Home of football statistics and historyWe’re closing in on the next set of Premier League games, and there’s so many storylines spreading and intersecting that it’s hard to keep track. Across the league there are multiple crises, teams flying high, and managers on the verge of disaster.
The quality of the league is so high nowadays, and the quality is spread so well across all teams, that it often comes down to a handful of players across the entire league to swing games and decide matchups. Here are four players this weekend who could transform games and influence odds this weekend.
João Pedro (Chelsea vs Everton)
Chelsea have got a tough matchup in the early Saturday morning kick-off with an away trip to Everton, who have had an excellent start to the season and are still unbeaten. João Pedro has been Chelsea’s sharpest finisher, netting 5 league goals, highlighted by his two-goal showing in the 5–1 rout of Bournemouth. Chelsea’s defense has surrendered 13 goals, making offensive output essential.
Traveling to face an unbeaten Everton unit that has conceded only five times, Pedro’s ability to link play in the pockets and finish half-chances will dictate whether Chelsea take all three points.
Erling Haaland (Manchester City vs Ipswich Town)
Like any week, Erling Haaland is bound to be a defining piece of any game he plays in. The current top scorer of the league playing for the current first-place team will always be a focus for bettors, and this week is no different.
Manchester City remain perfect at 6–0–0 after winning 3–0 at Anfield in Gameweek 6. Haaland paces the division with 6 goals in six appearances and faces an Ipswich side that has shipped 12 goals already this season. That gap has made him one of the most backed players in the league, with bettors using resources like the William Hill promo code to get involved in goalscorer markets. Haaland’s box positioning and physical superiority on second deliveries will challenge Ipswich’s central defenders for 90 minutes.
Bradley Barcola (Brentford vs Liverpool)
The underperformance of Liverpool’s most expensive stars has been a major talking point inside and outside of the Liverpool fanbase. Their most recent addition, winger Bradley Barcola, was also a topic of conversation after a £120m move from PSG, but a hattrick against LASK in the Champions League on Wednesday might have changed the mood a little.
Against an unbeaten Brentford side sitting 4th in the standings, Liverpool need dynamic 1v1 play out wide to break down Thomas Frank’s compact midfield lines, and with the boost Barcola has hopefully had to his confidence, Barcola could be the most important player on the pitch.
Bruno Fernandes (Leeds United vs Manchester United)
Manchester United is falling into a full-on crisis at this stage. The worst start to a season in four decades, players in rebellion against the owners, and their best players are not firing. Bruno Fernandes is United’s best player, and he’s so crucial to the Red Devils that if he doesn’t play well, United don’t play well.
They head to Leeds, one of their biggest rivals, who are also the favourites among bookmakers and sit above them in the table. Bruno will need to be at his best, creating chances against a low block and snuffing out direct transitions before they begin.
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