the fewest goals in the Premier League.
But on the other end, Wolves are still quite decent defensively. They have conceded just four goals, the best defensive record in the league.
Man City getting fitter
After scoring an astonishing 17 goals in their previous four Premier League games, Manchester City were held to a single goal in a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa last time out.
Erling Haaland again got on the scoresheet as he added to his amazing tally of Premier League 2022 highlights with 10 goals in just six games, but the champions were unable to add another goal and paid the price.
Walker is still not at practice and is unlikely to play in midweek against Dortmund. Meanwhile, centre-back Aymeric Laporte is back in training but it may be too soon for him to return. However, Pep Guardiola says John Stones is back fit and will likely play in midweek.
New signing Manuel Akanji, who made his City debut against Sevilla, will be ready to deputise should Laporte and Stones be unable to play.
Kalvin Phillips also featured against Sevilla, his first appearance since the Premier League opener against West Ham. He gives Guardiola another midfield option should the City manager choose to rotate against Wolves.
History
Wolves were once considered a bogey team for Man City. That was after their stretch of four games from 2018 to 2019, which included back-to-back wins in 2019. Adama Traore’s pace was a particular thorn in City’s side.
However, City have since regained dominance over the Wolves in recent years. They’ve done the double over them in each of the past two seasons. That includes a 5-1 thrashing of Wolves at Molineux last season.
Kevin de Bruyne was the star of the show as he smashed in a hat-trick within half an hour en route to a four-goal haul. That win was City’s biggest over Wolves since a 6-1 victory back in 1904.
Unsurprisingly, SBOTOP odds have Manchester City installed as massive 1.31 favourites over Wolves, who are priced at8.50 to pull off a shock win. A draw is 5.40.
Aside from that Aston Villa setback, City are in stellar form at the moment. Haaland has settled in wonderfully to his new home and they are scoring goals for fun.
While Wolves will do all they can to keep City at bay, the champions should still find a way to pick up another comfortable win.
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Premier League: Spurs Can Smell Blood on the Wounded Foxes
Tottenham Hotspur vs Leicester City
The Premier League match between Tottenham and Leicester City is going to proceed on Saturday after a pause to the season in the wake of Queen Elizabeth II’s passing.
The hosts – who I’ve considered as the dark horses – are in the thick of the title race, placing third with 14 points to level with second seeded reigning champions Manchester City. In contrast, their visitors are the bottom of the table with just a measly point.
Both sides are aiming to get back on the winning track as Spurs suffered a surprising loss to Sporting in their last Champions League match, although they’re much better off than the Foxes –who have yet to win a single game this 2022-23 season.
Read on below for today’s match preview courtesy of SBOTOP.
Talking Points
Antonio Conte might need to mix it up
Heung-Min Son is enduring his driest drought in quite some time since he hasn’t scored in their first eight games this season. The last time he experienced something similar was in the 2018-19 season where he had nine consecutive goalless appearances under then-manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Antonio Conte kept his faith with the Korean winger as he continues to start alongside five-goal man Harry Kane up front.
Harry Kane celebrates scoring their second goal with Son Heung-min during their Premier League game against Fulham
But instead of the Kane and Son partnership that Spurs fans are accustomed to seeing, Conte might need to give more playing time to Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison since the two of them have combined for three goals and four assists thus far.
In a summer in which numerous Premier League clubs splashed the cash to strengthen their respective rosters, Leicester did the complete opposite by selling their key players while acquiring a couple of unproven players In return.
The sales of Kasper Schmeichel and Wesley Fofana proved to be costly, to say the least. As a result, the Foxes have been inept at the backline, surrendering 16 goals in their first six league games – their worst defencive start in nearly four decades.
Leicester City aren’t that great up front either. James Maddison leads their attacking corps with two goals and one assist, while Patson Daka, Kelechi Iheanacho, Harvey Barnes, Timothy Castagne, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall have all scored one apiece.
Tottenham own a three-game winning streak over Leicester City. Spurs have never won four consecutive league games against the Foxes before and they can do it for the first time this Saturday.
Leicester City have conceded at least three goals in each of those three defeats. Since returning to the English top-flight in 2014, they’ve surrendered 63 goals total against Tottenham.
The last time that Leicester City failed to win in any of their first seven Premier League matches in a top-flight campaign was in 1983-84 where they eventually finished at 15th place.
Overall, Spurs have won seven of their last nine Premier League games against the Foxes (L2). They’ve also won each of their last six home league games – which is the longest such run at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Prior to that, Tottenham had a longer home winning streak between November 2016 and May 2017 when they were still playing at White Hart Lane (W14).
The Premier League 2022 odds are backing Tottenham to win this contest easily. The Spurs are installed at 1.48, while Leicester City are pegged at 6.40 and a draw is at 4.20 in the 1X2 market.
This game is for Tottenham’s to lose since they have all the positive Premier League 2022 results compared to Leicester City. In fact, their defeat to Sporting on Tuesday should serve as their wake-up call.
Over 2.75 @ 1.92 is another bet to think about given the recent trend between these two sides, but it will all depend on how many goals the hosts score.
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Premier League: Are Manchester United Fans Getting Happier?
It’s been a tough old decade for Manchester United fans, and while the Red Devils are beginning to look like they have a plan, the club has a long way to go to catch their neighbours, who happen to be the best team in the land.
Across to road at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City have started their campaign in imposing style, having gone top of the Premier League on Saturday and firing in Europe. With new striker Erling Braut Haaland looking set to break a few scoring records (he’s already bagged 11 goals in seven league games and two in the Champions League), the Sky Blues are the team the catch in the domestic game.
In contrast, Erik Ten Hag’s Red Devils lost their first two league games and their Europa League opener, but their Premier League 2022 results took a sharp upturn after they pulled off a shock 2-1 win over Liverpool late in August.
They are fighting for a top-four place with Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, also hoping that pace-setters Arsenal lose some momentum as the season unfolds. United are currently joint-fifth in the Premier League 2022 betting odds at an SBOTOP price of 34.00, alongside Chelsea. They currently sit fifth in the league table, ahead of both Chelsea and Liverpool, so things look fairly encouraging at the moment.
Ten Hag’s men were due to take on Leeds United on Sunday but the fixture was postponed, as the UK stays in a period of mourning following the passing of Queen Elizabeth the Second. Manchester United vs Leeds United is one of the most eagerly awaited fixtures in the football calendar. It’s a rivalry as old as the hills but it will have to wait, and that give fans time to take stock of their club’s progress.
Brazilian pair can bring excitement back to Old Trafford
The signing of Brazil midfield ace Casemiro split opinion in Manchester as, while many United fans saw this as the type of player they need to launch a top-four challenge, some saw the signing as a desperate effort to appease fans by spending upwards of £60m for a 30-year-old unwanted by Real Madrid. He was unveiled during United’s 2-1 win over Liverpool and, since his arrival, the Red Devils have gone on to win their next three league games.
While he is not a creative midfielder by trade, the Brazil star can sit just in front of the defence or operate box to box. His vision and tactical awareness are the traits which made him a Los Blancos legend, and he brings three La Liga titles and five Champions League medals with him. His full-blooded tackling will get the Manchester United fans on their feet and let opposing midfielders know they are in a game.
Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes in action during their Premier League clash against Arsenal
And his midfield dominance will allow the creative players, such as Bruno Fernandes to thrive. The Portuguese star scored the winner in United’s 1-0 win over Southampton and he will benefit hugely from the space Casemiro can create.
And Ten Hag followed that signing up with the deadline day capture of Selecao forward Antony, from his old club Ajax in an eye-watering £86m deal. The 22-year-old has signed a contract which takes his to 2027 and he was clearly delighted by the move, saying: “This is an incredible moment in my career to be joining one of the most iconic clubs in the world.
“Playing under Erik ten Hag at Ajax was perfect for me and my development. His style of football and coaching brings out the best in me, and I am excited by what he has told me about his plans and ambitions in Manchester.”
The young striker announced himself to the Old Trafford fans with a brilliantly taken goal in their 3-1 victory over Arsenal.
But not everyone was happy. The timing of the move angered Ajax chiefs after the deal completed on deadline day, giving them no time to secure a replacement. The Red Devils had been tracking the player for weeks but were put off by the big price tag until the very last moment.
Following their postponement on Sunday, the Manchester United players have an extended wait for their next Premier League fixture as the football world moves into an international break. Many of the United players will be in international action, but when the domestic league starts again at the beginning of October they have the biggest test of all…the Manchester Derby at the Etihad.
Pep Guardiola’s champions have the deepest squad packed with world-class talent and the most feared striker on the planet. But Manchester United have already beaten Liverpool and Arsenal so why not City?
Now that would make the Red Devils fans happy!
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Premier League: Can Jack Harrison Make The England World Cup Squad?
Leeds United have had a pretty good opening to their third Premier League campaign since returning to the top flight and the new recruits have made a good start to their careers at Elland Road.
USA attacking midfielder Brenden Aaronson, the combative Marc Roca and Danish defender Rasmus Kristensen have all made an impression on the Yorkshire locals, as well as the team here at SBOTOP. And they’ve all contributed to the eight points which Leeds have picked up to slot them into 11th place in the league table.
But the man of the season so far has been winger Jack Harrison who has made three assists and scored a goal in the opening six games, making more key passes than any other player and surely forcing himself into England head coach Gareth Southgate’s thoughts before the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.
With two England U21 caps to his name Harrison has always shown plenty of promise, and he’s been one of Leeds’ most exciting players in recent seasons, initially on loan from Manchester City. And since signing permanently in 2021, for a fee of around £11m, he has been a fans’ favourite and he could easily become another Elland Road legend.
Harrison is a head coach’s dream and Jesse Marsch knows he can use him on the left flank, where he is most comfortable, on the right or even as a number ten behind the main striker. His sense of an opportunity and quick thinking was picked up by Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira when he managed Harrison at MLS side New York City: “He’s a good player technically he’s really good, he understands the game, he can come and link with our number nine, he can run behind the back four, his football brain is fantastic.”
That is great praise from a great player.
Harrison’s dribbling skills and turn of pace can get the Elland Road fans on their feet and when he gets the ball they sense something could be about to happen. On the opening day of the campaign Harrison teed up a goal for striker Rodrigo in a 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, and the Spanish striker benefited from Harrison’s work again when he poked home a dangerous cross in a 2-2 draw with Southampton.
Leeds’ stunning 3-0 win over Chelsea was one of the of the Premier League 2022 highlights season so far, certainly in West Yorkshire! And Rodrigo scored again, but this time so did Harrison, with a clinical strike to see off the top four chasing Blues.
Rodrigo has also been a big player in Leeds’ bright start to the campaign but the Spaniard suffered a shoulder injury during Leeds’ recent draw with Everton and he’ll be out for a few weeks.
Leeds United’s Rodrigo reacts after suffering an injury during their match vs Everton
Harrison was subbed in Leeds’ last game, a 5-2 defeat to Brentford, but that was a frustrating day for the whole team as Leeds had 68 per cent possession and won the shot count by 17 to 14, but they were just not as clinical as the Bees when it mattered. That loss was the second of the campaign for the Whites after falling to a 1-0 defeat to high flying Brighton and Hove Albion.
But 11th in the table is not a bad place to be at this early stage of the campaign, just four points behind Manchester United, in fifth place, and four ahead of the drop zone. The current Premier League 2022 betting odds place Marsch’s men outside the bottom six, which is the first objective, but the club is aiming higher than that.
And Harrison is certainly a top ten quality player… if not higher.
He’s now in his fifth season at Elland road, having first arrived on loan in 2018. He featured in 42 games in his first campaign with the Whites and has been one of the first names on the team sheet ever since. He scored his first league hat-trick in January 2022 as Leeds beat West Ham 3-2; and he scored the most important goal of his career in the final game of last season, an injury time winner against Brentford which confirmed the Whites’ survival in the top flight.
So, with the World Cup in Qatar looming, will we see Harrison in Southgate’s squad? Well the England boss has plenty of creative players to pick from but no-one stands out as a natural winger. Manchester United’s Jadon Sancho blows hot and cold, City’s Jack Grealish plays a more fluid role and West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen doesn’t look as dangerous as he did last season.
So Harrison deserves a closer look and, in any case, he will be a key player in Leeds’ Premier campaign.
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It isn’t the kindest thing to speculate on, but that doesn’t stop fans and pundits in England talking about the Premier League ‘Sack Race’ and which manager will be the next for the chop.
So I’ll join in!
The pressure on top flight managers is huge and, seven games in (six for some teams) two bosses have already been potted. After the sacking of Thomas Tuchel by Chelsea’s new owners, Graham Potter has the task of moulding the group of players into a team of winners. He hasn’t yet got his feet under the table but Potter takes over a team in seventh place with ten points.
It’s not a dreadful return but, at the start of the campaign, the Premier League 2022 betting odds backed the Blues for a top three finish, and already it looks like they have a tough fight on their hands to make it to the top four.
Scott Parker was sacked by Bournemouth after a 9-0 thumping at the hands of Liverpool and that after just four games! Interim head coach Gary O-Neil has guided the Cherries to two draws and a win and he is in the running for the job permanently, with former Burnley boss Sean Dyche also highly fancied.
There are a few other managers sitting rather uncomfortably at the moment so let’s take a look at a few.
Bottom of the league table with just a single point is not where Leicester City fans expected to be after seven games and the Foxes are already five points from safety. They have lost their last two games by big margins, 5-2 away to Brighton and 6-2 at Tottenham Hotspur. There was no doubt that Antonio Conte’s Spurs could smell blood when they met the Foxes last week and they simply ripped them apart.
Rodgers is one of the most highly respected and highly paid managers in the top flight, so the cash strapped club may find it difficult to pay him off and he may be given some time to turn things around.
But a quick look at the latest Premier League 2022 news won’t do Rodgers any favours. Leicester are now at odds of 2.85 to be relegated and that makes them the uncomfortable third favourites to take the drop, after new boys Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest, both priced at 1.50 here at SBOTOP.
Frank Lampard: Everton
Frank Lampard celebrated Everton’s first Premier League victory against West Ham last week
Everton are fourth favourites to go down and after the Toffees had a miraculous escape last term that’s not exactly the position the owners would expect to be in. Last week Lampard celebrated as if Everton had just won the Premier League, when they scraped past a hopelessly out of form West Ham to earn their first win of the campaign. The victory took them up to 13th and three points clear of the drop zone but, with their next two fixtures against Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, three points is not a big cushion… particularly as two of the bottom three places are occupied by Leicester and West Ham, two teams with plenty of talent.
The loss of Brazilian striker Richarlison to Tottenham has left the Toffees short of firepower and genuine class up front, but the recruitment of James Tarkowski and Conor Coady at the back has made Everton harder to beat.
But Lampard needs more wins as surely he will not be allowed another relegation battle.
Ralph Hasenhuttl: Southampton
He’s kept Southampton in the top flight without spending much but the amiable Hassenhutl has become one of the favourites to leave early in the campaign. There has been a big turnover at the club and the Austrian boos has a young set of players, and there was some optimism after comeback wins against Leicester and Chelsea. But defeats to Wolves and Aston Villa have left the Saints 14th in the table with seven points from seven, and behind their south coast neighbours and relegation favourites Bournemouth.
Hassenhutl is a popular figure in Southampton but his team’s habit of going on long losing runs could cost him.
So who else is under pressure? Well, looking at the league table you’d have to say Steven Gerrard will want his team Aston Villa to improve on their 15th placed position and pretty quickly, while West Ham boss David Moyes is not a happy chap at the moment.
After establishing the Hammers as a top half team and with consecutive European campaigns, he finds himself in 18th place. West Ham are at odds of 14.00 to go down and still backed to make a top half finish and I’d say Moyes has plenty of credit in his favour.
Steve Cooper at Nottingham Forest looks more vulnerable. On their return to the top flight Forest have spent hugely in a gamble to stay up but, while newcomer cubs generally make a bright start, Coopers’ honeymoon was painfully short. Forest picked up four points from three games including a draw against toothless Everton and a very lucky win over West Ham, but they have lost their last four league games, conceding 14 goals.
I can’t see them improving on their 19th position.
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The Premier League is back this weekend and a congested schedule awaits ahead of the break for the forthcoming World Cup.
Teams will certainly have to cram in a number of games, both domestic and, in some cases, European combat, during a period where those with the bigger squads may well benefit the most.
So, what Premier League highlights can we expect?
