Title contenders Chelsea and Liverpool both secured a win in Game week 1 and their meeting this week is definitely the highlight match of Game week 2. John Newsome previews this game along with all the other upcoming English Premier League week 2 matches this weekend.  You can view all previous analysis from John’s regular column here: English Premier League Predictions For Saturday.
Please note all prices quoted below were correct at time of publication.
EPL Game Week 2
EVERTON v WEST BROM
September 19th
The Premier League have sensibly decided to show all 28-of their September fixtures live on various TV outlets, including Sky Sports, BT Sport, BBC and Amazon Prime.
There’s always been a rule in place that no Saturday 15.00 PM game can be shown live on TV.
This is due, in essence, to make sure that the lower-tier football teams get fans attending the games and paying on the turnstile to prevent, for example, an Accrington Stanley fan (who are they?) staying at home and watching Manchester United v Liverpool on the TV at 15.00 PM on a Saturday, limiting the gate receipts of the lower leagues.
Now that the fans are unable to venture out to the stadiums, the rule is on hold.
Sensible!
The fans won’t be going to the grounds anytime soon, so the Premier League may extend this to their October games too.
This first fixture of Game Week-2, kicks-off at 12.30 PM in England live on BT Sport.
Everton did what Newcastle had done the night before and ruined a days worth of Accas.
After failing to see out any lead against a Top Six club last season, Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored midway through the 2nd-half, to give the Toffees the lead, with Carlo’s men holding on for an Acca breaking 1-0 away-day victory.
That could mean one of two things, 1- Everton are going to mount a big challenge this season, not be flakey and try and break into the Top Six.
Or B-Tottenham are rubbish and are not a Top Six club now under Dracula.
For the sake of the Toffees faithful, cardboard and real, they will hope for 1, however, Jose is a spent force, so B, could be the answer.
This home fixture against newly-promoted West Brom should, in theory, extend Everton’s winning streak but anything other than a victory will probably mean its B not 1 for Carlo and the boys.
Against Tottenham, Carlo started Allan and James Rodriguez, who both had excellent games, as did Richarlison who, aged just 23, could turn into a real player over the next couple of years.
Everyone knows Jamie Vardy is a Sheffield Superstar but the next top Dee Dar on the rank is Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who hails from the Steel City and will want to keep on the goal-scoring coat-tails of Jimmy V.
West Brom did what both of the other newly-promoted teams had already done on Saturday and that was lose their opening fixture back in the big time.
Slaven Bilic’s Baggies were at the Hawthorns against Leicester on Sunday but after a goalless 1st-half, succumbed to 3, 2nd-half Foxes goals to sit bottom of the Premier League table, not on goal-difference as Fulham also lost by a 3-0 scoreline but purely in Alphabetical Order.
Callum Robinson started up front following his recent permanent move from Sheffield United after being on-loan in the West Brom team that won automatic promotion behind Leeds last season.
Slaven will know how hard the Premier League is after both playing and then managing the Hammers in the Top Flight.
The Baggies faithful will definitely know having been one of the teams that have the highest promotion/relegation from the Premier League to the Championship and back.
Huddersfield Town’s Karlan Grant is a target for Slaven, who could arrive for about £17 Million and may be available for a trip up to Merseyside.
Back in January 2018, the last time the Baggies went North to Goodison Park, the game ended in a 1-1 draw.
Jay Rodriguez scored early for West Brom, under the guidance of Alan Pardew back then.
Everton had another experienced manager at their helm, with Sam Allardyce inspiring a 2nd-half substitution, bringing on Oumar Niasse in the 69th-minute.
Inspirational, because Oumar scored the Toffees equaliser within a minute of entering the field of play.
- Bet 365 offer Everton at slight Odds On 8/13, the Draw at 14/5 and 9/2 for West Brom to come away with all 3-points.
- Bet 365 offer 4/1 Richarlison Scores First and 2/1 Everton Win To Nil.
