The Scout: EPL Week 27 Preview

Posted on March 9, 2023March 28, 2023 | Posted by The Scout

Leicester City v Chelsea

Leicester City will be aiming to end a four-match losing streak when they take on resurgent Chelsea at King Power Stadium on Saturday.

Chelsea shook off their Premier League blues with victory over Leeds United last weekend before an impressive midweek UEFA Champions League win against Borussia Dortmund.

Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers has been unable to motivate his men to drag themselves to safety despite the occasional signs of promise. One of their brightest moments came last month when Tottenham Hotspur were beaten 4-1. But, in typical fashion, Leicester unravelled just a week later when they lost 3-0 to Manchester United.

Leicester’s struggles came into sharp focus just over a week ago when their FA Cup run was ended by Championship side Blackburn Rovers before a narrow Premier League defeat to struggling Southampton.

That loss left the Foxes just two points above a congested relegation zone, although their star midfielder James Maddison claimed Leicester had the quality to dig themselves out of trouble.

With just three wins in their last 13 games in all competitions, Chelsea have been a long way off their expected pace, although their progress into the Champions League quarter-finals has lifted spirits.

Potter has 11 wins from 28 games since he took over from Thomas Tuchel in September last year.

After sneaking past Leeds, thanks to defender Wesley Fofana’s goal, Chelsea were more aggressive against Dortmund and were deserving 2-0 winners.

They have bags of talent – Kai Havertz, Joao Felix, Rahim Sterling and Mateo Kovacic to name a few – and might finally be ready to put on a run of positive results.

Suggested Bet: Chelsea to win + Havertz to have over 0.5 shots on target (Same Game Multi) @ $3.05*

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Everton v Brentford

Despite conceding a second-half equaliser to Nottingham Forest last weekend, Everton will take on Brentford buoyed by the point they claimed at the City Ground.

Forest were unbeaten in eight home games before Everton arrived to earn a 2-2 draw through goals from Demarai Gray and Abdoulaye Doucoure.

Brentford, though, are an altogether more difficult proposition, whether at home or away.

The Bees have lost just once at the Gtech Community Stadium this season, while a trip to Goodison Park is also unlikely to unsettle Thomas Frank’s side.

Up to ninth in the Premier League, Brentford’s only losses on the road this season were against Fulham (3-2), Newcastle (5-1) and Aston Villa (4-0).

Brentford score at only half the rate away from home as they do at the Gtech, although leading scorer Ivan Toney doesn’t seem to mind where he plays with seven of his 15 goals scored on the road. Toney may be affected by the prospect of a long ban after breaching rules preventing players from betting on matches.

Everton have issues of their own, including being unable to rely on injury-prone striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin. His regular absence has left Everton in 18th place, just a point above bottom side Bournemouth and second-from-bottom Southampton.

Everton’s new manager Sean Dyche made a promising start when Arsenal were beaten in the former Burnley boss’ first game in charge early last month at Goodison Park.

Dyche has since orchestrated a win over Leeds, also at home, and last weekend’s draw against Forest amongst defeats to Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal.

Despite their grim prospects, a victory over Brentford, who they have failed to beat in three previous Premier League meetings, could lift Everton out of the relegation zone. Around the corner for the Toffees are three tough games against Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United.

Suggested Bet: Brentford to win @ $2.70*

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Fulham v Arsenal

More than 11 years have passed since Fulham last beat Arsenal and it is difficult, although not impossible, to see how that will change at Craven Cottage on Sunday.

Arsenal can be vulnerable – they conceded after just nine seconds against Bournemouth last weekend – and they can be beaten – Everton, Manchester United and Manchester City have done so this season.

But in recent weeks the league leaders have shown a determination that is a strong pointer to potential Premier League title success this season.

Since losing to City last month, Arsenal have scored twice in stoppage time to beat Aston Villa, ground out a narrow win over Leicester City and stunned Bournemouth with a second-half rally last weekend.

The fact that Bournemouth are rock bottom was lost in the Arsenal celebrations as Reiss Nelson fired a stoppage time winner after the Gunners had trailed by two goals. It didn’t matter that Bournemouth aren’t good, just that Arsenal had refused to give in and, ultimately, snatched victory.

Fulham are more capable than Bournemouth and Marco Silva’s side will be ready to capitalise should Arsenal lapse again.

The Cottagers’ return to the Premier League this season from the Championship has been better than expected. Their rise to seventh has been through a combination of an organised defence, an inventive midfield that includes revitalised former Chelsea player Willian, and the goals of Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Fulham have kept eight clean sheets and conceded an average 1.31 goals per game. Mitrovic has scored almost a third of their goals with 11 of 38 this season.

The Gunners’ place at the top of the table is reflected in the stats – they’ve scored more than two goals a game and conceded fewer than one in the Premier League this season.

But before Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta can contemplate taking on Fulham, he has a Round of 16 Europa League first leg match against Sporting to focus on.

Arteta will be hoping for a positive, injury-free performance in Portugal in the early hours of Friday morning (WA time).

Suggested Bet: Both teams to score + Over 2.5 goals (Same Game Multi) @ $2.40*

*Odds correct as at 10am, 9th March 2023.

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