This weekend sees the return of Premier League action after the latest international break.

We have plenty of rivals set to clash heads as everyone looks to jockey for position in these early stages of the season.

So, without further ado lets look at the games coming up in the Premier League this weekend.

Saturday 17^th of October 2020

Everton vs Liverpool

Venue – Goodison Park

Kick Off – 12.30 pm

Odds – Home Win 11/4 Draw 3/1 Away Win 5/6

Watch On – BT Sports

We start our weekend with the highly anticipated Merseyside Derby.  

The host Everton are sitting pretty at the top of the table after an unbeaten start to the season with four wins from four games.

It has been ten years since Everton beat their rivals from across Stanley Park. With Carlo Ancelotti’s side full of confidence, they should feel now is the time to turn their derby fortunes around.

They have arguably had the best transfer window out of all the teams in the league. The likes of James Rodriguez and Allan have slotted in seamlessly into the team. It also helps that striker Dominic Calvert – Lewin is in the form of his life. The Englishman has scored six goals already this season.

Reigning champions Liverpool come into this one off the back of a humiliating 7-2 defeat at the hands of Aston Villa. It was a defensive disaster by the champions, and they’ll need to be miles better for this one.

They have conceded 11 goals already this season, making it their worst defensive start since 1937. They have also only kept one clean sheet in their last nine league games.

However, even when Liverpool concede goals, they have no issue knocking them in the other end. With them scoring two or more goals in their last six league games.

Plenty of missing players for both sides in this one.

Jonjoe Kenny, Mason Holgate, Jarrad Branthwaite and Cenk Tosun are all out with injuries for Everton. While Lucas Digne, Seamus Coleman and Yerry Mina are all carrying knocks but could still make the matchday squad.

Liverpool will be without goalkeeper Alisson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Konstantinos Tsimikas. Defender Joel Matip is also carrying a knock. Sadio Mane and Thiago could also return from their positive Covid-19 test but that isn’t 100% guaranteed at this time.

Verdict – Now is a good time for Everton to get a derby day win.

Chelsea vs Southampton

Venue – Stamford Bridge

Kick Off – 3.00 pm

Odds – Home Win 4/9 Draw 7/2 Away Win 5/1

Watch On – Premier Sports (ROI Only)

Chelsea got off to a good start this season. The Blues have only lost one out of their opening four league games. They got  a good 4-0 victory under their belt against London rivals Crystal Place last time out.

This was their fourth clean sheet in their last five home games in the league. Proving they’re now more than just a side with attacking flair.

Manager Frank Lampard will be desperate for Timo Werner to grab his first league goal for the club, the German scored for his country during his recent international run.  

The Saints have only lost once on the road since February. They have lost two of their five away games against teams that finished in the top five last season. Southampton scored in the first half in four of those games. Key man Danny Ings will need to be on his feet to help guide his side to their third win on the bounce.

Chelsea will still be without youngster Billy Gilmour with a knee injury. New goalkeeper Edouard Mendy is set to miss this one with a thigh injury. While Ben Chilwell is carrying a foot injury but could still be involved.

The Saints are missing Moussa Djenepo and Stuart Armstrong.

Verdict – Chelsea.

Manchester City vs Arsenal

Venue – Etihad Stadium

Kick Off – 5.30 pm

Odds – Home Win 2/5 Draw 15/4 Away Win 11/2

Watch On – Sky Sports Main Event

We have heavyweight clash to sink our teeth into this Saturday.

It hasn’t been an ideal start for City. They recently got battered 5-2 by Leicester City and drew 1-1 to newly promoted Leeds United in their last game. However, they have beat Arsenal in their last six league meetings.

Their last home game against Leicester was shocking. It was the first time in 438 matches that they have conceded five goals in the Etihad. Before this game City only conceded one goal in their previous seven league games. This is the type of defensive form Pep Guardiola will be hoping his side can get back to.

Arsenal continue to improve under Mikel Arteta with a hard fought 2-1 win against Sheffield United last time out. They will still be cautious coming into this one.

The Gunners have been slow starters during games this season. They have only been ahead at half time in one of their games this season.

We could see the debut of new exciting signing Thomas Partey, a man that can sure up the midfield.

We won’t be seeing Sergio Aguero, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus who are all missing for City. Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and Iikay Gundogan are touch and go if they’ll play or not, especially the latter.

Arsenal are missing Kieran Tierney, Shkodran Mustafi, Pablo Mari, Calum Chambers and Martinelli. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Reiss Nelson are carrying slight knocks but are expected to be good to go on Saturday.

