Lee Phelps’ Premier League picks: United to get by without Hojlund

It’s another good Saturday of Premier League action. Manchester United should win their fifth straight league match at Old Trafford against Fulham – you have to go back to August 12th to find the Cottagers last away win in the top flight.

The big issue is they’re missing Rasmus Hojlund. His goal involvements account for nearly half of United’s haul in their last six matches, but I think there’s enough confidence in the side and goals from other angles to get the three points. The odds-on price doesn’t excite me too much, but neither do United’s chances of keeping a clean sheet, so a home win with both teams scoring at nearly 2/1 will do.

Man City are at Bournemouth looking to maintain the pressure on Liverpool, who are in the League Cup final tomorrow of course. I think they win and I like Erling Haaland to carry on his goalscoring form. But rather than backing him to score at 8/13, how about 7/1 for him to do it with a header. One in five of his Premier League goals for City have come from his head and that price is too big for me.

Finally Arsenal come back from a mediocre midweek in Europe with a home game against a Newcastle side who have lost one in seven and that was courtesy of a stoppage time winner for Man City in that 3-2. Goals are almost a given here, so whichever way you go add the BTTS in. For me, 6/1 for Newcastle to win and 11/1 for the away victory with both teams scoring are bordering on disrespectful, so it’s the Toon to take all three points for me.