In the last of the Saturday fixtures, West Brom take on Everton at the Hawthorns, in a match that could see Tony Pulis' side win back to back matches. In the Saturday Night Football Premier League Champions Leicester take on Arsenal at the King Power Stadium, with both sides looking to improve on last week's defeats.

West Brom vs Everton – Saturday 20th August 2016 – 15:00

Can West Brom make it back to back wins?
Can West Brom make it back to back wins?

West Brom kick-off their second fixture in the Premier League at home against Ronald Koeman's Everton.

Tony Pulis' side have had a great start this season with a 1-0 win in their opening match away against Crystal Palace.

It was a great away performance and to come back will all three points will have delighted manager Tony Pulis.

The match itself was dominated by Crystal Palace in terms of possession but Palace unable to find the cutting edge required to make the most of it.

Record signing Salomon Rondon was the hero in the 74th minute when he met a James McClean free-kick and headed past Wayne Hennessey into the Palace net.

Optimistic Start To Season

Crystal Palace away would have been a tough fixture and to come away with maximum points, gives them an excellent platform coming into this match.

They face an Everton side that drew their opening match against one of the best sides in the league last year, Tottenham Hotspur.

This match will provide Pulis with an excellent indication of where his side are, given home advantage they will need to maximise this opportunity.

Having finished 14th in the Premier League last year, the target for West Brom will be to complete a top ten finish.

It will be an enormous challenge to do so, keeping their top players will be a priority and adding more quality will be key as well.

West Brom will be looking to add Jeffrey Schlupp to the squad, they face a tough task convincing Leicester to sell.

The Baggies will be looking to better their even record against Everton. In 125 matches they have won 46, lost 47 and drawn 32 times.

West Brom are the underdogs in this fixture at 2/1 with Salomon Rondon the favourite to score at 11/2.

West Brom
(Image Courtesy of the Football Ground Guide) Can West Brom inflict a first defeat on Everton this season?

Everton kicked off the new season with a Goodison Park stalemate, drawing 1-1 with Tottenham Hotspur.

Ross Barkley opened the scoring for the home side in the first five minutes with an excellent free kick.

It wasn't until the 59th minute that they conceded, with Erik Lamela drawing Spurs level with a glancing header.

Goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg was the hero on debut, he produced a number of fine saves to keep Everton in the contest.

Home wins will be crucial to Everton this season as they look to bounce back from last season's disappointments.

New Signings Rumoured

Everton this week have announced that Yannick Bolasie had joined from Crystal Palace in a deal that could rise to somewhere in the region of £30 million.

Given the developments occurring over at Manchester City, there could yet be another arrival in the form of Joe Hart.

The England No1 is seemingly surplus to requirements at the Etihad, despite Maarten Stekelenburg's heroics, it's an area that Koeman wants to strengthen.

Ashley Williams enjoyed a solid debut in defence and the experience provided by the Wales captain was invaluable in the latter stages.

One of Everton's strengths last season was their form on the road and Koeman will be looking to continue that record this season.

Everton will be looking to avenge last seasons 1-0 defeat at home against West Brom last season, in a result that went a long way to ensuring Martinez departure.

Everton are the favourites at 6/4 with Romelu Lukaku the favourite to score first at 9/2.

 

Leicester vs Arsenal – Saturday 20th August 2016 – 17:30 - BT Sport 1

Can Leicester make it third time lucky against the Gunners?
Can Leicester make it third time lucky against the Gunners?

Leicester kick off their second fixture in the Premier League at home against Arsene Wenger's Arsenal

Claudio Ranieri's side came crashing back down to earth after their 2-1 defeat at Hull last weekend.

It was a poor away performance and they will have targeted a far better opening defence of their title, on the day Hull proved to be too good for the Champions.

The match itself was even both in possession and in terms of shots on target, with both sides enjoying around 50% and registering 5 shots each.

Hull were far more clinical and this resulted in Leicester losing only their 4th game in the space of 18 months.

Wake Up Call

Leicester and Ranieri should view this as a wake-up call, with the Champions League looming and Arsenal in this match they will need to up their performance dramatically.

They face an Arsenal side that lost their opening match, in a seven-goal thriller against Liverpool at home.

Leicester will be looking to gain revenge on the only side to do the double over them, in fact Arsenal inflicted 2 of Leicester's 3 defeats all season.

Ranieri will have been disappointed at conceding a set piece against Hull for the opening goal last weekend, with Diomande opening the scoring with an acrobatic overhead kick.

The Foxes had plenty of chances and were less than clinical in front of goal, something that the Leicester of last year could rarely be accused of.

Demaria Gray won a penalty in the 47th minute but Robert Snodgrass followed up with the winner just 10 minutes later, giving the Tigers their first Premier League win under Mike Phelan.

Leicester will be looking to better their awful record against Arsenal. In 96 matches they have won 18, lost 47 and drawn 31 times.

Leicester are the favourites at 19/20 with Jamie Vardy the favourite to score first at 5/1.

Leicester
Can the Champions bring more misery for Arsene Wenger?

 

Arsenal kicked off the new season in horror fashion, with a 4-3 defeat at the Emirates at the hands of Liverpool.

Theo Walcott opened the scoring on 31 minutes, slotting home a cool finish just moments after missing a penalty after an Alberto Moreno foul on Walcott.

That was as good as it got for Arsenal, they conceded four goals from Coutinho (2), Lallana and new Liverpool signing Sadio Mane.

The fightback did eventually come but to be losing 4-1 at home is inexcusable for any side but for Arsenal in particular.

The pressure is truly on Wenger now, another defeat against Leicester could see things get really ugly for the Frenchman.

New Signings Needed

Despite the obvious need for Arsenal to sign a centre back the alarming loss to Liverpool hasn't sped up the process and that will disappoint Arsenal fans.

Given the developments occurring over at Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea there's a real danger of Arsenal falling behind.

The Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi has also been linked with Liverpool and that may prove too much for Arsenal fans if Liverpool were to pip them to the German.

Ashley Williams, now of Everton, enjoyed a solid debut in defence and the experience provided by the Wales captain was invaluable in the latter stages. He would have been a perfect signing for Wenger.

There have been no fresh developments on a striker either, with Alexandre Lacazette scoring four goals already this season.

Arsenal will be looking to continue their excellent form against the Foxes and will be motivated to show both Vardy and Mahrez that they made the wrong decision.

Arsenal are the underdogs at 7/5 with Olivier Giroud the favourite to score at 9/2.

Betting Tips

Lukaku to score first @ 11/2 and West Brom to win 2-1 @ 10/1

Mahrez to score first @ 15/2 and Leicester to win 3-2 @ 28/1

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