Liverpool vs Manchester City is the standout fixture on a tantalising weekend of Premier League action. Jones Knows marks your card.
Brentford vs Brighton, Friday 8pm, live on Sky Sports
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Image: Brentford vs Brighton is live on Sky Sports on Friday evening
When a team is on the end of a bit of a hiding there is a theory that their next game will be all about being defensively secure. Brentford can be forgiven for their bad day at the office at Newcastle, where individual errors were the catalyst for the 5-1 defeat rather than collective issues.
Thomas Frank will be demanding safety-first defending with Brighton in town and there is a fair chance they can restrict the Seagulls, who remain very capable of throwing in a wasteful attacking performance despite their strong start to the season. They created little – 0.72 worth of expected goals – against Tottenham as some old habits of poor finishing and making too many passes crept into their game.
Brentford
Brighton and Hove Albion
Friday 14th October 7:00pm Kick off 8:00pm
As Brighton are always reliable as a defensive unit, proven by their defensive metrics since the start of last season that have them as the fifth best defence in the Premier League, I can foresee a very cagey, low-scoring encounter where the 0-0 is a runner.
The under 2.5 goals line would usually be my play but 8/11 with Sky Bet is skinny enough, so my advice is back the Evens available on ‘no’ in the both teams to score market. It is a bet that would have copped in both fixtures between these two last season.
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SCORE PREDICTION: 0-0 JONES KNOWS BEST BET: ‘No’ in both teams to score (Evens with Sky Bet – Bet Here!)
Image: What score will you predict as Liverpool and Manchester City clash at Anfield?
Leicester vs Crystal Palace, Saturday 12.30pm
Leicester are sneaky, sneaky sausages, convincing us they were back on the straight and narrow with their 4-0 win over Nottingham Forest. After falling behind with 20 minutes to go at Bournemouth, Brendan Rodgers’ side had one measly shot at goal. That lack of intensity and fight, added to an inability to defend their goal when put under any significant pressure, only further enhances the case for swerving them at all costs this weekend in a game they are favourites to win.
If Palace can defend properly and quell the threat of James Maddison and Harvey Barnes it is very likely their attack will break through at various points against a defence that has now shipped 24 goals this season. The 21/10 on an away win with Sky Bet makes plenty of appeal.
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SCORE PREDICTION: 1-2
Fulham vs Bournemouth, Saturday 3pm – PLAY SUPER 6 HERE!
For as long as Aleksandar Mitrovic remains sidelined, I’m happy to oppose Fulham based on their plummeting defensive numbers that at the current rate is going to require them to score at least two, maybe three goals to win a Premier League match. They are easily swerved at 5/6 with Sky Bet this weekend, especially with Bournemouth taking nine points from the last 15 available.
I’m not convinced Fulham’s defence is up to Premier League standard despite a bold start to life back at the top table. They have now shipped at least two goals in eight of their 10 games across all competitions this season, including against Crawley Town in the Carabao Cup.
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Their expected goals against data in the Premier League is also officially the worst in the league now (17.43), showcasing their worrying ability to afford opponents high-probability chances.
With such welcoming defending on show from Fulham, my instincts are taking me to the opposition goalscorer markets, especially the central striker. And despite Dominic Solanke scoring just once in his last nine appearances, he is certainly going to carry my money this weekend.
Fulham are vulnerable through the heart of their defence. Just look at the list of strikers to have notched against them this season: Gianluca Scamacca, Michail Antonio, Callum Wilson, Taiwo Awoniyi, Harry Kane, Ivan Toney and Darwin Nunez. If Bournemouth can get the right service into Solanke in and around those dangerous central areas, I’d be confident of him adding his name to that list. Let’s not forget, he was Bournemouth’s top scorer with 29 Championship goals last season, making him the highest scoring English player in the top four tiers of English football. He also scored in both fixtures vs Fulham.
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I’m taking the 11/4 with Sky Bet on his anytime goalscorer prospects as my main bet but also tickling the 22/1 on him scoring twice and 125/1 for the hat-trick.
SCORE PREDICTION: 1-2 | JONES KNOWS BEST BET: Dominic Solanke to score anytime (11/4 with Sky Bet – Bet Here!), to score twice (22/1 with Sky Bet – Bet Here!) & to score a hat-trick (125/1 with Sky Bet – Bet Here!)
Wolves vs Nottingham Forest, Saturday 3pm – PLAY SUPER 6 HERE!
