So much action this mid-week, with League Cup in England, Europa League starting and the usual stops we make on our predictions newsletter tours, such as the Netherlands, Russia and Scotland among others.
Things can be a bit overwhelming, but that is what you have us here at EPLNews.org for, to help you shut out the noise and find the right tips for you.
As usual, do make sure to check out our YouTube channel for the best content related to the Premier League and beyond.
This is a relatively super-sized article, with no fewer than 17 great value lines for you to choose from, so grab a drink, relax and go through our selections.
Let’s see what we have, shall we?
Elche vs Real Madrid – Real Madrid to win + to score over 1.5 goals (1.61)
Our first recommendation comes from Spain, where Real are understandably expected to get all 3 points on the road against Elche.
Real has won 5 of their last 6 away matches and 6 of their last 8 away games against Elche, scoring at least 2 goals in 7 of those matches.
Spartak Moscow vs Fakel – Spartak Moscow to win (1.40)
Over to Russia to check in on a game in the capital.
Spartak has won 10 of their last 13 home matches, including 6 of the last 7 head-to-head meetings in Moscow.
West Ham vs Fulham – Double chance of draw or West Ham to win (1.65)
While this might be a Championship club against a Prem side, Fulham are simply not good enough at the moment and we are fancying the Hammers to get a result, as they usually do when hosting Fulham.
West Ham has lost only 2 of their last 15 home matches against Fulham, winning 10 of them.
Ipswich Town vs Arsenal – Arsenal to win (1.40)
Another match-up from the League Cup’s third round and even despite the likely squad rotation for the Gunners, they should still be able to win this comfortably.
Arsenal has won 7 consecutive matches and has also won 7 of their last 8 head-to-head meetings with Ipswich.
Barcelona vs Real Racing Club – Barcelona to score over 3.5 goals (1.65)
Hansi Flick’s side have been relentless in front of goal this season and it has led them to a perfect start to the campaign.
Barcelona has won all 6 matches this season, scoring at least 4 goals in 5 of them.
Lokomotiv Moscow vs Krylya Sovetov – Double chance of draw or Krylya Sovetov to win (1.77)
Back to Russia for one more pick.
Lokomotiv has won only 1 of their 11 matches this season (D5, L5), whereas Krylya Sovetov has lost only 2 matches so far (W3, D6).
Real Sociedad vs Bournemouth – Over 2.5 goals (1.72)
Goals are the name of the game and we expect a good few in this Europa League clash.
At least 3 goals were scored in 4 of Real Sociedad’s first 6 matches this season, as well as in 4 of Bournemouth’s first 5 matches.
Liverpool vs Tottenham – Over 2.5 goals (1.45)
The headline duel in the third round of the English League Cup brings Spurs to Anfield and, it needs to be said, these teams love scoring against each other.
8 of the last 10 head-to-heads brought 3 or more goals.
Reading vs Brentford – Over 2.5 goals for Brentford (1.90)
Brentford have been in fine form in attack this season, scoring in every game they played in all competitions, including a 6-1 win over Championship side Birmingham in the previous round of the League Cup. Now they face League One’s Reading and the difference in quality will be even bigger.
Ajax vs Willem II – Over 1.5 goals for Ajax in the 2nd half (1.70)
If you only pick one of our tips this mid-week, make sure it is this one.
Ajax are massive favourites to win this game, priced at 1.10 for the outright, and have won 4 of their last 5 games in all competitions (L1). They have scored 2 or more goals in the second half of all of those victories.
Falkirk vs Hearts – Hearts to win (1.85)
Over to Scotland and we are backing last season’s Premiership runners-up, who have also started this campaign quite well.
Hearts are unbeaten in their last 9 outings in all competitions (W6, D3), while Falkirk have lost 3 of their last 5 (D2). Hearts also have the upper hand in recent direct meetings with Falkirk, winning 4 of the last 5 (D1).
Manchester United vs Brighton – Over 2.5 goals (1.45)
Another all-Prem duel in the League Cup and we should see enough goals here too.
3 or more were scored in 3 of United’s last 5 fixtures, 4 of Brighton’s own last 5, and in all of the last 5 head-to-heads.
AC Milan vs Benfica – BTTS (1.60)
This looks like a legacy Champions League duel taking place in the Europa League, especially since there are 9 UCL title wins combined between these clubs.
Both sides have scored and conceded in 3 of AC Milan’s 4 matches and in 8 of Benfica’s 11 official games so far this season.
Manchester City vs Norwich – Manchester City to win on a -2.0 Asian handicap (1.58)
Hard to imagine a huge upset here, isn’t it?
Manchester City tend to win by big margins when facing lower-league opponents in early stages of cup competitions domestically and have beaten Norwich by 4 or more goals in all of the last 3 H2Hs.
Lillestrom vs Torreense – Lillestrom to win (1.55)
A truly unique situation in the Europa League, with a newly-promoted club hosting a lower-league one.
Torreense are the first club from a country’s second division to feature in the Europa League since its revamp and are in the midst of a poor run of form, only winning 1 game this season (D3, L3). Meanwhile, Lillestrom have picked up form at just the right time, winning their last 3 matches in a row.
Groningen vs Zwolle – Over 3.5 goals (2.10)
And over to the Netherlands for our last 2 picks, with the first one from the top league.
4 of each team’s 6 respective games this season ended with 4 or more goals scored.
Jong Utrecht vs Venlo – Over 2.5 goals (1.42)
And the final one from one of our favourite sources of goals, the Eerste Divisie.
7 of Jong Utrecht’s 8 matches this campaign, along with 5 of Venlo’s own 6, ended with 3 or more goals scored.