Saturday’s Premier League Tips: Ward-Prowse can continue scoring run

Football expert Greg Lea previews Saturday’s Premier League fixtures, including Everton’s mid-afternoon trip to West Ham and Crystal Palace’s home encounter against high-flying Newcastle.

Bournemouth v Nottingham Forest

Kick-off: 3pm Saturday

Bournemouth were in the top half of the Premier League just three months ago, but defeat this weekend would see them drop into the bottom three. The Cherries have lost eight of their last nine matches and are the relegation favourites with our traders.

Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest are on the up after just one defeat in their last six games. However, only Bournemouth and Leicester City have conceded more goals away from home than Steve Cooper’s side.

Prediction: Both teams to score @ 1.92

Leicester City v Brighton & Hove Albion

Kick-off: 3pm Saturday

Leicester will be desperate to arrest their slide on Saturday. Four consecutive losses since World Cup 2022 have left the Foxes looking nervously over their shoulders once more, with just two points separating them from the drop zone.

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Brighton were superb in a 3-0 dismantling of Liverpool last time out. Only the top three have collected more points on the road, so the Seagulls will be in a confident mood at the King Power Stadium.

Prediction: Brighton to win @ 2.14

Southampton v Aston Villa

Kick-off: 3pm Saturday

Three wins on the bounce have lifted the mood at St Mary’s considerably. Only one of those triumphs came in the Premier League, but a 2-1 win at Everton last weekend has renewed hopes that Nathan Jones’ side can climb out of trouble.

James Ward-Prowse, who has been playing in a more advanced midfield role, scored twice at Goodison Park. With five goals in his last six appearances, he looks like a good pick to score again at a tasty price.

Prediction: James Ward-Prowse anytime goalscorer @ 3.15

West Ham United v Everton

Kick-off: 3pm Saturday

The losing manager at the London Stadium may well be sacked in the upcoming days as both David Moyes and Frank Lampard are currently under huge pressure. In an unpredictable turn of events, West Ham and Everton find themselves in the bottom three ahead of this crunch clash on Saturday.

Goals could be few and far between as both teams are struggling for confidence and neither is exactly free-scoring at the best of times. I’m anticipating a tight, nervy and cagey encounter.

Prediction: Under 2.5 goals @ 1.81

Crystal Palace v Newcastle United

Kick-off: 5.30pm Saturday

A magnificent Michael Olise free-kick earned Crystal Palace a point against Manchester United in dramatic fashion on Wednesday as the hosts equalised in second-half stoppage time. However, Palace are still struggling to create chances from open play – indeed, they have the highest percentage of goals from set-pieces this season.

Their task doesn’t get easier this weekend as they face Newcastle, who have kept a clean sheet in each of their last five Premier League games and will fancy their chances of making it six on the bounce in south London.

Prediction: Newcastle to keep a clean sheet @ 2.2

Saturday’s Premier League Tips

Bournemouth v Forest: Both teams to score @ 1.92
Leicester v Brighton: Brighton to win @ 2.14
Southampton v Villa: James Ward-Prowse anytime goalscorer @ 3.15
West Ham v Everton: Under 2.5 goals @ 1.81
Palace v Newcastle: Newcastle to keep a clean sheet @ 2.2