It can’t be much fun being a Wolves fan at the minute. I think most know there are the makings of a solid Premier League side waiting to be unleashed but morale is on the floor, their managerial search is proving fruitless and they have no strikers. It might get worse, too, as Morgan Gibbs-White returns as Forest’s most potent attacking weapon.
Image: Morgan Gibbs-White joined Nottingham Forest from Wolves in the summer
Steve Cooper’s side resorted to ultra-defensive tactics in the draw with Aston Villa but Gibbs-White looked very dangerous playing just off the striker and got into some promising positions, but just lacked that killer final finish. A player with his ability and with a point to prove to old employers should be much shorter than 14/1 with Sky Bet to score the opening goal in what should be a rather uneventful affair.
SCORE PREDICTION: 1-1
Tottenham vs Everton, Saturday 5.30pm, live on Sky Sports – PLAY SUPER 6 HERE!
Image: Tottenham Hotspur vs Everton is live on Sky Sports on Saturday
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This could be one of those ‘job done’ games for Antonio Conte’s Spurs as Everton are going to make things fiddly for them. Frank Lampard’s men have only seen 17 goals for and against in their Premier League games this season – only Wolves’ games have featured fewer goals (15). A low scoring home win looks the play.
Ryan Sessegnon, if selected, is a player of interest from a betting perspective such are his bulky prices in the assist markets. Conte’s wing-backs aren’t your traditional wing-backs in that they almost play as forwards when a Conte team attacks. And when you factor in the market expectation of Tottenham’s win chances and amount of goals they’re expected to score, Sessegnon’s chances of grabbing an assist are underrated by his price of 4/1 with Sky Bet.
The youngster provides great width for Conte and is at his most dangerous when running in behind the opposition full-back into a crossing position. He has put in five crosses in his last two starts, creating three chances for his team-mates and when you have the likes of Harry Kane finishing off your ammunition an assist usually isn’t far away.
SCORE PREDICTION: 2-0
Aston Villa vs Chelsea, Sunday 2pm, live on Sky Sports – PLAY SUPER 6 HERE!
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Chelsea to win without conceding at 2/1 with Sky Bet? This one stinks of best-bet-of-the-weekend material.
On the subject of stenches, we must talk about Aston Villa’s tame attack. Apparently, doctors are advising people with insomnia to get a season ticket at Villa Park.
It was truly a pitiful attacking performance at Nottingham Forest – a side that had previously lost their last five Premier League games. Villa’s expected goals output of 0.69 was the eighth time in their last 10 matches that they’ve posted a tally lower than one, which points to a clear issue in their ability to create good quality chances. The eye test proves that too with Phillipe Coutinho, Ollie Watkins and Emi Buendia all looking lost and out of ideas.
Image: Steven Gerrard during Aston Villa's goalless draw with Leeds
On the basis of the metrics, they should have been beaten to nil in both their meetings with traditional top-six teams this season, creating 0.27 from four shots vs Manchester City and 0.45 from four shots vs Arsenal. Defensively they look pretty secure in their shape but Chelsea arrive in confident and flowing fashion under their new boss Graham Potter, who is getting his message across earlier than expected.
Chelsea have won four successive games in all competitions for the first time since March and have kept three successive clean sheets for the first time since February. Make that four please, Graham.
SCORE PREDICTION: 0-2 | JONES KNOWS BEST BET: Chelsea to win to nil (2/1 with Sky Bet – Bet Here!)
Leeds vs Arsenal, Sunday 2pm
We haven’t got much evidence to work with but Leeds’ games against the top-six at Elland Road should be fun under Jesse Marsch. His team are playing with a clear identity now. It’s a brave style of football that leaves them woefully exposed if smart and intricate teams break their press but that’s what you get with risk-reward type of football.
Arsenal are without question a team capable of exploiting that, yet, as Leeds showed in their 3-0 win against Chelsea earlier this season, their attacking patterns do lead to big chances being created. So, a whacky game could be on the cards and those looking to back the over total goals line should fill their boots.
Both teams to score and over 3.5 goals at 2/1 with Sky Bet should give you a good run.
SCORE PREDICTION: 2-4
Manchester United vs Newcastle, Sunday 2pm
My gut is telling me that Manchester United are a touch of value here at around Evens with Sky Bet, but I’m staying clear of getting financially invested in Newcastle matches. They confuse me as I’m convinced they are overrated by the markets, especially in attack, but have just scored nine goals in their last two games. So, my brain is frazzled.
Rest assured if they can grab three points here in a dominant showing I will have to revise my opinion.
