Punt Kevin de Bruyne to be calling the Toon at the Etihad this afternoon.
Newcastle’s trip to Manchester City (4.30pm) is a free hit for Eddie Howe’s boys – and judged on their efforts last time out against Liverpool we can expect them to have a go.
But it’s no accident that they are W0 D1 L9 against the Big Six, leaking nearly three goals a pop – and care-free ambition could cue a long grim afternoon.
De Bruyne had a grim but relatively short night of it at Real Madrid on Wednesday. The 13/8 (Paddy) ‘De Bruyne anytime scorer’ is no disgrace if he starts.
Disgraceful stuff from former Scotland U18 international David Moyes in midweek – justly red-carded for missing an open bawboy from a yard away when, by Moyes own frank admission, the wee ****e had served it up so braw for the volley.
West Ham’s trip to Norwich (2pm) looks iffy – but if birthday boy Mark Noble starts, the 11/2 (Bet365) ‘anytime’ is braw for an Irons pen taker.
Like Pep Guardiola, Frank Lampard is blessed with regular advice on elite-level tactics from phone-in geniuses not fit to reach their own bootlaces let alone tie his.
But Plan A for Everton’s trip to Leicester (2pm) is so simple any idiot might spot it and I spotted it.
The Foxes can’t defend set-pieces and can’t fix it. They’ve tried zonal, they’ve tried man-to-man, they’ve tried whale music and an outdoor-fresh fabric softener. Nothing seems to work.
They were at it again at Roma. Brendan Rodgers helpfully explained afterwards that it turns out he just hasn’t got enough tall players to mark everyone.
Not enough tall players, Frank!
Punt Michael Keene ‘first scorer’ each-way at 33/1 (Bet365).
Leeds have the worst defence in the Prem, though the scorer prices for hosts Arsenal (2pm) are thin on what the Gunners have done so far.
But Eddie Nketiah is a striker whose Prem season is really only just getting started. He’s clearly fizzing with confidence - get on ‘Nketiah has two or more shots on target’ at 21/20 (BetVic) if he starts.
Big-price fans can happily side with Leeds pot-shotter Raphinha ‘to score from outside the box’ at 10/1 (Fred).
Over in Italy, back in-form Milan Djuric at 16/5 (Paddy) ‘anytime’ for the relegation six-pointer at Salernitana (5pm, Serie A)
