We present to you a two-match preview of the English Premier League round 3, with Tottenham Hotspur going up aganst Burnley at Wembley Stadium and Liverpool facing Arsenal at Anfield. Will the home sides prevail or will the visiting clubs pose a challenge?
TOTTENHAM vs. BURNLEY FC
3-Way: 1: Totteham Hotspur -303; X: +570 Draw; 2: Burnley +1425
Spread -1.5: Tottenham Hotspur -125; Burnley +124
Total +2.5: Over -145; Under +140
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Wembley Stadium might be the temporary home of Tottenham but the club would sure like to clinch its first English Premier League win this season in that venue, as it lost its first fixture there, which was against Chelsea, 1:2, after overcoming Newcastle United, 2:0, at St James’ Park. The Spurs are one of six clubs with four points, currently in the middle of the pack at tenth.
Dele Alli and Ben Davies currently pace the club with one league goal each, with Christian Eriksen providing the assists for those goals. Eriksen and Harry Kane have combined for 21 shots on goal in the Premier League, converting none; Alli and Davies only have a total of 7 attempts between them. Toby Alderweireld leads his club in clearances, while Hugo Lloris has registered two saves and an error leading to a goal.
BURNLEY FC
Having successfully steered Burnley away from relegation last season, manager Sean Dyche will be expected to repeat that feat this term and perhaps make some improvements. It goes without saying that this will be a difficult task. The club began the Premier League season with a surprising 3:2 result on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge before losing 0:1 to West Bromwich. It once again plays on the road, hoping to continue this good away run while bettering its place on the table.
Tom Heaton, who already has four saves in the league, is one of the best keepers in the league. Robbie Brady, who arrived from Norwich City in January, showed glimpses of his quality in 14 league appearances last season. The former Manchester United starlet who hails from Ireland was scoring in the preseason. Although he has not found the back of the net in six shots so far, he can push on to the next level this year to become the main cog for Dyche’s side. Those who have made damage to date are Sam Vokes and Stephen Ward, who have teamed up to score all of Burnley’s three Premiership goals.
The Clarets have lost one of their key men in Michael Keane, who joined Everton during the summer. Nevertheless, additions such as Chris Woods, Jon Walters, and Jack Cork bring with them much-needed experience in crucial areas on the pitch.
Before meeting Tottenham, Burnley FC faced Blackburn in the second round of the EFL Cup at Ewood Park.
TOTTENHAM vs. BURNLEY FC – Match Prediction
In their all-time head-to-head top flight match up, Tottenham has won four times, three of them at home; Burnley once. The latter won its last two Premier League away matches played in London and will make its first appearance at Wembley since the 2008-09 Championship playoff final.
The Spurs might be playing in a home pitch that is not familiar to them, but their opponents are looking for their identity after it got ransacked of some of its stars in the ongoing transfer window. Regardless, I like the odds on the over 2.5 goals and I think that is the safes pick to make.
MY PICK: Over 2.5 goals (-145)
LIVERPOOL vs. ARSENAL
3-Way: 1: Liverpool +124; X: +280 Draw; 2: Arsenal +250
Spread -0.5:Liverpool +120; Arsenal -122
Total +3: Over -109; Under +102
LIVERPOOL FC
Liverpool was busy last week, playing three matches in eight days. The Reds opened their English Premier League campaign with a 3:3 draw against Watford, followed by a midweek fixture against Hoffenheim for the first leg of the UEFA Champions League first playoff round that they won, 2:1.
They then proceed to play in front of their home crowd for the first time in the new Premier League season, beating Crystal Palace, 1:0. They would be repeating that pattern this week as they face the Bundesliga squad for the second leg at Anfield before they encounter the Gunners on Sunday, which means they would not be leaving Liverpool despite their packed schedule. Manager Jürgen Klopp would not mind this business though as he has yet to win a trophy with this club since taking over from Brendan Rodgers in late 2015.
Sadio Mané currently paces the squad in league goals with two. Mohamed Salah, an EPL returnee who once wore Chelsea’s colors and a transferee from Roma, and Roberto Firmino have one each as well. The addition of Salah not only adds an extra dimension to the Reds’ attack, it also takes the pressure off Mané and Philippe Coutinho to haul the team over the line since when one or both were out, Liverpool struggled badly. The Egyptian national scored 34 goals for Roma in the last two seasons. Additionally, Firmino has scored three goals in four Premiership matches against Arsenal.
With the Liverpool forward line among the best in the division, there is lots of optimism around the club as it tries to improve from its fourth place finish last season. The top three is well within Klopp’s wards’ capabilities, but he will need some luck on the injury front in order to achieve such aspirations.
ARSENAL
Arsenal kicked off the summer by re-signing Arsène Wenger for two more years, thus continuing his reign as the longest-tenured active Premier League manager. It then went on to beat Chelsea via penalties to copy the FA Community Shield, the Gunners’ second trophy of the year after copping the FA Cup in May, before debuting in the league with a 4:3 conquest of Leicester City. However, it got tripped by Stoke City last time out, 0:1. Four different Gunners have scored league goals with Granit Xhaka showing to be an able set-up man from the center of the pitch.
Looking past the disappointment of finishing fifth and missing the Champions League altogether, Wenger and the club went to work by signing Alexandre Lacazette and Sead Kolašinac. With 37 goals in all competitions last season, Lacazette was one of the top scorers in European football and almost single-handedly hauling Olympique Lyonnais into a fourth place Ligue 1 finish. He brings a different dimension to the Gunners’ attack and has looked impressive in preseason. Kolašinac, meanwhile, comes with a big reputation and a big frame to carry that weight of expectation.
LIVERPOOL FC vs. ARSENAL – Match Prediction
Liverpool won both of its league matches against Arsenal last season. If the Reds win, this would be the first time since May 1998 that they would win three in a row. They also have kept a clean sheet in their last three English Premier League matches at Anfield. The last occasion they went four straight was back in September 2013.
Interestingly, fixtures between these two have produced 17 goals during stoppage time of the second half, more than any other matchup. Do we fancy a late draw, perhaps? Still, I am picking the home team to take a narrow, low scoring win!
MY PICK: Liverpool (+120)
Additional Pick: Under 3 goals (+102)
