Sunday brings three Premier League matchups we’ve zoned in on, starting in South London where Crystal Palace look to build on their momentum against a Manchester United side still wrestling with inconsistency. Attention then shifts east as West Ham host Liverpool in a meeting of two teams trying to climb back toward their expected levels. The day finishes with a heavyweight showdown at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea take on league leaders Arsenal in a match that could potentially nudge the title race in a new direction. Here are my thoughts and the suggested plays for each game.
Before turning to Sunday’s fixtures, it’s worth noting how the outright market currently stands, Arsenal continue to set the pace at 11/25, with Manchester City the closest pursuers at 13/4. Chelsea are quoted at 14/1, while the champions, Liverpool have slid out to 20/1. The remainder of the field is priced at 33/1 and upwards.
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CRYSTAL PALACE v MANCHESTER UNITED – Click here to bet
Sunday opens with an early-afternoon kick-off at Selhurst Park, where Crystal Palace play host to Manchester United. It’s a quick turnaround for Oliver Glasner’s men, after featuring in Europe away to Strasbourg on Thursday. Domestically, Palace arrive in excellent spirits after a clinical 2–0 win at Wolves last weekend, a result that stretched their unbeaten league run to three matches (W2 D1). That victory also lifted the Eagles from mid-table up to 5th, underlining just how competitive this Premier League season has already become. With 20 points from 12 matches (W5 D5 L2), it has been a dream opening phase for Palace supporters.
At home, Palace have been impressively resilient. Glasner’s side remain unbeaten at Selhurst Park in league play, picking up two wins and four draws to make it 10 points from a possible 18 in London. Their most recent home outing did, however, end in a frustrating 0–0 draw with Brighton, but having already claimed a statement 2–1 win over Liverpool earlier in the season, there’s no doubt they will fancy their chances again against a Manchester United side arriving in deflated mood.
United make the trip to London with plenty to reflect on following a deeply frustrating evening on Monday. Despite playing the majority of the match with a one-man advantage, the Red Devils slipped to a 1–0 defeat at home to Everton, ending their five-match unbeaten run and snapping a four-game winning streak at Old Trafford. Instead of hoping to climb into the top five, Ruben Amorim’s side remain 10th on 18 points after 12 matches (W5 D3 L4), and the manner of the defeat has only sharpened the scrutiny around their inconsistency.
Away from home, United have shown modest signs of improvement, taking five points from their last three road fixtures. After a poor start on their travels, they’ve now collected five of their six total away points during that period, though the overall record still reads just one win, three draws and two defeats from six matches. Their last two away games, both finishing 2–2 at Nottingham Forest and Spurs, highlights both their threat and their ongoing defensive vulnerability.
Head-to-Head
Crystal Palace are currently on a four-match unbeaten run against Manchester United, with three wins and one draw. Last season saw a goalless stalemate in this fixture at Selhurst Park, followed by a 2–0 Palace victory at Old Trafford. Remarkably, United have failed to score in each of their last four meetings with Palace.
Betting
Crystal Palace 29/20
Draw 5/2
Manchester United 9/5
Verdict
Palace look the more settled and reliable of the two sides, and their unbeaten home record under Glasner is no coincidence. United’s away form has improved slightly, but the broader picture, coupled with their strikingly poor recent record against Palace, raises legitimate concerns. With Palace well-organized, energetic, and tough to break down, and with United struggling to impose themselves in these tight away fixtures, this feels like another encounter where the Eagles avoid defeat and goals for United could again prove limited.
Suggested Bet: Crystal Palace Double Chance (Win or Draw) & Manchester United under 1.5 total goals at 17/20 (Bet Builder)
WEST HAM v LIVERPOOL – Click here to bet
West Ham return to the London Stadium for a late afternoon Sunday showdown after a frustrating 2–2 draw away to Bournemouth, a match in which Nuno Espírito Santo’s side let a two-goal lead slip. While the result will undoubtedly feel like two points dropped, the Hammers can at least take encouragement from a three-match unbeaten run (W2 D1). They’ll need that momentum to continue if they’re to pull themselves away from the lower end of the table, where they currently sit 17th on 11 points, separated from the relegation zone only by goal difference. Overall, West Ham’s league record stands at three wins, two draws and seven defeats from 12 matches.
