With five games gone, the Premier League table is beginning to take shape and there are no real shocks in the standings as of yet.
As of Friday, champions Manchester City are leading the way with Liverpool, Aston Villa, Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle - five sides who finished in the top seven last term - all in pursuit.
Wolves, Everton and Southampton are making up the bottom three at current with Saints’ fellow promoted sides Leicester and Ipswich not too far clear of the drop zone.
There is another full set of fixtures to enjoy across the Premier League this weekend, with our focus being on the two Sunday fixtures.
Ipswich welcome Champions League outfit Aston Villa to Portman Road for the day’s early fixture before arguably the clash of the weekend in the Premier League, Tottenham’s trip to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United.
We have a top tip for each of those intriguing fixtures as well as a tasty looking goalscorer double for you to explore.
- ASTON VILLA TO BEAT IPSWICH AND BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
- BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE AND OVER 2.5 GOALS
- JHON DURAN ANYTIME GOALSCORER
- DOMINIC SOLANKE ANYTIME GOALSCORER
Ipswich vs Aston Villa
Kieran McKenna rightly received plenty of plaudits for leading Ipswich to back-to-back promotions and a first top-flight season since the 2001-02 campaign, although his reward for such a feat was not the kindest as the Tractor Boys’ opening two fixtures were against Liverpool and Manchester City.
However, they showed enough in those matches to keep the positive atmosphere at Portman Road alive and three draws in a row against Fulham, Brighton and Southampton mean they are currently outside the bottom three.
Ipswich will come into Sunday’s clash full of momentum following captain Sam Morsy’s 95th-minute equaliser at St Mary’s, but even that may not be enough to see them extend their unbeaten run as they prepare to take on a ruthless Aston Villa.
The Villans finished fourth last season and have started this new campaign strongly too, winning their last five matches in all competitions.
Unai Emery is another manager to gain plenty of plaudits for his achievements in England and his tactical brilliance has seen Villa come from behind to win their last two Premier League matches.
Their last three league wins have come against Leicester, Everton and Wolves and given they are three sides likely to be battling against the drop this term, it seems likely they will see off another relegation candidate on Sunday.
Villa’s strengths lie in attack, though, and they have conceded in their last 10 league games. Defenders Matty Cash, Tyrone Mings and Diego Carlos are all out and they can be vulnerable at the back.
Given Ipswich have netted in three of their last four matches, it could pay to back the hosts to find the net in defeat at Portman Road this Sunday.
ASTON VILLA TO WIN AND BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
Manchester United vs Tottenham
Despite Erik ten Hag’s claims to be somewhat of a cup specialist when his league performances were scrutinised over the summer - stating only Pep Guardiola has won more trophies in England since his appointment - Manchester United’s Europa League journey got off to a slow start as they were held to a 1-1 draw by FC Twente on Wednesday.
The Red Devils have looked a bit better in the league, however, dominating games at Southampton and Crystal Palace to pick up four points.
Their last home game saw them thrashed 3-0 by rivals Liverpool, though, suggesting a visit from Tottenham, another talented side, could be a difficult task for the seemingly always-under-pressure Ten Hag.
Spurs came from behind to beat Brentford 3-1 in their last Premier League match and they were arguably the better side in their north London derby defeat to Arsenal, having over double the shots (15) of their bitter rivals.
A Tottenham win is not out of the question, although a run of one victory in eight away league matches does temper enthusiasm for the Lilywhites and it could pay to back these two inconsistent sides to play out a thriller instead.
Neither side excels defensively, with Ange Postecoglou’s tactics prone to leaving Spurs exposed at the back and United’s ongoing injury woes in defence leading to a lack of rearguard cohesion.
Both teams to score has been a winning bet in seven of the last 10 meetings between this pair and Sunday’s clash should be just as exciting, with the goals likely to rack up at Old Trafford too.
Given 10 of United’s last 14 home league matches have gone over 2.5 goals and the same bet has landed in 12 of Spurs’ last 16 Premier League away games, it could be worth adding that onto a both teams to score selection for a healthy return.
BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE AND OVER 2.5 GOALS
Sunday Striker Value
Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins netted 19 Premier League goals last season and has already bagged three this term, which is why it is crazy to think there is a genuine argument that he shouldn’t be starting for Emery’s men at current.
That is no slight on Watkins, it is just a way of proving just how sensational Jhon Duran has been this season. The Colombian forward is averaging a Premier League goal every 33 minutes and he has netted in four of Villa’s league matches this term.
Duran netted a penalty against Wycombe in the League Cup on Tuesday and regardless of whether he starts or comes off the bench at Portman Road, he is worth backing to find the net.
Pairing that selection in a double with a goalscorer bet for the later game could be a solid punting avenue too, with Dominic Solanke the standout candidate to find the net at Old Trafford.
Spurs’ record signing had looked lively without scoring in his first couple of appearances for his new club but finally got off the mark against Brentford last weekend.
Given he netted in both appearances against United when at Bournemouth last term, he is worth backing to score against the defensively weak Red Devils once again, with a Duran-Solanke goalscorer double paying out at a decent price.
JHON DURAN ANYTIME GOALSCORER
DOMINIC SOLANKE ANYTIME GOALSCORER
