The 2024-25 Premier League season kicks on into Matchday 10, and we’re here with five top-shelf EPL tips for the weekend ahead.
Newcastle v Arsenal
It hasn’t been a good run for Arsenal recently. We’ve seen red cards blamed for their struggles but highlighted those red pieces of paper merely covering cracks. Mikel Arteta’s side picked up only one win in October – over the lowly Southampton – while losing to Bournemouth and drawing with Liverpool.
Their defence has fallen to pieces following a strong start to the EPL season. Arsenal have allowed nine goals in their last five matches – more than their previous 19 matches combined (8). However, we might be able to explain that away with injuries and suspensions to Gabriel, Jurrien Timber and William Saliba.
Timber has returned from injury and Saliba his suspension. Gabriel could be back for Matchday 10, too.
🚨 Gabriel was in contention to play last night, and should be ready for Newcastle. (@kayakaynak97) #AFC
— Goaldata – Arsenal Zone (@ArsenalZNE) October 31, 2024
Anticipating a significant improvement defensively, Arsenal should get back to their winning ways against Newcastle.
Eddie Howe’s side are strong at home. They only recently saw an 11-game unbeaten run at home ended by Danny Welbeck. However, they are winless in their last five top-flight matches overall. They’re 12th on the EPL table and look every bit like a middling Premier League side.
As a title contender and with key players returning from injury, Arsenal’s price is too good to pass up.
Bet Now Arsenal to win @ $1.90
Ipswich v Leicester
Ipswich Town are without a win in the EPL this season, but that shouldn’t be the case. It took a horror starting debut from Harry Clarke for Ipswich to lose after leading 2-0 last week.
Despite some worrying numbers, they’re better than their points total suggests. Ipswich are on the wrong end of both ends of the xG ladder. Their 0.83 xG per 90 minutes ranks last, while their 2.34 xG against is the highest mark in the Premier League.
Leicester, on the other hand, make a lot of errors. They gifted the game to Nottingham Forest last week and Chris Wood took advantage. There is a good chance their goal-scoring regresses to the mean slightly, too. Their +3.7 net expected goals is the highest in the EPL. Leicester have effectively scored more goals than xG suggests they should, while the eye test tells us roughly the same.
Neither team defends well. Ipswich have allowed an EPL-high 20 goals this season, while Leicester have allowed 17. Strikers will have their chances, and few are in better relative form than Liam Delap. He has five goals already this season and looks good to make it six against a defence that has kept only one clean sheet this campaign.
Bet Now Anytime Goal Scorer - Liam Delap @ $2.40
Brentford v Fulham
Brentford have become one of the most exciting teams in the EPL this season. They play a brilliant attacking brand of football that leaves fans on the edge of their seat for 90 minutes. As Ipswich found out last week up 2-0, no lead is safe. They’ve scored 18 goals already this season. For perspective, Manchester City (20), Chelsea (19) and Liverpool (17) are the three teams with them at the top of the EPL goal-scoring table.
Those faces 😍
Last minute Mbeumo magic ✨ pic.twitter.com/rouvE6Mkgc
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) October 28, 2024
While Fulham doesn’t have quite the same scoring prowess, Brentford are susceptible to giving up a goal or two. Only Wolves (25), Ipswich (20) and Southampton (19) have conceded more than Brentford’s 17 goals this season. Their 6.68 opponent shots on target per game is the highest mark in the EPL, too.
Seven of Fulham’s last eight games have seen both teams find the back of the next. Given Brentford’s numbers in front of goal and in defence, it looks like we will see an eighth game with both teams scoring.
Bet Now Both teams to score - Yes @ $1.55
Chelsea v Manchseter United
Most of the EPL world saw the writing on the wall weeks ago.
Plenty saw it on the wall at the end of last season.
Finally, the Manchester United front office read it and parted ways with Erik ten Hag.
Ten Hag’s departure is unlikely to inspire a sudden improvement. This is still a squad featuring players grossly overpaid and not living up to their reputation and expectations. The fact that 36-year-old Jonny Evans is their best-value signing – on a free – goes a long way to summing up this Manchester United squad right now. There will be talk of a new dawn under Ruud van Nistelrooy, but we will need to see it to believe it first.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are stacked with talent and Enzo Maresca has started to figure things out following an up-and-down start to the EPL season. Presented with a circus of a roster, he’s narrowed it down to one playing quality football to sit 5th on the EPL ladder.
Cole Palmer is on another level to every other player in the Premier League right now. He leads the league in goals + assists with 12 in nine matches this season. With Manchester United in the bottom third of the EPL in opponent xG, expect Palmer to have his way and lead Chelsea to victory in this one.
Bet Now Chelsea to win @ $2.45
Bournemouth v Manchester City
We’ve been suggesting a relative decline in Manchester City in recent weeks. They’ve been picking up results, as they do, but they have not looked that good while doing it.
Now they’re presented with an injury bug ahead of their Matchday 10 clash with Bournemouth.
“We have 13 players [with injury problems], we are in real difficulties.” – Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola says Manchester City are having the worst injury crisis he's faced since joining the club nine years ago ⬇ pic.twitter.com/TBeEd89Kjs
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) October 31, 2024
Bournemouth are in good form. They’ve won their last two at home and managed a draw at Aston Villa.
Bournemouth’s opportunities will be few and far between with the ball this week. City leads the Premier League in possession. Still, Andoni Iraola’s approach profiles well as one that can trouble City. They’re aggressive and willing to fire up on the counter-attack against the top teams in the EPL. It’s hard not to be concerned about the lack of mobility in the City midfield.
Guardiola is laying the platform for a City fight back by claiming the injury crisis. They have a strong history against Bournemouth, too. Still, the Cherries should be able to find the net at least once to put some pressure on the defending champions.
Bet Now Bournemouth or Draw @ $2.20