Domestic club football is on the horizon, and the Premier League is back on Saturday. It's never easy to predict what will happen in the EPL, but odds according to various betting sites across the UK indicate that some games will be easier to pick than others.
While nothing is ever guaranteed in the Premier League, let's take a look at some of the clubs in which the bookmakers are placing their faith this weekend.
Manchester City (2/5)
At 2/5, Man City are the biggest favourites to win in the EPL this weekend. This may come as a surprise as they welcome an Everton side to the Etihad in decent form. The Toffees have lost just one of their last six in the league, and won three of those. What's more, City have hardly been their vintage selves, having already been defeated twice this season.
However, when you look a little closer, the picture becomes a little clearer. Everton will be without two of their biggest assets this weekend. The first is their new Hill Dickinson home, where two of their three wins have come this season. Their only away win in three attempts came against strugglers Wolves. What's more, Everton's bright start has been largely catapulted by a resurgent Jack Grealish, who will be unavailable to play against his parent club this weekend.
Then there is the factor of Erling Haaland. The Norwegian powerhouse has already scored 9 goals in 7 games and looks almost guaranteed, barring injury, to return to the top of the pile of Premier League strikers this season. He has been sent home from Norway duty early, too, so he'll have all week to be ready for this game.
All signs point to a City home win, and that's why the bookies are giving this a 71% probability of happening. It might be a tough day to be a travelling Everton fan this weekend.
Arsenal 4/7
Meanwhile, bookies are giving title challengers Arsenal a 64% of victory this weekend as they head to Craven Cottage to face Fulham. The Gunners have won 9 of their last 13 games against their London rivals, but confidence must be tempered somewhat by the fact that they have failed to beat them away from home in their last two attempts. This perhaps explains the slightly more muted odds of 4/7.
Nonetheless, in a league where it is almost impossible to make one team a humongous favourite over another, at 4/5, Arsenal are among the most likely to pick up a win this weekend in the eyes of the bookmakers.
It's easy to see why. Mikel Arteta's side have started well, and they are top of the league. Beating mid-table opposition like Fulham will need to be routine if they are going to push Liverpool all the way in the title race.
Despite the unfortunate news that Martin Odegaard has picked up another injury and will be out until November, Arsenal are still worthy favourites to beat Fulham this weekend.
Liverpool 3/5
Anything can happen when two great rivals, Liverpool and Manchester United, meet at Anfield. There is so much history, so much emotion and often so much chaos.
However, with United unravelling historically in recent months under Ruben Amorim, Liverpool are expected (62%) to beat them this weekend.
The Reds haven't enjoyed the best time of late themselves, losing three on the bounce in all competitions, but will come back from the international break ready to put it right, and it's difficult to see Amorim's men putting up much of a fight.