Verdict – Score draw.

Newcastle United vs Manchester United

Venue – St. James Park

Kick Off – 8.00 pm

Odds – Home Win 15/4 Draw 31/10 Away Win 8/13

Watch On – Premier Sports (ROI Only)

We finish up on Saturday with this mouth-watering tie.

Newcastle had a good 3-1 home win against Burnley before the international break. They’ll be looking for their first consecutive home win since December 2019. Newcastle beat Manchester United at home 1-0 last season proving that it is very doable.

New striker Callum Wilson has netted three goals since joining the club. While star man Allan Saint – Maximin was recently gifted a new long-term deal at the club. He will be looking to repay manager Steve Bruce by adding to his goal against Burnley.

Manchester United are another side coming off a hammering, they were battered 6-1 in their last league outing against Tottenham.

They have failed to keep a clean sheet all season and haven’t even got to half time this season without letting in a goal. The Red Devils also have a reputation for dropping points on the road against sides in the bottom half of the league. With them losing four games last season away to sides that finished in the bottom 13.

Newcastle will be without Matt Richie, Martin Dubravka, Matty Longstaff and Dwight Gayle with injuries. Allan Saint-Maximin, Jamaal Lascelles, Jamal Lewis, Ciaran Clark, Paul Dummett and DeAndre Yedlin are all carrying their own knocks and will be individually checked out for this one.

Manchester United will be without Phil Jones, Axel Tuanzebe and new deadline day signing Edison Cavani. Anthony Martial is also out due to suspension and Sergio Romero won’t be available for personal reasons.

Verdict – Tough one to call this, play it safe with a draw.

Sunday 18^th of October 2020

Sheffield United vs Fulham

Venue – Bramall Lane

Kick Off – 12.00 pm

Odds – Home Win 21/20 Draw 11/5 Away Win 11/4

Watch On – BT Sports Box Office

We start another Super Sunday with this intriguing clash at the bottom of the table with both teams looking for their first points.

Sheffield United haven’t reached the heights of last season yet. The Blades haven’t won a game and are now seven games on the bounce without a win. Only the second time that has happened in the clubs 131-year history.

They aren’t letting in a high amount of goals and are mainly struggling at the other end of the pitch. Manager Chris Wilder will be hoping the likes of new man Rhian Brewster can help them out in that respect.

Fulham have also had a disaster start to their return season in the Premier League. They have also lost all four of their opening games, the second time ever in their long 141-year history.

Unlike their opponents they have conceded 11 goals already this season, with ten of those goals coming in the first 15 minutes of either half. They did sign two centre backs on deadline day, they’ll certainly have their work cut out for them.

The Blades are without Jack O’Connell, Lys Mousset and very likely John Egan. David McGoldrick, Ollie Burke and John Fleck are also nursing injuries but could still be involved as they aren’t that serious.

Fulham will be missing Kenny Tete and Mario Lemina. Midfielder Harrison Reed is also said to be 50/50 to play or not.

Verdict – Somebody must get off the mark, I think it will be Sheffield United.

Crystal Palace vs Brighton and Hove Albion

Venue – Selhurst Park

Kick Off – 2.00 pm

Odds – Home Win 13/8 Draw 21/10 Away Win 17/10

Watch On – Sky Sports Premier League

Crystal Palace find themselves on a two-game unbeaten run in the league. They got off to a promising start with wins over Southampton and Manchester United and will be keen to get back on track in this one.

They have a good recent record at home only losing once in six games at Selhurst Park. But they have conceded six goals in their last three league games. They’ll need to tighten up if they are to get back to winning ways.

Brighton find themselves on a three-game losing streak in all competitions. Letting in ten goals in the process.

However, the Seagulls have been flying high on the road. They have lost only once in their previous ten away games, they also picked up a draw in this very venue last season.

Palace will be missing youngster Nathan Ferguson. While Patrick van Aanholt, James Tomkins and Gary Cahill are all struggling for match fitness. Wayne Hennessey, James McCarthy and Jeffery Schlupp are all carrying knocks and could miss out.  

Brighton will be without Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Christian Walton and Florian Andone. Tariq Lamptey and Davy Propper are carrying slight injuries but could still play.

Verdict – Tight Crystal Palace win.

Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham United

Venue – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Kick Off – 4.30 pm

Odds – Home Win 11/20 Draw 16/5 Away Win 9/2

Watch On – Sky Sports Main Event

This should be a good London Derby to spice up our Sunday afternoon.

