Sports Blog 09/09/2016: Match Preview – Premier League, Saturday 10th to Sunday 11th September 2016

The Premier League returns from the international break this weekend with what is set to be the season’s most fiery and important match so far!

That fight, of course, sees Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City square-off at 12.30pm on Sky Sports 1. Beyond the toxic history between these two modern managerial maestros (who have, to be fair, been very quiet in the run up to the fixture) there are a couple of factors that make the prospect of Saturday afternoon’s game so mouth-watering. Firstly, alongside Chelsea, both sides have had an unbeaten start to the season, with City’s superior goal difference putting them in 1st place to United’s 3rd.



The other, far more salacious, factor is Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s hatred of Guardiola. The Big Swede spits venom when he talks about his former Barcelona boss and, at a Super Mega PGM of 30-36 following 3 goals in 3 league games, will be desperate to inflict an early wound on Pep and his new club. Like Zlatan, Sergio Aguero has 3 league goals in 3 games; unlike the former-PSG star, however, Aguero won’t feature in Saturday’s game thanks to a 3 match suspension. That, then, places a lot of pressure on the shoulders of Kelechi Iheanacho and Nolito, who head into the derby at Super Mega PGMs of 16-20 and 12-16 respectively.

In a game that’s result that may well end up resting on tactical knife’s edge it appears that the lack of Aguero might be key, with our traders offering a slim Manchester United/Manchester City Goal Supremacy spread 0.15-0.35 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.35-2.55.

Turning to Saturday evening and Liverpool and Leicester will both be looking to put a rocky start to the season behind them when they meet at 5.30pm on BT Sport 1. The Reds have perhaps seen the biggest lurches in tone; an opening day 4-3 thriller against Arsenal was followed up by a limp 2-0 defeat to Burnley of all sides, before Klopp’s men were held to 1-1 draw in a feisty game against Tottenham. In terms of this weekend Daniel Sturridge will be looking to open his 2016/17 league account, and is at a Super Mega PGM of 39-45, while summer signing Sadio Mane, who scored that vital 4th goal against the Gunners, is at 23-28.



Like Liverpool Leicester have had one embarrassing loss (a 2-1 defeat to a permanent manager-less Hull), an acceptable draw (against Arsenal) and an expected win (against Swansea). Saturday will be notable for the presumed debut of Islam Slimani, the club’s record signing, with the Algerian heading into the weekend at a respectable Super Mega PGM of 16-20 to Jamie Vardy’s 20-24. Yet the presence of Slimani looks unlikely to help the Foxes’ chances, our traders offering a Liverpool/Leicester Goal Supremacy spread of 0.8-1 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.7-2.9.

Finally Sunday afternoon sees Chelsea travel to Swansea at 4pm on Sky Sports 1. The Blues will potentially be looking to capitalise on Saturday’s Manc derby and leap-frog to the top of the table with a win against the Swans, something that would extend their current perfect record under Antonio Conte. Diego Costa has shone since Conte arrived, scoring twice in the opening 3 games, and heads into Sunday at a Super Mega PGM of 35-41, as does Belgian youngster Michy Batshuayi.



While Chelsea thrive under their new manager, Swansea haven’t exactly impressed with Francesco Guidolin permanently at the helm. A late win over the newly promoted Burnley wasn’t the best start; even worse were the subsequent defeats to Hull and Leicester. The only real positive has been Leroy Fer, who has 2 goals in 3 games (and a Super Mega PGM of 6-9) after moving to from QPR to Swansea for good following last season’s loan. Fer likely won’t be enough to stop the might of Conte, Kante and co., however, with Spreadex offering a Chelsea/Swansea (h) Goal Supremacy spread of 0.85-1.05 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.65-2.85.