Chelsea can go top of the league — for a few hours at least — with a win against Newcastle in tomorrow’s early kick-off. Jose Mourinho has never won at St James’ Park though and maybe he was mindful of that when he rested the bulk of his first team for the Carling Cup in midweek.
On form, it looks straightforward. Chelsea have won their last six in all competitions while Newcastle have just one home win this season and four points from their last five games in the league.
Bet: Chelsea @ 8/13
Hull City v Sunderland
KC Stadium, 3pm, Saturday
Sunderland finally won a game (at the ninth time of asking) when they beat Newcastle last weekend. Now they face former boss Steve Bruce and Hull who are hanging around mid-table after a good start to the season.
Hull have lost their last two in the league but there are plenty of positives to be taken from the defeats against Everton and Spurs. They did play extra time and penalties before losing to Spurs (again!) in the Carling Cup on Wednesday though.
Bet: Draw @ 23/10
West Brom: beaten by Liverpool last weekend (Dave Thompson/PA Wire/Press Association Images)
West Brom v Crystal Palace
The Hawthorns, 3pm, Saturday
Crystal Palace have no manager and they’ve lost their last six in the league. West Brom were taken apart by Liverpool last weekend but that was their first league defeat since 1 September, a run which included a win against Manchester United and a draw against Arsenal.
Goals have been hard to come by for both teams — Palace have scored six; West Brom have eight.
Bet: West Brom @ 4/7
Man City v Norwich City
Etihad Stadium, 3pm, Saturday
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City have been plagued by inconsistency so far this season and last weekend’s defeat to Chelsea was their third already this season. That said, this is a very beatable Norwich team that is struggling in the relegation zone.
Expect lots of goals — yes, even though Joe Hart has been dropped. This fixture has produced 25 in the last two seasons.
Bet: Man City @ 2/9
Torres: stung City last week (Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire/Press Association Images)
Stoke City v Southampton
Britannia Stadium, 3pm, Saturday
In any “normal” season, Stoke against Southampton would be a pretty unappealing fixture but Mauricio Pochettino’s side are riding high this season, backed by the stingiest defence in the league.
That’s grim reading for Stoke who have only scored six in the league this season but they did get four in the Carling Cup in midweek with Oussama Assaidi, Peter Crouch, Marko Arnautovic and Kenwyne Jones all on the mark.
Bet: Draw @ 9/4
Fulham v Man United
Craven Cottage, 3pm, Saturday
The pick of the 3pm kick-offs as United look to stretch their unbeaten run of six games in all competitions. David Moyes has a near fully-fit squad to choose from with Danny Welbeck the only absentee with a knee injury.
Fulham haven’t beaten United since 2009. Just sayin’.
Bet: United @ 8/13
Wayne Rooney and a bottle of Gatorade (Mike Egerton/EMPICS Sport)
West Ham v Aston Villa
Upton Park, 3pm, Saturday
15th hosts 13th… and we’re excited. Carlton Cole is out injured for the Hammers and if Gabby Agbonlahor doesn’t pass a late fitness test, well what’s the point really?
Bet: Villa @ 23/10
Arsenal v Liverpool
Emirates Stadium, 5.30pm, Saturday
The standout fixture of the weekend as league leaders Arsenal host third-placed Liverpool. It’s still a little bit early to be talking about a title race — it is only 2 November after all — but a win for either would be a big boost.
Mikel Arteta has served his one-game suspension and Per Mertesacker, Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil are all set to return to Arsene Wenger’s starting line-up. Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has playmaker Philippe Coutinho available again and a lot could depend on his supply to Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge (if he plays).
Bet: Arsenal @ 13/10
Everton v Tottenham
Goodison Park, 1.30pm, Sunday
Two of the league’s form sides meet in an intriguing Sunday clash. Precisely half of Spurs’ wins this season have been by a Roberto Soldado penalty to nil, the score they beat Hull by last weekend to move up to fourth. They could have done without extra time and penalties in Wednesday’s league cup win over Hull though.
Arouna Kone is missing for Everton, who have only lost once in the league this season and are looking for their third straight win.
Bet: Spurs @ 19/10
Bobby Soldado: loves a penalty (Nick Potts/PA Wire/Press Association Images)
Cardiff City v Swansea City
Cardiff City Stadium, 4pm, Sunday
It’s not as super as we like our Sundays… and Cardiff have died off after showing some early-season promise. Meh.
Bet: Swansea @ 13/10
Accumulator: A crisp tenner on the above will net you over €27,000 if they all come in. Our prediction? Six out of 10.
