Premier League preview and tips: Silva to shine for Man City, Reds to roll over Spurs
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There’ll be plenty of new faces on show
The transfer window shut earlier this week and squads are set for the rest of the season now.
Premier League sides spent a record £430m last month and we’ll see some of those new arrivals this weekend.
There are huge games taking place in the top flight too. And the Coral News Team have looked at the big talking points…
Plenty of new additions
Arsenal’s new record signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could make his debut against Everton on Saturday evening if he shakes off illness. He’s 5/2 to have 3+ shots on target.
His arrival at the Emirates paved the way for Olivier Giroud to join Chelsea. The former Arsenal favourite is 11/2 to score anytime against Watford.
The likes of Lucas Moura, Badou Ndiaye and Jordan Hugill could also make their bows for Tottenham Hotspur, Stoke City and West Ham United respectively following big-money moves.
Who’ll make an instant impact?
Will Riyad recover?
One player who stayed put was Leicester City’s Riyad Mahrez. League leaders Manchester City made a late bid for the Algeria ace after learning that they could be without Leroy Sane for six to seven weeks.
Mahrez handed in a transfer request, but City didn’t meet Leicester’s £90m asking price. The 26-year-old is said to be devastated as a result. He was left out of the defeat to Everton on Wednesday and has missed three days of training.
Leicester had climbed up to eighth and gone six games unbeaten for City’s interest in Mahrez materialised. Can Claude Puel get them and Mahrez back on track? The Foxes are 7/4 to beat Swansea to Nil on Saturday.
Can Silva shine?
One major beneficiary of City’s failure to bring in Mahrez could be Bernardo Silva.
The playmaker has undoubted quality, but he hasn’t had an extended run in the side since arriving from Monaco last summer.
Sane’s injury gives him the chance to impress consistently now. He’s 15/8 to get on the scoresheet against Burnley in Saturday’s early kick-off.
Relegation battle heating up
There are only five points separating Bournemouth in 10th from Southampton down in 18th. Every point could be vital in the race to avoid the drop.
There are two huge games at the bottom of the table this weekend. West Bromwich Albion take on Southampton on Saturday afternoon, before Crystal Palace host Newcastle United on Sunday.
Home advantage could make the difference in these two games. West Brom are slight 6/4 favourites. Palace are even-money to beat the Magpies.
How will Klopp set up against Tottenham?
Tottenham Hotspur blew Liverpool away when the two sides met at Wembley earlier this season. Spurs were 2-0 up inside 12 minutes and the 4-1 result almost flattered the Reds.
Virgil van Dijk’s presence should minimise the errors that plagued the Liverpool defence in October. But Jurgen Klopp is likely to choose between Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Giorginio Wijnaldum alongside Jordan Henderson and Emre Can in midfield.
Oxlade-Chamberlain is the more explosive player and set the tone with his opening strike in the recent 4-3 win over Man City. But Wijnaldum’s composure on the ball could be more effective against Spurs’ pressing.
If Klopp makes the right call, Liverpool and Both Teams to Score looks good value at 12/5.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