Tottenham will be delighted after recently embarrassing Manchester United 6-1. Heung-Min Son got himself on the score sheet again with a brace and is now the jointed top scorer in the league with six goals.

Spurs also find themselves on an eight-game unbeaten streak in all competitions. They scored an impressive 26 goals in those games and one of those was a walkover game in the cup against Leyton Orient.

West Ham also haven’t been shy of scoring this season either. They have netted 20 goals in all competitions so far this season. With Michail Antonio showing signs of his impressive late run last season once again. He grabbed the opener in their impressive 3-0 over Leicester last time out.

Spurs will be without their returning hero Gareth Bale who is still not quite ready. Eric Dier, Steven Bergwijn, Giovani Le Celso and Japhet Tanganga are also carrying minor knocks but could make appearances.

The Hammers are close to full strength. Only Ryan Fredricks and Arthur Masuaku have questions around them.

Verdict – Another scored draw.

Leicester City vs Aston Villa

Venue – King Power Stadium

Kick Off – 7.15 pm

Odds – Home Win 5/6 Draw 27/10 Away Win 31/10

Watch On – Sky Sports Box Office

Leicester got off to a cracking start to the season winning three league games in a row. With the most impressive win coming against Manchester City. However, as we just mentioned they were well beaten in their last outing against West Ham.

This defeat was the first time they conceded three goals or more at home in the league since December 2019. Goals have been a plenty when Leicester are involved. All their games this season have seen a winning margin of at least two goals.   

Aston Villa also got off to a great start this season with three wins in a row. They have scored first in all those three games and scored in the first five minutes in two of those.

Of course, they are coming off an amazing 7-2 victory over Liverpool. So, their tails will be up, and they’ll be full of confidence.

They will have to be careful as Leicester put four goals past them on both of their meetings last season.

Wilfred Ndidi, Ricardo Pereira and Filip Benkovic will miss out for Leicester. James Maddison, Daniel Amartey and Demarai Gray are all questionable.

Villa are missing Tom Heaton, Bjorn Engels and Wesley. Defender Kortney Hause is questionable.

Verdict – Close Leicester win with home advantage.

Monday 19^th of October 2020

West Brom Albion vs Burnley

Venue – The Hawthorns

Kick Off – 5.30 pm

Odds – Home Win 6/4 Draw 11/5 Away Win 9/5

Watch On – Sky Sports Box Office

Another clash between two sides that got off to slow starts this season.

Newly promoted West Brom have struggled on their return to the top tier. They only have one point on the board after a draw against Chelsea that they really should have won.

West Brom have only won one game in their last 11 games in all competitions. They have also only one once at home this season in the league cup against Harrogate Town.

Burnley have done even worse and haven’t registered a single point this season. They have only netted three goals this season and have lost twice on the road already.

While they do have a game in hand over most teams in the league, the early omens don’t look good.

West Brom will be missing Hal Robson-Kanu, Kenneth Zohore and very likely top scorer Callum Robinson.

Burnley will be without Jack Cork, Ben Mee and Matty Lowton. While Johann Berg Gudmundsson and Jay Rodriguez are doubtful.

Verdict – Another draw I’m afraid, very on the fence this week.

Leeds United vs Wolverhampton Wanderers

Venue – Elland Road

Kick Off – 8.00 pm

Odds – Home Win 29/20 Draw 11/5 Away Win 9/5

Watch On – Sky Sports Main Event

We finish up this weekends action with some Monday Night Football and a game that could promise goals.

Leeds are finally back in the big time and haven’t been afraid at having a go at all. Already neutrals are watching their games with a hope of some excitement.

They had a great home draw before the break against Manchester City. This now sees them on a three-game unbeaten streak. Leeds are also now ten games unbeaten at home in terms of league action.

Patrick Bamford, Jack Harrison, Helder Costa and Rodrigo all look like treats going forward. There seems to be a together with this Leeds side under Marcelo Bielsa.

Wolves are also another exciting team to watch. They also went into the international break strong after a win over Fulham. This put an end to a three-game losing streak they found themselves on.

They have beaten Leeds in the sides last three encounters and scored eight goals in those games. However, they have only won one game on the road in their last five.

Adam Foreshaw is the only Leeds player set to be fully missing. The likes of Casilla, Liam Cooper, Pablo Hernandez and Diego Llorente are carrying knocks but could still be fit enough for Monday.

Wolves are missing Jonny and likely Fernando Marcal for this clash.

Verdict – Oh look another scored draw predication.