Graham Ruthven: The Weekend’s Best Bets

Player to score – Mohamed Salah (Liverpool v Leeds)

He might have suffered a slow start to the season, but Mohamed Salah has rediscovered his scoring touch in recent weeks, finding the back of the net seven times in just nine games. The Egyptian is now playing in a more central position for Liverpool and that is presenting him with more opportunities to score.

⭐️Most Goals v Man City in all comps since Salah joined Liverpool in 20179⃣ Mohamed Salah7⃣ Sadio Mane6⃣ Heung-Min Son6⃣ Jamie Vardy5⃣ Anthony Martial pic.twitter.com/z83dodKA7H

— Kevin (@Kevin84195833) October 22, 2022

Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 29 Premier League matches at home while Leeds United have lost their last four away games in the league. Jesse Marsch’s team have also conceded two or more goals in each of their last three Premier League matches on the road. Liverpool, and Salah, will have chances on Saturday.

Player to be carded – Sergio Busquets (Valencia v Barca)

Sergio Busquets is always good for picking up a booking and there has been no exception to that well-established rule this season. The veteran midfielder has been shown a yellow card four times in La Liga this season and has entered the referee’s book in each of his last two games for Barcelona (against Athletic Club and Bayern Munich).

Valencia are without a win in their last three games, but Gennaro Gattuso’s team are a high-energy outfit in the middle of the pitch and this will put pressure on Busquets as the base of the Barcelona midfield. It will be up to him to stop Barca from being caught out in behind and that puts him at risk of a booking.

Match to be a draw – Crystal Palace v Southampton

Crystal Palace enter this weekend on the back of a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Everton. Patrick Vieira’s team have won their last two matches at Selhurst Park and there has been over 2.5 total goals in their last three Premier League home games. There has also been over 2.5 total in all of Palace’s last three meetings with Southampton (all competitions).

Southampton claimed a point against Crystal Palace in last season’s Premier League fixture at Selhurst Park and they appear well-placed to take another positive result home to the south coast this weekend. Saints are unbeaten in their last three league games and come into this match on the back of an impressive 1-1 draw against Arsenal.

Both teams to score – Leicester v Man City

Leicester City have rediscovered their goal-scoring form of late with the Foxes finding the net no fewer than six times over their last two Premier League matches. Manchester City’s goal-scoring threat is obvious, with the Premier League champions netting more goals than any other side at this stage of the season (36 goals in just 11 fixtures).

However, Pep Guardiola’s team have kept just one clean sheet in their last four Premier League outings and Leicester City have the pace through the likes of Jamie Vardy to get in behind the high Manchester City defensive line. This could be a test for the Etihad Stadium outfit away from home.

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Manchester United are unbeaten in their last four Premier League matches, but Erik Ten Hag’s team have so far struggled to score goals in front of their own fans this season against teams of a lower calibre. They were held to a goalless draw by Newcastle earlier this month and suffered a 2-1 defeat to Brighton on the opening day of the season.

West Ham have drawn a blank in three of their six away games in the Premier League this season, adding to the sense this could be a low-scoring encounter at Old Trafford this weekend. What’s more, both teams were in Europa League action on Thursday night – there could be a hangover from that.