EPL Tips & Preview – Week 3

Following a fascinating first fortnight, get your tips for Week 3 of the 2021-22 EPL campaign – including an absolute blockbuster between Liverpool and Chelsea. 

History: Played 203: Arsenal 98 V Man City 60 (45 Draws)

Last meeting: February 21, 2021 (EPL): Man City 1 d Arsenal 0 at Emirates Stadium

Final Thoughts: Manchester City bounced back hard last week – and now the defending champs are looking to compound hapless Arsenal’s woes in Week 3.

City were disappointing in a 1-0 loss to Tottenham in their opening game but delighted the home fans in their return to Etihad Stadium with a 5-0 rout of Norwich City. Jack Grealish scored his first goal for the club, while Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez putting the finishing touches on in the second half.

Arsenal are already struggling. After losing 2-0 to promoted Brentford, they lost by the same scoreline to Chelsea at home.

Man City are unbeaten in their last 11 Premier League clashes with Arsenal, winning the last eight straight. Last season the Citizens won both EPL encounters 1-0 either side of eliminating the Gunners from the League Cup 4-1.

It’s impossible to find an angle for $12 underdogs Arsenal here – back City all the way.

Tip: Man City To Win To Nil @ $1.95

History: Played 102: Newcastle 41 V Southampton 38 (23 Draws)

Last meeting: February 6, 2021 (EPL): Newcastle 3 d Southampton 2 at St James’ Park

Final Thoughts: It’s been a tough start for Newcastle, giving up a halftime lead in a 4-2 home loss to West Ham before going down 2-0 at Aston Villa.

Southampton responded to their 3-1 loss at Everton in Week 1 – where they led at the break – with a shock 1-all draw against Man United. They benefitted from a first-half own goal, before conceding in the second half.

Southampton have won just one of their last eight against Newcastle – a 2-0 victory at St Mary’s Stadium last season. The Magpies won the St James’ Park encounter 3-2.

It’s an early chance for both clubs to inch away from the dread relegation situation. The Saints have been the better of the two so far but I’m inclined to lean towards the Magpies at home.

Tip: Double Chance and Total – Newcastle or Draw and Over 2.5 @ $2.75

History: Played 19: Everton 9 V Brighton 4 (6 Draws)

Last meeting: April 12, 2021 (EPL): 0-0 draw at Amex Stadium

Final Thoughts: Though their draw hasn’t exactly been the toughest over the opening fortnight, Brighton have made a flying start to their campaign. The Seagulls won 2-1 at Burnley in Week 1, before subduing promoted Watford 2-0 at home. Neal Maupay found the back of the net in both victories.

Everton are also unbeaten. But after coming back from a halftime deficit to beat Southampton 3-1 at home, the Toffees twice gave up a lead in 2-all draw at Leeds. Dominic Calvert-Lewin has scored in both matches.

Brighton are unbeaten in their last four at home against Everton, winning two. Last season’s Amex Stadium clash finished in a scoreless draw, while Everton prevailed 4-2 at Goodison Park.

The away team is winless in eight Premier League clashes between the clubs. But Everton should snap that trend given the quality in their line-up as they look to build on a solid foundation – it’s hard to comprehend their underdog status here.

Tip: Result – Everton @ $3.00

History: Played 62: West Ham 24 V Crystal Palace 16 (22 Draws)

Last meeting: January 26, 2021 (EPL): West Ham 3 d Crystal Palace 2 at Selhurst Park

Final Thoughts: West Ham have made an impressive, high-scoring start to their season. They fought back from a goal down a halftime to win 4-2 at Newcastle, before thrashing a 10-man Leicester 4-1. Michail Antonio already has three goals to his name.

Not so Crystal Palace, who are yet to register a goal in losing at Chelsea (3-0) and drawing at home to Brentford (0-0).

West Ham boast five wins and five draws from their last 12 games against Crystal Palace. Last season the teams drew 1-all at London Stadium, while Hammers came away from Selhurst Park with a 3-2 win.

Palace won’t roll over, but their lack of attacking impetus so far is a concern. West Ham should get the job done based on what we’ve seen in the opening fortnight.

Tip: Half-time/Full-time – West Ham/West Ham @ $2.38

History: Played 58: Leicester 34 V Norwich 22 (13 Draws)

Last meeting: February 28, 2020 (EPL): Norwich 1 d Leicester 0 at Carrow Road

Final Thoughts: Norwich City couldn’t have got a much tougher reintroduction to the Premier League – but they’ll still be disappointed to be bottom of the table with a -8 goal differential after losses to Liverpool (3-0) and Man City (5-0).

It gets only marginally easier this week as they host a brooding Leicester City outfit. The Foxes beat Wolverhampton 1-0 at home in Week 1 but crashed 4-1 at West Ham following Ayoze Perez’s first-half red card.

