football | Thursday, August 18, 2022 1:06 PM (Revised at: Sunday, August 21, 2022 10:52 AM)

Premier League Best Bets Aug 20th-22nd: Four Value Picks for Matchday 3

Daniel Jenkins

Premier League Best Bets: August 20th-22nd

We’re back with more Premier League best bets this weekend. Matchday 2 had plenty of talking points but things don’t stop in the Premier League. It’s been a profitable season for our best bets so far with a total return of +5.93 units so far in the tracked bets. Three of the four best bets from matchday 2 came in including a 5.00 punt on Brentford beating Manchester United. Let’s hope for a similar performance here.

In this article:

Fulham vs Brentford Preview & Best Bet
Leicester vs Southampton Preview & Best Bet
Newcastle vs Manchester City Preview & Best Bet
Man Utd vs Liverpool Preview & Best Bet

Fulham vs Brentford Preview

Saturday, August 20th, 15:00 (UK)

Fulham host Brentford for a fixture that both sides will see as winnable. It’s the first time they’ve ever met in the top flight and they first time they haven’t met in a cup game since the 2020 Championship Playoff Final. The Cottagers won that day but would trade places with the Bees a season later.

Brentford will be confident of getting a result here now that both sides are back in the top flight. They’ve only lost one of their last 19 away games against Fulham. That defeat was way back in 1990.

They’ve also started this sign on a fine run of form. They’ve continued where they left off last season. Brentford have won eight of their last 13 Premier League matches. Only Tottenham, Manchester City and Liverpool have earned more points in that time.

Fulham vs Brentford Best Bet

That’s why I find it surprising that Fulham are the favourites here. The bookies have the Asian line at Fulham -0.25 goals which feels a little harsh on the visitors. That’s why I’m backing them but I can’t ignore the possibility of the sides sharing the points. The double chance is the way to go considering the Bees have won or draw 10 of their 13 leagues matches with Fulham.

The odds are pretty low for that so I’m going to bring them up using a Builder. 85% of the league matches between these two goals have had at least two total goals in them. The Bees have had four total goals in both of their league matches so far so over 1 seems fair.

Selection: Brentford/Draw Double Chance & Over 1 total goals (TRACKED BET)
Best Odds: 2.00 (bet365)
Stakes: 8/10

More Fulham vs Brentford Tips

Leicester vs Southampton Preview

Saturday, August 20th, 15:00 (UK)

This struggling Leicester side host Southampton on Saturday afternoon. Both clubs are sat in the bottom 5 with a point each and a heavy defeat to a side from North London. The Foxes lost 4-2 to Arsenal last weekend while Southampton went down 4-1 to Tottenham on the opening day.

But the hosts will be confident heading into this one. They’re unbeaten in their last four matches against the Saints. It’s their longest unbeaten run of league matches against Southampton since the 1960s.

They’ll be buoyed by their record at the King Power. Leicester have only lost one of their last 10 Premier League home matches. That was against Everton back in May. Southampton, meanwhile, have struggled on the road. Their last Premier League away win was back in February. They’ve only taken one point from their last five matches on the road and that includes a trip to Leicester.

Leicester vs Southampton Best Bet

The Foxes are the favourites with the Asian line set at -0.5. That means that the bookies expect the hosts to win but not by too much. There are some definite issues at the club but they played pretty well in parts against Arsenal last week. Their defensive – and goalkeeping – issues have hung around despite the return of a fit Wesley Fofana.

Still, I back them to get at least something out of this match. It should be an entertaining one and it wouldn’t be a surprise if both teams get on the scoresheet. In light of that, I’m going for the Foxes to get something and over 2 goals.

Selection: Leicester/Draw Double Chance & Over 2 Goals (TRACKED BET)
Best Odds: 2.10 (bet365)
Stakes: 6/10

More Leicester vs Southampton Tips

Newcastle vs Manchester City Preview

Sunday, August 21st, 16:30 (UK)

The Sunday evening match sees Newcastle host Manchester City in the North-East. It’s a difficult place for most sides to go these days and City had struggled there for a long time. That all changed last season. Before the 2021/22 campaign, City had only won one of their previous six away league matches at Newcastle by more than one goal. That run included a draw and two defeats which would be music to the ears of punters on Sunday.

But City seemed to break their Newcastle curse last season. They won 4-0 at St. James’ Park before picking the Magpies apart 5-0 at the Etihad in May on their way to the title.

Things have changed up north since then. Only four of the players who started for Newcastle in that 4-0 defeat to Man City last December started again for them in the 0-0 draw with Brighton last week. The quality of players has seriously increased on Tyneside.

Newcastle vs Manchester City Best Bet

But of course, City are the major favourites. The Asian line is Man City -1.5 goals. That’s a lot for any team playing away from home. It feels a little harsh on Newcastle given their recent resurgence. I’d have it closer to -1 which provides value.

The 4-0 and 5-0 victories for Manchester City over Newcastle should be seen as outliers in this fixture. City usually struggle here and even moreso against this much-improved team. An evening game at St James’ Park will be loud which will be a big test for a Manchester City side that is still adapting to a new formation and style of play with Erling Haaland up top.

Selection: Newcastle +1.5 Asian Handicap (TRACKED BET)
Best Odds: 1.81 (10Bet)
Stakes: 8/10

More Newcastle vs Manchester City Tips

Manchester United vs Liverpool Preview

Monday, August 22nd, 20:00 (UK)

Manchester United sit bottom of the Premier League table after defeats in both of their opening matches. The 4-0 loss to Brentford at the weekend was a new low for the Red Devils. They now host a Liverpool side that has won three consecutive Premier League matches against them and scored 13 times in the process.

Another defeat here would set some unwelcome records for the hosts. It would be the first time United have lost all of their opening three Premier League matches in a season. It would make it five consecutive league defeats, their worst run since 1972. And finally, Erik ten Hag would become the first Manchester United manager to lose their first three league matches since John Chapman in 1921.

Their only hope is that Liverpool have struggled so far. The Reds are winless after drawing with Fulham and Crystal Palace. They’ll be without star summer signing Darwin Nunez who will serve the first of a three-match suspension.

Still, they won’t be worried about a lack of goals. Mohamed Salah has scored eight in his last four games against Man Utd – six of which came at Old Trafford. Another one and he will become the all-time top scorer in the history of this great fixture.

Manchester United vs Liverpool Best Bet

Manchester United were as high as 7.00 to win this match in the 1X2 odds. The only home Premier League match in the last 25 years that comes close to that figure was the Manchester Derby in April 2019. United were at 6.70 in that one.

Liverpool may be winless in their opening two but surely that won’t be the case on Tuesday morning. I’m expecting another massive win for Jurgen Klopp’s side after watching United last Saturday. I’m going big with small stakes here.