Fresh from landing a 5/1 accumulator on the midweek Europa League action, football commentator Kieran Burke is back in the hot seat to try his luck with Saturday’s Premier League fixtures.
Saturday’s Premier League ACCA
- Under 2.5 goals (Tottenham v Aston Villa)
- Over 3.5 goals (Brighton v Arsenal)
- Hull City double chance (v Newcastle)
- Nottingham Forest to win (v Coventry)
- Odds: 19.67/1
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Tottenham v Aston Villa, Sat, 12:30, TNT Sports
Two of the Premier League’s remaining winless sides go head-to-head at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with both Tottenham and Aston Villa desperate to secure their first league victory of the campaign and ease the pressure building around their respective managers.
Despite investing more than £300 million in the summer, Spurs have yet to find the net in the Premier League this season. Villa have endured a similarly underwhelming domestic start, although they have shown greater promise in cup competition, beating Club Brugge 3-2 in Europe before overcoming Coventry in the EFL Cup.
Away from home, however, Villa’s form remains a concern. They have won just once across their last nine Premier League away matches, highlighting a potential weakness ahead of this trip to north London.
Tottenham finished last season with a strong defensive record on home soil, while eight of their last 10 Premier League victories have come alongside a clean sheet. With both teams still integrating new faces, particularly in attacking areas, this could develop into a cautious and closely fought contest rather than an open goal-fest.
BEST BET: Under 2.5 goals (Evs)
Brighton v Arsenal, Sat, 15:00, Premier Sports Ireland
Brighton welcome reigning Premier League champions Arsenal to the Amex in a meeting between two sides who have made impressive starts to the new campaign.
The Seagulls arrive in confident mood after Sunday’s emphatic 5-0 victory over Coventry, a result that took their league tally to 13 goals after four games, their highest-ever total at this stage of a Premier League season. Brighton have made a particularly strong start on home soil too, winning twice and drawing once across their three competitive fixtures at the Amex.
That home advantage could prove important against the champions. Brighton collected 33 of their 53 Premier League points in front of their own supporters last season and have won each of their last two home league meetings with the reigning champions, having failed to win any of the previous seven.
Arsenal, though, have shown little sign of being affected by the added expectations that come with defending their title. The Gunners have won all seven competitive matches this season and followed up a 2-0 victory over Sunderland last week with a ninth consecutive league win. That is their longest such run since March 2004, when they famously completed the season unbeaten.
Mikel Arteta’s side could now make it 10 Premier League victories in succession. Their away record is equally encouraging, with six wins from their last seven league trips.
Brighton have also shown plenty of attacking intent, registering at least five shots on target in each of their four Premier League games. With both teams coming off high-scoring EFL Cup victories in midweek, the Amex could be set for an entertaining encounter with plenty of attacking threat at both ends.
BEST BET: Over 3.5 goals (9/5)
Newcastle United v Hull City, Sat, 15:00
Newcastle’s encouraging start to the season suffered a major setback on Monday as they were thrashed 4-1 by Leeds at Elland Road. The Magpies had looked dangerous going forward in their opening fixtures despite losing several key players, but their defensive frailties have been difficult to ignore.
Newcastle have faced a league-high 76 shots in the Premier League this season, while only Crystal Palace and Chelsea have conceded more goals across the calendar year. Their lack of defensive consistency is further highlighted by just two clean sheets in their last 20 league matches, with neither coming on home soil.
Hull, meanwhile, have continued to defy expectations since returning to the top flight. A draw at Stamford Bridge last time out extended their unbeaten start, and the Tigers can now become the first newly promoted side since Portsmouth in 2003/04 to avoid defeat in each of their opening five Premier League games.
History at St James’ Park also provides encouragement for the visitors. Hull are the only team to have played more than once at Newcastle’s home ground without losing, winning twice and drawing once. However, this will be the first Premier League meeting between the sides since January 2015.
With Newcastle potentially without Anthony Elanga and Nico González, Hull could see this as an opportunity to maintain their unbeaten start and add another eye-catching result to their return to the Premier League.
BEST BET: Hull City double chance (27/20)
Nottingham Forest v Coventry City, Sat 17:30, Sky Sports Premier League
Coventry’s return to the Premier League has quickly turned into a nightmare, with the Sky Blues still winless and without a goal after four matches. They have become just the eighth promoted side in Premier League history to lose each of their opening four games, and the historical record makes grim reading, only one of the previous seven managed to avoid relegation.
Frank Lampard’s side have also struggled on their travels, winning just one of their last five away league games, alongside two draws and two defeats. Their record at the City Ground offers little encouragement either, with Coventry failing to win there since August 2004 and losing each of their last six visits. They have conceded exactly twice in each of their last five trips to Nottingham.
Forest, meanwhile, finally have their first victory of the season. Oliver Glasner guided the Tricky Trees to an impressive 2-1 away win at Aston Villa last weekend, extending their unbeaten run to three matches with one win and two draws.
There are further reasons for optimism at the City Ground, with Forest losing just once in their last nine home league meetings with promoted sides. Given Coventry’s struggles in front of goal and their poor recent record at this venue, Forest will be confident of making home advantage count.
BEST BET: Nottingham Forest (4/7)
Saturday’s Premier League Tips
- Under 2.5 goals (Tottenham v Aston Villa)
- Over 3.5 goals (Brighton v Arsenal)
- Hull City double chance (v Newcastle)
- Nottingham Forest to win (v Coventry)
- Odds: 19.67/1
