The international break is over so the Premier League returns this weekend with a mouthwatering set of fixtures, and a treble on three home sides makes plenty of punting appeal.
Luton have struggled to handle the step up to the top flight and they visit Nottingham Forest on Saturday. Free-scoring Newcastle host Crystal Palace at the same time, while Tottenham, mounting a serious title challenge and thrilling their fans, take on London counterparts Fulham on Monday night.
Recommended treble: Nottingham Forest to beat Luton, Newcastle to beat Crystal Palace, Tottenham to beat Fulham.
- Nottingham Forest to beat Luton Town
- Newcastle to beat Crystal Palace
- Tottenham to beat Fulham
Nottingham Forest vs Luton
Luton were hot favourites for relegation before the Premier League season started and little that has happened over their opening eight games has done much to alter that stance.
The Hatters are fortunate that some other teams have had some surprisingly poor starts – Bournemouth are yet to claim a victory, for example – but Luton seem unlikely to keep their heads above water over the course of the campaign.
Saturday's trip to Nottingham Forest is crucial for Luton's hopes of retaining their Premier League status. Picking up points against the weaker sides will be the key to survival, but Forest will be well aware of that fact, too, and can be fancied to take full advantage of this opportunity.
Forest have done extremely well to sit mid-table despite the fixture computer serving them up a hellish start to the season. The Tricky Trees had to travel to Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City for their first four away games of the campaign.
Any side would have struggled to take points from those road missions, but Forest have been impressive, defeating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and putting up a strong fight against the other big guns. At the City Ground, Forest are unbeaten in the league this season, and Steve Cooper's side will be confident that they can take maximum points from their meeting with Luton.
Cooper has been tactically cautious this season, but the manager should get his team on the front foot from the off against Luton. With a trip to Liverpool looming next weekend, Cooper knows three points against Luton will be vital.
Luton will attempt to be physical and resolute at the City Ground, but Forest have the weapons to unlock the plucky outsiders.
Newcastle vs Crystal Palace
Newcastle fans are still in raptures about their side's Champions League performance against Paris St-Germain. Their 4-1 win over the French champions followed a draw at AC Milan, and the Toon have quickly established themselves as a force on the European stage.
Domestic matters are the pressing concern for Newcastle, though, as they bid to improve on a slightly disappointing Premier League haul of 13 points from eight games. Expect that tally to become 16 points from nine after they entertain Crystal Palace at St James' Park.
Newcastle have succumbed to some quality opposition – Manchester City and Liverpool have beaten them this season – but have been scoring for fun against the weaker sides. Crystal Palace fall into that category and their manager Roy Hodgson may struggle to come up with a masterplan for repelling the Magpies on Saturday.
Newcastle put five goals past Aston Villa in their opening match of the season, then scored eight against Sheffield United. In their last match, the Magpies scored twice at West Ham, so Eddie Howe's men are having no trouble creating and converting chances.
Howe, a classy centre-back in his playing days, will be thrilled that in five of his team's last seven fixtures in all competitions they have kept a clean sheet, so Newcastle are proving effective at both ends of the pitch.
Palace seem likely to pack the midfield in a bid to stifle their opponents, but it appears unlikely to work. Newcastle are just too good and too confident to be shut out for 90 minutes.
Newcastle are unbeaten in eight matches in all competitions and can be fancied to deliver a comfortable home victory at St James'.
Tottenham vs Fulham
Tottenham can provide the anchor leg of the weekend treble by seeing off the challenge of London rivals Fulham on Monday.
Spurs fans are loving life with new manager Ange Postecoglou at the helm and they will rightly be expecting a home win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Postecoglou has put smiles back on faces at Tottenham in the wake of Harry Kane's departure to Bayern Munich. The loss of their captain and talisman was expected to unsettle Spurs, but they have reacted in fantastic style, going unbeaten through their first eight matches of the Premier League campaign.
Even when suffering a red card in their last match – the early dismissal of Yves Bissouma against Luton left Tottenham under pressure – Postecoglou's men managed to claim three points. If Spurs can keep 11 players on the pitch throughout their meeting with Fulham, a victory should result.
Fulham knocked Tottenham out of the Carabao Cup earlier in the season, but Postecoglou made several changes for that match in order to keep players fresh for impending league assignments.
Fulham have scored only eight goals in the league this season. And against such powder-puff opposition, Spurs can quickly get into their stride, and seem likely to end Monday night at the top of the table.
Tottenham have won seven of their last eight Premier League encounters with Fulham. Expect the feelgood factor to stay at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and for skipper Heung-min Son, revelling in Kane's absence, to be the star of the show.
