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Golden Goals MD8: Liverpool vs Chelsea Firecracker In Store

A lot has happened since Golden Goals Matchday 7, not least England appointing former Champions League-winning German manager Thomas Tuchel as head coach.

But now the second of three pre-Christmas international breaks is behind us, all focus swivels back to the domestic battle in the Premier League.

As always we have picked out the biggest fixtures this weekend, including a mouthwatering Liverpool and Chelsea Sunday showdown as well as an intriguing encounter between Newcastle and Brighton and Manchester City’s trip to face Wolves.

Remember, this week’s Golden Goals continues an exciting change to our prize offering – while predicting all six scores correctly will still win you a share of the £1 million jackpot, two correct scores and more will net players prizes ranging from Free Bets to a share of cash.

Click here for full Golden Goals information, including prize breakdown and terms..

Let’s take a closer look at Golden Goals Matchday 8…

Manchester United vs Brentford

After a two-week break it’s a chance for Manchester United fans, management and players alike to take a deep breath, regather themselves and take stock.

The last time the international break came to a close, the Red Devils scored 10 goals in two games without conceding (7-0 vs Barnsley and 3-0 vs Southampton). Since then, they have gone five games without a win.

There is no doubt that a cloud of anger is descending on Old Trafford. Failure to get three points would unleash a storm that could make it difficult for Erik ten Hag to survive.

The most damning statistic for Manchester United? They have scored just five goals in the Premier League this season. Only Southampton, St Pauli (Bundesliga) and Lecce (Serie A) have scored fewer across Europe’s top five divisions.

One glimmer of hope has been the form of Andre Onana. The Cameroonian goalkeeper has been much improved on last season and recently won Premier League save of the month for August thanks to his stunning double stop at Crystal Palace.

No goalkeeper has registered more clean sheets this season either – can that help United turn the tide against Brentford on Matchday 8?

They might just be facing the right opponent at the right time. While the Bees are undoubtedly dangerous in front of goal (with 13 goals only Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham have scored more in the division) they are yet to keep a clean sheet in the league.

Since winning promotion to the division in 2021, Brentford have not picked up a single point at Old Trafford.

Despite United’s issues, we can’t see that changing here. Home win.

Prediction: Manchester United 2-1 Brentford

Newcastle vs Brighton

Newcastle and Brighton are in lockstep with 12 points from three wins, three draws and a sole blemish on their respective records.

The Seagulls hold the advantage in the goalscoring department with 13 across their seven fixtures this campaign, the same as league leaders Liverpool and more than Aston Villa. They have also been far more clinical than their Tyneside counterparts so far, virtually matching their xG compared to Newcastle’s 2.43 underperformance.

Despite Fabian Hurzeler’s admirable attacking intent, his side can be exploited defensively. Brighton have conceded eight goals across the last three Premier League matches – their longest run of conceding two or more goals since March 2022. There is, then, potential value in 4/6 for Newcastle to score over 1.5 goals this weekend.

Eddie Howe’s men have not suffered from such defensive vulnerability. The Magpies hold the third-best defensive record in the division with only seven goals conceded in their opening septet of league matches – three of which came in their defeat away to Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Newcastle have only allowed two goals in their opening four league matches at home this season and, after back-to-back draws against Manchester City and Everton, have extended their impressive home run to 11 without defeat in England’s top tier.

Fortress St James’ has not been a happy hunting ground for Brighton in recent years either: they have only managed one draw in their last three visits to the North East, losing the other two games by an aggregate of 6-2.

The lockstep will be broken by Newcastle taking all three points on Saturday.

Prediction: Newcastle 2-1 Brighton

Fulham vs Aston Villa

After a slow start to the campaign, Fulham are starting to pick up some good results and put in some exciting performances.

They should have picked up points away against champions Manchester City last time out; only profligacy in front of goal stopped them.

Marco Silva’s men currently lie in eighth with 11 points in the bank and some tricky fixtures out of the way against the likes of City, Newcastle and Manchester United.

The Cottagers are getting plenty of shots on goal – more than 100 so far this season, which tops Chelsea, Manchester United and Aston Villa.

They will need to be clinical on Matchday 8 though. In Villa, Fulham face an opponent with the second-best xGA (expected goals against) in the division. Only Liverpool are limiting opponents to fewer scoring opportunities than Unai Emery’s men.

Two draws in a row mean the Villans might start to feel the pressure if they fail to pick up a result. An extended Champions League schedule combined with a relentless Christmas run-in likely makes it essential that Emery and his charges keep pace if back-to-back top four finishes are to be a reality.

This will be a tight affair.

Prediction: Fulham 1-1 Aston Villa

Bournemouth vs Arsenal

Mikel Arteta’s next test takes his undefeated Arsenal (third) to the south coast for Saturday’s late kick-off against Bournemouth (13th).

