Weekend Betting Tips With BetKing: Liverpool vs Arsenal + More

• Total Odds: 81.75

• Booking Code: WM13CC

Liverpool vs. Arsenal

Anfield hosts a heavyweight clash on Sunday evening as the two title favourites meet in what promises to be an early-season classic. Both sides maintain perfect starts, but questions linger. Arsenal’s concerns stem from injuries, with Kai Havertz hurting his knee in the opener against Manchester United, which prompted the immediate signing of Eberechi Eze. In the 5-0 win over Leeds, Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka both came off injured, with Saka now facing three to four weeks out. Adding Ben White, Christian Nørgaard, and Gabriel Jesus to the list leaves the squad already stretched.

Liverpool’s problems lie in defense. Virgil van Dijk has registered 30 clearances and 20 duels won in just two games, underlining how exposed the back line has been. The Reds have already conceded four goals this season and lead the league with 91 clearances, far more than title rivals Arsenal (37), Manchester City (48), or Chelsea (38). Having failed to beat Arsenal in their last six league encounters, there are clear reasons for concern heading into this matchup.

One positive for Liverpool has been Hugo Ekitike’s fast start. The French striker has scored three goals in as many games, easing the load on Mohamed Salah. Arsenal’s defenders are set to be tested, while Ekitike will look to extend his streak to four in four.

The goal market appears promising. This fixture has produced 198 goals in Premier League history, second only to Liverpool vs Tottenham (206). Since the 2015/16 season, it has yielded 78 goals in 20 matches, the highest of any fixture in that span.

Betting Tips: 

• Over 2.5 Goals @1.74

• Hugo Ekitike Anytime Scorer @3.05

Nottingham Forest vs. West Ham

West Ham face growing scrutiny ahead of the weekend, with another defeat potentially marking the end of Graham Potter’s tenure at the club. The Hammers have opened the season with two straight Premier League losses, followed by a late collapse against Wolves on Tuesday that resulted in an EFL Cup exit. Across those three games, they have conceded 11 goals, averaging 3.7 per match. Considering they allowed 62 goals in the league last season - a figure worse than all but two non-relegated sides - Potter now faces mounting pressure to deliver a result at the City Ground.

Nottingham Forest enter this game full of confidence, benefitting from fresher legs after being exempt from this round of the EFL Cup. They have won their last three league meetings with West Ham and each of the past four clashes at the City Ground in all competitions. Despite ongoing tension between head coach Nuno Espírito Santo and owner Evangelos Marinakis, Forest have displayed composure on the pitch, collecting four points from their opening two league fixtures.

One of the betting tips for the weekend is backing Chris Wood to find the net. The New Zealand striker has scored 13 home league goals since the start of last season, a tally bettered only by Mohamed Salah’s 14 at Anfield. Wood appears well positioned to be a strong anytime scorer option once again.

Betting Tips: 

• Chris Wood Anytime Scorer @2.49

• Nottingham Forest Over 1.5 Goals @1.83

Manchester United vs. Burnley

Ruben Amorim will be under pressure when he leads his side out at Old Trafford this Saturday. Coming into this season, the Portuguese manager had won only 7 of his 27 Premier League games in charge. After a full pre-season and over €220m spent on the attacking trio of Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and Benjamin Šeško, that figure now stands at 7 wins in 29 matches. While two league games this season represent a small sample, the fact that all three promoted clubs already have victories only heightens the scrutiny.

Adding to their poor league form, Manchester United suffered a humiliating EFL Cup exit at the hands of fourth-tier Grimsby Town. They trailed 2-0 inside 30 minutes and had two further goals ruled out. Although a late comeback forced penalties, the shootout defeat - one Amorim could not bring himself to watch - made the elimination even more embarrassing.

Manchester United’s recent record against promoted teams does provide some encouragement. Since the 4-1 defeat to Watford that ended Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s tenure in 2021, they have won 20 and drawn 3 of the next 23 such fixtures. However, the positives end there for fans at Old Trafford. United have lost eight of their last 13 home league matches (W3, D2), the worst run among current Premier League clubs. While they have been dominant at home against Burnley with 15 wins and nine draws in 25 meetings across competitions, doubts remain given United’s fragile form and a Burnley squad capable of causing real problems.

There is also the argument that Manchester United have been short on luck, striking the woodwork against both Arsenal and Fulham while also missing a penalty in the latter game. This fixture may provide the moment where their fortunes finally align, or it may not. From a betting perspective, the goal market appears the safest option.

Betting Tips: 

• Burnley Over 0.5 Goals @1.74

• Over 1.5 Total Goals @1.21

Brighton & Hove vs. Manchester City

In what should be one of the most exciting EPL fixtures this weekend, Brighton and Manchester City enter Sunday’s clash looking for a response after suffering 2-0 defeats last weekend. Brighton’s loss to Everton included a missed Danny Welbeck penalty, adding to their frustrations. A 6-0 EFL Cup victory over Oxford United eased some concerns, but just one point from their opening two league games leaves the Seagulls under pressure, particularly with Bournemouth, Spurs, and Chelsea ahead on the schedule.

Manchester City also fell 2-0, losing at home to Spurs for the second consecutive season. New goalkeeper James Trafford looked unsettled, and with Gianluigi Donnarumma reportedly close to signing according to recent football transfer news, his future could already be in jeopardy. Still, City’s away form remains a strength. Since the 5-1 defeat at Arsenal in February, they have conceded only once in seven away league matches, keeping five consecutive clean sheets. They have also won 19 of 30 league meetings with Brighton, a 63% win rate that stands as their second best against any club faced 25 times or more. Rayan Aït-Nouri’s injury adds to Pep Guardiola’s defensive concerns at left-back, but City has enough quality elsewhere to secure victory. Even so, the fixture looks one best approached with caution, with HTUP appearing a sensible play. In addition, with both sides ranked in the Top 3 of the xG chart, the goal market holds strong appeal.

