Last weekend’s accumulator was going rather well.
Arsenal won, both teams scored in the Aston Villa and Brentford game, and Brighton did their bit against Sunderland.
Three out of four. All we needed was Newcastle to beat Coventry.
Naturally, Newcastle lost 4-1.
As a Sunderland fan, I should probably be annoyed that they cost us the acca. But watching Newcastle get battered by a newly promoted side softened the blow considerably.
Some things are worth more than money.
Anyway, we’ve dusted ourselves off and found five more selections for this weekend. Five teams to win. What could go wrong?
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Everton vs Chelsea betting tips, team news and predictions
Manchester City to beat Ipswich
Let’s start with the least controversial selection of the weekend.
Manchester City have won all six of their Premier League matches and sit three points clear at the top.
Their latest result was a 3-0 win at Anfield, where they made Liverpool look like they’d accidentally wandered into the wrong fixture.
Erling Haaland scored again, Jeremy Doku caused havoc, and City barely looked troubled.
Ipswich have actually made a respectable start to the season. They’ve beaten Crystal Palace and Fulham, which is more than a few established Premier League clubs can say.
But there’s a difference between picking up points against struggling sides and going to the Etihad.
City have scored eight goals in their last two league matches. Ipswich might have a plan to stop them, but so did Liverpool.
That went well.
I’m not going to overcomplicate this one.
Pick: Manchester City to win
Hull to beat Fulham
This is where the acca gets a bit more interesting.
Hull are eighth in the Premier League. Fulham are bottom.
If you’d suggested that league table in August, you’d probably have been asked to put your phone down and get some sleep.
But six games in, Hull have given us more reasons to trust them than Fulham.
The Tigers drew 2-2 with Everton last weekend and have looked comfortable enough since returning to the top flight.
Fulham, meanwhile, have collected just two points from six games.
They even managed to lose 2-1 to Ipswich last time out.
I’m sure Fulham supporters are being told that performances will improve and results are just around the corner.
Perhaps they will.
But I’m not particularly interested in paying to find out.
Hull aren’t guaranteed anything at Craven Cottage, and this is probably the selection I’d be most nervous about.
Still, backing the team in eighth against the team in twentieth shouldn’t require quite as much soul-searching as it does.
Pick: Hull City to win
Brighton to beat Crystal Palace
It’s time for the Premier League’s strangest rivalry.
Brighton against Crystal Palace. Two clubs more than 40 miles apart, united by a mutual dislike that everyone outside the two fanbases is still trying to understand.
Call it a derby if you like. I’m not convinced.
What I am convinced about is Brighton’s form.
The Seagulls have won four consecutive matches across all competitions and sit third in the Premier League.
They beat Sunderland 2-0 last weekend, which I’m choosing not to dwell on.
Palace also picked up a decent result, beating Nottingham Forest 3-1, so they’re hardly arriving at the Amex waving a white flag.
But Brighton have been the more convincing side this season.
They’re creating chances, picking up results and looking like a team that could have another very good campaign.
Palace are capable of making this awkward, particularly given how much both sets of supporters care about the fixture.
Even if nobody else understands why.
Home advantage and current form are enough to swing it for me.
Pick: Brighton to win
Sign up to QuinnBet, deposit and place qualifying bets to get 50% back up to £25 as a Free Bet.
Arsenal to beat Nottingham Forest
Arsenal did their job for us last weekend.
It would be nice if they could make a habit of it.
Mikel Arteta’s side beat Leeds 2-1 and now travel to Nottingham Forest looking to keep themselves in the title conversation.
Forest have had a miserable time in front of goal at home.
They’ve failed to score in their last four home matches across all competitions, which is hardly ideal preparation for facing one of the league’s strongest defences.
Arsenal haven’t been flawless this season, but they’ve generally been good at getting results when they’re not playing particularly well.
And that’s what I’m banking on here.
Forest might make it ugly. They’ll probably defend deep, try to frustrate Arsenal and hope something falls their way.
There’s every chance this becomes one of those matches where Arsenal spend 70 minutes passing the ball around the opposition penalty area.
But they should have enough quality to find a way through.
I’m not expecting fireworks. Just three points.
Preferably without making us suffer until stoppage time.
Pick: Arsenal to win
Tottenham to beat Coventry
And finally, Tottenham.
Because apparently Newcastle ruining last week’s accumulator wasn’t enough punishment.
Coventry have already demonstrated that they can embarrass supposedly stronger Premier League sides.
Just ask Newcastle.
Actually, don’t. They’re probably still trying to explain how they conceded four.
Coventry’s 4-1 win was an excellent result, and Tottenham would be foolish to underestimate them.
Spurs haven’t exactly been setting the league alight themselves.
Their 1-1 draw against Manchester United last weekend continued a frustrating run, and there’s no guarantee they’ll suddenly produce a convincing performance on Monday.
But they’re at home, and they have more than enough attacking quality to win this fixture.
Coventry will arrive with confidence, although repeating last weekend’s performance against another established Premier League side is a big ask.
I expect Tottenham to create chances.
Whether they actually take them is another question entirely.
Still, I’m backing Spurs to get the job done.
If we’re waiting on them for the final leg on Monday night, I reserve the right to regret every word of this.
Pick: Tottenham to win
Premier League Accumulator tips
So, after Newcastle generously sacrificed last week’s fourfold for the greater good of Sunderland supporters everywhere, we’re going again.
This time, we’ve got five selections.
- Manchester City to beat Ipswich
- Hull City to beat Fulham
- Brighton to beat Crystal Palace
- Arsenal to beat Nottingham Forest
- Tottenham to beat Coventry
City look the most straightforward pick, while Arsenal should have enough to get past Forest.
Brighton are in excellent form, Hull are facing a Fulham side who can’t seem to buy a win, and Tottenham are being trusted with the final leg.
That last sentence already feels like something I’ll regret.
Last weekend, Newcastle cost us the acca and I still went to bed smiling.
If Tottenham do the same on Monday, I can assure you the reaction will be rather different.
Some links in this article are affiliate links. EPL Bets receives commission from qualifying activity made through these links. This does not affect the odds or offers available to you. Odds available at the time of writing. 18+. New customers only. Opt in required.