One area they will be confident of finding joy from will be from set-pieces. No team has posted more shots (55, 14 more than any other team) and created a higher expected goals figure (5.01) from set-pieces this season than Newcastle. Meanwhile, Man Utd have conceded the third most shots from set-piece situations this season and looked all at sea in the closing stages at Goodison Park last weekend when Everton went direct.
This makes Dan Burn (28/1), Fabian Schar (11/1) and Sven Botman (16/1) all runners in the anytime goalscorer market but a more all-encompassing way of getting the Newcastle set-piece angle onside is to back chief creator Kieran Trippier to bag an assist at 7/2 with Sky Bet. He has produced the most passes into the opposition box of any player in the Premier League this season and it was surprising to find out his assist for Bruno Guimaraes last weekend was his first since joining Newcastle. Another one could be on the way.
SCORE PREDICTION: 2-1
Southampton vs West Ham, Sunday 2pm
There is a frenzy coming. The subject will be Lucas Paqueta, who is going to take the Premier League by storm over the next six weeks. I had the pleasure of watching him up close on Sunday in West Ham’s win over Fulham and it’s easy to see why such excitement was caused when the Hammers secured his unlikely signature. Paqueta was a class apart in the 3-1 win over Fulham, linking up with Gianluca Scamacca in devastating fashion. The Brazilian created three chances for his striker, who scored one when he probably should have finished all three.
“If you are any centre forward you want to play with Paqueta,” gushed David Moyes afterwards.
Playing in a free role in this West Ham side that has plenty of protection for the defence is going to suit a player of such silk and savviness. Yet, the markets haven’t quite given him the respect he deserves, so we must take advantage while we can, starting in this clash where West Ham are taken to make it three Premier League wins on the spin. They will be too streetwise and carry too much threat for a meandering Saints.
But my eyes have been drawn to the 9/2 with Sky Bet on Paqueta registering another assist. I’ll be surprised if this lad doesn’t get over seven assists come the end of the season judging by the freedom he’s given and his creative touch, so these current prices are worth jumping on while they last. Scamacca to score another goal assisted by Paqueta is also overpriced at 14/1 with Sky Bet.
Image: Lucas Paqueta was a standout performer vs Fulham and is 9/2 for an assist
Just for reference, Sky Bet pay out on an assist which is recorded by Fantasy Football rather than Opta. For any bets involving assists, the following rule will be applied: “An Assist is defined as the final pass or pass-come-shot leading to the recipient of the ball scoring a goal. It also includes the following actions: Penalty won; Attempt saved; Shot hit woodwork, rebound scored; Instigating an own goal through a shot/pass.”
SCORE PREDICTION: 0-2 | JONES KNOWS BEST BET: Lucas Paqueta to register an assist (9/2 with Sky Bet – Bet Here!) & Gianluca Scamacca to score from a Paqueta assist (14/1 with Sky Bet – Bet Here!)
Liverpool vs Manchester City, Sunday 4.30pm, live on Sky Sports – PLAY SUPER 6 HERE!
Image: Liverpool vs Manchester City is live on Sky Sports on Sunday afternoon
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Being able to get 3/1 with Sky Bet on Liverpool in a home match looks like one of those ridiculous bookmaker sign up offers – but this is the reality of their situation. This is Liverpool’s worst start to a Premier League season under Jurgen Klopp and they have already taken 14 points fewer than this stage in their 19/20 title winning campaign.
That said, Anfield with an underdog mentality is a dangerous place no matter the opposition. No team has won there in the Premier League for 27 games. Their attacking metrics also still suggest Klopp’s men are potentially in for two goals in this game so City may have to score three to win. It makes a pro-Liverpool result look a sensible strategy at the prices.
Liverpool have scored at least twice in each of their last four meetings with Manchester City in all competitions – no team has ever scored two or more goals in five consecutive games against a side managed by Pep Guardiola before.
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Obviously since adding Erling Haaland, City do look jaw-droppingly ruthless in attack but when a quality counter-attack opposition team gets it right against them the balance of their defensive game does make them vulnerable to conceding. In games against Newcastle, Crystal Palace and Manchester United this season they have shipped eight goals.
That makes me uneasy if I’m going to back them at 4/5 with Sky Bet for that away win. I still think a draw will be seen as a good result by Guardiola at this stage of the season and that has been the result in three of the last four Premier League meetings. In fact, since Guardiola took charge of Manchester City, the aggregate score in the 17 meetings between the teams reads Liverpool 28-30 Manchester City. Historically there is little between the two.
The game to end 1-1, 2-2 or 3-3 at 7/2 with Sky Bet looks quite an attractive play.
SCORE PREDICTION: 2-2
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