The Premier League returns for it's third weekend with another huge round of fixtures. In the Saturday lunchtime kick off Tottenham welcome Liverpool to White Hart Lane, with Crystal Palace hosting Bournemouth at Selhurst Park and to complete the capital games Chelsea host Burnley at Stamford Bridge.
Tottenham vs Liverpool – Saturday 27th August 2016 – 12:30 - Sky Sports 1
Tottenham welcome Liverpool to White Hart Lane for the midday kick off this Saturday, with Spurs looking to make it back to back wins at home.
Mauricio Pochettino will be delighted with his sides start to the season, with an unbeaten start in his first two games and the knowledge that they can still improve.
They come into this match on the back of a late 1-0 win against Crystal Palace last Saturday, with a goal in the 82 minute finally breaking the Eagles stubborn resistance.
Tottenham were the dominant side, with twice as many attempts on goal and twice as many on target.
Wayne Hennessy produced an excellent performance between the posts for Palace, with Spurs frustrated for the second week running until late on in the game.
Much More To Come
The match winner came in the unlikely form of new signing Victor Wanyama, who was able to capitalise from a header down from Harry Kane, and he coolly slotted in the winner.
It was a result that has Tottenham up and running this season, after their opening day draw away against Everton.
This is a match that sees Liverpool travel to White Hart Lane, the visitors will be buoyant after their comprehensive 5-0 win against Burton in the EFL Cup on Tuesday.
Pochettino will be confident of victory at home, with his side yet to really hit their straps against Everton and Palace.
Spurs will also be wary of Liverpool in the aftermath of their 2-0 loss against Burnley, which saw Liverpool dominate possession but end up comfortably losing.
After two games Tottenham are in seventh position, with a goal difference of +1, they will know that this will be a very tough fixture.
Of the two matches played between the sides last season both resulted in draws, with a 0-0 result at the Lane followed by a 1-1 draw at Anfield.
Tottenham will be looking to better their overall record against Liverpool. In 149 matches they have won 42, drawn 38 and lost 69.
Tottenham are the favourites at 13/10 with Harry Kane the favourite to score first at 3/1.
Liverpool took a backward step in their season last weekend, with a 2-0 defeat against Burnley at Turf Moor, with Andre Gray turning in a man of the match performance.
Sean Dyche and his men performed the ultimate rearguard action during their win last Saturday, with Liverpool amassing an incredible 80.2% possession.
The resolute Burnley defence ensured that the Reds were left with nothing but hopeless long range efforts, with 5 shots on target from 26 overall.
This is a result that would have worried manager Jurgen Klopp, with the stunning result at Arsenal all but ruined with their performance at Turf Moor.
Klopp will be demanding a greater level of consistency if they are to challenge, with the German admitting Liverpool were wasteful in front of goal.
However they did follow that disappointment with an excellent 5-0 win against Burton on Tuesday, with a strong side fielded in the EFL Cup.
Tottenham Another Big Challenge
Liverpool travel to North London for the second time in a fortnight to face Tottenham, with the Reds hoping they can produce a similar result to that of the Emirates.
Jurgen Klopp and his men will need to produce a far better performance as well, with 80.2% possession is excellent but to produce no goals with it is completely pointless.
Having produced 26 shots on goal, the Liverpool forwards and midfielders will have to do a far better job of converting them into chances in this match.
Liverpool will be looking to continue their excellent record against Spurs, they haven't lost a match in their last 8 attempts and will be looking to make it number 9 on Saturday.
Liverpool are the underdogs at 19/10 with Daniel Sturridge the favourite to score first at 11/2.
Chelsea vs Burnley – Saturday 27th August 2016 – 15:00
Chelsea welcome Burnley to Stamford Bridge this Saturday, with Blues manager Antonio Conte looking to continue their excellent start to the season.
Antonio Conte will be delighted with his sides start to the season, with the maximum points from his first two games and the knowledge that they can still improve.
They come into this match on the back of a late 2-1 win against Watford last Saturday, with two goals in eight minutes finally breaking the Hornets stubborn resistance.
It was a good performance away from home, with the stats proving that Chelsea were by far the better side on the day.
This was despite going behind to Etienne Capoue's second goal in as many weeks, with a thundering left foot in the 55th minute giving Walter Mazzarri's men the lead.
Much More To Come
The inspired substitution of new signing Michy Batshuayi for Oscar payed immediate dividends, within seven minutes the Belgian had equalised.
Then a sublime pass from Cesc Fabregas to fellow Spanish international Diego Costa settled the tie, with his 87th minute goal winning Chelsea all three points.
This is a match that sees Burnley travel to Stamford Bridge, the visitors will still be buoyant after their heroic 2-0 win against Liverpool last Saturday.
Conte will be confident of victory at the Bridge, with his side yet to really hit their straps against Tottenham and Watford.
Chelsea will be wary of Burnley's defensive record coming into this match, with Hazard, Costa and the remainder of the team on an upward curve, the Blues will be increasing confident in registering another three points.
After two games Chelsea are in fourth position, with a goal difference of +2, they will be targeting this match to increase that dramatically, although Burnley will be no pushovers.
Chelsea haven't loss to Burnley since 1973 and boast an unbeaten record of 8 matches against the Lancashire club.
