James Buttler looks ahead to the ninth weekend of Premier League action and picks out the best bets with a treble.
Aston Villa v Bournemouth
Unai Emery and Villa's journey has gone to the next level this season with a 100% Champions League record after three matches and they are six Premier League games unbeaten, with a 3-1 win over Fulham the most recent success. Villa have three successive clean sheets at home and are unbeaten in all competitions in 10 matches with eight wins and two draws.
On that basis, Aston Villa is the betting play, but Bournemouth beat Arsenal 2-0 last weekend, so they’re surely worth a look. But all of their success has come at home, with an away record that has seen them claim four points from 12, just one win away at Everton and two successive away defeats, 3-0 at Liverpool and 1-0 at Leicester. Andoni Iraola has made progress, but Villa may be a step too far.
Manchester United played out the most boring match in EPL history last time at Villa Park, but prior to that both Everton and Wolves had three goals put past them in defeats. Villa do have a tendency to concede the first goal and both Everton and Wolves notched. You could play Villa to come from behind again, as they have in four of their last five Premier League matches games, winning three and one drawn. Villa to win and Both Teams To Score at 12/5 looks a decent option.
Brighton v Wolves
Brighton have overcome a four-match winless streak with a 3-2 home win over Spurs and a 1-0 away success at Newcastle. Their recent H2H against Wolves has seen them win four and draw once.
Wolves have lost seven and drawn one this season and even when they play well, like they did in their last match against Man City they still lose. Despite such a poor run, Wolves have scored at least one goal in seven of their eight league matches.
Brighton are unbeaten at home and should extend their good H2H record against Wolves, but let’s give the visitors a goal. Brighton and BTTS is 2/1.
Manchester City v Southampton
Manchester City have scored 11 goals across their four home league matches this season, winning all but the 2-2 draw with Arsenal. Both Teams To Score has landed in every one of those matches, but can you trust Southampton to score, I’m not convinced. Although they have lost all four away matches and scored once in the last three.
City are unbeaten in 34 home league games and they’ve beaten far better sides than a Saints team that have mustered just one point all season.
This match has the potential to be incredibly one-sided, but it’s how you find some value with Pep’s boys a very short 1/8 to win. Over 3.5 match goals is odds-on at 8/11, but I’m taking over 3.5 City goals at 13/10.
Erling Haaland is often described as a flat track bully, Southampton provide such a surface, and the big Norewgian is 11/2 to grab another hat-trick.
James' Premier League Tips
Aston Villa to win and BTTS at 12/5
Brighton to win and BTTS at 2/1
Over 3.5 Man City goals vs Southampton at 13/10
That makes a 21.50/1 treble with Bet365.
And don’t forget the Haaland hattrick at 11/2.
As always, please gamble responsibly.