Today, I am going to break down the games and give you my 2 favorite bets for Sunday, August 31st.
Both of these sides are entering this game on the tails of 2-0 losses. Brighton lost 2-0 at Everton while City lost 2-0 at home against Tottenham. This game is interesting because, while City is the more talented team, they have struggled against Brighton in the past.
They have won only 2 of their last 5 matches against Brighton and didn’t secure a win against them last season, with Brighton taking one game. I think this could be a very close game with both teams desperate to get back on track.
West Ham has looked brutal so far this year, losing all 3 games in all competitions. In league play, they have been outscored 1-8, including a 3-0 loss to freshly promoted Sunderland.
Now, they take on Forest, who has dominated this matchup in past years. Forest has won the last 3 matches between these sides and outscored West Ham 7-1 in those games. Forest has looked solid to start the season, and I think they’ll keep it rolling this weekend.
This is certainly the marquee match of the weekend. Last year's champion and 2nd place team will go toe-to-toe in an early-season matchup that could set the tone for the rest of this season. Last season, both matchups ended in a 2-2 draw, and 4 of the last 5 matches between them have ended in draws.
Liverpool is going to need to lock down on defense if they want to have a chance to win this game. They have allowed 5 goals over their first 2 league games. I think there is a strong chance this game ends in a draw once again, but it should certainly be a great one.
Both of these teams are still seeking their first wins of the season. Villa has struggled offensively this season and has yet to score a goal in either of its first two league games. However, as they have struggled on offense, they have only allowed 1 goal over those two games.
Palace has been in a similar form with strong defense but a lack of offense. This game has been high scoring in the past, with the last 3 games hitting over 3.5 goals, but this may be a different story.
Manchester City to Brighton to Draw +280 - Brighton has given City problems in the past, and I think that will continue this weekend. Brighton thrives on counterattacking, and Man City loves to push and possess the ball. This may be a low-scoring draw.
West Ham at Nottingham Forest (-145) - West Ham has been pitiful this season. They are 0-3 in all competitions and have looked lost as a unit. Forest is a solid team with good attacking and solid defense, so I think they take this one pretty easily.