Sports Blog 11/09/2015: Match Preview – Premier League, Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th September 2015

After a successful international break (for England at least) the Premier League gets back underway this weekend, with a host of last-minute signings set to make their debuts.

First up on Saturday sees a trip into Scouse-territory for Chelsea, as they face Everton at 12.45pm on BT Sport 1 in their first meeting since the end of the summer’s John Stones saga. The Blues have had a truly dismal start to the season; their most recent 2-1 loss at home against Crystal Palace was preceded by a win at West Brom, a defeat at Man City and a draw against Swansea. This leaves them 13th in the league and with the second worse start to a Premier League title defence of all time, only behind Blackburn in 95/96. Papy Djilobodji was brought it on the final day of the transfer window to provide defensive back-up, and could start as Mourinho eyes Wednesday’s Champions League match against Maccabi Tel Aviv.



Everton may only have 2 more points than Chelsea, but in a world of relative expectations the Toffees have gotten on to a much better start than the current champions. Draws against Watford and Tottenham frustrated, and a loss against the rampant Man City was to be expected; however an impressive win against Southampton showed what this Everton side could do, and means they won’t roll over when Chelsea visit on Saturday. The injured Tom Cleverly could give way to defensive midfielder Ramiro Funes Mori, signed from River Plate for £9.5 million, or Aaron Lennon, taken from Tottenham for an undisclosed fee, at 25/1 and 18/1 to score first respectively.

Despite their weak start, our traders still feel the Blues can get their second win of the season this weekend, offering a Chelsea/Everton (h) Goal Supremacy spread of 0.4-0.6 with a Total Goals spread of 2.5-2.7.

Saturday’s afternoon game is arguably the pick of the weekend, as Manchester United host Liverpool at 5.30pm on Sky Sports 1. United were the laughing stock of the final day of the transfer window, with a seemingly panicky van Gaal choosing to sign the unproven (and largely unheard of) Anthony Martial for upwards of £30 million from Monaco. Though the Dutch manager is perhaps right to be worried about his upfront options; despite putting 7 past Club Brugge in Europe, United have only scored 3 times in 4 league games (and one of those was an own goal). Van Gaal will be hoping that Rooney, fresh off becoming England’s all-time top scorer, will match his European and international form domestically, with the cherry on top a critic-signing debut from Martial.



Like United, Liverpool have won 2, drawn 1 and lost 1, their most recent result being an embarrassing 3-0 defeat to an inconsistent, but sporadically fantastic, West Ham. Unlike United, however, Liverpool had all their transfer business sewn up by the end of July, meaning players like Nathanial Clyne, Roberto Firmino and Christian Benteke have already had time to bed into the team. Not that it has necessarily helped them in front of goal; the Reds have only found the back of the net twice since in their first 4 games in what could be an ominous repeat of their struggles last season.

Whilst both have struggled in front of goal, our traders have given the edge to a Rooney-boosted United, at a Manchester United/Liverpool Goal Supremacy spread of 0.5-0.7 with a Total Goals spread of 2.4-2.6.

Sunday’s first match then sees the already 20th place Sunderland take on the limp-looking Tottenham at 1.30pm on Sky Sports 1. Losses in their first 2 games wasn’t necessarily a surprise for the Black Cats, but was still an unwelcome reminder as to why so many pundits had named them one of the likeliest relegatees this season. Things improved somewhat in their next 2 matches, as Sunderland held both Swansea and Aston Villa to a draw. They also haven’t look too bad in front of goal; 6 goals in 4 games is better than many of the times higher up in the table, with Jermain Defoe (at 13/2 to score first) and new signing Jeremain Lens (12/1 to score first) starting strong.



Tottenham have gotten off to a similarly dismal start this season. An opening game loss against United was frustrating but not disastrous; however, 3 draws on the trot (against Stoke, Leicester and Everton) is hardly inspiring stuff, and leaves Spurs at 16th in the league. Yet things could be different on Saturday. The previously misfiring Harry Kane scored 2 in 2 for England during the week, an important injection of confidence for the striker and one that leaves as 15/4 favourite to score first. Spurs also made an attractive new signing in the form of South Korea’s Son Heung-Min, taken from Bayer Leverkusen for £22 million and, at 7/1 to score first, is someone who should provide Kane with a bit more support going forwards.

Spurs will be looking to put their disappointing start behind them post-break, and a confident Kane and an eager Son Heung-Min they should have too much trouble up north; they sit at a Tottenham/Sunderland (h) Goal Supremacy spread of 0.45-0.65 with a Total Goals spread of 2.55-2.75.

The final game of the weekend is a midlands affair, as Leicester take on Aston Villa at 4pm on Sky Sports 1. Many people were sceptical of the appointment of Claudio Ranieri, the quintessential journeyman(ager), at the start of the season; yet so far Leicester are ‘doing a Southampton’. They convincingly won their first 2 games against Sunderland and West Ham and, after solid draws against Tottenham and Bournemouth, currently sit 3rd. Defensively-minded summer signings like Christian Fuchs, Robert Huth, Yohan Benalouane and Gokhan Inler seem to have shored the side up at the back, and has allowed Riyad Mahrez to go forward, with the French winger nabbing 4 in 4 (the same amount he got all last season) to sit as 5/1 favourite to score first.



It’s been a slightly different start to the season for Aston Villa. Still under the tutelage of Tim Sherwood Villa narrowly beat Premier League newbies Bournemouth in their first game, only to lose to Man United and Crystal Palace, and draw with Sunderland. Joleon Lescott was their final signing of the summer, and should in theory provide them with a bit more authority at the back, whilst their first signing of the season, Scott Sinclair, will be looking to build on his brace against the Black Cat, sitting at 15/2 to score first.

The momentum is behind the Foxes at the moment, and our traders aren’t expecting that to change this weekend, offering a Leicester/Aston Villa Goal Supremacy spread of 0.5-0.7 with a Total Goals spread of 2.55-2.75.