With October’s international break done and dusted, attentions turn again to action in Premier League week 8, where there’s a full slate of fixtures from the English top-flight to look forward to across Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
This gameweek begins with Nottingham Forest hosting Chelsea with both managers under presure. Saturday Night Football follows on from five 3pm kick-offs and it’s a London derby between Fulham and Arsenal.
Super Sunday sees Aston Villa visit the capital as well, travelling to Tottenham before Liverpool meet fierce rivals Manchester United at Anfield. Monday Night Football is the last of five TV games in Premier League week 8 as East and West London clubs West Ham and Brentford battle.
We’ve been scouring the markets for value and have picked out a backable selection from all ten of this week’s Premier League bouts, starting with Saturday’s six-game programme.
Premier League Week 8 Saturday Games
Nottingham Forest v Chelsea
Despite only being in the job since early September, Ange Postecoglou already seems to be on borrowed time at Forest. Defeat in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off against Chelsea push the under-fire Aussie even closer to the brink.
Postecoglou’s short tenure at the City Ground has been historically bad. He became the first permanent Reds manager in 100 years to fail to win any of his first six games in charge, when Forest limped to defeat at home to Midtjylland in the Europa League on 2 October.
In the Premier League, Forest have claimed just one point from 12 under Ange’s direction, with their only goal so far coming in a 1-1 draw with newly-promoted Burnley.
The were way below bar defensively in their 2-0 loss at Newcastle before the international break, allowing the Magpies to lodge eight shots on target and an xG of 3.20, and they are unlikely to tighten up against Chelsea.
In his previous gig at Tottenham, Postecoglou lost all four of his Premier League meetings with the Blues and it’s difficult to see how any trends will be bucked here.
Indeed, it’s interesting to see Chelsea priced at just shy of Evens (10/11) with football bookies for an win by the banks of the Trent and though their lengthy list of absentees has probably informed those prices, backing the away side still appeals.
The Blues, who have won on each of their last two trips to Nottingham, made light of their injuries to deservedly beat champions Liverpool in their last assignment, so they can triumph at the City Ground again on Saturday.
Tip: Chelsea to win (10/11)
Brighton v Newcastle
Eddie Howe’s Magpies found some better form before the international break, earning wins over Union SG (4-0) in the Champions League and a troubled Forest (2-0) domestically, however, the travelling Toon Army just never see their side perform away at Brighton.
Indeed, Newcastle have won only two of their 16 Premier League encounters with the Seagulls (D8 L6), and their win rate of 13% in this fixture is the club’s lowest ratio against any side they have faced three or more times in the division.
On the south coast, Brighton are unbeaten in eight tussles with Newcastle, though, despite that one-sided head-to-head record, the Magpies, surprisingly, are slight favourites to oust their bogey team on Saturday.
It makes more sense to oppose Newcastle in the circumstances, however. Howe’s side are both winless and goalless on the road in the league this season following a trio of 0-0 draws at Aston Villa, Leeds and Bournemouth.
Brighton, meanwhile, have lost only once in 11 Premier League fixtures at the Amex Stadium in a run stretching back to April. In returning Karaou Mitoma, they have another match-changer to plug into their frontline. Back the Seagulls to avoid defeat in this one.
Tip: Brighton / Draw Double Chance (1.44)
Burnley v Leeds
Leeds (8) have pocketed twice as many points as Burnley (4) since both clubs were promoted from the Championship together in the summer. Despite this, the Clarets are fancied to frustrate their Roses rivals at Turf Moor on Saturday.
Burnley have earned all four of their Premier League points on their own patch this season. Their unbeaten record at Turf Moor would have still been intact had they not conceded an unfortunate 95th-minute penalty in a narrow loss to Liverpool (1-0).
Leeds, meanwhile, have lost two of their first three assignments on the road, and they rank last in the league for average shots attempted per away game (6.30), which points to issues in the final third.
Scott Parker’s Clarets kept the Whites off the scoresheet in both of the clubs’ second-tier meetings last term (0-0, 1-0), so the hosts could have the defensive tools to keep these toothless travellers at arm’s length.
The prices on the best betting sites look attractive in that direction, with odds of around 8/13 (1.62) attached to Burnley avoiding defeat in the Double Chance market. Elsewhere, under 2.5 goals also catches the eye at 6/10 in what could be a relegation six-pointer that presents few chances.