Well, let’s begin with the first contest of the weekend.
On Saturday lunchtime the Emirates hosts the North London derby and, with both clubs from the capital high-flying for the first time in a while, it should be compelling.
Only a point separates hosts Arsenal from third placed Spurs and both are showing genuine signs of improvement after some barren times.
These arch-rivals, of course, battled it out at the end of last term for the fourth and final Champions League spot which Spurs secured, helped by an emphatic 3-0 victory in the North London derby in the penultimate week of the season.
While Spurs are unbeaten to date, Arsenal have only lost once this term and this will be a good test of where to pitch the credentials of both sides.
Of course, derby day is different, whether you’re challenging at the top or battling at the bottom end of the table, and Arsenal have a superb home league record in this fixture.
In fact, apart from a brilliant Spurs comeback in 2010, when they overturned a 2-0 half-time deficit to win 3-2, you have to go back to the inaugural Premier League season to the last time they lost on home soil in the derby.
On that occasion 12 years ago, Gareth Bale, Rafael van der Vaart (penalty) and Younès Kaboul scored the goals on a day Spurs fans will remember for a long time to come – all this after Samir Nasri and Marouane Chamakh appeared to have put the Gunners in the ascendancy.
Last season, Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka both claimed a goal and an assist as Arsenal took the honours with a 3-1 victory.
This game is the first of two big derbies this weekend with the Manchester derby following just over 24 hours later.
The other match which has caught my eye this weekend is another clash in the capital as Chelsea make the trip to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace.
It is a repeat of last season’s FA Cup semi-final, which Chelsea won 2-0, but this time a number of the cast from west London have a much different look – both new owners and now, a new manager.
The prolonged break these last few weeks have offered recent incumbent Graham Potter and his staff a chance to familiarise themselves with the squad.
So far, there has been one official match, a 1-1 draw at home to Red Bull Salzburg in the Champions League on September 14, with Chelsea’s scheduled Premier League matches against Fulham and Liverpool postponed due to circumstances surrounding the death and state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
Chelsea coach Graham Potter during their Champions League match against Red Bull Salzburg
The SBOTOP Premier League betting odds make Chelsea strong favourites and rightly so, but it will be interesting to see if the break, extended further by the latest international set of fixtures, has helped a squad which was in a bit of rut.
Even still, Thomas Tuchel’s dismissal was extremely harsh, just 15 months after he guided them to Champions League glory – followed up by World Championship success – and it seemed the German was sacked, in the wake of a Champions League defeat at Dinamo Zagreb, because his relationship with club owner Todd Boehly had become strained over the summer.
Potter will be afforded a say in the appointment of a sporting director who, it is expected, will be in place before the start of the World Cup on November 20 – in time to oversee the January transfer window. Tuchel had made it clear he had little interest in becoming involved in that process.
For now, though, he will need to work with what he has inherited and that is an impressive squad which seems to have lost its way in recent weeks.
Like Chelsea, Palace are out of practice and also saw their last two league matches postponed.
Let’s just hope these two derbies in London survive the threat of potential rail strikes, scheduled for October 1 & 5, as part of the ongoing dispute over pay. The backlog is already on the heavy side as England’s top flight enters an important period.
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Premier League: Underrated Transfers in the Summer Window
The 2022-23 summer transfer window is finally done and dusted. There’s been a number of high-profile moves made in the Premier League which amounts to an exorbitant gross spending of £1.9-B, surpassing the previous record by £487.8-M during the summer and January windows of the 2017-18 season.
Manchester City, United, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Arsenal have taken a large portion of the spotlight with their transfers involving Erling Haaland, Antony, Kalidou Koulibaly, Raheem Sterling, and Gabriel Jesus. However, several other clubs have done their homework in landing their own set of targets to improve their Premier League 2022 odds.
Now that the new season is underway, read on below as SBOTOP highlights five new English top-flight signings who went under the radar this summer.
Sven Botman, Newcastle United
After two productive seasons with Lille, Sven Botman has finally arrived in the Premier League after being linked with a host of top English top-flight clubs over the past 12 months.
The 22-year-old is a towering presence at centre-half since he stands at 6’4”, which makes him an asset particularly at attacking or defending set-pieces.
Botman has started for four out of the first seven top-flight fixtures thus far, but he was an unused substitute in their most recent game against Bournemouth as Eddie Howe opted to play Dan Burn and Fabian Schar instead.
He was called up to play for Netherlands’ U-21 friendly matches with Belgium and Romania during the international break, but he decided to remain in Tyneside to fight for a starting spot which just goes to show his determination.
Taiwo Awoniyi, Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest’s Taiwo Awoniyi celebrates scoring their first goal with Brennan Johnson
The Nigerian striker was formerly a Liverpool player but it didn’t quite work out on Merseyside, primarily due to work permit issues. However, he enjoyed his time at Union Berlin with a good return of 20 goals in 52 appearances in the last two years, and he led them to securing a place in Europe last season.
He is one of Nottingham Forest’s most notable acquisitions this summer and he has already established himself as their focal point up front. Awoniyi is currently their top scorer with two goals in eight games played.
Cheick Doucoure, Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace fought hard to get Cheick Doucoure’s signature this summer and it’s not hard to see the reason why.
The Malian international is excellent in winning the ball back and creating attacking opportunities. Plus, he’s only 22 years old so he’s only going to get better under the guidance of Patrick Vieira – who’s also a solid midfielder himself back in the day.
Doucoure made 34 Ligue 1 appearances for Lens last term as they finished seventh place in France’s top-flight. He is Palace’s third signing of the summer following the arrivals of Malcolm Ebiowei and Sam Johnstone.
He has started in all of the Eagles’ six Premier League games and he will certainly play a key role for them this season.
The Danish ace is looking more at home in the Red Devils’ midfield alongside Scott McTominay across the last few weeks.
And despite having yet to score this season, he was awarded as the team’s Player of the Month for September. He’s also arguably the Man of the Match in their most recent victory over Sheriff Tiraspol in the Europa League with his assist to Jadon Sancho’s opening goal.
Eriksen could’ve had his first goal in Manchester United uniform in their 3-1 win over Arsenal, but he instead teed up Marcus Rashford during a key counterattack sequence – which is the kind of unselfishness that boosts everyone’s morale.
Oh, and did we mention that he was signed for free? That alone makes him one of the bargain signings this summer.
He has been a guaranteed starter under Jesse Marsch and he’s been doing his best to make the Yorkshire faithful forget about the recently departed Kalvin Phillips by forming a strong partnership with Tyler Adams in the midfield.
The 25-year-old struggled to break into Bayern Munich’s starting lineup after a move from Espanyol in 2020. But now at Elland Road, Roca can get his career back on track with regular playing time as he tries to achieve his full potential.
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Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are currently sitting at the summit, as they have all season, but a surprise defeat to Manchester United a couple of weeks ago has dragged them back into the pack which includes, ominously, Manchester City and Antonio Conte’s Tottenham Hotspur who are just a point behind.
The latest title odds, here at SBOTOP,place Arsenal and Spurs in third and fourth position, at odds of 10.00 and 15.00, to win the league; and both would realistically accept a top four place right now though neither is ruling out the big prize. A draw would be enough to keep Arsenal at the top, but probably only for 24 hours as Pep Guardiola’s City host Manchester United in their derby on Sunday.
Relieved of the captaincy in the summer, midfield enforcer Granit Xhaka has been concentrating on his job of dominating the midfield for Arsenal, and he’s also made three assists in the opening seven games. The Swiss star has been at Arsenal since 2016 but he hasn’t always been the most popular figure at the club, falling out with the fans and, at times, he has been a liability on the pitch, picking up red cards all too easily at crucial moments.
In the past he has sometimes overstepped the line but now he is channelling his aggression and relishing life without the burden of being club captain, which ahs been ably taken on my Martin Odegaard. He is a class act on the ball and Arteta still has ultimate faith in Xhaka, giving him the captain’s armband in Odegaard’s absence against Brentford.
Arsenal happily avoided the Bees sting against Thomas Frank’s side as Gabriel Jesus scored his fourth goal of the campaign. He is fast becoming one of the signings of the summer and, alongside his Brazilian team-mate Gabriel Martinelli, Jesus is playing some electrifying football.
The recall of centre back William Saliba from his loan at Olympique Marseilles has been another smart move as the 21 year old now looks perfectly at home in the Premier League.
Kane and Son are back on Song
Spurs talisman Harry Kane has made a brilliant opening to the campaign with six goals from seven games, a quicker start than he usually makes and he is keen to win something for club or country this season. Kane has just led England to relegation in the UEFA Nations League, but he did score a penalty in the Three Lions 3-3 draw against Germany on Monday night and he will spearhead the England attack at the Qatar World Cup.
Son Heung-min scored a hat-trick in their previous Premier League match against Leicester City
And Heung-Min Son will surely start alongside Kane against Arsenal after his brilliant cameo in the hammering of Leicester. The South Korean has had a quiet start to the season, failing to find the net in the opening six games, and he was dropped to the bench by Conte for the Leicester game. But when his chance came in the second half he responded in the best way possible, scoring a 13 minute hat-trick. Son curled home two brilliant shots before tapping in his third to pile the agony onto the Foxes.
Ivan Perisic and Dejan Kulusevski have made three assists each from the wings, while Rodrigo Bentancur and Pierre-Emille Hojbjerg are building up a good relationship in the centre of the park; and Bentancur will have a fascinating battle with Xhaka, who’s aim will be to stop the supply to Spurs’ front and wide men.
History
The Gunners are nicely in front in the head to head Arsenal vs Spurs results, winning 26 of the last 67 meetings, drawing 25 and losing 16.
Last season both teams won at home, Arsenal by a 3-1 margin, early in the 2021/22 campaign, and Spurs won 3-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in May to steal in and take the fourth place held by the Gunners for most of the season.
Arsenal have a 100 per cent home record in the league while Spurs are unbeaten on the road with one victory and two draws.
The pre-match Arsenal vs Spurs betting odds have the Gunners favourites but marginally odds against at a price of 2.08, with Spurs at 3.21 and the draw at 3.50.
Both clubs have been within the 2-3 goal margin in five of their last six matches, though Spurs broke that sequence spectacularly last week in their destruction of Leicester City; but we won’t see eight goals in this game!
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When assessing the best attackers during the opening six weeks of the Premier League season, it would be easy to jump straight to the top scorers’ chart.
However, while all-important, there are many factors which need to be considered when deciding who are the leading attacking players in the top flight.
For example, whether you play for a team which creates numerous chances or a struggling side which requires you to have a super-high conversion rate; whether you have been consistent across a number of games or whether you had one particular encounter when you shone.
After looking at the list, I have plumped for three players whose Premier League highlights jump out.
There is, of course, only one place to start and the identity of this player will not surprise anyone.
Even before it was announced he was to join Manchester City in May, the talent was clear and he had proved himself one of the best goalscorers in Europe from the moment that he burst on to the scene.
In every direction you look, his statistics are breathtaking and show no sign of abating now he is playing for the champions of England.
According to respected football journalist Fabrizio Romano, the impact of his move will be incredible. One of his all-time favourite transfer deals in recent years, ‘an excellent player in a club that has an extraordinary ability to plan for the future’.
Eleven goals and one assist in his seven Premier League outings so far speak for themselves.
If the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds offered options for top scorer this season, he would probably have been favourite before a ball was kicked.
Six weeks in and he is already five goals clear of his nearest rival.
Premier League
LIVERPOOL
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION
1X2 Brighton and Hove Albion @ 9.50
Brighton and Hove Albion Asian Handicap +1.50 @ 1.87
If ever a player has lifted a club just when it needed it most, it is Brazilian Gabriel Jesus.
He left City in the summer, partly to make way for Haaland, but every inch a champion and someone who had contributed to the club’s successes in recent years.
Since arriving in North London, he has been a catalyst and given them belief.
Four goals and three assists only tell half the story as the Gunners finally look to have a player who is a fitting beneficiary of the club’s fabled number nine shirt.
His manager Mikel Arteta has said as much: that his new signing’s attitude is rubbing off on team-mates.
And a former player who knows a thing or two about scoring goals, Michael Owen, was fair to say Jesus would perhaps have had more credit had it not been for the outstanding Haaland.
He offers tenacity also, as shown by four bookings in his seven outings.
Now a talismanic figure in a fluid, attacking team rather than playing second fiddle to other stars, Jesus has the chance to express the world-leading talent that compatriot Ronaldinho once raved about.
At the centre of a young and vibrant Arsenal attack that is scoring 2.42 goals per game on average so far this term, could he be the missing piece to the Gunners jigsaw that fell short of their objectives last season?
Are the early league leaders, genuine title contenders? I don’t think so.
Are they making genuine and sustainable progress after some false dawns? Almost certainly.
Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham)
Striker player Aleksandar Mitrovic opened the scoring for Fulham that led to victory against Brighton and Hove Albion
Here is a player who scored for fun in the Championship last season.
As the Cottagers rampaged their way to the title, Mitrovic broke Ivan Toney’s record for the most goals scored in a Championship season by February; surpassed Guy Whittingham’s record for the most scored in a 46-game campaign and drew level on 43 with the late, great Brian Clough in the all-time charts.
The Serbian striker rightly could look back on the 2021-22 campaign as one of the most memorable of his career, not only because of the history he made, but because it has helped Fulham return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
The nagging doubt before a ball was kicked this time was could he deliver consistently in the Premier League.
Premier League: Fulham and Newcastle are Ready to Rock Craven Cottage
Fulham vs Newcastle United
The Premier League is back following the first international break of the season and Craven Cottage is one of the places to be this weekend.
Fulham are set to host Newcastle in what will be a battle of two upstarts as both are pushing to finish at the top half of the table by the end of the 2022-23 season.
The Cottagers are coming off a 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest in the last time out, while Newcastle aim to improve their Premier League 2022 results following a 1-1 draw against Bournemouth.
The hosts are currently at sixth place with 11 points, which is surprising to say the least, while the visitors are at 10th place with eight points. But despite their difference at the table, overall, this should be a tight contest.
Talking Points
Dream start for Fulham
Fulham are known as a yo-yo club since they would bounce in and out of the Premier League during these past few seasons. Many predicted that the Cottagers are going to be relegated at the end of this season, but they might stay longer than most would expect given their auspicious start.
Fulham manager Marco Silva instructs his players from the sideline during Premier League game against Nottingham Forest
The in-form Aleksandar Mitrovic has been at the heart of everything good that’s happening for Fulham. Seven games in and he’s already bagged six goals, and he’s just getting started.
The Serbian hitman, though, had his foot bandaged following his hat-trick performance against Sweden during the international break but it’s not expected to be serious.
For Fulham to maintain their pace moving forward, Mitrovic can’t do it all alone and he will need his other teammates to produce consistently. So far, there have been four other players who have opened their scoring accounts this term.
Joao Palhinha is another key player for Marco Silva’s side with two goals, but he won’t be available since he’s the first player this season to be suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards. Thomas Cairney will have to deputise for the Portuguese midfielder.
Full-back Antonee Robinson is expected to make his return after missing out against Nottingham Forest a fortnight ago, while youngsters Harry Wilson and Manor Solomon are still recovering from their knee injuries.
Fitness concerns for Newcastle United
The Magpies had too many draws lately and Eddie Howe is hopeful that he’ll have a healthier squad in order to get their first victory since the opening day of the season.
Callum Wilson was out for their last five matches due to a strained hamstring, while Bruno Guimaraes is recovering from a thigh knock following his latest international duty for Brazil.
Allan Saint-Maximin has missed Newcastle’s last three matches also with a hamstring injury, but he has a strong chance of making it back to the bench this weekend.
These three players will play an important role on Eddie Howe’s offence especially since Alexander Isak is ruled out after playing for Sweden last week. Newcastle’s prized summer acquisition is said to miss three weeks’ worth of action.
History
Fulham currently have 12 wins in their 28 Premier League matches against Newcastle, which is the most that they have against any opponent in the competition (also 12 against Bolton).
The Cottagers have also won their last two league fixtures at home and they can stretch their win streak to three games for the first time since September 2012 (where they won four straight) should they beat Newcastle this Saturday.
Marco Silva’s side has also won three of their last five league games (L2), which is as many wins as they recorded in their last 30 Premier League matches (D14, L13).
However, Newcastle have beaten Fulham in their last two league visits following a run of six consecutive defeats at Craven Cottage, although they’ve yet to beat them in three league matches in a row.
