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The Scout: EPL Week Week 6 Preview

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Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur

Antonio Conte’s Tottenham Hotspur can send a message that they are more than just pretenders for the English Premier League title when they travel north to take on the defending champions.

Conte’s Spurs are up to third in the league after an unbeaten run of six games, which has included a 2-2 draw with Chelsea and a 1-1 stalemate at West Ham United.

But of the teams Spurs have beaten, only 10th-placed Fulham are in the top half of the table with their other victories coming against Southampton (12th), Wolverhampton Wanderers (14th) and second-from-bottom Nottingham Forest.

Goals have not been difficult to come by for Spurs, although two of their 12 have been courtesy of the opposition. While Harry Kane has been on target five times already this season, Tottenham’s other favourite Son, Heung-min, is yet to find the net.

Eric Dier, who has been a constant presence in the Spurs defensive trio so far this season, will face a huge test against Erling Haaland, who has scored 10 goals already. He also scored twice in City’s midweek 4-0 Champions League win over Sevilla. Unfortunately for Dier and Conte, even if Haaland can be kept quiet City have attacking options galore having scored 20 goals in the opening six fixtures. Kevin De Bruyne (one), Phil Foden (one), Ilkay Gundogan (two) and Bernardo Silva (two) have all been quick to open their goalscoring accounts this season.

If there is a chink in City’s armour it’s not entirely obvious, although Conte will remind his players that Pep Guardiola’s side is far from invincible.

In fact, they looked vulnerable when they trailed by two goals to Newcastle, although they did rally to draw 3-3, while they also came back from a two-goal deficit to beat Crystal Palace. Last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Aston Villa was unexpected.

Suggested Bet: Both teams to score + More than 2.5 goals @ $1.96*

Leicester City v Aston Villa

It’s not exactly the master and the apprentice but Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard probably did learn a thing or two about management when he played under Brendan Rodgers during his Liverpool days.

Not that there were any trophies to talk about during Rodgers’ Reds reign. But if things were tough for him during the final days of his Liverpool stint, they are far tougher now.

Leicester are rock bottom in the Premier League with just a single point from six matches, which came from a 2-2 draw with Brentford in their opening game. In Rodgers’ defence, they have faced league leaders Arsenal, fifth-placed Manchester United and sixth-placed Chelsea.

Unfortunately for the manager, there is nothing sly about the Foxes, whose defensive woes are obvious. With former goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel now playing in France, Danny Ward has been thrown into the deep end and has conceded 16 goals in six games.

Even when Leicester start well – they had a two-goal lead against Brentford, they led 1-0 against Southampton, and scored in the first minute against Brighton on Sunday – they inevitably fall in a heap. But in James Maddison, Youri Tielemans, Harvey Barnes and Jamie Vardy, they are not without quality.

The 5-2 loss to Brighton has increased the pressure on Rodgers, who has blamed the club’s position on being unable to strengthen his squad, while Leicester were further weakened when defender Wesley Fofana joined Chelsea last week.

Villa have not fared much better this season, although their draw with champions Manchester City on Saturday was a positive sign after defeats to Arsenal, West Ham and Crystal Palace.

Unlike Leicester, Villa have had as much difficulty scoring goals as they have defending against them. With just five goals scored, shared among five different scorers including last season’s top scorer Ollie Watkins, they are also yet to keep a clean sheet.

Leon Bailey scored his first goal of the season as Villa showed resilience against City and Gerrard will be hoping his side can build on that positive step.

Suggested Bet: Leicester to win @ $2.55*

Fulham v Chelsea

Chelsea will go into their West London derby against Fulham without Thomas Tuchel after he was sacked as manager in midweek.

A Champions League defeat against Dinamo Zagreb was Tuchel’s last act with the Blues.

After finishing third last season, there had been optimism at Stamford Bridge that the arrival of Raheem Sterling, from Manchester City, Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli) and Marc Cucurella (Brighton) would strengthen their charge this season.

But despite scoring eight times – Sterling has three Premier League goals – Chelsea have conceded nine goals in the past five games. Worryingly, they had lost 3-0 to Leeds United and 2-1 to Southampton.

Despite debut appearances for Wesley Fofana and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang against Zagreb, a 1-0 defeat was the catalyst for Tuchel’s exit.

Fulham boss Marco Silva will have no fear of Chelsea with his side punching above their weight in the early stages of the season. Victory for Fulham will take them above Chelsea.

Aleksandar Mitrovic has continued the goalscoring form that set new standards in the English Championship last season (he scored 43 times) with six goals in as many games this season. But Fulham are more than just Mitrovic.

Joao Palhinha has slotted into a midfield adding skill and tenacity (and a goal against Brentford) after his switch from Sporting Lisbon, while Neeskens Kebano and the American Tim Ream, who has played every minute for Fulham this season, have earned high praise.

History is very much on Chelsea’s side with Fulham having won only one Premier League encounter between the teams. Much will depend on how Chelsea’s players respond to this week’s upheaval.

Suggested Bet: Draw @ $4*

*Odds correct as at 2pm, 7th September 2022.

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