EPL 2023/24 Matchweek/Gameweek 9 – Betting tips & Predictions

The October international break is over and Premier League soccer is back. EPL Matchweek 9 looks to be one of the most exciting weeks of the season. Man City could potentially reclaim their place at the top of the table and Chelsea and Arsenal are set to face off in a London derby. These are just some of the great storylines going into this weekend. Keep reading to see our best bets for these games and every other EPL Matchweek 9 fixture. 

Odds by Playup

Anfield, 9:30 PM, Saturday, October 21

Everton got their second win of the season in Matchweek 8 against Bournemouth. This 3-0 victory could not have come at a better time. The Toffees looked absolutely dreadful to start the season, but they have now won two of their last three Premier League matches. Liverpool also got a decent result before the international break, earning a point away against a very good Brighton side, but having been up 2-0, the result would have stung a little.

This match is the first Merseyside Derby of the season. We can only see it going one way. The gap between Liverpool and Everton has arguably never been bigger. Liverpool should easily secure all three points at home. With that being said, Sean Dyche’s penchant for defensive football and Liverpool’s injuries could see this match being a fairly low-scoring one. 

Predicted Lineups

Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Elliott; Salah, Gakpo, Diaz

Everton: Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Harrison, Garner, Onana, McNeil, Doucoure; Calvert-Lewin

Vitality Stadium, 12:00 AM, Sunday, October 22

Bournemouth are one of just two teams left in the Premier League who have yet to get a win. Before the Everton game, we thought the Cherries would be alright. Now we are starting to worry. 

Andoni Iraola’s men are last in goals scored and in the bottom three for goals against. Some blamed this on their tough schedule, but then Bournemouth lost to Everton. If the Cherries don’t get a good result against Wolves, it may be time to start viewing them as relegation candidates. 

Wolves are on an opposite trajectory to Bournemouth. They started the season as relegation favourites, but now appear to be a comfortably mid-table side under new manager Gary O’Neil. 

If current trends hold, Wolves should win. However, Bournemouth is at home and are desperately in need of a good result. We think this will end in a draw. 

Predicted Lineups

Bournemouth: Neto; Aarons, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kerkez; Christie, Cook; Kluivert, Billing, Brooks; Solanke

Wolves: Sa; Kilman, Dawson, T. Gomes; Semedo, J. Gomes, Lemina, Ait-Nouri; Neto, Cunha, Hwang

Gtech Community Stadium, 12:00 AM, Sunday, October 22

Brentford were just minutes away from leaving Old Trafford with all three points before the international break. Then, Scott McTominay happened. Brentford went from 1-0 up to 2-1 down in just four minutes and consequently slid down the table. The Bees are now all the way down at 15th. 

We don’t think they should start worrying about being relegated this season — at least not yet — but they definitely need to start picking up points. Playing Burnley gives them a great chance of doing just that. 

Vincent Kompany’s Burnley are currently in 18th, and deservedly so. Their visually attractive football has been exposed repeatedly this season by bigger and more organised sides. There are few teams in the Premier League more organised than Brentford. 

The Bees should win this weekend, but we won’t be surprised if Burnley have more possession. 

Predicted Lineups

Brentford: Strakosha; Ajer, Pinnock, Collins, Hickey; Jensen, Norgaard, Janelt; Mbeumo, Wissa, Lewis-Potter 

Burnley: Trafford; Roberts, Al-Dakhil, Beyer, Taylor; Berge, Cullen, Brownhill; Koleosho, Foster, Amdouni

Etihad Stadium, 12:00 AM, Sunday, October 22

Manchester City versus Brighton is our pick for the best EPL Matchweek 9 fixture. These clubs are two of the most exciting clubs in the Premier League. This is largely thanks to their managers. 

Pep Guardiola and Roberto De Zerbi are sure to give us an interesting tactical matchup. Unlike Pep’s tactical battle with Mikel Arteta in Man City’s last match, we think this match will actually have loads of goals. 

Brighton are the Premier League’s top scorers, but they also give up buckets of goals. Only Bunley, Bournemouth, and Sheffield United have allowed more goals than Brighton.   

As for the result, Man City should win this one. They are playing at home and will be looking to set the record straight after and reclaim their spot at the top of the table after losing to Arsenal in Matchweek 8.

Predicted Lineups

Man City: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Stones, Ake; Rodri, Kovacic; Silva, Alvarez, Doku; Halaand

Brighton: Steele; Veltman, Dunk, Igor, March; Gross, Baleba; Adingra, Pedro, Mitoma, Welbeck

St. James' Park, 12:00 AM, Sunday, October 22 

Newcastle are one of the few Premier League clubs in the news during the international break. Unfortunately it is for all the wrong reasons. Midfielder Sandro Tonali is currently one of three Italian footballers at the heart of a betting scandal. 

The Italian FA is currently investigating Tonali, Aston Villa’s Nicolò Zaniolo, and Juventus’ Nicolò Fagioli for illegal sport betting. Fagioli has already been suspended for seven months. Similar bans for Tonali and Zaniolo could be coming. Despite this being the case, Tonali is available for selection against Crystal Palace. We don’t think Newcastle need him though. 

Palace have been surprisingly strong this season. They currently sit in 9th in the Premier League, which is just one spot below Newcastle. However, we think this is a bit deceiving. According to expected goal differential, Newcastle are the second best team in the league, while Palace are in the bottom half. Newcastle should win this weekend.