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LEEDS UNITED v FULHAM
September 19th
This is a 15.00 PM start time in England and is another BT Sport fixture.
Leeds United, along with the other two promoted teams from last season, lost their opening fixture.
The slight difference being was that both Fulham and West Brom were at home, whilst Leeds were away and away at Anfield.
Despite losing on Saturday against the current Premier League champions, Leeds can hold their heads up high and will have put fear into the rest of the league as to just how hard it will be to take on Marcelo Bielsa and his Leeds boys.
After conceding a penalty when the ball struck new recruit Robin Koch’s hand, which was converted by Liverpool, the Whites were back on level terms soon after from a brilliant individual goal by Jack Harrison, who ripped through the Reds defence and slotted home.
Liverpool once again took the lead, which Marcelo wouldn’t have been happy with his defenders, defending a corner.
One of Marcelo’s many coaching systems is to watch all of Europe’s top teams on how a set piece is set up, watching hours and hours of videotapes on the set pieces.
So when Liverpool got a corner, everything should have been in place, however, the goal conceded was pretty basic and Marcelo didn’t need to put a plug on the Betamax to stop that.
Cross in, Big Virgil’s head, bang, 2-1.
Patrick Bamford equalised again for Leeds after just half an hour of play.
Within minutes of Pat’s goal, Liverpool scored a 3rd, which, although most goals are preventable, certainly the Reds 1st-two, the 3rd was pretty unstoppable.
All 5-goals were scored before the break, which set up a great 2nd-half. Mateusz Klich equalised for a 3rd-time to make the final 25-minutes very exciting.
Leeds introduced their new signing from Valencia, Rodrigo, who unfortunately didn’t have the best of debuts, giving away a 2nd-penalty after a rash challenge, which the pundits on the telly, often refer to as a strikers tackle.
After getting back on level terms for the 3rd time in the game, the 2nd penalty conceded ultimately cost Leeds a point.
Although a defeat, not many teams have done that to Liverpool over the past 2-seasons, especially at Anfield, which will definitely give Marcelo and the boys confidence for the next few games, starting with this visit from one of the other newly-promoted teams.
The Leeds United faithful should rightly be full of confidence and will definitely be ‘marching on together’.
Fulham got off to a losing start in their first game back in the Top Flight.
Scott Parker’s boys, which included 10 of the 11, that played against Brentford in the Play-Off final back on the 4th of August, couldn’t stop an impressive Arsenal team.
Ivan Cavaleiro started instead of Bobby Decordova-Reid, who dropped to the bench, in the only change made by Ronald McDonald.
The class difference between Arsenal and Fulham was evident and the Gunners ran out easy 3-0 winners, scoring the opener after just 8-minutes.
Fulham conceded 2-more after the break to jog the memory of just how tough the Premier League can and will be.
It’s been a while since Fulham headed to Elland Rd for a Premier League game, however, these 2, did meet last season whilst both in the Championship.
It was in fact, a post-lockdown game played in June, which saw Leeds easily beat Fulham by a 3-0 scoreline.
Patrick Bamford, Ezgjan Alioski and Jack Harrison with the goals to cement Leeds place at the top of the Championship.
Although a defeat for Fulham that dented their automatic promotion hopes, the Cottagers were successful in the play-offs and meet their promoted counterparts early in the new campaign.
When these 2-last met at Elland Rd as Premier League teams, the date was the 14th of December 2003, with Leeds also scoring 3 that day, however, Fulham did reply with 2-goals of their own.
Michael Duberry opened the scoring for the Whites with Mark Viduka making it 2-0 just after the break.
Luis Saha then scored twice for Fulham, the 2nd in the 86th-minute.
What looked like a late equaliser to earn a point, turned out just to be a 2nd, with Dominic Matteo scoring the Leeds winner a couple of minutes later.
The Leeds United team that day had Paul Robinson in goal, Ian Harte and Gary Kelly as Full-Backs, Michael Duberry and Lucas Radebe, as the Centre-Back pairing.
