Two Premier League title contenders will face off on Saturday, as Tottenham Hotspur visits Manchester City for an early season clash.
Man City currently tops the EPL table after its 5-0 victory over West Ham last weekend, while Tottenham earned a 3-1 win over Aston Villa in its opener.
Spurs Chasing City for Premier League Title
Heading into the season, Manchester City was the clear favorite to win a third straight Premier League title, while Tottenham was the third choice – albeit at far longer odds than City and Liverpool, which are expected to have another two-team race this year.
That makes this a critical encounter that could allow Spurs to make their mark on the title race in the early going. Oddsmakers aren’t given them much of a chance of walking away with any points at Etihad Stadium, however: FanDuel Sportsbook lists Manchester City as the -280 favorite to win, with Tottenham a +750 longshot and even a draw fetching +430 odds.
Liverpool Must Avoid Letdown After Super Cup Win
The other title contender, Liverpool, will be traveling to Southampton on Saturday for a match they will expect to win, though not without a fight from the hosts. Liverpool may also be drained after coming off a win on penalties over Chelsea in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday. The two sides drew 1-1 in regular time, then each scored again in extra time leading to the shootout.
That could leave the Reds fatigued for their match at Southampton, especially given that it is early in the season and some players may still not be 100 percent fit.
“Nobody wanted extra time tonight,†Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said after the win. “Only one team celebrated more than us tonight, and that’s probably Southampton when they saw 90 minutes, no decision!â€
Liverpool will also be without star goalkeeper Alisson, who injured his calf in the club’s 4-1 victory against Norwich City in its Premier League opening match last Friday. While Klopp has downplayed the severity of the injury, he has still said that Alisson will be out for “a couple of weeks for sure.â€
Even without Alisson, Liverpool (-220) is favored to get a road win over Southampton (+550), which is coming off of a 3-0 loss to Burnley in its EPL opener.
Wolves Should Provide Challenge for Manchester United
One of the most interesting matches of the weekend has been saved for Monday, when Manchester United (+130) will travel to take on Wolves (+220). United was dominant in a 4-0 win over Chelsea last week, while Wolves fought to a 1-1 draw with Leicester City.
Typically, a “Big Six†side like United would be heavily favored against a smaller club, even on the road. But Wolves proved last season that they can be competitive in the Premier League, finishing seventh and earning a spot in the Europa League qualifying rounds as a reward.
A win by Man United would set themselves up well for the early portion of the EPL season, as this is probably their toughest remaining match over the next month or so. But with Wolves proving particularly tough at home, a draw (+220) may be the smart bet, as both sides would probably be satisfied to some extent by walking away with a point.