Premier League Matchday 4 Predictions: Old Scores To Settle At Old Trafford
The 199th Manchester Derby leads the line on Matchday 4 in a weekend that also stars three goal-shy sides looking to finally get off the mark, Arsenal's return to the ground that ended their historic clean-sheet run last season, and a battle of two unbeaten starts.
The storylines are already stacking up and, where there’s drama, there’s value.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change.
Tottenham vs Everton
Everton have made a habit of scoring when it matters most.
David Moyes’ side have found the net in every one of their four competitive matches this season, with two of those coming in the game's final moments: Ainsley Maitland-Niles against Manchester United last week and James Tarkowski at Bournemouth the week prior to that.
Tottenham remain without a Premier League goal this season despite a summer outlay north of £350 million, but do have a decent record against their Saturday evening opponents, beating them home and away in a season to forget last year.
Even if they finally break their duck at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the Toffees have a tendency to keep pushing right to the final whistle, which could see them land the game’s last meaningful blow.
BetMGM selection: Everton to score last @ 5/4
Sunderland vs Arsenal
It was Sunderland that ended Arsenal’s 812-minute, eight-clean-sheet run last season at the Stadium of Light in what was a hard-hitting game that literally went right to the wire, ending 2-2.
Brian Brobbey’s dramatic falling strike in the 94th minute clawed the Black Cats a vital point against the side that would go on to be crowned champions the following May.
Bukayo Saka had a very good game, in particular, and proved to be a real handful for former Atletico Madrid fullback Reinildo, who fouled the star winger five times before getting his name taken.
Only Joao Pedro and Yoane Wissa have been fouled more times than Saka after three games played, suggesting another booking may be on the way to Reinildo.
BetMGM selection: Reinildo to be carded @ 21/10
Coventry vs Brighton
Coventry are the only newly promoted side yet to win a game, but like Spurs and Aston Villa, yet to score even a single goal either.
They welcome Brighton to Coventry Arena, who have started the season flying, as the joint-highest scorers in the league next to Chelsea with over two goals a game on average.
The Seagulls have also won 19 corners so far, the second-most of any other top flight side showing just how much they continue to pepper teams since the turn of the new season under Fabian Hurzeler.
These are numbers Frank Lampard could only dream of, with his Sky Blues sitting rock bottom of the Premier League heading into Matchday 4 off the back of three straight defeats...
Therein lies the problem.
Having already failed to beat Hull in their only home game so far, their chances of beating one of the most in-form teams in the league feel just as slim, if not slimmer.
BetMGM selection: Over 1.5 Brighton goals & Over 8.5 corners @ 6/4
Manchester United vs Manchester City
The 199th Manchester Derby headlines the weekend as Michael Carrick’s Manchester United look to make it two wins in two against their heated rivals on home soil.
Enzo Maresca has had a fantastic start to life as Manchester City boss, winning all four of their previous matches since losing to Arsenal in the Community Shield, scoring nine times and conceding only twice.
City have won just one of their last four league games against the Red Devils, that is, despite coming out on top in five of the previous six before that, so will certainly be up for an occasion the size of this.
Erling Haaland has scored eight times in his last seven games against United, and only this week, equalled Sergio Aguero’s club record of 36 Champions League goals with a brace in Porto.
Watch out for Haaland to do his thing here – alongside Bruno Fernandes who already has three goals and an assist to his name this season.
BetMGM selection: Over 2.5 goals, Haaland & Fernandes to score @ 11/2
Leeds vs Newcastle
Monday night’s game is one that produced seven goals, five yellow cards and an injury time winner back in January, although much has changed since then.
Daniel Farke's Leeds remain unbeaten through their opening three league games and continue to climb the table as one of the division's early surprise packages.
Jayden Bogle, nominally a wing-back in Farke's back-three system, has scored in two of Leeds' three league games so far.
The Whites can be very effective out wide which will require Newcastle’s fullbacks to be at their best if they are to keep them quiet at an always vocal Elland Road.
Luckily for the Magpies, they have one of the best left-backs going in Lewis Hall, who is currently averaging 3.46 tackles a game this season – the highest rate of any player expected to be on the pitch.
BetMGM selection: Lewis Hall 3+ tackles @ EVS
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change.