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Premier League preview: how to fill out your football accumulator this weekend
Newcastle v Chelsea
St James’ Park, 12.45pm, Saturday
Chelsea can go top of the league — for a few hours at least — with a win against Newcastle in tomorrow’s early kick-off. Jose Mourinho has never won at St James’ Park though and maybe he was mindful of that when he rested the bulk of his first team for the Carling Cup in midweek.
On form, it looks straightforward. Chelsea have won their last six in all competitions while Newcastle have just one home win this season and four points from their last five games in the league.
Bet: Chelsea @ 8/13
Hull City v Sunderland
KC Stadium, 3pm, Saturday
Sunderland finally won a game (at the ninth time of asking) when they beat Newcastle last weekend. Now they face former boss Steve Bruce and Hull who are hanging around mid-table after a good start to the season.
Hull have lost their last two in the league but there are plenty of positives to be taken from the defeats against Everton and Spurs. They did play extra time and penalties before losing to Spurs (again!) in the Carling Cup on Wednesday though.
Bet: Draw @ 23/10
West Brom: beaten by Liverpool last weekend (Dave Thompson/PA Wire/Press Association Images)
West Brom v Crystal Palace
The Hawthorns, 3pm, Saturday
Crystal Palace have no manager and they’ve lost their last six in the league. West Brom were taken apart by Liverpool last weekend but that was their first league defeat since 1 September, a run which included a win against Manchester United and a draw against Arsenal.
Goals have been hard to come by for both teams — Palace have scored six; West Brom have eight.
Bet: West Brom @ 4/7
Man City v Norwich City
Etihad Stadium, 3pm, Saturday
City have been plagued by inconsistency so far this season and last weekend’s defeat to Chelsea was their third already this season. That said, this is a very beatable Norwich team that is struggling in the relegation zone.
Expect lots of goals — yes, even though Joe Hart has been dropped. This fixture has produced 25 in the last two seasons.
Bet: Man City @ 2/9
Torres: stung City last week (Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire/Press Association Images)
Stoke City v Southampton
Britannia Stadium, 3pm, Saturday
In any “normal” season, Stoke against Southampton would be a pretty unappealing fixture but Mauricio Pochettino’s side are riding high this season, backed by the stingiest defence in the league.
That’s grim reading for Stoke who have only scored six in the league this season but they did get four in the Carling Cup in midweek with Oussama Assaidi, Peter Crouch, Marko Arnautovic and Kenwyne Jones all on the mark.
Bet: Draw @ 9/4
Fulham v Man United
Craven Cottage, 3pm, Saturday
The pick of the 3pm kick-offs as United look to stretch their unbeaten run of six games in all competitions. David Moyes has a near fully-fit squad to choose from with Danny Welbeck the only absentee with a knee injury.
Fulham haven’t beaten United since 2009. Just sayin’.
Bet: United @ 8/13
Wayne Rooney and a bottle of Gatorade (Mike Egerton/EMPICS Sport)
West Ham v Aston Villa
Upton Park, 3pm, Saturday
15th hosts 13th… and we’re excited. Carlton Cole is out injured for the Hammers and if Gabby Agbonlahor doesn’t pass a late fitness test, well what’s the point really?
Bet: Villa @ 23/10
Arsenal v Liverpool
Emirates Stadium, 5.30pm, Saturday
The standout fixture of the weekend as league leaders Arsenal host third-placed Liverpool. It’s still a little bit early to be talking about a title race — it is only 2 November after all — but a win for either would be a big boost.
Mikel Arteta has served his one-game suspension and Per Mertesacker, Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil are all set to return to Arsene Wenger’s starting line-up. Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has playmaker Philippe Coutinho available again and a lot could depend on his supply to Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge (if he plays).
Bet: Arsenal @ 13/10
Everton v Tottenham
Goodison Park, 1.30pm, Sunday
Two of the league’s form sides meet in an intriguing Sunday clash. Precisely half of Spurs’ wins this season have been by a Roberto Soldado penalty to nil, the score they beat Hull by last weekend to move up to fourth. They could have done without extra time and penalties in Wednesday’s league cup win over Hull though.
Arouna Kone is missing for Everton, who have only lost once in the league this season and are looking for their third straight win.
Bet: Spurs @ 19/10
Bobby Soldado: loves a penalty (Nick Potts/PA Wire/Press Association Images)
Cardiff City v Swansea City
Cardiff City Stadium, 4pm, Sunday
It’s not as super as we like our Sundays… and Cardiff have died off after showing some early-season promise. Meh.
Bet: Swansea @ 13/10
Like football? Follow TheScore.ie’s dedicated Twitter account @football_ie
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