Liverpool vs Nottm Forest - Back Gakpo to shine amidst transfer speculation
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Saturday, 12:30. Live on TNT Sports 1
Both of these sides are still searching for their first Premier League win, and at odds of 1/21.50, the market expects Liverpool to rectify that at Anfield on Saturday lunchtime. Andoni Iraola's side are clearly a work in progress, and there are a few more additions expected ahead of Deadline Day.
Although they weren't particularly convincing on the eye, the stats from last weekend do favour the Reds. They chalked up an xG of 2.98, fired in 27 shots and took 36 touches in the opposition box, 20 more than Newcastle. Cody Gakpo was the star performer, creating the joint-most chances and taking the most shots, and although he has been linked with a move away, he will be crucial to Liverpool's chances of getting off the mark here.
Nottingham Forest have suffered back-to-back defeats to Leeds, failing to score in 180 minutes of football at the City Ground. James Trafford was in tremendous form, denying Chris Wood in the EFL Cup, although a combined xG of 1.52 across the two games is a bit of a concern.
They have signed Liam Delap this week, further enhancing their striking options, although Oliver Glasner often takes a few weeks to tweak his starting XI and the former Chelsea forward may have to be content with a place on the bench here.
Forest have left with maximum points in their last two visits to Anfield, but I don't see them completing the hat-trick. They haven't clicked under Glasner, and it may take a few weeks before they are fully up to speed.
Back Liverpool to Win, Cody Gakpo to Score or Assist and Under 3.5 Goals (Bet Builder)
Bournemouth vs Everton - Back an entertaining afternoon at the Vitality
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Saturday, 15:00
Despite falling to a 91st-minute defeat at the Etihad, Bournemouth's performance was fairly unremarkable, and we didn't learn much from their 2-1 loss. The Cherries mustered just five efforts, although four of them landed on target. Marco Rose is famed for his high-energy, front-foot style of football and although it is going to take a few weeks to fully materialise, they should cause plenty of problems for Everton's defence.
Everton waltzed past PNE in the League Cup in midweek, with David Moyes naming a fairly strong XI. Iliman N'Diaye, who has been linked with Manchester City, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Harrison Armstrong all featured, and this is a reasonably quick turnaround for the Merseysiders.
The visitors still require another striker, but the form of Thierno Barry should help to fill that void for the time being. Everton should be able to land a blow, although keeping a clean sheet is likely to be beyond them.
Back Over 2.5 Goals and BTTS
Coventry vs Hull - Tigers look potentially overpriced in the battle of the newcomers
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Saturday, 15:00
Just like Bournemouth, we cannot judge Coventry too harshly on their opening weekend defeat at the champions. The Sky Blues were easily swatted aside by the excellent Gunners, and this represents their first opportunity to put some Premier League points on the board.
Although they shuffled their XI for the midweek League Cup clash with Plymouth, there were some worrying moments with Frank Lampard's men allowing the tempo to drop and inviting the Pilgrims back into the contest before eventually prevailing 4-2.
Hull produced the shock of the weekend by beating Manchester United in Humberside and they will be looking to double their points tally on Saturday afternoon. Sergej Jakirovic's side are exceptionally well-organised and were one of the few sides able to thwart Cov last season, holding them to a 0-0 and a 1-1 draw. They've also been defeated in just one of their last six visits to this club, winning in both 2022 and 2024. They do seem to have the measure of the Warwickshire outfit.
Cov have recruited fairly smartly and will be keen to get off the mark, but I get the feeling that Hull are slightly overpriced and may be streetwise enough to take at least a point back to the east coast.
Back Hull or Draw Double Chance
Spurs vs Newcastle - Expect a teatime treat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
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Saturday, 17:30. Live on Sky Sports Main Event
It was a disastrous start for Spurs, who were trounced by Brentford on the opening weekend, and the North Londoners are back in the teatime slot for MD2. That defeat could be attributed to teething troubles with Roberto De Zerbi opting for a new-look defence featuring Marcos Senesi, Jan Paul van Hecke and Andy Robertson.
De Zerbi's style isn't straightforward and it can often take the players a few weeks to acclimatise to his high-intensity demands. I'd expect Spurs to improve as the weeks go by.
Newcastle's opening performance was full of encouragement and they took the game to Liverpool at St. James' Park. Matthias Jaissle also prefers his side to play on the front foot, and there often tend to be goals between these sides. It's hard to trust either team's defence, so finding some value in the goals market looks to be the best way to approach this.
The hosts failed to find the net last weekend, but I don't anticipate a second successive blank here.
Back Over 1.5 First Half Goals and Over 3.5 Match Goals (Bet Builder)
Jack's Acca - Back my best bets at 4/1
Back Back BTTS in Bournemouth vs Everton, Hull Double Chance and Over 2.5 Goals in Spurs vs Newcastle