Saturday Football Cheat Sheet: Best bets for Premier League, Championship and League 1

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Saturday's Premier League tips and predictions

15:00 - Aston Villa v Nottm Forest: Back another Glasner draw

Paul Higham: Villa have won six straight home games against Forest but perhaps Oliver Glasner can end that run as he's not lost in seven games against them.

Neither team has won yet and Villa haven't even scored in the Premier League - ranking 19th in xG with 2.6 and 18th for touches in the opposition box (45) showing they're not even getting into scoring positions. Their build-up play has also been pretty sluggish and that'll play into Forest's hands.

A nice win in Brugge was a boost and you'd think Unai Emery will piece it all together at Villa sooner or later, but Glasner is toughening up Forest, while only Andoni Iraola has more league draws than the Austrian (31) since he entered the Premier League. This has all the hallmarks of another.

15:00 - Chelsea v Hull - Alan Shearer's prediction

Alan Shearer: If I'd have said to you before a ball was kicked that Hull be the only team in the 92 not to concede a goal in the league so far this season, you'd be all having a good laugh. You'd have laughed at me. Great credit to them and they have been brilliant. I do think that will end this weekend. I think Chelsea will beat them and they could score three or four.

Looking at Chelsea's form, they are brilliant going forward but you can tell they're going to concede as well. Alonso has still got issues to work out defensively. But in terms of going forward, with particularly with those three, there's not many better up top than those three and they will always cause you problems and always score goals. Their issue is stopping them at the other end. Hull can frustrate them on Saturday, but I think they'll have enough to beat them.

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Now read Alan Shearer on why Harry Kane deserves to win the Ballon d'Or

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15:00 - Liverpool v Fulham: Back Isak to strike in Reds win

The Opta Stat: This will be Fulham boss Álvaro Arbeloa's first Premier League game against Liverpool, for whom he played 66 games in the competition. Ex-Premier League players for the Reds have lost all five of their managerial games against them in the competition: Paul Ince with Blackburn in December 2008, Mauricio Pellegrino twice with Southampton in 2017-18, and Steven Gerrard twice with Aston Villa in 2021-22. 

Liverpool's Alexander Isak has already equalled his Premier League goals return for last season (3) following his brace against Ipswich Town; the Swede is looking to score in three successive league matches for the first time since a run of eight between December 2024 and January 2025. 

15:00 - Crystal Palace v Ipswich: Back a penalty

Ste Tudor: Palace were an improved proposition vs Fulham last weekend but their abysmal home record still needs addressing. The Eagles have won just two league games at Selhurst Park in 2026.

What doesn't help their cause is a tendency to concede first. Indeed, Pierre Sage's side are one of only three top-flight sides to find themselves behind on three occasions this term. Ipswich first goal offers up 6/4

Elsewhere, a low card-count is anticipated, these teams picking up just six cautions between them to this point, while a spot-kick would hardly surprise. Palace won a lofty eight last term while Ipswich's Julio Enciso is a menace in tight spaces. The Paraguayan has attempted 20 take-ons already in 2026/27.

17:30 - Tottenham v Everton: Target Dewsbury-Hall in 4/1 Bet Builder

Dave Tindall: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has had more shots on target than any other Everton player in the Premier League this season.

His tally is four in three matches while he also twice tested the goalkeeper in the EFL Cup win over Preston. Add that in and it's six shots on target in four games so 11/10 for another here looks good. He's a key attacking cog in David Moyes' system and will be encouraged to get forward and have a pop.

For a double, try Tottenham's Pedro Porro. He's played just two Premier League games so far but in his only home game he pulled the trigger four times against Newcastle, hitting the target once.

Porro will take free-kicks as well and let's recall that he scored twice for Spain in this summer's World Cup. A Dewsbury-Hall/Porro shots on target double pays 4/1.

20:00 - Sunderland v Arsenal: Back Gunners to win again at odds-against

Kevin Hatchard: Arsenal have the confidence and swagger of champions and despite Sunderland's decent start to the season and their fine home form, I'm backing the champions to pick up maximum points.

Arsenal have won all five competitive matches so far, including gritty 1-0 successes at Aston Villa and Napoli. Therefore, I'll back Arsenal to win, Under 3.5 Goals and captain Martin Odegaard to create three shots at 23/20 on the Bet Builder.

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Want Manchester derby expert insight? Get Alan Shearer's prediction, Utd/City combined XI and more

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Saturday's EFL tips and predictions

15:00 Championship - Southampton v Bristol City: Back goals

Jack Critchley: There is a general feeling that Southampton are just starting to warm up. There have been a few bumps in the road for Tonda Eckert's side, but they are unbeaten since mid-August and have won three of their last five. Without the four point deduction, they would be top of the Championship table.

They are expected to win this, but it will not be easy against one of the second tier's in-form sides.

The Saints have netted 11 times in their last three home matches and the Bristol City defence will need to be on high alert to prevent them from repeating that feat. The Robins have won each of their last three and look fairly slick under Michael Skubala, but they are yet to keep a clean sheet and that has to be a worry for the travelling fans this weekend.

15:00 League 1 - Peterborough v MK Dons: Back away win

Alan Dudman: League One new boys MK Dons are still seeking their first win of the season. Draws have been in good supply with stalemates against Leicester, Huddersfield and even though they scored three on Saturday, it wasn't enough as Wycombe also scored three.

It wasn't enough either for Michael Duff, who was the first managerial casualty and was promptly sacked at Adams Park.

The Dons have been on a brutal run of fixtures against the better teams and it's to their credit that they've taken something from those games, although they were far too defensive and negative against Leicester.

Peterborough have failed to win any of their last 10 away league games (D2 L8), losing their last five in succession while conceding 14 goals in the process and at 1/1 we're keeping it fairly simple with this one.

KEY OPTA STAT: Peterborough United have won their last three league games against MK Dons, and will be looking to win four in succession for the first time in the EFL.

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