Crystal Palace 9.40 v Chelsea 1.42; The Draw 5.00

(Significant Opta Stat: Antonio Conte could become the first Chelsea manager to record two separate winning runs of 6+ Premier League away games after the Blues won their last five on the road.)

A quick glance at the Premier League Relegation market and you'll notice Crystal Palace sitting there at 1.67. In terms of long-term odds-on shots I can't think of many better.

The reason I say that is because the Eagles already look destined for the drop to me having lost all of their opening seven league games without scoring a single goal. But consider also that Palace play Chelsea on Saturday, then travel to Newcastle next week - which will be a very tough ask - before facing Tottenham, West Ham, and Everton, and it really could be a case of Roy Hodgson's men being dead and buried before Christmas.

And to add insult to injury, Christian Benteke, Palace's only serious goal threat, is likely to be absent for all of the above mentioned games with a knee injury, while the impressive Ruben Loftus-Cheek remains sidelined. Wilfried Zaha is hoping to be fit enough to play some part in the game, but it's a lot to expect the Eagles talisman to make an immediate impact on his return.

Nothing should ever surprise us in football of course, but if Palace go the next five games without getting a win - which is very likely - then that 1.67 about them being relegated could easily become a 1.25 shot.

It's also impossible to envisage Chelsea not taking all three points from Selhurst Park on Saturday afternoon. Antonio Conte's men are on a fine run of form away from home domestically - see the above Opta stat - and they also recorded a superb win at Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

N'Golo Kante's absence is obviously a blow but the Blues have plenty of quality midfielders who can drop deeper and play a similar role, so I fully expect Conte's men to dominate the midfield, dominate the game in fact, and secure a sixth successive Premier League away win.

And given Palace's woes in front of goal then backing a Chelsea win without conceding makes complete sense.

Recommended Bets
Back Chelsea Win to Nil @ 5/4 (Sportsbook)

Manchester City 1.18 v Stoke 21.00; The Draw 9.40

(Significant Opta Stat: Stoke have either kept a clean sheet (3) or conceded exactly four goals (3) in each of their last six league games against Man City.)

Manchester City go into Saturday's game against Stoke on the back of eight consecutive victories. They've won their last two league games at the Etihad Stadium 5-0 each time, they've recorded six clean sheets in that winning run, and their aggregate score from those eight wins is 27-2.

It's a formidable run of form the Citizens are on no doubt, yet arguably their most impressive victory was their narrow 1-0 at Stamford Bridge just before the international break. They completely controlled the game against the reigning champions and never looked in any danger.

Pep Guardiola's men look incredibly strong in every department, and with or without Sergio Aguero - who is reportedly recovering very well from his minor car accident injury - they are impossible to oppose against Stoke this weekend.

The Potters actually have a decent record at the Etihad, drawing 0-0 there last season and springing a shock three years ago when they recorded a 1-0 away win.

But in between those two very good results Mark Hughes' men have lost three times against Man City, and they conceded exactly four goals each time. So given Stoke's poor away form this season - three defeats and a draw in all competitions - then you have to feel that another big defeat for the Potters is far more likely than them getting a good result at the Etihad this time.

City just look unstoppable at the moment, they have so many big-name players at the top of their game - none more so than the brilliant Kevin De Bruyne - that I just can't see them not producing another emphatic victory on Saturday afternoon.

Recommended Bet
Back Manchester City -2 to Win 


Tottenham 3.05 v Bournemouth 2.62; The Draw 3.35

(Significant Opta Stat: Tottenham are unbeaten against Bournemouth in league competition and have scored 12 goals in their four meetings, including six by Harry Kane.)

You sense that this is a pivotal fixture for Tottenham. At White Hart Lane you'd have no hesitation in taking the long odds-on about a home victory given that the opposition is a Bournemouth side currently sitting second bottom in the table.

But this game is at Tottenham's temporary home, Wembley, a venue where the Lilywhites are yet to record a league victory.

In fact, Mauricio Pochettino's men could claim a bit of unwanted history if they fail to beat the Cherries on Saturday afternoon as they'd become the first team ever in English football to win all of their first four away games while failing to win any of their first four home games.

But fear not. Tottenham, and that man Harry Kane, should put Bournemouth to the sword if they perform anything like they did at home to Burnley and Swansea. Put simply, Spurs should have won both of those matches, and they should have scored three or four each time.

You'd be worried if Tottenham were failing to win at Wembley because of the lack of goalscoring chances created, but a combined total of 54 shots at goal in those two home draws, 13 of which were on target, suggests that they've just been unlucky not to win. Surely it's just a matter of time before they run in a big number on 'home' soil.

And given that they've scored 12 in four meetings against Bournemouth, that Kane is in scintillating form (and has six goals against the Cherries in those four previous meetings), and that Eddie Howe's men are struggling currently, then you'd be a brave man to bet against this match being the game Tottenham win easily.

Bournemouth have actually lost all three Premier League away games this term and conceded three at Tottenham's North London rivals Arsenal, and I won't be in one bit surprised if they concede a similar number of goals at Wembley on Saturday afternoon.

Recommended Bet
Back Tottenham -2 to Win 


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