Sports

The Scout: EPL Week 15 Preview

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Everton v Leicester City

Leicester City’s mini revival came to a predictable end last weekend but Brendan Rodgers will fancy his side’s chances of getting back on track against Everton.

After losing six of their first seven games, it didn’t look good for Leicester and their manager. But three wins and a draw from their next five games probably prevented Rodgers from being axed.

Last weekend’s 1-0 loss to Manchester City, which came via Kevin De Bruyne’s fabulous free-kick, halted the Foxes’ progress but not their optimism.

Against Everton, they will expect much more in an attacking sense from the likes of James Maddison, Harvey Barnes and Jamie Vardy, who has only one goal this season.

But while Leicester might still have a glass half full, this is not a fixture the Foxes have enjoyed in recent years. Rewind the clock to December 2019 and you’ll find Leicester’s most recent win over the Toffees. Since then, Everton have won three times and drawn twice.

But despite sitting 12th on the table, six places above Leicester, Everton are only three points better off.

Goals have not flowed freely for Frank Lampard’s side whose average of 0.85 per game is around half the Leicester average (1.62). Dominic Calvert-Lewin is yet to have a genuine impact this season with just one goal since his return from injury. Anthony Gordon (three goals) and Dwight McNeil (two) are the only Everton players with more than a single goal this season.

Leicester were leaking goals early in the season but have tightened up remarkably to let in just three in their last six matches, which has included four clean sheets.

But, only Newcastle, Arsenal and Manchester City have conceded fewer goals than Everton, whose goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was outstanding in last weekend’s goalless draw with Fulham.

Suggested Bet: Draw @ $3.45*

Chelsea v Arsenal

There may not be a better way for Graham Potter to erase memories of last weekend than to beat Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. But it won’t be easy.

In case you missed it, the Chelsea manager was unbeaten in nine Champions League and Premier League matches before heading to Brighton, the club he left to join the Blues. It’s understating things to say a 4-1 Brighton win was unexpected.

Chelsea responded by beating Dinamo Zagreb in a Champions League match in midweek to confirm top spot in their group. Victory over their London rivals Arsenal this weekend would taste just as sweet.

High-flying Arsenal have lost only one Premier League game this season, away to Manchester United. Since then, they have collected 16 points from a possible 18, scoring 16 goals in the process.

They could be without Bukayo Saka, the scorer of four goals this season, after he limped out of last weekend’s 5-0 thrashing of Nottingham Forest.

Regardless, the Gunners are firing, with 10 wins and a draw from their 12 matches this season. Goals have come easily with Gabriel Martinelli helping himself to five (as has Gabriel Jesus despite his recent drought), and midfielders Granit Xhaka (three) and Martin Odegaard (four) have chipped in, too. Defensively, William Saliba, Ben White, Gabriel Magalhaes and goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale have formed a formidable barrier.

Until the Brighton aberration, Potter’s reign at Chelsea had been going well. Draws against Manchester United and Brentford were hardly highlights, but two Champions League wins against AC Milan were good signs.

Mason Mount, Kai Havertz and Raheem Sterling offer attacking threat, although defensively the absence of the injured Reece James, Wesley Fofana and midfielder N’golo Kante have hurt Chelsea.

Suggested Bet: Over 2.5 goals @ $1.85*

Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool

Liverpool’s Champions League win over Napoli in midweek would not have eased the disappointment of their Premier League defeat to Leeds United last weekend. Nor can qualification for the last 16 of Europe’s premier club competition disguise just how tough it’s been for Jurgen Klopp and his side in England’s domestic competition.

But the 2-0 win at Anfield, which reversed the 4-0 defeat Liverpool suffered in Naples at the start of their European campaign, could be an indication of how much is left in the tank of Jurgen Klopp’s side.

A win over Spurs this weekend – a team which also enjoyed European success in midweek – would go some way towards confirming that. More importantly, it would revive the Reds in their charge for the top four.

There may not be a gulf between these teams in terms of quality, but third-placed Spurs are 10 points clear of ninth-placed Liverpool, which says a great deal about the ability of Antonio Conte to find a way to win.

Tottenham will be without Heung-min Son, who was substituted in the 2-1 win over Marseille on Tuesday after a clash of heads, although he has not hit the consistent heights of last season. Spurs are far more cautious these days under Conte, and players such as Rodrigo Bentancur and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who scored the winner against Marseille, have become more important.

This could be a game settled by a moment of magic from Harry Kane, or perhaps Mohamed Salah or even Darwin Nunez, who was impressive in his 20 minutes against Napoli.

Suggested Bet: Under 2.5 goals @ $2.25*

*Odds correct as at 10am, 3rd November 2022.

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