EPL Tips & Preview – Week 10

Find the back of the net with tips for Week 10 of the 2021-22 EPL campaign, including a high-profile clash between Tottenham and chastened Man United. 

History: Played 146: Arsenal 68 V Leicester 33 (45 Draws)

Last meeting: February 28, 2021: Arsenal 3 d Leicester 1 at King Power Stadium

Final Thoughts: Leicester and Arsenal have both pushed into a share of seventh spot with unbeaten runs after shaky starts to the campaign.

After draws against Burnley and Palace, Leicester have chalked up back-to-back wins over Man United (4-2) and plucky Brentford (2-1). The Foxes also moved into the EFL Cup quarter-finals midweek by beating Brighton on penalties.

Arsenal lost their first three but have now gone unbeaten in their last six, including a 3-1 victory over Aston Villa last weekend with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang bagging his fourth goal in six games. The Gunners downed Leeds 2-0 in EFL Cup action midweek.

Leicester holds the recent Premier League edge over Arsenal, winning three and drawing one of the last five clashes. Last season the Foxes won 1-0 at Emirates Stadium but the Gunners turned the tables 3-1 at King Power Stadium.

A case can be made for both teams based on recent performances, while the over options provide clear value with three of both teams’ last four games producing 4+ goals.

Tip: Total – Over 2.5 @ $1.78

History: Played 85: Southampton 37 V Watford 26 (22 Draws)

Last meeting: June 28, 2020 (EPL): Southampton 3 d Watford 1 at Vicarage Road

Final Thoughts: Watford and Southampton are both spying an opportunity to edge further away from the bottom-three after some handy recent results.

Watford moved to 14th last week with their third win of the season – a stunning 5-2 upset of Everton at Goodison Park. The Hornets trailed 2-1 before piling on four goals from the 78th minute, with Joshua King completing a hat-trick.

Southampton sit 16th, chalking up a win and five draws from their nine games. The Saints backed up their sole victory – a 1-0 defeat of Leeds in Week 8 – with a 2-all draw against Burnley. Their EFL Cup campaign ended midweek after losing to Chelsea on penalties.

Watford have won just one of their last 14 against Southampton. But after last week’s storming performance, I’ll lean towards them at home in this one.

Tip: Double Chance and Both Teams To Score – Watford or Draw and Yes @ $2.40

History: Played 33: Liverpool 19 V Brighton 5 (9 Draws)

Last meeting: February 3, 2021 (EPL): Brighton 1 d Liverpool 0 at Anfield

Final Thoughts: Second-placed Liverpool are sailing along unbeaten with six wins and three draws to their name, coming into this home fixture on the back of consecutive 5-0 away wins over Watford and Manchester United. Mo Salah scored a 12-minute hat-trick in the stunning Old Trafford rout.

Brighton are still riding high in fifth, but they were humbled 4-1 by Man City last week – just their second defeat of the season. The Seagulls were also bounced out of the EFL Cup midweek by Leicester, losing on penalties after the match finished 2-all.

Brighton were a thorn in Liverpool’s side last season, holding the defending champs to a 1-all draw at home and pulling off a 1-0 boilover at Anfield. The Seagulls are a better team this season, but Liverpool’s recent form is too hot for just about anyone.

Tip: Same Game Multi – Liverpool Win; Over 3.5 Goals; Mo Salah Anytime Goalscorer @ $3.40

History: Played 169: Chelsea 76 V Newcastle 54 (39 Draws)

Last meeting: February 15, 2021 (EPL): Chelsea 2 d Newcastle 0 at Stamford Bridge

Final Thoughts: Newcastle doesn’t look likely to get any relief from a dismal start to the season when they host league leaders Chelsea.

The second-last Magpies are yet to win a game, though they came from behind to secure a 1-all result at Crystal Palace last week – their fourth draw of the campaign. Callum Wilson’s equaliser was his second goal in as many games.

Chelsea made it three wins in a row with a 7-0 demolition of lowly Norwich last week, Mason Mount the chief beneficiary of their dominance with a hat-trick. The Blues have kept six clean sheets to concede an EPL-low three goals, while they are second for goals scored (23).

Chelsea have won eight of their last 10 against Newcastle, including 2-0 victories in both encounters last season. There’s plenty of value in backing a similar result this week, with the visitors not as short as they should be.

Tip: Handicap – Chelsea -1 @ $2.10

History: Played 65: Man City 35 V Crystal Palace 16 (14 Draws)

Last meeting: May 1, 2021 (EPL): Man City 2 d Crystal Palace 0 at Selhurst Park

Final Thoughts: Third-placed Man City are keeping pace with Chelsea and Liverpool, extending their unbeaten streak to eight games with a 4-1 rout of overachieving Brighton. Phil Foden’s brace underpinned the win at Amex Stadium, though his missed penalty ultimately saw the Citizens bounced out of the EFL midweek after a scoreless affair at West Ham.

