Four Premier League matches take place on Sunday, so mark your card with George Pitts providing a best bet and score prediction for each clash.
1pt Liverpool on -2 handicap at 5/2
1pt Riyad Mahrez to score anytime at 9/5
0.5pt Allan Saint-Maximin to score anytime at 17/4
For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
A game we will be leaving off the staking plan due to the unpredictability of both sides since the return to action.
Sheffield United were uncharacteristically poor and flat in the first couple of games back, looking like a team with second season syndrome, then they pull off an excellent performance and look back to their old selves in a home win over Tottenham (albeit with the timely help of VAR).
Burnley, meanwhile, seem to have a couple of off-field issues with Sean Dyche's long-term future in doubt, but they have won successive games since a thrashing to Man City on their first game back.
If the Blades can replicate that Spurs performance with another excellent display on the road, as they have so often away from home this season, then it will be hard not to side with them. There were plenty of positives to take, including a standout performance from Ben Osborn in midfield on his first start in the Premier League this season.
The main draw is the points being shared and it is hard to get away from that.
The Blades have dawn eight of their 16 away games, losing just four, and 10th-placed Burnley are only two points behind them so they may stay tight to save surrendering all three points and being leapfrogged in the process.
Going straight down the middle gets you a best price of 2/1 and is a little more appealing than the 21/50 double chance, but this is, in truth, one we would rather sit out.
Prediction: Burnley 1-1 Sheffield United (Sky Bet odds: 9/2)
Best bet: Draw at 2/1
Talking of unpredictable teams, who could call a Newcastle game right now?!
From having the worst expected goals rate going into the enforced break, to coming back and scoring eight goals in three games, thrashing Sheff United and Bournemouth and drawing with Aston Villa. Staggering!
They impressively dispatched a poor Bournemouth team on Wednesday and here they welcome a West Ham team which sealed a surprise win over Chelsea on the same night.
It was good to see loan midfielder Tomas Soucek, tipped in our 11 to watch series, on the score sheet for the first time. Expect the Czech midfielder to contribute a couple more before the season's end - he was a towering threat from set pieces and Cesar Azpilicueta could not cope, while he makes dangerous late runs into the box - and he is 11/2 to find the back of the net again here.
But it is another anytime goalscorer we would like to back with a small stakes fancy and that is on Allan Saint-Maximin at a best price of 17/4.
Newcastle's French winger, another man in that 11 to watch feature, stole the show with a hat-trick of assists in their win at the Vitality.
He was in red-hot form, with his set up for Sean Longstaff (below) just typifying what he is capable of. What is more impressive, is it all came inside an hour before he was substituted as Bruce looks to keep him fresh.
Allan Saint-Maximin's footwork is *unbelievable*...🤤
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) July 1, 2020
He puts it on a plate for Sean Longstaff and #NUFC double their lead! 💥
📺 Watch on Sky Sports PL
📱 Follow #NEWBOU here: https://t.co/XsRKOvr6uQ
📲 Download the @SkySports app! pic.twitter.com/qJOor0N3At
He is 3/1 to get another assist here, but the price on him scoring is more appealing. He is far from the finished product, with shooting still a little bit off at times, but once he adds that to his game and continues to adapt to the Premier League, he will be a true star for Newcastle and could be worth significantly more than the £16m they reportedly paid to Nice last summer.
The 23-year-old has scored since the restart, at home to Sheff United, and has had six shots in those three appearances.
With confidence high and West Ham's defence, which has conceded at least two goals in their last three games, could fail to deal with him.
A hopeful shot, but Saint-Maximin is flying, as are Newcastle, therefore the anytime price carries particular appeal.
Prediction: Newcastle 2-1 West Ham (Sky Bet odds: 9/1)
The fact Man City won on Thursday was not that shocking, but the manner of their victory was.
Newly-crowned Premier League champions Liverpool were simply not at the races and maybe their celebrations last week played a part. Jurgen Klopp was not at all happy, while defending his players in public he was particularly sharp with Geoff Shreeves in the immediate aftermath and he was still stewing on Friday (below).
