Back from the break and with plenty to contemplate, it’s time to soak up the bookmaker’s views on the Gameweek ahead, as Paddy Power throw a few more variables into the Saturday morning mix.
Before we move to examine Paddy’s Anytime Goalscorer and Clean Sheet odds, a word on the array of specials and enhanced odds that they have on offer over the next three days – there’s a good few of them.
Starting today with the Gameweek’s opening kick-off at the Lane, new accounts can invest early in Jurgen Klopp’s “heavy metal” revolution by gaining huge odds of 10/1 on a Liverpool away win. In addition, if you bet £20 pre-match, Paddy will give you a free tenner to bet on in-play wagers.
If a four-way accumulator is more your bag, you’re in luck – Paddy are dangling odds of 22/1 on victories for Man City (vs Bournemouth), Arsenal (vs Watford), Chelsea (vs Aston Villa) and Man United (vs Everton). This offer also gives you the opportunity to earn over £300 in free bets over the rest of the season if you bet £10 weekly.
Finally, Paddy also have a pair of specials available for Sunday and Monday night’s TV matches. New accounts can get 9/1 on a Newcastle win or 10/1 on a Norwich victory in Sunday’s encounter, or 7/1 on a Swansea win against Stoke at the Liberty in Monday’s floodlit match.
ANYTIME GOALSCORER ODDS – GAMEWEEK 9
| Player | Team | Odds |
| Costa | CHE | 1.83 |
| Walcott | ARS | 1.83 |
| Sanchez | ARS | 1.83 |
| Bony | MCI | 1.90 |
| De Bruyne | MCI | 1.90 |
| Remy | CHE | 2.00 |
| Iheanacho | MCI | 2.00 |
| Pedro | CHE | 2.10 |
| Giroud | ARS | 2.10 |
| Pelle | SOT | 2.20 |
Diego Costa, Theo Walcott and Alexis Sanchez are Paddy’s leading contenders to score in the Gameweek: all are tipped at 1.83 to net.
Costa has bagged just one goal in six outings, but Paddy fancy the 10.9-priced frontman to snap his barren run when a struggling Aston Villa outfit roll up to Stamford Bridge. As for the Arsenal duo, they rank in the top two amongst midfielders for shots inside the box (Walcott: 17; Sanchez: 16) over the last four Gameweeks, although we can be far from certain that both will start at Vicarage Road given Arsenal’s Tuesday night date with Bayern.
Manchester City host a Bournemouth outfit that’s claimed just one clean sheet this term, resulting in short odds for Kevin De Bruyne, Wilfried Bony (both 1.90) and back-up striker Kelechi Iheanacho (2.00). De Bruyne leads our Captain Poll going into today’s deadline, having tallied goals in his previous three league starts and scored two in as many outings for Belgium.
In appreciation of Chelsea’s favourable match-up, Loic Remy (2.00) and Pedro (2.10) also feature in the top 10. It’s doubtful that either will start against the Villains, given that the latter has recently been usurped on the right flank by Willian, who’s gone on to card back-to-back goals. Nonetheless, Paddy are clearly fancying a flurry of Chelsea goals in this one, given that Tim Sherwood’s troops shipped eight in their last trio of road ties. Interestingly, Eden Hazard is out at 2.62 for an anytime goal.
Olivier Giroud (2.10) and Graziano Pelle (2.20) round off the top 10. The former might well be given the nod at Watford with Tuesday’s tie in mind. Pelle boasts over 440,000 new FPL owners going into the Gameweek, having notched three goals in as many league starts and will fancy his chances against a Leicester City rearguard that’s conceded 10 goals across the last four Gameweeks. Significantly, no side have conceded more headed goal attempts than Claudio Ranieri’s outfit.
CLEAN SHEET ODDS – GAMEWEEK 9
| Team | Odds |
| Chelsea | 1.90 |
| Manchester City | 2.10 |
| West Brom | 2.29 |
| Arsenal | 2.29 |
| Swansea | 2.40 |
| Southampton | 2.50 |
| Crystal Palace | 2.70 |
| Manchester United | 2.80 |
Despite ranking second for goals conceded this term (17), Chelsea are the favourites at 1.90 to secure a clean sheet – confirming that Paddy are strongly in favour of a Blues win in tonight’s tea-time encounter. Jose Mourinho’s men will be encouraged by the fact that Villa drew blanks in two of their previous three fixtures.
Manchester City (2.10) occupy the silver-medal positon as they attempt to rebuff the advances of a Cherries side that’s notched just two goals in their last pair of road clashes.
West Bromwich Albion and Arsenal are neck-and-neck (both 2.29) in terms of their clean-sheet prospects. The Baggies entertain a Sunderland team that’ve only scored in one of their last four match-ups, while the Gunners make the trip to Watford, who place third bottom for shots on target (24) this campaign.
Swansea are pitched at 2.40 ahead of their home tie against Stoke City on Monday evening; Garry Monk’s men have proved resolute at the Liberty Stadium, conceding just three goals in four outings. Southampton come in a little longer at 2.50 as they search for their third shut-out in four away ties when the Foxes pay a visit.
Crystal Palace (2.70) go in pursuit of their third clean sheet on the bounce, but the Eagles might struggle to contain a West Ham United side that places joint-second for goals scored (17). Meanwhile, Manchester United (2.80) face a challenging trip to Everton, having conceded seven goals in their last three away fixtures.
8 years, 6 months agowho to bench: vardy, mahrez, bolasie, payet?