English Premier League - Match Week 8 Preview and Predictions

  • In Charles Meshell
  • Fri, Oct 5th, 2018 5:02:47 pm
  • By Charles Meshell - ROI Capper


Predictions and tips for the featured EPL match of the weekend between Manchester City and Liverpool. Plus, bonus match tips for Fulham vs. Arsenal.

English Premier League - Match Week 8

The quarter pole of the EPL season is almost upon us, and largely my season projections are falling right into line. This weekend features the top two teams in the Premiership meeting up for the first time, with Manchester City traveling too their personal house of horrors, where the Reds of Liverpool will await them at the hollowed Anfield at night.

The remaining card is once again packed with more must see fixtures, the Premier League continues to separate itself as the best league in the world, with the teams continuing to stay competitive, most have tried to re-invest wisely with the shared amounts of TV revenue money flowing in.

Many more viewers are being attracted to the European footballing world, and the English are doing a great job of marketing their product, with a projected Billion plus views for the Citizens and Reds meeting on Sunday, the numbers simply do not lie, for what is truly the most popular sport in the world. 


10328 Liverpool vs 10329 Manchester City 

Anfield, Liverpool, England 
10-07-2018 - 11:30 am ET 


The marquee match-up of match week eight takes place in northern England, when defending champs Man City take their annual trip to Anfield, where the Citizens have had a terrible time at getting positive results. Sunday they hope to break the miserable record at the famed stadium, and separate themselves as the top team in the EPL table.

Manchester City start the match-day off a narrow 1-2 victory against Hoffenheim during the midweek, the visitors left it late on German soil, when David Silva saved their Champions League dreams with a timely goal, as they head into this colossal match-up with the Reds.

Pep Guardiola has had more of challenge to start the 2018-2019 campaign, although his side leads the domestic league, and have fought their way back too a top two spot in the UEFA competitions, the Spaniard is finding getting positive results a bit more complicated from week to week. Guardiola now attempts to get his first victory at Anfield, where Man City have failed to win at since 2003, and carry an overall record of 13-18-49 in their last 80 trips to the home of Liverpool.

The Citizens will also make the journey still without arguably their most valuable player, with Kevin De Bruyne still on the sidelines with a preseason injury, the Belgium play-maker has been a major miss on the pitch, his unique ability to make the game easier for his teammates has not went unnoticed, as the reigning champs anxiously await the arrival of their most creative player on this world-class squad.

Pep has had to shuffle his formations more this season while De Bruyne has been absent from the starting eleven, sending out versions of a 3-5-2 at times, while still reverting back to a standard 4-3-3 based on their opponents. With so much attacking treats within his front-line, Guardiola must find ways to give his danger-men enough space to maneuver, in order to show-case all their technical skills in front of goal. 

Sergio Agüero remains the main tally's man in Man City's attack, the Argentine holds the mantle as the clubs all-time leading goal scorer with 148, and after netting 5 goals during the new campaign, he continues to add to his total from his center-forward position. Agüero will also hope to finally reverse the curse that has loomed over him while at Anfield, surprisingly the star striker has failed to ever get on the score-line while making the short trip west.

Man City must also get further contributions from their full cast of high-priced players, with Gabriel Jesus, Leroy Sane and former Liverpool man Raheem Sterling all in contention to partner with Agüero. Sterling has shown the most promise between the trio, already scoring 4 goals during the first seven weeks of action, the opportunity to have a memorable match at his childhood team would certainly be worthy accomplishment, as he continues to solidify himself as one of the top members on this star-studded side.

Manchester City will no doubt have players capable of lighting up the score-board, but this match should be won by their talented midfielders, with the before mentioned David Silva and Bernardo Silva handling much of the creative responsibilities for the Citizens. The Silva combination are known for being magicians with the ball at their feet, able to pick out the open man and place precise passes on a platter, the duo are also able to finish the final product when the opportunity presents itself, making their presences invaluable in an attempt to separate themselves at the top of the English table.

Liverpool return to Anfield off a crushing 1-0 defeat to Napoli in the 89th minute on Wednesday, the Reds now have to pick themselves up and re-group as the league leaders head to town, currently trailing the defending champs by a 6 goal differential in the EPL table, they have no time to dwell on their mid-week collapse.

Jürgen Klopp should have no problem at motivating his troops for this epic event, understanding the ramifications of Sunday's fixture, the importance of grabbing all three points can go along way in Liverpool grabbing their first league title since 1990. 

