Wolves vs Nottingham Forest
The decision from top boss target Julen Lopetegui to turn down the Wolves job has left Molineux officials scrambling around.
Caretaker bosses Steve Davis and James Collins look set to take charge of Saturday’s game against Nottingham Forest which has a whiff of relegation about it.
Both sides are struggling in 18th and 19th places, with just one win each to their names. Wolves’ solitary success came at home to Southampton last month.
The 1-0 scoreline flattered the hosts, though, with Southampton having more shots and missing a number of second-half chances.
Wolves have struggled for goals and their recent run of tough matches looks to have drained away any confidence they had. And it’s hard to justify backing the men from Molineux at a best-priced 3/4.
But Forest are also facing a mighty struggle and have not won since the 1-0 success over West Ham in August.
They were awful in the 4-0 defeat at Leicester in their last away game and the pre-season plan which saw them draft in 22 new players now looks questionable.
Steve Cooper, though, has been rewarded with a new deal and he remains a highly-respected coach, if not yet at Premier League level.
Their last game was a more respectable 1-1 draw with Villa and they look the more likelier of the sides to take the points.
Manchester United vs Newcastle
Newcastle look an attractive punt at a best-priced 14/5 to condemn Man Utd to their fourth league defeat of the season.
United were wrapped up in the Europa League on Thursday while Newcastle were laying out their plans for Old Trafford – and the Geordies will arrive on Sunday flooded with confidence.
It’s been an awful hunting ground for Newcastle in recent seasons and you have to go back to 2013 for the Magpies’ last win at the Theatre of Dreams. But this Newcastle side has a resolve about it and a sprinkling of quality too in the form of Bruno Guimaraes.
Eddie Howe’s men won 4-1 at Fulham and destroyed Brentford 5-1 at home in their last two. They look like a side that are starting to click and they could cause Erik ten Hag’s men, who have some notable scalps at home this season, some big problems.
Leeds v Arsenal
League leaders Arsenal look capable of piling more woe on moaning Leeds boss Jesse Marsch on Sunday. It’s certainly hard to make a case for Leeds, who are struggling to come to terms with life without Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips.
Goals have been hard to come by and you have to go back to the opening day to find when Leeds last scored more than once at Elland Road.
Arsenal on the other hand have been scoring for fun, led by workhorse Gabriel Jesus. His all-action style has seen him booked four times and three of those have come away from home.
He will face a suspension if he is yellow carded in West Yorkshire and that is more than likely at a raucous Elland Road.
The Brazilian has also chipped in with five goals and four assists and he will likely be Arsenal’s main man again.
Key stats
- Wolves have failed to score in six of their last eight PL matches
- Wolves have been losing at both HT and FT in their last three PL matches
- Nottingham Forest have lost five matches in a row
- Wolves have failed to win 15 of their last 16 matches
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in Man Utd’s last 4 home PL games
- Newcastle are undefeated in 10 of their last 11 PL matches
- Leeds United’s last home win against Arsenal was in 2000
- Last season Arsenal won both games against Leeds United (2-1 at home and 4-1 away)
