ALEX CROOK PREVIEW: Premier League Weekend

Star Sports football ambassador ALEX CROOK previews the Premier League weekend…

⭐ STARSPORTS.BET PREMIER LEAGUE OUTRIGHT AND SPECIAL MARKETS ⭐

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🦅 CRYSTAL PALACE v MANCHESTER CITY  🔵
Friday, 8pm

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New City boss Enzo Maresca was a touch fortunate to kick off his Premier League tenure with a comeback 2-1 win at home to Bournemouth last weekend.

Palace meanwhile slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Everton, suggesting it could be a long season for their new gaffer Pierre Sage.

Home was also not where the heart is for the Eagles last season as they won just four Premier League games at Selhurst Park, a record Sage simply must improve.

The Eagles were well beaten home and away against City last season, losing 3-0 twice and the visitors are short-priced favourites to make it three wins in a row and extend their 11-match unbeaten run in South London.

Key to City’s victory over Bournemouth was the introduction of super-sub Rayan Cherki, who is pushing for a starting spot.

This is a game that usually produces goals and I am expecting a pretty open affair as Palace did create chances at the Hill Dickinson.

My build-a-bet is City to win, Cherki to score or assist, Dean Henderson to make 3+ saves and over 2.5 goals which returns 4/1 with starsports.bet.

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🔵 COVENTRY v HULL  🐯
Saturday, 3pm

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I will be in attendance at the CBS Arena on Saturday as Coventry host Premier League football for the first time in a quarter of a century.

The Sky blues were given a rude awakening to life back in the big time as they lost 3-0 at champions Arsenal last weekend, but this game will be a better guide as to whether they can avoid relegation.

Hull made a dream top-flight return by beating Manchester United 2-0 in front of the TV cameras and there was certainly no fluke in that triumph as the Tigers were good value for the three points.

Their game-plan is exactly the same as last season; let the opposition have the ball, defend deep and hit on the counterattack, and based on the evidence of last Saturday it can be affective in the Premier League.

The onus will be on Coventry to take the game to their visitors, which may just play into the Tigers’ hands.

Frank Lampard has never tasted defeat against Hull as player or manager, but after being as big as 17/2 to topple United. I think they are once again over-priced at 3/1 with starsports.bet to win here.

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🔵 CHELSEA v BRIGHTON  🔵
Sunday, 2pm

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If you are looking for a game that guarantees goals, then Sunday’s clash between Chelsea and Brighton at Stamford Bridge could be the place to be.

Chelsea started life under Xabi Alonso with a thrilling, if slightly chaotic 3-2 win at Fulham while Brighton smashed Aston Villa 4-0 before scoring another four goals in their mid-week Conference League play-off victory at home to Norwegian minnows Tromso.

There have also been some high-scoring affairs in recent meetings between these two, who have built up a bit of a rivalry in recent seasons given the sheer volume of players and staff that have swapped the Sussex coast for west London, with Danny Welbeck the latest example.

Chelsea’s new-look front three of Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Joao Pedro look like they are in for an excellent season whereas Brighton are sharing their goals around the team.

Over 3.5 goals at 6/4 with starsports.bet is the way I will be playing this one.

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🟣 ASTON VILLA v ARSENAL  🔴
Monday, 8pm

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The weekend’s final game sees champions Arsenal travel to Villa Park on Monday.

Mikel Arteta’s men have racked up back-to-back 3-0 wins over Manchester City in the Community Shield and at home to newly promoted Coventry last Friday night.

They have already been backed into odds-on shots from 5/4 to retain their title, which shows you how impressed the market have been with their opening couple of performances.

In contrast, Villa endured a nightmare opening day as they were torn apart by Brighton and Unai Emery is in desperate need of reinforcements before the transfer window closes on Tuesday.

They won’t come before this game so it could very easily get worse before it gets better for Emery against his former employers.

Even the most optimistic Villa fan cannot make a case for a repeat of last season’s 2-1 victory in this fixture given the gaping holes in their squad.

Arsenal ran out 4-1 winners when these two last met at the Emirates in December and look capable of another wide-margin success, even if we can expect Villa to be more competitive in front of their own fans than they were at the Amex.

Arsenal at -1 on the handicap at 7/5 with starsports.bet looks very appealing to me.

⭐ STARSPORTS.BET PREMIER LEAGUE OUTRIGHT AND SPECIAL MARKETS ⭐

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RECOMMENDED BETS
1⃣ BEST BET: Arsenal -1 on the handicap 1.5pts at 7/5 (⭐️ ?  CLICK TO BET NOW)
2⃣ NEXT BEST: Over 3.5 goals Chelsea v Brighton 1pt at 6/4 (⭐️ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
🎲 LONG SHOT: Hull to win 1pt at 3/1 (⭐️ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
📊 BUILD-A-BET: Manchester City to win, Rayan Cherki to score or assist, Dean Henderson to make 3+ saves and over 2.5 goals 1pt at 4/1 with starsports.bet
🚀 ALEX ACCA: West Ham, Sheffield Wednesday, Walsall 1pt at 10/1 (⭐️ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

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ALEX ‘S PROFIT/LOSS (AUG 2026): -3.12 points

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