The international break is over and the Premier League returns this weekend with some monster matches.
The action kicks back off with a cracking Merseyside derby at lunchtime – live on talkSPORT – while there is a huge all-London showdown on Sunday.
Here are our predictions and best bets for three of this weekend’s biggest games…
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Everton vs Liverpool – Saturday, 12.30pm (LIVE ON TALKSPORT)
It’s now been five years since Jurgen Klopp became Liverpool manager and he will look to mark his Reds anniversary by putting table-topping neighbours Everton in their place at Goodison.
Having recruited well in the summer, the Toffees have started the season brilliantly, winning all four matches to sit top – leading to talk of a title challenge under Carlo Ancelotti.
Liverpool, meanwhile, come into this on the back of a humiliating 7-2 defeat at Aston Villa.
But while Everton are the form team, their record against their rivals makes for grim reading. They are winless in 19 Premier League meetings with Liverpool (D11, L8), since a 2-0 win in October 2010, while Klopp has faced Everton without defeat more often than any other side in all competitions in his tenure with the Reds (P11, W7, D4).
You have to go back five years to the last time Liverpool lost back-to-back games in the Premier League and with Thiago Alcantara, Sadio Mane and Jordan Henderson all returning, we reckon the champions will kick back into gear at Goodison – they are 20/23 to take all three points.
The last three Premier League meetings between the two sides has ended goalless but we’re expecting goals this time around, given the two teams have already plundered 23 between them in four games this season. A Liverpool win and over 2.5 goals is 6/4 – that’s tempting.
Mo Salah has scored the most goals of any player during Klopp’s reign – 99 – and will be looking to make it a century at Everton. He’s 16/5 to score anytime.
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While Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been on fire for Everton and will be buzzing after scoring his first goal for England, Salah comes into this fresh, having not played during the international break.
He scored both Liverpool’s goals in their humbling against Villa and will be hungry for more as he targets the Golden Boot.
We reckon he will be the difference between the teams this weekend – you can get 17/10 for a Liverpool win and Salah to score anytime.
talkSPORT’s best bets
- Liverpool to win and both teams to score – 21/10 (BET HERE)
- Mo Salah to score his 100th goal for Liverpool – 16/5 (BET HERE)
Man City vs Arsenal – Saturday, 5.30pm (LIVE ON TALKSPORT)
Two former champions hoping to get back to the summit of England’s top flight clash in Saturday’s evening kick-off – and history suggests it will be a tough evening for Mikel Arteta’s side.
Since a 2-1 loss in December 2015, City are unbeaten in their last nine Premier League meetings with Arsenal, winning seven and drawing two.
However, the Gunners look revitalised under Arteta and have won eight of their previous 12 Premier League games. The Arsenal boss also has the added advantage of knowing City’s strengths and weaknesses all too well, having served as assistant to Pep Guardiola prior to taking on the Emirates job.
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While City have had Arsenal’s number in recent years, they still look less than convincing at the back this season – new arrival Ruben Dias will need time to bed in – and they have won only one of their opening three matches while they’ve conceded more than they have scored.
They may also be without key man Kevin De Bruyne on Saturday after he picked up an injury on international duty, while Sergio Aguero may still not be fully fit to start, and there are fitness concerns over Raheem Sterling too.
Arsenal would be delighted to see De Bruyne in particular miss out as he loves playing against them – he has been involved in seven goals in his last eight Premier League starts against the north Londoners.
Given City’s problems and De Bruyne potentially missing out, the 6/1 on offer for an Arsenal victory at the Etihad is hugely tempting. The draw at 19/5 will also have its backers but we’re going all in and backing the Gunners for glory.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who scored both goals in Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Man City in the FA Cup semi-final last season, will fancy his chances of finding the net and is 11/2 to open the scoring while it is 10/1 he gets another double.
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We’re certainly expecting goals – 32 have been scored in City’s last eight home matches – so it should be a cracker whatever happens.
talkSPORT’s best bets
Tottenham vs West Ham – Sunday, 2.30pm
Sunday sees two of the Premier League’s form sides meet in a big London derby.
If the match didn’t already have top billing, the thought of Gareth Bale making his second debut for Spurs has got the N17 faithful – and plenty of neutrals – excited.
Seven years after he left for Real Madrid, the Welshman is back and he’s looking in fine fettle in training.
One of his most iconic moments in a Tottenham shirt came when he struck a 90th minute winner to hand them a 3-2 win over West Ham at Upton Park back in 2013.
With Bale still returning to full fitness, any debut may be from the bench – and you can get him at 4/1 to score the last goal.
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Tottenham and West Ham have both been in the goals this season too, getting 12 and eight, respectively. That’s 2.5 per game in their combined eight matches.
You can get odds of 4/7 on the match at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium having more than 2.5 goals on Sunday.
It’s not all about Spurs, the Hammers have won their last two matches 7-0 on aggregate.
Michail Antonio has been in fine form and regularly troubles the Lillywhites having scored four goals in his seven Premier League games against them. He’s also got 10 in his last 11 for the Hammers and is priced at 15/8 to score anytime.
Still, we’re backing Spurs to come out on top – they will be buoyed by their stunning 6-1 win over Manchester United, and Bale’s involvement, and were 2-0 winners in this fixture back in June.
talkSPORT’s best bets
All odds from Ladbrokes and correct at time of publication
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