European Weekend Action! This weekend will see Chelsea oppose Brentford, a thrilling match that might find some surprise. If Chelsea are indeed favorites and see it as a must-win fixture, Brentford’s academy and head coach Thomas Frank have proved to the world they have more than one trick up their sleeves. They however have not started the season on the right foot, only racking up three victories and ten points. But Chelsea’s chaotic leadership and the struggles of some players (Mudryk, Silva) have seen them drop points when they should not have. But it’s also true that they can turn up against giants, as they did against Arsenal (2-2). Chelsea is a team in growth, almost impossible to predict. Depending on the number of mistakes, they could have a very easy or an incredibly hard game against Brentford.
Arsenal and Liverpool face respectively Sheffield United and Nottingham Forest at home, two must-wins but also important clashes nonetheless in light of the coming weeks. It is expected that both teams will be rotating players against a weaker opponent after mid-week games before the next European games kick in. It’s a season-defining choice, looking at the injuries many teams in Europe at the elite level have faced.
As for Napoli, the game against A.C. Milan is a must-win in this weekend’s fixture. Four points separate the South Italians from ‘Il Rossoneri’, and in light of a rather uninspiring season, this is the type of clash that can convert high-end teams to elite winners. Napoli might have won against Union Berlin (1-0), and while Milan lost against Paris Saint-Germain (0-3), but Napoli will need a victory more than ever in light of the ‘Osimhen Case’, as the Nigerian’s camp rather looks reluctant to renew with the club.
Chelsea vs Brentford Match Info
- Date: Saturday, October 28, 2023
- Kick-off time: 12:30 p.m. local time (6:30 a.m. ET/ 3:30 a.m. PT)
- Location: Stamford Bridge (London, England)
- Official: Simon Hooper
Chelsea vs Brentford Predictions and Odds
- Pick: Draw
- Odds: +320 (Tonybet)
Chelsea need to win without a doubt, but they showed both their strength and weaknesses against Arsenal (2-2). A team with great potential, yet still in the process of building and solidifying its foundation. Brentford hasn’t convincingly won in a while, and it’s most likely to happen against a team in transition. Chelsea, like Mudryk, is learning a lot. Enzo is indeed a joy to watch, but alone, he is not able to do much. Cole Palmer has proven to be a valuable asset, but there are still numerous uncertainties casting shadows over Chelsea’s situation.It’s probably best if Chelsea don’t overrush their attack, or they might face serious counter-attacks from their opponents.
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Chelsea vs Brentford Betting Tips
- Pick: Cole Palmer to score anytime
- Odds: +173 (Tonybet)
Cole Palmer has had a great start for Chelsea while Mudryk is still struggling. Against Brentford’s weakened defense, it’s reasonable to expect ‘outsiders’ — players that are not scorers but who are often involved in progression to find themselves in scoring positions, such as Cole Palmer.
Arsenal vs Sheffield United Main Match Info
- Date: Saturday, October 28, 2023
- Kick-off time: 3 p.m. local time (11 a.m. ET / 8 a.m. PT)
- Location: Emirates Stadium (London, England)
- Official: Tim Robinson
Arsenal vs Sheffield United Match Predictions and Odds
- Pick: Arsenal to win
- Odds: -714 (Tonybet)
Arsenal are a force to be reckoned with, while Sheffield are struggling on both ends of the pitch. It’s pretty hard to see Sheffield take anything home away at the Emirates, when Arsenal will come with anger following the disappointment against Chelsea (2-2) and a decent game against Sevilla in Europe. Sheffield, on the other hand, has pretty much already lost it all.
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Arsenal vs Sheffield United Betting Tips
- Pick: Nketiah to score anytime
- Odds: +116 (Tonybet)
Following Gabriel Jesus’ inspiring performance in Europe, this game should be a relaxer where Arsenal will rip apart its opponent and where a few rotations are to be expected. Given Nketiah’s record in the Premier League with Arsenal, one would expect the forward to take his chances and show Arteta why he deserves the chance he’s given. He’s indeed among the great players that will gain importance, and this is the perfect moment for him to insist on his importance for the team.
Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest Main Match Info
- Date: Sunday, October 29, 2023
- Kick-off time: 2.p.m local time ( 8 a.m. ET / 5 a.m. PT)
- Location: Anfield (Liverpool, England)
- Officials: Chris Kavanagh
Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest Prediction and Odds
- Pick: Liverpool to win
- Odds: -357 (Tonybet)
There is very little evidence to suggest that Nottingham has a chance to secure any points, especially when playing at Anfield. Liverpool might have been inconsistent throughout this season, but in open games against open defenses, this is Liverpool’s savoir-faire. And with Nottingham’s notorious back-line problems, there is nothing more certain than the front line of Liverpool taking advantage of it and scoring a few goals.
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Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest Betting Tips
- Pick: Liverpool to score over 2.5 goals
- Odds: -112 (Tonybet)
With Liverpool’s notorious hunger under notorious head coach Jürgen Klopp, football fans should just enjoy the show, grab some popcorn and call it a day. Liverpool, fueled by the roaring Anfield crowd, will enter the match with a voracious appetite for victory. Time and again, they have demonstrated their prowess against open defenses, showcasing their relentless pursuit of success.Forest is in a bad, very bad spot.
Napoli vs Milan Main Match Info
- Date: Sunday, October 29, 2023
- Kick-off time: 8:45 p.m. local time ( 2:45 p.m ET / 11:45 a.m PT)
- Location: Diego Armando Maradona Stadium (Napoli, Italy)
- Official: Unknown yet
Napoli vs Milan Match Prediction and Odds
- Pick: Draw
- Odds: +245 (Tonybet)
Napoli and Milan find themselves in comparable positions, possessing squads with remarkable talent yet also displaying several noticeable weaknesses. The Osimhen situation is looming over Napoli’s camp, while Milan still need to decide whether Pioli is the right man, too naive as he used a high-line against PSG’s forwards, a total suicide mission. Napoli might have great forwards, but Milan’s midfield is largely able to take on the mission, without forgetting the major Leao element. All to fight for, it’s easy to see the two teams cancelling each other out.
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Napoli vs Milan Betting Tips
- Pick: Rafael Leao to score anytime
- Odds: +316 (Tonybet)
The progression in Leao’s performance makes it evident that he has a knack for scoring. Pulisic is still finding his ground and has consistency issues he’s working on, while Leao is increasingly becoming more of a goal threat. Milan can expect the Osimhen issue to tickle Napoli for the worse of the South Italians, while AC Milan’s midfield will be key to ensure the ball arrives to Leao, who is pretty hard to defend against in the 1v1.