Premier League Tipsheet: The best bets for Saturday's eight showdowns

Everton v Liverpool (12:30) - Merseyside briefly blue

In their opening weeks, the Reds have posted a record score-line that threatened double figures and scored a 98th minute winner that should provide considerable impetus. Youngsters Fabio Carvalho and Harvey Elliott having a blast is also a rallying sight.

So, there are plenty of positives for Jurgen Klopp's men, despite them looking at times uncharacteristically sluggish and even unsure of themselves.

Yet this still feels like a good opportunity for the Toffees to strike a rare blow in this fixture, and perhaps win their first derby at Goodison since 2010.

Up front, Demarai Gray and Anthony Gordon have compensated well for the absence of an out-and-out striker, with the latter seemingly on a personal crusade to prove his heart still bleeds blue. A ferocious atmosphere is also an obvious factor, and a side that is still to secure three points will surely go up a level here.

What really grabs the attention though is that Liverpool have gone behind in four of their last five league games, with all of them conceded in the first half.

*You can read Kevin Hatchard's full preview of Everton v Liverpool here.

Brentford v Leeds (15:00) - A slow burn

Take the Bees' 4-0 demolition of Manchester United out of the equation and their season amounts to comebacks, with only their defeat at Fulham an outlier. Even that however, brought a two-goal fightback until they conceded at the death.

In one sense, this is testament to Brentford's admirable spirit and refusal to lie down. In another sense, it damns them as slow starters in games.

Ordinarily, this is a dangerous trait to have but maybe not so much this weekend, coming up against a Leeds side who have scored 66.6% of their goals under Jesse Marsch in the second period.

For the visitors, the loss of Rodrigo is substantial, though an impressive full debut for Colombian Luis Sinisterra midweek is a source of encouragement.

Chelsea v West Ham (15:00) - Hammer to fall

Defeat against an improving Hammers will see Chelsea cast in crisis, with tabloid back pages containing the club badge cracked in two.

Thomas Tuchel slammed his defence for being 'soft, soft, soft' on Tuesday after a second successive awayday disaster-class but at the Bridge they have been pretty decent so far and it feels much too premature to ring any death knells, especially with Mateo Kovacic installed back in midfield. Raheem Sterling meanwhile boasts three in two.

But as stated, West Ham are getting their act together and it instinctively feels like a statement performance is imminent. It's surely only a matter of time before the goals start coming because at this juncture, they have racked up 59 attempts in 2022/23 and converted only twice.

Newcastle v Crystal Palace (15:00) - Know-Howe on the Tyne

The Magpies have lost only once in the league at St James' Park in 2022, and that a tight loss to title-chasing Liverpool late last term. That defeat aside they have kept clean sheets in 40% of their home games this year and averaged 1.8 goals-per-game.

It's a model of consistency that belies their roller-coaster journey to this point and speaking of funfair attractions it's a great shame that Allan Saint-Maximin is missing from action right now, a one-man carnival of tricks who gets bums off seats.

Palace too have an entertainer, in the form of Eberechi Eze who has executed more successful dribbles (15) than any other player outside of the top six, and with Wilfried Zaha hardly averse to taking on opponents it surprises that the Eagles' corner count is so low this campaign. Only Bournemouth have won fewer.

Nottingham Forest v Bournemouth (15:00) - Cherries picked again

Forest's midweek deconstruction at the Etihad should be swiftly forgotten because these are the fixtures the Tricky Trees need to win to ensure safety come the season's end. And win here they very likely will.

Both of their previous Premier League outings at the City Ground have been an extension of their promotion-winning form, first in beating West Ham on an emotional afternoon, then testing Spurs to the max, but greater care is needed in front of goal. Against Tottenham, 17 shots were fired but Hugo Lloris was troubled just the once.

On a more positive note, Johnson, Gibbs-White and Lingard has the makings of a terrific front three.

As for the Cherries, their defiant goalless encounter with Wolves on Wednesday oddly revealed their limitations more than a 9-0 reverse at Anfield. Every sinew was strained, and all their luck rode to keep out a side so shot-shy they blush at the sight of netting.

Our Manager Markets Live has Sean Dyche as favourite to step in. The former Burnley gaffer will need to pull off something miraculous to keep Bournemouth up.

Tottenham v Fulham (15:00) - Chances galore

Only Manchester City have a better conversion rate of their chances than Spurs, but Fulham can also hold their head up in this regard, largely due to their man on fire Alexandar Mitrovic.

The free-scoring Serb has taken on the joint highest number of shots in the Premier League this term, converting just shy of a quarter of them while his strike-rate of a goal per 90 has silenced his critics once and for all, barring a sustained and unlikely drought.

Tottenham last failed to score 11 games ago and this season are getting a shot on target every 16 minutes. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Harry Kane's shot accuracy stats exceed even Mitrovic's.

All of which suggests that goals won't be at a premium as Fulham embark on their second trip to North London in a week.

Wolves v Southampton (15:00) - Go against the grain

The Saints will be on a high following their buoyant and bullish victory over Chelsea and it's now seven points from 12 for Hasenhuttl's men after managing just five from 39 previously. An inability to keep clean sheets however remains a concern. It's now 11 games since their last shut-out.

On paper at least, it would appear their chances of addressing this are fair to middling on Saturday, with Wolves not exactly known for their prolificacy. It's a well-worn stat but pertinent nonetheless that Bruno Lage's side only outscored the three relegated teams last season, and this time out nothing has really changed. Wanderers are finding the net every 225 minutes.

And yet, though it's counter-intuitive, the hosts should be backed here, because it would be so typical of them to find their feet when we least expect it, and so typical of Southampton to let them. Predicting a goal-fest though, is seriously pushing it.

Aston Villa v Man City (15:00) - Support the supporting act

As Max Liu points out in his Champions League preview, City are favourites for the competition this year, in part due to possessing the phenomenal, and seemingly unstoppable, Erling Haaland.

The same logic also applies to the Premier League of course, especially after the Norwegian bagged a second hat-trick in the space of four days at Nottingham Forest's expense on Wednesday.

Remarkably, incredibly, and unbelievably, Haaland has scored nine goals at this early stage, from just 105 touches in a blue shirt. That's a goal every 11.6 times he's touched the ball. That's a goal every 43 minutes.

Don't however, overlook Julian Alvarez, as City travel to struggling Villa in scorching form, having scored 3.8 goals per game to date.

The Argentine greatly impressed vs Forest and under cover of the Haaland hype, will offer up decent value across the campaign.

*You can read Paul Higham's full preview of Aston Villa v Man City here.

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