Charlie Nicholas: Super Sunday preview and RAB predictions


In his latest Sportinglife.com column, Charlie Nicholas previews Super Sunday's triple-header and offers up his RequestABet selection for each game.

Arsenal v Brighton (1200 BST, BT Sport 1)

I’m flying out to Greece for a little break and I’ll just about make it to a bar for a kick-off, so hopefully Arsenal won't ruin my holiday before it even starts.

It’s not glamorous, it’s not particularly free-flowing but there’s an edge back to this side, so I am feeling confident that my old team will continue to build a bit of positive momentum.

Alexis Sanchez is in because of Danny Welbeck’s absence and Mesut Ozil might be down for his first start in a while for a game which he should really dictate. It is time for those two to really step up again.

These are the sort of games where Arsenal give me false hope with a big win, but the real judgement will be reserved for tougher tests.

I said at the start of the season that Alexandre Lacazette would deliver a lot of goals in the games we're expected to win but might struggle in the tougher one and, although he missed a glorious chance at Stamford Bridge after Aaron Ramsey hit the post, it’s not really his fault as he's there to finish the chances, no create them.

He’s a predator, his movement is brilliant, and I could not understand Arsene Wenger taking him off when he was on a hat-trick against West Brom on Monday.

Arsenal take care of these games and that’s why Lacazette will be around the top goalscorers. He’s tremendous value in the top goalscorer market at 20/1 and I fancy those odds to tumble this weekend.

Charlie predicts: Lacazette to score a hat-trick and Arsenal to win to nil - 28/1 with Sky Bet

Charlie Nicholas
Charlie Nicholas

Everton v Burnley (1415, Sky Sports Football)

There was that reprieve against Bournemouth, that moment where they could get some oxygen back in their lungs, but suddenly they are back in the doldrums with a really disappointing result in the Europa League.

Out of the top seven from last season, they’re the only ones outside of it now, which adds the pressure on them, and Ronald Koeman no longer has time on his hands to figure out his best XI.

I’ve got a feeling he’ll leave Wayne Rooney out in order to get the best out of Gylfi Sigurdsson, who will benefit from that and I can see him delivering the goods if that change is made.

Charlie predicts: Sigurdsson to score, Everton to win to nil and 8+ corners - 6/1 with Sky Bet

Newcastle v Liverpool (1630, Sky Sports Football)

I really enjoy watching Jurgen Klopp’s team, it is rock and roll football, but they have so many issues at the back it is beyond any quick-fix solution. If it was an Arsene Wenger side he’d be getting absolutely destroyed.

Rafael Benitez will play this like an away side, flooding the midfield and looking to hit Liverpool on the counter-attack. He’d take a 0-0 right now.

But this comes back to Klopp and why we like watching him. He may be feeling a bit of strain but his team will set up to win the game by as many goals as possible.

You always get feeling Liverpool are on the edge of having a really difficult day and wouldn’t it be the script if Benitez showed up, said 'yes you’ve got a better side, but this is how you set up a team' and ground out a result.

Liverpool should wipe the floor with Newcastle, it should be 4-0 or 5-0, but Benitez is the perfect manager to stifle his old side.

Charlie predicts: Shelvey to score, Newcastle to win or draw, 10+ corners and 70+ booking points - 66/1 with Sky Bet

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