The Midfielders were James Milner, Dominic Matteo, Jermaine Pennant and David Batty, with Mark Viduka and Alan Smith up top.
The manager at the time was Leeds United legend, Eddie Gray.
It’s probably unimaginable that Leeds were relegated at the end of the season with a team that consisted of the great players listed.
- Bet 365 offer Leeds United at Odds On 8/11, the Draw at 13/5 and 15/4 for Fulham to come away with all 3-points.
- Bet 365 offer 13/8 that Patrick Bamford Scores Anytime and 9/4 that Aleksandar Mitrovic Scores Anytime.
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MANCHESTER UNITED v CRYSTAL PALACE
September 19th
A 17.30 PM kick-off in England live on Sky Sports.
Manchester United got the opening weekend off due to their Europa League exploits where the Red Devil’s reached the Semi-Finals but ultimately lost against the eventual winners, Seville.
Whilst most may have forgot that game now, it was annoying for a true United fan out there who saw the team-sheet an hour before kick-off and got the dreaded news that Fred was in the starting eleven.
Not to dig out Fred too much but £52 Million? Really?
As this is a prediction site, a prediction on offer is this, if Ole persists in choosing Fred, United won’t win anything.
In both the recent Semi-Final defeats against Chelsea in the FA Cup and then Seville, Ole chose Fred, United lost both games.
Fred is no doubt a decent fella and probably is good around the dressing room, however, would Jurgen or Pep or even Frank pick Fred in their teams?
Whilst not knowing the answer fully, it’s probably unlikely.
Now that Donny Osmond has signed, well Donny Van Der Beek but surely will be nicknamed Osmond by the United Little Devils or Ducky, Fred may now have his game time reduced to the odd Carabao Cup game.
United could even cut their losses and sell the Brazilian, there would be takers but not for £52 Million.
Cheers Jose!
Jadon Sancho is no closer to moving back to Manchester, with talks that Ole will go in for Jack Grealish.
Again, Jack is a decent player but not worth anywhere near the £80 Million that Aston Villa are supposedly after.
£40 Million is more realistic, however, it’s unlikely that Villa will accept that so it’s maybe going to go to the 5th of October when the Transfer Window slams shut.
Roy Hodgson and his boys got off to a winning start, beating Southampton at Selhurst Park by a 1-0 scoreline.
Wilfried Zaha, who’s still at the club, despite interest from elsewhere, including Bayern Munich, scored the Eagles goal to put Crystal Palace joint top of the Premier League table.
Most will scoff at that after just one game, as years ago, the league table wasn’t published until at least 5-games, yet, that’s just the same, whether 1-game, 5-games or 20-games, it’s irrelevant until all 38 have been played, so why not show the top of the table after 1-game, it’s just a bit of fun and it will be the closest that Roy’s Boys will get to the summit.
There’s still another 3-weeks until the end of the Transfer Window, so there could be movement regards Wilfried.
New recruit Eberechi Ezri, got 10-minutes to showcase his obvious talent and the Eagle Ultras, both real and cardboard, should be excited in seeing the phone network kid.
Over 12-months ago at the end of August last season, this was a Game Week-3 fixture, which saw Crystal Palace upset the home side, grabbing a 2-1 victory with a late winner from Patrick Van-Aanholt.
Jordan Ayew scored first for Palace. Dan James, before he was rubbish (Ian!) equalised in the 89th-minute, giving the Old Trafford faithful hope of a victory. However, not to be, as Pat Van-Man scored to send the Eagle Ultras home, very happy.
What would have irked the Red Devil’s is that Marcus Rashford had missed an earlier penalty.
- Bet 365 offer Manchester United at Odds On 1/4, the Draw at 5/1 and 9/1 for Crystal Palace to come away with all 3-points.
- Bet 365 offer 13/10 that Bruno Fernandes Scores Anytime and 21/20 that Manchester United Win To Nil.
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ARSENAL v WEST HAM
September 19th
This game as been moved back from the Sunday to Saturday Night, kicking-off at 20.00 PM in England, live on Sky Sports.
