The international break has finally come to an end, and it’s back to the bread and butter of Premier League football.
However, it is worth noting that while players return to their teams having represented their countries across all corners of the globe, their fitness and, therefore, availability may not be assured until they can be fully assessed. It’s crucial to stay vigilant for any late injury news that may surface, as it could significantly impact upcoming matches.
Gameweek 4 promises a wealth of excitement, and for this week’s £200k jackpot, you can enter whether you’re still in the £500k or £50k games, knocked out, or a new player!
Everton
The Toffees will be looking to cement their solid start at home to a struggling Villa side, who have tasted back-to-back defeats. Meanwhile, Everton have enjoyed three wins on the spin (all competitions) after losing at Elland Road on the opening weekend. This sets the stage for a potentially thrilling match.
Historically, this fixture does not favour the home team, with a twelve-match winless run (D3, L9) stretching back to 2016 in the league. However, recent form suggests David Moyes could be the victor on Saturday!
Only Wolves have a worse xG (2.52) than Villa so far this season, plus under Unai Emery, they do struggle on the road. In 2024/25, they were in the bottom half for points (26) from their nineteen games, versus 40 points (4th) at home, which is where the Villains’ strength lies.
Moreover, no team has more points on the board than Everton since the start of May, winning 5 of seven games, with only one defeat.
Also factor in the buzz of a newly completed Hill Dickinson Stadium, plus a rejuvenated Jack Grealish, who feels he has a point to prove. Despite playing only 197 minutes of football, he has the highest expected assists (1.29) of all players in the top flight.
The odds compilers make Everton the slight favourites with a 38% chance of winning. Still, given the early-season problems at Villa, this should be a good opportunity to get a somewhat risky side out of the way.
Crystal Palace
The Eagles have enjoyed an unbeaten start, defying the doubters, who questioned Oliver Glasner’s ability to continue the success of last season.
In fact, their nine-game unbeaten streak is the longest of all teams in the Premier League, while Palace have added the Community Shield to their trophy cabinet following success in the FA Cup, and a win over Fredrikstad keeps European hopes alive.
One slight concern is Marc Guehi and his frame of mind after a deadline day move to Liverpool fell through at the last moment.
Reports suggested that the Palace boss was willing to walk away, having already lost Eberechi Eze earlier in the window, and owner Steve Parish decided not to cash in on his centre-back, who will be free to leave next summer.
On the flipside, creative winger Yeremy Pino arrives as one of the most exciting talents in Europe with incredible underlying data.
His numbers for xA and progressive passes per 90 (9.52) are among the Top 1%, with passes into the penalty area (per 90) in the top percentile. The Spaniard could be handed his first start with Ismaïla Sarr currently hamstrung.
A home fixture against newly promoted Sunderland should not cause any major issues. Yes, the Black Cats have made a strong start, having the fourth-best xG conceded (2.8), but that has been built upon their success at The Stadium of Light. A 2-0 loss at Turf Moor hints at struggles away from Wearside, and with a 47 per cent likelihood of winning, I’d be happy to back Palace.
Chelsea
The Blues have made a strong start to the season, conceding only once whilst hitting West Ham for five, and a win over Brentford should be a formality. The Gtech Stadium is not the fortress it once was, and the team is still adapting to the demands of their new manager, Keith Andrews.
The Bees are also winless in four on home soil against their visitors, and while Brentford are transitioning, Chelsea seem to be on an upward trajectory following their Club World Cup success.
Defensively, no team has more top-flight clean sheets since late February, and in attack, the Blues lead the way for xG (6.91), and the most Big Chances Created (12) with seven goals in 2025/26, which is only bettered by the Champions.
Chelsea have a 55% chance of winning, with a high probability of keeping a clean sheet.
Newcastle United
The closure of the transfer window brought an end to an unsavoury episode and the future of Alexander Isak. And following the arrivals of Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, plus the purchase of Anthony Elanga, you could argue that overall, the United squad is looking stronger.
With no wins across the opening three matches, the Magpies’ start has been incredibly unlucky, with injuries and suspensions playing a part. But Wolves, who sit rock bottom, should provide the perfect platform to kick their season into gear.
Vitor Pereira has struggled to replace the quality of Matheus Cunha and Rayan Aït-Nouri, while Gonçalo Guedes, Pablo Sarabia and Nélson Semedo also moved on during the summer. Tolu Arokodare, Fer López, Ladislav Krejci, Jhon Arias, Jackson Tchatchoua and David Møller Wolfe are among those arriving at Molineux. Still, it will take time to adapt to the unique demands of Premier League football.
As an attacking threat, Wolves offer very little – their xG (2.1) and Big Chances Created (2) are ranked 20th, while defensively, across the board, their numbers are bottom two, meaning they have the lowest xGD (-3.6), Goal Difference (-6) and Goals Against (8).
Newcastle have two 3-0 wins on the spin over Wolves at St James’ Park, and another cannot be ruled out.
*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*
