THEY say life’s about timing – and you can’t fault Pep Guardiola’s. The man who tired of life in Pompeii just before Vesuvius kicked off.
What kind of Man City emerge in his absence from the ashes of 114 Premier League charges that finally erupted into a verdict during the international break is a matter of some conjecture: 4-1 for the title, 13-8 to get relegated, 4-5 not to, or be allowed to, win a major trophy.
Last season, City were four points adrift of Arsenal at the turn of the year and went out and bought Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi for £84million. Can’t see a repeat of that sort of activity this term.
Still with the squad they have, Enzo Maresca has led his new side to a 100 percent record in the opening five games..
Enzo please note: Last season Liverpool won their first five league games. They scraped home in fifth and Arne Slot got sacked.
The other thing to consider with City is the old “Players always say what happens off the pitch doesn’t affect them” chestnut. But if your house is on fire, it’s hard to concentrate at work.
We’ll find out the effect so far tomorrow when City collide with another of the Prem’s unbeaten sides, Liverpool at Anfield.
While the performances haven’t exactly had the faithful on their feet, if Andoni Iraola avoids defeat he can become just the third permanent Liverpool manager to do so in his first six top-flight matches.
After Bob Paisley and Joe Fagan. Just the six league titles and three European Cups for Paisley and one of each for Fagan.
And Coral’s Dave Stevens has been reasonably impressed by the Spaniard’s start.
He said: “I’d give Iraola 7/10 so far and at this stage they look decent enough value at 8-13 for a top-four finish. “Maresca’s City era has started far better than I thought it would. However, I do see a blip coming at some stage, so 11-4 for the title can be left alone.
“City fans shouldn’t be expecting success like they had under Pep, those days are over, as United found out after Sir Alex.
“I’m surprised City are favourites in this, at 6-4, with the home side 13-8. The draw looks a massive player at 13-5, and I’ll play the score draw at around 3-1.”
Yes, Liverpool are unbeaten this term but are still yet to win at home, drawing with both Forest and Fulham. City can do better.
Reds’ £123m PSG signing Bradley Barcola is yet to come off and the back four is very much a work in progress.
City though looked settled and will be out to silence their universal detractors.
I make them favourites here and City win and BTTS is the selection at a widely-available 3-1.
In a poll on which City player most fans would like to sign, after Erling Haaland, it was Ryan Cherki – and the mercurial midfielder is a tidy 4-1 to score anytime with BetMGM.
Ry not?
Dark horse
11-1: Tie this weekend’s TV game anytime scorer selections – Martin Odegaard (for Arsenal v Leeds), Mohammed Kudus (Spurs v United), Tyrique George (Everton v Hull) and Ryan Cherki (City v Liverpool) – in a four-fold and cop 555-1 from Sky Bet. Any treble pays well north of 100-1.
A RECORD nine Premier League sides are in Europe this season. As Antonio Conte said: “In England, they’re using bazookas. Everywhere else, they’re using a pistol.”
Not quite. In the Champions League,Arsenal and Man City will do well to outgun the likes of Barcelona, holders PSG and Bayern Munich.
The Nou Camp side in particular. They’ve won all eight games so far, scored 36 goals and lead La Liga by five points already.
OURIGHT ODDS (best price): 9-2 Barcelona, 6-1 Arsenal, Bayern, PSG; 7-1 Real Madrid; 9-1 City; 16-1 Liverpool.
OUTRIGHT ODDS (best price): 7-1 Juventus; 10-1 Leverkusen, Bournemouth, Benfica; 11-1 AC Milan; 12-1 Palace; 14-1 Sunderland.
Prem sides have a great record in the Conference, though, with Palace, Chelsea and West Ham all winning it.
In-form Brighton are 3-1 favourites followed by 7-1 Atalanta, 15-2 Monaco and Ajax at 10-1.
As the man said, “two out of three ain’t bad.” Brighton, Bournemouth and Barcelona then, at 219-1 with Betway.
Goodwinners’ Enclosure
SURE is good to be Mikel Arteta. After his side got smashed off the pitch 3-0 at Brighton in the last game before the international break, he wasn’t worrying about his job.
No, instead he got a new £20million-a-year contract and Arsenal got cut to their shortest price of the season for the title, into 1-2 in the wake of Man City’s off-the pitch woes.
