Premier League Betting Tips: Villa to pile more misery on United

After two winners from four midweek bets, Andy Schooler is back to preview this weekend’s Premier League action with focus on the four TV games.

Crystal Palace v Liverpool

Saturday, 12:30, TNT Sports

There’s no Jurgen Klopp but some things never change - Liverpool are back in the 12:30 slot and if you listen carefully you can hear the German grumbling somewhere in the distance.

Having played Wednesday night, beating Bologna at Anfield, it’s a quick turnaround for the Reds, although Palace’s winless start means this certainly isn’t the toughest fixture they could have faced post-Champions League action.

I’m not convinced Palace will be able to take advantage of the situation but what I do believe is that Eberechi Eze will again shoulder much of their attacking threat.

He’s now had over 2.5 shots in 10 of his last 11 Premier League games, including away at Chelsea a few weeks ago. Last season, he landed this bet in both games against Arsenal so while the level of opposition bumps the price up, it’s by no means a hurdle the England international can’t clear.

Eze loves to shoot from all sorts of positions so odds-against about it occurring again looks worth taking.

Recommended Bet: Eberechi Eze over 2.5 shots @ 2.15

Manchester City v Fulham

Saturday, 15:00

For those seeking a big price, how about backing Raul Jimenez to stun the Etihad early?

Ipswich and Brentford have both scored inside seven minutes here already this season, with City conceding first in two of their three home matches. If Fulham are to repeat the trick, then Jimenez looks the man to strike first.

The Mexican lit up the Premier League at Wolves before his horrific head injury and while we may never see that same form again from Jimemez, the fact is he’s now scored 10 goals in his last 13 Premier League starts, including in all three this season.

He’s on penalties – and has never missed one in the EPL – and is 14.0 for the first goal. Let’s take a punt.

Recommended Bet: Raul Jimenez first goalscorer @ 14.0

Everton v Newcastle

Saturday, 17:30, Sky Sports

Everton finally got the win they’d been threatening last week when beating Palace and they look to have a decent chance of backing that up.

Newcastle haven’t been great away from home for some time. Since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, they’ve won just seven of 22 in the Premier League. Four of those came against last season’s bottom five, while their one away victory so far this term came against rock-bottom Wolves.

Some will count Everton as a bottom-five side – indeed they start the weekend there – but last season they were well above that if you discounted their points deduction, while this season they’ve been 2-0 up against Bournemouth and Villa before conspiring to lose.

The return of Jarrad Branthwaite to the defence last week helped shore them up and at the other end of the field, they’ve scored multiple goals in their last three matches.

Newcastle remain beset with injuries, particularly in defence, while up front Alexander Isak has a broken toe and seems likely to miss out again.

You can back Everton to avoid defeat via the Asian handicap market, which gives them a +0.5 start, at 1.71, which looks good business.

Recommended Bet: Everton (+0.5) on the Asian handicap @ 1.71

Aston Villa v Manchester United

Sunday, 14:00, Sky Sports

The contrast in confidence between these two could not be much greater.

Villa sit two points off the top and beat Bayern Munich in midweek; United have just seven points from six games and have scored only five times. They also come into this game off the back of a Thursday Europa League tie in Portugal, although at least they scrambled a late draw there having thrown away a two-goal lead.

Erik ten Hag looks under severe pressure after last week’s 3-0 home defeat to Spurs, who were the latest side to take advantage of the big holes in the United midfield, while they were far from watertight at the back.

Villa are, frankly, a much better side than United at the moment and these are good circumstances in which they can prove it.

There looks to be value in backing them to win this with something to spare so I’ll take the 3.35 about Villa on the -1 line on the Asian handicap, meaning the bet lands if Villa win by two clear goals and it’s money back if they win by a one-goal margin.

Recommended Bet: Villa (-1) on the Asian handicap @ 3.35

Brighton v Tottenham

Sunday, 16:30, Sky Sports

After a shaky start, things seem to be picking up for Spurs. They’ve now won five in a row in all competitions and head to a Brighton side, who have won just one of their last five.

Most worrying is the fact that they’ve shipped eight goals in the last three with a shoddy defensive display at Chelsea seeing them punished severely. A repeat would make odds of 2.28 about an away win look big but the better option looks to be to back the form man for the visitors.

Brennan Johnson has scored in all five of those Tottenham wins and clearly the Welshman’s confidence has picked up. He’s at 2.98 to make it six on the bounce here which, given Brighton’s recent defensive displays, looks worth a try.

Recommended Bet: Brennan Johnson anytime goalscorer @ 2.98

Recommended Bets

Back Eberechi Eze over 2.5 shots in Crystal Palace v Liverpool @ 2.15
Back Raul Jimenez first goalscorer in Man City v Fulham @ 14.0
Back Everton (+0.5) on the Asian handicap v Newcastle @ 1.71
Back Aston Villa (-1) on the Asian handicap v Man Utd @ 3.35
Back Brennan Johnson anytime goalscorer in Brghton v Tottenham @ 2.98