Football Tips: Thommo & trader Saturday best bets for Man Utd, Chelsea & Liverpool

We. Go. Again.

* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

Paddy Power football ambassador and Liverpool legend Phil Thompson has joined forces with one of our top football traders, Emmet O’Keeffe, to give you a comprehensive guide to Saturday’s biggest Premier League fixtures. The lads talk a little about each team’s prospects this season before delivering a bucket load of best bets for three big games of the day.

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First up is the mouth-watering Manchester United v Leeds United clash at Old Trafford at 12.30pm where Emmet thinks The Red Devils might not have it all their own way. At 3pm Chelsea welcome Crystal Palace to Stamford Bridge before Liverpool hop on the plane over to Norwich. So where is Thommo and Emmet’s hard-earned going?

12.30pm: Man Utd v Leeds

TV: BT Sport 1 and BT Sport Ultimate

Thommo

They don’t get much bigger than this. Manchester United v Leeds, the rivalry, the history. It is quite something. I’m looking forward to it. Manchester United scored 73 goals last season which is the most since 2012/13 but they conceded 28 at home which is the worst since 1962/63, so there’s a problem there.

I do expect Manchester United to Win, it’s going to be a great game. I am expecting Both Teams to Score but I do fancy Manchester United to Win. I think Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has done really well. He’s identified areas like in defence where he needed players.

Leeds were not bad, 9th last season. They won their final four games, scoring 12. I always think if teams have a good finish it sets them up for the following season. I expect the home side to win this one and I’m going for a decent scoreline, 3-1 to Manchester United.

Emmet

I think this is a great time for Leeds to play Manchester United. Kalvin Phillips might not play, he’s only returned to training recently, but Manchester United should be missing Marcus Rashford, Edinson Cavani, Jadon Sancho will probably start on the bench, and Raphael Varane is a likely absentee.

Having said that, I think they’ll be a really fun team to watch. I’d probably go for a 1-1 Draw in this match. Leeds played very defensively last time these two met and I can see them having a similar approach here.

Daniel James might be worth a look as the First Goal Scorer. He might get a start here and Solskjaer played him in both matches against Leeds last year with the idea being that James’ pace would exploit Leeds when they push numbers forward. I think, if he starts, Daniel James to Score First might be worth a look.

3pm: Chelsea v Crystal Palace

Thommo

Chelsea had 19 clean sheets under Thomas Tuchel last season which is quite extraordinary. But Timo Werner, four goals in 41 appearances. That is not good enough. I think Romelu Lukaku is a game-changer, I think it’s a fantastic signing. He’s reinvented himself. I thought he was terrible at Manchester United, it was like he’d fallen out of love with the game.

This game with Palace, you’re saying about teams to play at the right time, there’s none more than Palace at the moment. Patrick Vieira’s just getting his feet under the table, they’ve signed a couple of centre backs. I’m not too sure whether they’ll have enough to stay up. This will be an easy win for Chelsea.

I’m not going to be as kind on Crystal Palace as Emmet, I’m going 3-0 to Chelsea. It’s hard to see who’s going to score. Kai Havertz should play and I’m backing Havertz to Score Anytime.

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Emmet

For Chelsea, I think if Harry Kane doesn’t sign for Manchester City I think they have a great shot at the league. If Kane signs for City I think the rest might as well pack up and go home. Chelsea’s statistics since Thomas Tuchel arrived put them at City’s level but they just didn’t have the forwards to take them on. With Romelu Lukaku that will change. I expect a really good season from The Blues and you have to see them start with a Chelsea Win here.

For First Goal Scorer I’d probably lean towards Kai Havertz. I think this game will come too early for Lukaku. Havertz is a great player and we’ll see much more of his true ability this season. I’d back Havertz to Score First and Chelsea to Win 2-0.

5.30pm: Norwich v Liverpool

TV: Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League

Thommo

Even in my heyday, Liverpool used to have a nice time in Norwich. You have to wonder if they’ve learnt anything since their last season in the Premier League. They were scoring all kinds of goals but conceded tonnes. Last season they got 97 points and conceded 36 goals, the fewest I think that they’ve had in any season.

Seems like they’ve sorted the defence. I think they still prefer to attack. I would expect Liverpool to Win this game, I really would. Liverpool’s points total last year was the lowest for five seasons but Mo Salah has scored in all of the last four seasons on the opening day, so that’s a good bet for me. Salah to Score Anytime.

Liverpool missed so many chances, that won’t happen again. With the return of Liverpool’s defence, that will help them attack better. I think there’s a lot to come from Liverpool this season. I think Liverpool will win 2-0 here on Saturday.

Emmet

There’s a few too many questions about Liverpool in terms of them pushing City for the title. I think if Virgil van Dijk is fit, he’s one of the best centre-halves I’ve ever seen – next to Thommo of course! Their defence should be a lot better but my worry for Liverpool is that they need a lot of players to bounce back this season.

Alisson, Jordan Henderson… Sadio Mane, I thought, was terrible last season by his standards. Will they bounce back? There are a few question marks there but Liverpool still have enough to beat Norwich. Their price to Win is too short for me, I think there’s good value in backing Liverpool to Win and Both Teams To Score. I can see this being a 3-1 Liverpool Win.

Saturday Tips

12.30pm: Man Utd v Leeds
Thommo: Man Utd to Win, Man Utd to Win 3-1
Emmet: The Draw, Correct Score: 1-1, Dan James to Score First

3pm: Chelsea v Crystal Palace
Thommo: Chelsea To Win, Chelsea to Win 3-0, Kai Havertz to Score Anytime
Emmet: Chelsea to Win, Kai Havertz to Score First, Chelsea to Win 2-0

5.30pm: Norwich v Liverpool
Thommo: Liverpool to Win, Mo Salah to Score Anytime, Liverpool to Win 2-0
Emmet: Liverpool to win & Both Teams To Score, Liverpool to Win 3-1

* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

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