Premier League Preview: Liverpool v Man Utd + Walcott Tipped To Slay Swans

Premier League football returns from the international slumber tomorrow and there are plenty of big games to look forward to over the next three days so here is a guide to the weekend action and some betting tips.

Liverpool v Man Utd

Obviously the big game of matchweek 8 sees Liverpool entertain Manchester United at Anfield on Monday night and it’s got all the ingredients to be a classic.

It’s easy to see why Liverpool are now one of the favourites for this season’s title with the latest Premier League odds showing Jurgen Klopp’s men are second only to Manchester City at best odds of 9/2.

The Merseysiders have been in excellent form for much of the season with a 4-3 victory over Arsenal at the Emirates on the opening weekend setting the tone for further positive results against the likes of Tottenham, Chelsea and Leicester City.

A run of four consecutive victories has seen Liverpool climb to fourth in the table – three points above United – with 16 points from their opening 7 games, which is an excellent return when you consider the teams they’ve already played.

If Klopp can secure another victory over fierce rivals United on Monday night then we will have to take them seriously this season and I can certainly see the home side taking at least a point from the game.

United spent heavily in the summer as Jose Mourinho brought in several world class players to put his own stamp on the team he inherited from Louis van Gaal but things haven’t quite clicked as yet.

Four wins and 13 points from their first seven games is an average return for a club like United and it’s actually a worse start than under van Gaal last year so there are improvements to be made at Old Trafford.

United started the new campaign as second favourites for the title but they’ve now drifted behind the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham and you can now get best odds of 16/1 – another defeat at Anfield on Monday would see those odds drift even further.

Liverpool have some injury doubts for the game but I fully expect a roaring Anfield crowd to push Klopp’s men on and am backing the hosts to take at least a point on Monday night.

Walcott to slay Swansea

Theo Walcott endured a poor campaign last season and was tipped by many to leave Arsenal in the summer but he stayed at the Emirates, worked hard to regain his first team place and has been in excellent form so far.

The 27-year-old has five goals and three assists in his 8 appearances in all competitions so far and I can see him being the key man when Arsenal take on Swansea at the Emirates on Saturday. First scorer at 5/1 looks a good bet to me.

The Swans have been extremely poor this season and languish down in 17th place while Arsenal recovered from a sloppy start with five wins on the bounce seeing them climb to third spot in the table.

Alexis Sanchez has adjusted to his new role up front while new boy’s Granit Xhaka and Shkodran Mustafi have settled in superbly so this could finally be the year we see the Gunners make a real push for the title.

This fixture saw Swansea dent Arsenal’s hopes last season but I think the north Londoners have a new resolve this year and feel they’ll ease to victory tomorrow to make it six wins on the spin and keep the pressure on the league leaders.

Best of the rest

Chelsea entertain defending champions Leicester at Stamford Bridge on Saturday lunchtime and Antonio Conte is expected to stick with his newly-found 3-4-3 formation.

Neither side have hit top form yet and I actually can’t see either finishing in the top four this season unless they start to put a good run of form together. A score draw could be on the cards tomorrow.

Man City slipped up at Spurs last time out but I fully expect Pep Guardiola’s men to see off Everton at home while Tottenham should keep the pressure on with a hard fought win at West Brom.