There are six Premier League games on Saturday, including three of the top four in action with Chelsea, Everton and Manchester City all looking for victories to maintain their good starts to the season.
Manchester City v Sunderland (12.45pm)
City (2/7, draw 9/2 in the match betting) sit four points behind early leaders Chelsea after a stuttering start to the defence of their title.
Roberto Mancini’s side remain unbeaten but only just overcame Fulham last weekend and could find it tricky at home against a spirited Sunderland (12/1 to win) side. The champions were poor in midweek when drawing with Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League and will need to improve against the Black Cats, who have summer signing Steven Fletcher in red-hot form.
It could be closer than City would want at the Etihad but a narrow home win is predicted.
Prediction: Man City to win 2-1 (7/1).
Chelsea v Norwich (3pm)
Chelsea (2/9 to win) have looked good so far with new signings Eden Hazard and Oscar catching they eye and they are top of the table on merit, having dropped just two points so far.
Last week’s win at Arsenal underlined their title credentials further and expect a comfortable home win in this one against a Norwich side currently struggling to match last-season’s achievements under former boss Paul Lambert.
The Canaries (14/1, draw 11/2 match betting) were outplayed last weekend when going down 5-2 at home to Liverpool and could get the runaround again at Stamford Bridge.
Prediction: Chelsea to win 4-0 (10/1).
Swansea v Reading (3pm)
The Swans’ (10/11 to win) hosting of the Royals (16/5, draw 5/2 in the match betting) is one of the more difficult games to predict on Saturday with the home side’s impressive start now just a faded memory after a run of three consecutive league defeats.
Reading, however, have yet to win this season and appear to be struggling to adapt to life back in the top flight. It won’t be a classic at the Liberty Stadium and a hard-fought draw looks on the cards.
Prediction: 1-1 draw (11/2).
West Brom v QPR (3pm)
QPR (10/3 to win) are desperate for a win after a shocking start to the season. Despite heavy summer investment, the Hoops have picked up just two points so far and are bottom of the table.
The Baggies, in contrast, are flying high early on in sixth under new boss Steve Clarke and can follow up last weekend’s 1-1 draw at neighbours Aston Villa with a win here (5/6, draw 11/4 in the match betting) to pile further pressure on Rangers boss Mark Hughes.
Prediction: West Brom to win 2-1 (8/1).
Wigan v Everton (3pm)
A north-west derby at the DW Stadium sees on-form Everton (Evens to take the three points) expected to come away with the three points against a Wigan (3/1, draw 5/2) side who have just one league victory to their name this season.
The Toffees have been very impressive so far, aside from a blip at Leeds in the Capital One Cup, and they can enhance their growing top-four claims with another away win this weekend.
Prediction: Everton to win 2-0 (8/1).
West Ham v Arsenal (5.30pm)
Saturday’s evening game is a London derby to relish with a clash of styles on show at Upton Park. Sam Allardyce’s side will do all they can to disrupt Arsenal’s (Evens to win) fluid passing game and, following the 2-1 win at QPR on Monday, will approach this with confidence.
Arsene Wenger’s side began the season well but last weekend’s home defeat to Chelsea will have left fans anxious over a title bid and they will not fancy another derby so soon.
Loan signing Andy Carroll could be back for West Ham (3/1, draw 5/2 in the match betting) and, with that in mind, we see this as the shock result of the day with a home win the outcome.
Prediction: West Ham to win 1-0 (10/1).
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