Simon Barlow tips up three Premier League games for this Sunday, including Chelsea v Aston Villa.
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Best bets
Aston Villa to beat Chelsea @ 14/5
Over 8.5 Liverpool corners v West Ham @ 17/10
Sheffield United to win or draw v Newcastle @ 7/4
Chelsea v Aston Villa (14:00)
Chelsea’s general play continues to be better than the results they produce, but what happens in the penalty areas matters most and that is where the Blues have been sadly lacking for some time now.
A goal from either Nicolas Jackson and Raheem Sterling, who were both denied by the woodwork in last Sunday’s dire 0-0 draw at Bournemouth, would have made all the difference and given Mauricio Pochettino’s side a much-needed boost.
However, there is still a feeling that Chelsea cannot be trusted at odds-on prices and particularly when their opponents at Stamford Bridge were one of the best away teams in the Premier League last term.
Two top-flight road defeats in three this season may explain why Villa are not shorter to take the spoils on Sunday.
But after returning pointless from St James’ Park and Anfield, where their hosts lost a combined total of three times last season, Unai Emery’s side go to a ground where Chelsea have tasted defeat seven times since the start of 2022-23 – including one inflicted by Nottingham Forest last time around.
Liverpool v West Ham (15:00)
No Premier League team have allowed their opponents to gain more corners than West Ham, who have faced 56 through their opening five games.
The way David Moyes sets his team up to defend, closing the spaces around the centre of the pitch and funnelling their opponents to the flanks, is designed to play into his side’s aerial strength in dealing with crosses.
Corners have become a byproduct of this approach and a Liverpool side that tallied 10 corners at home to Bournemouth, despite being reduced to 10 men, can get close to double figures again.
Sheffield United v Newcastle (16:30)
If Paul Heckingbottom has finally calmed down after Sheffield United’s stoppage-time implosion at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last weekend, he will perhaps view it as a performance that can become a foundation for survival.
The Blades are getting players back from injury, while the new additions are bedding in and it could all come together to produce their first win of the season this weekend.
Newcastle United are not in great form after three Premier League defeats in four and the hosts could be catching them at just the right time.
If the Magpies suffer any kind of Champions League hangover, the battling Blades will be able to take advantage.