Home form has hardly provided the comfort they’ve needed this season. Despite turning things around recently, the Irons have still managed just two league wins at the London Stadium, losing the other four. They opened their home campaign with four straight league defeats, but there is some relief in knowing they come into this weekend on a two-match winning streak in London, courtesy of victories over both Newcastle and Burnley.
Liverpool, meanwhile, make the trip south wondering how their Premier League title defence has unravelled so quickly. After lifting their 20th league crown last season, few could have predicted they’d be languishing in 12th place after 12 matches. Last weekend’s 3–0 defeat away to Nottingham Forest made it back-to-back league losses for Arne Slot’s side, leaving them on 18 points with six wins and six defeats. A bruising 4–1 Champions League loss to PSV in midweek only deepened the sense of unease, piling further pressure on the manager as they return to domestic duties.
Away from home, Liverpool haven’t quite found their rhythm this season. Slot’s men have won just twice on the road in the league, losing the other four, taking a modest six points from a possible 18. Their most recent away outings, a 3–0 defeat at Manchester City and a 3–2 loss at Brentford underline those issues, with six goals conceded across the two matches. Defensive organization has been a major concern, and they’ll need a significant improvement if they’re to steady themselves in the table.
Head-to-Head
Liverpool claimed a league double over West Ham last season, winning 5–0 at the London Stadium before following up with a 2–1 victory at Anfield.
Betting
West Ham 13/4
Draw 13/4
Liverpool 73/100
Verdict
It’s hard to trust either side outright given how inconsistent both have been. West Ham have improved at home, while Liverpool remain vulnerable defensively. That combination points toward a game with chances at both ends, and with six of the last seven meetings across all competitions producing both teams scoring and at least three goals, the goals market feels like the smartest angle into the match.
Suggested Bet: Both teams to score and Over 2.5 goals at 87/100
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CHELSEA v ARSENAL – Click here to bet
Chelsea’s season continues to gather real momentum. After last weekend’s 2–0 victory away to Burnley, the Blues followed it up with an even more impressive midweek performance in Europe, sweeping aside Barcelona 3–0 at Stamford Bridge. That result extended their unbeaten run to six matches (W5 D1) and kept them firmly in 2nd place after 12 rounds, with a return of seven wins, two draws and three defeats. This weekend pits 2nd against 1st, the standout fixture of the round, and with Chelsea sitting six points behind Arsenal, Sunday presents Enzo Maresca’s side with a prime opportunity to close the gap to just three.
At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea have taken 10 points from a possible 18 (W3 D1 L2). Their most recent domestic outing on home soil was a convincing 3–0 win over Wolves, and they’ve now scored six unanswered goals across their last two home matches in all competitions. Confidence is understandably high after their midweek heroics, and the Blues will be eager to deliver another strong display against one of Europe’s most in-form teams.
Arsenal make the short trip across London aiming to protect, and potentially extend, their position at the summit. The Gunners are currently riding an outstanding 16-match unbeaten run in all competitions (W14 D2), a sequence strengthened by last weekend’s emphatic 4–1 win over Spurs and Wednesday’s well earned 3-1 victory over Bayern in Europe. Mikel Arteta’s men sit on 29 points after 12 matches (W9 D2 L1), with their only domestic defeat coming away at Liverpool back in August, the last time they were beaten in any competition.
On the road, Arsenal have been reliable, claiming four wins, one draw and one defeat for a total of 13 points from 18 available. Their most recent away game, a 2–2 draw at Sunderland, halted a six-match winning streak on their travels in all competitions, though they responded immediately with a statement performance on familiar turf in last weekend’s derby. Arteta will expect the same level of sharpness here, knowing that a victory over another London rival would cement their authority at the top.
Head-to-Head
Last season, Arsenal took four points from six in their league meetings, earning a 1–1 draw away at Chelsea before winning 1–0 at the Emirates in the reverse fixture. The Gunners are currently on a seven-match unbeaten run against Chelsea, having also drawn their last two visits to Stamford Bridge.
Betting
Chelsea 9/4
Draw 12/5
Arsenal 5/4
Verdict
The draw was certainly a tempting option when weighing up this matchup, but I’m leaning instead towards both sides getting on the scoresheet. Arsenal have been excellent defensively, yet Chelsea’s recent form, combined with the quality they have in forward areas, suggests they can create chances of their own. London derbies often carry an extra spark, and that edge could help open the game up just enough for both to find the back of the net at least once.
Suggested Bet: Both teams to score at 73/100
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Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
