The Scout: EPL Week 12 Preview

Posted on October 27, 2022October 27, 2022 | Posted by The Scout

Newcastle v Aston Villa

There’s nothing quite like the sight of a new manager on a training ground to get the players on their toes again. But Aston Villa were a step ahead of their new boss Unai Emery, as they thrashed Brentford 4-0 under caretaker coach Aaron Danks.

Axed manager Steven Gerrard had steered Villa through three wins, three draws and six losses, including a 3-0 defeat to Fulham, which marked the end of his reign.

Villa should improve under the experienced Emery. He guided Villarreal to a Europa League final victory over Manchester United last year and won the same trophy three times in a row from 2014 with Sevilla. He found the going tougher on his last Premier League jaunt, taking Arsenal to fifth in 2019.

Although he won’t be in charge for the trip to St James’ Park while he waits for a work permit, players like Leon Bailey, Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins, who were all among the goals against Brentford, will be out to impress again.

Not that any of this is likely to affect Newcastle, who have made a storming start to the season. With just one loss all campaign, and four wins and a draw from their past five games, Eddie Howe’s side continues to evolve into an impressive unit.

Defensively solid, with the likes of Kieran Trippier and Sven Botman in front of goalkeeper Nick Pope, the creative guile of Bruno Guimaraes in midfield and goals flying in from Miguel Almiron and Callum Wilson, Newcastle have been a tough nut to crack.

And with growing optimism at St James’ Park as Newcastle have climbed to fourth, Howe can’t afford to allow Villa to spoil the mood in the dressing room.

Suggested Bet: Newcastle to score over 1.5 goals + Newcastle/Newcastle (Half Time/Full Time) @ $4.66*

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Crystal Palace v Southampton

You have to assume that Cheick Doucoure, who missed Crystal Palace’s 3-0 defeat to Everton last weekend, will return to face Southampton. While all around him Palace have creativity, invention and goals, Doucoure is the defensive midfielder who can hold it together.

The fact that he was suspended for the match against Everton tells you everything you need to know about his robust nature. Five yellow cards in 10 matches is quite a haul.

When Doucoure plays, Palace’s attacking players – the likes of Eberechi Eze, Odsonne Edouard and, of course, Wilfried Zaha – can get on with the job of creating opportunities and scoring them.

The defeat to Everton was hard to take for Patrick Vieira, whose side created just as many opportunities and had more of the ball but ended up wearing the heaviest loss of their campaign so far.

On paper at least, Southampton are a close comparison. Thirteenth-placed Palace are just a point above Saints, who have slowly emerged from a four-game losing streak that had put manager Ralph Hassenhutl’s position in serious doubt.

Victory away to Bournemouth was sandwiched between draws against West Ham and Arsenal, and suddenly Hassenhuttl is on more solid ground – for now.

Neither side has been particularly prolific with Saints averaging just under a goal every game and Palace managing to score just over one per match. Vieira’s men have a slightly better defensive record having conceded three fewer goals.

Scotland striker Che Adams has been Southampton’s main goal threat with five so far, including the winner in their recent clash with Bournemouth.

Hassenhutl has talent at his disposal in the likes of James Ward-Prowse, Joe Aribo and Adam Armstrong but Vieira has the tools to make this another uncomfortable afternoon for the Southampton manager.

Suggested Bet: Palace to win + Under 2.5 goals (Same Game Multi) @ $4.10*

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Liverpool v Leeds

It’s not looking good for Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch as his side prepares to take on Liverpool at Anfield. But it could be worse – slightly.

Marsch had big shoes to fill when he took over the club from Marcelo Bielsa in February but rose to the challenge to prevent Leeds from dropping out of the Premier League.

The good will followed him into the new season but after victories over Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea and a 2-2 draw with Southampton in their opening three games, Leeds have picked up just two points from a possible 24. They are now third bottom and talk of relegation has crept into conversations.

Marsch’s men have created chances, through the likes of Jack Harrison, Brenden Aaronson and Luis Sinisterra, who has also scored twice. Spanish international Rodrigo tops the club’s scoring charts with five, which is more than a third of the 13 they have scored collectively.

Defensively, they have been erratic. The free header Bobby Decordova-Reid scored in Fulham’s 3-2 win at Elland Road last weekend was typical of their season.

So, how could it be worse? Well, Leeds could be facing the Liverpool side of last season, who hit six past them just before Bielsa’s exit. Instead, they take on the current crop and things have not gone as well for Jurgen Klopp’s men this season, who are eighth in the Premier League.

The departure of Sadio Mane, injuries to Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz and a slow start to life at Liverpool of big signing Darwin Nunez have not helped.

Inconsistency has been Liverpool’s Achilles heel this season. A 9-0 thrashing of Bournemouth and a victory over defending champions Manchester City have been offset by defeats to Arsenal, Manchester United and, more significantly, a 1-0 loss to bottom side Nottingham Forest last weekend.

But they will go into this one buoyed by a 3-0 Champions League win over Ajax in midweek, in which Nunez, Mohamed Salah and Harvey Elliott were all on target.

Suggested Bet: Liverpool to win + Over 2.5 goals (Same Game Multi) @ $1.63*