Newcastle are winless in their last six Premier League games following their opening victory against Nottingham Forest which is their longest run without a single win since November 2021 (14 games).
The SBOTOP Premier League 2022 odds are slightly underestimating the hosts in this fixture. Newcastle are favoured to win at 2.36, while Fulham are not far off at 2.90 in the 1X2 market.
But given how evenly matched Fulham and Newcastle are, we’re inclined to go for Draw @ 3.35 which would give these two clubs a valuable points each.
Despite the attacking quality from both teams, this might be a grinded-out affair just like in their past encounters – making Under 2.50 @ 1.94 a plausible alternative bet.
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Premier League: Liverpool Out to Spoil De Zerbi’s Brighton Debut
Liverpool vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Amid postponements and the international break, Liverpool are finally set to return to Premier League action for the first time in nearly a month as they host Brighton at Anfield.
A lot has changed since the Seagulls last set foot on the pitch. Graham Potter has moved on to Chelsea, and Roberto De Zerbi has been hired as the new head coach.
The Italian will have quite the tough task ahead of him in his Brighton bow as the Premier League 2022 betting odds will have them as massive underdogs against the Reds, who are eager to return to top form.
After a lengthy break, Liverpool are back to jumpstart their disappointing Premier League campaign. The Reds are down in eighth with just nine points from their first six games.
The last time Liverpool were in action in the Premier League, they were held to a goalless draw by Everton in the Merseyside derby. They since had matches against Wolves and Chelsea postponed due to the Queen’s passing.
The Reds did play a couple of matches in the Champions League, though; they were demolished 4-1 by Napoli, but they bounced back to beat Ajax 2-1 at Anfield.
While they needed a late Joel Matip winner, Jurgen Klopp’s side produced one of their best performances of the season against Ajax as they had a 24-3 advantage in shots.
Andy Robertson and Jordan Henderson were absent from that match, but the return of both Matip and midfielder Thiago Alcantara has been a major boost for the Reds.
Robertson is not yet ready to return from his knee injury, so Kostas Tsimikas will continue to deputise at left-back. Meanwhile, captain Jordan Henderson – who featured in England’s final Nations League match – could take Harvey Elliott’s spot in the starting lineup.
New Brighton boss finally set for bow
Brighton are finally set to play their first match of the Roberto De Zerbi era. The 43-year-old Italian was selected to succeed Graham Potter, who left to take on the Chelsea job, but he has had to wait to make his debut amid the recent postponements.
De Zerbi is a highly regarded coach who plays entertaining possession-based, attacking football. He was most recently coach of Shakhtar Donetsk, who were on top of the Ukrainian Premier League before the season was prematurely terminated due to the Russian invasion.
Roberto De Zerbi coaches Shakhtar Donetsk during their 2021 Champions League group stage match against Sheriff Tiraspol
De Zerbi will take charge of a Brighton side that is flying high the season. The Seagulls are up fourth in the league and were last seen thrashing Leicester City 5-2, one of the most impressive Premier League 2022 results thus far. And despite conceding twice, Brighton still have the best defensive record in the league with just five goals conceded.
Striker Enock Mwepu was hospitalised while on international duty with Mali and has returned to England for medical tests, so he is a major question mark to play against Liverpool.
If Mwepu does miss out, it remains to be seen who De Zerbi picks to partner Danny Welbeck up front. Pascal Gross and Leandro Trossard both played as forwards under Potter and have combined for five goals this season.
Meanwhile, Alexis Mac Allister will likely continue to be a major part of De Zerbi’s system. The 23-year-old midfielder – who recently played in both of Argentina’s friendlies during the break – is the Seagulls’ leading scorer with four goals.
History
Liverpool have dominated Brighton over the years. The Reds hold a 20-5 edge in all-time wins, while there have been 10 draws. That advantage has been even more pronounced in the Premier League, where the Reds have won seven of 10 meetings, with just one Brighton win.
Although, that one Brighton win was at Anfield back in February 2021. Steven Alzate scored the only goal in a famous 1-0 victory for the Seagulls. And Brighton were again a thorn in Liverpool’s side last season as they stormed back from two goals down to hold the Reds to a 2-2 draw at Anfield.
However, Liverpool finally got the better of Brighton in the reverse fixture as they won 2-0 at the Amex thanks to goals from Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah.
SBOTOP odds have Liverpool installed as massive 1.35 favourites to make a winning return at Anfield. Brighton are priced at 7.80 to get a win in De Zerbi’s debut, while a draw is 5.00.
With Liverpool back close to full strength, they will be quite tough to beat at home. They showed signs of returning to their dominant form against Ajax, and with some of their key players spared from international duty – Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold – they should be relatively fresh.
Roberto De Zerbi had the benefit of extra time working with the squad during the break, but it will likely take more time to get his system up and running.
Look for Liverpool to get off to a fast start at home against Brighton en route to a much-needed home win.
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This is the backdrop to Sunday’s clash at the Etihad Stadium, a clash which could tell us much about the direction in which both of Manchester’s finest are heading.
One of the marksmen in that game was the league’s top scorer Erling Braut Haaland, a player who had scored more goals on his own than 13 of City’s 19 Premier League rivals before kick-off.
During the first six weeks of the new campaign, he has been every inch the success many predicted and it is emphatically clear that Pep Guardiola’s side have signed one of the best footballing talents for a generation.
It is in defence where the champions could have concerns this weekend.
Already without Aymeric Laporte, another centre back was ruled out earlier this week when John Stones sustained what is reported to be a pretty severe hamstring strain while on international duty for England.
Marcus Rashford bagged a brace and an assist against the table leaders Arsenal
That could mean Nathan Ake called into partner Ruben Dias at the heart of the City rearguard.
At this stage, it is unclear which of United’s array of attacking talent he could be facing.
Anthony Martial has been out of action for more than a month and is rated doubtful, while Marcus Rashford was also missing from their last encounter with a muscle injury, although could be ready to return following the international break he sat out.
Of course, there is also Cristiano Ronaldo who missed this fixture last season but could lead the line after doing just that and scoring his first of the campaign in the Europa League a fortnight ago.
This is actually United’s first league victory for virtually a month and we will know more team news when both managers, Guardiola and Erik ten Hag, speak to the media on Friday.
Whatever the personnel though, there remains talent aplenty in both ranks in a clash which has produced so many Premier League highlights over the years.
This certainly has all the ingredients to deliver more.
History
Last season the difference in class was embarrassing.
In November, an early own goal and a Bernardo Silva second in the opening 45 minutes sealed a 2-0 win for City in a contest that was far more comfortable than the scoreline suggested.
It proved to be Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s final home match in charge.
Four months later, with Ralf Rangnick in interim charge of the Red Devils, City ran out 4-1 winners, thanks to doubles from Kevin de Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez.
Jadon Sancho had briefly drawn United level.
This corresponding fixture in 2020/21 season saw United record a victory which was as impressive as it was unexpected – triggered by an opening minute goal from Bruno Fernandes and doubled early in the second half by Luke Shaw.
The earlier league season meeting was a derby stalemate at Old Trafford.
Arguably the one that mattered that season, however, was City’s success in the League Cup semi-finals.
United have the edge historically, winning 77 of their meetings compared to City’s 56 triumphs and 53 draws.
The SBOTOP Premier League betting odds lean heavily towards the hosts.
Among the options for a City win are 1X2 @ 1.32 and Asian Handicap -1.75 @ 2.17.
United are well adrift in a way which would once have been unheard of and can be backed 1X2 @ 8.75 and Asian Handicap +1.50 @ 2.00.
Goalless draws are rare in Manchester derbies and that is reflected in odds of total goal 0-1 @ 5.80, 2-3 @ 2.22, 4-6 @ 2.40 and over 3.50 goals @ 2.20.
A repeat of last season’s 4-1 thrashing is on offer @ 14.00 with Correct Score.
The draw will pay out at an appealing @ 5.20.
It is hard to back against City in any game right now, although I think United will keep it fairly tight.
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Premier League: Leeds Planning to Halt Their Arid Streak Against Villa
Leeds United vs Aston Villa
Leeds are set to resume their 2022-23 Premier League campaign as they’ll get to host Aston Villa at Elland Road on Sunday night.
It seemed like an eternity for Jesse Marsch’s men as they haven’t played since the beginning of September because their fixtures against Nottingham Forest and Manchester United were postponed following the Queen’s passing.
They’re currently at 11th place with eight points. But since they have a game in hand, they can get back into the top half of the table should they beat their visitors.
Aston Villa, meanwhile, are at 15th with seven points and they’ll need a positive result on the road but Steven Gerrard’s work will be cut out for him.
Now that the Whites are back in action, continue to read on below for our SBOTOP preview of this game.
The Whites will have welcomed the time off since they had a growing list of injury woes, namely Junior Firpo, Adam Forshaw, Liam Cooper, Luke Ayling, Rasmus Kristensen, and Rodrigo Moreno.
All of them were rested and were present in the training sessions lately with only Stuart Dallas as the long-term absentee due to his injured knee.
The return of Rodrigo Moreno in particular should help the Whites immensely especially since they were on a poor run of Premier League 2022 results prior to the hiatus.
Since their shocking 3-0 rout over Chelsea and 3-1 win against Barnsley in the second round of the Carabao Cup, Leeds lost twice to Brighton and Brentford via a 6-2 aggregate tally, while they were held to a 1-1 draw by Everton.
Rodrigo Moreno has been the man of the hour for the Whites with four goals and one assist, and he’ll be tasked to lead the line once more. Luis Sinisterra has also settled in nicely at Elland Road with three goals in his debut campaign.
Patrick Bamford has a chance to open his scoring account for 2022-23 this Sunday. Whether he’ll start or not, the 29-year-old striker is likely to play heavy minutes by Jesse Marsch nonetheless.
Villa are severely undermanned
Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard and Lucas Digne celebrate after their match against Southampton
Aston Villa are undefeated in their last two, but if they lose to Leeds on Sunday, they’re back to square one.
However, it’s not all the manager’s fault as Steven Gerrard has been dealt with a bad hand lately because of injuries to their key players.
As far as this match is concerned, the Villans’ defence is compromised because they will continue to miss the likes of Boubacar Kamara, Lucas Digne, Matty Cash, and Diego Carlos.
Kamara – who was one of Villa’s prized acquisitions this summer – is out indefinitely due to a torn ligament on his knee, while Carlos ruptured his Achilles early in the season and Cash and Digne are both dealing with hamstring knocks.
They do have some capable scorers who can do damage at the other side of the pitch, but they can’t afford to have an off-night. Danny Ings, Leon Bailey, and Douglas Luiz all have two goals apiece.
History
Aston Villa have gotten the better of Leeds in their Premier League head-to-heads. In their last 10 league meetings, they’ve won four times and drawn five while losing only once. The only loss that they had was a 3-1 result back in the final matchday of the 2002-03 season.
The Villans have also won their last two road games against the Whites, which is as many as they had in their previous 17 visits at Elland Road (D9, L6). They’ve yet to win three straight at the said venue.
Should the Whites win on Sunday, they’ll be unbeaten at Elland Road in their first four league home games in a campaign for the first time in 20 years. They last did it in 2001-02 (8 games: W4, D4) and 1992-93 (also 8 games: W5, D3). Right now they’ve won twice and won once.
The Premier League 2022 odds are favouring Leeds to win. The Whites are priced at 2.40, while Aston Villa are installed at 2.84 and chances for a draw are at 3.35 in the 1X2 market.
With both sides needing a victory, expect this one to be a tight affair. However, we’re leaning towards giving the hosts the edge since they’ve been undefeated at home so far this season.
Just like in their previous encounter, we don’t expect much goals from this fixture, so Under 2.50 @ 1.79 is an alternative bet to think about.
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Premier League: Arsenal are Kings of London and Top of the League!
Arsenal 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Arsenal have extended their stay at the top of the Premier League thanks to a comprehensive victory over North London rivals Spurs.
Thomas Partey hit a beauty to give the Gunners the lead but Spurs hit back quickly with a penalty from Harry Kane to level at the break. But another in-form striker, Gabriel Jesus struck early in the second half before Granit Xhaka made it three after Spurs had gone down to ten men.
The Premier League 2022 betting oddsare backing both these teams to finish the campaign in the Champions League places but top dogs Arsenal are aiming for the top two.
Highlights of the game
Xhaka has become a vital cog in this Arsenal team, doing the dirty work in midfield as well as contributing more to the Gunners’ attacks. And as the hosts made an electric start to the game he was in the thick of the action with a clever flick on which almost but Jesus in for the opener.
Thomas Partey celebrates his wonder strike which gave Arsenal the lead
The hosts bossed the opening exchanges and reaped their reward in spectacular fashion on 20 minutes. Ben White picked the ball up and he rolled it to Partey on the edge of the D and the midfield man hit it beautifully with pace and swerve on it, beating Lloris off the inside of his post and notching his third, and best, goal for the Gunners.
Take a look at the weekend’s Premier League 2022 highlights when you get the chance…you won’t regret it!
As brilliant as Arsenal’s forward play was to give the hosts the lead, their defence was sloppy to throw it away. William Saliba tried cleared the ball to Xhaka but Richarlison nipped in to steal it and was tripped by Gabriel as he raced into the penalty area.
Kane stepped up and, with a sense of inevitability; he chipped it down the centre as Aaron Ramsdale made a hapless dive.
Jesus has been on fire since his move to Arsenal, scoring four goals in his last six Premier League games. And in the last action of the first half he jinked into the penalty area, beating two players before unleashing a shot from a tight angle which Lloris saved well.
But in the first action of the second half the Brazilian made it five from seven and 2-1 to the Gunners. Bukayo Saka unleashed a shot which Lloris failed to hold and Jesus was there to push the loose ball home.
Things went from bad to worse for the visitors when full back Emerson hit Gabriel Martinelli with a nasty challenge and he rightly saw red, and was on his way down the tunnel as soon as VAR confirmed his fate.
And then Xhaka got his goal, rifling home after Martinelli had slipped him through on goal, sparking wild celebrations at the Emirates.
Arsenal are top of the league and they have the North London bragging rights. The Gunners have lost just one of their last 30 Premier League home games against Tottenham.
Kane’s penalty made it 14 in the North London Derby, more than any other player in history and he has scored more Premier League goals against Arsenal than any other player. And the England skipper is the first man to score 100 away goals in Premier League history.
Tottenham have scored in each of their last 11 meetings with Arsenal, the longest run since 1967.
What’s next?
Tomorrow’s big derby is at the Etihad where Manchester City host United and we’ll be reporting on that match here at SBOTOP. A win for the Sky Blues would lift them to within a point of Arsenal.
The Gunners have two more home games to come this week with Bodo Glimt visiting on Thursday. A win for Arsenal would help them leapfrog the Norwegians to the top of Europa League Group A. Mikel Arteta will make wholesale changes to his team in preparation for the visit of Liverpool next Sunday.
Tottenham have two more away games to contend with but they are travelling a little further for their upcoming fixtures. First they will fly to Frankfurt to meet Eintracht in the Champions League. Both teams have won one and lost one and trail Sporting Lisbon, who lead Group D on six points. It’s a big game and a win for either will hand them a great chance to make the knockout phase, with three games still to play of course.
Then Antonio Conte takes his side to the south coast to face Brighton as Spurs try to get their Premier League challenge back on track.
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Premier League: A City Utopia – Manchester is Blue!
Manchester City 6-3 Manchester United
And that is exactly why they are Premier League champions!
I write this into after 42 minutes of the encounter and Manchester City are 3-0 up (it will double).
Hardened Manchester United fans may well point to Raphael Varane being injured as the hosts scored twice in less than four minutes to turn a close scoreline into a comprehensive one.
And there is no doubt the Frenchman’s absence from the pitch as the second goal went in and was then followed by the third, swiftly followed by his substitution, was a blow for the visitors.
But make no mistake, even if Varane had stayed fit, the contest was as one-sided as the final scoreline shows.
All the Premier League highlights belonged to Pep Guardiola’s side who dictated the ball from start to finish and were simply too quick in both mind and body for their neighbours.
The SBOTOP Premier League betting odds were stacked in favour of City before kick-off yet, instead of perhaps opting for a disciplined, defensive opening, United were picked off inside eight minutes.
Joao Cancelo had space to find Bernardo Silva who drilled the ball across where the unmarked Phil Foden confidently fizzed it beyond a helpless David de Gea.
