Week three of the Premier League season is already upon us, bringing with it the first complex betting challenge: midweek cup fixtures. Premier League teams have entered the EFL Cup, which, while offering a golden opportunity for players like Manchester United`s Benjamin Sesko to make their first starts for their clubs, can also wreak havoc and create selection dilemmas for the weekend. Even without considering United`s sensational exit at the hands of Grimsby Town, Ruben Amorim`s lineup featured regular starters such as Matheus Cunha and Amad Diallo. This raises questions about whether they will indeed start against Burnley this weekend.
Following that performance, it remains to be seen if Amorim will opt for wholesale changes, though he also lacks the squad depth to implement them fully. In essence, during cup weeks, it`s often best to keep things simple: either target teams that weren`t involved in cup action or completely steer clear of player-specific bets. Given that player props are subject to last-minute lineup alterations, I`m opting for the latter and focusing solely on team-based bets this week. Let`s dive in.
Arsenal Money Line (+230), Draw No Bet (+146)
Liverpool vs. Arsenal, Sunday, Aug. 31 (1:30 p.m. ET)
Arsenal might be without Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka for this clash, yet with Noni Madueke and a potential debut for Eberechi Eze, they will possess ample attacking prowess to challenge a Liverpool side that has already conceded four goals in just two matches this young season, including two against a 10-man Newcastle United. While there`s no denying Liverpool`s attack can score against any team in the league, bagging seven goals in those same two games, they haven`t yet faced a defense nearly as formidable as what Arsenal will deploy on Sunday. For the risk-averse, the “draw no bet” option at +146 still offers excellent value and a safety net should the match end level, but I`m personally backing the straight money line play.
Everton Money Line (+195)
Wolves vs. Everton, Saturday, Aug. 30 (10 a.m. ET)
Sometimes, when reviewing betting lines, you can`t help but exclaim, “What is this?” That`s precisely how I feel about the odds for this match. Both teams were engaged in EFL Cup action midweek, but their outcomes diverged significantly: Wolves battled to a hard-fought victory over West Ham United, while Everton comfortably dispatched lower-league Mansfield Town. However, returning to the Premier League context, I view the Toffees as a top-half side, whereas Wolves appear to be relegation candidates. When fully fit, these are the types of matches where you should back the team expected to remain in the top flight. Everton`s defense has been playing with fire, allowing the most expected goals of any team at 4.57 xG, but Wolves are close behind them with 3.76 xG. Everton`s defensive statistics are bound to normalize sooner rather than later.
Tottenham Halftime Result (+115)
Tottenham vs. Bournemouth, Saturday, Aug. 30 (10 a.m. ET)
Rapid starts were a distinctive trait of Thomas Frank`s Brentford teams, and this trend continues with Tottenham in the early stages of the season. Having scored a first-half goal in both of their matches so far, anticipate this pattern to persist as they face the Cherries, who were also in midweek action. Andoni Iraola heavily rotated his squad for their EFL Cup fixture, but with his team still striving to find cohesion and Tottenham boasting a significantly improved defense this season, should they net an early goal, Spurs are likely to maintain their lead until at least halftime.
