1. Tottenham to beat West Ham 1-0 — 13/2
ONE OF THE main reasons why Tottenham are the only unbeaten Premier League side is their rock solid defence.
Spurs have by far the best backline in the league statistically, with just six goals conceded in 11 games.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side average just over a goal a game, but their stubborn rearguard means they are still only five points off leaders Liverpool.
Goals have been hard to come by for the North Londoners of late, but with Harry Kane back from injury, and Dele Alli nearing full fitness, they should have enough to overcome a struggling West Ham side.
Granted, one of Spurs’ key players, Belgian centre-back Toby Alderweireld, is still not back from a knee injury, but Pochettino’s men remain a well-organised outfit that are more difficult to break down than any other Premier League side right now.
2. Man United and Arsenal to end scoreless — 8/1
Arsenal have been easily the more impressive of the two sides so far this season and their fans will go into the game feeling optimistic about their chances of a victory.
Yet there are some reasons for Red Devils fans to be positive too. The Gunners have not won any of their last nine Premier League matches at Old Trafford, losing seven of those encounters.
Both sides are without important players — for Arsenal, Hector Bellerin (ankle) and Santi Cazorla (achilles) have been ruled out, while Alexis Sanchez is a doubt after suffering a hamstring injury on international duty with Chile.
United will be without the suspended Zlatan Ibrahimovic, while Marouane Fellaini (calf) is doubtful.
Jose Mourinho, with the memory of the woeful home display last September against Man City as well as the 4-0 defeat away to Chelsea in mind, will likely adopt a pragmatic approach as he did in the 0-0 draw with Liverpool last month.
Arsenal’s stalemate with Middlesbrough last month suggests they still find it difficult to break down well-organised teams, so Saturday’s game should prove similarly challenging in that regard.
3. Liverpool to beat Southampton and both teams to score — 3/1
League leaders Liverpool have clearly enjoyed a phenomenal start to the season.
Only Chelsea could dispute the claim that the Anfield club are the best attacking side in the Premier League right now.
The Reds have managed at least four goals in five of their 11 Premier League games so far this season, with the attacking trio of Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Philippe Coutinho regularly wreaking havoc.
Their last match was an especially impressive 6-1 defeat of Watford, though the concern may be that Jurgen Klopp’s side will lose their momentum owing to the international break, as happened with Tottenham following their 2-0 defeat of Man City at the beginning of October.
But Liverpool seem to have an edge against most sides they come up against — Klopp’s high-pressing style is reaping dividends, while their lack of European football gives them a big advantage fitness-wise over most of their title rivals.
The Reds’ defensive record is inferior to any other side in the top seven, but expect them to be too good regardless for a Southampton team that have yet to hit the heights of last season.
4. Diego Costa to be first goalscorer against Middlesbrough — 3/1
With nine goals in 11 league games so far this season, Diego Costa is starting to show the type of form that seemed to desert him for long periods of last year’s campaign.
After young Belgian striker Michy Batshuayi was signed for €40 million from Marseille amid speculation linking the 28-year-old star with a return to Atletico Madrid, Costa’s days at Stamford Bridge looked numbered last summer.
Yet the Spanish international has silenced critics while helping a rejuvenated Chelsea to second in the league.
Middlesbrough could make life difficult for the Londoners, as they did for Arsenal recently, but the way Chelsea and Costa are playing right now, it’s difficult to see any team stopping them.
5. Man City to win against Palace and over 3.5 goals — 12/5
Man City have the third best attack in the Premier League while Crystal Palace have the fifth-worst defence, so this Saturday’s encounter looks like a game with the potential for plenty of goals.
Guardiola will have watched Palace’s recent 4-2 home defeat by Liverpool and notice the Eagles’ weaknesses at the back, while the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero are certainly good enough to capitalise on even the slightest of lapses at the back.
The Etihad outfit have all their big players available, so it’s hard to envisage anything other than a convincing City win against Alan Pardew’s side, who sit just one place above the relegation zone after a difficult start to the campaign.
As if the outlook weren’t gloomy enough for Palace, they also have an abysmal record when it comes to playing City, who have won 10 of the last 11 meetings between the sides in all competitions.
Originally published Friday at 16.29
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