Despite their dominance, United were still in the game when Varane left the fray to receive treatment.
From the resulting corner, Kevin de Bruyne whipped in a precise delivery and there was Erling Braut Haaland to power home a header, despite the best efforts of Tyrell Malacia who cleared only after the ball had crossed the line.
With Varane back on but struggling, de Bruyne then played an inch perfect ball which bisected the visitors’ defence and the deadly Haaland made it three with the studs of his boot.
Varane was substituted straight afterwards and his replacement, Victor Lindelof, could only watch as the same two players linked up again moments later with Haaland sliding the ball perfectly across the box for Foden.
At this stage it was hard to think this was actually City side without its three best centre backs – Aymeric Laporte, John Stones and Ruben Dias – and who lost Kyle Walker before the break.
With the game won, United had the scant consolation of scoring the best goal of the game 11 minutes after the restart as new signing Antony cut in off the left and curled beautifully into the far corner.
The respite was brief as history was made when Haaland became the first player to score three successive hat-tricks in home matches in the Premier League – an incredible talent.
The link-up between de Bruyne, Jack Grealish and special talent Foden was as mesmerising as the finish was emphatic.
Five soon became six as Grealish and Haaland again combined to find Foden whose finish was brilliant to complete his own hat-trick.
Manchester City’s score against Manchester United is 6-3 victory
With United being humiliated, they did at least restore a modicum of pride in the closing stages.
First, Luke Shaw found fellow substitute Fred whose shot was saved by Ederson and another replacement, Anthony Martial, reacted quickly to nod home.
The same player then netted the perfect penalty out of reach of Ederson after he had been brought down by Cancelo just inside the box.
This was City’s day though. A match ball apiece for Haaland and Foden, Manchester is blue and, on this form, the champions look unstoppable.
Key statistics
In Haaland (17) and De Bruyne (10), City have both the highest scorer and highest assister in Europe’s big five leagues in all competitions this season, with De Bruyne already setting up five Haaland goals.
This is the first competitive Manchester derby in which as many as eight goals have been scored.
United conceded two hat-tricks in a top-flight match for the first time since a 6-0 home loss against Huddersfield Town in September 1930.
Since the start of 2020-21, United have conceded four first-half goals in four Premier League games (v Spurs in Oct 2020, Liverpool in Oct 2021, Brentford in Aug 2022, City today) – twice as often as any other side in this time.
Foden’s second goal was his 50th for City in all competitions. Aged 22 years and 127 days, he is now the youngest player to reach 50 goals under Guardiola, surpassing Lionel Messi (22 years, 164 days).
Aged 22 years and 73 days, Haaland is the second-youngest player to score in his first Manchester derby in the Premier League after Mario Balotelli in October 2011 (21 years, 72 days).
What’s next?
It’s into Europe next for both clubs.
City host FC Copenhagen in the Champions League on Wednesday before United are at Omonia Nicosia in the Europa League the following day.
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Premier League: More Blues for the Wounded Wolves?
Chelsea vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Two of England’s famous old clubs come together at Stamford Bridge on Saturday at a time when both have been going through some turmoil.
Premier League: Chelsea vs Wolves will see new faces in both dugouts after a shaky start for both teams by their relative standards. Firth placed Chelsea are playing their first home league game under new boss Graham Potter, while back to back defeats have left Wolves in the Premier League relegation zone and that was enough for the club’s owners to pull the trigger and fire head coach Bruno Lage.
The SBOTOP football stats team are firmly behind Chelsea for this game and with good reason, not least because they already have their new head coach in place. But a star-studded top four chasing side at home to the 18th placed team looks like a home win by anyone’s money.
Talking Points
Bright start for Auba at Chelsea
Following the sacking of former boss Thomas Tuchel, Potter was installed in the head coach’s office pretty rapidly and the former Brighton and Hove Albion boss has made a decent start to life in the limelight, with a Champions League draw at home to Salzburg, and an away victory on his Premier League debut as a Chelsea boss. And there was more good news for Blues fans who saw their new number nine score a brilliant goal to open his account and collect the three points away to Crystal Palace.
Pierre-Emerick Aubemayang from Chelsea scored his first goal in an away match against Crystal Palace in Premier League.
Pierre-Emerick Aubamayeng was offloaded by Barcelona as the La Liga giants worked to balance their books and he looks to have found the perfect home in West London. The way he chested down a header from Thiago Silva and rifled his shot into the net was the sort of clinical finishing the Blues have missed. Aubameyang’s former club Arsenal are currently the Kings of London, leading the Premier League. But that won’t bother Potter one bit if his new man keeps scoring the goals, to take advantage of the delivery of wing backs Ben Chilwell and Reece James and lift some pressure from the shoulders of top scorer Raheem Sterling.
The Blues have a Champions League fixture at home to AC Milan on Wednesday night and then the attention will turn back to the league; but there is more encouraging news in that keeper Edouard Mendy and midfield lynchpin N’golo Kante are both nearing fitness and could feature on Saturday.
Lage gone…what next for Wolves
A 3-0 loss at home to Manchester City is no disgrace, but the way Wolves surrendered in a 2-0 defeat away to West Ham was enough for the Wolves board to end their relationship with Bruno Lage. Academy boss and Wolves fan Steve Davis is taking control for the Chelsea game but reports are surfacing in Spain that Sevilla boss Julen Lopetegui is being lined up as a replacement. Sevilla have made a poor start to their campaign and Lopetegui looks set to be replaced by Jorge Sampaoli, so if he rocks up at Molineux I’m not sure what the Wolves fans would make of that.
Whoever takes over has work to do at either end of the pitch. The transfer of centre back Conor Coady to Everton and the arrival of Nathan Collins, signed from Burnley, hasn’t worked particularly well. Collins was red carded during Wolves’ loss to Manchester City and so Lage resorted to playing attacking midfielder Ruben Neves as a makeshift centre back against the Hammers.
With three goals in eight games, to take your most creative player away from the front six doesn’t seem to make sense. An inexperienced front three of Daniel Podence, Goncalo Guedes and Pedro Neto could do with Neves in support.
History
The Blues have had plenty of success in the head to head Chelsea vs Wolves results, with 11 wins from the last 18 encounters. Wolves have won three and there have been four draws. But three of those draws occurred over the past two seasons, during which Chelsea have failed to beat the All Golds. In the 2020/21 campaign Wolves won this fixture at home, 2-1, and then the two teams drew 0-0 at Stamford Bridge. Last season a goalless draw at Molineux was followed by a 2-2 draw at the Bridge as Coady scored a 97th minute equaliser to grab a point for Wolves.
Wolves’ results over the last six games haven’t actually been that bad, with two wins, two draws and two defeats, while Chelsea have won three, drawn one and lost two.
The Blues have won two and drawn one of their three home games while Wolves have won one and lost three of their away games
The Chelsea vs Wolves betting odds are right behind the Blues for a first home league win under Potter, at a price of 1.36, and it’s difficult to see any other outcome. The draw at 4.46, or even a Wolves win at 7.52, would spoil the new Chelsea boss’s Stamford Bridge welcome… but Wolves don’t look ready to take on a challenge this hard.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR () BETS ARE WORTH:
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Premier League: Italian Bosses Come Face to Face on the South Coast
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Tottenham Hotspur
It sounds pretty exciting no? And it is, but when Roberto de Zerbi comes up against Antonio Conte, it will not be on Italy’s Amalfi coast, it will be in Brighton!
Brighton vs Spurs is a top-four clash in the Premier League as De Zerbi takes control of a club in the last Champions League spot, but with a game in hand on Spurs, who sit three points ahead in third. With a goal difference deficit of three, Brighton would have to win this clash by two clear goals to leapfrog their visitors and, with eight goals scored in their last two outings, I wouldn’t rule that out.
The announcement of De Zerbi as the Seagulls’ boss has softened the blow of Graham Potter’s departure to Chelsea as the Italian comes with a reputation for playing exciting football, and Antonio Conte’s Tottenham is the perfect test for an ambitious young coach.
Conte is one of the game’s best managers and he will be keen to rid the Spurs fans of the painful memory of defeat to Arsenal last week by picking up a positive result at the Amex Stadium. Brighton come into the game on the back of a 3-3 draw with Liverpool and, with two attacking teams, both impressive in early season, this promises to be an entertaining clash forSBOTOP fans with plenty at stake for both clubs.
Former Shakhtar Donetsk and Sassuolo boss De Zerbi has been waiting for an opportunity since leaving Shakhtar in July because of the war in Ukraine, and the 43-year-old has landed what could be the perfect job for him, having penned a four-year deal to manage the Seagulls.
He takes over a team in buoyant form, having recently whacked Leicester City 5-2. And any plans title hopefuls Liverpool had of spoiling his Brighton debut were spectacularly thwarted as Leandro Trossard scored a stunning hat-trick to give the Seagulls a deserved 3-3 draw. They could have picked up all three points were it not for a number of vital saves made by the Reds’ keeper Alisson as the visitors registered six shots on target.
That made it five goals for the campaign for Trossard, while Alexis Mac Allister has four and Pascal Gross has three and two assists. And while the creative players can be relied on to do their stuff, the key man at the back, captain Lewis Dunk remains one of the best centre-backs in the game. It isn’t just in Brighton that fans wonder why Dunk isn’t a regular starter for England…maybe Gareth Southgate can answer that.
Tottenham looking for a reaction
After losing the North London derby in such a disappointing way Conte was looking for a reaction in the Tuesday Champions League clash with Eintracht, and he nearly got it. Spurs’ football was much better and they stretched the Frankfurt defence at will, but the usually reliable Harry Kane and Heung-min Son missed chances they would have expected to score. And the England skipper took a few knocks during the game but seemed fine at the final whistle and should be fit to start on Saturday.
Harry Kane wasted a good scoring opportunity in the UCL; would he be able to make up for it in the Premier League?
The Premier League 2022 betting odds place Tottenham as marginal favourites to win this game and with the firepower of Kane and Son in the side then they have every chance. The lethal duo just needs to find its range again. Kane has been in good form, with seven goals already while Son opened his account with three against Leicester recently, and there is an added threat in the shape of summer recruit Richarlison.
At the back Eric Dier is performing better in a centre-back role than we have seen for a while, though Emerson is out suspended following his red card in the London Derby.
History
Tottenham have had much the better of the head to head results,winning 11 of the last 14 meetings, losing three and drawing one. The away teams came out on top in both of last season’s encounters; Spurs won 2-0 at the Amex, while Brighton exacted their revenge with a 1-0 victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium late in the campaign.
Brighton have had strong Premier League 2022 results at home this term, winning two and drawing one and they are at odds of 1.49 to keep up that record with the double chance (win or draw) at 1.49. The Seagulls are at 2.72 to win and 3.16 to draw with Tottenham marginal favourites at 2.41.
It really is a game which could go either way but we can pretty much guarantee entertainment and I’m hoping for plenty of goals.
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Premier League: Beleaguered Saints Pray for a Miracle Against the Sky Blues
Manchester City vs Southampton
Reigning Premier League champions Manchester City head back home to the Etihad as they’ll host Southampton for their next match.
The Sky Blues are one of the few unbeaten teams in Europe across all competitions. Arsenal may be on top of the English top-flight table as of this writing, but it feels inevitable that Manchester City will be back on top at the rate they’re going right now.
In stark contrast, Southampton are in dire need of a positive result since they have one foot near the relegation mire. The Saints are currently 16th with seven points and they haven’t won a game since the 31st of August.
The pre-match SBOTOP betting odds have Manchester City as the huge favourites. But in their recent encounters, Southampton have shown that they can compete against them.
Talking Points
Manchester City have flipped a switch
Since the international break, the Sky Blues have fired 11 goals and only conceded three in their last two games.
Erling Haaland has been the catalyst for Manchester City because he was responsible for half of those goals. He scored a hat-trick against derby rivals United on Sunday and he tallied a brace against Copenhagen in their Champions League group stage fixture yesterday.
With 14 goals in eight games, Haaland is on pace to score 60 goals this Premier League season. Copenhagen goalkeeper Kamil Grabara said it perfectly, describing the Norwegian as not human.
Haaland is not the only one who can produce goals regularly for the Sky Blues as they still have the likes of Phil Foden, Julian Alvarez, and Bernardo Silva.
And when you have Kevin De Bruyne manning the midfield dishing dimes left and right, then Manchester City look virtually unbeatable.
Hassenhuttl under immense pressure at Southampton
Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl reacts from the sidelines during a Premier League match versus Everton
Ralph Hassenhuttl is the Premier League’s fourth-longest serving coach at present only behind Pep Guardiola, Thomas Frank, and Jurgen Klopp. Through thick and thin, Southampton stood by him since he fits to their ethos of recruiting and developing young players.
However, the 55-year-old’s future has been dogged by uncertainty as the club owners are mulling about making a managerial change.
The Saints have had a poor run of Premier League 2022 results and their form at the back end of last term is also worth noting since they didn’t win nine of their last 12 games to end their 2021-22 campaign.
Moreover, reports claim that Hassenhuttl has been tuned out by some players, particularly those who don’t get to play much under him.
A date against the reigning champions certainly doesn’t help, but if he can produce a result similar to last season then he’ll buy himself some time.
Hassenhuttl has done wonders for the likes of Kyle Walker-Peters, Armel Bella-Kotchap, and Romeo Lavia – who was let go by Manchester City this summer – and all of them will play key roles this weekend.
Their top scorers are Che Adams and Joe Aribo who have four and two goals each, while James Ward-Prowse is another player to watch despite having a slow start so far.
History
Manchester City have only lost one of their last 12 Premier League fixtures against Southampton (W8, D3), although they drew twice last term.
Southampton won their first league visit to the Etihad in April 2004 (3-1). But since then, the Saints have secured just two points from their next 11 road games against the Sky Blues.
The Sky Blues are undefeated in their last eight home league games while scoring at least three goals each time. The last team to have a longer run of doing this was Aston Villa when they won 13 straight between December 1930 and September 1931.
29 goals in their first eight matches is an impressive return for Manchester City in this Premier League campaign thus far, which is equal with their own record back in 2017-18. Furthermore, they’ve already scored at least six goals twice this season alone.
This game is for Manchester City’s to lose. The Premier League 2022 odds have them priced at 1.12 to win, while Southampton are the huge underdogs at 15.00 and a draw is at 9.25 in the 1X2 market.
While the Saints have held the Sky Blues a couple of times before, we feel that it’s unlikely for that to happen anytime soon since the hosts are firing on all cylinders.
Manchester City should have no problem winning at home, which will result to Southampton losing points yet again – and possibly their current manager.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR () BETS ARE WORTH:
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Premier League: Points Take Precedence Over Progress at Selhurst Park
Crystal Palace vs Leeds United
Now here are two Premier League clubs who have shown glimpses of tangible progress in recent years.
Just being at English football’s top table consistently is a fine achievement when you consider the investment it takes to stay there, let alone improve.
Yet that is what both Crystal Palace and Leeds United have managed to achieve at times; a mixture of development coupled with setbacks along the way.
This weekend they aim to deliver Premier League highlights and, most importantly of all, Premier League points in a bid to climb into the top half of the table.
Talking Points
Granted Palace, for all their promise, are only outside the relegation zone courtesy of goal difference but they have had a tough start to the campaign and have a game in hand on most of the sides immediately in front of them.
Last weekend, they pushed Chelsea all the way and were somewhat unfortunate to lose in the final moments, playing their part in an exciting game but unable to put their opponents’ defence under enough pressure.
He will miss this weekend’s encounter against a Leeds team looking to keep four consecutive clean sheets against an opponent for only the fourth time in the Premier League – also doing so against Aston Villa (March 1994 – August 1995), Middlesbrough (August 1998 – February 2000) and Southampton (April 1996 – September 1997).
Leeds will also be without one of their big names after Colombia winger Luis Sinisterra was sent off during last weekend’s goalless draw with Aston Villa.
The 23 year-old, a £21 million summer signing from Feyenoord, had enjoyed a promising start to his time in Yorkshire until two quick bookings – a foul on John McGinn and then blocking the ball when Douglas Luiz tried to take a quick free-kick – soured his weekend.
The man in the middle this weekend is Paul Tierney and, with both teams eager for points, one suspects he will have a busy afternoon.
The Eagles have a winning record in the Premier League stretching back five years when Tierney has officiated their games. A lucky omen perhaps?
