The glamour fixture of the season so far takes place this match-week, as Chelsea and Liverpool do battle at Stamford Bridge.
This match will give an early indication of which- if either- of these clubs can repel a fearsome Man City side for the title.
Before this cracker, the Hammers will be aiming to pile yet more pressure on Jose Mourinho and Man U.
Also, Arsenal and Watford do battle in what's expected to be a high-scoring contest.
West Ham v Manchester United
If the alarm bells weren't ringing in the red half of Manchester after their draw with Wolves last week, they are now after Man U were knocked out of the League Cup by Derby County midweek.
Mourinho's job is under serious threat.
He needs more out of his players, but more importantly, he needs a strong away win at West Ham.
A positive the Red Devils can take out of the draw to Wolverhampton is that new-recruit Fred got his name on the scoresheet.
Mourinho will look to Fred to do the same again, especially as previous big-money signings of Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez are firing blanks.
Sanchez in particular has been woeful, and needs to come out and prove why he is paid half-a-million pounds each week.
West Ham meanwhile will be full of confidence after holding Chelsea to a draw last week.
It was chances galore in this game, with both sides spurning gilt-edged opportunities.
The Hammers were without usual striker Marco Arnautovic, whose quality and class will bolster the home team for this clash.
After firing eight goals past League Two side Macclesfield Town in the League Cup midweek, the Irons have had plenty of practice putting the ball in the back of the net.
The task will be much harder against Man U, who if nothing else, are compact at the back.
With the height of their centre backs, plus Marouane Fellaini and Paul Pogba in the midfield, the Red Devils will always pose a threat from set pieces.
Key EPL Stat
Manchester United have won their last 3 away games in all competitions.
EPL Tip: Manchester United to win head-to-head @ $1.85
Reasoning: With pressure being heaped on him from all angles, nothing would be more Mourinho than a gritty win to keep the vultures at bay.
Arsenal v Watford
This almost North London derby sees the 4th-placed Hornets make the short trip to the Emirates to take on the 6th-placed Gunners.
Considering that Watford were one of the relegation contenders before the start of the season, their current top four spot becomes all the more impressive.
Troy Deeney is performing at his bullying best, barging defenders out of the way to create opportunities for himself and his teammates.
He'll be a handful for Arsenal's back four and Petr Cech, who have only kept one clean sheet all season.
They will also need to be on their to be on their toes with the equally physical but also pacey Andre Gray partnering Deeney in attack.
These two will be endeavouring to help Watford bounce back after a disappointing penalty-shoot-out loss to Tottenham in the League Cup.
Arsenal meanwhile are flying high after winning four EPL matches in a row.
The positive for the Gunners is that they are still far from their best, with plenty of room for improvement.
Both Lacazette and Aubameyang got on the scoresheet last week, as they begin to foster a successful strike partnership.
If these two can play at their peak, Arsenal should make the top four with ease.
Just as Arsenal's defence needs to be wary, so do Watford's of Lacazatte and Aubameyang.
The Hornets success this season has come off the back of a counter-attacking style of football, demonstrated by the possession numbers, which they have lost in all but one game (versus Brighton).
While counter-attacking football can work a treat, you struggle to see Watford keeping a clean sheet against this Arsenal attack.
Especially considering that Watford have conceded in their last 5 EPL games.
Key EPL Stat
Watford have won 2 of their last 3 matches at the Emirates.
EPL Tip: Total match goals to be over 3.5 @ $2.05
Reasoning: These clubs can put on a goal-fest if they're in the mood. It's looking likely with both defences yet to look convincing.
Chelsea v Liverpool
The fixture of the season so far is set to take place early on Sunday morning, with top-of-the-table Liverpool making the trip down to London to take on 3rd-placed Chelsea.
This game will really tell us how fair dinkum Liverpool's chances of claiming their maiden Premier League title are.
Based on what we've witnessed so far, the Reds appear to be the genuine article.
They are looking like a complete team, with their defence and midfield finally catching up with their blistering attack.
The Scousers have won six from six, and all without last season's star-man Mo Salah playing anywhere near his best.
Shifting attention from the Reds to the Blues, the Londoners had their first slip-up under Maurizio Sarri last week with a 0-0 draw to West Ham.
Chelsea had more than enough chances to claim the three points and join Liverpool with six wins from six, but failed to do so.
Nevertheless, they are looking like a team that will make a run at the EPL title this season.
Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic have slotted seamlessly into Chelsea's midfield, with multiple title winner N'Golo Kante making up the midfield trio.
Both sides line up with a 4-3-3 formation, meaning that the midfield trio of Chelsea will directly match up against Liverpool's middle three.
As good as Liverpool have been this year, this is the area where the Blues have an advantage in terms of personnel, and where they could gain the upper hand.
The benefit of this game from a betting point of view is that there is an immediate precedent.
Chelsea traveled up to Anfield and came away with a 2-1 victory in the League Cup midweek.
While both clubs rested key players, this result shows that Liverpool can be beaten.
Key EPL Stat
5 out of the last 10 encounters between these two sides have resulted in a 1-1 draw.
EPL Tip: Match to end in a draw @ $3.40
Reasoning: This is great value in a contest that looks to be evenly matched.
While their recent victory and fact that the game is played at the Bridge gives Chelsea a mental advantage, you wouldn't back against Liverpool's quality.
Sep 26, 2018 07:01 PM
AAP
EPL Tip: Manchester United to win head-to-head @ $1.85