No consideration for the fans, oh, there won’t be any.
Arsenal got off to a winning start and the Gooners faithful will be dreaming of winning the Premier League with Pep 2 at the helm.
After one fixture, Arsenal sit proudly at the top of the table after a stunning 3-0 victory against the mighty Barcelona.
Sorry, not Barcelona, the Gunners comfortably beat Fulham and whilst a win is a win, most teams will beat the Cottagers, so the Gooners don’t want to get too excited just yet.
Alexandre Lacazette scored after just 8-minutes to settle the nerves.
After half-time, new boy Gabriel scored on his debut to make it 2-0.
Gabriel had a nervy start to the game, almost gifting Fulham a goal before Alexandre scored but looked a decent acquisition and maybe what Arsenal need and have needed for a long time.
Probably the best signing of the summer will be to tie down Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to a new contract, which looks to be happening this coming week.
Big Pete added a 3rd to put the game to bed and take Arsenal to the summit of the Premier League, which could remain the position after this visit of West Ham.
After a brilliant end to the protracted 2019/20 season, David Moyes would have been relishing the visit of Newcastle for the opener at the London Stadium.
After choosing what looked like a pretty solid starting eleven, including Mark Noble, Declan Rice, Tomas Soucek, Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio, the Hammers appeared flat and conceded 2, second-half goals to ultimately lose the game by a 2-0 scoreline.
After a loss against a mid-table rival, a visit to table-toppers and London rivals Arsenal is probably not what Big Dave would have wanted and come late on Saturday night, West Ham could find themselves rooted to the foot of the infant Premier League table, depending on how many goals are shipped.
At the Emirates, back in March, Alexandre Lacazette scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory for Arsenal, the goal coming midway through the 2nd-half.
- Bet 365 offer Arsenal at Odd On 8/15, the Draw at 16/5 and 19/4 for West Ham to come away with all 3-points.
- Bet 365 offer 5/2 that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Scores First and 13/5 that Michail Antonio Scores Anytime.
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SOUTHAMPTON v TOTTENHAM
September 20th
Early Sunday Afternoon football kicking-off at 12.00 PM in England, with this game, live on BT Sport.
The Saints started the season with a loss on Saturday, suffering a 1-0 defeat against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Whilst a defeat, Ralph Hasenhuttl needn’t dwell on it too much as both Palace and Southampton were evenly matched with both are probably going to finish mid-table.
With Danny Ings in the side, Wreck-It’s boys are always going to be a goal threat, it’s just at the back which needs keeping an eye on as there will be better teams than Crystal Palace that will be able to exploit the weaknesses.
Dracula appears to be working his magic again, after disastrous spells in Romania, Whitby, Real Madrid and Manchester United.
At the Chas and Dave Memorial Stadium, a lacklustre performance from Jose’s Spurs culminated in a 1-0 defeat against Everton and a poor performance in general from a Tottenham team that included Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Son Heung-Min, Lucas Moura and new boy Matt Doherty.
A few months back, Tottenham were chasing Southampton’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, with all the supposed experts saying that Pierre-Emile was a ‘Jose’ player.
A ‘Jose’ player, nowadays, is not of the Didier Drogba standard anymore.
Someone at Spurs had decided the Danish midfielder was the answer.
Whether that was Jose Mourinho’s decision or someone higher is debatable but Pierre-Emile may just turn out to be Tottenham’s Fred.
A lot of football fans, who don’t get paid by Sky Sports, BT Sport, Talksport or any other Sport, can’t see what Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg brings to the table.
Unless Dracula and the Tottenham heir-achy thought they were signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Against Everton, on Sunday, Big Pierre didn’t really provide evidence that he will improve Spurs.
It was noticeable that Dracula withdrew Harry Winks in the 2nd-half and left Pierre-Emile on the pitch.
Looking at the Tottenham starting eleven, there isn’t too much wrong, however, the substitute bench lacks quality.