Norwich frustrated Leicester in their last EPL season, grabbing a 1-all draw at King Power Stadium and a 1-0 upset at home.

With that in mind, consider a conservative play in this one – Leicester are decent value head-to-head without having to resort to backing a blowout.

Tip: Result – Leicester @ $1.83

History: Played 14: Aseton Villa 6 V Brentford 3 (5 Draws)

Last meeting: February 13, 2019 (Championship): Brentford 1 d Aston Villa 0 at Griffin Park

Final Thoughts: Aston Villa were disappointing in a 3-2 loss to Watford first up, but they rebounded strongly courtesy of a 2-0 home victory over Newcastle. Big-name buy Danny Ings is proving his value already, scoring in both of Villa’s games.

Meanwhile, promoted Brentford have enjoyed a handy start to the campaign, backing up their sensational 2-0 home win over Arsenal with a scoreless draw at Crystal Palace.

The Bees are proving a hard defensive nut to crack, but with Ings and co. gelling early I’m confident Villa will take the three points.

Tip: Result – Aston Villa @ $2.00

History: Played 188: Liverpool 82 V Chelsea 65 (41 Draws)

Last meeting: March 4, 2021 (EPL): Chelsea 1 d Liverpool 0 at Anfield

Final Thoughts: The marquee clash of the season so far, with both heavyweights carving out two wins and two clean sheets in the opening two weekends.

Liverpool put away Norwich City 3-0 to start with then shut Burnley down 2-0 in their return to Anfield. Diogo Jota put his name on the scoresheet in both games.

Chelsea have enjoyed a virtually identically start – albeit against better opposition – thrashing Crystal Palace 3-0 and overwhelming Arsenal 2-0. Romelu Lukaku scored his first goal back in the blue shirt to open the scoring against the Gunners.

Virgil van Dijk will be tasked with the job of shutting Lukaku down this weekend.

Liverpool have won five of their last six Premier League clashes with Chelsea. Last season they got up 2-0 in an early-season encounter at Stamford Bridge, but Chelsea snared a 1-0 victory at Anfield.

The head-to-head market is super-tight and I’m finding it hard to split the title contenders. Buckle up for this blockbuster.

Tip: Result and Both Teams to Score – Draw and Yes @ $4.33

History: Played 62: Leeds 33 V Burnley 18 (11 Draws)

Last meeting: May 15, 2021 (EPL): Leeds 4 d Burnley 0 at Turf Moor

Final Thoughts: The signs are already slightly ominous for Burnley, losing 2-1 at home to Brighton (despite leading for more than 70 minutes) and coming away from Liverpool with a 2-0 loss.

Leeds United got an early wake-up call via a 5-1 loss at Manchester United in Week 1, but they responded in sound fashion by twice coming from behind in a 2-all draw with Everton.

Leeds dominated Burnley last season, prevailing 1-0 at home and carving out a 4-0 win at Turf Moor. Expect the Whites to maintain that dominance.

Tip: Result – Leeds @ $2.25

History: Played 50: Tottenham 31 V Watford 8 (11 Draws)

Last meeting: January 18, 2020 (EPL): 0-0 draw at Vicarage Road

Final Thoughts: Things are looking up for Tottenham, bolstered by 1-0 wins at home to Man City and away against Wolverhampton, on top of news Harry Kane will stay at the club for the season. The England skipper returned to the pitch against Wolves, while Dele Alli snapped a 17-month league goal drought.

Watford came back to earth from their 3-2 home upset of Aston Villa in Week 1, crashing 2-0 at Brighton last weekend.

Watford have won just one of their last 18 against Tottenham, but they did hold the heavyweights to draws away and at home last season.

Backing Spurs to win with a clean sheet provides some decent value in this apparent mismatch.

Tip: Tottenham To Win To Nil @ $2.16

History: Played 107: Man United 51 V Wolverhampton 36 (20 Draws)

Last meeting: May 23, 2021 (EPL): Man United 2 d Wolverhampton 1 at Molineux Stadium

Final Thoughts: Wolverhampton are yet to register a point or a goal this season, going down 1-0 at Leicester and at home to Tottenham. The schedule gets no easier with a clash against Man United as Wolves look to find an end to their long-held scoring woes.

United pounded Leeds 5-1 in Week 1 on the back of a Bruno Fernandes hat-trick. But they came away with a frustrating 1-all draw at Southampton, equalising through Mason Greenwood’s second goal of the season after conceding a first-half own goal.

Last season Man United downed Wolverhampton 1-0 at home and 2-1 at Molineux Stadium.

Building consistency will be at the forefront of United’s ambitions early in the season – especially after their wake-up call at St Mary’s Stadium. They’ll turn up with their minds on the job and grind it out against toothless Wolves.

Tip: Handicap – Man United -1 @ $3.20