25/26 Match Week 5 Preview

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• What 2 Look 4 👀 

• Headlines 📌

• Hot Topic 🔥🔥🔥- Carabao Cup

• Off Island 🏝️ - Champions League

• Best Bets 💰

What 2 Look 4 👀- Match Week 4

(reminder - like driving on the other side of the road, in the PL, HOME teams are listed first)

• 7.3 Week. 7 Saturday, 3 Sunday.

CAUTION - 6 teams played mid-week in the Champions League, 4 at home and 2 on the road. 4 teams played in the EFL Cup. 10 teams did not play mid week.

Match of the Week 👑

• Arsenal -107 v City +276 SUN 1030a - Title contenders clash at the Emirates. The Gunners are unbeaten in their last 5 against City with 2W 3D. City have already lost 2 of 4 and getting a win at Gunners would turn the ship around. Arsenal, on the other hand, have only lost at Liverpool and need to take all three points at home if they want to keep up with leaders Liverpool. Should be a great one as both sides will try to play similar ball control styles.

Derby’s 🐎🐎🐎

• Liverpool -223 v Everton +556 SAT 630 cst - MERSEYSIDE DERBY - The Reds are 5-0 on the season, 4-0 on the PL, with all winning goals coming after 86’. Yet, it feels like they should be 5-0. They have looked great at times but seems like they have yet to hit their stride. This is a much-improved Everton side this season under David Moyes and Europe is definitely in play. Liverpool have won the last 4 home matches against the Toffee’s. This Derby has more Red Cards than any other Derby in history, 25.

• Fulham +101 v Brentford +266 SAT 9a - WEST LONDON DERBY - Back-to-back Derby’s for Bee’s while FFC gets back-to-back home matches at Craven Cottage. Both sides are trying to establish their identity this season, maybe looking better than their records indicate. In 68 matches each side has won 25 with 18 draws.

• West Ham +191 v Palace +140 SAT 9a - LONDON DERBY (East v South) - Aside from a 10-minute stretch the Hammers have looked like shite allowing a league leading 11 goals so far this season. Palace on the other had do what they do, play low scoring tight matches and sit somewhere between 8-14 in the table. Palace currently sit 9th, scoring 4 goals and allowing 1 and are one of 3 sides yet to lose this season.

Coin Flips🪙🪙🪙🪙

• Man United +171 v Chelsea +142 SAT 1130a - Historically, this looks like a great matchup. But United are not holding up their end of the bargain. So far, it feels like both sides are under performing. The Blues have outscored their opponents 9-3 yet are just 2W and 2D and while they have not lost it feels like they should have more points. United have lost just 1 time to Chelsea at Old Trafford since 2013.

• Wolves +159 v Leeds +179 SAT 9a - Big early matchup where both sides want to distance themselves from the relegation zone. These sides have combined for 3 goals total so far this season, 2 by Wolves. Leeds have beaten Wolves the last two trips to Molineaux.

• BHA +124 v Tottenham +198 SAT 9a - These have been high scoring matches recently averaging over 3 goals per match, with BHA winning 3 of the last 5. Spurs have also lost 2 of their last 3 at BHA. Spurs played mid-week at home while the Seagulls had the week to rest and prepare. Will be a touch task for Spurs on the road.

• Bournemouth +158 v Newcastle +166 SUN 8a - It’s a long trip South for the Magpies after a tough loss at home to Barcelona mid-week Thursday. While the Cherries have won just 4 of 15 matches against Newcastle, they have not lost in their last 5, 2W 3D. And at home they are 3W 4D 1L in their last 8.

Home Dogs 🌭🌭

• Burnley +230 v Forest +120 SAT 9a - Ange. Last season in the PL he struggled to get his side ready to play each week. He’s only been in the job for a week but already lost a PL match and a 2-goal load in the EFL. How will the Tree’s respond heading on the road to a hostile environment at Turf Moor. The Clarets lead the all-time record with 58W 45L in 132 matches. Will be interesting to see how Forest responds.

