There are four Premier League games on Sunday with the stand-out clash coming in the north east when Newcastle host Manchester United.
Newcastle v Man Utd (4pm)
The Magpies (3/1) may well fancy their chances of causing an upset at home against a Manchester United (10/11, draw 11/4) side who it is fair to say have yet to really get going this season.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s side have stumbled their way through the opening six weeks of the season and lost their second game of the campaign at Spurs last weekend.
They followed that up with just a narrow win over minnows CFR Cluj in the Champions League in midweek and will not find it easy at the Sports Direct Arena.
Alan Pardew’s side were convincing 3-0 winners over Bordeaux in the Europa League on Thursday and, in the shape of Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse, have the strikers to trouble a shaky Red Devils’ rearguard.
Goals are likely and a score draw is predicted in an exciting game.
Prediction - 2-2 at 14/1.
Southampton v Fulham (1.30pm)
Sunday’s early kick-off sees a recently-promoted Southampton (8/5), who have struggled to adapt to life back in the top flight, against a Fulham (7/4, draw 12/5) side who have had a mixed campaign so far.
Saints did see off Villa 4-1 in their last home game but that is the only high point in a series of five defeats from their opening six games and Fulham will surely relish this trip to St Mary’s.
The Cottagers only narrowly lost to champions Manchester City 2-1 last weekend and can make amends with the three points in this one.
Prediction - Fulham to win 2-0 at 11/1.
Liverpool v Stoke (3pm)
Incredibly, Liverpool (1/2, draw 16/5) have won just two league games at Anfield in 2012 and a victory for Brendan Rodgers’ side is a must against the Potters after an overall poor start to the season.
Last weekend’s 5-2 victory at Norwich points at better things to come for the Reds as they finally got the goals earlier performances had been threatening but they will be tested by a dogged Stoke (13/2) side, who are always difficult to beat under Tony Pulis.
Former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch (5/2 to score anytime) is in great form and he will fancy it against his old side while ex-Reds Charlie Adam, Jermaine Pennant and Michael Owen – if he gets on – will also be fired up.
It looks like being tight and the home side will hope not to make the sort of crucial defensive mistakes that have blighted their season so far. If they manage to keep a clean sheet the Reds might just edge it.
Prediction - Liverpool to win 1-0 at 6/1.
Tottenham v Aston Villa (3pm)
Spurs (4/9) are improving under Andre Villas-Boas and, after a slow start, have begun to pick up points with last week’s win at Manchester United the highlight of an inconsistent campaign so far.
They have generally been unconvincing at home in the league, though, drawing against Norwich and West Brom, while they were lucky to see off QPR last time out after falling behind in the first half.
But Villa (7/1, draw 10/3) have hardly been pulling up trees under new boss Paul Lambert and only just scraped a 1-1 draw at home to local rivals West Brom last weekend. The midlanders were embarrassingly beaten 4-1 by newcomers Southampton on their last away trip and will want to erase that memory as quickly as possible.
Sadly, with a rejuvenated Spurs the opposition, we predict another long 90 minutes for Lambert and his players.
Prediction – Spurs to win 3-1 at 10/1.
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