Whether that’s Jose Mourinho up to his old tricks again to try and get more players in, or Dracula is happy with the squad, that he will eventually suck the life out of.
What Jose wasn’t happy with was the area of the pitch, Everton took the free-kick from that was placed perfectly on Big Dom’s head to concede the goal.
Jose said the free-kick should have been 5-6 metres back from where the offence took place.
It’s not like Tottenham, or any other team in the history of football for that matter, have tried to steal a yard or two, or a metre or three.
What Jose should have done is have a word with Eric Dier, either in English or in Mr Mourinho’s native Portuguese tongue, which Eric speaks fluently.
Eric was culpable for the Everton goal and just didn’t mark or jump with Dominic Calvert-Lewin, regardless of where the free-kick was taken from.
The first game of any season isn’t a marker for how the term will play out so this fixture against Southampton will be a chance for, not only Dracula but Wreck-It to get back on track.
This was a pre-lockdown fixture last season, the game taking place in late January.
Sofiane Boufal scored for the Saints to equalise an earlier Son Heung-Min goal to give both teams a share of the points.
- Bet 365 offer Southampton at 23/10, the Draw at 9/4 and 6/5 for Tottenham to come away with all 3-points.
- Bet 365 offer 6/5 that Danny Ings Scores Anytime and 17/2 that Matt Doherty Scores Anytime.
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NEWCASTLE v BRIGHTON
September 20th
Another Sunday Afternoon football game, starting at 14.00 PM in England.
Newcastle probably ruined everyone’s Accas late Saturday evening with a brilliant 2-0 away-day victory at the London Stadium.
Out of the 4-games that took place on Saturday, most would have had a nice little 4-team Acca of Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Liverpool and West Ham.
After all of Arsenal, Palace and the Reds had achieved victories, most would have been rubbing their hands at 8 o’clock on Saturday night.
At 10 o’clock, a few cats would have been scarpering with the betting slips torn up and a lot of disgruntled punters.
Especially if the missus had made the boys watch Britain’s Got Talent, which should be hauled in front of the trades description act.
Those on the dreadful programme certainly don’t have that much talent, to fill 2-hours of primetime Saturday evening viewing.
Noticeably, Simon Cowell was nowhere to be found, apparently, the lads hurt his back falling from his bike, which is certainly no laughing matter, however, there are rumours he’s having his face ironed.
New signing Callum Wilson tapped home from close range after a flick-on from Andy Carroll to make it 1-0 in the Capital.
Newcastle’s other summer signing, Jeff Hendrick, capped off a fine display by scoring late on to make it 2-0 to put the game to bed and take the Magpies joint top of the Premier League table.
It was a while before the cats felt safe to return to the living room.
As mentioned regularly, if Andy Carrol stays fit, Newcastle will be a match for anyone, as he offers so much, it’s just that the Big Lad is injured too many times, which hinders Steve Bruce’s boys.
If Andy stays fit, along with Callum, Jeff, Jonjo and the Longstaff boys, Mike Ashley may just find a seller pretty soon or decide to hang on to the club for the time being, which will definitely please the Toon Army.
Brighton were the first victims of Frank Lampard’s New Look Chelsea when the Blues visited the Amex on Monday Night Football and inflicted a 3-1 defeat on Graham Potter’s Seagulls.
After falling a goal behind, due to conceding a penalty midway through the 1st-half, Leandro Trossard equalised for Brighton just after the break.
Unfortunately, that just re-ignited Chelsea’s fire and within 2-minutes of Leandro’s strike, Chelsea took the lead again.
Frank’s boys then scored again to run out winners.
Ben White, who was on loan at Leeds United last season, started in defence, with new boy Adam Lallana playing in midfield.
Unfortunately, the two new boys couldn’t prevent a defeat, however, Harry shouldn’t be too disappointed as not many teams will beat Chelsea this season, who are this columns favourites to win the Premier League title.
Probably the Seagull faithful will be happy that they can’t travel the 700-mile round trip up to St James Park and will be grateful of the TV coverage.