Slightly shorter in fact than their 1-3 quote to get back to winning ways today at home to Leeds.
But while that may look tempting, a few key injury concerns could make this the perfect opportunity for the visitors to spring a surprise in the early kick-off.
Leeds were in superb form before the break, unbeaten this term and fifth in the table. So that 13-2 they win could be the upset and the price of the weekend.
No upsets as far as England were concerned and that record 7-0 win in Croatia last week proved to be a particularly profitable outing for our backers.
We got knocked over in the rush here at BetGoodwin Towers as the punters piled into the Three Lions’ pre-match price of 8-11 price, with the over goals market also proving to be a rich hunting ground.
Of course, Man City have been the talk of the town after being found guilty of 114 financial charges leaving everyone asking what will be their punishment? The appeal is pending but we’ve boosted City to be deducted points for the 2026-27 season to 2-1!
City remain Arsenal’s nearest challengers at 11-4. But with relegation a definite possibility, they’ve been cut to 7-5 to go down. The three promoted sides lead the market with Coventry 2-5, Hull 4-6 and Ipswich 21-20.
The top-four race looks an intriguing opportunity, with Arsenal 1-100, City 1-4, Liverpool 4-7 and Chelsea 4-6. Is there value elsewhere? The Seagulls will be hoping to keep their impressive form flying after the break – and at 5-2 to they could prove an interesting play.
Andoni Iraola’s side have shown plenty of grit in recent games but face a tough test if Erling Haaland is fit. Best bet of the game in our book? Draw and BTTS at 16-5!
Finally, the BetGoodwin Banker Acca for this weekend is: Chelsea, Middlesbrough, Huddersfield and Rotherham all to win at a boosted 12-1!
TV previews
Arsenal v Leeds
EVEN champions need reality checks now and then and Arsenal got one at Brighton before the break.
That 3-0 defeat, their heaviest since May 2023, should focus minds down at the Emirates this lunchtime.
Leeds, fifth in the table and unbeaten, will be no pushovers. But they’ve lost the last five at Arsenal and conceded at least four in four of these visits.
Business as usual, Martin Odegaard to score anytime at a generous 4-1 with Sky Bet.
FORECAST: 3-1
Man United v Tottenham
BEING 10 points off the pace behind noisy neighbours City after five games was not what anyone envisioned for United this term.
And only one win. Still, look on the bright side, Roberto De Xerbi would bite your hand off for that.
His winless Spurs are bottom after spending over £300million this summer.
Two desperate sides should be great to watch tonight, with United deepening the North London gloom.
However, Mohammed Kudus is a tempting 5-1 to score anytime.
FORECAST: 4-2
Hull v Everton
NO sign yet of the Tigers tanking on their return to Prem after a nine-year absence.
Hull had a busy summer signing 18 players and, so far so good, one defeat in five games.
Everton’s record is even better – unbeaten in seven in all competitions, with five clean sheets.
This may not be pretty then but the far from complacent visitors can edge this – with Tyrique George a decent 7-2 with Betfair to score anytime.
FORECAST: 0-1
Top tips
Pro bet
Cambridge to beat Blackpool, Bradford to beat Orient, Stevenage to beat Wigan, Shresbury to beat Exeter, York to beat Northampton, Acca pays 28-1 with Coral.
Retirement bet
Bournemouth to win at Chelsea, Watford to beat Burnley, Lincoln to win at Sheff United, Burton to win at Doncaster, Bromley to win at Mansfield, Sheff Wed to win at Huddersfield, Accrington to win at Oldham, Cheltenham to beat Salford. Perm 1 x Acca, 8 x 7-folds, 28 x 6-folds. Acca pays 102,428-1 with bet365.
Away day
Brentfor to win at Villa, Walsall at Fleetwood, Gillingham at Rotherham, Chesterfield at Crawley. Acca pays 55-1 with bet365.
Top draw
Ipswich v Fulham, West Brom v Birmingham, Bolton v Stoke, Wycombe v Luton. Acca pays 157-1 with Betfred.
TV Special
Arsenal to beat Leeds, Man United to beat Spurs, Everton to win at Hull, Man City to win at Liverpool. Acca pays 11-1 with Coral.
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