EPL 2025/26 Preview & Betting Tips: Matchday 4

The new Premier League season may only be three games old but there is already a burgeoning feeling of inevitability about where the EPL title may end up this season.

Champions Liverpool are the only side to possess a 100% winning record and with a remarkable transfer window, which saw them break the British transfer record twice, it feels as if the title is returning to Anfield again.

No such joy or optimism can be felt in Manchester though, with both City and United languishing and both will have plenty of trepidation around this weekend's Manchester derby.

Returning after an international break is always tricky and it should be another bumper weekend of Premier League action on match day 4.

Emirates Stadium, 13th September, 20.30

All of the scrutiny will be on Ange Postecoglou's start to life at Nottingham Forest here, as the Tricky Trees head to London to take on Arsenal.

The Gunners were undone by a moment of magic at Liverpool last time out, despite having plenty of the ball and some good chances and they will want to bounce back at home.

Where Forest are at following their managerial change is a bit of a mystery but Postecoglou will know this is a relative free hit here, against an Arsenal side that can't afford to lose ground in the title race.

This one feels as if it will be open, which may suit Arsenal and they should prevail in front of their own fans.

Bookmaker	Tip	Odds
	Arsenal to win the match	$1.40
	Both teams to score	$1.75
	Viktor Gyokeres to score anytime	$2.25

Predicted Lineups:

Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Gabriel, Saliba, Calafiori, Rice, Zubimendi, Odegaard, Madueke, Gyokeres & Eze

Nottingham Forest: Sels, Aina, Williams, Murillo, Milenkovic, Anderson, Yates, Gibbs-White, Ndoye, Hudson-Odoi & Wood

Craven Cottage, 13th September, 23:00

Fulham are sure to still be reeling from their controversial derby defeat to Chelsea last time out and they will want to respond here against Leeds.

The Cottagers have 2 points from their opening 3 games but they have impressed in all of them and they have negotiated some tricky looking fixtures already.

For Leeds, their early season optimism has warn off a touch, but they have signed plenty of players over the summer and they will be hoping they can all start gelling soon.

Fulham are yet to pick up a win this season and they should have too much for Leeds down on the banks of the Thames here.

Bookmaker	Tip	Odds
	Under 2.5 goals	$2.10
	Fulham to win the match	$1.93
	Both teams to score - NO	$2.05

Predicted Lineups:

Fulham: Leno, Tete, Bassey, Andersen, Robinson, Lukic, Berge, Iwobi, Smith-Rowe, Kevin & Jimenez.

Leeds United: Perri, Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Gudmundsson, Stach, Tanaka, Gruev, Piroe, James & Okafor.

Vitality Stadium, 13th September, 23:00

Two sides who picked up excellent results last time out meet here, as Bournemouth host south coast rivals Brighton at the Vitality Stadium.

Not many people fancied Bournemouth to get a result at Tottenham but that they did and they have 6 points on the board from their opening two games played.

Brighton were under the cosh for large periods against Manchester City, yet still found a way to come out with all three points and they should be full of optimism ahead of this one.

Both sides are chasing top half finishes this term and with not much to split them on paper, a draw feels like the most plausible prediction.

Bookmaker	Tip	Odds
	A penalty to be awarded	$3.25
	Both teams to score	$1.75
	The match to finish as a draw	$3.65

Predicted Lineups:

Bournemouth: Petrovic, Smith, Diakite, Senesi, Truffert, Adams, Tavernier, Cook, Kluivert, Semenyo & Evanlison.

Brighton: Verbruggen, Wieffer, Dunk, Van Hecke, Ayari, Baleba, Gomez, Gruda, Mitoma, Minteh & O'Riley,

Selhurst Park, 13th September, 23:00

Having managed to hang on to captain Marc Guehi on the final day of the transfer window, Crystal Palace will be feeling optimistic ahead of this meeting with Sunderland.

A superb win on the road as Aston Villa has given Palace a good platform to build upon this season and they look well set to challenge in both Europe and domestically.

Sunderland meanwhile have won 2 of their first 3 games and they will be bang up for the challenge in front of them here in South London.

Both teams will feel confident but Palace are going very well currently and should pick up another three points.

Bookmaker	Tip	Odds
	Crystal Palace to win the match	$1.67
	Both teams to score	$1.90
	Over 2.5 goals	$2.00

Predicted Lineups:

Crystal Palace: Henderson, Munoz, Lacroix, Guehi, Richards, Mitchell, Hughes, Kamada, Sarr, Esse & Mateta.

Sunderland: Roefs, Hume, Ballard, Alderete, Mandava, Sadiki, Xhaka, Diarra, Talbi, Le Fee & Mayenda.

St James's Park, 13th September, 23:00

With the Alexander Isak saga now ended at Newcastle, they can return to the brass tacks of Premier League matches and they face Wolves next.

A winless start to the campaign will be plaguing Eddie Howe but Toon have showed glimpses of some decent attacking football this term and they will be raring to go here.

Wolves meanwhile have lost their three opening games and are under the pump, having lost some key men in the summer.

Both sides need points desperately but Newcastle should be too strong for this Wolves side, especially at home.

