Sports Blog 15/10/2015: Match Preview – Premier League, Saturday 17th to Sunday 18th October 2015

With the Euro 2016 qualifiers done and dusted the Premier League gets back underway this weekend, the arrival of a certain German gentleman dominating the headlines.

That appointment will undoubtedly be the focus of Saturday’s first game, when Tottenham host Liverpool at 12.45pm on BT Sport 1. The abrupt departure of Brendan Rodgers, announced an hour after Liverpool’s 1-1 draw against Everton (but decided the day before the derby) has seen Jurgen Klopp, so successful at Borussia Dortmund (until he wasn’t), placed atop the Kop. Klopp has asked fans to be patient, and not to expect a miracle from Saturday’s game, understandable for a team undergoing such a transition. The German manager will be looking to get more from Christian Benteke, with the Belgian only scoring 2 competitive goals since his arrival, as well as see inspire Daniel Sturridge to the same highs he saw in 2013/14.



On paper Tottenham haven’t been all that better than Liverpool in the league so far this season; Spurs have 3 wins, 4 draws and a loss compared to the Reds’ 3 wins, 3 draws and 2 losses. A 4-1 trouncing of Man City, however, outshines any of Liverpool’s victories and, unlike Benteke, Spurs’ star signing Son Heung-min has been a genuinely inspirational addition for the London club. Not that things are completely hunky dory; Tottenham had to come behind twice against Swansea a fortnight ago, with a brace from Christian Eriksen saving their blushes after a Harry Kane own goal (embarrassingly only the second time he has found the net for Spurs at either end of the pitch this season) has given the Welsh side a 2-1 lead.

There would have been many easier first games for Klopp than a visit to White Hart Lane, and our Spreadex traders think his plea for supporters to be patient is likely to be tested, if only just, offering a Tottenham/Liverpool Goal Supremacy spread of 0.05-0.25 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.65-2.85.

Next up on Saturday is a game less likely to be as tense as Klopp’s debut, as Watford host Arsenal at 5.30pm on Sky Sports 1. The Hornets have just about been the best performing promoted side, and you imagine Quique Flores will be happy with only 2 league losses so far this season, especially since with a slight improvement going forwards they can start getting a few more wins under their belt. Ideally they need someone to help take the burden off of Odion Ighalo, with his 5 goals so far this season only joined by a solitary goal from Miguel Layun all the way back in their opening game against Swansea.



Things are gradually (if not completely) clicking into place for Arsenal. Strong performances from Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla, the return of the Alexis Sanchez known and loved last season (scoring 6 goals in his last 3 games), and an increasing sharpness from Theo Walcott going forwards has seen Arsenal, in the league at least, start to at look their best. Of course this is an Arsenal still capable of limp losses to West Ham and Chelsea, and they almost bafflingly dismal in Europe; however, their 3-0 victory over Manchester United before the break saw, especially in the first half, the Gunners firing at full force, something they will be looking to carry forward into this weekend.

Saturday’s game is likely Arsenal’s for the taking; our Spreadex traders seem to think so, at least, offering an Arsenal/Watford (h) Goal Supremacy spread of 0.95-1.15 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.85-3.05.

The sole Sunday game this weekend then pits Newcastle vs Norwich at 8pm on Sky Sports 1. Steve McClaren’s Toon tenure has, so far, been pretty dreadful, leaving them bottom of the table below even Sunderland. Not that Newcastle necessarily had an easy start to the season, facing Southampton, Man United, Chelsea and Man City in their first 8 games. And, to be fair, their best results (all draws) have come against 3 of last season’s top 7. However, none of that will really compensate for the fact that, after taking the lead at the Etihad Stadium a fortnight ago they then let Sergio Aguero score 5 goals in the space of 20 minutes, with a strike from Kevin De Bruyne thrown in for good measure.



Norwich, on the other hand, have done fairly well since returning to the Premier League. 3 draws, 3 losses and 2 wins isn’t exactly sterling stuff, but the Canaries manage to hold their own against West Ham, Stoke and Liverpool, and knocked West Brom out of the League Cup. Russell Martin and Nathan Redmond have been the leading lights upfront, with 3 goals each, whilst if Kyle Lafferty, absent for much of Norwich’s league campaign but electric for Northern Ireland in the Euro qualifiers, can bring some of his international form back home the Canaries could be onto something.

Home advantage is likely the only thing separating these two teams at the moment and the Toon do have the quality in their squad to put in a good performance. Our traders, therefore, have given the (much-needed) edge to Steve McClaren’s side, with a Newcastle/Norwich Goal Supremacy spread of 0-0.2 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.6-2.8.