IT'S the biggest current game in English football this Sunday. Man City vs Liverpool, Pep Guardiola vs Jurgen Klopp, Ederson vs Allison, Raheem Sterling vs all the fans who still give him a hard time for leaving. And the best thing is that's just one of four genuinely intriguing match-ups we have in store. Soak it in, enjoy it all, for the international break looms on the other side.
West Brom vs Tottenham | Sunday November 8, 12:00
From struggling to get over the line in the race for promotion from the Championship to the thoroughly dispiriting start to life back in the Premier League, West Brom have now gone 11 league games without a win. The Baggies' latest setback, a 2-0 defeat at Fulham, was arguably the most worrying with just one shot managed in the 90 minutes. Not a great time to face one of the division's form sides then who have ambition, once again, to mount a title challenge.
Tottenham lost poorly in 1-0 defeat to Everton on opening day, they were even worse in another 1-0 defeat in Antwerp, but for the other 11 games, Spurs have been excellent, winning nine, and conceding two last-minute equalisers for two draws. Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min are in the form of their lives, Gareth Bale is up and running, and in the centre, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was already proven what an excellent signing he was.
So far on the road, Spurs have trounced Southampton (2-5) and Man Utd (1-6) and got their first away clean sheet against Burnley (0-1). Jose Mourinho once went 82 home games without losing at various clubs, but it's the away days that are bringing the best out of his side at the moment. Everything points to a Spurs win, and why not push it a bit further and go for the -1 handicap?
Match odds: West Brom (6/4) Draw (33/10) Tottenham (13/25)
Correct score: West Brom 0-3 Tottenham (19/2)
Tip: Tottenham -1 handicap (11/8)
Leicester City vs Wolves | Sunday November 8, 14:00
Like Spurs, Leicester are dominating games away from home and struggling on their own patch. In their last outing, the 4-1 win at Leeds, Brendan Rodgers side' were mightily impressive with Jamie Vardy returning in imperious form, and barely anybody noticing that four key defensive players were missing. However, the Foxes had more shots on target at Elland Road (eight) than in their two previous home games combined (five).
And if there's one Premier League team you can absolutely guarantee will deny Leicester space in behind it's Wolves. Nuno Espirito Santo's side have bounced back well from their uncharacteristic 4-0 defeat at West Ham. They've won three and drawn one with three clean sheets – earning as many points in four games (10) as they had in their previous nine. New signings Nelson Semedo and Rayan Ait Nouri have settled well with the latter scoring a debut goal in last week's
With Leicester having lost both of their last two home games without scoring, and Wolves having won two of their last three away games without conceding, Nuno will be licking his lips at another potential smash and grab win here. Leicester's goal-scoring prowess is perhaps too good to overlook but I like Wolves on the Draw No Bet here.
Match odds: Leicester City (13/10) Draw (11/5) Wolves (47/20)
Correct score: Leicester 1-2 Wolves (21/1)
Tip: Wolves Draw No Bet (13/10)
Man City vs Liverpool | Sunday November 8, 16:30
Strangely, Man City have scored exactly one goal in each of their last four Premier League matches. It's 11 years since they went five games without scoring more than once, but it's also nearly 11 years since Liverpool kept a clean sheet at the Etihad. In the 10 matches since a 2010 0-0, the Reds have conceded on average 2.6 goals a game – not the most encouraging stat for a side with the second worst defensive record in the Premier League this season.
That said, Liverpool's defensive output has actually improved since Virgil Van Dijk got injured. In the five matches since then – three of which were in the Champions League – the Reds have conceded just two goals, both in the Premier League, one arriving courtesy of a contentious penalty. This is by no means the crisis we were led to believe it would be as Tuesday's brutally efficient 5-0 win in Atalanta will testify. You can certainly argue Liverpool are coping better with their defensive injuries than Man City are with their attacking absences.
On that front, Sergio Aguero will again be unavailable. Gabriel Jesus should return but will surely struggle for fitness after a few weeks out. As for Liverpool's attack, Jurgen Klopp finally has a decision to make: stick with struggling Roberto Firmino or select red-hot Diogo Jota? I think Klopp goes for experience here, having beaten and outplayed Man City consistently, and inflicted more defeats on Pep Guardiola (eight) than any other manager. The pressure's on Pep in this one, and generally speaking, that tends to suit Klopp.
Match odds: Man City (19/20) Draw (13/4) Liverpool (12/5)
Correct score: Man City 1-3 Liverpool (19/1)
Tip: Liverpool to win (12/5)
Arsenal vs Aston Villa | Sunday November 8, 19:15
In the early weeks of the season, this match was shaping up to be a clash all about Arsenal's folly at selling Emiliano Martinez who immediately improved Aston Villa's back line. However, Arsenal come into this game with the best defensive record (just seven goals conceded) and that's no fluke. The Gunners have either conceded no goals or one goal in 31 of 40 matches under Mikel Arteta, conceding more than two only twice away at Man City and Liverpool – a remarkable improvement on recent years.
They will feel as if they're facing Villa at a good time too after Dean Smith's side followed up their narrative-exploding 7-2 win over Liverpool by conceding seven in two home games, as first Leeds then Southampton cashed in at Villa Park. The Villans were easily cut apart throughout last season, and have to some degree reverted to type already, however the talented midfield trio of Jack Grealish, John McGinn and Ross Barkley will cause Arsenal problems.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ended his first five-game goalless run with the winner at Old Trafford. It remains to be seen whether Arteta will start him in a central role, but back in the goals, he's the man most likely to help them secure a win which could take them as high as second.
Match odds: Arsenal (4/6) Draw (3/1) Aston Villa (4/1)
Correct score: Arsenal 2-1 Aston Villa (7/1)
Tip: Match multi – Arsenal to win and Aubameyang to score (29/20)
Multiples
Results four-fold: Tottenham, Wolves Draw No Bet, Liverpool, Arsenal – 19/1
Tip four-fold: Tottenham -1 handicap, Wolves Draw No Bet, Liverpool to win, Arsenal to win and Aubameyang to score – 45/1
Double: Tottenham -1, Liverpool to win – 7/1
Click here to read Premier League betting tips for Saturday November 7, 2020
