LIVERPOOL v EVERTON
The first installment of this season’s Merseyside Derby takes place at Anfield on Saturday as Liverpool prepare to host eternal city rivals Everton.
Heading into the international break, both teams endured contrasting fortunes as the hosts were held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton, while the Toffees returned to winning ways with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Bournemouth.
As the league resumes after the international break, Jurgen Klopp’s charges are in fourth place and find themselves 12 spots and 11 points better off than the Merseyside Blues on the fledgling table, despite only taking one point from the last six on offer.
The H2H between both sides in their last five meetings has seen the hosts win three of those games, losing once and drawing once in the Merseyside derby.
PREDICTION: Yet to taste defeat at home this term, Liverpool will hope to extend their winning run on home turf, this time against City rivals Everton, a side who last defeated their counterparts at Anfield in 2021. The hosts are the heavy favorites to claim victory and we expect nothing short of a win, so we predict a straight win for the home side (1) at 1.38 odds @Bestbet360.
MAINZ v BAYERN MUNICH
The Bundesliga resumes after the international break as Bayern aim to reclaim top spot when they travel to MEWA Arena to face Mainz on Saturday.
Heading into the break, the hosts ended a 3-game losing run following a 2-2 draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach while the Bavarian Giants went top briefly with a 3-0 win over Freiburg.
The hosts, unfortunately are among the three teams yet to register a win in the campaign so far and are languishing in the drop zone heading into this daunting clash against the reigning champions, who currently enjoy a five game unbeaten run in the league.
The H2H between both sides in their previous five clashes in all competitions has seen the host win two of those games and lose three to their visitors.
PREDICTION: Interestingly enough, the last two league clashes between these sides at the MEWA Arena saw the hosts walk away with 3-1 wins in both encounters but given how pitiful Mainz’s form has been since the start of the campaign, it seems far fetched to expect a shock upset. We firmly believe this game is perfectly poised for a Bayern victory, hence we predict a combo option of a straight win and over 2.5 goals scored (2 & ov. 2.5G) at 1.40 odds @Bestbet360.
SHEFFIELD UTD v MANCHESTER UNITED
Manchester United will aim to claim back-to-back victories for the first time this season when the side make the trip to Bramall Lane on Saturday night to take on Sheffield United.
The Blades have endured a torrid return to the EPL, suffering their seventh defeat of the campaign in the 3-1 defeat to Fulham heading into the international break, while the hosts, in remarkable fashion, scored two very late goals to complete a comeback in the 2-1 victory over Brentford.
Sheffield United, led by former Reds Paul Heckingbottom, are yet to muster a single win in the campaign after eight league games (1D,7L), a “damning” stat to compound the woes of the beleaguered side plagued with a myriad of concerns.
The H2H between both sides in their last five meetings in all competitions has seen the hosts win once, play a draw and lose three times to the visitors.
PREDICTION: Manchester United’s performance against Brentford was a far cry from a vintage United performance and buttressed the team’s struggles this term with poor player performances and a host of injury concerns, but this game against a struggling Sheffield could yet provide the Red Devils with a second consecutive win and we feel that’s gonna be the likely outcome. With that said, we predict a straight win for the visitors (2) at 1.46 odds @Bestbet360.
NICE v MARSEILLE
High flying Nice, keen to maintain momentum return to Ligue 1 action this weekend at the Allianz Riviera to take on Marseille on Saturday night.
Heading into the international break, the hosts returned to winning ways with a 1-0 win over Metz, moving to second on the table, while Marseille also returned to victory with a 3-0 win over 10-man Le Havre.
Nice, heading into this clash remain undefeated in eight league games (4W, 4D). The side led by Francesco Farioli, ahead of this huge clash against Marseille are a point behind leaders, Monaco and could go top if this result (and other results) go their way.
The H2H between both sides in their previous five meetings in all competitions has seen the results be evenly split with both sides claiming two wins apiece and playing out a draw in the last game.
PREDICTION: Four spots and four points apart, Nice are the more favourable side in this clash against a Marseille side who also have their sites set on European qualification. Both sides seem evenly matched on paper but with the hosts being the more in-form side of the pair, we feel the result might go their way, so we predict a combo option of double chance and over 1.5 goals scored in favour of the hosts (1X & ov. 1.5G) at 1.77 odds @Bestbet360.
TOTTENHAM v FULHAM
EPL Gameweek 9 will feature a London derby as league leaders (at time of writing) Tottenham Hotspur will face city rivals Fulham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Monday night.
The Lilywhites headed into the international break top of the log with a hard fought 1-0 win, albeit with a man down, away at Luton while the Cottagers put away the woes of the London derby defeat to Chelsea with a comfortable 3-1 win over Sheffield.
Spurs’ manger Ange Postecoglu has exceeded expectations so far given the way his side has churned out results and better still, the team remain one of the two unbeaten teams in the campaign so far (6W,2D) while Marco Silva’s team’s struggles has seen them find themselves mid table heading into this clash.
The H2H between both sides in their last five meetings in all competitions has seen the hosts win once, play a draw and lose three times against the visitors. Fulham ousted Spurs earlier on in the EFL Round 2 via a penalty shootout.
PREDICTION: Noteworthy for Spurs is how they’ve come out relatively unscathed against formidable opponents such as Manchester United and Liverpool this term and given Fulham’s struggles in Capital derbies and form in general, we see this game going no other way than a win for the hosts (1), that option will go for 1.54 odds @Bestbet360.
This week’s entire selection leaves you with a sempe ACCA combo of 7.55 odds thanks to your preferred bookmakers Bestbet360.
Remember to always bet responsibly and may the odds surely be in your favor this weekend. Kpoko!!!!!