Bookmaker	Tip	Odds
	Yoann Wissa to score or assist (anytime)	$2.15
	Newcastle United to win the match	$1.45
	Both teams to score - NO	$1.90

Predicted Lineups:

Newcastle United: Pope, Trippier, Burn, Schar, Livramento, Tonali, Ramsey, Guimaraes, Murphy, Barnes & Wissa.

Wolves: Sa, Tchatchoua, Agbadou, Bueno, Doherty, Mosquera, Gomes, Andre, Bellegarde, Munetsi & Strand Larsen.

Hill Dickenson Stadium, 13th September, 23:00

There is a true feeling of optimism building around Everton and the Toffees will be looking to keep their unbeaten home start going against Aston Villa.

David Moyes has attracted some exciting talents to the club during the summer and he will be eager to see his side play on the front foot again this weekend.

Aston Villa meanwhile are in a sticky patch and need some results to cling onto under Unai Emery, with just one point on the board from their opening 3 games.

The atmosphere should be good here and Everton could well pick up another gutsy home win.

Bookmaker	Tip	Odds
	A red card to be shown	$3.50
	Both teams to score	$1.85
	Everton to win the match	$2.50

Predicted Lineups:

Everton: Pickford, O'Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko, Gueye, Dewsbury-Hall, Garner, Grealish, Ndiaye & Beto.

Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne, Onana, Elliott, McGinn, Sancho, Rogers & Watkins.

London Olympic Stadium, 14th September, 01:30

Following a super win on the road at Nottingham Forest, West Ham will be ready to rattle into old foes Tottenham here.

Graham Potter and his side were feeling the pressure heading into the international break but that win at the City Ground has kept the wolves from the door for now.

Tottenham meanwhile lost their first game of the campaign under Thomas Frank and the will want to bounce back quickly in this one.

Spurs tend to play with more freedom on the road and while West Ham may have a go, Tottenham could pick them off on the break. 

Bookmaker	Tip	Odds
	Tottenham to win the match	$2.15
	Both teams to score	$1.67
	Richarlison to score or assist (anytime)	$2.40

Predicted Lineups:

West Ham United: Hermansen, Walker-Peters, Aguerd, Todibo, Kilman, Diouf, Ward-Prowse, Potts, Bowen, Paqueta & Fullkrug.

Tottenham: Vicario, Spence, Porro, Van der Ven, Romero, Sarr, Paulinha, Bentancur, Johnson, Richarlison & Kudus.

Gtech Stadium, 14th September, 04:00

A West London battle between Brentford and Chelsea awaits here, with both sides chasing points for different reasons.

Keith Andrews has had a steady start to life in the Brentford hotseat and this feels like his biggest challenge yet against the blues.

Chelsea meanwhile have enjoyed their fair share for fortune in being able to pick up 7 points from their opening 3 games but Enzo Maresca will be hoping to build upon that in the coming weeks.

This should be a very good game, with plenty on the line and Chelsea should just about get the job done.

Bookmaker	Tip	Odds
	Both teams to score	$1.80
	Joao Pedro to score anytime	$2.10
	Chelsea to win the match	$1.78

Predicted Lineups:

Brentford: Kelleher, Kayode, Collins, van den Berg, Henry, Henderson, Yarmolyuk, Damsgaard, Schade, Ouattara & Thiago.

Chelsea: Sanchez, Gusto, Tosin, Chalobah, Cucurella, Caicedo, Enzo, Pedro, Estevao, Neto & Palmer.

Turf Moor, 14th September, 20:00

Burnley have the unenviable task of taking on champions Liverpool, who are chasing an unbeaten Premier Legaue campaign this year.

The Clarets were undone in the dying embers against Manchester United last time out but have a good body of work at home to call upon from last season.

Playing Liverpool is almost impossible though and the reds have steamrolled every side they have played in recent times.

With new signing Alexander Isak in their ranks, Liverpool simply look too good for any side they face and they could put Burnley to the sword here.

Bookmaker	Tip	Odds
	Mohamed Salah to score anytime	$1.80
	Liverpool to win the match	$1.34
	Liverpool to score 4+ goals	$2.05

Predicted Lineups:

Burnley: Dubravka, Walker, Esteve, Ekdal, Hartman, Cullen, Ugochukwu, Larsen, Hanibal, Anthony & Foster.

Liverpool: Alisson, Bradley, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szaboszlai, Ekitike, Isak & Salah.

Etihad Stadium, 15th September, 00:00

The first Manchester derby of the season comes against the backdrop of two relatively poor starts to the campaign for both City and United.

Two losses on the spin have hurt City, who have been more wasteful than anything else so far this term but there is plenty of panic swirling around the blues currently.

United meanwhile have been abject in performance levels so far but have more points on the board than City and they will enjoy playing with freedom in this one.

All three outcomes are in play here but United have had the wood over City of late and that could continue at the Etihad.

Bookmaker	Tip	Odds
	Manchester United to win the match	$5.00
	Over 5 bookings in the match (total)	$2.05
	Both teams to score	$1.80

Predicted Lineups:

Manchester City: Donnarumma, Lewis, Dias, Stones, Ait-Nouri, Rodri, Nico, Bernardo, Doku, Reijnders & Haaland.

Manchester United: Lammens, Yoro, De Ligt, Shaw, Dorgu, Diallo, Casemiro, Fernandes, Mbeumo, Cunha & Mount.