Premier League – News and updates on standings, fixtures, and results

Jones Knows thinks Manchester United will fall to seventh straight away league defeat at Brentford

Newsonline   Report  Aston Villa vs Everton, Saturday 12.30pm For the sake of Everton’s away form, there is a hope that Frank Lampard has taken a long look into the mirror over the summer. As a Premier League manager the way Lampard sets his teams up on the road has been staggeringly bad when you assess the defensive numbers.

In 38 games as a boss at the top-level with a Chelsea side that went on to win the Champions League just six months after he left and at Everton, Lampard’s teams’ have shipped 73 goals on the road, working out at an average of 1.92 goals conceded every 90 minutes.

Arsenal vs Leicester, Saturday 3pm – PLAY SUPER 6 HERE!

If you required any further evidence to showcase that Arsenal are expected to challenge for a top-four place this season, just look at their price for this game: Mikel Arteta’s men are 1/2 with Sky Bet to beat a dangerous Leicester City side that have players within their ranks that clubs are seemingly willing to spend obscene amounts of money on.

Based on those odds, Arsenal have a 66.7 per cent chance of registering a victory. Despite their very resolute showing at Selhurst Park, where William Saliba and Aaron Ramsdale came to the fore, that number feels a little high to me.

Brighton vs Newcastle, Saturday 3pm

This may prove to be the most entertaining game of the weekend. We have two squads full of confidence that are becoming used to winning football matches.

Only Man City (26), Liverpool (24) and Tottenham (23) have won more points than Brighton since April whilst Newcastle’s haul of 41 points from 20 Premier League games in 2022 is only bettered by Liverpool (52), Man City (46) and Tottenham (44).
Brighton aren’t to be trusted at home just yet though, scoring just 19 at the Amex last season, so with the Toon priced up as outsiders at 2/1 with Sky Bet they are taken to edge this one with Joe Willock catching my eye with his shots/goals prices.

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Eddie Howe has found the perfect role for him in his system where he can utilise his clever runs into dangerous areas. It’s taking him into great positions which has rocketed his shots per game and expected goals average since the turn of the year, yet his prices across the markets remain very appealing for a player of his attacking intent.

Manchester City vs Bournemouth, Saturday 3pm – PLAY SUPER 6 HERE!

Anyone for 40/1 with Sky Bet on a Bournemouth victory?

This is a team that are unbeaten in their last nine league games, winning each of last four without conceding, including surprising many onlookers with their performance at home to Aston Villa at the top level last weekend.

Anyone? No, OK then. Best to swerve the match markets then.
With City now having the weapon of Erling Haaland – providing pace in behind and ruthless finishing – opposition managers are going to rewrite the book on football tactics to provide a problem for Pep Guardiola’s men. Defend deep and pray, will probably be Scott Parker’s methodology.

Southampton vs Leeds, Saturday 3pm – PLAY SUPER 6 HERE!

My faith in Ralph Hasenhuttl to get Southampton rolling and playing with confidence and threat at some stage of this season should be enough to keep Saints above the drop zone. However, with so much change being implemented they are easy to oppose in their current form. If they lose on Saturday, they will equal a club record six consecutive league defeats, albeit across two different seasons.

My main worry for them in the short-term is the time taken for an already shaky defensive unit to become accustomed to playing in front of a very inexperienced young goalkeeper in Gavin Bazunu, who looks a serious talent but like any goalkeeper will need time to understand the demands and pressure of playing at this level. Although he didn’t make any mistakes against Tottenham, I thought he looked very nervy across all aspects of his game.
With that in mind and considering Southampton’s horrendous defensive record of late that has seen them concede 34 goals in their last 14 Premier League games, I’d point people in the direction of backing goals.

Wolves vs Fulham, Saturday 3pm

Although it won’t gain much attention in the wider media, this feels like a massive game for Wolves and their boss Bruno Lage, who has overseen a return of just two points in the last 24 available stretching across eight games. The pressure is on.

The Molineux faithful have been served up some dross too with a disappointing draw against Norwich and defeats to Brighton and Leeds still fresh in the memory no doubt despite the start of a new campaign. Performances have not been there to fall back on either, illustrated by an expected goals metric at home of 21.81 last season – only Norwich posted a lower total.
Lage remains popular and will have his name chanted, with the anger from the stands more directed at the owners and management side of the club after a lack of backing for the boss.

Brentford vs Manchester United, Saturday 5.30pm,
Manchester United are a shambles. But you already knew that. They have dominated the news agenda all week. There is no need to go there.

Are things about to dramatically improve this weekend? Not when there is a well-coached team in opposition.

Brentford have won 22 points since March – only six Premier League teams have won more. At 11/4 with Sky Bet they are surely worth a swing such is the lack of cohesion and strategy at such a fallen giant, who remain being priced up on the name of the club rather than on-field performances.

Nottingham Forest vs West Ham, Sunday 2pm,
Jumping to hard conclusions at this time of season rarely bodes well from a betting bank balance perspective, that’s why I’m happy to forgive Nottingham Forest for such a limp and timid performance at Newcastle last weekend.

Steve Cooper’s men produced an expected goals figure of just 0.28 from five shots on goal at St James’ Park and were completely dominated in key areas of the pitch, especially in midfield where Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes showed Forest how to boss a Premier League game.
I’m expecting much greater fizz, enthusiasm and spark from Cooper’s boys as Premier League football returns to the City Ground for the first time in 23 years and 82 days, the longest-ever gap between a team’s matches in Premier League history. Of Forest’s starting line-up last week, Brennan Johnson and Neco Williams had not even been born the last time Forest were playing at this level and the average cost of a pint of lager was £1.90. The glory years.

I’m expecting a raucous, cup-like, atmosphere – something David Moyes will be keen for his team to manage in the opening exchanges. They have the experience and class in midfield with the exceptional Declan Rice to handle themselves early on and then take over as the game progresses.