Tip: Burnley / Draw Double Chance (8/13)
Crystal Palace v Bournemouth
Oliver Glasgner’s skirmish with Andoni Iraola pits two of the league’s sharpest tactical minds against each other at Selhurst Park. High-flying Bournemouth’s trip to Selhurst Park us arguably the most fascinating matchup on Saturday.
Recent history suggests a goal-fest is unlikely, however. As damp as it seems, the under 2.5 goals market provides the best value for this one with prices hovering around the 4/5 mark.
Last season’s two Premier League meetings between Palace and the Cherries both finished 0-0. In fact, the last three encounters between the clubs combined have produced just one goal, while 100% of the last nine iterations of this fixture have seen under 2.5 goals overall.
As impressive as the Eagles have been so far this season, they remain the lowest scorers in the Premier League’s current top seven with nine, while their home fixtures have been averaging just 1.60 goals so far.
The fly in the ointment here could be the red-hot winger Antoine Semenyo, who has had a hand in 78% (10 goals, 4 assists) of the 18 Premier League goals Bournemouth have scored since April. He’s a bumper 3/1 to score anytime on Saturday and that’s generous, so Palace must find a way to keep him quiet.
Tip: Under 2.5 goals (4/5)
Manchester City v Everton
Everton became the first team to tame the Eagles before the international break, though the architect of their superb late win, Jack Grealish, misses out on Saturday. His absence through ineligibility against his parent club should hamper their chances of causing an upset at Man City.
The on-loan Grealish has been involved in five of Everton’s nine Premier League goals this season, though the enigmatic winger must sit this one out, leaving the visiting Toffees without their new talisman.
Manchester City are unbeaten in their last 16 Premier League meetings in this fixture, winning 13 times along the way, so it isn’t a shock to see them lumbered with prices around the 4/11 mark to triumph here.
We have to look elsewhere for value and Erling Haaland, who has scored four times in as many appearances against Everton, could provide a palatable alternative as an anytime goalscorer prospect at 8/13.
The Norwegian is reaching peak performance levels and has buried nine goals in seven Premier League appearances for City this term. Haaland who hit a hat-trick against Israel during the international break, has now notched a staggering 19 times in his last ten runouts for club and country combined. We’re backing his hot streak to continue.
Tip: Erling Haaland to score anytime (8/13)
Sunderland v Wolves
Ambitious summer spenders Sunderland have looked comfortable since returning to the Premier League, defying their relegation favourites tag to win three of their first seven fixtures of the campaign.
Two of those came at the raucous Stadium of Light and, with home advantage there to harness again on Saturday, the Black Cats will fancy themselves to beat Wolves.
However, an improving Wanderers are unlikely to succumb easily. While Wolves still sit bottom of the table going into Premier League week 8, they took the lead in each of their last three matches and held Tottenham (1-1) and Brighton (1-1) to draws in tough tests before the international break.
Their performance at Spurs had some particularly positive indicators with Vitor Pereira’s matching their hosts throughout, and they were perhaps a little unfortunate to concede a 94th-minute Joao Palhinha equaliser.
Four of Wolves’ last five Premier League contests have now produced goals at both ends, so the Molineux men could trade blows with Sunderland in similar style.
The Black Cats have also been weakened by injuries, with Noah Sadiki and Omar Alderete, who both picked up issues while on international duty, joining an increasingly crowded treatment room. That should even the playing field even more here, so expect a competitive clash.
Tip: Both teams to score (1/1)
Fulham v Arsenal
Premier League leaders Arsenal signed off before the international break with a routine 2-0 win over West Ham, another positive result against a rival from the capital. The Gunners have lost only one of their last 18 London derbies, so they look well-equipped to keep that run going at Fulham.
For all the continued criticism around their style of football, Arsenal have won 80% of their ten competitive fixtures this season, while keeping an impressive seven clean sheets in the process.
Mikel Arteta’s team have dropped points on each of their last two trips to Craven Cottage, though Fulham might struggle to lay a glove on them this time. The watertight Gunners defence has restricted their last six Premier League opponents to fewer than 10 shots, while just six clubs have performed worse than the Cottagers for xG (7.30).
