Saturday’s Premier League Predictions: Can Bournemouth avoid Liverpool thumping?

Joe Crann

10 March 2023

With European football out of the way for another week, football fans are presented with their bread and butter of the Premier League - and there are some big games scheduled.

It’s probably too early to say that we’re at the ‘business end’ of the season just yet, but things are starting to take shape at both ends of the table and three points are extremely valuable at this point of the campaign. Expert Joe Crann previews four games coming up on Saturday.

Bournemouth v Liverpool

Kick-off: 12.30pm Saturday

The Cherries’ record against Liverpool is downright abysmal. They have beaten them just once in 18 attempts, and have conceded three or more goals on six different occasions since 2017, which includes a 9-0 battering that took place earlier this season.

Mo Salah: priced at 2.08 to score against Bournemouth on Saturday

As a result, short-priced punters may want to back a Liverpool win at 1.45. However, those looking for a little more value may check out the likes of Mo Salah (2.08), Darwin Nunez (2.18) and Cody Gakpo (2.62) in the ‘anytime goalscorer’ market after their respective performances against Manchester United last weekend.

Jurgen Klopp’s side is finally regaining their form, while Bournemouth have posted just one win in all competitions since December. I’m backing Liverpool to win with over 2.5 goals.

Prediction: Liverpool to win and Over 2.5 goals @ 2.1

Everton v Brentford

Kick-off: 3pm Saturday

Sean Dyche’s Toffees are tentative favourites (2.84) to record a valuable home success. However, they will need to be at their very best as Brentford are on a long unbeaten run and saw off Fulham in their last game with a 3-2 scoreline to keep their European hopes alive.

Everton also secured a decent result - a 2-2 away draw with Nottingham Forest - last time, and they scored twice in a game for the first time since October. They will be a much tighter ship at home, and this could be pretty low scoring.

Prediction: Under 2.5 goals @ 1.71

Leicester City v Chelsea

Kick-off: 3pm Saturday

Graham Potter’s Blues eased some of the tension around Stamford Bridge by progressing in the Champions League during the week, and their success over Borussia Dortmund marked back-to-back wins for the first time in five months.

Meanwhile, the Foxes have lost four on the bounce and look there for the taking, especially considering how shaky their home form has been this campaign. Leicester haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of their last six matches, and you have to go back to November for their last defensive stand in the league.

Chelsea aren’t watertight, but you could back them to nil (3.45) given Leicester’s torrid form in front of goal. I prefer the safer option of ‘No’ in the ‘Both teams to score’ market.

Prediction: Both teams to score – No @ 2.04

Crystal Palace v Manchester City

Kick-off: 5.30pm Saturday

There are a few reasons as to why Palace are available at 10 to win Saturday’s late kick-off. The main rationale is that the last time the hosts won at Selhurst Park was a friendly against Real Valladolid in December, and they haven’t won a single game in 2023 so far.

On the other hand, City are unbeaten in seven, have scored nine goals in their last three games in all competitions, and picked up almost as many points on the road in the Premier League this season (24) as Patrick Vieira’s side has in total (27).

Pep Guardiola’s men are trying to chase down Arsenal and striker Erling Haaland is desperate to rekindle his goalscoring form, so this could be a breeze.

Prediction: Manchester City to win and Over 2.5 goals @ 2.16