Antonio Conte's Chelsea to continue their good start to the season, plus four more weekend selections from inside the M25
8/11 – Chelsea to beat Watford
History certainly does not favour Watford ahead of their first home game this season, having not won in their last 10 meetings with Chelsea.
And following their 1-1 draw with Southampton last week, they have now won just one of their last seven in all competitions, a 3-2 win against rock-bottom Aston Villa.
The goal-shy Hornets scored just 40 goals last term – the third-fewest in the league – and will find no comfort in the fact that Chelsea were only out-scored by five teams away from home last season.
9/20 – Tottenham to beat Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace’s season started in the same way to how the previous one finished – with defeat.
A trip to Tottenham, then – team that did the double over them last campaign – is hardly an ideal fixture for Alan Pardew’s beleaguered team.
Spurs failed to beat just two of the bottom eight sides last season, while they lost only twice in the league at White Hart Lane all season.
That does not bode well for Palace, who are without a win away from home in 12 – with their last one coming against West Brom on 19 December.
Their record against the top four last season, meanwhile – taking just one point from eight games – offers little reason for optimism.
Evens – West Ham to beat Bournemouth
West Ham will make their Premier League bow at the London Stadium having lost just one of their last 17 league home games at the Boleyn.
The Hammers are up against Bournemouth, a side that claimed just four away points against the top nine teams last season.
Eddie Howe’s team travel to the capital having won just one in nine, losing seven of those matches.
The Cherries also lost 18 games in total last season – the most of any team that were not relegated.
Preston North End have started their second season back in the Championship poorly, losing three matches out of three.
The Lilywhites have, in fact won just one league match in their last 10 – a 2-1 win against Reading in an end-of-season dead rubber.
Good news for QPR, then, after winning two from three of their opening matches and having lost just one of their last seven home matches, winning six.
Evens – Millwall to beat Sheffield United
Millwall are unbeaten at the New Den in their last nine league matches, drawing just one.
The Lions’ impressive run stretches back to 16 February, and in that time Sheffield United have won just two away from Bramall Lane.
While the Blades’ 3-0 loss against Southend put paid to the midweek tips, it also punctuated a poor start for the South Yorkshire side, who remain winless this season.
And worse yet for Chris Wilder’s side, they failed to win away from home against any top-six side last season.
A £10 bet on this five-fold accumulator returns £209.57*.
*Odds and amounts correct at the time of publication, but subject to change. See site for latest.
