Weekend tips: Nunez and Lewandowski to score, Man City win

The Nap

Erling Haaland is already breaking Premier League record just five games into Manchester City career. The big Norwegian scored nine goals in the month of August, the most by any Premier League player in history.

Haaland has clearly given the Citizens another dimension in attack, and Pep Guardiola’s men travel to a woefully out of sorts Aston Villa on Saturday evening. Villa played OK but were beaten by Arsenal in midweek. They have also lost to Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and West Ham and boss Steven Gerrard may not have a job for much longer if results do not change.

Asked if he had concerns about his job, Gerrard told BT Sport: "Of course I do. If I stood here and said I wasn't concerned I think you'd look at me as though I was from a different planet."

Since Gerrard's first game in charge last November, Villa have won 11 and lost 16 Premier League games. Three points from five matches so far is a poor return given the fixture list they’ve had, and City are 4/11 favourites to win at Villa Park. That looks a fair price given Villa have won only one of their last nine league games. Haaland is odds-on across the board to score in the match, but it is unclear how long he will get on Saturday in terms of minutes with City set to start their 2022/23 Champions League odyssey with a trip to Sevilla next week.

Guardiola’s men have looked lethal in front of goal but vulnerable at the back in their matches so far. They are clearly missing Aymeric Laporte at the heart of their defence and have conceded five goals in as many matches to this point. With this in mind, it could be worth taking the 2/1 on offer about the champions winning a game that features four or more goals.

The Nap – Manchester City to win & over 3.5 goals at 2/1 (Paddy Power)

 

Value Tip

Southampton have not kept a clean sheet in their last 16 Premier League on the road, but there is reason to believe they can beat Wolves at Molineux.

Ralph Hasenhuttl looks to be building something exciting on the south coast, and Southampton were good value in that 2-1 win over Chelsea on Tuesday night. Armel Bella-Kotchap has impressed since joining in the summer, and the youngster can help his team claim back-to-back Premier League wins on Saturday.

Wolves did the double over the Saints last season but it has been a bit of grind so far for Bruno Lage’s men so far this terms. Wolves look quite vulnerable defensively, and have been unlucky with injuries too. All things considered, they look too short at 6/5 and Hasenhuttl’s look real value at odds bigger than 2/1 in the 1x2 market.

Value Tip – Southampton to win at 12/5 (Betfred/Unibet)

 

First Goal Flutter 

Darwin Nunez has now served his three-match ban, meaning Jurgen Klopp's attacking options are growing ahead of Saturday's Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool.

It was evident during Wednesday’s dramatic 2-1 win over Newcastle that the Reds are missing the creative nous of Thiago Alcantara in midfield. However, they still managed to create a load of chances against the Magpies and if, as expected, Nunez starts he could be worth a flutter at 4s to score first.

By his own sky-high standards, Mo Salah has not enjoyed a flying start to the season but Nunez has certainly been in the headlines. He scored in the Community Shield and then on his full Premier League debut against Fulham in a breathless 2-2 draw on the opening weekend. However, the Uruguay international then endured a nightmare home debut when he was dismissed for violent conduct against Crystal Palace at Anfield.

He looks the real deal of course and should be rested and fired up to prove a point if he is given the nod by Klopp. Liverpool have kept six clean sheets in their last 11 games at Goodison and look good things to win against their city rivals on Saturday, with Nunez getting the party started by scoring first.

First Goal Flutter – Nunez to score first at 4/1 (bet365/Skybet)

 

The Euro Banker

Robert Lewandowski has settled right in at Barcelona, making a mockery of those who alluded he wasn’t worth pursuing given his age. He may have just turned 34 years old, but he has settled into life in Catalonia quickly with four goals in his first three La Liga games for Barca.

Lewandowski’s goals also mean he currently tops the early goal scoring charts in Spain’s top flight (along with Iglesias) on four. That is one more than another lethal veteran, Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema.

With the Blaugrana attack already starting to click, Lewandowski looks a decent bet at 3/1 to score first against Sevilla on Saturday night. Sevilla have made a miserable start to their domestic season – winless after three games - and will also have one eye on next week’s Champions League clash with Manchester City. With this in mind Lewandowski, the gnarled veteran who just cannot stop scoring, looks a punt at 3/1 to score first at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium.

The Euro Banker – Lewandowski to score first at 3/1 (Bet365/888 Sport)