ANOTHER week, another two rounds of Premier League action, another set of half-serious concerns for us to work through. Will Liverpool pass the eight-hour mark for time on the road without a goal? Will Bournemouth set a horrible new Premier League record as the first team ever to concede at least 60 goals in five straight seasons? Will Hugo Lloris' bizarre new approach of motivating his teammates see him clothesline Eric Dier for a missed tackle? Some of the questions answered below!
Crystal Palace vs Chelsea | Tuesday July 7, 18:00 GMT
Only Fulham (19.5%) have a worse record in Premier League London derbies than Crystal Palace (23.5%) whereas Chelsea (51.4%) have the best. The Blues seem well-set to add to their recent dominance of this fixture – four wins in their last five at Selhurst Park – especially given how vital points are in the race for Champions League football.
Palace come into this game on the back of three straight defeats without scoring. In those games, the Eagles managed just seven shots on target, and worryingly, Gary Cahill had four of them! For Chelsea, there are no such problems in front of goal – they've struck at least two in nine of their last 10 games.
Frank Lampard's side squandered three potential points in their last away game against West Ham, but Saturday's 3-0 thrashing of Watford got them back on track at the first opportunity. There can be no more slip-ups for Chelsea, and that starts at Selhurst. Back the Blues for a comfortable win.
Match Odds: Crystal Palace (13/2) Draw (17/5) Chelsea (1/2)
Tip: Both teams to score (19/20)
Correct score: Crystal Palace 1-2 Chelsea (7/1)
Arsenal vs Leicester City | Tuesday July 7, 20:15 GMT
Arsenal have a formidable home record against Leicester – 22 games unbeaten with all of the last 12 being victories – while Brendan Rodgers' winless run at the Emirates now stretches seven games across three clubs. The Gunners have also stabilised impressively after consecutive defeats at Man City and Brighton, with four straight wins. The last three of those represent the only time Arsenal have won three league games without conceding since 2017. It's been over six years since they last won four such games in succession.
Keeping a clean sheet against Leicester is easier said than done though, particularly with Jamie Vardy getting the monkey of his back and finally bagging his 100th and 101st Premier League goals which were only his second and third goals from open play since December. That brace gave Vardy a timely boost in his quest for another Premier League Golden Boot with his opponent here Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang having previously drawn level on 19 goals.
Unlike Leicester, Vardy has a superb record against Arsenal, netting nine goals in his last nine league matches against Arsenal, including six in his last five. Vardy should have enough to prevent a fourth straight shutout for the Gunners, but having scored at least two in each of their last four games, Mikel Arteta's attack will take some stopping.
Match Odds: Arsenal (11/8) Draw (5/2) Leicester City (21/10)
Tip: Jamie Vardy to score any time & Arsenal to win (17/2)
Correct score: Arsenal 2-1 Leicester (15/2)
Sheff Utd vs Wolves | Wednesday July 8, 18:00 GMT
At the end of the 2017/18 season, when Wolves won the Championship and Sheff Utd finished 10th, the notion of both sides contesting a Europa League six-pointer in the Premier League just two years later would have seemed beyond comprehension, but that's what we have on our hands here. Wolves' top four hopes took a significant blow last weekend as they lost to Arsenal while all other rivals for a top four spot won, but with a three-point cushion over the Gunners, four points over Sheff Utd, they are still in control of their own destiny.
Four points from the last two games were entirely welcome for Chris Wilder who has seen his side concede 24% of their season total (eight of 33) in the last four matches. Even with that uncharacteristic sloppiness, the Blades boast the fourth best defence in the Premier League this season, bettered by only Liverpool, Leicester and Man Utd. That's an astonishing record for a newly promoted side.
Wolves are only three goals worse off in sixth position. Defensive records alone would suggest this could be a stalemate, but then Wolves' immense attacking quality has to come into it. if you're going to send your full-backs and centre-backs forward – and of course Wilder will – good luck dealing with Adama Traore who is looking for his 10th league assist of the season. Traore and Raul Jimenez are the deadliest Premier League partnership this season, they will make the difference again.
Match Odds: Sheff Utd (16/5) Draw (11/5) Wolves (11/10)
Tip: Adama Traore to get an assist (7/2)
Correct score: Sheff Utd 0-2 Wolves (15/2)
Brighton vs Liverpool | Wednesday July 8, 20:15 GMT
The ease with which Liverpool have won the Premier League this season is illustrated by the fact they are without a goal away from home in their last seven hours and 42 minutes of action, and it's had little to no impact. Still, Jurgen Klopp will be about as happy about that as he was Geoff Shreeves' line of questioning at the end of last week's 4-0 defeat to Man City, and will demand a response from his players who were far from impressive in victory against Aston Villa on Sunday.
Brighton were beaten 3-0 the last time they faced top six opposition at home (Man Utd) but aside from that, post-lockdown results have been excellent for the Seagulls. Two wins and a draw has enabled them to put nine points between themselves and the relegation zone. They've beaten the drop, Graham Potter's first year in charge has been a success. Potter, an experimental manager at his core, is likely to play around with his formation and personnel over the next few weeks, but that may have to wait for a game or two.
Liverpool are without defeat in eight clashes with Brighton, and have won five straight clashes with the Seagulls in the league. Dropped points at Everton and Man City recently have slightly threatened what appeared to be a cakewalk Premier League record points total. That will be Klopp's aim for the rest of the season, make no bones about it. So back his side to break their odd away day hoodoo and get back on the winning track.
Match Odds: Brighton (21/4) Draw (33/10) Liverpool (4/7)
Tip: Liverpool to win both halves (3/1)
Correct score: Brighton 0-3 Liverpool (10/1)
Bournemouth vs Tottenham | Thursday July 9, 18:00 GMT
Just one win could be enough to keep Bournemouth up, but having won just three times in 2020, once being in the FA Cup at home to Luton, that feels like wishful thinking. The Cherries have just 17 points from the last 81 available, and come into this game on the back of five straight defeats. One more goal against and Bournemouth will become the first team in Premier League history to conceded 60+ for five consecutive seasons.
Tottenham are about par for the course for what you'd expect of a squad that needs to be revamped and a manager who isn't what he once was. Decent draw with Man Utd, reasonable win over West Ham, terrible defeat to Sheff Utd, boring win over Everton – this is the Spurs' trajectory under The Special One, at least until the transfer window.
Tottenham have won seven of their nine Premier League meetings with Bournemouth with Harry Kane bagging seven in seven against them. With the Cherries conceding at least two in seven of their last eight matches – and frequently more than that – it'd be a surprise if England's captain didn't convert at least one opening. Back Spurs, back Kane.
Match Odds: Bournemouth (21/5) Draw (3/1) Tottenham (4/6)
Tip: Harry Kane to score first (10/3)
Correct score: Bournemouth 1-2 Tottenham (7/1)