Premier League Wednesday Tips: Greg Lea expects magnificent Man City to dominate

If Tuesday’s four-strong Premier League slate wasn’t enough for you, five more games await on Wednesday night. Our football expert shares his predictions.

Arsenal v Aston Villa

Kick-off: 7.30pm Wednesday

Arsenal fell behind for the first time this season when Aleksandar Mitrović capitalised from Gabriel Magalhães’s mistake on Saturday, but it still didn’t stop them winning. The Gunners are the only team in the division with a 100% record after four matches, and it is hard to envisage them slipping up when Aston Villa come to town on Wednesday.

Steven Gerrard is starting to feel the heat at Villa after three losses in four games. The former Rangers boss has been financially supported in the transfer market and an ambitious fan base and owner will expect to see results sooner rather than later.

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Villa were insipid going forward in a 1-0 defeat by West Ham United on Sunday and I believe they will struggle to find the net again at the Emirates Stadium.

Selection: Arsenal to win to nil @ 2.42

Bournemouth v Wolverhampton Wanderers

Kick-off: 7.30pm Wednesday

Bournemouth made unwanted Premier League history on Saturday as they suffered a record-equalling 9-0 shellacking by Liverpool. Scott Parker was candid after the match, admitting that such a scoreline might not be a one-off this term given the squad at his disposal.

Bournemouth are the relegation favourites - our traders price them at just 1.4 to go down - and their confidence will be low ahead of the visit of Wolves. 

Bruno Lage’s side has not exactly set the world alight this season with goals still coming few and far between, but this is a golden opportunity to pick up their first victory in the 2022/23 campaign.

Selection: Wolves to win @ 2.14

Manchester City v Nottingham Forest

Kick-off: 7.30pm Wednesday

Manchester City were not at the races in the first half of their meeting with Crystal Palace at the weekend, but an Erling Haaland hat-trick and a deflected Bernardo Silva strike after the break gave the champions a 4-2 win.

Pep Guardiola will want his players to make a much quicker start on Wednesday, so we can expect City to come flying out of the traps against a Forest team that was in action just 72 hours ago. This will be a tough evening for Steve Cooper’s men.

Selection: Manchester City to score over 1.5 first-half goals @ 2.06

West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur

Kick-off: 7.45pm Wednesday

Tottenham showed their street-smarts on Sunday by allowing Nottingham Forest plenty of possession before counter-attacking at speed. Antonio Conte frequently left three players high up the pitch and his men took full advantage of the space that they were afforded on the break.

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West Ham should be more compact than Forest were at the City Ground, but Tottenham have the potential to be the Premier League’s most lethal team. 

With his speed and direct running, Swedish sensation Dejan Kulusevski will fancy his chances of scoring his second goal of the campaign.

Selection: Dejan Kulusevski to score anytime @ 3.45

Liverpool v Newcastle United

Kick-off: 8pm Wednesday

Liverpool are finally off and running this season after a historic 9-0 thrashing of Bournemouth at the weekend. Another home game offers Jurgen Klopp’s side the chance to build momentum after a slow start, but Newcastle will pose a much sterner test.

The Magpies are still unbeaten after Allan Saint-Maximin’s stunning 90th minute volley earned them a point at Wolves on Sunday. With new striker Alexander Isak in line to make his debut, Newcastle will pack a punch in attack. Backing both teams to score is the way to go here.

Selection: Both teams to score @ 1.86

Recommended trades

Arsenal v Aston Villa: Arsenal to win to nil @ 2.42
Bournemouth v Wolves: Wolves to win @ 2.14
Manchester City v Nottingham Forest: Man City over 1.5 first-half goals @ 2.06
West Ham v Tottenham: Kulusevski anytime goalscorer @ 3.45
Liverpool v Newcastle: Both teams to score @ 1.86