The football continues this week with Premier League matches and more.
So which team should you bet on and what are the big stories? Our analysts are here to provide you with all the information you need.
Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook.
Arsenal are still perfect for the season and at the top of the Premier League table. They face a rejuvenated Manchester United side who are on three wins in a row after the awful start. What do you think of this matchup?
Paul Carr: Arsenal have looked good, no doubt. The Gunners have the second best expected goal difference in the league, half a goal behind Man City. On the other hand, two of those wins came against two newly promoted teams; two were over the two teams currently bottom of the table, and the win over Crystal Palace was a deadlock in which Arsenal have just finished better. Man United have righted the proverbial ship but haven’t looked too good, outshot in all three of their one-goal wins. Rashford and Sancho are playing better without Ronaldo on the pitch, and I like that United team up with Arsenal in this one. I’ll take the draw at +255.
Daniel Thomas: This is going to be a fascinating contest and the first proper test we’ll see for the league leaders. Despite their perfect start, I think they will be happy to take a point from Old Trafford. Draw.
Dalen Bracelet: Arsenal is playing like the best team in the league. I say this biased as a partisan, but there is objective truth to that statement. They are not the best team per se, but to say that they are playing like that I think is fair. That said, United have started to turn things around in a positive direction. The Gunners will be without Zinchenko and Partey in the lineup, but I’m going to play the 2-way market, Draw No Bet, -110.
Surprising Brighton & Hove Albion (3-1-1) have three wins and one draw at the start of the season, allowing three goals in total in five games. They receive Leicester City in trouble, who have not won this season (0-4-1). Do you expect the hot streak to continue?
Carr: Both teams have scored in 25 of Leicester’s last 28 away games, and the price here is decent (-120). Justifying the game with numbers is difficult, as Leicester are 18th in expected goals and Brighton have conceded the sixth fewest expected goals this season. But I’ll stick to recent history and hope Leicester can do something with their possession this time. Both teams score (-120).
Thomas: Yes, why not? Leicester is a mess at the moment. They’ve lost some key players in the transfer window and you can’t see at the moment where they’re going to get their win from. I’m taking Brighton for the win.
Liverpool (2-1-2) and Everton (0-2-3 and in the relegation zone) do not start in the best way. How do you see this matchup going as you both need a win?
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Paul Carr: I’m not worried about Liverpool yet, at least not about this game. The Reds are in the top three of the league in almost every metric related to shots or goals, and Everton are deservedly in the relegation zone. Liverpool are going to have a ton of the ball in this game. When they met in April, Liverpool had 82% possession, the highest of any team in a Premier League game last season. This season’s Everton side have the third lowest possession in the league at 40%, and the Toffees are in the bottom five for shot difference and expected goal difference. Liverpool have been the best pressing team in the league this season, and Everton have been dispossessed in their own half the fourth most times of any team. Even in a game of fierce rivalry, this has all the hallmarks of a Liverpool defeat. I’ll take more money and put the goal and a half at +105.
Bracelet: I’m still a bit tired of Liverpool’s start, but Everton look like a team destined for another relegation fight like last year. This rivalry is real and the Toffees will feel the support, but ultimately Liverpool will dominate the ball and this game. I will also take the Reds -1.5+105.
Thomas: I think that last goal against Newcastle is exactly the boost Liverpool needed after a lackluster start to the season. I think this could be a walk in the park for Jurgen Klopp’s side. I would go to Liverpool to win by two or more goals.
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What do you watch in the other European leagues?
Carr: Is it too difficult to take Bayern to the goal line at Union Berlin? I’m doing it anyway, playing Bayern -1.5 to -115. Despite being second in the league and second with 11 goals, Union Berlin are 16th (!) with just 3.3 expected goals this season. That final fortune cannot last much longer. As usual, Bayern lead the league in almost everything, and I think they make a statement here.
Bracelet: I am going to the Bundesliga and the Leverkusen vs Freiburg game. Freiburg have had a great start to the campaign, taking third place, but all three of their wins have come against teams currently ranked 12th, 14th and bottom. Leverkusen, by contrast, have started the campaign in dismal form, despite being a Champions League side this year and every year in the battle for those spots. They had a dominant 3-0 victory last week against Mainz to earn their first win of the season. At home against Freiburg, I like that they win again with -112.
Thomas: Barça to beat Sevilla with ease. The hosts have had an impressive start to the season, and Barca are beginning to find their rhythm.
What’s your best bet for the weekend?
Carr: I love getting +190 in a goalless first half between Wolverhampton and Southampton. Six of the 10 first halves these teams have played this season have been goalless, with five of them having 0.8 expected goals or less. Neither team scores a lot or takes good shots, and both defenses have been decent. The two teams rank 15th and 16th in expected goals and take the third and fourth worst shots on average, and are eighth and 10th in expected goals conceded. Supporting without targets isn’t fun, but it’s worth the price here.
Bracelet: I like City +135 to beat Villa to nil. The Villains rank 18th in expected goals this year; you have to have the ball to score, and they won’t have much against City. I think City get a win and get their fourth clean sheet in six league games this year.
Thomas: Real Madrid Draw. They were less than convincing last weekend and were rescued by a late brace from Benzema. Real Betis have had a good start to the campaign and I have the feeling that they can take a point.
Source: www.espn.com