It was January of that year when Rod Wallace and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink scored inside the first 13 minutes to seal a 2-0 win at Selhurst Park in a season in which the Eagles were relegated.
By the time Palace were promoted back to the top-flight in 2004, they swapped places as Leeds went down at the same time and had not been back until 2020.
They did, however, meet six times in the Championship between 2006 and 2013 (when Palace were promoted).
Two seasons ago, there was that 4-1 home win followed by a 2-0 success for Leeds at Elland Road when Jack Harrison and Patrick Bamford were the goal-getters.
Raphinha during Leeds United’s match against Crystal Palace last season
Then last November, a late Raphinha penalty earned the Yorkshire club another 1-0 win.
The corresponding fixture last April ended goalless at Selhurst Park and the sides also met in a fairly feisty pre-season friendly in Perth when Rodrigo and Jean-Philippe Mateta traded second half goals.
Overall, Palace have beaten the Yorkshire club 18 times, 17 meetings have ended all square and Leeds have won on 31 occasions.
Betting Tip
Two statistics here help my tip with the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds.
They are the fact that Palace have failed to score in their past three Premier League matches against Leeds since that 4-1 home win in November 2020.
Also the fact that Leeds have not won in their past six visits to Selhurst Park in the league, after a three-match winning run between 1994 and 2006.
The law of averages suggests something has to give this weekend and I think it will be the former.
Among the options you can consider are Palace 1X2 @ 2.11, Leeds 1X2 @ 3.25 or the draw @ 3.50.
Asian Handicap bets include Palace -0.75 @ 2.49, Leeds +0.25 @ 2.08, while there are the usual array of goal options such as Total Goal 0-1 @ 3.55, 2-3 @ 1.91, 4-6 @ 3.30 and Over 2.75 goals @ 2.08.
A repeat of last season’s goalless draw in this fixture is on offer @ 10.50 with Correct Score.
After pushing Chelsea until the closing stages last weekend, I think Palace will recover from their disappointment and bounce back.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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Premier League: West Ham Can Hammer the Weary Cottagers at Home
West Ham United vs Fulham
The Hammers are keen to build a new winning streak here in the Premier League when they’ll host the Cottagers at the London Stadium this weekend.
David Moyes’ men have had a rough start to this 2022-23 season as they were once in the relegation zone, but now they’ve risen to 15th in the standings with seven points following their 2-0 victory against Wolves on Sunday.
Fulham, meanwhile, suffered an ugly 4-1 loss against Newcastle in the last time out. However, they’re still in the top half of the table – placing eighth with 11 points.
With another intriguing matchup to look forward to, here’s everything you need to know ahead of this fixture courtesy of SBOTOP.
Talking Points
West Ham’s new boys delivering the goods
West Ham United’s Said Benrahma comes on as a substitute to replace Lucas Paqueta
Gianluca Scamacca and Lucas Paqueta are proving to be worthwhile additions for West Ham United last summer.
After a tough loss to Everton last September, David Moyes turned to fresher faces as his seasoned veterans didn’t do well and now it’s paying dividends.
Gianluca Scamacca scored his first Premier League goal in their victory over Wolves and he notched the winning goal against Anderlecht last night in the Europa League. Overall, he’s now their top scorer with five goals across all competitions.
On the other hand, Lucas Paqueta has yet to open his account for the Hammers this season, but his intangibles and passing are just as crucial. The Brazilian playmaker came off the bench last night and was the one who assisted Scamacca’s match-winning goal with his lovely skill.
With both of them fairly rested since they weren’t in the starting lineup against Anderlecht, Scamacca and Paqueta are likely to play heavy minutes against Fulham and both are expected to be in the Premier League 2022 highlights reel this Sunday.
Injury blows for Fulham
Marco Silva is facing selection headaches ahead of this contest with at least eight players in the injured/suspended list.
Antonee Robinson (foot), Willian (calf), Kenny Tete (muscular), Aleksandar Mitrovic (ankle), Layvin Kurzawa (muscular), Manor Solomon (knee), and Harry Wilson (knee) are all in the treatment room, while Nathaniel Chalobah will serve his suspension since he was red carded against the Magpies.
The absence of Aleksandar Mitrovic hurts Fulham the most since he’s their most potent attacker with six goals so far this season. The Serbian hitman lasted just 34 minutes against Newcastle and had to be withdrawn as his injured ankle flared up.
Bobby Decordova-Reid, Carlos Vinicius, and Daniel James would all have to do more with Mitrovic likely to sit this one out, but the good news is that Joao Palhinha is ready to go after serving his one-match ban last week.
Similar to Paqueta for West Ham United, Palhinha is a skillful playmaker and he brings the much-needed intensity and physicality at midfield for Fulham. Getting him for £20-M this summer is indeed a huge bargain for the Cottagers.
West Ham United enter this contest with a four-match home winning streak in the league against Fulham and they’re undefeated in their last 11 (W7, D4) – which is their second-longest top-flight home winning run against any other side. Their longest is against Hull City between 2009 and 2016 (W5 – ongoing).
Fulham have secured just one clean sheet in their 21 top-flight away matches against West Ham United, conceding 49 goals total in the other 20 games.
The Hammers are looking to win consecutive Premier League matches for the first time since a run of three from December to January last season. However, they’ve lost two of their last three league games against newly-promoted sides (W1), which is as many as in their last 16.
The last league meeting between the Hammers and the Cottagers took place in February 2021 where both sides couldn’t muster a goal and Tomas Soucek was sent off during added time.
West Ham United are being favoured by the Premier League 2022 odds to win. The Hammers are installed at 1.79, while Fulham are pegged at 4.00 and chances for a draw at 3.80 in the 1X2 market.
Total Goal 2-3 @ 1.96 is another strong possibility since there’ll be some goals that are to be scored. However, we don’t expect this one to be a shootout.
The Hammers have built some momentum in these past few weeks. And with a fit squad to choose from compared to the Cottagers, this should give the hosts the edge to claim all three points from this contest.
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Premier League: Will Liverpool Knock Arsenal Off the Top?
Arsenal vs Liverpool
Arsenal’s grip on the Premier League top spot will be seriously tested on Sunday when Liverpool head to the Emirates in search of a much-needed win.
Jurgen Klopp’s team is languishing in ninth position, while the Gunners are riding high at the top and the latest Premier League 2022 betting oddssay the Reds’ title chances are rapidly dwindling at odds of 12.00. Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are second favourites at a SBOTOP price of 9.00.
Manchester City are now down to 1.20 to win a fifth league title in six campaigns.
The Gunners come into the game in buoyant mood and on the back of a Europa League win over Bodo Glimt to make it four victories on the bounce.
The return to fitness of Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard is a big boost for the Gunners fans who watched their midfield star take the captain’s armband with style.
He’s become a key creative player for Arteta’s team and his performance against Bodo Glimt on Thursday’s victory was imperious as he pulled the strings and picked his passes at will.
One of the knock on effects of Odegaard’s rise is Granit Xhaka’s return to form, which has been the big Premier League 2022 news at the Emirates, as the midfield enforcer appears to be more responsible and measured without the job of skipper.
Up front, Gabriel Jesus is loving his football at the Emirates and is third favourite to win the Golden Boot at a price of 23.00 behind Harry Kane and the goal machine that is Erling Braut Haaland.
And his Brazilian teammate Gabriel Martinelli is also in scintillating form, and his duel with Liverpool wing-back Trent Alexander-Arnold will be one of the key battles.
Thomas Partey scored a screamer as Arsenal beat Spurs in the North London Derby
Thomas Partey scored a screamer to set the Gunners on the way to a memorable win over Spurs last week and the midfield star has found a run of form which deserted him in an injury interrupted campaign last year.
It’s all looking rosy for Arsenal and, if they win on Saturday, they will go 14 points clear of Liverpool and will almost certainly become second favourites for the league.
Anniversary present for Klopp?
On his seventh anniversary as Liverpool boss, Klopp will be hoping his players can find a way of stopping the rampant Gunners.
But this is the worst start Liverpool have made under the German coach, and a defeat on Sunday would surely end their title aspirations as it would leave them 14 points off the top spot and, crucially, 13 behind Manchester City.
So what has been the problem for the Reds who have amassed just 10 points from seven games?
Well, they have gone behind in nine of their last 11 Premier League fixtures, recovering well in some, but four draws have seen them fall quickly behind the pacesetters.
Some of their big players have been out of form. Centre-back Virgil van Dijk and Trent to name are two of those, and Mohamed Salah is not yet firing with just two goals while the absence of influential wing-back Andrew Robertson is a blow since he’s one of Liverpool’s best leaders on the pitch.
On the plus side, newcomers Luis Diaz and Ibrahima Konate have settled well and Darwin Nunez looks a real handful and a natural finisher, but he needs to avoid unnecessary red cards.
And, in the absence of the departed Sadio Mane, Brazil striker Roberto Firmino has scored five goals so he just needs Salah to join the party and the wins will start to flow.
History
These two teams have had many a tussle as ever presents in the Premier League, and Liverpool are on top in the head-to-heads with 27 victories to the Gunners’ 21 while there have been 21 draws.
The Merseysiders have won four of the last five encounters, including a 2-0 win at the Emirates last March with goals from Diogo Jota and Firmino.
Arsenal have a 100-per cent home record this season, while Liverpool are without a win on the road with two draws and a defeat.
With Arsenal at odds of 2.35 to win this huge clash and Liverpool at 2.58, we neutrals could go either way as both teams, particularly the hosts, have a good case for three points. But I suspect Liverpool will put in a fierce resistance at the Emirates and come away with a point. With Manchester City at home to struggling Southampton, if I’m right, Liverpool will give the Sky Blues a helping hand to knock the Gunners off the top of the table.
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Premier League: Sunday Night Showdown is a Real Barometer
Everton vs Manchester United
When these sides met at Goodison Park in the Premier League six months ago, I watched the contest, which Everton won 1-0, with despair.
Not only did I feel I was witnessing the most underwhelming Everton team in my lifetime, but I was staggered at the lack of urgency from Manchester United, supposedly chasing a Champions League place and against hosts devoid of confidence and nerves clearly emanating from the stands.
Fast forward to early October and this Sunday night showdown offers the chance to see what improvements, if any, are being made in both camps.
Talking Points
Of course, that win for the Merseysiders in early April was not only invaluable in their bid to bear the drop but was a shot in the arm at time when they needed it most.
Manchester United’s Raphael Varane in action with Manchester City’s Erling Braut Haaland
Since then, one of the scorers in that match, Richarlison, has been sold to Spurs for £60 million and Everton manager Frank Lampard has embarked on a rebuilding mission involving players at the other end of the price spectrum.
Two of those recruits, Conor Coady and Dwight McNeil, netted twice in three minutes at Southampton last weekend to earn them their second league victory of the season and back-to-back wins for only the second time since January.
A clear improvement defensively has certainly given them a foundation in recent weeks, meaning Everton have conceded the fewest goals (eight) so far this term.
That’s two fewer than champions Manchester City, although granted they let slip two late goals in the Manchester derby last weekend when the game had long been over.
Fresh from that 6-3 hammering, how United react will be a real test of the direction in which they are heading with a humiliating start preceding four straight and impressive wins under new manager Erik ten Hag.
Raphael Varane went off in that game and, as United’s best defender, they could do with him back at Goodison.
He faces a battle to be fit, otherwise Victor Lindelof will partner Lisandro Martinez at centre back with captain Harry Maguire joining Aaron Wan Bissaka and Donny van de Beek on the sidelines.
The hosts could be boosted by the return of striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin who, whether from the start or the bench, is in contention to make his first appearance of the season after recovering from a knee injury.
Mason Holgate and Yerry Mina have returned to training and may also be among the substitutes.
Since their first meeting in 1892, when United were known as Newton Heath, this has been a traditional English football heavyweight clash.
For so long in the 1980s Everton had the edge; in the Premier League era United have largely been the dominant force.
Overall, they have 90 triumphs to Everton’s 71 with a further 47 games ending level.
Two seasons ago United won twice at Goodison Park, inspired by Bruno Fernandes and Edinson Cavani respectively in the top flight and League Cup. Of course, on both occasions due to Covid restrictions, Goodison was less hostile than usual for visiting teams.
The SBOTOP Premier League betting odds back United 1X2 @ 2.28 and Asian Handicap -0.75 @ 2.38.
The hosts are a little adrift at both 1X2 @ 3.30 and +0.25 @ 2.14.
The draw is not an unusual result in this fixture and is on offer @ 3.40, while a repeat of Everton’s 1-0 triumph from last time will pay out @ 10.50 with Correct Score.
I do expect goals and the assortment of options include over 2.75 @ 2.11, total goal 0-1 @ 3.70, 2-3 @ 1.96 and 4-6 @ 3.35.
It is hard to know if Everton have an advantage given they have had eight days between games whereas United were in action on Thursday night in Cyprus in the Europa League.
This will be a real close contest and my *** tip is over 2.75 goals @ 2.11.
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Premier League: Spurs See Off the Seagulls…But Only Just!
Brighton & Hove Albion 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur climbed up to third place in the Premier League thanks to a 1-0 win over Brighton on Saturday night, as Harry Kane scored the only goal of the game.
Roberto De Zerbi’s start to his career as Brighton boss has been impressive but he was outwitted by his Italian countryman, Antonio Conte, who masterminded a clinical, if narrow victory. The Seagulls played a lot of nice football and applied some pressure, but they failed to break down a resolute Spurs defence.
When Conte’s side goes ahead, they tend to see the job through and that’s exactly what they did after a deft flick from Kane gave them an early lead, and Spurs could have doubled their lead were it not for some great defensive work by Brighton skipper Lewis Dunk.
Tottenham are now ensconced in the top four with a six point cushion to fifth place, while Brighton have slipped down to sixth.
Highlights of the game
Tottenham were poor last week in the derby defeat to Arsenal but they started very brightly at the Amex Stadium and had a few early chances before they went ahead midway through the first half. On 21 minutes Brighton keeper Robert Sanchez made a superb save to keep out a swerving shot from Rodrigo Bentancur but there was little he could do a minute later when Spurs scored. Brighton had cleared the resulting corner but only as far as Bentancur who spread he ball out the right wing. Heung-Min Son picked it up, cut inside and unleashed a shot which Kane flicked on and into the net, with Pascal Gross playing him onside.
Danny Welbeck had two excellent chances to earn Brighton a point
The Seagulls came agonisingly close to an equaliser when Gross swung in a corner which Lewis Dunk met cleanly but his header flew inches over the crossbar. And then as Brighton pressed Solly March fired a shot inches wide with Hugo Lloris well beaten, and before half time Lloris saved well to deny Danny Welbeck.
After the break Spurs pushed for a second but were denied by Dunk who made a brilliant saving tackle when Kane put Son clean through on goal. And mid way through the second half Son though he’d doubled Spurs lead with a superb curler but it was ruled out for offside.
At the other end of the pitch Welbeck had another great chance to level but he dragged his shot wide of Lloris’ post, and whenever Brighton had an opportunity they lacked composure in front of goal, a problem which dogged them during Graham Potter’s reign.
So the outcome became inevitable.
GOAL! Brighton 0-
Key statistics
The latestPremier League 2022 betting oddsback Spurs for a fourth or fifth placed finish but they finished the day in third thanks to Kane’s goal, despite some concerted pressure from Brighton. The Seagulls had 58 per cent possession, 14 shots to eight and four the three on target but they didn’t have the guile, or luck, to beat Lloris.
Harry Kane has scored 12 goal sin his last 12 Premier League games and has netted in each of his last four appearances. Another goal next week will make it a personal best run for the England skipper.
Antonio Conte has lost none of his last 54 Premier League games when leading at half time, winning an incredible 50 and drawing four, and Spurs have won 22 of their last 23 games when leading at the break. So Brighton fans probably knew what was coming!
In other Premier League 2022 results from Saturday Manchester City smashed Southampton 4-0 to go top, Chelsea whacked Wolves 3-0 to go fourth and Newcastle battered Brentford 5-1 to go fifth.
And Sunday’s big game sees long time leaders Arsenal at home to stuttering Liverpool. We’ll be reporting on that game here at SBOTOP and both teams will be desperate to win. The Gunners can return to the top of the table with a victory, while Liverpool need some points to help them climb up from tenth position.
Next up Brighton have two very winnable games; first they visit Brentford in the Friday night match before hosting Nottingham Forest the following Tuesday. The Seagulls could do with picking up some points from those two fixtures as they are followed by a trip to Manchester City on October 22nd.
