Andy Schooler previews this weekend’s Premier League action…
Premier League Best Bets: Everton v Manchester United (Sun, 1400)
I did consider Hull for this week’s team selection – after two wins out of two and no goals conceded, the Tigers host a much-changed Aston Villa side, who have yet to have a shot on target in this season’s Premier League.
However, is the price now right? We’d have been expecting a lot more than 3.8 had this game been taking place a couple of weeks ago.
Instead, I’m going to oppose crisis club Everton, who have once again outdone themselves in terms of recruitment incompetency.
A disastrous end to the transfer window which saw them allow players to leave without having secured replacements has left their squad wafer-thin – they now have just one striker, one right-back and one left-back in their squad. It beggars belief, although mis-management has long been no surprise to the Toffees’ long-suffering fans.
And they play a big part in my thinking ahead of this one.
OK, I’m sure they’ll try to get behind their team early doors but if things go even slightly wrong, it’s very easy to see the Hill Dickinson Stadium turning toxic.
On the pitch, Everton have lost their best outfield player – Iliman Ndiaye – since their previous match, while striker Thierno Barry, who started the season hot, was back to his mis-firing ways last weekend and also now knows he’s pretty much undroppable however he plays given the lack of numbers in the squad. If we’re honest, that’s not a great situation for either player or club.
The Toffees have a long-standing poor record against United, who perked up considerably last week, putting five past Ipswich to replenish their confidence following a shock loss at Hull.
Bruno Fernandes was purring again and it’s not hard to see him having a big say in the outcome here.
My view is basically things could unravel pretty quickly for Everton if they lose control of this game and with that in mind, I want to back United giving up a goal start on the handicap.
They’ve covered this in five of their last eight meetings with Everton and, to me, circumstances suggest they can improve that stat here.
Premier League Best Bets: Newcastle v Bournemouth (Sat, 1230)
I highlighted Bournemouth’s problems in terms of keeping opponents out in last week’s preview and they duly conceded again when hosting Everton.
Some will suggest they were a little unlucky – the goal came due to a mistake from a corner in injury time – but the fact is they also allowed
Thierno Barry three glorious chances prior to that and a better finisher would have made them pay.
Having made a decent start themselves, Newcastle should fancy their chances of finding the net. They were close to beating Liverpool in their previous home game when they offered plenty of attacking threat, while last week they won 2-0 at Spurs.
That game saw midfielder Nico Gonzalez impress on debut, setting up the opener, and his post-match comments were noteworthy.
He revealed that boss Matthias Jaissle is encouraging him to hit long, diagonal balls into the wide players. “It is something we have to keep doing – I hope it gives many more goals this season,” he said.
Such tactics can complement Anthony Elanga’s pace and he looks a player to be with in the goalscorer markets right now.
The Swede has scored in both games so far and while he struggled in his first season at St James’ Park, if you look back at his record at Nottingham Forest, you find he scored in streaks for them too.
Marco Rose is a boss who likes his defence to play a high line and that’s something Elanga can exploit, especially if Gonzalez is able to play some high-quality passes again.
Before moving on, I also want to mention a longer shot who may be worth backing this week and that’s Brentford’s Nathan Collins.
He’s already had five shots this season – no defender has had more – and is up at 9.5 to score at home to Sunderland, a game for which the Bees are firm favourites.
Premier League Best Bets: Brighton v Leeds (1500)
Having mentioned those Newcastle tactics, I should also give a tip of the hat to Amar Dedic, their raiding right-back who combined with Nico Gonzalez and Anthony Elanga for the first goal at Tottenham last week.
The Bosnian now has three assists in three games for his new club and is clearly a player who likes to get forward whenever possible.
He’s at north of 5/1 for another against Bournemouth which is tempting, although not a bet I’m wanting to put up having already picked out Elanga for a goal in that game.
Instead, I’m going back to a player who has already made a profit for this column this season and that’s Luka Vuskovic.
Brighton’s new centre-back has strong goals and shots numbers for a defender.
While he’s yet to find the net for the Seagulls, the Croatian World Cup star has managed to land the 2+ shots bet in both Premier League games so far. That’s something he also managed in eight of his last 14 Bundesliga starts for Hamburg last season.
Yet despite those numbers, Vuskovic is at 2.95 for 2+ in this game. That seems off.
The 6ft 4in teenager is a big threat from set pieces, while we’ve also since his propensity for shots from distance in the opening weeks of the campaign.
This looks a decent price to me and one worth grabbing.
Premier League Best Bets 2026/27: Matchday 3
Man Utd (-1.5) @ 3.5 with kwiff
Elanga anytime scorer @ 3.6 with kwiff
Vuskovic 2+ shots @ 2.95 kwiff
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