Premier League: Greg Lea hopes in-form winger will get on the scoresheet again

Saturday's action saw four home wins and three draws from seven Premier League fixtures. Will that trend continue on Sunday? Greg Lea tells you who he fancies in the games at the City Ground and Stamford Bridge.

Nottingham Forest vs West Ham United

Kick-off: 2pm Sunday

Newcastle United welcomed Nottingham Forest back to the Premier League by playing them off the park last weekend. The Magpies picked up from where they left off last term by dominating throughout and running out comfortable 2-0 winners. After failing to record a single shot on target at St James’ Park, Forest will hope to make more of an impression against West Ham.

Steve Cooper’s side can be excused for their slow start due to the amount of changes made to their starting 11 over the summer - only four players began the play-off final in May. There will be no excuses for West Ham, who should take advantage of the fact that Forest are gel as a unit. 

David Moyes’ men were outclassed by Manchester City last time out, going down 2-0 at the London Stadium. Plenty of teams will lose to the champions this season, though, and West Ham will view this weekend’s match as a golden opportunity to get off and running in 2022/23.

David Moyes: Will hope his side can record their first points of the 2022/23 Premier League season

Only Leicester, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham and the aforementioned Man City scored more away goals than West Ham last term, and Moyes’ side will certainly fancy their chances of finding the back of the net against a Forest team that struggled to contain Newcastle’s attack.

There will be a red-hot atmosphere at the City Ground on Sunday as Forest’s home fans watch a Premier League game for the first time in 23 years, but West Ham have the experience and the quality to quieten down the crowd and emerge victorious.

Selection: West Ham to win @ 1.94
Selection: Over 2.5 goals @ 1.89

Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur

Kick-off: 4.30pm Sunday

Chelsea and Tottenham are the likeliest candidates to break up the Manchester City-Liverpool duopoly at the top of the Premier League, and Sunday’s London derby will be a test of both teams’ credentials.

Tottenham delivered an impressive performance on matchday one, recovering from the shock of going a goal down to thrash Southampton 4-1.

Antonio Conte will not expect such a straightforward assignment this weekend, however. Chelsea beat Spurs four times last season - twice in the Premier League and twice in the League Cup - and Tottenham have a dreadful record away against their upcoming opponents, with just one league win at Stamford Bridge since 1990 (their only victory in that time, in 2018, came when Conte was in charge of Chelsea).

Given their recent record against the Blues, Sunday’s contest gives Tottenham the perfect chance to make a statement of intent for the campaign ahead. But Chelsea, who ground out a 1-0 victory over Everton last time out, will be quietly confident too. Their starting line-up is stronger than it was last year with the addition of Raheem Sterling particularly catching the eye. The return to full fitness of Ben Chilwell is another boost after he missed much of 2021/22 with a knee injury.

Neither team will overcommit in the first half, but the game could open up after the break when the respective defences tire and both managers play with more ambition. As such, the second half will probably feature more goals than the first.

For all the focus on Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son in the build-up to the season, Dejan Kulusevski was Tottenham’s standout attacker against Southampton. With his speed, direct running and powerful left foot, he looks good value to get on the scoresheet once again this weekend.

Selection: Dejan Kulusevski to score anytime @ 4.4
Selection: Second half to be highest scoring @ 2.02

Recommended trades

Back West Ham to win @ 1.94
Back Forest-West Ham over 2.5 goals @ 1.89
Back Chelsea-Spurs second half highest scoring @ 2.02
Back Kulusevski to score anytime @ 4.4