Today’s Soccer Games: Schedule, Predictions & Results
The excitement is building in the Premier League and other domestic leagues as we are back in full swing with Champions League action and domestic cup play in the middle of the week followed by domestic league soccer games on the weekend.
Premier League teams are showing their dominance in the Champions League, so I will once again be focusing on the most talented domestic league in the world when discussing Saturday’s biggest games.
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Soccer Games Today: Full Daily Schedule
There are seven Premier League games scheduled for Saturday, making it the most jam-packed day of the week. Defending champions Arsenal are in action, alongside fan favorites Chelsea, Liverpool, and lowly Tottenham Hotspur.
Today’s Featured Soccer Games
AFC Bournemouth vs. Brentford FC, 10:00 a.m. ET (Peacock)
Aston Villa vs. Nottingham Forest, 10 a.m. ET (Peacock)
Chelsea vs. Hull City, 10 a.m. ET (USA)
Crystal Palace vs. Ipswich Town, 10 a.m. ET (Peacock)
Liverpool vs. Fulham FC, 10 a.m. ET (Peacock)
Tottenham Hotspur vs. Everton FC, 12:30 p.m. ET (NBC)
Sunderland AFC vs. Arsenal, 3 p.m. ET (USA)
Soccer Predictions & Best Matches to Watch
There’s still a lot of value to be had if you have been keeping an eye on teams’ early season performances. Lines are still inflated due to major moves before the transfer window closes, but those splashy headlines are unlikely to translate into top-tier play as chemistry needs to develop between players and their new clubs. That gives bettors some ways to take advantage with their soccer predictions this weekend.
Top Picks for Today’s Soccer Games
Once again, I will be backing AFC Bournemouth. It’s hard to overstate just how unfortunate the Cherries have been in their first three Premier League games this season. They took a 1-0 lead into the 84th minute on the road against Manchester City before surrendering two goals, and the Cherries looked set to beat Everton the following week before allowing a goal just after the 90-minute mark.
AFC Bournemouth were my top upset pick last week, and they largely outplayed Newcastle United on the road. The Cherries doubled up the Magpies in terms of shots and shots on goal, and they had a 2-0 lead 35 minutes into the match. Unfortunately, they surrendered a goal that halved the lead two minutes later, and then once again stumbled at 80 minutes. Jacob Ramsey scored in the 88th minute to give the hosts a draw, and Bournemouth were left wondering about what could have been once more.
Some observers might question Bournemouth’s match fitness or late-game strategy, but I believe they have just been unlucky. That’s why I will be backing the Cherries at +151 on the three-way line against Brentford FC on Saturday.
Elsewhere, I will jump at the chance to take Liverpool as a -227 moneyline favorite against Fulham at Anfield. The Reds are playing very good soccer, and I believe they will still eventually challenge Manchester City and Arsenal for league supremacy. Alexander Isak might finally be coming along after his brace inside of 10 minutes against Ipswich Town last week, and Liverpool showed a lot of heart in their comeback win over Atletico Madrid in Champions League play.
Fulham are a great team at home, but the Cottagers have historically struggled outside of the comfy confines of Craven Cottage. They failed to put a shot on target in their previous road game against Sunderland, and the Cottagers have suffered losses in all three of their Premier League matches to date.
When it comes to potential upsets, I do believe that Sunderland are a solid choice at +558 on the three-way line against reigning league champions Arsenal. The Black Cats finished 7th in the league last season, and they battled the Gunners to a 2-2 draw at the Stadium of Light last year. They have yet to be fatigued by the task of Europa League play, so don’t be surprised if they stun Arsenal on Saturday.
Key Factors Behind Predictions
One of my key tenets in sports betting is to zig when others zag. There is no value in going with the herd, so it’s usually a good thing to be a contrarian. That’s one of the reasons I am going against Arsenal, as the Gunners are not as indomitable as some believe given their performances. It’s also important to stay the course if you find a good angle, and that’s why I’m backing Bournemouth and Liverpool once more too.