This fixture last season was almost a year to the day, on September the 21st, a long time before the Coronavirus halted the world and no one had heard the word furloughed.
The game in 2019 at St James Park finished goalless in a very drab 0-0 draw.
Coincidentally, when these two met post-lockdown at the Amex in July, B and Q Brighton branch, sold out of paint the day after, with that game also finishing in a drab 0-0 draw.
- Bet 365 offer Newcastle at 6/4, the Draw at 21/10 and 19/10 for Brighton to come away with all 3-points.
- Bet 365 offer 5/1 that Callum Wilson Scores First and 7/4 that there are Under 1.5 Goals.
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CHELSEA v LIVERPOOL
September 20th
The 3rd of 4, Sunday fixtures, starting at 16.30 PM in England live on Sky Sports.
Frank Lampard’s New Look Chelsea went South to the Amex on Monday Night Football and got a comfortable 3-1 victory against Brighton.
New look in a fashion, as Timo Werner and Kai Havertz, were the only two of the 5, new signings, that got a starting berth.
Thiago Silva is still on holiday following his Champions League victory and Ben Chilwell and Hakim Ziyech are not up to scratch just yet.
Having been awarded a penalty midway through the 1st-half, combined with Jorginho being on the field, there was only one outcome, 1-0 to the Blues.
Jorgi Boy does not miss penalties.
Brighton equalised after the break but Reece James scored a beauty to quickly put Chelsea back in front.
After a speculative shot from Kurt Zouma deflected past the stricken Brighton keeper, Frank’s boys came away with a 3-1 victory to match all of Arsenal, Leicester, Newcastle, Wolves, Liverpool, Everton and Crystal Palace with opening day wins.
A great start for both Chelsea and Liverpool but after watching the Reds game against Leeds on Saturday, Frank will feel he has the beating of Jurgen, especially with this being at Stamford Bridge.
The defending Premier League Champions, took on last seasons Championship winners, early on Saturday evening and although started off the new campaign with a victory, were made to work for the 3-points by a team that will definitely upset a few this term and could just have offered the blueprint on how to take on Liverpool at Anfield.
Mo Salah converted an early penalty before Leeds equalised.
After gaining a corner, a straight forward training ground routine ended in a Virgil Van Dijk header from a superb Andy Robertson cross.
Leeds weren’t to be bullied by the Champions though and again equalised, surprisingly coming from a Virgil mistake.
Just before the break, Mo Salah scored a superb volley to take Liverpool in at half-time leading by a 3-2 scoreline.
Leeds equalised for a 3rd-time to stun the cardboard Kop but with time running out, Jurgen’s title winners were gifted another penalty, which the Egyptian King, Mo, converted to complete his hat-trick and a narrow 4-3 victory for Liverpool that would have sent shockwaves around the Premier League.
What maybe was a surprise is the usual Rolls Royce that is Virgil Van Dijk, wasn’t as assured as normal, maybe the old Roller was in for a service and the garage had given Big Virgil an Austin Allegro.
If the oils been changed for this game against Chelsea, then the Blues could find it tough going, however, if Virgil still as the Allegro, then Timo and the boys may just move into the fast lane.
Again, like the Newcastle v Brighton fixture, this was a Game Week-6 match last season, taking place almost 365-days ago, 363-in fact.
Liverpool came away with the spoils, following 1st-half goals from Trent Alexander-Arnold and Roberto Firmino to give Jurgen’s Reds a 2-1 victory. N’Golo Kante with the Blues consolation after the break.
- Bet 365 offer Chelsea at 23/10, the Draw at 9/4 and 6/5 for Liverpool to come away with all 3-points.
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LEICESTER v BURNLEY
September 20th
Sunday Night Football, with this game at the King Power Stadium kicking-off at 19.00 PM in England and the BBC showing the game free-to-air.
Leicester comfortably beat their Midland rivals on Sunday, getting a comfortable 3-0 away-day victory.
