Premier League Saturday tips: Back Bournemouth and Spurs to get wins

The Premier League returns on Saturday with four matches that will have implications at both ends of the table, and tipster Greg Lea has a number of plays worth following.

Leicester v Crystal Palace

Kick-off: 12.30pm Saturday

Leicester would’ve hoped that a 4-0 thumping of Nottingham Forest would kick-start their season, but a 2-1 loss to Bournemouth last time out means they head into this fixture at the foot of the table once more. Brendan Rodgers cannot afford too many more negative results if he is to remain in position at the King Power Stadium.

Crystal Palace have become more of a possession-based team under Patrick Vieira, but they have had great success playing on the counter attack against Leicester down the years, so quick breaks forward are likely to be a key feature of their game plan this weekend.

With his speed, acceleration and ball-carrying ability, Wilfried Zaha will be the central figure of such a strategy. The forward scored his first career goal against the Foxes and has an excellent record against them in the top flight, notching seven goals in 14 appearances. Back him to make it eight in 15 on Saturday.

Prediction: Wilfried Zaha to score anytime @ 3.2

Fulham v Bournemouth

Kick-off: 3pm Saturday

He might not get the job permanently, but Gary O’Neil has done a fantastic job as Bournemouth’s caretaker manager. Widely written off as relegation certainties following Scott Parker’s exit, the Cherries have since gone five games unbeaten under their interim boss, who has made the team harder to beat and more efficient in attack.

As a result, Bournemouth will arrive at Craven Cottage knowing that a win would move them level on points with fifth-placed Manchester United, at least temporarily. Bournemouth do remain the second-favourites for the drop at 1.93, but O’Neil has certainly given them a chance of avoiding an immediate return to the Championship.

Fulham are just coming off back-to-back defeats for the first time this term, so I fancy Bournemouth to further extend their unbeaten run this weekend.

Prediction: Draw or Bournemouth @ 1.98

Wolves v Nottingham Forest

Kick-off: 3pm Saturday

Wolves were dealt a blow on Wednesday when Julen Lopetegui rejected the chance to take over at Molineux. The club had made the former Sevilla boss their number one choice to succeed Bruno Lage, but his decision means Steve Davis will still be in caretaker charge when Nottingham Forest make the trip across the Midlands.

This is an important match for Wolves, who have won just one of their first nine matches and occupy a place in the bottom three. Davis was unable to get the forward line firing last time out, as Wolves went down to a 3-0 defeat by Chelsea. They have now failed to score in six games this term.

Forest stopped the rot with a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa on Monday, moving off the foot of the table in the process. Steve Cooper will be minded to keep things tight early on here in the hope that the home crowd grows frustrated. Forest, I feel, would not be too dissatisfied if the scores were level at the interval.

Prediction: Draw at half-time @ 2.04

Tottenham v Everton

Kick-off: 5.30pm Saturday

Tottenham’s results have been better than their performances so far this season, with last weekend’s 1-0 victory over Brighton fitting neatly within that pattern. In fairness to Spurs, the squad was left grief-stricken following the death of fitness coach Gian Piero Ventrone a few days prior, so we should not read too much into their display at the Amex Stadium.

Despite not always dazzling in 2022/23, Spurs would move to within a point of top spot with a win against Everton. They will draw confidence from a 100 percent record on home turf in the Premier League, as well as the fact that Everton continue to struggle in the final third.

Indeed, although they found the net in a 2-1 loss to Manchester United last time out, the Toffees struggled to create clear-cut opportunities throughout. A clean sheet is well within reach for Antonio Conte’s charges.

Prediction: Tottenham to win to nil @ 2.4

Premier League tips

Leicester City v Palace: Wilfried Zaha to score anytime @ 3.2
Fulham v Bournemouth: Draw or Bournemouth @ 1.98
Wolves v Forest: Draw at half-time @ 2.04
Tottenham Hotspur v Everton: Tottenham to win to nil @ 2.4