Soccer Stats That Matter Today
Most models favor possession-based metrics when it comes to soccer stats. Futi and other analytic models have seen what made Spain and Pep Guardiola so successful, and they have employed that same thought process in their calculations.
Expected goals (xG) is another very important statistic. It is a quick shorthand to see the flow of the game and which team created more chances, and it can help determine if teams have been lucky or unlucky in their recent outings.
Team Performance Trends
Many observers are already saying the Premier League is a two-horse race between Manchester City and Arsenal, as those are the only two teams in the league with three wins in three matches. However, the Citizens and the Gunners have shown some cracks, and I wouldn’t be surprised if both clubs dropped points this week.
Key Metrics to Watch
Possession and xG are the two metrics that analysts rely on the most to tell the story of a match.
Top Soccer Players to Watch Today
Some of the top soccer players in the Premier League will be in action on Saturday with Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool all on the pitch. The Gunners have had incredible play from Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, and Declan Rice once more to start the season, although there are still potential fatigue issues after all three players were part of teams that made deep World Cup runs.
Star Players in Action
The players I want to focus on today though are Liverpool’s Alexander Isak and Chelsea’s Joao Pedro. Isak was the butt of many jokes last season, as he was one of the most expensive transfers ever when Liverpool acquired him last September.
However, he scored just three goals in 14 matches during an injury-laden campaign that saw the home crowd turn on him in a vociferous way. Isak looks ready to live up to his potential at Anfield with three goals in three Premier League matches this season, and he provided the game-winning assist against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
Impact Players & Rising Stars
Joao Pedro made no secret of the fact that he was extremely disappointed after being left off Brazil’s World Cup roster. Pedro was one of the Premier League’s most impactful players last season, and he probably deserved to be on the roster more than an aging Neymar. However, that has been great news for Chelsea, as Pedro did not have to deal with the World Cup grind, and he is already off to a flying start with two goals in three matches. His play up top is instrumental to Xabi Alonso’s attack, and I believe that Pedro has a good chance to be the Premier League’s Golden Boot winner.
Soccer Stadiums Hosting Today’s Games
There are quite a few famous soccer stadiums that will be hosting matches today. Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge is the oldest stadium in England and will turn 150 years old next year. Liverpool’s Anfield is a historic place, and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is one of the most state-of-the-art stadiums in the United Kingdom.
In other matches, Bournemouth will host at Vitality Stadium, Aston Villa will host at Villa Park, Crystal Palace will welcome its opponent to Selhurst Park, and Sunderland will play Arsenal at the Stadium of Light.
Notable Venues Today
Stamford Bridge and Anfield are iconic stadiums that will be hosting matches on Saturday. Stamford Bridge has undergone several renovations from when it first opened in 1877, but it is still a relatively small stadium for such a successful club with a capacity of 40,044 fans. Meanwhile, Anfield hosts over 60,000 fans and is still located within walking distance of Everton’s home stadium.
Home Advantage Insights
Historically, home teams in the Premier League win about half of their matches. We have seen that number slowly fall in recent years due to technological innovations, but it is still a major factor. Sunderland had one of the best home field advantages in the Premier League last season wit a 9-6-4 record at the Stadium of Light.
Public Betting Trends & Match Insights
Expect a lot of parlays involving major clubs like Liverpool, Chelsea, and Arsenal this week as many bettors will back the big teams no matter the price.
Public Action Overview
Home teams and big six clubs see a lot more action than everyone else in the Premier League. That has led to increasingly inflated lines with Tottenham, as the Spurs might be once again facing a relegation battle.
Situational Angles
Some outside observers might look to bet the Under in the Chelsea and Liverpool matches. Most soccer games have an over/under of 2 or 2.5 goals, but the Chelsea and Liverpool matches have a total set at 3.5 goals.
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