PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH PREVIEWS (FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 30 – SUNDAY OCTOBER 2)

Everton v Crystal Palace – Friday 2000

Positions: Everton 5^th, Crystal Palace 7^th

Form (league matches only – earliest matches first):

Everton DWWWWL (13pts)

Crystal Palace LLDWWW (10pts)

• Everton were going well until their unexpected defeat to Bournemouth, while Palace are in excellent form. However all three of their recent wins have come against teams in the bottom five, and they should find Everton’s defence is a much harder nut to crack.

Swansea City v Liverpool – Saturday 1200

Positions: Swansea 17^th, Liverpool 4^th

Form:

Swansea WLLDLL (4pts)

Liverpool WLDWWW (13pts)

• Swansea appear set for another season of struggling against relegation. They are unlikely to find free-scoring Liverpool in a generous mood, and a Reds win looks highly likely.

Hull v Chelsea – Saturday 1500

Positions: Hull 14^th, Chelsea 8^th

Form:

Hull WWLDLL (7pts)

Chelsea WWWDLL (10pts)

• After a fairytale start where they won their first two matches, Hull are now facing up to the realities of tackling the Premier League with a threadbare squad. Chelsea are not in great form themselves, and their performance in going down to defeat by Arsenal was especially poor, but expect Antonio Conte’s side to have the edge here.

Sunderland v West Bromwich Albion – Saturday 1500

Positions: Sunderland 20^th, West Brom 10^th

Form:

Sunderland LLDLLL (1pt)

West Brom WLDLWD (8pts)

• For the fourth successive season Sunderland have reached the end of September without recording a win. Whilst they have managed to stay up on each previous occasion, you feel that sooner or later such a poor start will ultimately lead to relegation. The Black Cats have to regard this as a winnable match, but on current form they can’t be seen as favourites.

Watford v Bournemouth – Saturday 1500

Positions: Watford 11^th, Bournemouth 15^th

Form:

Watford DLLWWD (8pts)

Bournemouth LLDWLW (7pts)

• Bournemouth secured an excellent win over Everton last week, but with only four goals to date this season, they remain the league’s joint lowest scoring team. If they are to make it three wins out of four here, you fancy it will be by the odd goal.

West Ham United v Middlesbrough – Saturday 1500

Positions: West Ham 18^th, Middlesbrough 16^th

Form:

West Ham LWLLLL (3pts)

Middlesbrough DWDLLL (5pts)

• Two sides in desperate need of three points meet here. Middlesbrough are still struggling to adapt to life in the Premier League, but even so you have to fancy them to score here against a West Ham defence that looks positively shambolic. But if ‘Boro do score, will it be enough to win?

Manchester United v Stoke City – Sunday 1200

Positions: Man Utd 6^th, Stoke 19^th

Form:

Man Utd WWWLLW (12pts)

Stoke DLLLLD (2pts)

• United got back to winning ways by scoring four in the first half against Leicester, and you have to fancy them to beat Stoke, who are the joint lowest scorers and have the second worst defensive record – never a good combination!

Leicester City v Southampton – Sunday 1415

Positions: Leicester 12^th, Southampton 9^th

Form:

Leicester LDWLWL (7pts)

Southampton DLDLWW (8pts)

• Leicester are yet to beat a team from the top half of the table, and having suffered heavy defeats to Liverpool and Manchester United, questions are being asked about their defence. This time last season, Leicester were still winning despite conceding a fair number of goals, and it was only later in the season that they acquired a mean defence to complement their potent strike force. Southampton may start as favourites given they have won their last two, following a difficult start.

Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City – Sunday 1415

Positions: Tottenham 2^nd, Man City 1^st

Form:

Tottenham DWDWWW (14pts)

Man City WWWWWW (18pts)

• A potentially hugely exciting top of the table clash is in store. Tottenham have the best defensive record in the league and City are without the injured Kevin De Bruyne. However, City’s record of ten wins and one draw out of eleven in all competitions, and the manner in which they have achieved those victories, means that right now they must be considered favourites for every match they play.

Burnley v Arsenal – Sunday 1630

Positions: Burnley 13^th, Arsenal 3^rd

Form:

Burnley LWLDLW (7pts)

Arsenal LDWWWW (13pts)

• Burnley produced possibly their best performance of the season to beat Watford on Monday, but they will find the in-form Arsenal side a more difficult proposition. Expect the Gunners to chalk up three more points here.

Tipster Street.

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