We’re only two games into the 2022/23 Premier League season and already we have had some incredible drama! Following on from an explosive opening weekend, we saw Manchester United destroyed by Thomas Frank’s Brentford in a 4-0 scoreline that flattered the Red Devils, Chelsea and Tottenham play out a Premier League classic as Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte traded blows over a handshake, before Liverpool’s new darling Darwun Nunez received his marching orders on his Anfield debut for a headbutt on Crystal Palace’s Joachim Andersen.
We do it all again this weekend with the greatest rivalry in English sport, Manchester United vs Liverpool topping the bill on Monday night. Here’s an in-depth look at the key matches if you need some tips and team news and also the best odds that we’re offering at Bet9ja for matchday three of the Premier League:
Tottenham vs Wolves, Saturday 20th August 12:30pm:
Tottenham have made a very impressive start to their first full season under Antonio Conte backing up their opening day hammering of Southampton with a battling point at Stamford Bridge in one of the all-time great Premier League games.
Conte may wish to avoid the headlines this weekend though and hope his players can deliver three points rather than one at home to Wolves. Harry Kane got off the mark for the season last weekend with the injury-time equaliser against Chelsea and he will be hoping to add to his tally in this weekend’s early kick-off with the striker’s old curse of not scoring Premier League goals in August truly banished.
Spurs will enter the game as firm favourites with Bruno Lage’s Wolves side looking blunt in attack and winless so far this season after an opening day 2-1 defeat at Leeds United and last Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Fulham, a point only rescued by Jose Sa’s late penalty save from Mitrovic and new signing Nathan Collins having a spectacular game in defence.
Could we see an upset in North London to kick-off the weekend? Its hard to see where the Wolves goals will come from and Conte’s men look far less “Spursy” than ever before so a Tottenham win looks the option in this one.
Bet9ja odds (at time of writing): Tottenham win: 1.38, Draw: 5.00, Wolves win: 8.00
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Bournemouth vs Arsenal, Saturday 20th August 17:30:
Arsenal look like the real deal this season backing up an impressive opening day win away at Crystal Palace with a fantastic 4-2 victory at home to Leicester City last Saturday. Gabriel Jesus looked worth every single penny the Gunners spent on bringing the Brazilian striker to the Emirates against the Foxes with two stunning goals and two assists as he was unlucky not to seal a hat-trick on his home debut.
This Saturday evening trip to the south coast of England to face newly-promoted Bournemouth should not be baulked at by Arsenal fans though as the Cherries have already notched up a home win on the opening weekend against Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa. Scott Parker’s men were humbled away at Man City in a 4-0 trashing last weekend but lets be honest, no-one expected anything different with perhaps the biggest talking point from that game (other than Erling Haaland drawing a blank) was Parker’s insistence on wearing a cardigan in 35 degree heat!
Arsenal look like they are strong favourites for this one and you would imagine that their confidence will be sky high at the Vitality Stadium but you never know what can happen in the Premier League. We’ve priced the Gunners at 1.43 and those who like a Correct Score bet, a 2-0 win for Arsenal at 7.00 catches the eye.
Bet9ja odds (at time of writing): Bournemouth win: 7.30, Draw: 4.80, Arsenal win: 1.43
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Newcastle United vs Manchester City, Sunday 21st August 16:30:
The Champions of England have started as expected. A victory at the London Stadium against West Ham on the opening weekend with Erling Haaland scoring twice sent the message out to the rest of the league that Pep’s men looked hungrier than ever before with a striker who appears to have one focus in life – to score goals.
Last weekend was another routine victory for Guardiola’s City with a 4-0 smashing of minnows Bournemouth at the Etihad totally expected although all of those who triple-captained Haaland in Fantasy Premier League were left shocked as the Norwegian only managed eight touches in the entire game (although he did contribute an assist for the first goal of the game).
Truthfully, had it not been for some wasteful play from Phil Foden and Jack Grealish plus some heroics from Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers, it could have been double figures for the Citizens but they face a stern test away in El Cashico against Newcastle United on Sunday!
Eddie Howe’s side have started solidly with a 2-0 victory against Nottingham Forest and an impressive defensive display away at Brighton last week to earn a point on the road. City are everything Newcastle wish to be and someday soon this could be a title decider but for now, a Man City win looks like the bet!
Bet9ja odds (at time of writing): Newcastle win: 8.10, Draw: 5.05, Man City win: 1.38
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Manchester United vs Liverpool, Monday 22nd August 20:00:
The single biggest game in English football, possibly the biggest game in world football (although we can hear Barcelona and Real Madrid fans screaming at their phones from here!) is back on Monday night as 20-times English title winners Manchester United host 19-times English title winners Liverpool at Old Trafford.
It goes without saying that neither side has had the ideal start to this campaign but this match offers both the perfect opportunity to kick start their season.
Very clearly it has been the more crisis-inducing start for Manchester United with two of the worst performances in the history of the club over the last 2 weekends against Brighton in a 2-1 loss and last weekend’s 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Brentford. Questions have been asked about the Glazer family’s ownership of the club, is Erik Ten Hag the man for the job and what will happen with the greatest player to ever play at the Red Devils, Cristiano Ronaldo?
A home loss to their biggest rivals, and especially a heavy one with Jurgen Klopp’s men scoring nine goals in their last two visits to the Theatre of Dreams, would cause even more concern in Manchester.
Liverpool on the other hand have drawn their opening two games which for a side aiming to win the Premier League crown back from Manchester City this season represents a very poor start. In their opening day draw at Craven Cottage, the Reds were lucky to escape with a point as Klopp admitted the players did not have the right attitude from the start of that game.
Playing at Anfield for the first time this season last Monday against Crystal Palace however, Liverpool looked back to the levels expected of them but could only earn a point thanks to Luis Diaz netting an incredible equaliser after £64 million pound man Darwin Nunez was sent off for inexplicably head-butting Joachim Andersen!
The Kopites have something of an injury crisis with Thiago Alcantara, Joel Matip, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ibrahima Konate, Diogo Jota, Caoimhin Kelleher, Curtis Jones, Naby Keita and Roberto Firmino all struggling for fitness to add to Nunez missing the next three games through suspension sets up an absolutely fascinating tie on Monday Night Football!
Man United’s odds to win at time of writing are 5.05 and that could be something your heart could point you to over your head!
Bet9ja odds (at time of writing): Man United win: 5.05, Draw: 4.30, Liverpool win: 1.64
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