ALEX CROOK PREVIEW: Premier League Weekend

Star Sports ambassador ALEX CROOK casts his eye over the weekend Premier League fixtures…

---

BRENTFORD v MANCHESTER UNITED
Saturday, 12.30pm

⭐️ STARSPORTS.BET MARKETS ⭐️ 

Ruben Amorim has the chance to win back-to-back Premier League games for the first time when his United side travel to Brentford on Saturday lunch-time.

That would be a relief to everyone associated with the Red Devils, not least the supporter who has pledged not to cut his hair until they win five games in a row!

This is a fixture that has produced some hair-raising moments for the hosts, who have lost on two of their last three visits to the Gtech Stadium, drawing the other.

Who can forget Brentford’s amazing 4-0 demolition of United in Erik ten Hag’s second game in charge?

Among the Bees scorers on that fateful August evening for the men from Old Trafford was a certain Bryan Mbeumo.

The Cameroonian now finds himself in opposition colours and has made an excellent start to his United career following a protracted summer move from west London.

Brentford have conceded 10 goals in their five Premier League games so far while only Burnley have faced more shots so I fancy Mbeumo to mark his return with a goal.

The Bees have lost three of their five league games under rookie manager Keith Andrews, but were seconds away from beating Chelsea in their last home match so even without Mbeumo they still pose a threat in attack.

My build-a-bet is United to win, both teams to score and Mbeumo to score first which returns 18/1 with starsports.bet.

---

CHELSEA v BRIGHTON
Saturday, 3pm

⭐️ STARSPORTS.BET MARKETS ⭐️ 

This is a fixture that now comes with an extra bit of rivalry attached given the number of players and managers Chelsea have poached from Brighton in recent years.

Brighton owner Tony Bloom could have funded the building of the Amex Stadium several times over with the money he has prised out of opposite number Todd Boehly.

Joao Pedro was the most recent player to swap the Amex for Stamford Bridge and will be out to remind his former employers what they are missing, having failed to find the net in his last five games for club and country.

Chelsea’s hopes of victory at Old Trafford last weekend went out of the window after goalkeeper Robert Sanchez – yet another ex-Seagull – was sent off after only four minutes.

That was the Blues’ first league defeat of the season but both Fulham and Crystal Palace have caused them problems at Stamford Bridge.

Brighton have made an underwhelming start to the season, taking just five points from their first five games and were second best for much of last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham despite taking a 2-0 lead.

Their 2-1 win at home to Manchester City is a warning to Chelsea of what they are capable off when everything clicks for Fabian Hurzeler’s side and they come into the game on the back of an emphatic 6-0 EFL Cup win at Barnsley.

Yankuba Minteh has been the Seagulls’ star performer so far and as I am expecting a very open game I like the look of both Pedro and Minteh to score at around 9/1 with starsports.bet.

---

NEWCASTLE v ARSENAL
Sunday, 4.30pm

⭐️ STARSPORTS.BET MARKETS ⭐️ 

I am making the long trek to the north east on Sunday to see Newcastle and Arsenal battle it out in the big game of the weekend.

The Gunners needed a stoppage-time equaliser from Gabriel Martinelli to salvage a 1-1 draw at home to Manchester City last weekend, raising more question marks over Mikel Arteta’s cautiousness in certain types of games.

Given Arsenal’s recent record at St James Park, I am expecting Arteta to adopt a pragmatic approach once again here.

Newcastle have won their last three home games against the Gunners in all competitions without conceding a single goal and Eddie Howe’s men did a real job on them in last season’s EFL Cup semi-final.

The difference this time around is that the Magpies do not have Alexander Isak fronting their attack, and even Howe himself has admitted scoring goals has been an issue since selling the superstar Swede.

There are no such worries in defence with Liverpool the only side to score against Newcastle in their five league games so far, which makes the draw at 9/4 with starsports.bet very appealing.

---

EVERTON v WEST HAM
Monday, 8pm

⭐️ STARSPORTS.BET MARKETS ⭐️ 

Graham Potter is pretty much drinking in the last chance saloon when his struggling West Ham side travel to Everton on Monday.

The Hammers have lost more than half their Premier League games under Potter and with owner David Sullivan openly sounding out replacements, the former Chelsea boss needs points and needs them quickly.

There would be a certain irony if David Moyes, a gaffer twice binned by the Hammers, administers the final nail in Potter’s coffin.

While Everton have won just one of their last five Premier League meetings between these two, it is hard to make a case for anything other than a routine home win.

One of West Ham’s many issues this season has been defending set pieces and they have already conceded SEVEN times from corners.

Moyes is canny enough to exploit that vulnerability so it may pay to focus on Everton centre-backs in the goalscorer markets. James Tarkowski is 6/1 with starsports.bet to score at any time.

---

RECOMMENDED BETS
BEST BET: Newcastle v Arsenal draw 2pts at 9/4 (⭐️ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

NEXT BEST: James Tarkowski to score at any time 1pt at 6/1 (⭐️ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

OTHER: Joao Pedro and Yankuba Minteh both to score 1pt at 8.96/1 with starsports.bet

BUILD-A-BET: Manchester United to win, both teams to score and Bryan Mbeumo to score 0.5pts at 18/1 with starsports.bet

ALEX ACCA: Preston, Hull, Bradford, Gillingham 1pt at 33/1 (⭐️ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

---

ALEX CROOK P&L (SEP 2025): +11.25 points

---

STAR PROMOTIONS