It was incredibly uncharacteristic of Klopp this season and very uncharacteristic of his side and, whether or not you expect them to ease off for the rest of the season, you have got to feel for Aston Villa on Sunday as an immediate reaction is certainly expected. To remind us all why they are 19/20 champions by a long way.
😡 Jurgen Klopp has had the night to think about that Man City game
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) July 3, 2020
😡 He's slept on it, thought it over...and he's still fuming!
👀 Winners don't like losing#LFC pic.twitter.com/5tTsNPx1ly
They do, after all, still have records to go after. While the points total may not be their top priority, they can achieve a perfect home record which has not been done in the top flight since 1892.
The Reds have won an incredible 23 straight home games at Anfield, and need three more wins this season against Villa, Burnley and Chelsea to make history.
It will be hard for Villa to upset the apple cart while damage limitation is risky when there is no stopping the rampant Reds.
In Dean Smith's defence, they came so close to beating them in the reverse fixture at Villa Park as a late comeback helped Liverpool win, but at Anfield it could be quite comfortable. Just ask the last visitors, Palace, who conceded four. In 16 home games, they have scored 44 and conceded just 12 goals.
With such a reaction here, the 5/2 on a -2 handicap looks like a great price. Backing them at -1 at just under evens was nearly as tempting.
Since football returned, we have seen the bigger sides win comfortably due to their technical quality and strength in depth. Man City have scored nine in two home games, Man United have hit three without reply in back-to-back games, Liverpool already hit four in that Eagles game and even Arsenal have dished out a four-goal thrashing, at home to Norwich.
Sorry Villa fans, but it is difficult to envisage anything but from the champions here.
Prediction: Liverpool 4-0 Aston Villa (Sky Bet odds: Price Boosted to 16/1)
Best bet: Liverpool on -2 handicap at 5/2 (Betfair, PaddyPower)
Southampton's last seven meetings in all competitions with Man City have resulted in seven City wins, with an aggregate score of 20-5. A positive for the Saints is the fact they have scored in the last four meetings.
After seeing Pep Guardiola's side since the restart, they have got to be worried. The Citizens look incredibly sharp as they look to add the FA Cup and Champions League to their Carabao Cup for the season, as well as wrapping up a second-placed finish.
They dispatched Liverpool to remind the title-winners what could be in store again next season as they look to regain their crown. As well as that, they also earned comfortable clean sheet wins over Arsenal, Burnley and Newcastle (FA Cup), while it was defensive errors that cost them at Chelsea last week.
Ralph Hasenhuttl's side have beaten Chelsea, Tottenham, Leicester and drawn with Arsenal and Man United this term, but stopping City without any home backing is an incredibly big ask.
There are some nice prices in the hosts' favour if you fancy them to get on the score sheet (or 17/2 to win), but the preference is to go on a goalscorer for the visitors.
Leroy Sane left for Bayern on Friday and he will not be missed in the immediate future with both Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez thriving. Teen star Foden is 3/1 to score anytime here for his fifth goal in four Premier League games.
But Mahrez, at 9/5, looks an excellent option. The Algerian will be hoping to regain his place after starting on the bench against Liverpool which, given Guardiola's heavy rotation, is likely. Mahrez seems to go under the radar in City's star-studded squad, but he has been an excellent signing from Leicester and he continues to improve with growing confidence.
The 29-year-old has nine goals and eight assists in the league this term, with an impressive passing accuracy of 90%, and an average shots-per-game rate of 2.1.
He has had six efforts since returning from the break, two goals against Burnley, and he is a real threat from that right-hand side, cutting in onto his dangerous left foot.
Knowing it is coming is one thing, but his twisting and turning at pace is so difficult to stop and Ryan Bertrand could be in for a tricky evening. Maybe even having Nathan Redmond double up at times.
City scorers are usually pretty short, but 9/5 on this attacker is worth taking when they are scoring for fun. It might not be a rout, but Mahrez is key to unlocking the Saints' defence.
Prediction: Southampton 0-3 Man City (Sky Bet odds: 15/2)
Best bet: Riyad Mahrez to score anytime at 9/5
Odds correct as of 1400 BST on 03/07/20
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