PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH PREVIEWS (SATURDAY 15th – MONDAY 17th)

Chelsea v Leicester City – Saturday 1230

Positions: Chelsea 7^th, Leicester 12^th

Form (league matches only – earliest matches first):

Chelsea WWDLLW (10pts)

Leicester DWLWLD (8pts)

• Leicester have the worst away defensive record in the league, having shipped 10 in just three matches on their travels so far. Although Chelsea have themselves been inconsistent, they may start as marginal favourites here.

Arsenal v Swansea City – Saturday 1500

Positions: Arsenal 3^rd, Swansea 17^th

Form:

Arsenal DWWWWW (16pts)

Swansea LLDLLL (1pt)

• A genuine baptism of fire for Bob Bradley as the American takes charge of Swansea for the first time. Arsenal have won their last five while Swansea have lost three in a row and lost five of the last six. All runs of form, whether good or bad, come to an end at some stage, but a comfortable Arsenal win has to be the most likely outcome.

Bournemouth v Hull City – Saturday 1500

Positions: Bournemouth 13^th, Hull 15^th

Form:

Bournemouth LDWLWD (8pts)

Hull WLDLLL (4pts)

• Hull have struggled in their last five matches since their dream start to the season. However, with Bournemouth having netted just six times in seven games so far, this could be an opportunity for the Tigers to get a point, at least.

Manchester City v Everton – Saturday 1500

Positions: Man City 1^st, Everton 5^th

Form:

Man City WWWWWL (15pts)

Everton WWWWLD (13pts)

• City’s superb start ended at Tottenham, and now they face another tough fixture. Everton have conceded only five goals so far, despite not winning either of their last two matches, and if City do prevail here, it may well be by a single goal. Kevin de Bruyne may return for City following a hamstring injury.

Stoke City v Sunderland – Saturday 1500

Positions: Stoke 19^th, Sunderland 20^th

Form:

Stoke LLLLDD (2pts)

Sunderland LDLLLD (2pts)

• The two teams without a win to date go head-to-head here. Both sides managed creditable draws in their last match, and maybe with both teams lacking confidence, this could well end in a draw as well.

West Bromwich Albion v Tottenham Hotspur – Saturday 1500

Positions: West Brom 9^th, Tottenham 2^nd

Form:

West Brom LDLWDD (6pts)

Tottenham WDWWWW (16pts)

• West Brom have made a decent start and sit in the top half of the table. However, it could be argued that they have not played many of the top teams so far, and they will certainly find Tottenham an altogether tougher proposition than struggling Stoke or Sunderland, the two teams against whom West Brom recorded draws in their last two matches. Expect Tottenham’s superb defensive record to see them to another three points here.

Crystal Palace v West Ham United – Saturday 1730

Positions: Crystal Palace 8^th, West Ham 18^th

Form:

Crystal Palace LDWWWD (11pts)

West Ham WLLLLD (4pts)

• Current form certainly points to a Palace win over a West Ham side who have conceded more than any other team in the league.

Middlesbrough v Watford – Sunday 1330

Positions: Middlesbrough 16^th, Watford 11^th

Form:

Middlesbrough WDLLLD (5pts)

Watford LLWWDD (8pts)

• A run of three successive defeats for Middlesbrough ended against West Brom. However, Watford are unbeaten in four and that momentum could see them take the points here.

Southampton v Burnley – Sunday 1600

Positions: Southampton 10^th, Burnley 14^th

Form:

Southampton LDLWWD (8pts)

Burnley WLDLWL (7pts)

• Southampton are improving after a difficult start, and they may have the edge over Burnley, whose current position of 14^th may be a false position as due to a quirk of the fixture list, five of their seven matches to date have been played at their Turf Moor home ground. In the two away matches Burnley have played, they have lost both and conceded a total of six goals.

Liverpool v Manchester United – Monday 2000

Positions: Liverpool 4^th, Man Utd 6^th

Form:

Liverpool LDWWWW (13pts)

Man Utd WWLLWD (13pts)

• This meeting of two big Northern rivals is never anything less than keenly fought. Liverpool have scored 11 times in winning all of their last four, while United failed to beat Stoke last time out and have won only one in four. Nevertheless, United definitely have players capable of winning this match. This match will probably be won by whichever team rises to the occasion best.

Tipster Street.

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