Betting Tips: 

• HTUP: Man City @1.78

• Bet Builder: Erling Haaland Anytime Scorer + Over 1.5 Goals @1.83

Real Madrid vs. Mallorca

Xabi Alonso’s tenure at Real Madrid began with a tough test, with the FIFA Club World Cup coming just weeks after his appointment. Early signs were promising until a heavy 4-0 defeat to PSG in the semi-final brought them back to reality. Since then, Alonso has had time to cool off and reshape the side, particularly in defense. His LaLiga campaign has opened with back-to-back clean sheets, with Los Blancos looking more compact at the back and lively in attack, highlighted by a 3-0 win over Real Oviedo.

The spotlight, however, falls firmly on Kylian Mbappé. Criticized for a slow start at the Bernabéu last year, the Frenchman has since become the team’s most influential attacking figure. Remarkably, he has scored 12 of Madrid’s last 15 league goals, underlining both his brilliance and the need for others to share the load. Even with Endrick, Jude Bellingham, Ferland Mendy, and Eduardo Camavinga unavailable this weekend, Los Blancos remain strong favorites against a Mallorca side already beaten 3-0 by Barcelona this season.

Betting Tips: 

• Kylian Mbappé Anytime Scorer @1.53

• Real Madrid Over 1.5 Goals @1.30

Augsburg vs. Bayern Munich

In an era where the phrase “statement win” is often overused, Bayern Munich delivered a genuine one last weekend. Fresh from their 2-1 DFL-Supercup victory over VfB Stuttgart, the champions dismantled RB Leipzig 6-0 at the Allianz Arena. Michael Olise maintained his fiery streak with a first-half brace, Luis Díaz added his second goal in as many games, and Harry Kane stole the spotlight with a second-half hat-trick. Few doubt Bayern’s dominance in Germany, but the performance served as a reminder to the small minority who questioned their title credentials. Their narrow victory over third-tier Wehen Wiesbaden in the DFB-Pokal may have raised some eyebrows, but ultimately the job was done. Olise found the net again, while Kane struck twice to take his tally to six goals in three matches this season and 90 in just 24 months at the club.

Next up is a trip to Augsburg’s WWK Arena, where Bayern have won in 10 of their last 14 Bundesliga visits. Against no other side they have faced at least 10 times do they boast a higher away win percentage (71%). Vincent Kompany’s team have also enjoyed strong form on the road, going unbeaten in nine away league matches since December with six wins and three draws. However, while Augsburg opened the season with impressive back-to-back away victories in the DFB-Pokal and Bundesliga, they may struggle to withstand a Bayern Munich attack already firing on all cylinders despite the champions’ busy summer in the United States.

Betting Tips: 

• Harry Kane Anytime Scorer @1.54

• Bayern Munich Win @1.26

Lyon vs. Marseille

Lyon endured a turbulent summer with their future hanging in the balance. On June 24, France’s financial watchdog, the DNCG, ordered their relegation to Ligue 2, citing financial irregularities tied to a reported €175 million debt. The ruling caused alarm among supporters and across French football, but the club secured survival after a successful appeal. Since then, focus has shifted back to matters on the pitch. Following a promising pre-season in which Bayern Munich were the only side to beat them, Lyon have started their Ligue 1 campaign with two wins and two clean sheets. Much credit goes to Paulo Fonseca, who has collected 33 league points since arriving in February (W11, D6), second only to PSG (43) in that span. However, a tough test now awaits against Marseille.

Marseille have split their opening fixtures with a win and a loss, but defensive fragility remains an early concern. Offensively, they have scored five goals in two games, aided by Bilal Nadir and Mason Greenwood’s two assists apiece. This fixture has favored Les Phocéens in recent years, with five wins in six, including a memorable 3-2 victory at Lyon last season despite playing 85 minutes with 10 men. Across those six meetings, 17 goals have been scored (10 of them last season alone) highlighting how open these contests tend to be despite the intensity. With that history in mind, Lyon’s bright start may not be enough for victory, though a goal-filled encounter appears likely.

Betting Tips: 

• Double Chance: Marseille Win or Draw @1.47

• Over 2.5 Goals @1.53

Sporting CP vs. FC Porto

Sporting CP enter the clash at the Estadio José Alvalade in fine form, having dismantled Nacional 4-1 thanks to a Pedro Gonçalves hat-trick and a Conrad Harder strike. That result, coming on the back of a 6-0 thrashing of Arouca in their previous home fixture, highlighted both their attacking depth and their growing momentum.

Porto responded with a statement of their own, sweeping aside Casa Pia 4-0. Three first-half goals effectively ended the contest early, and Francesco Farioli’s side showed sharpness and discipline in extending their perfect league start to three straight wins without conceding. However, recent trips to Alvalade have proved difficult, with Porto losing their last two visits without scoring.

The numbers suggest another open encounter. Sporting have scored 12 goals in three games, while Porto have nine over the same stretch. With both teams thriving in attack, the stage looks set for a high-tempo contest where chances fall at both ends.

One player who could tilt the balance is Francisco Trincão. The winger has already contributed three goals and an assist this season, and his pace and end product could prove decisive against Porto’s backline. Given his form and confidence, backing him to score offers strong value and BetKing, the kings of online sports bet in Nigeria, provides the best odds for that.  

Betting Tips: 

• Both Teams To Score @1.69

• Francisco Trincão Anytime Scorer @3.50

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