Sports

The Scout: EPL Week 7 Preview

Posted on | Posted by The Scout

Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City

The trigger has been pulled twice already this season – Thomas Tuchel’s reign at Chelsea ending abruptly last week and Scott Parker having had the flick from Bournemouth – which makes struggling coaches understandably nervy.

Brendan Rodgers, whose Leicester City sit bottom of the Premier League, is one of those who is probably starting to feel a bit anxious.

Denied what looked like an easier fixture at home to Aston Villa last weekend before postponements got in the way, the Foxes now line up against Antonio Conte’s Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs’ midweek Champions League loss to Sporting Lisbon might cause some disruption to the line-up, but there has been a steadiness about their progress under Conte.

The 2-0 defeat in Lisbon was Spurs’ first loss of the season, although they remain unbeaten in six Premier League matches.

Harry Kane has scored five goals, and new signings Ivan Perisic and Richarlison have chipped in with a couple of assists each. The usually reliable Heung-min Son has drawn an EPL blank so far. Given Spurs have also only conceded five goals, it spells trouble for Rodgers and his men, whose opening-game draw with Brentford is their only point of the season.

Difficulty defending has left goalkeeper Danny Ward hopelessly exposed and he has conceded 16 goals this season in the wake of Kasper Schmeichel’s departure to French club Nice. Five of the goals came in a heavy loss to Brighton last time out.

Rodgers can’t afford another bad defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Suggested Bet: Spurs to win + More than 2.5 goals (Same Game Multi) @ $2*

Nottingham Forest v Fulham

Nottingham Forest have either spent wisely and will get better as the season progresses, or their splurge on new players will backfire spectacular. The sooner they achieve a bit of consistency, the quicker Steve Cooper’s side can build towards Premier League safety.

Forest finished last season three places and 10 points behind Championship winners Fulham, who have made a decent start to the Premier League season, despite defeats to Tottenham and Arsenal in two of their most recent three games.

Since wrapping up their promotion via a play-off victory, Forest have made 22 new signings, and the high turnover of players has been reflected in a mixed bag of results. A victory over West Ham has been the shining light with former Liverpool Academy player Taiwo Awonyiyi scoring his only goal for the club since signing from Union Berlin.

A 6-0 defeat to Manchester City would’ve stung Cooper, but not quite as much as defeat to fellow Premier League newcomers Bournemouth. Forest had a two-goal lead courtesy of Cheikhou Kouyate and Brennan Johnson wiped out in the second-half to lose 3-2.

Fulham have been the most impressive of the promoted teams so far, with victories over Brentford and Brighton and draws against Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Doubts about Aleksandar Mitrovic’s capacity to translate his Championship goalscoring into Premier League net-busting have been blown away with six goals in as many appearances, while defender Kenny Tete has been a useful supply line with two assists.

Under manager Marco Silva, Fulham look equal parts organised and inventive with Wolves the only team to have kept them scoreless so far.

Forest go into this weekend’s fixture second-from-bottom with four points to show for their efforts. Fulham are happily sitting in 10th place, four points above this weekend’s opponent.

Suggested Bet: Fulham to win @ $2.60*

Aston Villa v Southampton

Aston Villa will be aiming to build on their surprise draw with champions Manchester City when they take on hit-and-miss Southampton at Villa Park.

After losing to Crystal Palace, West Ham and Arsenal, Steven Gerrard’s Villa looked ripe for the picking by City, who had scored 17 goals in their four EPL games heading into the September 3 fixture.

City dominated in every facet except the one that counted most – in front of goal – and Leon Bailey scored his first goal of the season to earn a draw. Villa’s decision to prevent Douglas Luiz joining Arsenal in the transfer window had paid off instantly with the Brazilian playing an important midfield role, alongside John McGinn and Boubacar Kamara, in containing City.

Villa will need a different approach against Southampton, depending on which version turns up.

Like the proverbial box of chocolates, you just never know what you’re going to get from Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side. Consistently inconsistent, Southampton are often entertaining.

Their recent 2-1 win over Chelsea, which came after goals from Romeo Lavia and Adam Armstrong cancelled out Raheem Sterling’s opener, was just three days after defeat to Manchester United and soon after a victory over Leicester City.

There is quality in the Saints’ ranks, with England international midfielder James Ward-Prowse capable of turning the game in the visitors’ favour, new arrival Joe Aribo showing good signs since his move from Scotland and Che Adams a handful up front.

Villa, though, will be looking for a victory that could take them above the Saints.

Suggested Bet: Aston Villa to win @ $2.05*

*Odds correct as at 1pm, 15th September 2022.

Market Market



Recent Articles