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Players return to their clubs this week feeling battered and bruised having given their all for their countries during the International break. A double round of international games can be the most physically demanding period for even the top Premier League players. This is gameweek 8 in the Premier League and we will discover which teams are most equipped to recover in this short turnaround.
An exciting game
Most games this weekend could very well turn out to be quite ‘dogged’ affairs. However, if you are looking for a game to resemble the quality that we love in the Premier League, then you could play it safe by watching the Money Night Football clash between West Brom and Manchester United. Both teams will have an extra 2 days to rest so there should be more of a spark to this game than the rest. Its simple science, players will be less tired. Di Maria and Van Persie will be hoping to put their disappointing international performances behind them and start fresh with Man United this week.
Is he injured or tired?
Another communication breakdown between club and country has left the soccer public confused as to the fitness of Raheem Sterling. Left out of England’s clash with Estonia, Sterling will be back with his Liverpool side as they hope to overcome Harry Redknapp’s QPR in London this week. It’s kind of a catch 22 for Sterling and Liverpool. If he starts the game and plays well, then he will be criticised for putting club before country. However, Sterling has admitted that he did want to play for England last week. It will be very interesting to see how Brendan Rodgers deals with this one!
Underdog of the week
The wave of stress is finally over for Aston Villa. They have completed the most difficult fixture list having played all 4 top teams. A further boost for the Villains is the fact that hitman striker Benteke is back and set to start against Everton. They also have their Dutch chief Ron Vlaar ready for action. These are Villa’s 2 most influential players and even though the game is away to Everton, this is the perfect time for the midlands club to get back to winning ways!
EPL Best Bets - Week 8
By Toby Maxtone-Smith
VegasInsider.com
The international break was a rather pleasant surprise for British football fans. While England were largely uninspiring in wins over San Marino and Estonia, all the other British nations did very well. None of Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland have qualified for a major tournament since 1998, but there is real hope that they, along with the Republic of Ireland, could get to the expanded Euro 2016.
And so, back to domestic football this weekend where we’ve got a really interesting set of fixtures in the Premier League. Kicking off the weekend are Manchester City at home to Spurs, while runaway leaders Chelsea face a tricky game at Crystal Palace. Manchester United will be looking to continue their good recent form at West Brom on Monday, while Arsenal are heavy favourites at home to Hull on Saturday.
Let's handicap Week 8 of the Premier League.
Odds provided by Sportsbook.ag
The Banker: Manchester City -1.5 vs. Tottenham Hotspur at 6/5
Despite winning only one of its three home games so far this season, Manchester City tend to be pretty trustworthy on their home ground. Over the last three and a bit seasons City have won 50 of their 70 home games and that goes a long way to explaining their 9/20 quotes at home to Spurs. The two games they didn’t win can be quite easily explained. One was a 1-1 draw with Chelsea, which will be comfortably City’s hardest home game all year, while the other was a 1-0 defeat to Stoke. This game can be written off as one of those shocks that happen in football, simply because it’s a low-scoring game. They had 72% possession, twice as many shots as Stoke but just couldn’t break through.
Spurs have really disappointed me this season. They were embarrassingly outgunned by Liverpool in a 3-0 loss, and their record away to top sides is simply awful. City tend to be high on goals at the Etihad and, if they take the lead early, could go on to rout Pochettino’s side.
The Solid Bet: West Ham United Draw No Bet vs. Burnley at 4/5
Burnley are yet to pick up their first win of the season and a tally of just three goals in seven games mean that they should not be vying for favouritism in any Premier League game. They are 9/5 with a hugely improved West Ham side at 17/10. Burnley have looked solid at the back so far, but key fact is the continued absence of strikers Danny Ings and Sam Vokes. The pair scored 40 goals last season and were the main reason for the Clarets’ surprise promotion. Back-up forward Lukas Jutkiewicz, brought in on the cheap after a decent but unspectacular career in the Championship, simply is not good enough at this level.
