We take a look at three English Premier League matchups taking place this Saturday, offering insights and providing a betting suggestion for each game.
Before delving into each game, let’s review the outright market prices for the EPL title race. Manchester City remains the favourite at 11/10, with Arsenal closely following at 2/1. Liverpool is priced third-best option at 9/2, while Chelsea is now at 25/1, ranking fourth best option at present. The rest of the field is available at odds of 33/1 or higher.
Click here for English Premier League Outright Betting
SOUTHAMPTON v MANCHESTER UNITED– Click here to bet
Southampton’s return to the Premier League has been challenging, with both fans and players still searching for their first points of the season and currently sitting in 19th place. After a third consecutive defeat, a 3-1 loss to Brentford, the Saints will look to turn their fortunes around when they face Manchester United at St Mary’s Stadium this weekend. To overcome their poor form and recent history—having failed to beat the Red Devils in their last 15 encounters—Southampton will need a significant effort. They will certainly need to address their struggles both upfront and at the back if they are to secure anything from the game this weekend.
Manchester United’s campaign has yet to ignite, with a rather subdued start marked by just one win and two defeats so far. They currently find themselves 14th in the table following a disappointing 3-0 loss to Liverpool at home. The Red Devils will be eager to bounce back and secure their second win of the season against Southampton in the early kickoff this Saturday. Much like the Saints, Manchester United has struggled to convert their opportunities, having scored only once this season. However, with a strong historical record against Southampton, United will be optimistic about their chances this weekend, especially given Southampton’s struggles since their return to the Premier League.
Head-to-Head
The last time these two teams met in the league was during the 2022/23 season, when Manchester United secured a 1-0 victory in this fixture and both teams had to settle for a 0-0 draw in the reverse encounter at Old Trafford.
Betting
Southampton 7/2
Draw 3/1
Manchester United 15/20
Prediction
I have a slight preference for Manchester United on the outright, but not enough to warrant a confident strike. The market I’m particularly interested in is the total number of goals expected in this encounter. Given how both teams have struggled upfront, we could potentially see a rather cagey affair where goals may not feature as prominently as we’d like them to.
Suggested Bet: Totals, Under 2.5 at 13/10
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LIVERPOOL v NOTTINGHAM FOREST – Click here to bet
New Liverpool manager Arne Slot has made a remarkable start to the season, with his team currently in 2nd place after winning all their league games so far. Liverpool heads into match day 4 following a dominant 3-0 away victory over Manchester United just before the international break, securing their third consecutive clean sheet win in the process. This weekend, they return to Anfield, confident of extending their winning streak to four matches as they face Nottingham Forest. With their sights set on the top and having scored an impressive 7 goals in their first 3 league appearances, Liverpool will look to make an even bigger statement on Saturday and put additional pressure on reigning champions Manchester City.
Unbeaten so far with 1 win and 2 draws, Nottingham Forest enter week 4 in 9th place after securing a 1-1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers in their most recent league outing. They can be proud of their achievements, especially given their limited resources compared to some of the league’s bigger clubs. This weekend, they travel to Anfield hoping to overturn their poor away record against Liverpool, where they’ve failed to secure a single point in their last six league visits. Given Liverpool’s ruthless start to the season, Forest will undoubtedly view this as a daunting challenge, but they’ll aim to come out of Saturday’s clash relatively unscathed, with hopes of taking something positive from the game.
Head-to-Head
Last season, Liverpool triumphed over Nottingham Forest in both league encounters, securing a 3-0 victory in this fixture and a hard-fought 1-0 win in the reverse match.
Betting
Liverpool 1/4
Draw 6/1
Nottingham Forest 10/1
Prediction
Nottingham Forest’s inability to trouble Liverpool’s defence in recent encounters suggests they may struggle once again this time around. With Liverpool yet to concede this season, they are well-positioned to maintain their flawless start with another win to nil on Saturday.
Suggested Bet: Liverpool To Win To Nil, Yes at 11/10
MANCHESTER CITY v BRENTFORD– Click here to bet
Manchester City have made a perfect start to the season, winning three from three, which places them unsurprisingly at the top of the standings. The Citizens have been particularly aggressive from the outset, averaging an impressive 3 goals per game so far. Even more noteworthy, City have yet to go into half-time without a lead—an impressive feat, especially considering that most of their matches this season have been away from home. Their most recent outing saw them secure a convincing 3-1 win at West Ham and this weekend they will host Brentford for their second home game of the season, aiming to take the sting out of the Bees on Saturday.
Brentford heads to the Etihad this weekend, hoping to pick up where they left off before the international break. The Bees secured a 3-1 victory over Southampton in their most recent encounter and currently find themselves in 6th place in the standings with two wins and one defeat so far this season. Although Brentford didn’t manage to pick up any points against Pep Guardiola’s team last season, their head-to-head history suggests they should not be underestimated. With a 50% winning ratio from their last four encounters—boasting two wins and two defeats—the Bees can certainly pose a challenge for the hosts, especially with Manchester City having to consider midweek European action the following week.
Head-to-Head
Last season, Manchester City secured a double over Brentford, winning 1-0 in this fixture and 3-1 in the reverse match.
Betting
Manchester City 2/11
Draw 7/1
Brentford 13/1
Prediction
Manchester City have been ruthless from the get-go this season but could potentially stumble against a very difficult team to break down. The Citizens are priced too short for my liking at 2/11 on the outright market and although they have led at half-time in every game this season, that has not been the case in their last four encounters with Brentford. Backing a draw in the first half could be worth considering and seen as value—a result that has proven fruitful in all four recent games between these two teams.
Suggested Bet: 1st Half Result, Draw at 22/10
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Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