Crystal Palace are 15th on the ladder, despite losing just two games (to big dogs Chelsea and Liverpool). They have drawn four on the trot, giving up leads in the past two against Arsenal and Newcastle. Christian Benteke has picked up a goal in Palace’s last two outings.

Crystal Palace have just one win and two draws to show for their last 14 games against Man City. Last season the eventual champs racked up a 4-0 win over Palace at home and a 2-0 win on the road.

City are the shortest-priced favourites of Week 10 at $1.14 – and they should do it comfortably.

Tip: Man City Win Both Halves @ $2.20

History: Played 30: Burnley 12 V Brentford 8 (10 Draws)

Last meeting: January 15, 2016 (Championship): Burnley 3 d Brentford 1 at Griffin Park

Final Thoughts: Burnley are still chasing their first win of the season – but it won’t come easy against promoted Brentford.

The Clarets sit 18th and are coming off a 2-all draw at Southampton, with Maxwel Cornet scoring a brace. They were bounced from the EFL Cup midweek courtesy of a 1-0 loss to Tottenham.

Brentford are 12th with a 3-3-3 record, despite facing four of last season’s top six finishers in the past month. The Bees have held their own in losses to Chelsea (1-0) and Leicester (2-1) in their last two outings.

The value for a Brentford win is difficult to resist here, with the Premier League newcomers picking up two wins and two draws from four away games to date.

Tip: Result – Brentford @ $2.75

History: Played 195: Man United 93 V Tottenham 53 (49 Draws)

Last meeting: April 11, 2021 (EPL): Man United 3 d Tottenham 1 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Final Thoughts: Sixth-placed Tottenham are regrouping after a 1-0 loss to West Ham last week, but the pressure on Spurs pales into comparison to the acid being applied to Man United and their embattled gaffer, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer.

United have picked up just one point from their past four games, crashing heavily in the past fortnight to Leicester (4-2) away and Liverpool (5-0) at home – the latter setting a host of unwanted new records at Old Trafford.

Man United boast two wins and a draw from their last three away games against Tottenham. Last season Spurs carved out a stunning 6-1 win at Old Trafford, but United responded with a 3-1 victory at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Neither side has provided punters with any justification to put faith in them lately, and with United, in particular, desperate to avoid another defeat I’ll back a low-scoring draw.

Tip: Result – Draw @ $3.50

History: Played 59: Leeds 23 V Norwich 20 (16 Draws)

Last meeting: February 2, 2019 (Championship): Norwich 3 d Leeds 1 at Elland Road

Final Thoughts: Last-placed Norwich City are on a fast-track back to the Championship. Consecutive scoreless draws against Burnley and Brighton gave the Canaries their first points of the campaign, but they were caned 7-0 at Chelsea last week.

Leeds United, in 17th with just one win on the board, will be eyeing this as a gilt-edged opportunity to move up the table. A stoppage-time goal to Rodrigo snared a 1-all result at home to Wolverhampton last week.

Leeds have been a shadow of the entertaining outfit that finished ninth last season, but with Norwich failing to score in their past four games the visitors shape as solid head-to-head value.

Tip: Result – Leeds @ $2.10

History: Played 114: West Ham 42 V Aston Villa 38 (34 Draws)

Last meeting: February 3, 2021 (EPL): West Ham 3 d Aston Villa 1 at Villa Park

Final Thoughts: Aston Villa’s strong start to the season is unravelling, tumbling to 13th via three straight losses to Spurs (2-1), Wolves (3-2) and Arsenal (3-1). On the bright side, Villa have still only been held scoreless once – by Chelsea.

West Ham have jumped into the top four with back-to-back 1-0 wins over Everton and Tottenham. Both victories came after scoring the only goal after the 70th minute; in fact, Hammers have not scored a first-half goal since Week 5.

West Ham are unbeaten in their last six against Aston Villa and won both clashes last season – 2-1 at London Stadium and 3-1 at Villa Park.

With the teams trending in opposite directions, West Ham are a great price head-to-head but considering boosting it in a both teams to score double.

Tip: Result – West Ham @ $2.80

History: Played 136: Everton 63 V Wolverhampton 46 (27 Draws)

Last meeting: May 19, 2021 (EPL): Everton 1 d Wolverhampton 0 at Goodison Park

Final Thoughts: Wolverhampton fell agonisingly short of a fourth straight win, conceding in the 94th minute to draw 1-all at Leeds after Hwang Hee-Chang scored the opener just 10 minutes in. It’s nevertheless been a tremendous turnaround for 11th-placed Wolves, who were held scoreless in four of their first four games.

Everton, meanwhile, are at a bit of a crossroads after consecutive home losses to West Ham (1-0) and Watford (5-2) saw them slide to eighth. The Toffees led the Hornets 2-1 before capitulating in the last 15 minutes.

Everton took out both games against Wolves last season – 2-1 at Molineux Stadium and 1-0 at home.

But Wolves are worth getting behind here after their outstanding October resurgence.

Tip: Double Chance and Both Teams To Score – Wolverhampton or Draw and Yes @ $2.38