WE’RE backing plenty of Premier League goals in the final weekend before the international break.
Our betting tips this week start on Merseyside, where Everton are looking to get back to winning ways after two straight defeats.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side have lost their last two matchesCredit: AP:Associated Press
Everton vs Man Utd, Saturday 12.30pm (BT Sport 1)
How do you solve a problem like United?
Well, up until Wednesday the solution was simply take them away from Old Trafford.
Ole’s men have been pretty appalling on home soil this season, falling to defeat in three of their opening four home matches including a dismal 1-0 loss to Arsenal last weekend.
Good job they’re only popping down the M62 for this one then.
After a strong start, Carlo Ancelloti’s men have faltered since the Merseyside derby draw and are coming into this one on the back of back-to-back defeats.
Unlike United though, they’ve been excellent in home surroundings this term, scoring 18 in five games across all competitions.
Paul Scholes suggested that the players were ‘scared’ of attacking at Old Trafford, which seems odds considering there’s nobody there at the moment.
Jordan Pickford is back for this game and it’ll be interesting to see if the England stopper’s time on the sidelines cuts out the mistakes.
Pickford found himself benched at Toon – but will return on SaturdayCredit: AFP and licensors
United are winless in their last three against Everton and we expect Ancelotti’s side to be right up for this.
James Rodriguez should also return from his – ahem – gentleman’s injury while Dominic Calvert-Lewin notched his twelfth goal in 12 games against Toon.
As ever with United this season, avoid the results market at all costs.
Honestly, they’re a complete mystery and – as they showed in Europe this week.
They could turn on the style at anytime, or defend like this.
7/5 on an away win is a big price and take it if you want, but we did warn you.
But we’ll be backing both teams to score instead at 4/7, as well as having a play on each side to net in BOTH halves.
United were humbled in Turkey by Instanbul BasaksehirCredit: AFP or licensors
That’s a massive 10/1 and with these defences – and these attacks – could be a big early Saturday winner.
The last two meetings between the sides have finished 1-1, while Everton in that run of 18 goals in five games have also leaked seven at the other end.
Anthony Martial returns to top-flight action from suspension this weekend and is a whopping 15/8 to net at anytime.
The Frenchman’s red card against Spurs was the catalyst for his side’s capitulation in that one and he’ll be out to make amends after showing good form in European competition.
SunSport’s best bets
Man City vs Liverpool, Sunday 4.30pm (Sky Sports)
It’s not been the start Man City or Pep Guardiola were expecting.
A new season, a fresh beginning – and the chance to push Liverpool off the perch they grabbed so emphatically last season.
Or so we thought.
City currently sit 10th in the table with three wins from their opening six matches, already five points off the pace.
The Reds arrive looking for a third-straight victory and appear to have got over their shock bump where they were thrashed at Aston Villa and drew with Everton.
Both teams picked up handsome midweek victories in the Champions League – but so did Man Utd last week, and we all know how that turned out.
City are odds-on to win this one, which we can’t quite work out.
Yes, they’ve won the last three Premier League meetings with Liverpool at the Etihad to an aggregate of 11-1.
But with no crowd in and and Leicester having already exposed their weaknesses at the back, we don’t see Pep’s side as a backable commodity on Sunday.
Instead it looks like goals are the way to play in this fixture.
Liverpool have the second worst goals against column in the division – and yet they’re still top.
Diogo Jota is averaging a goal every 40 minutes in a Reds shirt and we can’t see Klopp’s men drawing a blank as they did in the 4-0 humbling here last season.
Diogo Jota smashed a hat-trick against Atalanta Credit: EPA
City are without Sergio Aguero but Gabriel Jesus looked very sharp when returning against Olympiacos in midweek.
You can only get 1/2 on over 2.5 goals and that’s only really good enough to add into your accumulators – but we do see it as a banker.
A far better bet is 4/6 on Man City scoring two or more.
That’s been in a winner in six of the last eight H2H’s at Eastlands – and with no Virgil Van Dijk, the Reds just don’t have the calm presence at the back to keep City completely at bay.
Jesus is an excellent price to score on a potential Premier League return at 6/4, but wait for the teams before making any goalscorer bet.
We’re a big fan of Raheem Sterling to bag against his old club, just as he did last season.
He’s two goals in the league already this term and 8/5 – so £26 back for your tenner – is too big a price to turn down.
SunSport’s best bets
Arsenal vs Aston Villa, Sunday 7.15pm (Sky Sports Box Office)
Whisper it, but things look to be coming together for Mikel Arteta.
It wasn’t pretty, but his side ground out a huge victory at Manchester United last weekend – just their second win at Old Trafford in 14 years.
The Gunners lost to Leicester last time they were at the Emirates, a result which ended an unbeaten 2020 on home soil.
Aston Villa meanwhile arrive on the back of two defeats, their early season promise now starting to evaporate.
Dean Smith’s side haven’t found the attacking fluency they showcased so ruthlessly against Liverpool and the Foxes – and have lost on all their last four visits to North London.
It would be typical Arsenal to go and lose this, especially after such a big victory.
But we’re going to trust the home side this week as 4/6 is a big, big price on them condemning Villa to a third-straight defeat.
They’re a work in progress but Thomas Partey has offered a steel and calm to the Gunners midfield that drew comparisons with Patrick Vieira this week.
We’ve got him in our 5-A-Side team.
Arsenal will need to win the midfield battle, stifling Villa’s creativity in the process – and we’re backing them to get the job done on Sunday night.
Of course things are never straightforward with Arsenal and they’ve conceded in all their home matches this campaign.
We wouldn’t be surprised to see them do so again, especially as Villa haven’t drawn a blank on their travels either.
So with that in mind, back Arsenal to win but with both teams to score at a mammoth price of 11/5.
Saka is superb at both ends of the pitch and is a huge price to bag another home goalCredit: EPA
Bukayo Saka was this week named as one of the top ten most valuable footballers in world football.
The 19-year-old has broken into the England team and is an exciting talent, combining defensive hard work with blistering speed on the counter.
He also has a goal in him – just ask Sheffield United.
Plenty of you will be on Aubameyang to net for a second consecutive week at 4/5, but we’re after value here.
Saka is a huge 9/2 anytime, 14/1 to net the opener.
He did just that against the Blades – well worth a play.
SunSport’s best bets
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