Playing in a very attractive Maroon kit, Timothy Castagne scored a header after the break, following great work on the left by Dennis Praet.
Sheffield Superstar Jamie Vardy was man-handled in the penalty area and following the dreaded VAR getting involved, the referee awarded the Foxes a penalty.
Vards stepped up and converted the spot-kick to make it 2-0.
After a further penalty was awarded, Big Jamie stepped up again and put the ball in the exact same spot.
The 2019/20 Golden Boot winner started off the new campaign to retain his title but even after the 2-goals, is still 1-behind Mo Salah after the Egyptian Kings superb hat-trick against Leeds the day before.
Coincidentally, Big Mo also scored 2-penalties.
This will be a sterner test for Brendan’s Wonderful Human Beings against a Burnley side that had the opening weekend off.
Sean Dyche’s boys were on the beach for an extra week after their opener against Manchester United was postponed due to United’s European adventure.
After watching Jeff Hendrick’s display for Newcastle against West Ham on Saturday, it’s still a surprise as to why Big Sean and the Burnley heir-achy let the Irishman leave.
Unless Jeff wanted to move to warmer climes then it just doesn’t make sense.
The Foxes beat the Clarets by a 2-1 scoreline back in October 2019, with Mr Vardy cancelling out an early Chris Wood goal.
Youri Tielemans scored the winner for Leicester midway through the 2nd-half to give Brendan a victory over Big Sean.
- Bet 365 offer Leicester at slight Odds On 3/5, the Draw at 14/5 and 19/4 for Burnley to come away with all 3-points.
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ASTON VILLA v SHEFFIELD UNITED
September 20th
Early Monday Night Football with this fixture kicking-off at 18.00 PM in England.
Aston Villa were one of the four teams that didn’t play on the opening weekend due to Man City finishing off their Champions League campaign.
At the moment, Jack Grealish is still a Villain but there are strong rumours Manchester United will try and take the lad to Old Trafford before the end of the window in October.
Dean Smith has forked out £33 Million for Brentford’s Ollie Watkins, who is now Aston Villa’s record signing.
Dean knows Ollie from his time as Brentford manager.
Last season Ollie scored a hat-trick in a 3-1 victory against Barnsley at Oakwell.
What was remarkable about Ollie’s treble was, they were all headers, so if Villa can provide the crosses, Ollie knows where the net is with his bonce.
Arsenal’s FA Cup-winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez could be between the sticks for this game against the Blades after Arsenal accepted a £20 Million bid from Villa.
Lyon’s Bertrand Traore, who started at Stamford Bridge as a youngster, is also on his way over the English Channel and could join Ollie Watkins up front to try and score the much-needed goals for the Villains.
Sheffield United conceded 2-goals against Wolves in the early Monday evening game at Bramall Lane, to ultimately lose the game by a 2-0 scoreline.
What will have annoyed Chris Wilder, was the 2-goals were conceded after just 6-minutes of play.
Chris wasn’t happy, his face told everyone.
The Blades were the better side after the break but in truth, the damage had already been done in those opening 6-minutes.
Little Jim from Swinton wasn’t happy either, instead of the fruit Kopparberg, normally partaken on match days, Jimbo went for the strong stuff and bought himself and his mate a pint of John Smiths beer and two straws.
The pair of Blunts weren’t sure how strong John Smiths is so weren’t drinking a pint each to start with.
After realising the beer was just about right for a couple of Sheffield United fans, they got another half each, even taking pictures of the beer to show their tougher and slightly more intelligent Barnsley fan mate, who could drink them both under the table, however, due to health reasons, those days are over.
Little James wasn’t happy with his beloved Blades and at half-time, ventured into town to sort out his lovely girlfriends work-mate, who’s a weirdo, apparently.
The rescheduling of the Premier League games to allow the TV coverage, means Sheffield United play each game on a Monday.
Like a night out in Sheffield!
This game last season was the first after the lockdown and ended in a 0-0 draw with not much more to say about the game.
