ALEX CROOK PREVIEW: Premier League Weekend

Star Sports football ambassador ALEX CROOK previews the pick of this weekend’s Premier League fixtures…

🔴 LIVERPOOL v MANCHESTER CITY 🔵
Sunday, 4pm

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It was former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag who famously claimed all eras come to an end when talking about ending Manchester City’s trophy-winning dynasty.

Even if the Dutchman is no longer in the Old Trafford dugout to see it, those words of wisdom appear to be coming true with the champions for each of the last four seasons winless in six matches in all competitions, losing five of those six.

After their incredible capitulation at home to Feyenoord on Tuesday, Pep Guardiola’s side became the first team in Champions League history to be leading by three goals with 15 minutes remaining not see out the victory.

Their recent trials and tribulations appear to be taking their toll on perfectionist, Guardiola, who was forced to apologise for some ill-judged comments about self-harm after appearing in his post-Feyenoord press conference with a bloodied nose and scratches on his forehead.

There are no such issues for Pep’s Liverpool counterpart Arne’s slot who’s near perfect start to life in the Anfield dugout continued with a resounding 2-0 victory at home to Real Madrid on Wednesday night.

It all adds up to the fact that for the first time in near on eight years City go into Sunday’s summit showdown as second favourites to win a Premier League game for the first time in nearly eight years.

It would be foolhardy to totally dismiss City, but the body language of their shell-shocked players at the end of the Feyenoord debacle leads me to believe backing a Liverpool win at 21/20 with starsports.bet is simply too good a price to turn our noses up at.

The Reds have lost only one game in all competitions under Slot and will see this as a golden opportunity to open up a staggering 11-point lead over their visitors in the table.

By Guardiola’s own admission City have been left ‘fragile’ by their winless streak, and if Liverpool start quickly then it could get messy for the visitors. Liverpool have won all of their last three homes games by at least two goals so I will also be backing the hosts at -1 on the handicap at 13/5 with starsports.bet.

😇 SOUTHAMPTON v BRIGHTON 🔵
Friday, 8pm

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The weekend starts with a south coast showdown (it cannot be a derby if it takes two hours to drive there!) as European hopefuls Brighton host basement boys Southampton.

The soaring Seagulls can go second with a victory for 24 hours at least while Saints are battling against unwanted history as no team have ever avoided relegation from the Premier League after losing 10 of their first 12 games.

Russell Martin’s fearless football paid dividends last season as he guided the visitors to promotion via the Championship play-offs but it has been their Achilles heel this term having given away seven goals from individual errors.

Brighton would be in even better fettle had they not dropped points at home to Ipswich, Nottingham Forest and Wolves (when 2-0 up with minutes to play), but coming up against a team who will try and play out from the back should play into their hands.

I fancy a comfortable home victory, particularly with key Saints trio Aaron Ramsdale, Jan Bednarek and Adam Lallana all unavailable, and while Brighton are too short at 4/11 with starsports.bet for the win backing the Seagulls to be winning at half-time and full-time at even money should pay dividends.

Joao Pedro has looked really sharp since returning from injury, netting against Bournemouth and Manchester City, while this is also the type of game Karou Mitoma can thrive in. Brighton to win, over 3.5 goals in the game and both Pedro and Mitoma to score returns around 7/1 as a build-a-bet with starsports.bet.

🐺 WOLVES v BOURNEMOUTH 🍒
3pm, Saturday

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Wolves have the chance to continue their recent revival when they entertain Bournemouth at Molineux on Saturday.

The Old Gold are unbeaten in their last four matches, winning each of the last two to move out of the Premier League relegation zone and manager Gary O’Neil, who was getting a bit of stick from some fans, deserves tremendous credit for the way he has turned fortunes around after a nightmare start to the season.

While Bournemouth have picked up some notable scalps at home, not least, their back-to-back wins over Arsenal and Manchester City they have not been nearly the same force on the road, with just one victory at Everton in all competitions away from the Vitality Stadium.

While not taking Bournemouth lightly, I am slightly surprised to see Wolves as second favourites at 17/10 with starsports.bet to make it three wins on the spin.

Last weekend’s 4-1 trouncing of previously in-form Fulham will have done wonders for the home side’s confidence and it is impossible to ignore the blistering form of Matheus Cunha, who is starting to attract the attention of some top clubs not just in England but across Europe as well.

Since O’Neil was sacked by Bournemouth before taking over the Midlanders this fixture has become a little bit spicy, with two red cards and more than a dozen yellows across two meetings last season.

Visiting full-back Adam Smith embodies that fieriness and a build-a-bet of Wolves to win, Cunha to score at any time and Smith to be shown a card returns a tasty 23/1 with starsports.bet.

RECOMMENDED BETS
BACK Liverpool win 1.5pts at 21/20 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Liverpool -1 on the handicap 1pt at 13/5 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
Build-a-bet: Wolves to win, both teams to score, Matheus Cunha to score, Adam Smith to be shown a card 1pt at 23/1 with starsports.bet
Build-a-bet: Brighton to win, over 3.5 goals in the game, Joe Pedro to score and Karou Mitoma to score 1pt at 7/1 with starsports.bet
BACK Brighton half-time, full-time 1.5pts at 1/1 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)