Braver bettors might fancy Arsenal to win this one to nil at 7/5, though there is enough wiggle room in the prices to plump for a standard away victory here at 1/2.
Fulham looked vulnerable in back-to-back 3-1 defeats against Aston Villa and Bournemouth before the pause for international football, and with fitness concerns around Rodrigo Muniz, Raul Jimenez and Antonee Robinson, they could be shorn of some key components.
Tip: Arsenal to win (1/2)
Premier League Week 8 Super Sunday Matches
Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa
Spurs climbed up to third spot in the table courtesy of a 2-1 win over Leeds at Elland Road before the international break, though they didn’t convince, losing the expected goals battle (1.70 to 0.60) in a smash and grab triumph.
In fact, quite a few of their games under Thomas Frank have followed the same pattern. Tottenham have manufactured less in xG than five of their last six Premier League opponents, which points to worrying signs in their underlying performances.
Aston Villa meanwhile, are finally on an upward trajectory following a slow start to the season. Unai Emery’s side hit a four-game winning streak before the international break, which included two Premier League victories over Fulham (3-1) and Burnley (2-1).
Ollie Watkins, John McGinn and Morgan Rogers seem to have shaken off their early-season cobwebs and with those three firing, we fancy Villa to make themselves a nuisance in North London,.
The Villans have already beaten Spurs twice in 2025 and also came up trumps in two of their last three visits to Tottenham in the capital. Frank still can’t call on the services of injured forwards James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Dominic Solanke, Randal Kolo Muani, while Yves Bissouma’s absence leaves a sizable gap in midfield.
Aston Villa, who have conceded just four times in their last seven games in all competitions, look well set-up to counter-punch their way to at least a point here, with their prices in the Double Chance market holding great appeal at 8/11.
Tip: Aston Villa / Draw Double Chance (8/11)
Liverpool v Man Utd
Three successive defeats before the international break has scared the markets ahead of Liverpool’s clash with rivals Manchester United at Anfield. Despite that, Arne Slot’s side remain too good to pass on here at a price of 4/7.
A dominant Liverpool have lost just one of their last 14 Premier League meetings with United, with the Red Devils winless in nine previous trips to Anfield since their 1-0 win on Merseyside back in 2016.
But that’s not all. Under the watch of Rubem Amorim, Man Utd have played 17 away fixtures in the Premier League, winning just three times, drawing five and losing the other nine, while conceding at a rate of 1.70 goals per game.
The international break arrived at the perfect time for Liverpool, allowing for a reset following their mini-slump, and we expect them to hit the ground running on Sunday.
United shipped three goals in each of their last two away games at Man City (0-3) and Brentford (3-1), and their defensive malpractice tends to be consistently exposed on the road. Expect them to struggle again in front of the Kop.
In Mohamed Salah, who has more goal involvements against United (19 – 13 goals, 6 assists) than any other player in the history of the Premier League, Liverpool also have a true derby specialist.
Combining a home win plus Salah to score/assist bumps prices up to Even money for those interested in a worthwhile double, though a standard home win is our primary play for Sunday.
Tip: Liverpool to win (4/7)
Premier League Week 8 Monday Night Football
West Ham v Brentford
Timing is everything in football and Brentford might feel that they are meeting West Ham at the worst possible time on Monday evening.
New Hammers boss Nuno Espirito Santo is set to lead his charges out at the London Stadium for the first time since his appointment, a circumstance that could tip the balance in the Hammers’ favour against the Bees.
Brentford have lost all three Premier League away games since the summer, shipping eight goals along the way. Tactically speaking, the Bees’ long throws, direct passes and set-piece reliance just aren’t as effective on their travels.
Indeed, only Burnley have performed worse than Keith Andrews’s side on the road since August, so there’s a solid case for opposing Brentford again here.
West Ham conceded just once from open play in their 2-0 loss to Arsenal before the international break, with the Gunners’ second goal delivered from the penalty spot, while they restricted Everton to just 0.70 in xG in a 1-1 draw with the Toffees before that.
Both performances had hallmarks of Espirito Santo’s defensive discipline and the Irons should be motivated and well-drilled again for the visit of Brentford. Under 2.5 goals (17/20) could be a snug fit here, though a West Ham win at 6/4 is also of interest.
Tip: West Ham to win (6/4)
