Just four weeks into the 2018-19 EPL season and we were already hit with an international break last weekend. Luckily for us it lined up with the commencement of the AFL finals series so we weren’t too starved for sport on the weekend. The EPL season continues this weekend with a bunch of great games headlined by a monster clash between Tottenham and Liverpool on Saturday night!
We take a look at some of the key games of the Week 5 of the EPL and provide our betting tips below.
EPL Week 5 Betting Tips
Tottenham vs Liverpool (Saturday 9.30pm AEST)
Liverpool currently sit atop the EPL table with a 4-0-0 record through the opening month of the season. They have allowed just one goal so far this season and found the back of the net nine times. They have, however, had a relatively easy run to date with games against West Ham, Crystal Palace, Brighton and Leicester. Their run gets significantly harder this from now with games against Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester City over the next four matchdays.
Tottenham dropped their first points of the season in Week 4 with a 2-1 loss to Watford away from home. They failed to find the back of the net of their own accord as a Watford own goal counted as their one score. Unlike Liverpool, their run gets significantly easier over the coming months, as they don’t have to play another big seven club until Manchester City on the 30th of October.
Tottenham won the first of the two fixtures against Liverpool last season, a 4-1 win at home and they held on for a 2-2 draw at Liverpool later in the season. However, Liverpool arguably come in with better form throughout the first month of the season and start as slight $2.40 favourites away from home. The Watford game has left a bad taste in my mouth concerning Tottenham but I still struggle to find a clear winner here. Three of the four goals scored in their last meeting were scored after the 80th minute mark and I think both teams will be quite tentative to start this match. Back more goals in the second half here.
More goals in the 2nd half
$1.92
Chelsea vs Cardiff City (Sunday 12am AEST)
Chelsea are another team that has yet to drop a point in the EPL season to date. They boast wins over Huddersfield, Arsenal, Newcastle and Bournemouth to start the season and have a relatively easy matchup this weekend against Cardiff at home. They’ll want to keep rolling at the pointy end of the EPL table before a tough month that features games against Liverpool, Manchester United and Burnley. Spaniard Pedro has been fantastic for the Blues so far this season, slotting three goals while Eden Hazard has been in top form in the midfield.
Cardiff are yet to record a win in the EPL season but have accumulated two points through draws with Newcastle and Huddersfield. They scored their first goal of the season in their fourth game last weekend as they found the back of the net twice in a 3-2 loss to Arsenal. Tough to find too many positives for Cardiff so far this season and the near future looks pretty grim as they face Chelsea, Manchester City, Burnley and Tottenham in the next four weeks.
Cardiff haven’t played in the top flight since the 2013-14 season. That season Chelsea took both games with score lines of 4-1 and 2-1 and enter this game as strong $1.14 favourites. Can’t see Cardiff giving the Blues too many problems here, especially with Chelsea in some premier form at the moment. Cardiff have been held scoreless in three of their four games this season and we think Chelsea should do the same.
Chelsea to win to nil
$1.72
Watford vs Manchester United (Sunday 2.30am AEST)
The third team to achieve maximum points throughout the 2018-18 EPL season so far is surprisingly, Watford. They have been dominant in the first month, claiming wins over Brighton, Burnley, Crystal Palace and a massive win over Tottenham in Week 4. Three of those wins, however, have come at home and they’ll be at home again this weekend against the Red Devils.
Manchester United bounced back from two disappointing losses to Brighton and Tottenham in Week 2 and 3 to defeat Burnley away from home in Week 4. They currently sit tenth on the table and should look to push back up to the top four over the next month with games against Watford, Wolverhampton, West Ham and Newcastle.
Manchester United have won their last three games in a row against Watford, scoring seven total goals in those three games and interestingly start as $1.83 favourites here regardless of Watford having the home field advantage and some great form. Personally, I think there is some real turmoil happening at Manchester United at the moment involving their manager Jose Mourinho and I would much rather be taking the Watford double chance for the same price as a Manchester United win.
Watford double chance
$1.83
