Premier League Weekend Preview
After what seemed like a lifetime international break, we are back with the Premier League action this weekend! We`ve picked some unmissable games to get involved in!
A London derby that rarely disappoints lifts the curtain on a full weekend of Premier League action! Tottenham return to Premier League play aiming to bounce back from a 3-2 defeat to Brighton before heading into the international break. The Seagulls abruptly ended Spurs' momentum, breaking their 5-game winning streak despite the London outfit leading 2-0 at half-time. As they return to the London Stadium, Tottenham will be confident, having shown strong home form this season—winning 2 and losing just 1-0 to Arsenal. Looking at the head-to-head record, these clashes have been closely contested, with the last 5 matches resulting in 2 draws, 2 wins for Spurs, and 1 win for West Ham. Although the Hammers' last visit to Tottenham ended in a 2-1 victory for them, Spurs have been in blistering scoring form lately, while West Ham have been somewhat vulnerable at the back. We expect to see a few goals this time around.
West Ham headed into the international break with their heads held high after a 4-1 win over Ipswich. However, their form prior to that victory had been quite underwhelming—the Hammers drew 1-1 with Brentford, lost 5-1 to Liverpool in the FA Cup, and fell 3-0 to Chelsea. They have also not won in 2 of their previous games prior to the mentioned. Currently sitting in 12th place with just 8 points, their current away form doesn't indicate a dominant performance on Saturday, with 2 draws and 1 win so far. Still, the Hammers have enough in their arsenal to pose problems for Tottenham. Despite a shaky backline this season, they have managed to score at least 1 goal in 8 of their 9 games across all competitions. As mentioned, encounters between these two sides are typically closely contested, and while Spurs may have the edge on paper, we can’t hand a clear win to either side. However, we certainly expect an exciting game, with both teams eager to find the back of the net.
Team picks:
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Manchester United vs Brentford
All eyes will be on Old Trafford this Saturday as everyone anticipates whether Erik ten Hag and his team can deliver a response or face yet another setback. Given the club's high expectations, Manchester United has had a disappointing start to the season, yet ten Hag managed to avoid the axe before the international break. The Red Devils have collected just eight points from their first seven league matches, placing them in 14th position—marking their lowest total since the 1989/90 season. Additionally, a couple of draws in the UEFA Europa League, where they squandered leads, have intensified the scrutiny on the Dutch manager. They entered the international break following a 0-0 draw against Aston Villa, their fifth consecutive game without a win in all competitions. At home this season, United have struggled significantly, suffering 3-0 defeats to both Tottenham and Liverpool, alongside a narrow 1-0 victory over Fulham. While they haven't lost to Brentford at Old Trafford in their three previous encounters, their current form suggests the tides could turn this time. With Manchester United's unpredictability this season, it's challenging to confidently back them for a win or predict a loss.
Considering the expectations, Brentford have been neither good nor bad. Thomas Frank`s outfit headed into the international break with a 5-3 victory over Wolverhampton and held West Ham to a 1-1 draw after a 3-1 loss to Spurs. They currently sit in 11th place above United with 11 points but have only lost to the big sides this season – Liverpool, Manchester City, and Tottenham. Although it`s not because of their own form, the Bees will certainly be confident taking into consideration United lack of dominance and overall poor performances. Still, the Red Devils are never to be overlooked, especially that Brentford have not won at Old Trafford yet. The question will be whether we will see a response from United or will the deliver another underwhelming display. One thing we are confident in, is that both sides are leaking at the back, and we expect to see a couple of goals in this one.
Team Picks:
Anytime goal scorer: Marcus Rashford
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