Other than the Goal-Line Technology didn’t work when a perfectly good goal following a free-kick by Sheffield United’s Oliver Norwood was clearly over the Villa line after the ‘keeper fell into the side of the net.
With everyone looking at the referee, Michael Oliver, to check his watch, Mr Oliver just waved play on and pointed to the lucky lucky watch, he had bought off Del Boy and said,
‘No goal lads!’
It would have been good if there was something like a Video Assistant Referee who was sat watching on a 55’ inch, who could confirm the goal and inform young Michael to award it.
Alas, that didn’t happen and the game finished in a 0-0 draw.
The point gained by Villa subsequently kept them in the Top Flight and ultimately relegated Bournemouth.
Villa, have been in touch again with the head of the Trotter household to see if Del has any timepieces available.
It’s a certainty that there will be a goal given by Goal-Line Technology early on Monday evening.
- Bet 365 offer Aston Villa at 13/8, the Draw at 11/5 and 17/10 for Sheffield United to come away with all 3-points.
- Bet 365 offer 3/1 that Jack Grealish Scores Anytime and 11/2 that Ollie McBurnie Scores First.
- Go to Bet365 To View Latest Odds
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WOLVES v MAN CITY
September 21st
The final fixture of Game Week-2, sees Man City travel to Molineux with a 20.00 PM start-time in England.
Wolves also matched all of Arsenal, Leicester, Chelsea, Newcastle, Liverpool, Everton and Crystal Palace with an opening day victory, heading North for a Monday Night out in Sheffield and stunning the Blades with 2-goals in the opening 6-minutes.
Raul Jimenez continued where he left off last term and scored after just 3-minutes.
Nuno’s Gold and Blacks then quickly added a 2nd through Romain Saiss that knocked the stuffing out of the Yorkshire club and although Wolves rode their luck in the 2nd-half, got the victory by a 2-0 scoreline and are off to a winning start.
Man City got last weekend off following the Semi-Final defeat against Lyon back on the 15th of August which gave Pep’s Blues a 30-day exemption.
After the break, City will be back to try and regain their crown and are still after Napoli’s Centre-Back Kalidou Koulibaly but the Naples owners are wanting more than the £70 Million City want to pay.
The Citizens will be hoping Double-K will join to partner Nathan Ake at the back, with Big Nathe coming in from relegated Bournemouth for a fee of about £40 Million.
Ferran Torres joins his fellow countryman Pep from Valencia and is straight in a new £1 Million Manchester City Centre apartment, featured on BBC One’s recent documentary-Manctopia.
On the programme, the term ‘Affordable Housing’ was mentioned over 50-times, yet no one knows how much ‘Affordable’ means.
It’s certainly not a new home that is for sale for £17,000.
Affordable Housing, nowadays means £250,000, however, who are they ‘affordable’ too?
Certainly not the youngsters, who are just starting out their adult life.
Although City are Odds On favourites to beat Wolves in this game, there’s no recent evidence to suggest other than a Wolves victory, with Nuno getting the better of Pep, both home and away last season.
The game in December, the day after Boxing Day, Wolves beat City by a 3-2 scoreline with goals from Adama Traore, Raul Jimenez and Matt Doherty.
That doesn’t tell the full story as City had lost their ‘keeper Ederson after just 12-minutes, then went 1-0 in front following a penalty from Raheem Sterling.
Raheem actually missed his spot-kick but the ball rebounded straight back to him to convert.
Mr Sterling then made it 2-0 to City, just after the break to give the travelling faithful hope of a victory.
In truth, that just inspired Nuno’s Gold and Blacks to make the comeback and Wolves ran out 3-2 winners, to upset the in-running odds.
- Bet 365 offer Wolves at 6/1, the Draw at 10/3 and Odds On 4/9 for Man City to come away with all 3-points.
- Bet 365 offer 11/10 that Gabriel Jesus Scores Anytime and 8/5 that Man City Win To Nil.
- Go to Bet365 To View Latest Odds
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