Best Weekend Football Bets: Back a united City, more Watford woes, plus a 13/2 Chelsea Bet Builder

The Big Game Preview

Newcastle v Villa Tip - Clean sheet drought to go on

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Saturday, 17:30 kick-off
Live on Sky Sports Main Event

Newcastle have faced a hefty 34 shots on target this term but they should have a little respite this Saturday. Villa have taken on a meagre 3.1 per 90, a league-low.

Balancing that out, the Villans shouldn't have to move mountains to trouble the hosts here, with the Magpies shipping in four apiece at Leeds and Coventry. Even in beating Hull recently they gave up the clearer chances.

Frankly, their defence has been all over the shop and Villa scoring over 1.5 goals appeals at 5/42.25

This thinking strengthens when it's acknowledged that they last kept a clean sheet at St James Park on January 4th.

A nagging suspicion that a draw is the likely results prevents me tipping an away win. But Unai Emery's men are certainly fancied to have their moments.

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Everton v Chelsea Tip - 13/2 Bet Builder appeals

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Saturday 12:30 kick-off
Live on TNT Sports 1

Chelsea's six games to date have produced 28 goals (15 for, 13 against), a consequence of having a poorly-protected back-line and an attacking trio who are synching brilliantly well.

We will see this Saturday to what extent the former is improved by having Moisés Caicedo and Jordan Henderson both screening but certainly they looked the business last time out, as the Blues romped to a 5-1 win over Bournemouth.

Does that mean Xabi Alonso's side are tipped to prevail here, despite Everton boasting a very decent record in this exact fixture? It does, but don't expect Chelsea's propensity to score early to extend to Merseyside.

The last time the Toffees conceded in the opening half an hour was way back in April.

Joao Pedro has registered more goal involvements than any other player in the top-flight (8) and he is a strong shout to have a say in proceedings. He is [5/4] to score anytime.

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Watford v Charlton Tip - Hornets plight to worsen

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Saturday, 12:30 kick-off
Live on Sky Sports

Haemorrhaging goals and in the bottom three, Watford are broken right now and the situation would be even more dire if not for the presence of Federico Ravaglia in nets.

The Watford stopper made ten saves combined against Burnley and Cardiff amidst nine goals raining in.

The notion that the Hornets might turn things around before the weekend - even if a managerial change occurs - feels like a stretch and with draw-specialists Charlton showing a good deal of spirit in recent weeks the Addicks should be backed to secure their first win since August at Vicarage Road.

That's not to say, however, that another comprehensive defeat awaits the beleaguered hosts. Charlton may work well as a unit but they simply don't possess the firepower to inflict that.

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MK Dons v Luton Tip - Wells worth backing

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Saturday, 12:30 kick-off
Live on Sky Sports

Drawing was becoming a real problem for the Dons, sharing the points in six of their opening seven. How they must miss that issue now after being thumped by Reading last weekend.

Paul Warne's side were second-best throughout and compounded their inferiority by gifting the Royals with an own-goal, then a poor gaffe at the back. Ultimately, the 5-1 scoreline did not flatter the visitors, who had been scoring liberally of late.

A week on, and the strugglers must face another side with goals under their belt, with Luton blasting four past Wycombe last Saturday.

Manager Jack Wilshere was understandably effusive about the performance post-match and what most caught the eye was a goal and an assist for Nahki Wells, a player who is frankly too good for this level.

The former Bristol City forward has converted six across all comps so far, equating to a goal every 83 minutes. Back him to convert once again.

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Man City v Ipswich Tip - Beware of besieged Blues

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Saturday, 15:00 kick-off

Some pundits are claiming that anything City achieve until sanctions are implemented is irrelevant. Tell that to Andoni Iraola. Tell that to Gary O'Neil at five o'clock on Saturday.

The fact is, the charges have brought team, fans and club together and that should seriously worry an Ipswich XI who gave a battling performance last weekend to secure a third win in six.

Erling Haaland is the obvious biggest threat, the Striking Viking bagging six goals in his last five league outings. His 50% shot accuracy is the best in the top-flight.

Man City v Ipswich (To Score 2 Goals or more)

Saturday 17 Oct 2026 at 15:00

Rayan Cherki meanwhile continues to rack up the key passes. The little schemer has conjured up one every 28.2 minutes this term.

Anything of value that leans into a comprehensive home win should be snapped up ahead of this one. City to win to nil tempts at [11/10]. The same goes for the Blues triumphing before and after the break.

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Norwich v Portsmouth Tip - Canaries to lead at HT

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Saturday, 15:00 kick-off

For three games running the Canaries have taken the lead only to be defeated. With the prolific Mo Toure out for the foreseeable any pre-season hopes of a play-off push appear to have already gone up in smoke.

Should they again gain an advantage here at least they might hold on, what with Pompey scoring just once in their last three on the road. Portsmouth under 0.5 goals offers up [15/8]

The preferred bet, however, actually turns Norwich's weakness on its head. Yes they are seemingly incapable of maintaining a lead but it's just as pertinent that Philippe Clement's side are scoring early.

In their seven most recent league games they have converted inside half-an-hour on nine occasions.

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Brighton v Crystal Palace Tip - Seagulls form hard to ignore

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Sunday, 14:00 kick-off
Live on Sky Sports

Palace have only lost one of their last six encounters with Brighton, a fixture that usually prompts a flurry of cards. There has been 5.3 cautions per 90 in those six clashes, not to mention two dismissals.

Should the visitors be fancied therefore to extend on their impressive H2H record? Not really, given the present form of Fabian Hurzeler's men who have dismantled Coventry, Arsenal and Sunderland in vibrant style in recent weeks. They haven't conceded a league goal for nearly six hours.

Last season's brace of meetings only produced a single goal but that's an outlier because there are typically goals in this game. The previous four all featured goals scored in both halves and that's the way to go here.

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Get the Sack Race latest with Carrick firm as favourite after Atleti defeat

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