Spurs have two home games to come, firstly they meet Eintracht Frankfurt in a replay of last week’s goalless draw in Germany, and then they entertain Everton next Saturday, before heading up to Manchester to face United on Wednesday the 19th.
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Premier League: Gunners Edge Out Liverpool to Go Top Again
Arsenal 3-2 Liverpool
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are back on top of the Premier League after winning a five goal thriller against Liverpool at a packed and passionate Emirates.
The Gunners scored in the first and last minute of the first half, through Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka, while Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez scored in between to make it 2-1 at the break. Roberto Firmino climbed off the bench to make it 2-2 but a 75th minute penalty converted by Saka claimed all three points.
On his seventh anniversary as Liverpool boss, Jurgen Klopp had hoped for more but the latest Premier League 2022 betting odds have as good as written off the Reds who finished the weekend in tenth place and 14 points off the lead.
Highlights of the game
Arsenal started the game at SBOTOP odds of 2.35 and within a minute those odds had plummeted as the hosts set off at an astonishing pace; and with just one minute on the clock they were ahead in brilliant style. Saka raided down the right before sliding the ball across to Martin Odegaard and he put Martinelli through on goal. The young Brazilian made no mistake, slotting past Alisson and the Emirates erupted.
Gabriel Jesus spent the first half tormenting the Liverpool defence, but the Reds hung on and gradually worked their way into the game and, on the half hour Aaron Ramsdale made a great save to stop his own defender William Saliba turning a dangerous cross into his own net. But the visitors were level minutes later when Luis Diaz squared for Nunez who fired home from close range.
That goal seemed to lift the Reds; but they were knocked back down on the stroke of half time. Referee Michael Oliver waved play on when Martinelli was impeded and he raced forward, eventually putting the ball on a plate for Saka to restore Arsenal’s advantage.
What a half!
And the Gunners started the second period as they had begun and ended the first, but this time Liverpool survived as Odegaard fired straight at Alisson with the goal gaping. That would have made the score 3-1… but soon enough it was 2-2.
Roberto Firmino from Liverpool equalised the score with a left footed shot against Arsenal in the Premier League
Roberto Firmino had been brought on to replace Diaz just before half time and it turned out to be a masterstroke as the Brazilian forward scored his sixth league goal of the campaign, firing home from a tight angle after Diogo Jota had slipped him through on goal.
Jesus had been quiet day in front of goal but he continued to stretch the Liverpool defence, and when he beat Thiago to a loose ball the Liverpool midfielder caught him and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.
Saka, who suffered the torment of missing England’s final penalty in the Euro 2020 shootout with Italy is a confident lad, and rightly so as he beat Alisson to win the game.
Key statistics
Arsenal started and ended the fist half in explosive fashion but the stats tell a story of Liverpool’s progress between those two moments. With 61 per cent possession and five shots to three the Reds may have felt unlucky to be behind, but the Gunners were more clinical with three shots on target to two… and two to one in the net!
Firmino’s leveller was his tenth goal against Arsenal, more than he has scored against any other club.
But the Gunners deserved their win as they finished with 11 shots to eight and seven to three on target.
What’s next?
Manchester City fans will have been looking at Sunday’s Premier League 2022 updates with a keen eye on this one after the Sky Blues went top of the table thanks to a 4-0 thrashing of Southampton. But Arsenal supporters can proudly say they are still top of the league.
Elsewhere, the early Sunday kick offs saw Crystal Palace beat Leeds United 2-1 and a resurgent West Ham recorded a third successive victory with a 3-1 win over Fulham. And the late match pits Everton and Manchester United together in a game which could shape either club’s campaigns. The Toffees are trying to avoid another relegation battle under Frank Lampard, while the Red Devils want to make a serious tilt at a top four place. Back to back wins have lifted Everton to 11th while the Red Devils are currently four points adrift of a Champions League spot.
Next up the Gunners have a Europa League match away to Bodo Glimt before heading to Yorkshire for a tasty date with Leeds United at Elland Road. Meanwhile, Liverpool travel north for a Champions League clash against Rangers, who they beat 2-0 last week and then there is a monster of a game to look forward to…
Liverpool vs Manchester City in the Premier League, at Anfield.
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Premier League: 700 Not Out for True Footballing Great!
Everton 1-2 Manchester United
In an era where the words ‘legend’ and ‘icon’ are bandied around all too glibly, this was a night in which a true icon of the game made history.
There was a mere minute remaining in the first half of this Premier League encounter when Cristiano Ronaldo, a substitute who entered on the half hour, added another chapter to his illustrious career and provided yet another new entry into the record books.
For this was the moment that the Portuguese great netted the 700th club goal of his career, 20 years and two days after his first for hometown team Sporting Lisbon.
What followed over the next six years was glorious and included 118 goals, followed by an incredible spell and 450 goals at Real Madrid, 101 during three years at Juventus and then back to Manchester last summer where he has added a further 26 to his tally to date.
And to think, some people involved in football think he is no good for morale!
Highlights of the game
Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their second goal with Antony and Bruno Fernandes
Home boss Frank Lampard made one change to the Everton side that won 2-1 at Southampton last weekend with promising young talent Anthony Gordon replacing the matchwinner in that game, Dwight McNeil, who was named among the substitutes.
That meant a first Premier League start for summer signing Casemiro, while Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw and Anthony Martial came in, the former replacing Raphael Varane who was only considered fit enough to be on the bench.
It would have been interesting to know what the Frenchman made of his side as they went behind for the third time in a week just five minutes in.
Demarai Gray carried the ball forward and found Alex Iwobi and the Nigerian took one touch and curled a stunning shot into the top corner from 25 yards.
Goodison was rocking for the Toffees, who went into this match on the back of a six-game unbeaten run, their best in the top flight since going seven without defeat between November and December 2017.
To their credit, United regrouped and were level within 10 minutes and it was another beauty.
After the home side lost the ball in midfield, Martial played a lovely through ball to Antony and the Brazilian took a couple of touches before opening up his body and curling past the onrushing Jordan Pickford.
It was yet another impressive contribution from Martial, who has missed most of the campaign to date with injury and the spell of bad luck he is currently experiencing continued when he had to leave the fray with a knock just before the half hour.
As it turned out, his replacement provided the story of the night as, a minute before the break, Casemiro won the ball off Iwobi and set Ronaldo away.
You know the rest of this story… it has happened on 699 other occasions.
And so, another brilliant moment for a player who has created Premier League 2022 highlights every year he has played in this country and, in fact, everywhere around the world where his career has taken him.
If the SBOTOP Premier League 2022 betting odds then existed, just imagine 20 years ago what they would have offered on a player reaching 700 club goals when he began his career.
Will leave the final word to a player who also knew a thing or two about scoring goals during his own career.
Of Ronaldo’s 700 career club goals in all competitions, 498 have come in league matches.
This game was the first time he has made five consecutive league appearances as a substitute since 2002-03 at Sporting Lisbon.
Antony is the first United player to score in each of his first three appearances in the Premier League for the club.
Iwobi has been directly involved in four Premier League goals this season for Everton (one goal, three assists), twice as many as any teammate.
Man Utd have become the first side to win 100 Premier League games in which they conceded the first goal (Spurs (96) and Liverpool (85) are the next two).
This was their 38th Premier League win against Everton – a record they jointly hold with their matches against Spurs.
What’s next?
Everton are at high-flying Spurs next Saturday teatime (October 15) to start a busy spell before the World Cup begins.
United’s hectic schedule is already underway and after three straight away games, they now have three successive home matches, beginning with Omonia Nicosia in the Europa League on Thursday (October 13) and Newcastle in the Premier League a week today.
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Thet win maintained the Gunners top spot and, with all due reference to the mighty Manchester City, that makes them the best team in England after nine games.
But head coach Mikel Arteta knows full well that nothing is won in October and his team has the painful memory of losing their top four place to Spurs in the very last week of last season.
The current Premier League 2022 betting odds place Arsenal as clear second favourites behind Manchester City, and I suspect Arteta would take that right now.
This time around, the Gunners look savvier and are displaying more steel to add to their customary flair, and that is a frightening prospect for Leeds.
But the Whites have won two and drawn two in the league at Elland Road and that will give the Yorkshire faithful some hope.
Talking Points
Key man Rasmus back to his best for Leeds
The signing of right-back Rasmus Kristensen didn’t cause the same level of excitement as one or two of Leeds’ other summer signings, but a highly impressive pre-season made the fans and pundits take note as the Danish international impressed in defence and in support of the attack.
Like several of his teammates, he’s had a few shaky moments in the winless run. But last Saturday in the 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace, Rasmus coped with the wing wizardry of Eagles talisman Wilfried Zaha superbly, prompting head coach Jesse Marsch to say: “He knew it was a big challenge to play against Zaha. I thought that was easily his best performance in a Leeds kit, so I’m really happy for him -unlucky on the day that it leads to a loss.”
On the other flank, Patrick Struijk will continue in the absence of Junior Firpo and he too can support Leeds’ attacking group.
Arsenal have only kept three clean sheets this season and the hosts will be hopeful of keeping it that way. Leeds need to recapture the form of their last win, a brilliant 3-0 trouncing of Chelsea and a result which put the Whites within touching reach of top spot.
Striker Rodrigo was superb on that day and wide-man Jack Harrison is the other player who could break down the Arsenal defence.
Sensational Martinelli commits his future to Arsenal
Arsenal’s Premier League 2022 results have been little short of brilliant so far and there have been a number of standout players.
Skipper Martin Odegaard, defender William Saliba, and striker Gabriel Jesus have all been outstanding. But with four goals and two assists already this season, Gabriel Martinelli is getting people talking beyond North London.
Arsenal players celebrate after Gabriel Martinelli scored a goal during Premier League match against Liverpool
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has already said that the young Brazilian could turn out the be the “talent of the century” and the way he got in behind Trent Alexander-Arnold for Arsenal’s first minute opener set the tone for the Gunners’ victory against the Reds.
And fans at the Emirates will be delighted to hear Martinelli has said he sees his long term future with the Gunners, and why not if they start to win silverware?
He’s a nightmare to defend against with quick dribbling skills a turn of pace and a lethal pass or finish, so Rasmus has his work cut out again.
At the other end of the pitch, Arteta may make a change to rest ever-present Gabriel. The 24-year-old could make way for Ben White as Takehiro Tomiyasu is fit to take his role at full back.
History
Arsenal have won 20 of the 32 encounters in the Premier League era, drawing five while Leeds have managed seven victories. Arsenal won the last four meetings, including a league double last term and a 1-4 victory at Elland Road.
In terms of recent form, Leeds have one win in six, drawing two, and losing three, and the win came six games ago. The Gunners, in stark contrast, have one defeat and five victories, and that loss came six games ago.
Both teams need a big turnaround in form for this one to go with the hosts.
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Premier League: Old Trafford Awaits Sunday Spectacle
Manchester United vs Newcastle United
A Premier League encounter for the purists.
Two grand clubs – each with a hotbed of support few can match, let alone equal – and both with a renewed sense of optimism based on foundations which, to this observer from a distance, look tangible.
So, as the United’s of Manchester and Newcastle prepare to lock horns at Old Trafford this Sunday afternoon, only the most pessimistic pundit would not anticipate Premier League 2022 highlights.
Talking Points
For a start this is a meeting between the teams which go into the weekend in fifth and sixth positions.
At the time of writing, it is hard to know who the hosts will have available this weekend given they are in action in Europe on Thursday evening.
What we do know is that Anthony Martial, Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Donny van de Beek were all absentees for that encounter so this return to domestic duties may come too soon.
Everton manager Eddie Howe celebrates after their dominating 5-1 win over Brentford in Premier League
Likewise, Scott McTominay is set to serve a one-match suspension after he picked up a fifth yellow card of the season last time out against Everton – a fine come-from-behind victory which showed their character and marked a milestone for one of football’s icons.
For the visitors, fresh from a 5-1 hammering of Brentford, the return of Allan Saint-Maximin as a late substitute capped a terrific day for the Toon Armyas the forward having not played since August because of a hamstring injury.
After a week of training, it is hard to know if he will be handed a starting berth with manager Eddie Howe likely to keep faith with the team which started that game.
Likewise, it is unclear if striker Alexander Isak, the £58-Msummer arrival from Real Sociedad who netted twice in his opening three games, will be fit enough to return.
That aside, they should be at full strength and full of attacking instincts which should ensure this is extremely compelling entertainment.
History
This fixture produced one of the most exciting comebacks I’ve ever witnessed on duty for SBOTOP.
It was October 2018 and then United boss Jose Mourinho was under pressure after a poor start to the season.
That pressure grew tenfold when the Magpies netted twice in the opening 10 minutes to briefly silence all but a corner of Old Trafford.
Although they were fairly close on that occasion, you have to go back to 2013 for the last time the Toon triumphed on United turf – a day when Yohan Cabaye netted the only goal of the game.
Before that, they last won at Old Trafford in 1972 so their record isn’t the best.
Last season, United won this fixture 4-1 in what was the “second coming” – a day those of a United persuasion will never forget as Cristiano Ronaldo mania returned to the Theatre of Dreams on his second debut for the club 12 years after his last outing for United – and he scored twice in a 4-1 win, joined on the scoresheet by Bruno Fernandes and Jesse Lingard.
Javier Manquillo had briefly drawn the Magpies level.
It was honours even at St. James Park last December when Saint-Maximin’s early goal was cancelled out by Edinson Cavani whose teammate David de Gea then produced one of the saves of the season to ensure it finished 1-1.
Overall, United have 90 wins in this fixture with 43 Newcastle successes and 40 meetings ending level.
Tottenham are still very much in the Premier League title race a quarter into the season. Spurs currently sit in third, four points back of leaders Arsenal, who dealt them their first and only defeat of the season thus far.
The Premier League 2022 betting odds will heavily back Tottenham to keep their title chase very much alive when they host Everton this weekend.
However, Frank Lampard’s men have been in much-improved form in recent weeks and should not be underestimated.
Talking Points
Tottenham getting back on track
After back-to-back disappointing results against Eintracht Frankfurt (a 0-0 draw) and Arsenal (a 3-1 defeat), Tottenham are getting back on track. They have reeled off two consecutive victories after beating Brighton – which came on the heels of the passing of fitness coach Gian Piero Ventrone – and Eintracht Frankfurt (3-2).
Unsurprisingly, the prolific duo of Harry Kane Son Heung-Min provided the goals in both wins. Kane is having another fantastic campaign for Spurs with 9 goals and 2 assists in 13 appearances. Meanwhile, Son is quickly up to 5 goals this season, all of which he’s scored in his last five games.
After tweaking his formation and going to a 3-5-2 against Brighton, Spurs coach Antonio Conte returned to his preferred 3-4-3 against Frankfurt. It remains to be seen whether Conte will change it up again for the visit of Everton.
Richarlison’s Everton reunion in doubt
Richarlison may not play in the Premier League match against his old team
Richarlison will surely be raring to start against his former club. The Brazilian spent four seasons with the Toffees, scoring 53 goals in 152 total appearances, but he was sold to Spurs last summer.
However, Richarlison picked up a knee injury in their Champions League match against Eintracht Frankfurt, which could potentially see him miss his reunion with his old club.
But the good news for Spurs is that Dejan Kulusevski, who has missed the last couple of games due to injury, he has returned to training and looks set to return against Everton. Lucas Moura also came back from injury against Frankfurt, which should give Conte more attacking options off the bench.
That defeat ended the Toffees’ impressive unbeaten run to six games (four straight draws, two straight wins).
After being in danger of relegation last season, Frank Lampard has his side in 12th at the moment, which is a decent improvement.
Everton significantly rebuilt in their defence over the summer, bringing in veteran centre-backs Conor Coady and James Tarkowski, and it has been paying dividends. They have conceded just nine goals, tied for the fewest in the league.
Scoring goals has been Everton’s big problem thus far this season. They have just eight goals to date, tied for the fourth-fewest in the division. And to make matters worse, leading scorer Anthony Gordon (2 goals) will be suspended for an accumulation of yellow cards.
But the good news is that striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin is finally back fit after an extended injury absence. The 25-year-old, who is just a couple of seasons removed from scoring 16 goals in a single league campaign, made his season debut against Manchester United and will look to provide Premier League 2022 highlights once again.
History
Tottenham and Everton are two of the five clubs who have never been relegated from the Premier League, so they have met a fair number of times. 60, to be exact.