Chelsea will be looking to continue that recent record and improve their overall record against Burnley. In 69 matches they have won 22, drawn 14 and lost 33.
Chelsea are the favourites at 2/7 with Diego Costa the favourite to score first at 3/1.
Burnley got their season up and running with a 2-0 win against Liverpool at Turf Moor, with Andre Gray turning in a man of the match performance.
Sean Dyche and his men performed the ultimate rearguard action during their win last Saturday, with Liverpool amassing an incredible 80.2% possession.
The resolute Burnley defence ensured that the Reds were left with nothing but hopeless long range efforts, with 5 shots on target from 26 overall.
Sam Vokes opened the scoring in the 2nd minute to get them off to the best possible start, with Andre Gray providing the goal after some excellent work.
Gray then turned from provider to scorer in the 37th minute, with a stunning left foot shot from the edge of the box, with new signing Steven Deffour assisting for that goal.
Both were first goals in the Premier League for the strikers, with the Clarets showing a clinical edge that Liverpool lacked all afternoon.
Chelsea Present Huge Challenge
Burnley travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea, knowing that Antonio Conte's men will be far more clinical in front of goal than Klopp's Liverpool.
Sean Dyche and his men will need to produce a far better performance as well, with 19.6% possession simply not good enough, regardless of the game plan.
They will also need to break down play much better, Liverpool were able to produce 26 shots on goal, if they allow Chelsea the same level of chances it could be a cricket score.
Burnley will be looking to make history and register their first win in the Premier League against Chelsea, with the previous four Premier League matches resulting in 3 wins and a draw for the Blues.
Burnley are the underdogs at 10/1 with Andre Gray the favourite to score first at 9/1
Crystal Palace vs Bournemouth – Saturday 27th August 2016 – 15:00
Crystal Palace welcome Bournemouth to Selhurst Park this Saturday, with both managers desperate to record their first wins of the season.
Alan Pardew's side have continued their poor form from last season, they are now on a streak of five defeats from six matches, sooner or later things have to change.
They come into this match on the back of a 1-0 defeat against Tottenham last Saturday, with a late Victor Wanyama goal settling the tie.
It would have been an invaluable point away from home, the crucial statistic though is that it is the second 1-0 defeat of the season.
The possession statistics were fairly even but Tottenham enjoyed greater success in nearly every other department, with double the overall shots and double the shots on target.
In truth Palace were second best in nearly every department, if they are to progress this season they will need to improve in every facet of their game.
Time Running Out For Pardew?
The signing of Christian Benteke for a club record fee of £32 million is a huge show of faith, but is time running out for Pardew, even at this early stage of the season.
Crystal Palace enjoyed an excellent first part of the season last year, however as soon as 2016 came they found themselves in serious trouble.
in 2016, Palace have lost an incredible 16 games out of 21 played and although Pardew is an Eagle through and through, this dismal run cannot continue.
Their opening day defeat at the hands of West Brom was a wake up call, another defeat at home against Bournemouth could really see the pressure mount on Pardew.
Eddie Howe and the Cherries have fared just as badly as Palace though, losing both of their games comfortably against Manchester United and a last gasp defeat against West Ham.
Palace will be looking to assert similar levels of dominance in possession as they produced in the West Brom game, they will be looking to produce more than the four shots on target though.
Crystal Palace will be looking to improve their record against Bournemouth, in three matches they have lost two and drawn one.
Palace are the favourites at 5/4 with Christian Benteke the favourite to score first at 9/2
Bournemouth are yet to open their account in the Premier League this season, having been beaten by both Manchester United and West Ham in their opening two games.
Eddie Howe and his men got off to the worst possible start against Manchester United, but they were very unlucky to concede late on against West Ham.
The 1-0 defeat at the new London Stadium was courtesy of a Michail Antonio header at the back post, the indiscipline of Harry Arter costing the Cherries deeply.
It was a game that saw Eddie Howe's men more than ably compete with West Ham, enjoying higher possession and more shots on target.
In the end though they lacked the cutting edge required to finish the Hammers off, and when Harry Arter was shown a red card West Ham went for the jugular.
Cherries boss Eddie Howe admitted in midweek that Bournemouth were finished in the transfer market, this squad will need to find another gear if they are to stay in this division.
They remain rock bottom of the Premier League after two matches, with a minus three goal difference.
Both Sides Need The Win
Bournemouth travel to Selhurst Park to face Palace, knowing that Alan Pardew's men will be just as desperate for the three points as Bournemouth.
They have also struggled in their last two matches, failing to score and losing both games by a margin of 1-0.
Eddie Howe's men will need to be at their best and produce a similar level of football to last year, where possession and forward play were really evident.
Bournemouth will be looking to continue their excellent record against Palace, with the Cherries winning two and drawing one of their last three games.
Bournemouth are the underdogs at 23/10 with Callum Wilson the favourite to score first at 6/1.
Betting Tips
Coutinho to score first @ 8/1 and Tottenham to win 3-2 @ 25/1
Costa to score first @ 3/1 and Chelsea to win 3-1 @ 11/1
Benteke to score first @ 9/2 and a 2-2 draw @ 14/1