The Reds were this seasons big spenders in an effort to finally lift the domestic title, racking up a large bill on Summer transfer reinforcements, the Champions League runner-ups will lean on their high-priced squad more than ever as they attempt to re-gather their early momentum. This weekends contest should see many of their new faces getting a taste of this one-sided rivalry, with opportunity to make a ever-lasting memory with the Liverpool faithful.

The hosts should rotate many of their regular first team players back into the fold, after several changes for Champions League responsibilities, Klopp will no doubt elect to go with his strongest side for this must win situation. The front-line trio of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane will always garner the bulk of the attention for this Liverpool squad, the trio must always be mentioned when discussing this club, with 9 combined goals scored in all competitions their all-around worth cannot be denied. 

Last season the Liverpool trigger-men helped account for seven goals scored when Man City visited Anfield, backing any of them as 'Anytime Goal Scorers' is always a worth an additional investment, as they seem to elevate their levels of plays when sharing the pitch with the Sky Blues of Manchester.  

The home side will also be dealing with a key injury within their normal rotation, with newly signed midfielder Naby Keita picking up a knock during midweek play in Italy, the former Leipzig man has been a significant addition to the Red's style of play, and he will he a large miss in what would have been his first taste of this classic rivalry. Klopp must go back to his old guard for this particular fixture, with Jordan Henderson and James Milner back in familiar roles, as each will be asked to keep the offense moving forward in a positive manner, while also helping assist on some additional defensive duties, as the Silva combination in Cities midfield can be a handful too match-up with over the course of 90 minutes. 

Liverpool's two big money signings on the back-end will surely earn their wages on Sunday, with center-back Virgil van Dijk responsible for helping contain the Citizen's threatening attack while in the Red's side of the pitch, the defensive Dutch-man has continued to earn high praise for his ability to read the other teams plan of action, and place himself in the correct spots to shut down any impending threats. Brazilian keeper Alisson will get his first introduction to this storied English affair, the home side will call upon his world-class reflexes and shot blocking abilities, as he is certain to be tested against this determined Manchester City squad, who will arrive at Anfield with all intentions of finally grabbing all three points, in what has been a nightmare scenario for over 40 plus years.


Liverpool vs Manchester City - Prediction 

Sunday's main event features the top two clubs in the league, with each owning identical records of 6-1-0 and 19 points through the first seven weeks of action, with the visitors holding a six goal differential lead heading into this largely impactful showdown.

Manchester City understand what stands in front of them once the opening whistle blows, having gone win-less at Anfield in their last 18 trips in all competitions, while Pep Guardiola has also had his own personal struggles topping his German counter-part, having lost too Klopp's sides 8 times during their managerial match-ups, the Spaniard seems obsessed to turn this unfortunate trend around.

The Citizens will start the match-day having accumulated multiple positive outcomes away from the Etihad during domestic play, City have won 8 of their last 9 away fixtures. City should also feel confident that they are catching Liverpool at a time in which they seem to be coming back down to earth, after an impressive run of undefeated results to start their new campaign, the Reds suffered their first defeat against Napoli their last time out, taking away their sense on invincibility.

Liverpool may have been guilty of overlooking their Italian competition on Wednesday night, with Man City coming to town their focus seemed to be on this top of the table battle at Anfield. Klopp still should have no problem getting his troops ready for this significant affair, as his sides always seem to magnify their attention to detail when the Citizens arrive in town, as they are well aware of this one-sided rivalry, that has been going on long before they were even born.

The Reds have seen their production dip as of late, with Premier League player of the year Mohamed Salah also finding himself in a rare slump, Sunday's contest is exactly what this side needs to get back on track, as I anticipate another spirited effort against Pep's men, and a perfect time for Salah to bust out of his mini-slump, as he provides plenty of meaningful contributions for the hosts.  

Backing Liverpool is always the play in this particular contest, until Man City can actually show they will not shrink while at Anfield, the Reds will continue to be my pick in this spot on a yearly basis.


Liverpool vs Manchester City - Match Tips

Over 1.25  +100 / 2.0 - Total 1st Half Goals
Liverpool   PK / DNB  -115 / 1.87 - Full Time 
Liverpool - Team Total Over 1.5  +110 / 2.1 - Goals
Both Teams To Score and Over 2.5 Goals  -120 / 1.83 


EPL - Bonus Match Tips


10325 Fulham vs 10326 Arsenal 
10-07-2018 - 7:00 am ET 



Over  1.25  -120 / 1.83 - Total 1st Half Goals 
Both Teams To Score and Over 2.5 Goals  -135 / 1.74



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