Premier League Saturday Tips: Back Forest to keep it tight at 3/1 and six more bets | OneFootball

English Premier League

Stephen is backing under 1.5 goals when Forest host West Ham

Ste Tudor highlights where the goals and three points will likely be found as he gets this Premier League betting weekend started...

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Newcastle v Arsenal (12:30) - Defining clash

Both clubs are at a crossroads in the season, the Gunners knowing they cannot afford to cede further ground to their title rivals, the Magpies winless in five. For the first time during Eddie Howe's tenure questions are being asked of him.

Key absences at the back for the visitors brings Alexander Isak into the equation, the Swede banging in 11 goals in his last 11 at home. It's relevant too that in both meetings last season Anthony Gordon was Newcastle's best performer.

For Mikel Arteta's men Bukayo Saka is an obvious player to watch, racking up a league high 27 chances, while Declan Rice was fantastic last week against Liverpool, dictating and spreading the play. Four out of five long balls delivered illustrates this.This potentially defining clash is not so much about individuals as timing. Eight of Arsenal's 10 goals conceded this season have come after the break while 66% of the Magpies goals have been converted in the second half.

Bournemouth v Man City (15:00) - Injury ravaged Blues

A serious injury sustained by Savinho in mid-week is a blow to a squad that is already ravaged by fitness problems. Pep Guardiola has just 12 first-team personnel to call upon this weekend, as well as a three-quarters fit Jack Grealish who may feature from the bench.

One player sure to start is Matheus Nunes who has come to the fore of late after being a peripheral figure for much of his time with the Citizens. Nunes has six goal involvements in five and furthermore has been City's stand-out performer several times over.

This is a very good time for Bournemouth to play the champions, winning their last two at home and securing a draw at Villa. Captain Lewis Cook deserves a special mention for his legwork and intelligent passing.

With City so short of options, and stuck in a two-games-a-week cycle, backing a home win at 9/2 is hardly the worst shout in the world.

Alternatively, there is the Cherries' discipline to consider. On two occasions this term they have received a hefty six cautions.

Ipswich v Leicester (15:00) - Opening win awaits

The Foxes' record of scoring with 50% of their shots on target is simply not sustainable. A far more pertinent point is they have accrued the fewest number of shots on target in the top-flight.

At the other end, Steve Cooper's stuttering Leicester have faced a league-high number of shots and again an anomaly sugarcoats their struggles, with keeper Mads Hermansen pulling off 4.6 saves per 90.

Reality has already bitten in the form of a comprehensive loss at home to Forest last week and it may happen again at Portman Road, with Ipswich desperate to attain their first victory post-promotion.

Dropping 10 points from winning positions hasn't exactly helped their cause but elsewhere the signs are positive with Leif Davis creating six big chances down the left and Jack Clarke ahead of him completing 2.8 successful dribbles per 90.Liam Delap, meanwhile, has fired 55.6% of his team's goals, all from an impressive 31% goal conversion rate.

Liverpool v Brighton (15:00) - Goal rush

To what extent does Liverpool's 3-2 triumph over the Seagulls in the League Cup this week hint at what's the come at Anfield? In truth, the plethora of changes made by both teams makes comparisons somewhat redundant.

Except perhaps when it comes to the scoreline, because this fixture has a habit of gifting us goals, with 3.75 per 90 across the last eight meetings. If that's the case again we can expect Mo Salah to be front and centre. The prolific forward boasts an excellent record against Brighton, with nine goals and six assists from 14 encounters.

The visitors too have goals in them, notching seven on their travels so far, and even factoring in Liverpool's formidable defensive output this term, BTTS should be considered.Fabian Hurzeler's men are over-performing on their xG in 2024/25 and there is no reason to suspect that can't extend to another week.

Nottingham Forest v West Ham (15:00) - Low-scoring affair

The Hammers will be buoyant after beating Manchester United last weekend but in truth they still looked disjointed. Some components work well, others not so much and presently the latter is more concerning than the former is encouraging.

They did, however, look much improved after Julen Lopetegui made a triple change at the break against United and from this we can expect Todibo, Soucek and Crysencio Summerville to all start, the winger a particularly intriguing proposition.It's on the other flank though where we should focus, with Wan-Bissaka too adventurous in his forays forward, leaving acres for Callum Hudson-Odoi to exploit. The former Chelsea star was superb last week, tormenting Leicester with six completed dribbles.Up front for Forest, Chris Wood has converted 63.6% of his team's league goals and has scored seven times previously at West Ham's expense and ordinarily he would be backed to do so again. But more so we must factor in the low-scoring nature of Forest's games this season.

Only two matches have produced more than two goals, neither of them at the City Ground.

Southampton v Everton (15:00) - A Saintly sinner

It's imperative for the Toffees that Dwight McNeil is passed fit, though currently that is up in the air. The 24-year-old has created seven big chances this term and undertaken more crosses than any other Premier League player.

After enduring a horrific start to their campaign Sean Dyche's men are now unbeaten in five and will fancy their chances on the south coast against a Saints side who are converting every 135 minutes. Over a quarter of their goals conceded have been down to individual errors. They are rock-bottom for these reasons and a hundred more.

At least this week has brought a much-needed win, albeit in the League Cup, and encouragement can be taken from restricting Manchester City to just a single goal last weekend.

Flynn Downes was booked in that game and expect him to be heavily involved here coming up against a physical Everton engine-room. The midfielder has committed 16 fouls this season, cautioned four times for his troubles.

Wolves v Crystal Palace (17:30) - One step forward...

A stoic defensive display against Manchester City - that ultimately came to nothing - and a late rally at the Amex suggests that Wolves are incrementally improving. We will see on Saturday to what extent that improvement has substance.

The visitors, however, really are on the up, their terrible start to 2024/25 giving way to a hard-fought victory over Spurs and a League Cup triumph in mid-week at Villa.

Eberechi Eze has been involved in 53 shots this term, a figure only surpassed by Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer, although Eze is only 25% likely to play due to injury. Jean-Philippe Mateta is a constant threat. It's worth noting though that his five goals across all comps have exclusively come at home.

For the hosts, Mario Lemina is a key presence, his 45 tackles and interceptions combined preventing winless Wolves from slumping further. What particularly impresses about his work-rate is that it's only resulted in two cautions.

If only the same could be said of Nelson Semedo, the right-back an avid collector of cards who is worth backing to pick up another here.

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