THE international break is behind us and Premier League football is back on our screens this weekend.
There’s a packed schedule over the next few days with all 20 clubs in action – and we’ve betting tips for you from three of the biggest games, starting at St James Park.
Man Utd picked up three points against Everton – but should you back them against West Brom?Credit: AFP or licensors
Newcastle vs Chelsea – Saturday, 12.30pm
Has Frank Lampard’s new-look side finally clicked?
Unbeaten in five and chasing a third-straight win, the Blues cruised to victory over Sheffield United before the international break.
They’ve netted seven in their last two games – conceding just once now Edouard Mendy looks settled – and can go joint-top with victory here.
Newcastle meanwhile continue to be wildly inconsistent.
They beat Everton in their last home game, going toe-to-toe with one of the division’s form teams.
A week later and they meekly surrendered at Southampton, forcing just four shots in a fairly pedestrian performance.
Just like last year, Chelsea are better on the road than at the Bridge.
They’re unbeaten in four away games this season, scoring at least three on all but one occasion (that horrendous 0-0 draw at Old Trafford).
But Tyneside has not been a happy hunting ground in recent years for the men from West London.
Chelsea have won just one of their last seven matches on this ground, losing five including a 1-0 reverse last season.
Noticeable, Newcastle have scored in all seven of those meetings and we expect them to do so again.
Callum Wilson has injected some much needed bite to the Toon attack and the ex-Bournemouth striker has six in eight games.
Newcastle have found the net in each of their last three home matches and back them to do so again, despite back-to-back clean sheets on the road for Chelsea.
Both teams to score is an excellent 3/4 and one of our favourite bets of the weekend.
Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga has fallen out of favour under Frank LampardCredit: Getty
While if you couple that with over 2.5 goals – a winner on six of the last eight H2H’s on this ground – you can get a tidy 11/10.
Chelsea are 1/2 to win the game and that’s too short for us to back, especially when you think back to what happened at West Brom.
Timo Werner is starting to look the business and the German has five goals in his last four Chelsea games.
On this form, you’d expect him to be odds on for another on Saturday.
Wrong – 11/10 for a goal anytime. You take that all day long, while the braver among you can back him at 5/1 to score a brace or better.
SunSport’s best bets
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Manchester United vs West Brom, Saturday 8pm
Back to business and back to the rollercoaster that is the Ole reign at Old Trafford.
You never know where you stand with this Man Utd team and they’re an absolute nightmare to back with your hard-earned.
One week they look disjointed, uninterested and insipid like in the tame loss against Arsenal.
Seven days later and they’re toying with Everton on the road.
Is that win a turning point for the Red Devils? Who knows – but we still don’t trust them to deliver on the results market.
West Brom are finding life tough back in the top flight and continue to search for that illusive first win of the season.
The Baggies have certainly had their moments – we’re looking at you Chelsea – but struggle to put the ball in the net and keep it out at the other end.
Football is a simple game and that’s a recipe for disaster.
Their record at Old Trafford is fairly good in recent years though, with a shock 1-0 win back in 2018 a fond memory for Baggies fans.
Could they do that again? Against this United side, absolutely.
But we won’t be backing them to do so, even at a hefty 9/1.
Steer clear of the results market until the Red Devils start to show some sort of consistency, with 1/3 on a home win a tiny price.
After a goal-filled start to their campaign, the last five matches of West Brom’s season have featured less than three goals.
Back Fernandes to score against West Brom – but don’t expect a cricket scoreCredit: AP:Associated Press
They were unlucky against Spurs last time out and kept an attacking side filled with goalscoring talent down to just one.
We reckon that they can at least keep this United side at bay for 45 minutes – and the 27/20 you can get on one half finished 0-0 is a belting price.
Despite some high-scoring matches early on in the campaign on this ground, the last two in the league have featured just one goal.
Under 2.5 goals is a big 13/10 and under the lights we expect the Baggies to put up a decent rearguard action.
This might be decided by the odd goal and Bruno Fernandes continues to be United’s trump card.
He was superb against Everton and is a mammoth 23/20 to score anytime – that’s too big, so back to the Portuguese to continue his recent good form.
SunSport’s best bets
One half to feature no goals: 27/20 (BET HERE)
Under 2.5 goals at Old Trafford: 13/10 (BET HERE)
Bruno Fernandes to continue scoring streak: 23/20 (BET HERE)
Leeds vs Arsenal, Sunday 4.30pm
It’s never dull watching this Marcelo Bielsa side.
Leeds are perhaps waking up to the realities of the Premier League after three defeats in their last four.
But their strong start to the season has given them a seven point cushion over the relegation places – and the West Yorkshire club are firmly looking up.
Arsenal meanwhile arrive on the back of a 3-0 home thrashing by Aston Villa before the international break.
Mikel Arteta will hope that the fortnight off has allowed his players to digest just how bad a performance that was.
But this is the sort of fixture he really doesn’t need after such a defeat.
Leeds will be at it from the off with their usual high-pressure style, an approach which was evident even way back in January when these sides met in the FA Cup.
The Gunners avoided a shock there – somehow scraping a 1-0 win – despite Bielsa’s side creating a hatful of chances.
We see goals here, and lots of them.
Neither side have excelled in defending this year, with Leeds shipping 17 goals so far – joint-worst in the league.
Arsenal also arrive with three defeats in four games but it’s at the other end they’ve really struggled, kicking off this game with a negative goal difference.
They’ve netted just 9 times this season – and five of those came in the opening two matches against Fulham and West Ham.
It says a lot that Leeds are just 2/1 to win here, that’s a short price for a newly-promoted side against one of the Big Six.
Some will be tempted but we’d rather play it a bit safer.
Aubameyang has just two goals in his opening eight Prem gamesCredit: AP:Associated Press
Early goals have been the order of the day at Elland Road so far this term, with goals before 20 minutes in three of the four Premier League matches played there so far.
Back a goal in both halves at a generous 8/13, while over 3.5 goals is not out of the question at a big price of 31/20.
Leeds have lost both their last two games 4-1 and will not stop attacking, no matter the score – get on.
With goals the order of the day, there’s plenty of value to be found in the scorer markets.
Steer clear of Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang who is completely out of sorts at the moment, especially at 11/10.
Instead play the hot hand and back Patrick Bamford to find the net for the eighth time this season in the Premier League.
He might do a Teemu Pukki and eventually fizzle out, but the Leeds forward is 4/1 for the opener – with his recent record, that’s value.
SunSport’s best bets
*All odds from Ladbrokes and correct at time of publication.
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