Premier League Betting Tips - Matchday 9, Saturday

Brighton vs Wolves

Brighton come into this game fresh from recording back-to-back victories against more fancied opponents, having produced a thrilling comeback win at home to Tottenham and then beating Newcastle at St James’ Park.

The Seagulls had already claimed points from difficult fixtures against Manchester United and Arsenal earlier in the season and Fabian Hurzeler’s side are defying expectations in fifth place. 

Now they host a Wolves team that they are very much expected to beat, with the visitors bottom of the Premier League, with just a single point from their first eight games. 

Gary O’Neil’s team have lost each of their last six matches across all competitions, which is a run that includes a 3-2 defeat at Brighton in the EFL Cup back in September.

Wolves came agonisingly close to earning what would have been a morale-boosting point at home to Manchester City on Sunday, only for VAR to decide that John Stones’ last-gasp winner for the Citizens, should stand. 

The Midlands club have conceded 17 goals across those six consecutive defeats, but scored in each of them. 

With Brighton conceding in four of their last five appearances, we should expect a repeat of the result when these teams last met and back a home win and both teams to score. 

BRIGHTON TO WIN AND BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE

Brentford vs Ipswich

Promoted Ipswich face another tough fixture away at Brentford, as they look to bounce back from consecutive defeats. 

The Tractor Boys had a nightmare start to their return to the top flight with fixtures against Liverpool and Manchester City, before proving that they can be competitive at this level with four straight draws. 

Yet in their last two games, Ipswich have been well beaten, losing 4-1 at West Ham and 2-0 at home to Everton, leaving them teetering just outside the relegation zone in 17th position. 

Now they travel to face a Brentford side that are unbeaten at the Gtech Community Stadium, with three wins and a draw in the four Premier League matches that they have hosted. 

Thomas Frank has dealt with the loss of ace marksman Ivan Toney in his stride, with Bryan Mbeumo stepping up with six goals from his eight appearances and the Bees earning a reputation for scoring very early in games. 

Brentford have lost all four of their away matches, but considering that those defeats came against elite opposition in the form of Liverpool, Manchester City, Spurs and Manchester United, there is reason to think that the Londoners will eventually climb from their position of 13th.

Their four home games have seen a total of 17 goals, averaging 4.25 goals-per-match, so backing a Brentford win and over 2.5 goals seems like a safe investment.

BRENTFORD TO WIN AND OVER 2.5 GOALS

Manchester City vs Southampton

Struggling Southampton take the long trip to take on a Manchester City side in ominous form. 

Pep Guardiola’s charges warmed up for this match with a 5-0 thrashing of Sparta Prague in the Champions League, in which two of their brightest talents looked close to their very best. 

Phil Foden has not featured that regularly for City this season, but opened the scoring by dancing into the area and delivering a clinical finish. 

Erling Haaland brushed off his failure to score in his last three Premier League games, with a brace that included an outrageous acrobatic volley. 

It was the fourth straight win for the Premier League title-holders, who have scored 14 goals in those fixtures. 

That’s bad news for a promoted Southampton side that have only earned one point this season and suffered an agonising home defeat last weekend.

The Saints were 2-0 up against their fellow top flight newcomers Leicester, only to eventually lose 3-2, leaving manager Russell Martin on the edge of dismissal from his role. 

Southampton can expect no charity from Manchester City, who can go top of the Premier League with a win, so expect the hosts to win both halves in this match. 

MANCHESTER CITY TO WIN BOTH HALVES

Aston Villa vs Bournemouth

Aston Villa are coping admirably with their European exertions and will be looking to claim their third win of the last week when they host Brighton. 

The Villains’ have quickly adapted to the Champions League, despite not having graced UEFA’s premier club contest since they defended their European Cup win in the 1982-83 season. 

In midweek they won their third successive game in the competition with a 2-0 home win over Bologna, having already produced victories against Young Boys and Bayern Munich. 

As a result, Unai Emery’s team sit top of the Champions League table and they are also fourth in the Premier League, with 17 points from a possible 24. 

Last weekend they fought back from being a goal down to win 3-1 at Fulham, on a day that saw Bournemouth record a memorable victory of their own. 

The Cherries pulled off a shock with a 2-0 win at home to Arsenal, leaving them in 11th position in the Premier League under the impressive stewardship of Andoni Iraola. 

Bournemouth are likely to make this a tough match for Villa, but ultimately the hosts should have too much quality on home turf.

ASTON VILLA TO WIN

Everton vs Fulham

Everton welcome Fulham to Goodison Park on Saturday evening, having finally found some form after a disastrous start to the season. 

The Toffees lost their first four fixtures, but have bounced back with a four-match unbeaten run in which they have tasted victory against Crystal Palace and Ipswich. 

Sean Dyche has proved his knack for masterminding such recoveries during his tenure at the Merseysiders and his team have tightened up at the back, keeping clean sheets in each of their last two games. 

Further forward, Dwight McNeil is excelling as a central attacking midfielder and he set up Michael Keane’s spectacular strike at Ipswich last weekend, which was his sixth goal involvement in eight league appearances this season. 

Everton take on a Fulham side that have made an impressive start to their campaign and are 10th in the table. 

Even though they have lost their last two games, the Cottagers emerged with credit from their performances, having taken the lead in defeats against Manchester City and then Aston Villa. 

Fulham should end that losing run this weekend, but Everton are playing well enough to suggest that the visitors may have to settle for a draw. 

DRAW