Premier League tips: Go for goals on Tyneside; Leeds to shock lethargic Tottenham
- Matty Briggs
- 11 November 2022
Check out our key stats and suggested bets for Saturday's Premier League action, including Liverpool vs Southampton, Leeds' trip to Spurs and Newcastle against Chelsea.
Liverpool vs Southampton
New Southampton boss Nathan Jones has been thrown in at the deep end with a trip to Liverpool his first assignment.
After guiding Luton to the Championship play-offs last season and leading the Hatters to ninth place in the second tier this term, he jumped at the chance to manage in the top flight.
On the face of it, it looks like a good fit with Jones overachieving at one of the Championship's lesser lights. If the Welshman can have similar success with Saints then the strugglers will be more than happy.
Jones watched Saints edge past Sheffield Wednesday on penalties on Wednesday night, with interim boss Ruben Selles saying the team "are together".
Just how much information Jones can get across to his squad in two days is unclear. But he will be eager to make sure he does not overload his new charges with ideas.
Saints will have to play in a similar style to his Luton side at Anfield. Only Blackpool and Rotherham enjoyed less possession away from home than Luton (40.8%).
However, their goal tally of 21 saw them higher up in the standings, while their shots and shots on target totals saw Jones' Luton placed seventh and 10th respectively. And had his team been more efficient in front of goal he might have had his side inside the top six.
Jones is unlikely to overhaul his tactics despite moving into the big time, but he will want to stop conceding goals.
Liverpool, though, are not the force of recent seasons and Leeds turned up and won 2-1 at Anfield in their last home game.
Brighton and Crystal Palace have also earned draws on Merseyside, but Liverpool did show some resolve to roll Spurs over last week.
A much-changed line-up saw the Reds defeat Derby on penalties in midweek, but Jurgen Klopp made 11 changes and he will likely do that again against Saints.
It could take time to break through a Saints team who will be recharged under a new regime - but a well-rested Liverpool should have enough to get the points.
Newcastle vs Chelsea
Graham Potter is facing the first tricky spell of his short spell at Chelsea. Wednesday's Carabao Cup defeat saw the Blues lose their third straight game after Premier League defeats at Brighton and Arsenal.
In defeat at The Etihad, though, there were a number of positives for Potter, not least from 18-year-old Lewis Hall, who on another day would have scored twice.
The powerful Hall looks like a superb prospect, but he will make way for the senior stars at St James' Park.
The likes of Raheem Sterling, Mason Mount, Kai Havertz and Cesar Azpilicueta were unable to save Chelsea in the second half against City.
However, Potter saw "quite a few positives" and believed there was a better "structure" to the side in defeat against the Premier League champions. And they will need a repeat of that improvement if they are to get anything from an in-form Newcastle side.
Eddie Howe's men have won six of their last seven in the Premier League and at home only Man City and Arsenal have a better record.
The Magpies have conceded only five home goals and three of those came in the 3-3 thriller with Man City in August.
Howe, like Potter, rested plenty of his big stars in the midweek penalty success over Palace.
Callum Wilson, Kieran Trippier, Sven Botman, Bruno Guimaraes, Joe Willock and Miguel Almiron are all likely to return to face Chelsea.
It's a difficult game to call with Newcastle looking like the real deal with just one defeat all season. The hosts are set to cause Thiago Silva and Trevoh Chalabah plenty of problems.
But Chelsea have a good recent record against Newcastle, winning seven of the last eight games between the sides. What will give Potter more confidence, though, are the chances they created against City.
Only a fine performance from Stefan Ortega kept them at bay. They can put that right on Tyneside, but they might just have to settle for a point against the Toon.
Tottenham Hotspur vs Leeds United
Antonio Conte hauled Harry Kane off before the hour mark in the disappointing Carabao Cup defeat at Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.
The England striker was "really, really tired" according to Conte, the very man who decided to hand Kane his 21st consecutive start in the 2-0 defeat.
Kane was replaced after 59 minutes, but you can guarantee he will be back at the weekend to face Leeds in the final Premier League weekend before the World Cup.
Conte simply cannot afford to leave Kane out after losing three of his last four league games and seeing his EFL Cup hopes dashed for another season.
Home defeats to Liverpool and Newcastle have left Spurs looking over their shoulders going into the break ahead of the Qatar showpiece. And another slip-up against Leeds will have Conte fearing the axe.
Spurs went strong at the City Ground and lost to a struggling Forest side, who made nine changes. To make matters worse, despite dominating possession, Forest were the better side and created a number of openings. They had Orel Mangala sent off with 15 minutes remaining but still waltzed to victory.
Conte will not admit it, but the defeat was a damaging one and it's very difficult to justify a serious punt on the hosts at a general price of 4/7.
The Italian coach did admit the "energy was really poor for us" and pointed out "it was the 12th game in a really short period".
Just how Conte can re-energise his side in 48 hours is the big question.
Leeds boss Jesse Marsch will not have that problem having given his stars the night off in the EFL Cup defeat at Wolves.
The American coach made 10 changes to the side that got the better of Bournemouth at the weekend - their second consecutive win after the impressive success at Anfield.
Another successful away day could be beckoning for the Whites, who have hit the goal trail in the last three games (seven).
Leeds showed terrific heart and desire and no little tactical knowhow from Marsch to fight back from 3-1 down to get the better of the Cherries. That win will have done wonders for the players' belief in their coach and they might just pull off a spectacular win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Key stats
Liverpool have kept a clean sheet in their last six home matches against Southampton in all competitions.
Liverpool have won nine of their last 10 matches against Southampton in all competitions.
Southampton have been losing at both half-time and full-time in five of their last seven away matches
Newcastle have been winning at both half-time and full-time in six of their last seven matches
Chelsea have won seven of their last eight matches against Newcastle in all competitions.
Chelsea have kept a clean sheet in their last four matches against Newcastle in all competitions.
Newcastle have won six of their last seven PL matches
Tottenham have won five of their last six home matches against Leeds in all competitions.
Tottenham have conceded at least two goals in their last four PL matches
Suggested bets
Newcastle vs Chelsea over 2.5 goals
Newcastle vs Chelsea draw
Liverpool vs Southampton under 2.5 goals
Liverpool to win 1-0
Liverpool to win 2-0
Tottenham vs Leeds BTTS
Leeds to beat Tottenham