West Ham were utterly untroubled by a dire QPR side in their last game as they eased to a 2-0 win at Upton Park. They travel to East Lancashire in good spirits and for once, they seem to have goals in them. New strikers Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia have already struck up an excellent partnership, with a rejuvenated Stewart Downing pulling the strings in midfield. Add to that defence typically solid for a Sam Allardyce team, and it could be a good season West Ham.
The Outsider: Aston Villa to win at Everton at 11/2
With just one league win all season, Everton are very opposable at 3/5 against an Aston Villa side seven places higher in the table than them. The Toffees have the worst defence in the league and there seems to be some slackness in the squad after such an impressive season in 2013/14. Villa have lost their last three games, but they were against Arsenal, Chelsea and Man City - probably the three best teams in the league. Judging by their start, Everton are nowhere near their level.
As is common for relatively young squads, Villa play their best football when there’s no pressure on them. And as a side that has constantly overachieved for a decade, the same is true of Everton. However the home side will have all the expectation here and, so far, they have not been able to deal with it very well. Villa can be devastating on the counter-attack with Gabriel Agobonlahor and Andreas Weimann providing bags of pace. Their defence has improved significantly over the last few years and, if they keep it to 0-0 for as long as they can, Villa can sneak the goal that might just win them the match,
The First Goalscorer: Charlie Austin for QPR vs. Liverpool at 15/2
QPR are probably the worst team in the league. Player for player, they have enough to stay up, but they have a manager in Harry Redknapp who simply doesn’t look very interested any more, and the team’s lack of work rate reflects this. At home they have done respectably, but if Liverpool are anything like their best QPR will have no answer. However there is one man in the West Londoners’ squad who is a cause for optimism - striker Charlie Austin. Austin has netted twice this season, including a stunning swivel-and-volley against Southampton three weeks ago. The former Burnley and Swindon man has an excellent, consistent goal record throughout his career and can cause Liverpool’s suspect back-line some big problems.
Crystal Palace vs. Chelsea Betting Preview and Pick
By: Hugh Wilson
Goal.com
Chelsea and Crystal Palace meet Saturday (10 a.m. ET, NBC Sports Network), with the Blues looking to maintain their cushion at the top of the Premier League, which currently stands at five points, although Manchester City could make in-roads into that with a positive result against Spurs in the early kickoff.
The Blues have been in fine form, winning their last four matches in a row, including impressive victories in the league against Aston Villa and Arsenal, respectively.
Jose Mourinho will not underestimate the opponents this Saturday, though, with Palace getting the better of Chelsea last season, inflicting a shock 1-0 defeat at Selhurst Park. The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook prices the Blues at -270 odds to pick up their seventh win of the season.
Neil Warnock's men are massive underdogs in this fixture at +750 at the SuperBook, after a mixed start to their 2014-15 campaign. Warnock, after taking over from Tony Pulis at the start of the season, has only seen his side lose once, with Hull City beating them 2-0 before the international break. The draw is priced at +390.
If you're looking for a better price on Chelsea, they can be backed laying 1.5 goals at +110, with Palace offered at -130 to keep it within two goals. The posted total at the Westgate is +2.5 goals (OV -130).
Despite the loss to Hull, it's been Palace's away form that has stood out this season, with the South Londoners coming seconds away from taking a point against Arsenal before then following that result up with a draw at Newcastle and an impressive win against Everton.
The Eagles haven't been too strong at home, though, winning just once, against Leicester City 2-0 last time out.
With Chelsea starting the season in sensational form, it's tough to see any other result than an away win.
Jose Mourinho's men to win and hold Palace scoreless, a prop to be found outside of Las Vegas, seems to offer value at +125. The Blues have not conceded in their last three matches, winning all of those games. Palace have failed to net against Hull and Burnley this season, and with the Blues looking more assured at the back having leaked goals for fun at the start of the season, it’s a prop certainly worth backing.
Goal.com best bet: Chelsea to win in a shutout at +125