Sheffield United vs Manchester City
The Blades will host City at Bramall Lane on Saturday, October 31 at 11:30pm (all times AEDT).
Two clubs hoping to find the form of yesteryear after disappointing starts to their 2020/21 campaigns.
With a game in hand, City sit 13th on the table from their five matches after a number of disappointing fixtures in the Premier League. Pep Guardiola’s men managed to take just one point away to West Ham last weekend, adding to a draw with Leeds and a battering to Leicester.
While last season failed to tick a number of boxes, the Sky Blues would be hoping for something at least familiar to that of last year.
Luckily for the Mancunian’s, they come up against a side without a win and without confidence in Sheffield United.
The Blades stunned the competition in their return to the top flight in their last campaign, but since the league’s pandemic-related hiatus, they haven’t looked the same.
Chris Wilder’s men sit on just one point from their opening six matches, sandwiched between Fulham and Burnley on goal difference in 19th.
Both clubs have looked lethargic to-date, failing to show any spark or charisma in how they go about their football, but with three points up for grabs this week, one club must step up and look to turn their season around.
City managed to do the double against the Blades last year, with Pep and his men looking to add to their 3-0 battering of Marseille in France midweek.
Could this be the match that re-establishes Manchester City’s confidence or will Sheffield United collect their first victory of the season?
Tip: Manchester City win @ $1.28
Burnley vs Chelsea
The Blues will travel to Turf Moor to face Burnley on Sunday, November 1 at 2:00am.
In similar fashion to the aforementioned match, both clubs will be as desperate as each other for a victory despite following separate paths to start their season so far.
The Clarets find themselves in the relegation zone after stringing just one draw and no wins from their opening five matches, while Frank Lampard’s side sit mid-table after back-to-back draws in the league.
Sean Dyche’s ‘safe’ style of football looks to be becoming more and more risky as the year progresses, with their defensive unit lacking consistency and their use moving forward a shadow of its former self.
Their hopes for this weekend might just rely on Lampard’s selection for the weekend, with a number of incumbent names being tossed to the side in hope of finding a new spark. It’s worked between the sticks so far, with Edouard Mendy taking the gloves from Kepa and winning man of the match honours against Manchester United last week.
However, several outfield players are yet to hold their spot in the side, with Lampard potentially swinging the axe once again.
The Blues collected their points midweek against Krasnodar in the Champions League, winning 4-0 and adding a hop in their step as they look ahead.
Chelsea have beaten Burnley in four of their last five matches, with the Clarets’ boasting just one win over the Londoners since 2009.
Can Chelsea spring off 10th place or will Burnley climb out of the bottom three?
Tip: Chelsea win @ $1.50
Tottenham vs Brighton & Hove Albion
The Spurs take on the Seagulls in North London on Monday, November 2 at 6:15am.
Tottenham are looking the goods early into their campaign, sitting in the top third of the table and going undefeated in their last five fixtures.
The attacking duo of Son Heung-Min and Harry Kane is looking dynamite, with the former scoring eight goals for the year so far while the Englishman has as many assists and five goals himself.
Jose Mourinho’s side have scored in every match they’ve played this season across all competitions, with the defensive mastermind managing to run riot on the opposition’s back-lines this season - a combination near unstoppable.
In their way this weekend is Brighton, a side that has failed to hit the target and add points to their table this year, sitting 16th in the league with five points to their name.
The Seagulls rank in the top four in the league for shots, attempting a total of 80 so far, but have managed to net just the 10 to-date.
Their inaccuracies, added to the their struggles of failing to hold onto leads has cast a number of problems for Graham Potter’s men.
Consecutive draw will leave the Seagulls frustrated and hoping to snatch their first win in five matches as they travel to North London.
The Spurs will be coming off their Friday Europa League fixture against Antwerp and will hope to have fresh legs come Monday.
Can the Spurs continue their hot run or will the Seagulls look to spoil the party?
Tip: Tottenham to win @ $1.60
