Premier League: Gameweek 8 Predictions
The Premier League returns on Saturday following the October international break, with 10 fixtures stretching from the lunchtime game to Monday's match at 20:00.
Both feature in our selections, as does a relegation battle at Portman Road and Sunday's clash at Anfield.
We have made one or more selections from each of these games, and our six-fold acca pays out at 80/1 with Bet MGM.
TIP 1 - BRENNAN JOHNSON TO SCORE AGAINST WEST HAM @ 41/20
Tottenham and West Ham were both involved in five-goal thrillers in their games immediately before the international break. However, while the Hammers relieved the pressure on Julen Lopetegui by beating Ipswich 4-1 to move up to 12th, their result was in stark contrast to Spurs.
Ange Postecoglou looked to have cracked it when his side won 3-0 at Manchester United but was left baffled by his team squandering a 2-0 lead in losing 3-2 at Brighton and slipping to ninth.
It felt like the latest case of Postecoglou failing to temper his attacking instincts and with both teams having scored in five of West Ham's last six, it could turn into a shootout in Saturday's lunchtime game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Over 3.5 goals is 26/25, but Brennan Johnson is the player to watch. Johnson scored in six games in a row before the international break and also netted in Wales' 2-2 draw in Iceland.
He opened the scoring in the pair's last meeting – April's 1-1 draw at the London Stadium – and is a fine price to net again.
TIP 2 - LIAM DELAP TO SCORE AND BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE AGAINST EVERTON @ 7/2
Ipswich had drawn four games in a row before losing 4-1 at West Ham but Liam Delap was on target again, having netted twice in the previous weekend's 2-2 home draw against Aston Villa.
The 21-year-old is one of several young players who did not make the grade at a top club – Delap was at Manchester City and had loan spells at Stoke, Preston and Hull before heading for Suffolk in the summer – but have thrived when given minutes by the 17th-placed Tractor Boys.
He will look forward to facing an Everton defence featuring former England under-21 colleague Jarrad Branthwaite, who is due to make his second start of the season following thigh surgery in the summer.
The Toffees sit 16th and are unbeaten in three, most recently drawing 0-0 against Newcastle, but far from that being a dour affair, Sean Dyche's side had a goal ruled out while the Magpies had a penalty saved.
However, their four league games before that all saw both sides score, while that has also occurred in five of Ipswich's last six and could land again, with Delap among the stars of the show.
TIP 3 - LIVERPOOL TO WIN AND OVER 3.5 GOALS AGAINST CHELSEA @ 37/20
Premier League leaders Liverpool lost their first game back after the September international break 1-0 to Nottingham Forest but then won six in a row heading into the October hiatus, keeping clean sheets in their last two, a 2-0 Champions League win over Bologna and 1-0 success at Crystal Palace.
Chelsea drew 1-1 at home to Forest and are unbeaten in seven games but might come unstuck at Anfield.
While Arne Slot has primarily been able to work with and tweak what was left to him by predecessor Jurgen Klopp, the Blues' transfer model means his opposite number, Enzo Maresca, has had to spend time sifting through his players and deciding who works best, and in what combination.
Chelsea have been sensational on the break at times but also kept clean sheets in their last two away games. However, Liverpool's pace could tear a promising yet developing defence apart and something similar to last season's 4-1 win for the Reds in the fixture, available at 17/1, wouldn't be a surprise.
TIP 4 - NOTTINGHAM FOREST TO WIN @ 5/4
Finally to Monday's game, where Nottingham Forest can boost their potential European push with a win over Crystal Palace.
Forest have lost just once this season but bounced back from that 1-0 defeat to Fulham by drawing 1-1 at Chelsea.
Palace boss Oliver Glasner preached caution following his side's excellent finish to last season following his appointment in February and the Eagles are yet to win in the league in 2024-25.
Their last away game saw them lose 2-1 at Everton. A repeat 2-1 in Forest's favour is 15/2 and Nuno Espirito Santo's side should be confident of taking the points.