Premier League Tips – 16th & 17th September

Tottenham have made an exceptionally good start to the season when you consider they lost Harry Kane on the eve of the first weekend and they have a striker in Richarlison who looks out of sorts. Fortunately, James Maddison and Son Hyeong-min have been in superb form since the kick off.

Sheffield United have found things tough so far this season with their only point coming from a home draw with Everton. Paul Heckingbottom’s team are going to find life tough in the Premier League once again and this is likely to be one of their toughest fixtures of the season, especially with Spurs in such good form.

The way Ange Postecoglu has set up the team means that Spurs are always going to be a threat and as they showed with the win over Manchester United, they are by no means overawed taking on the big teams in this division.

Defensively, Spurs still have a few issues and give away too many chances for my liking, but they are combating that with some very effective attacking play and because of that I fancy them to win this game relatively comfortably with the Blades grabbing a late consolation.

This is a hugely intriguing game for me. Manchester United have an outstanding home record taking 54 out of a possible 63 points at home since the start of last season. During that period they have conceded just 12 goals at Old Trafford, scoring 40. It is their away form which has seen them languishing down in the middle reaches of the table.

However, that record won’t faze Brighton who were one of the teams that took maximum points from their trip to Old Trafford last season. In fact the Seagulls have won three of the last four against United, and only lost the other on penalties in the FA Cup Semi Final after a 0-0 draw at Wembley. A game that they should perhaps have won.

The Seagulls away form was sixth best in the EPL last season and they have won their only away game so far this season by a 4-1 scoreline. All of which sets up an intriguing contest between two teams who have had an intriguing recent history between them.

I’ll be honest, it is hard to see Manchester United losing this game. But by the same token, Brighton’s form on the road is so good and they are such a good team under Roberto De Zerbi that I feel they look likely to get something from the game. As such, a scoring draw for me is the bet to make here.

This is a fixture that Manchester City have dominated in recent times, but which presents West Ham with arguably one of their better chances to get something from the game. Especially given their current unbeaten run in the Premier League so far and also given City’s lack of Kevin de Bruyne in midfield.

Any team would miss a player of the calibre of the Belgian maestro, though City are arguably the one team that can cope with such a loss most easily. With Erling Haaland already off and running on the season, his presence in the team and the fact he scored for Norway in the International break, will have Hammers fans worried.

For West Ham, the loss of Declan Rice was a big loss after his move to Arsenal, but the Hammers seem to have spent that money well, bringing in James Ward Prowse who has been superb since signing from Southampton and who offers West Ham a real threat at a variety of set pieces.

Both teams are unbeaten this season and in truth, I have a sneaky suspicion West Ham may get something from this game. That said, I am not confident in a score or result prediction here, so I think the first goalscorer market is the way to go with one obvious pick here.

Everton have actually won four of the last six against Arsenal, including all of their three most recent home games. Goodison Park, it seems, is not a place that Arsenal like to go and it is going to be interesting to see how Mikel Arteta’s team cope with what will be a fierce atmosphere for this game.

Sean Dyche’s team have started the season worryingly slowly, with just one point from their four games, that coming in a 2-2 away draw against Sheffield United. With questions over the sale of the club buzzing around all week, you can forgive Everton for being slightly distracted by the events off the field this week.

Given their player sales and the state of the club and the lack of big names coming in, I do worry about Everton’s chances this season and I feel that if Arsenal are ever going to beat Everton at Goodison Park, then they are not going to have a better opportunity than they have this coming weekend.

The Gunners should also have real confidence after their 3-1 win over Manchester United last time out and as such, I am backing them to get the job done here and earn a statement 2-0 win that will keep them in the thick of things at the top of the early Premier League table.