With just two fixtures taking place this Sunday, the Premier League schedule may be lighter, but there’s no shortage of intrigue on offer. The day begins in the capital where West Ham United host Newcastle United at the London Stadium, with Nuno Espírito Santo already feeling the heat after a poor start to life in charge. Later, attention shifts to the Etihad Stadium where Manchester City will be determined to bounce back into the top four when they face a resurgent Bournemouth side currently enjoying one of their best-ever starts to a Premier League campaign.
Ahead of Sunday’s action, the Premier League outright market continues to show Arsenal as firm favourites at 11/25, while Manchester City remain their nearest challengers at 9/2. Liverpool follow at 7/1 after recent setbacks, with Manchester United and Chelsea further behind at 25/1 and 40/1 respectively. The rest of the field can be backed at 66/1 or greater.
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WEST HAM v NEWCASTLE UNITED – Click here to bet
West Ham return to London Stadium this Sunday under increasing pressure to turn their season around. Since taking charge from Graham Potter, Nuno Espírito Santo has yet to convince the Irons faithful that he’s the right man to steady the ship. Four games into his tenure, the Portuguese tactician is still searching for his first win, with his side languishing in 19th place on just four points from a possible 27.
The Hammers’ 2-1 defeat at Leeds last weekend made it six consecutive league matches without victory as well as three losses on the bounce. Their home form has been particularly alarming, the Londoners remain pointless on home soil this season, losing all four league games while conceding 12 goals and scoring just twice. Defensive frailties and a lack of cutting edge in attack have combined to leave Nuno already under mounting scrutiny just a month into the job.
Newcastle, meanwhile, make the trip south aiming to build some consistency after a mixed start to the campaign. The Magpies 2-1 win over Fulham last time out lifted them to 12th place on 12 points, though Eddie Howe’s men are still chasing back-to-back league victories for the first time this season.
Away from home, the Magpies have yet to find their rhythm. They’ve gone winless in their last four on the road, drawing three before a 2-1 defeat at Brighton. With Wednesday’s EFL Cup action, where they secured a 2-0 win against Spurs, and a Champions League tie against Athletic Bilbao scheduled three days after their Sunday clash with West Ham, Howe may be forced to manage his squad carefully. Still, his side’s superior quality should shine through against a struggling Hammers outfit.
Head-to-Head
Last season, both sides managed away victories with West Ham winning 2-0 at St James’ Park before Newcastle earned revenge with a 1-0 result at London Stadium.
Betting
West Ham 4/1
Draw 3/1
Newcastle United 13/20
Verdict
West Ham are struggling for confidence and still searching for direction under Nuno. Newcastle, while occasionally inconsistent, possess the quality and experience to avoid defeat in London, even with one eye on midweek European commitments. Both sides have shown a tendency toward low-scoring games recently, suggesting that while Newcastle should claim a positive result, the contest is likely to stay tight.
Suggested Bet: Newcastle Double Chance (Win or Draw) & Under 3.5 Goals at 39/50
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MANCHESTER CITY v AFC BOURNEMOUTH – Click here to bet
We wrap up the weekend’s Premier League action at the Etihad, where Manchester City welcome an in-form Bournemouth side in what promises to be an intriguing encounter between two clubs enjoying vastly different journeys.
City come into this fixture fresh from a midweek EFL Cup victory, a 3-1 triumph away to Swansea that helped them rebound from last weekend’s 1-0 league defeat at Aston Villa, a setback that saw Pep Guardiola’s men drop to fifth in the standings with 16 points from nine matches.
As ever, fixture congestion looms large for Guardiola, with the Citizens juggling domestic and European commitments and a crucial Champions League tie against Borussia Dortmund awaiting next Wednesday. That said, City will be grateful to be back at home, where they’ve been formidable. The reigning champions have won their last four home matches in all competitions, conceding just once and scoring 12 goals in the process. In league play, City have collected nine points from a possible 12 at the Etihad, winning three on the spin since their opening-week defeat to Tottenham.
Bournemouth, meanwhile, arrive in Manchester riding the wave of an outstanding run under Andoni Iraola. The Cherries 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest last weekend extended their unbeaten streak to seven league matches, including four wins and three draws, form that has astonishingly lifted them to second place in the Premier League table on 18 points.
Their impressive run has largely been built at the Vitality Stadium, where 13 of those points have been earned. Away from home, Bournemouth have been steady rather than spectacular, claiming one win, two draws and one defeat from their four trips so far. Encouragingly, they’ve scored in every away game this season, netting eight goals in total, an average of two per match while conceding nine in return. They remain unbeaten in their last three on the road following successive draws at Leeds and Crystal Palace.
Head-to-Head
The sides met three times last season, with City winning 3-1 in this fixture and 2-1 in the FA Cup at the Vitality, while Bournemouth edged the reverse league encounter 2-1. Both teams have scored in each of their last three meetings, with three or more goals featuring every time.
Betting
Manchester City 51/100
Draw 15/4
AFC Bournemouth 19/4
Verdict
Bournemouth’s resurgence under Andoni Iraola has been one of the standout stories of the season, but trips to the Etihad tend to expose even the most in-form visitors. Manchester City look far more assured on home soil, and with confidence restored by their midweek Cup win, Guardiola’s men should have enough to get the job done.
Suggested Bet: Manchester City to Win & Both Teams to Score at 19/10
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Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