The Gunners enter this contest as the sure-fire favourites having won 10 of their 12 away fixtures so far in 2024. This season they have won five of their first seven games already, drawing only twice to Brighton and Manchester City after having a player sent off in each.

Arsenal have seemingly developed plot armour at this point in time, as not even red cards, world-class equalisers or injuries to key players like Martin Odegaard have managed to stop them.

They are finding a way through all comers which doesn’t bode well for a Cherries team who have only tasted victory at the Emirates once – back when Eddie Howe and Arsene Wenger were stood in the respective dugouts.

Since returning to the Premier League in 2022, Bournemouth have lost to the Gunners on four separate occasions while conceding three or more goals each time. If he is fit to play, Bukayo Saka is as dangerous as anyone on that right flank.

Indeed, he is the top assister in the Premier League with seven and could do some real damage once again. Saka is 3/1 to assist again against Bournemouth this weekend.

A win for Arsenal would also see them become the second side to reach 2,000 wins in the top flight – added motivation, if it were even needed, to keep up the pressure at the top of the table.

Prediction: Bournemouth 0-3 Arsenal

Wolves vs Manchester City

Wolves and Manchester City have had polar opposite starts to the season.

No team has scored more goals than second-placed City, while none have conceded more than bottom-of-the-league Wolves. This match looks to be a daunting one for Gary O’Neil’s Old Gold as a result.

Chances, and goals, have been at a premium for Wolves this season and the stark contrast between the teams in terms of chances created and conceded does not make pleasant reading for the Midlands men.

With the worst defensive record by a distance, the Wolves backline could almost certainly do without facing a side that creates more than 14 chances per 90 minutes.

Wolves won the corresponding fixture 2-0 last season and did the league double over City back in 2019-20, but anything remotely similar seems unlikely in this one.

Pep Guardiola’s men have scored three goals or more in four of the last five meetings, with talisman Erling Haaland scoring four on his own in the 5-1 demolition at the Etihad in May.

With 10 already this season, Haaland will be relishing a chance to go at Wolves and it is a tempting 13/2 for the Norwegian to score a brace and City to score over 3.5 goals.

We can’t see anything other than a win here for the champions – and a comfortable one at that.

Prediction: Wolves 0-4 Manchester City

Liverpool vs Chelsea

The standout fixture of Matchday 8 sees Chelsea travel to Anfield to take on a Liverpool side that has conceded just two league goals since Arne Slot entered the dugout.

Chelsea, though, have started well themselves and sit fourth in the table – a surprise to many after yet another chaotic summer in west London.

These two have faced off in two cup finals in addition to Premier League matches in recent years but the Blues have not got the better of Liverpool since a 1-0 win at Anfield in 2021.

There have been nine meetings since then and almost all have been tight affairs – the anomaly being the 4-1 Liverpool win in this fixture last season.

Chelsea look like a different proposition under Enzo Maresca though. The chaos of last term seems to have subsided for a squad that finally seems to be seeing what an abundantly talented group of players are capable of.

In Cole Palmer they have a man in a rich vein of form: no one has had more goal contributions than his 11 so far this term, while Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke are showing they can ease the attacking burden on the England international.

Yet they have shown vulnerability. Manchester City brushed the Blues aside on the opening day, while the Europe Conference League play-off win over Sevette wasn’t exactly convincing and neither was the home draw against Nottingham Forest last time out.

Liverpool, of course, fell to their only defeat so far against the same opposition. They sit top of the league going into Matchday 8 but have themselves stuttered through matches at times.

Their solid defence is the primary reason they sit atop the Premier League – just two goals have made it past the Reds rearguard – while at the other end they have scored three fewer goals than Chelsea (16) and the same as 11th-placed Brentford (13).

This is the first of four difficult games for Liverpool with Arsenal, Brighton and Aston Villa to come next. A score draw is on the cards – but one that goes against the low-scoring affairs of recent years. Would anyone rule out 15/1 for Mohamed Salah and Palmer to score, the match to end in a draw and over 3.5 total goals?

Prediction: Liverpool 2-2 Chelsea

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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change. Please note: This week's Golden Goals deadline is Saturday 19th October 15:00. Opt-in is required and you can find out more here.

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Opt in & predict 6 correct scores (see game lobby for weekly tournament cut-off time) to win up to £1m Jackpot. Predict 2+ correct scores and win a prize (ranging from Free Bets to £5k Prizepool). Winnings shared evenly in case of multiple winners. Each prize subject to its own terms. Void if 1 or more matches postponed/abandoned or not completed. Verification procedures apply. 18+. T&Cs and exclusions apply.

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