The Editors' Premier League Betting Battle 2017/18: Round 3

Harry Phillips
Back Southampton to beat Huddersfield at 2.14
Saturday, 15:00

It's been a good start to my first Battle with two from two so far, and I'm going to back Southampton to overpower fast starters Huddersfield as I try and make it a hat-trick.

Saints have made a good start under Mauricio Pellegrino and completely dominated Swansea in their first home game, registering 29 shots to Swansea's four, despite failing to score.

By Premier League standards that represents total domination and you'd expect them to win more often than not when replicating that form. Their match against West Ham saw them finally find the net and ultimately prevail, albeit in laboured fashion, needing an injury time winner to win 3-2.

While Huddersfield have started well, I think both of their victories flattered them. They have a great manager but are ultimately a team of good Championship players and I can see a well-established Premier League standard team picking up an away win here.

Harry Phillips 2017-18 P/L: +£29.00

Joe Dyer
Back Liverpool Win-Over 2.5 Goal double v Arsenal @ 15/8
Sunday, 16:00
Live on Sky Sports Main Event/Sky Sports Premier League

I don't really like to oppose top-six sides but I will make an exception this weekend by backing Liverpool to get the better of Arsenal at Anfield.

The reason? Liverpool were the masters of top-six clashes last season, taking 20 points from 10 encounters in 2016-17, while a nine point return made Arsenal the worst of the European qualifiers.

Further confidence comes from Arsenal's miserable record on the road in top-flight fixtures - eight of the last 13 lost.

Jurgen Klopp's outfit also won both clashes with the Gunners in the 2016-17 campaign - a 4-3 season opener at The Emirates followed by a 3-1 victory at Anfield.

So, Liverpool wins and lotsa goals were the themes of last season's clashes and that leads me to this weekend's bet - a Liverpool-Over 2.5 Goal double which pays at 15/8.

Joe Dyer 2017-18 P/L: +£5.00

Mike Norman
Back Any Other Home Win @ 4.60 in Man Utd v Leicester
Saturday, 17:30
Live on BT Sport

You won't believe me, but I did actually win this Betting Battle once upon a time, and the wager that did me a good turn so often was 'Any Other Correct Score' (any team to score at least four goals). But then it was an easy bet to go for back then; the likes of Dixie Dean and George Camsell scored for fun that year!

So I'm happy to rely on that wager to get me into profit in this season's Battle. It's actually called 'Any Other Home Win' now, but it's basically the same. The home side have to score at least four goals, and win the game of course.

Manchester United are my team of choice, and yes, I'm jumping on the United bandwagon. But the fact is Jose Mourinho's men have been brilliant in their two victories to date, both by a scoreline of 4-0 which would do us just fine here.

Admittedly five of United's eight goals came after the 80th minute but for me that's a positive sign. It shows they're not taking their foot of the gas, it shows they're converting chances, and it shows that players are coming off the bench and contributing massively.

Leicester are the visitors to Old Trafford on Saturday, a team that I really like, one that give it a go and can be excellent on the counter attack. It's also a team that conceded four goals against Arsenal in their first away game of the season. In what should be a very open affair, being able to back United to win and score at least four goals - again - at over 7/2 makes massive appeal.

Mike Norman 2017-18 P/L: -£20.00

Dan Thomas
Back Over 3.5 Goals in Newcastle v West Ham at 12/5
Saturday, 15:00

It's been a torrid start to the season for Newcastle with three defeats on the bounce in all competitions and murmurings about behind the scenes issues between Rafa Benitez and Mike Ashley. West Ham, meanwhile, are also point-less after two games although at least they managed a win in the Carabou Cup in midweek, over League Two Cheltenham.

I sense, then, that both teams will be targeting Saturday's match as a chance to get up and running, and am banking on it being an open game and taking a chance on four goals or more landing.

West Ham have seen 11 goals in their opening three games, while there have been eight in Newcastle's matches so far (admittedly that is skewed by five in the League Cup, but I'm sticking with it). Another four will do me nicely.

Dan Thomas 2017-18 P/L: -£20.00

Adam Baylis
Back Man City to keep a clean sheet v Bournemouth @ 11/10 (Sportsbook)
Saturday, 12:30
Live on Sky Sports Main Event

Two weeks into the Battle and things couldn't be going much worse for me, so I have a huge amount of sympathy for Eddie Howe who is enduring a torrid time of things on the south coast.

With big money spent on the likes of Nathan Ake and Jermain Defoe in the summer, expectation has been high but the Cherries have delivered very little in their opening encounters against West Brom and Watford. Their lack of attacking threat is a real concern and things don't get much easier for them with the visit of Manchester City on Saturday.

They've lost eight of their ten meetings with City (W0 D2 L8) with defeat coming in all four Premier League encounters. Further unfortunate news came in the shape of Raheem Sterling finding his form again last weekend as according to Opta he's scored more League goals against Bournemouth than any other club in the competition.

I've toyed with various extravagant bets for this encounter but I'll approach this in a Tony Pulis-esque manner and keep it simple with City to keep a clean sheet at 11/10.