Will David Moyes manage to finish the weekend with a job after his Sunderland host Arsenal at 12.30pm on Sky Sports 1?

From rags, to riches, to rags again: the David Moyes story. The former Everton and Man United manager is on the brink once again, with his Sunderland taking a paltry 2 points from 9 games and, following their EFL Cup exit, nothing else. If Sunderland are to stand a chance on Saturday then Jermain Defoe, without a goal in 5 hours of game time, needs to re-find his early form; the former England man heads into the weekend at a Super Mega PGM of 19-23.



Arsenal, on the other hand, haven’t lost since the second game of the season and, given Man City’s current sticky patch, will be looking to climb to the top of the table with a win. A largely second-string side saw off Reading in the EFL Cup during the week, meaning the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, at Super Mega PGMs of 42-49 and 19-23 respectively, should be relatively fresh. Sadly for Moyes it might not be a case of if the Gunners win, but of how much by, with Spreadex offering an Arsenal/Sunderland (h) Goal Supremacy spread of 1.3-1.5 alongside a Total Goals spread of 3-3.2.

Also vying for the top spot on Saturday are Liverpool, who visit Crystal Palace at 5.30pm on BT Sport 1? Like Arsenal Jurgen Klopp’s side have only lost once this season; they’ve also managed some impressive wins against their ostensible title-rivals, including the Gunners and Chelsea. Most recently they knocked Tottenham out of the EFL Cup, with a Daniel Sturridge brace enough to see them through. The always injured England forward heads into Saturday at a Super Mega PGM of 34-40, but faces stiff starting competition from his in-form teammates Roberto Firmino (at 24-29), Sadio Mane and Philippe Coutinho (both at 23-28).



As for Crystal Palace, well, after a stellar September Alan Pardew’s side seem to have misplaced their mojo, returning to the same winless run that plagued August. Last weekend they lost 3-1 to Leicester – in 2015/16 that would have been acceptable; this season, not so much. Saturday’s game has the added intrigue of being Christian Benteke’s first chance to see his former teammates, and, at a Super Mega PGM of 21-16, he will be keen to add to his meagre tally and prove his old boss wrong. Whether he is able to do that, however, is another matter entirely, with Spreadex offering a Liverpool/Crystal Palace (h) Goal Supremacy spread of 0.7-0.9 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.75-2.95.

Turning to Sunday and can West Ham put Wednesday’s troubles behind them when they travel to Everton at 1.30pm on Sky Sports 1? After an abject start to the season things have begun to pick up for the Hammers, who are yet to lose in October. That form extended into the EFL Cup, where they beat Chelsea in a game marred by violence at the still unsettled Olympic Stadium. The fact that West Ham are away from this weekend could actually end up being for the best; on the other hand, they have so far only won once on their travels.



Form-wise Everton have had the opposite problem to their opponents. Winning 4 of their first 5 games meant Ronald Koeman secured one of the Toffees best ever starts to the season; since then, however, they have failed to pick up a win in 4 games, losses to Bournemouth and Burnley joined by draws both frustrating (against Palace) and forgivable (at Man City). Romelu Lukaku, at least, has remained a highlight, the Belgian’s 6 goals giving him a Super Mega PGM of 46-53. Given, bar the Blues, the quality of the sides the Hammers have beaten recently the home side shouldn’t have too many issues, with Spreadex offering an Everton/West Ham Goal Supremacy spread of 0.6-0.8 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.75-2.95.

Finally will Claude Puel be able to nab his best result of the season so far with a win over Chelsea, at 4pm on Sky Sports 1? The Saints haven’t lost a domestic game since the middle of September, and followed their disappointing Europa League defeat at the San Siro with a respectable draw against Man City in the league and a narrow win over Sunderland in the EFL Cup. If this run is to continue then Puel will need Charlie Austin, who sits at a Super Mega PGM of 29-35, to reignite his potentially faltering form.



After their own dip in form back in September Chelsea on are back in ascendancy – EFL Cup-excluded – with Conte’s side scoring 9 and conceding none in their last 3 league games (which included heavy wins against Leicester and Man United). Integral to this comeback has been the renewed fortunes of Diego Costa and Eden Hazard who, with 11 goals between them, travel to the St Mary’s Stadium at Super Mega PGMs of 30-36 and 21-25 respectively. With both sides gaining momentum it looks like it will be a tight match, with Spreadex offering a fairly narrow Chelsea/Southampton (h) Goal Supremacy spread of 0.1-0.3 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.5-2.7.