Predicted Lineups

Newcastle: Pope; Trippier, Botman, Schar, Burn; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Anderson; Almiron, Isak, Gordon

Crystal Palace: Johnstone; Andersen, Guehi, Richards; Clyne, Hughes, Schlupp, Mitchell; Ayew, Edouard, Mateta

The City Ground, 12:00 AM, Sunday, October 22

Steve Cooper appears to have done it again. His Nottingham Forest side are again defying expectations in the Premier League. It’s obviously too early to declare the Reds safe, but they are 13th in the table and five points out of the relegation zone after eight matches. 

Speaking of being out of the relegation zone, that is exactly where Luton Town find themselves. The Hatters are in 17th with four points. Their superior goal difference puts them above Burnley, who also have just four points. 

As we discussed in our Newcastle vs. Crystal Palace preview, the table sometimes lies. With that being said, we don’t think it does in this case. 

Forest are a better side than Luton. Unless Andros Townsend, who just signed for the Hatters, starts playing like Erling Halaand, Steve Coopers’ Reds should come away with all three points. 

Predicted Lineups

Nottm Forest: Turner; Aurier, Boly, Murillo, Toffolo; Sangare, Mangala, Dominguez; Gibbs-White, Wood, Hudson-Odoi

Luton Town: Kaminski; Burke, Lockyer, Andersen, Doughty; Brown, Ruddock, Nakamba, Ogbene; Morris, Adebayo

Stamford Bridge, 2:30 AM, Sunday, October 22

Chelsea are on a three-match winning streak and appear to have gotten their season back on track. Their most recent result, a 1-4 win against Burnley, was especially convincing since the Blues scored so many goals. 

Goal scoring has been a big problem for Chelsea, so their fans are hoping this win is a sign of good things to come. Unfortunately for those Chelsea fans, we think the Blues’ goal scoring glut may come to an end against Arsenal. 

The Gunners shut out Man City’s potent attack, so they are more than capable of keeping Chelsea scoreless. With that being said, we aren’t confident about Arsenal winning this match. 

This is a hotly-contested London derby where anything can happen. Chelsea are also playing at home, which boosts their chances. Our prediction is that this match ends in a draw. 

Predicted Lineups

Chelsea: Sanchez; Cucurella, Diasi, Silva, Colwill; Gallagher, Caicedo, Fernandez; Palmer, Jackson, Sterling

Arsenal: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Rice, Odegaard, Havertz; Jesus, Nketiah, Martinelli

Bramall Lane, 5:00 AM, Sunday, October 22

Manchester United needed 97 minutes to get all three points against Brentford before the international break. We don’t think it will take them nearly as long to get a lead on Sheffield United. As bad as Man U have looked at times, the Blades are worse. 

Paul Heckingbottom’s Sheffield United side are one of two winless teams left in the Premier League. They are bottom of the table with just one point and a negative 16 goal differential. To make matters worse, John Egan and Chris Basham are potentially out for the season.

Premier League rumours are now saying that Heckingbottom may be about to lose his job. A bad result against Manchester United could be the final nail in Heckingbottom’s coffin. Unfortunately for him, we think this bad result will come. 

The Red Devils are on the up and should easily handle Sheffield United this weekend. 

Predicted Lineups

Sheff Utd: Foderingham; Robinson, Ahmedhodzic, Trusty; Bogle, Souza, Norwood, Hamer, Thomas;  McBurnie, Brewster

Man Utd: Onana; Dalot, Lindelof, Varane, Reguilon; Amrabat, McTominay; Fernandes, Mount, Rashford; Hojlund

Villa Park, 1:30 AM, Monday, October 23

Both Aston Villa and West Ham come into this match off Matchweek 8 draws. Villa disappointingly drew 1-1 against Wolves in a West Midlands derby. West Ham, meanwhile, snatched a point late on against Newcastle at home in a 2-2 draw. We predict another draw for these sides in EPL Matchweek 9. 

These sides are too similar in their play styles and talent levels for us to pick a winner. This match should be a low-key affair with lots of counter attacks. 

If you are going to bet on this match, your best bet would be betting on the under. Both teams to score is also a smart bet. If you are desperate to pick a winner, back Villa. They have better forwards and will have a home crowd behind them.

Predicted Lineups

Aston Villa: Marinez; Konsa, Carlos, Torres; Cash, Kamara, Luiz, Digne; McGinn, Diaby; Watkins

West Ham: Areola; Coufal, Zouma, Aguerd, Emerson; Soucek, Alvarez; Kudus, Ward-Prowse, Paqueta; Bowen

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, 5:00 AM, Tuesday, October 24

EPL Matchweek 9 ends with another London derby. Tottenham versus Fulham is less high-profile than Chelsea versus Arsenal, but is still a big match nonetheless.

This match could go one of two ways. Tottenham could continue their strong start to the season and demolish Fulham or they could struggle like they did against Luton. We are inclined to think the latter will be the case, but this is not a confident prediction. 

You would be better off just betting on Tottenham to win instead of betting on the margin of victory or number of goals. With that being said, we would not blame you for backing a big Spurs victory.  

Predicted Lineups

Tottenham: Vicario; Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Udogie; Sarr, Hojberg; Kulusevski, Maddison, Richarlison; Son

Fulham: Leno; Castagne, Bassey, Ream, Robinson; Iwobi, Palhinha, Pereira; De Cordova-Reid, Jimenez, Willian

We hope you enjoyed our EPL betting tips and predictions. If you did, you might like some of the other stuff we have to offer. Here at BettingTop10, we regularly review and cover the best soccer betting sites in Australia. 

BettingTop10 also has tons to offer if you are a fan of the NRL, AFL, Horse Racing, NBA, Cricket, or Golf. We regularly cover these sports, review the best betting apps to bet on them with, and maintain a list of all betting sites in Australia so you can see how Australian sites stack up against the big international betting sites.