Premier League Acca: Arsenal and Liverpool to drop points in 29/1 four-fold

• West Ham can beat Chelsea

• Arsenal may not score, again

• Everton well-placed to beat Liverpool

Disjointed Chelsea open to the counter

West Ham v Chelsea
Saturday, 12:30
Live on BT Sport 1

Graham Potter is understandably struggling to integrate so many new faces at once, and has responded to the challenge by simplifying his methods.

The hybrid formations are out as Chelsea move to a simple 4-3-3 that goes back to basics. The 0-0 draw with Fulham proved even this isn't enough to stabilise them, and West Ham will follow Fulham's example.

Marco Silva's side unsettled Chelsea by pressing harder than usual, going in aggressively in a man-to-man style that didn't allow Potter's players any time on the ball in the central third

David Moyes will instruct his players to do the same from within a 3-4-3 structure that always has a spare man - in each line - who can sprint out and begin the pressing.

Chelsea will stutter again, then, and should be vulnerable to counters.

Fulham's came almost exclusively via the full-backs, who advanced beyond their markers because the Chelsea squad has had so little time together; their positioning is off, leaving gaps in transitional moments.

West Ham will play longer passes to Michail Antonio in the channels, a strategy that should pull Chelsea's centre-backs too far apart.

Back double chance West Ham/draw at 4/7

3-5-2 will squeeze narrow Arsenal

Arsenal v Brentford
Saturday, 15:00

Mikel Arteta was unable, or unwilling, to adapt to the challenge posed by Everton last weekend and that does not bode well for Saturday's game, which is a must-win considering Arsenal face Manchester City on Wednesday.

Just like last Saturday, Arsenal risk being too narrow in their approach, playing into the hands of a bullish Brentford.

Arsenal love to attack via long diagonals to Bukayo Saka, who then helps work the ball back across to the left via interior full-backs; Oleksandr Zinchenko acts as a central midfielder while Ben White holds an infield position to receive a pass from Saka.

This lack of overlapping full-backs is an issue when faced with a low block and high numbers out wide, which a retreating Brentford, in a 3-5-2, will do.

They held just 27% possession in their most recent Big Six game, a 3-1 win over Liverpool, and will look to frustrate Arsenal with a deep shell, using their wing-backs and outside centre-backs to double up on Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.

Like Everton, this can shut down the wide areas while a pack of midfielders closes down the middle, reducing Arsenal to slow and sideways football.

Unless Arteta is more active in shaking things up, his team might again fail to score.

Back double chance Brentford/draw at 2/1

Emery's risky passing to undo good work

Man City v Aston Villa
Saturday, 17:30
Live on Sky Sports Premier League

In theory, Aston Villa's tactics under Unai Emery are well suited to stopping Man City.

Pep Guardiola's side have been slowed down dramatically this season thanks to the loss of direct wingers and the reliance on Erling Haaland, who does not help much in the build-up phase.

Consequently Villa can, in their regimented 4-4-2, cut off the supply through the centre and force another tame performance from the hosts.

However, Villa's biggest problem at the moment is trying to enact Emery's short-passing game without the right quality in defence.

The new manager expects his team to take great risks when playing out from the back, drawing the opposition press in order to spin behind it and attack at speed.

Currently, it is being undermined by sloppy errors that provide their opponent with easy chances to score.

Man City have a superb press and are likely to catch Villa out on a couple of occasions. Should that happen, then Kevin de Bruyne and Haaland can link more effectively than usual.

Look out for Villa impressing for long periods, and troubling Guardiola's team, before shooting themselves in the foot.

Back Man City to win and BTTS at 13/8

Dyche-ball perfect to stop Liverpool

Liverpool v Everton
Monday, 20:00
Live on Sky Sports Premier League

Sean Dyche will have relished playing big teams in his first two matches as Everton manager.

His tactical philosophy is better suited to playing sides who want to dominate the ball, allowing his team to sit back and defend as under-dogs, which is exactly what will happen in the Merseyside Derby on Monday night.

This ought to be a repeat of the 1-0 win over Arsenal, complete with heroic last-ditch defending from Conor Coady and James Tarkowski, aggressive tackling in a packed central midfield, and chances fashioned from set-pieces.

Liverpool will not enjoy the physical battle, the confidence in their opponents, or the infuriating use of defensive tactics.

Jurgen Klopp's side are collapsing in on themselves, and what started out as an issue of pressing in central midfield has developed into a crisis in all areas.

Consequently any slight defensive errors - and there were many against Brentford - will be pounced upon by Dyche's bulldogs, while any slackness in their overall shape will be exploited by sharp counter-attacks.

Back double chance Everton/draw at 6/4