Spurs have a significant 28-9 edge over Everton in terms of wins, with 23 draws. And the north London club has absolutely dominated the blue half of Merseyside in recent years. Tottenham have lost just one of their last 19 Premier League matches against Everton, with 9 wins and 9 draws.
Tottenham demolished Everton to the tune of 5-0 in this fixture last season. Harry Kane bagged a brace, while Kulusevski and wing-back Matt Doherty both had two assists. Everton have now won just one of their last 13 visits to Spurs, with 8 defeats and 4 draws.
SBOTOP odds have Tottenham installed as significant 1.47 favourites to extend their dominance over Everton, who are priced at 6.40. A draw is 4.30.
While they have looked far from impressive of late, it’s hard to discount the fact that Spurs are still quite a strong outfit at home.
Richarlison’s potential absence will be a blow, but Kulusevski’s return, coupled with Kane and Son in fine goalscoring form, Spurs should have the weapons they need to make a strong start and get an early advantage against Everton.
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Aston Villa are currently 16th at the Premier League table with only nine points, and another poor result at home might put them down in the dreaded relegation zone.
Chelsea, meanwhile, look rejuvenated under Graham Potter. The Blues are unbeaten since his appointment and they’re at fourth place in the standings with 16 points.
The gulf between Aston Villa and Chelsea may be large, but their recent meetings indicate that this is going to be another competitive match that football fans will enjoy.
Continue to read on below for the match preview courtesy of SBOTOP.
Talking Points
Aston Villa might axe Steven Gerrard
Aston Villa owners are reportedly mulling about sacking Gerrard since he hasn’t produced the positive Premier League 2022 results that they need in order to contend for a top half position.
The Villans have been struggling to put teams away which has resulted to three draws in their last four league games. Their lack of a cutting edge in the final third has been evident as they have the second fewest goals in the English top-flight (7) as of this writing.
Leading scorers Danny Ings, Leon Bailey, Douglas Luiz, and Ollie Watkins haven’t scored for more than a month now, while Philippe Coutinho has been heavily criticised for his poor displays this season.
It may not be all Gerrard’s fault because he has been dealt with a string of injuries as Diego Carlos, Boubacar Kamara, Lucas Digne, and Jed Steer are all sidelined for long spells. However, that’s just the tough reality for football coaches.
Chelsea are rolling under Graham Potter
Chelsea manager Graham Potter gives instructions from the sidelines during a Champions League game against AC Milan
The Graham Potter era at Stamford Bridge is off to a brisk start as they have yet to lose a game under his guidance with four wins and one draw in their last five games across all competitions.
Not much has changed tactics-wise since they’re still a possession-based team with a little bit of Pep Guardiola’s attacking philosophy. But perhaps what Chelsea needed all along was a new voice and Todd Boehly is looking like a genius for making the hire.
One beneficiary of Potter’s arrival is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who was offloaded by Barcelona this summer in order to balance their books. The Gabonese international has found his new home in West London as he now has three goals and one assist thus far.
At the same time, Chelsea have been better defencively since they’ve collected three consecutive clean sheets with Thiago Silva, Kalidou Koulibaly, Trevoh Chalobah, and Kepa Arrizabalaga all in superb form.
Unfortunately, the Blues will continue to have Wesley Fofana (knee), Reece James (knee), Hakim Ziyech (illness), and N’Golo Kante (thigh) on the sidelines due to fitness issues. But Chelsea have quality players on the bench who are ready to step up when called upon.
Villa Park hasn’t been a hostile ground for Chelsea as they’ve beaten Aston Villa in six of their last eight Premier League games there (L2), which is as many as they had in their first 19 visits in the competition (D7, L6).
Moreover, the Villans have won just one of their last 10 league games against the Blues (D1, L8), with their last win being a 2-1 result on the final matchday of the 2020-21 season.
Chelsea achieved a league double over Aston Villa last season with an aggregate tally of 6-1. However, they had a tight battle during their third round encounter at the 2020-21 Carabao Cup.
Timo Werner drew first blood to give the Blues the lead, but Cameron Archer equalised four minutes after the hour mark.
The Blues won by a whisker when they outshot the Villans 4-3 in the penalty shootout. They were eventually limited by runners-up Tottenham in the same fashion in the next round.
The Premier League 2022 odds are not high on the hosts for this contest. Aston Villa are priced at 4.20 to win, while Chelsea are the favourites at 1.84 and a draw is at 3.50 in the 1X2 market.
Chelsea should come out the gates strong, but the hosts will try to keep it close. The Blues simply have better depth and that should be enough to give them the victory.
Total Goals 2-3 @ 1.90 is an alternative bet that should give you a decent payout since we don’t expect a clean sheet – which has been the case in their recent encounters across all competitions.
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Liverpool meet Manchester City at Anfield in a clash of two teams who have formed the top two in the top flight for three of the past four seasons.
Another top-quality encounter surely beckons but, on this occasion, all the pressure is on one team and one team only.
Talking Points
Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne celebrates scoring their first goal against Liverpool in the Premier League
That is because last season’s runners-up trail the champions by 13 points (with a game in hand) which, even at this stage of the season, needs to be closed if the Merseysiders are to mount a title challenge.
Perhaps the German is right. In fact, he probably is.
Yet to come out with those comments on the eve of the game is either an attempt to get under the skin of their opponents or, more likely, a sign that Klopp cuts an agitated figure.
Agitated at the fact he and his team have not delivered so far this term; agitated at the fact that in a summer where he has spent big – a potential club-record £85 million deal for striker Darwin Núñez is more than £30 million more than City parted with for the phenomenal young talent Erling Braut Haaland – and are failing to keep onto the coat tails of the country’s number one team after finishing within a point of them five months ago.
While Haaland and City have been delivering Premier League highlights most weeks, Liverpool have been showing a vulnerability and been found wanting tactically.
That has, in part at least, probably prompted Klopp’s comments and Sunday offers the opportunity for him to restore some confidence on the biggest stage.
He will certainly expect better from a squad which has as much depth, if not more, on paper than the champions.
This weekend, left back Andy Robertson could make his first league appearance for six weeks, while there could also be a place in the squad for young midfielder Curtis Jones who hasn’t played since the Community Shield victory over City in July because of shin splints.
City also have their own absentees, most notably in defence where they are without John Stones because of a hamstring injury, while fellow England men Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips are recovering from surgery.
Both leagues games between these sides ended 2-2 last season and, with the best two squads in the country to otherwise select from, it is just as close to call again.
Overall, Liverpool have won 107 of their clashes with 58 City successes and 56 draws.
Last term in this fixture, Liverpool led twice through Sadio Mane and Mo Salah but Phil Foden and Kevin de Bruyne hit back quickly on each occasion.
The quality of the game and the goals was just as evident in the return at the Etihad Stadium in April where De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus were the City marksmen.
This time it was Liverpool’s turn to fight back with goals from Diogo Jota and Mane.
The SBOTOP Premier League betting odds edge towards the champions with bets on them including 1X2 @ 1.89 and Asian Handicap -0.75 @ 2.16.
A Liverpool success will be attractive to many punters who will likely consider 1X2 draw @ 3.55 or Asian Handicap +0.50 @ 2.04.
How about a third successive draw which is on offer @ 3.85.
A third successive 2-2 draw in the league is also available with Correct Score @ 11.00.
I can’t think of the last time these sides played out a goalless draw – actually I do remember a 0-0 contest in December 2007 – but nothing since then and I don’t expect one this weekend either.
Having looked at an array of options, including over 3.50 goals @ 2.14, total goal 4-6 @ 2.39 and total goal 2-3 @ 2.14, I am going to opt for the latter as my *** prediction.
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Premier League: Gunners Stay Top as Leeds Suffer the Worst of Luck
Leeds United 0-1 Arsenal
Arsenal will remain top of the Premier League for another week after ending Leeds’ unbeaten home record in a dramatic and bizarre clash at Elland Road.
Bukayo Saka blasted Arsenal into a 35th minute lead and that was enough to win the game, but Leeds will be wondering how on earth they didn’t get something after having a goal and a penalty denied by VAR and a penalty miss by Patrick Bamford; not to mention a fine performance from the Arsenal keeper and some poor finishing from the Whites.
And there was a crazy start to the game which lasted only for 69 seconds before being delayed for 40 minutes. Premier League: Leeds United vs Arsenal was billed as an all action match , but in a weird turn of events the game was delayed while the officials tried to get their communication lines moving.
At 12 minutes past the 2pm kick off time the players were taken off the pitch as the public address system announced that a power cut at Elland Road had caused the disruption and the referee had no access to VAR. Now you may think that’s a good thing but the Premier League doesn’t and the fans had to wait for the electricians to do their job.
They did and VAR helped to make it a miserable day for the Whites.
Highlights of the game
Patrick Bamford during Leeds United’s match against Arsenal at Elland Road
Despite Leeds failing to win in their last five games the SBOTOP football stats team picked out the point that the Whites were unbeaten at Elland Road, with two wins and two draws; and the home fans were right up for the game when the match restarted. And Leeds were almost ahead when Rodrigo found Luis Sinisterra in space and the Colombian midfielder’s shot was deflected inches wide.
But Rodrigo won’t want to look too closely at the Leeds United vs Arsenal highlights because he was at least partly at fault for the Gunners’ opener. The Spanish forward hit a dreadful cross field pass which gave Arsenal possession, and when Martin Odegaard fed Saka he smashed his shot into the roof of the net from a tight angle.
Jesse March reacted at half time by bringing Partick Bamford on and the striker thought he’d scored the leveller just 40 seconds after he entered the game, lashing home a volley but the ref blew for a foul on Gabriel and VAR confirmed that Bamford had impeded the Gunners defender.
On the hour Bamford had a glorious chance to be Supersub when the ball hit William Saliba’s hand. The referee waved away Leeds appeals but VAR awarded a spot kick. But Bamford stepped up and dragged his penalty wide.
Gabriel Martinelli has been in sensational form for Arsenal so far this season but he, as well as the in form Gabriel Jesus, had little to show in the second half as Leeds pushed hard for that equaliser. The Whites were playing a front six and Arsenal keeper Aaron Ramsdale made a great save to deny Brenden Aaronsen and Sinisterra blazed a good opportunity over the bar.
And then, on 90 minutes there was more drama. Bamford and Gabriel tussled in the penalty area, the referee pointed top the spot and waved a red card in the direction of the Arsenal defender.
Cue VAR…no penalty and no red card which all means… Arsenal stay at the top of the league and Leeds drop to 15th.
The Leeds United vs Arsenal betting odds backed a Gunners win at odds of 1.56 and while they had more possession and the teams had four shots on target each, Leeds had 16 efforts to Arsenal’s nine.
The victory for Arsenal made it their joint best start to any campaign since 1903.
What’s next?
It’s over to Manchester City now in the Sunday team time blockbuster against Liverpool, nut Arsenals’ winner means the Sky Blues can only narrow the gap to one point with a win.
Next up for the Gunners it’s the Europa League and a tie at home to PSV Eindhoven before, back in the Premier League Mikel Arteta’s team has another away game to a bottom half side when they visit Southampton on Sunday 23rd October. Leeds have two huge games over the next seven days when they visit struggling Leicester City on Thursday night before heading back to Elland Road to host Fulham. The Whites need points to pull away from the bottom three…and some luck!
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Indeed, maybe, just maybe, the side which needed the win the most showed slightly more desire and nicked it.
How Liverpool needed this against the champions of Manchester City.
It was a tense afternoon, as shown by the sight of home manager Jurgen Klopp being sent-off in the closing stages.
But in the end, Mohamed Salah’s goal 14 minutes from time proved enough to send the visitors to their first defeat of the campaign.
Highlights of the game
Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp got furious after no foul was given to Manchester City in their Premier League match
In a game of plenty of commitment, the clearest first half chances came the way of the home side with young midfielder Harvey Elliott finding forward Diogo Jota whose header was straight at Ederson, while full-back Andy Robertson could only smash the ball over the crossbar after the Brazilian goalkeeper was unable to hold onto a dangerous James Milner cross.
However, the threat of the visitors was clear too as demonstrated when Kevin de Bruyne’s delivery found man of the moment, Erling Haaland, whose header was also straight at the custodian, on this occasion another Brazilian in Alisson.
The Premier League highlights continued after the break and it took a fine fingertip save from Ederson to deny Salah.
Salah turned provider shortly afterwards with a chipped ball which Jota headed over from close range when he probably should have scored.
Then it was back down the other end as Haaland tested Alisson who was able to push the ball away with his right hand before holding a de Bruyne free-kick which was straight at him.
It proved a key moment as the goalkeeper quickly launched a goalkick downfield which evaded everyone bar Salah who got away from his marker and slotted the ball past Ederson.
Anfield erupted and even the sight of Klopp, unhappy at a challenge on Salah moments later, being sent from the touchline could not contain the delight of the home faithful who came close to a second in stoppage time when substitutes Darwin Nunez and Trent Alexander-Arnold combined, the latter inches away from getting a touch on the ball.
The SBOTOP Premier League betting odds will surely still make City title favourites.
After all, this was their first league defeat since February and a first away league defeat for 14 months.
Yet this was a much-needed win for Liverpool and shows they have not become a fading force overnight.
Key statistics
Salah has become only the second player in Premier League history to score 100+ left-footed goals, after Robbie Fowler (105).
City have only won twice in 26 Premier League away matches against Liverpool.
Klopp’s side are unbeaten in 28 home league matches since a 1-0 defeat by Fulham in March last year (won 21, drawn seven).
Klopp leads Pep Guardiola by 11 wins to eight – excluding penalty shootouts – in their 26 meetings as rival managers.
This was a first away league defeat for City since they lost 1-0 at Spurs on the opening weekend of last season.
What’s next?
A midweek programme of league action to come but City’s match with Arsenal has been postponed so they will not be in action again now until next Saturday (October 22) at home to Brighton.
Liverpool host West Ham on Wednesday evening and are then at newly promoted Nottingham Forest next Saturday lunchtime.
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Premier League: Revitalised Reds Look for Remain in the Ascendancy
Liverpool vs West Ham United
Could this finally be it? After a disappointing start to their season, are Liverpool finally getting their act together? Back-to-back victories over Rangers in the Champions League and against Premier League champions Manchester City over the weekend have seemingly revitalised the Reds’ flagging campaign.
And now, Liverpool will be looking to win three straight games for the first time all season as they welcome West Ham United to Anfield.
The Hammers have similarly had a slow start, but they are on a good run of late and will be keen to extend their current unbeaten run at Anfield.
Talking Points
Salah consistently scoring goals again
Liverpool have had a long list of problems to start the season. The defence has been unusually porous and the midfield has suddenly looked disjointed, which is why their Premier League 2022 odds of reclaiming the title are so high.
Meanwhile, top marksman Mohamed Salah was not scoring at the same rate. Last season’s Premier League co-Golden Boot winner had been in a bit of a funk as he went a stretch of five league games without a goal heading into the big Premier League match against Manchester City.
But Salah had at least been scoring consistently in the Champions League. He’s got five goals in the competition, including a sensational six-minute hat-trick after coming off the bench against Rangers.
Jurgen Klopp once again played with the adventurous 4-2-3-1 formation he used in the 3-2 defeat against Arsenal. But he shifted Salah to the centre as opposed to his usual spot on the right, with Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino, and Harvey Elliott in behind.
That tactical tweak was likely meant to catch Man City on the break, so Klopp may opt to switch Salah back to the right against West Ham.
Liverpool were without centre-backs Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate against City, so Joe Gomez filled in at centre-back, with James Milner playing at right-back.
Gomez and Milner both played quite well, but while Gomez may be called upon to start again in midweek, Milner is likely to make way for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who came on as a last-minute substitute.
Hammers returning to form
Similar to Liverpool, West Ham’s Premier League 2022 results are improving after a rough start to the season. The Hammers have gone unbeaten in five games in all competitions since returning from the international break, although their four-game winning streak was snapped as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Southampton over the weekend.
David Moyes had to deal with the absence of starting centre-backs Kurt Zouma and Craig Dawson, who are both doubts to play against Liverpool in midweek. Big-money summer signing Nayef Aguerd is still working his way back from an ankle injury while Angelo Ogbonna is dealing with a hamstring injury, leaving Moyes woefully short on defensive options.
