The Editors' Premier League Betting Battle 2017/18: Round 4

Joe Dyer
Back West Brom to keep a clean sheet v Brighton @ 15/8
Saturday, 15:00

Despite that hapless display at Anfield I'm just not brave enough to oppose Arsenal this weekend and so I turn my attention elsewhere and the bet that catches my eye is a West Brom clean sheet at Brighton.

The home side are clearly lacking a proven goalscorer at this level, failing to score in all their Premier League outings so far and have injury doubts over every member of the frontline ahead of the weekend.

To make matters worse, they face a battle-hardened outfit in Tony Pulis' WBA. The Baggies have been typically strong at the back so far this season, keeping clean sheets through the first pair of games and for 77 minutes against Stoke before a sloppy error let in Peter Crouch.

The visitors are in fine early season form and are certainly capable of blocking out Brighton's meagre attack. It's certainly worth an investment at 15/8, anyway.

Joe Dyer 2017-18 P/L: +£23.75

Harry Phillips
Back Watford/Draw v Southampton at 2.44
Saturday, 15:00

Having spent two weeks licking my wounds after Saints let me down vs Huddersfield, I'm putting up Watford in the Double Chance market to get me back on track.

For much the same reason I put them up against Bournemouth, the Hornets have started the season in good form and look an improved team since last year.

They did well to grind out a 0-0 draw against Brighton having played the majority of the game with 10 men. This followed an impressive away win against Bournemouth, where they dominated the shot count (19 v 6), and giving Liverpool a run for their money in the season opener.

Southampton's lack of goalscoring options, which affected them so badly last season, seem to have continued early into this season, having failed to find the net in three of their four games so far. They just don't seem to have goalscoring midfielders and are over reliant on Manolo Gabbiadini to deliver the goals. I'm happy to take a chance on Watford with the outright market prices underestimating their ability.

Harry Phillips 2017-18 P/L: +£19.00

Mike Norman
Back Liverpool Win/Over 2.5 Goals @ 4/1 v Man City
Saturday, 12:30
Live on Sky Sports Main Event

I've got an early season love affair with Liverpool, I have to admit. It's hard to knock Manchester United's 10 goals in three league games but of all the stunning attacks on show in the Premier League my early opinion is that Liveprool's is the most prolific. They just look like scoring every time they attack.

Jurgen Klopp's men have so far scored eight league goals - and that's including just the solitary strike against Crystal Palace when they really ought to have scored three or four - while they scored six in two Champions League games against a decent Hoffenheim side.

I expect this game to be played right into Liveprool's hands. City will have most of the possession but once their attacks break down Klopp's men have the ability to be devastating on the counter attack. It should be a goal-filled game for sure, and I expect the Reds to score two or three at least and come out on top.

They have a very good decent record in this fixture too, drawing 1-1 at the Etihad last season and winning there 4-1 the season before. Liverpool look even stronger this season, with Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, and Mo Salah excelling in August. I expect that trio to once again put City to the sword on Saturday.

Mike Norman 2017-18 P/L: -£30.00

Dan Thomas
Back Huddersfield to beat West Ham at 5.00
Monday, 20:00
Live on Sky Sports Football

West Ham play at home for the first time this season (due to the London Stadium being used for the athletics World Championships) with Slaven Bilic under severe pressure to keep his job after three straight defeats so far. I know how you feel, Slav.

Despite having won only two in the last eight at the London Stadium, the layers make the Hammers an odds-on shot for the visit of in-form Huddersfield, and that looks far too short to me.

David Wagner's men have made a cracking start to Premier League with two wins and a draw, and no goals conceded so far, and 4/1 on the away win feels too good to turn down. The West Ham crowd can get edgy if things don't go their way early on and, with the team low on confidence anyway, I'm happy to take a chance on the Yorkshiremen.

Dan Thomas 2017-18 P/L: -£30.00

Adam Baylis

Back Arsenal to win and 3 or 4 total goals v Bournemouth @ 15/8 (Betfair Sportsbook)
Saturday, 15:00

An attempt at keeping it simple in round three of the Betting Battle didn't aid my plummeting P/L but I'm hell-bent on profiting from Bournemouth's poor start to the season so it's all eyes on the Emirates for me on Saturday.

The Cherries put up a solid fight against Man City last time out but despite Charlie Daniels' wonder-strike they really did struggle to generate anything by way of attacking chances. They finished that game with 30% of total possession and I don't expect them to get much more of the ball against an Arsenal side who will be eager to put their dismal performance at Anfield behind them and so chances for Eddie Howe's men will likely be few and far between.

Moreover they also struggled to generate much with the majority of possession when losing 1-0 to West Brom on opening day and I really do fear for them this season having done little before the transfer deadline passed to help rectify matters.

Arsenal are unbeaten at home against Bournemouth and have netted no less than ten times against them in four encounters. I expect the Gunners to be firing on all cylinders for this and while Jermaine Defoe may get a chance or two to expose their defensive frailties and add to his excellent record against Arsenal, this really should be a comfortable win for Arsene Wenger.