The 2017/18 season is yet to settle, with few sides – especially the ostensible title contenders – finding a consistent rhythm. Will that all change this weekend?

First up on Saturday, Bournemouth face an uphill battle to gets some points on the board when they host Man City at 12.30pm. After 2016/17’s fantastic 9th place finish the Cherries have had a pretty sour start to the season, losing back to back games against West Brom and Watford without scoring a single goal. Things did improve mid-week, however, with Bournemouth beating Birmingham 2-1 in the League Cup.



As for City, they’ve been nowhere near as dominant as they were this time last season. A late-ish 2-0 win over Brighton on the opening weekend was followed on Monday by a scrappy point against Everton. That feisty fixture also saw red cards on both sides, with Kyle Walker – in only his 2nd appearance for City – picking up 2 yellows in the space of 2 minutes just before the break. Yet Guardiola’s lot should have plenty of room to stretch their legs on Saturday, with Spreadex offering a Man City/Bournemouth (h) Goal Supremacy spread of 1.6-1.8 alongside a Total Goals spread of 3.2-3.4.

Saturday evening then sees a turbo-charged Manchester United take on Leicester at 5.30pm. United have been the only side in this admittedly embryonic season to look like they are taking the title chase seriously. Yet to concede a goal, Mourinho’s men romped past West Ham and Swansea in their first 2 fixtures, beating both sides 4-0. Romelu Lukaku – who heads into Saturday at a Super Mega PGM of 56-66 – has already scored 3 times, while Paul Pogba and Antony Martial, both at 27-32, have 2 apiece. To put United’s start into context, last season they only managed 54 Premier League goals in total – Lukaku’s arrival seems to have benefited the entire front line in a way Ibrahimovic couldn’t quite manage.



While not quite as scintillating as United, Leicester have nevertheless impressed. They were unlucky to come away from their thrilling trip to Arsenal without a point, breezed past Brighton with a 2-0 win and hammered Sheffield United 4-1 in the League Cup on Tuesday. They may struggle this weekend, however, with Spreadex offering a Man United/Leicester Goal Supremacy spread of 1.5-1.7 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.85-3.05.

Turning to Sunday and West Brom – one of only 3 sides to win both of their opening games – face Stoke at 1.30pm. The Baggies admittedly haven’t achieved their unbeaten start to the season with the same amount of style as United or Huddersfield; as mentioned they beat Bournemouth 1-0, before getting the same result against Burnley thanks to Hal Robson-Kanu (who then went and got himself sent off 13 minutes after his winner).



Though Stoke lost their first game to Everton, the side’s subsequent win against Arsenal more than made up for it. It was former Real Madrid forward, and PSG-loanee Jese Rodriguez – who sits at a Super Mega PGM of 9-13 – who gave the Potters all 3 points, with the first goal of his Stoke career. Mark Hughes will need him to do it again, with Spreadex offering a West Brom/Stoke Goal Supremacy spread of 0.15-0.35 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.05-2.25.

Finally the biggest game of the weekend sees an already troubled Arsenal travel to Liverpool at 4pm. Almost matching last season’s dismal open – which, remember, started with a loss to Liverpool – the Gunners have already faltered. Though they fought back to steal a 4-3 win over Leicester, the fact it got to that point was concerning; the 1-0 loss to Stoke a week later merely compounded the fears that arose following that, admittedly thrilling, victory over the Foxes. The big question this Sunday is whether Alexis Sanchez – who has a Super Mega PGM of 26-31 – makes his first appearance of the season.



Not that Liverpool have been perfect. The Reds twice had to come back from behind against Watford, only for a 94th minute strike to leave the final score at 3-3. They then barely beat Crystal Palace, rescued by a late-ish goal from Sadio Mane (who’s at a Super Mega PGM of 27-32). Their Europa League performances have been far better, securing a 6-3 aggregate win over Hoffenheim, including a 4-2 victory on Wednesday. Despite the extra games played that momentum puts them in a better mental position than the Gunners, with Spreadex offering a Liverpool/Arsenal Goal Supremacy spread of 0.25-0.45 alongside a Total Goals spread of 3.15-3.35.