• Sunderland +254 v Villa +110 SUN 8a - This feels like a big match for Villa as they head North against a promoted side. Can Villa score a goal. These sides have played 172 times with Villa 72W 65L. Over the last 10 Sunderland have won just 1, with 4 draws. So far, the Black Cats have been solid at home, and they come in rested. Both sides want all three points.

Headlines 📌

• Europe Impact. 6 teams played in the Champions League this week - see Off Island 🏝️🏝️for more.

  • Spurs, Liverpool, City and Newcastle played at home.

  • Arsenal and Chelsea played on the road.

  • Depth can be an issue when these mid-week games start up. Spurs and Newcastle could have bigger issues handling the workload than the other 4 teams. Also keep in mind, many of these players played during international break and all of these clubs are going to have to manage workload.

• EFL Cup Impact. 4 teams played in the Carabao Cup this week - see Hot Topic 🔥🔥 for more.

  • Brentford, Villa, Palace and Forest played at home.

  • Depth is an issue here as well.

Hot Topic 🔥🔥🔥

Carabao Cup.

The Champions League wasn’t the only mid-week league to play matches. The EFL Cup had matches, and some pretty big upsets.

• Big Tree Fall Hard, Mate. Forest went to Championship (Level 2) side Swansea City, led 2-0 at 68’ and led 2-1 at 90+3’, AND LOST 2-3.

• Brentford beat Aston Villa 1-1 (4-2) on Penalties.

• Palace beat Millwall 1-1 (4-2) on Penalties.

• Grimsby Town Strikes Again - Although a PL team was not played in this one Grimsby Town, the League 2 (Level 4) side, who upset Manchester United 2-2 (12-11) on Penalties in the match before this one took down Championship Side Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 in Sheffield for another upset.

• Matches continue next week where 11 PL teams will be in play.

Off Island 🏝️

Champions League Results 1 of 8 in Group.

• The NEW CL structure is in year 2 (UEFA).

• What it all means:

  • The OLD CL format had 8 groups of 4 teams, with a home and away match against the other 3 teams in your draw, 6 matches. Like the World Cup.

  • In the NEW CL format teams will play 8 matches, against 8 different teams, half home and half away.

  • The top 8 sides, determined by points, will be automatically put in into the round of 16. The next 8 will come from a two-legged playoff between teams 9-24.

  • Teams 25-36 will be eliminated.

  • Who’s expected to challenge for the title:

EPL in the CL

Highlights

• Liverpool Strikes Back - They did it again. Liverpool are 4-0-0 on the EPL scoring all their game winning goals after 86’.

  • In their match against Villarreal at Anfield Liverpool led 2-0 only to give that lead away, then Virgil Van Dijk scored at 90+3’ to give Liverpool another late goal winner. That’s 5-0 on the season.

• The 6 PL CL matches are summarized below.

Current CL Table

CS will not post all 36 team schedules, but you can check them out here.

Best Bets 💰

Season - Up $202

• MW1 ($14)

• MW2 $183

• MW3 ($10)

• MW4 $43

CleanSheet Season Gains/Losses: Starting Balance $1000. Current Standing $1,202.

Everton to Win or Draw at Liverpool +162. $10

Liverpool has been winning late so expect this Derby to be a close one, instead of taking the longer odds of Everton winning or there being a draw, taking the lower odds but both those outcomes.

Burnley to win v Forest +216. $20

Not sure Ange will have Forest firing on all cylinders this quickly after the switch in managers and feel Burnley’s approach and Turf Moor will be the difference for Scott Parker’s team.

BHA to Win v Tottenham +123. $30

BHA is good, they are at home and Spurs are coming off a Champions League match mid-week.

Wolves v Leeds Over 2.5 goals +117. $20

These sides have 3 total goals on the season - 8 games. How could they ever get 3 in this one. Exactly!

Bournemouth to Win v Newcastle +158. $30

Still getting the Cherries at a discount, and at home, so taking this hot side to win against a club struggling to score without Isak.

Arsenal to win with a Clean Sheet v City +225. $20

Haaland has 5 goals in 4 games, city has 8 goals overall, 2 goals per match. How can anyone consider Gunners can keep them from scoring. Exactly!