West Ham United manager David Moyes stands on the pitch ahead of their Premier League game against Everton
Moyes played a back three of Ben Johnson, Thilo Kehrer, and Aaron Cresswell amid his centre-back injury crisis, which is far from his ideal group of defenders to go against a Liverpool side with a back-in-form Mo Salah.
The West Ham attack is slightly fitter, although Maxwel Cornet is still missing with a calf injury. The Hammers absolutely pelted Southampton’s attack and finished with a massive 25-10 shot advantage, but Saints somehow still had them beat in shots on target (8-4).
Lucas Paqueta is finally finding his best form as he had eight shots and hit the woodwork. Meanwhile, Gianluca Scamacca had seven shots, but he was unable to extend his run of scoring in two consecutive Premier League games.
History
Liverpool and West Ham have met 52 times in the Premier League. The Reds hold a 32-10 advantage in wins, with 10 draws.
Liverpool are in the midst of one of their most successful spells against the Hammers. They have won nine of their last 12 Premier League matches, with two draws and just one defeat.
That West Ham win came last season as they claimed a 3-2 win at London Stadium. But Liverpool got some revenge as they won 1-0 at Anfield thanks to a Sadio Mane goal.
West Ham’s last win at Anfield came back in 2015. The Hammers won 3-0 thanks to goals from Manuel Lanzini, Mark Noble, and Diafra Sakho.
SBOTOP odds have Liverpool installed as 1.42 favourites to win at home. West Ham are priced at 6.60, while a draw is 4.60.
Liverpool should be buzzing after their big win over Man City, with Salah in particular overflowing with confidence amid his recent purple patch.
The prospect of facing a makeshift West Ham defence should give Salah a great chance of extending his goalscoring spree. Look for him and Liverpool to come out strong against the Hammers and take a lead into half-time.
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Manchester United host Spurs on Wednesday night in an eye-catching Premier League clash which gives both teams a chance to display their top-four credentials.
There are few more atmospheric places to be than Old Trafford under the floodlights and a packed stadium will see two teams fighting hard to break out of the shadows of their rivals.
It’s a match-up between third and fifth in the table. Tottenham can go second and close the gap on leaders Arsenal if they avoid defeat, while a win for Manchester United could draw them level with fourth-placed Chelsea if other results go their way.
The latest Premier League 2022 betting oddsrank Spurs as fourth favourites, priced at26.00 to win the title with the Red Devils sixth at odds of 101.00. It’s a position neither team wants to be in, trailing the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City, and a win for either would be a major boost.
Talking Points
How will Ten Hag’s answer his selection questions?
A home game against Newcastle United is not the free gift it used to be and when the newly loaded Magpies rocked up at Old Trafford on Sunday, they did so breathing down their hosts’ necks, in sixth place. And Eddie Howe’s team successfully stifled their hosts and returned to the North East with a point after a goalless draw.
The result and performance threw up some selection dilemmas for the Manchester boss, not least who should lead the line. Ten Hag started with Cristiano Ronaldo but replaced him with Marcus Rashford late in the game and, while the England man looked lively, he missed two golden opportunities which Ronaldo would surely have taken.
With three goals from his first four appearances Antony is already Manchester United’s joint top scorer alongside Rashford, and he will surely start against Tottenham, but the Red Devils’ other wide man, Jadon Sancho, was ineffective and he could make way for Anthony Martial.
Christian Eriksen missed the Newcastle game through injury and without him Manchester United looked bereft of ideas. If the Dane has recovered, then he should slot in to replace either Scott McTominay or Fred.
On the plus side, United picked up their fifth clean sheet of the campaign and centre-back Lisandro Martinez put in another superb performance, so I don’t see a way back into the side for the accident-prone Harry Maguire.
Spurs head coach Antonio Conte is a born winner and he’s picked up league titles in both the Premier League and Serie A and, with ten games gone so far this season, it’s so far so good for Tottenham. Everton set up to frustrate Tottenham on Saturday and were hard to break down but, as Harry Kane scored his ninth goal in ten games and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg slammed in a late second Conte and his team celebrated wildly on the bench.
The Italian leader is known to favour a back three and a counter-attacking style and that plays perfectly to the strengths of his current set of players. Kane and Son make up the most lethal partnership in the league when they play on the break. And Kane can also sit deep and play a direct ball out to the wings, where Ivan Perisic and Dejan Kulusevski are both capable of beating defenders and delivering an accurate cross, with three assists each so far this season.
Richarlison receives medical attention after sustaining an injury in their Premier League game against Everton
Tottenham’s Premier League 2022 results have been good enough to keep the team alongside Manchester City and while some fans would like to see a more possession-based game, Conte will, with good reason, stick to his guns. He does have one change to make though as Richarlison limped off during the win over Everton and that might give an opening for 21-year-old Bryan Gil.
History
Manchester United have bossed this fixture for much of the Premier League era with 43 victories from the 64 encounters with Spurs over the past three decades. The Whites have managed ten wins and 11 draws, and despite their struggles throughout their 2021/22 campaign, the Red Devils did the double over the Londoners with a 3-0 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and a 3-2 victory at Old Trafford in March.
In terms of recent form the two clubs have identical records over the past six games with four wins a draw and a defeat each, and both are unbeaten in the last four.
Manchester United are favourites to take the three points on Wednesday at aSBOTOP price of 2.36 but, with Spurs at 2.68 and the draw at 3.30 it is set up to be a fascinating clash.
I expect Conte to have noted how easily Newcastle held off the Red Devils and he will set up to hit them on the counter, though a reappearance of former Spurs favourite Eriksen would cause the visitors more concern.
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Is this the Biggest Mismatch in Premier League History?
Brentford vs Chelsea
As far as Premier League matches go, this is as big a mismatch as they come as far as I am concerned.
For this is a club which wasn’t even in the top flight for 74 years (until just over a year ago) against a club which had one of the world’s richest owners for nearly two decades (until a few months ago).
Meanwhile, Brentford have managed to keep going on a budget the mere fraction of most of their opponents and still create Premier League highlights along the way.
They even now have an England man their ranks in Ivan Toney.
Ivan Toney scored a brace in Brentford’s match against Brighton & Hove Albion
Are they really capable, though, of defying the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds and upsetting the west Londoners?
So do Chelsea whose own England man, Mason Mount, netted a brace as they defeated Aston Villa by the same scoreline on Sunday afternoon.
The Brentford Community Stadium has provided plenty of home comforts so far this term for the Bees, who have taken 10 points from 15 on offer and are averaging more than two goals per game in front of their own fans – no surprise given the form Toney finds himself in.
A slice of club history is also on the line as they aim to win a midweek Premier League match for the first time (they have been defeated in five of their six contests on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays during their season and a bit to date).
They won’t be at full strength with duo Thomas Strakosha and Aaron Hickey out with ankle injuries, and Christian Norgaard (achilles) also a major doubt.
Skipper Pontus Jansson (hamstring) will be again missed so don’t be surprised if astute boss Thomas Frank selects the same starting XI from their win over Brighton, although Yoane Wissa’s place out wide could come under threat from Mikkel Damsgaard and Keane Lewis-Potter.
Influential midfielder N’Golo Kante (hamstring) is still out along with centre back Wesley Fofana (knee) and Reece James (knee) – the latter now a serious doubt for England’s World Cup squad and facing an estimated eight weeks on the sidelines after sustaining an injury against AC Milan last week.
Veteran centre-back Thiago Silva will also be checked after complaining of a potential thigh problem following the win over Villa.
There’s no shortage of options at Potter’s disposal with Hakim Ziyech hoping to return following illness and captain Cesar Azpilicueta, Kalidou Koulibaly and Jorginho all in contention to return.
There’s been plenty of changes at Chelsea since their opening weekend win at Everton but, for the first time, they seem to be settling.
They should be too strong for the spirited Bees.
History
This fixture last season saw a narrow 1-0 win for Chelsea, courtesy of a Ben Chilwell goal.
They also won at the Brentford Community Stadium two months later in a 2-0 win, secured by a late own goal and Jorginho penalty, in the fifth round of the League Cup.
The return fixture at Stamford Bridge in April, however, was truly one of the results of the 2021-22 season.
Inspired by Christian Eriksen, Brentford ran out 4-1 winners in an amazing turnaround.
After Antonio Rudiger had opened the scoring for the home side, they netted three times in 10 minutes with Vitaly Janelt scoring either side of Eriksen before Wissa completed a result which stunned football and delighted fans the world over after Eriksen’s health scare less than a year earlier.
Last season’s meetings were the first in the league since a 1947 clash in the former Division One.
The very first encounter was in November 1935 at Stamford Bridge, a match Chelsea won 2-1 with Alexander Cheyne and Dick Spence their marksmen.
Overall, Brentford have won five of their clashes with a further two draws and 10 defeats.
It’s hard to bet against Chelsea who are priced 1X2 @ 1.73, while the hosts are available @ 4.60.
The Draw is on offer @ 3.65.
A repeat of last season’s 1-0 Chelsea win will pay out @ 6.40 with Correct Score, whereas Brentford +0.50 @ 2.25 and Chelsea -1.00 @ 2.29 are among the Asian Handicap options. I do think the extra quality and depth of squad will win the day for Chelsea and my ** tip is Half Time Full Time Draw Away @ 4.20.
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Premier League: Points are at a Premium for Leicester and Leeds
Leicester City vs Leeds United
Two clubs who are struggling mightily so far in the 2022-23 Premier League season are set to go face-to-face this Thursday at the King Power Stadium.
Neither have won in their last two matches, although the hosts are in worse shape as of the moment. Leicester City are currently in the relegation zone, placing 19th with only five points, while not far off are Leeds United – who are sitting at the 15th spot with nine points.
The pre-match SBOTOP betting odds are slightly favouring the Foxes since they’ll be playing at home, but it might be taken with a grain of salt. However, they can move to within one point of their visitors in the standings if they can prevail in this game.
Turns out that the lengthy September break didn’t help Leeds United that much given that they’re still on a poor stretch of Premier League 2022 results.
Leeds United were reduced to 10 men in their goalless draw against Aston Villa, and then they lost back-to-back against Crystal Palace and league leaders Arsenal on Sunday.
Patrick Bamford is still trying his best to regain his deadly form after suffering multiple injuries last season. He had a glorious chance to open his scoring account this term against the Gunners, but he missed his penalty kick badly.
The Whites are having trouble finding the back of the net despite the number of chances that they’ve had recently. Simply put, they need to be sharper if they are going to get more points.
The bright side for Jesse Marsch is that he has a full squad to choose from and it’ll be up to him to draw out consistent production from his boys.
Although Jesse Marsch is under considerable scrutiny, well, at least he isn’t on the coaching hot seat compared to his counterpart this Thursday evening,
Leicester City to lose key playmaker
Leicester City midfielder James Maddison during a match against Crystal Palace
James Maddison will be unavailable for the Foxes in this game as he was booked for his fifth yellow card after a dive during their goalless draw against Crystal Palace in the last time out.
His suspension is going to be a huge blow for the Foxes as they’re desperate to move up on the table, and he’s their current top scorer with five goals and two assists.
Not only did Maddison get banned, but he most likely lost his chance of making it to England’s national team ahead of the World Cup since he had an underwhelming performance overall with manager Gareth Southgate watching from the stands.
Patson Daka and Harvey Barnes are going to be tasked to shoulder the offencive cudgels with Maddison out, while Jamie Vardy is another x-factor for Leicester City.
Scrutiny from the fans has been growing on Brendan Rodgers and it’s quite a tough time to be a Leicester City supporter right now.
History
Prior to Thursday, Leicester City had been hosts to Leeds United in 10 Premier League games. The Foxes have won six times, while the Whites have prevailed in four, and there have been no draws.
The Whites have lost each of their last three Premier League games on the road. They last lost more consecutively in a single English top-flight campaign in 2004 where they were eventually relegated.
Leeds United have also secured just one clean sheet in their last 16 league matches against Leicester City, which was a 2-0 away result back in March 2002.
Harvey Barnes has scored in his last five appearances versus Leeds United, with four of those meetings over the past two campaigns.
The 24-year-old winger was responsible for beating the Whites in their last encounter in March (1-0) and he’s keen on extending his scoring streak against their visitors.
The Premier League 2022 odds are backing Leicester City to win, although their margin for error is small. The Foxes are installed at 2.25, while the Whites are pegged at 3.10 and chances for a draw are at 3.30 in the 1X2 market.
Both sides are eager to halt their respective slumps, but Leeds United are likely to do so this week since Leicester City look uninspired and bereft of confidence. This match, though, can go either way and Under 2.50 @ 1.75 is under betting option to consider for this upcoming showdown.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR () BETS ARE WORTH:
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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The break in the Premier League, when the World Cup in Qatar kicks off, doesn’t arrive for another few weeks yet, but we’re already a quarter of the way through the 2022/23 campaign.
So here at SBOTOP we have decided to run the rule over the so called ‘Big Six’ clubs after ten rounds of the league; Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have been the star turn for sure, but what about the other five? It’s fair to say thet they have all had some bumps in the road in the early stages of the race but who is the most bruised and which clubs still look in good shape?
Arsenal – A
It’s hard to criticise the Gunners after a sparkling first ten games has seen them rise to the top of the league with a four point cushion over Manchester City. The only blemish on Arsenal’s opening games was a surprise 3-1 defeat to Manchester United, and to say it was a surprise shows how far Arteta’s team has come. Even in that loss they dominated possession with over 60 per cent of the ball and won the shot count by 16 to ten and the Gunners are the most fluent side in the league at the moment. They are ably captained by Martin Odegaard and the Brazilian duo of Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus are getting fans off their seats.
Spurs – B+
Antonio Conte’s Spurs play a different style to Arsenal and their supporters may look enviously across the road in North London at the swashbuckling Gunners, but look at the league table and they should be very happy. If they can beat Manchester United at Old Trafford on Wednesday night they will climb to within a point of the top. Since defeat to Arsenal at the beginning of October Tottenham have recorded back to back wins over Brighton and Everton and with clean sheets in both. Defensive solidity is at the heart of Conte’s strategy and with Harry Kane in fine form he has great strength at both ends of the pitch.
Manchester City – B
The Premier League 2022 betting odds are backing the Sky Blues heavily to win a fifth title in six years, and they probably will, but defeat to Liverpool last Sunday has taken the gleam off an otherwise impressive start. Erling Braut Haaland, with 15 goals in the opening ten games, looks certain to dominate defences throughout the league and he has already formed a fantastic relationship with the excellent Kevin De Bruyne, a partnership which is sure to become prolific.
Draws with Aston Villa and Newcastle showed that City aren’t unplayable but I suspect the defeat to Liverpool might well push Pep Guardiola’s team on.
Chelsea – B
Graham Potter’s five back to back Premier League victories as Chelsea manager are the joint-longest in his career.
The arrival of Graham Potter as Chelsea’s new head coach seems to have galvanised the club after it seemed to be stuttering under the ownership of Todd Boehly, who had spent heavily in the summer transfer window. Raheem Sterling has settled well up front and the Blues are on a five match winning run, in all competitions. They are up to fourth in the table and going well in Europe and attacking midfielder Mason Mount is back to his best, scoring an excellent brace in the 2-0 win over Aston Villa at the weekend.
Potter came to Stamford Bridge with a reputation for playing attractive football and he is delivering in terms of entertainment and results…so far.
Manchester United – B-
The Red Devils are a place behind Chelsea in fifth and that in itself isn’t such a bad position to be for a club which is still in its early stages of transition under the guidance of Erik Ten Hag. But the Red Devils still look miles away from being capable of mounting a title challenge and a top four place will be a tough task. Much depends on Ten Hag’s ability to mould a group of individuals into a team. He made a smart move on transfer deadline day with his signing of defensive midfielder Casemiro which adds quality and a winning mentality to the team, while Christian Eriksen has improved the Red Devil’s creatively.
But these two players are short term fixes for a long term problem.
Liverpool – C+
The Reds’ early Premier League 2022 results were disappointing to say the least and I would have awarded a ‘C’ but you have to give credit for the way Jurgen Klopp masterminded a win over hot favourites Manchester City. Liverpool are in seventh and 14 points behind leaders Arsenal and even the win over the Sky Blues only made it five points from the last four games.
Mo Salah seems to be coming into form but Klopp has concerns over his wing back Trent Alexander-Arnold while Virgil Van Dijk has not yet been his dominant self.
There’s a long way to go but Liverpool need to get moving.
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21-Jul 2022 Thursday
6:15 PM (639 days ago)
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