Matchweek 9 Premier League Predictions, Odds, Best Bets, and Analysis

Matchweek 9 Premier League Predictions

• Tottenham @ Arsenal: Over 2.5 goals, -142 at FanDuel 
• Brighton @ Liverpool: Both teams to score, -110 at Caesars    
• Man Utd @ Man City: Under 3.5 goals, -145 at Caesars 

No Rest For The Wicked

While club managers and players not in their national teams have had time to recoup and collect their thoughts during the international break, the same cannot be said for the players representing their respective nations. There's zero rest for the world's elite, who, after competing in the Nations League, return to a stacked EPL schedule before the World Cup in November. That all begins with an intriguing EPL matchday 9 slate.  

Because the Premier League's top six clubs are home to a considerable amount of international talent, we may see some tired legs on the big boys giving smaller clubs an edge this weekend and the upsetting of some matchweek 9 Premier League odds. 

Let's hunt out the betting value and get right into our Premier League Week 9 predictions!

Matchweek 9 Premier League Predictions

Tottenham @ Arsenal

Saturday, October 1 at 7:30 pm ET

The Mikel Arteta era unquestionably started as a slow burn. However, this Arsenal squad has gained momentum in recent months. Optimism reigns as the Gunners stay firing and sit atop the Premier League table. Still, there will be a little fear that an old nemesis, inconsistency, may return to haunt the club.

Through eight Premier League matchdays, Arsenal has won six times, lost once, and boasts the league’s third-best goal difference, behind only Manchester City and Tottenham. It’s worth noting that the early-season schedule, loaded with low- and mid-tier opposition, has been extremely kind to Arsenal. Manchester United is the only "big six" club that Arsenal has faced thus far, and that fixture at Old Trafford ended in a 3-1 defeat. This North London Derby brings the season’s most significant challenge to date. 

Arsenal impressively defeated Brentford 0-3 away from home last time; they’re a fast-paced team that focuses on possession-based play. In domestic play since February, Arsenal has scored at a rate of 2.6 goals per game while registering an impressive tally of 42 shots on target - and not conceding many goals (they’ve let in just seven in seven league games in 2022/23).

Tottenham's schedule hasn't been as straightforward as Arsenal’s, with three London derbies already in the bag. However, this hasn't hindered Antonio Contes' men, who remain undefeated in the Premier League while also contending with a Champions League group stage that adds an extra level of difficulty to their campaign. 

Tottenham have won just two of their previous 26 visits to the Emirates and are winless from their last 11 meetings against the Gunners away from home. But one lingering statistic stands out above the rest: goals! The last six EPL meetings between these two sides have produced 19 goals, and as both teams are currently firing on all cylinders, the Matchweek 9 Premier League odds at -142 on the over 2.5 is a steal.       

Matchweek 9 Premier League Prediction: Recommended Bet

• Over 2.5 goals, -142 @ FanDuel 

Brighton @ Liverpool

Saturday, October 1 at 10:00 am ET

Meanwhile, at Anfield, fourth-placed Brighton visit eighth-placed Liverpool. Wait… what?

That’s right. This isn't a typo; Liverpool currently sits eighth in the Premier League table, looking up at Brighton, who are in fourth. Taking a page from Arsenal's 2021/22 playbook, the Reds have struggled with consistency while battling a wave of injuries, with two wins, three draws, and one loss this season.

Consecutive draws on the opening two matchdays against EPL newcomers Fulham and Crystal Palace will be viewed as four points squandered by Klopp’s crew. Of Liverpool’s three wins in eight EPL and Champions League appearances, two (versus Newcastle and Ajax) could be regarded as fortunate, courtesy of late goals

Whether this is a temporary blip or something more concerning, Liverpool's mixed start to the season needs to take a U-turn. A 9-0 dismantling of Bournemouth highlighted the side’s potential but will only truly count if it can be emulated against a solid EPL opposition like Brighton.

Defeating the Red Devils (2-1) in their EPL season opener was the perfect beginning to Brighton's season, and to the surprise of many, the momentum and positive results have been maintained. A 5-2 success over Leicester City saw Brighton into the international break oozing with confidence. Still, I doubt we'll witness such a scoreline as newly appointed manager Roberto De Zerbi will be settling into his new club. 

Brighton lost manager Graham Potter to Chelsea, but the foundation for this squad is in place. They're a solid defensive unit who've conceded just five goals from eight games this season. That said, Liverpool rarely fails to find the net on home turf, and Brighton hasn't failed to score away from home this season, pointing us toward the “both teams to score” betting market as an excellent wager.    

Matchweek 9 Premier League Prediction: Recommended Bet

• Both teams to score, -110 @ Caesars 

Manchester United @ Manchester City

Sunday, October 2 at 9:00 p.m. ET

One of the biggest rivalries in England commences on Sunday, when Manchester's blue and red sides battle it out at the Etihad Stadium. Manchester City will be protecting their 2021/22 EPL title and current unbeaten streak through the initial eight matchdays of the new season, while Eric ten Hag’s Manchester United squad will look to extend a four-game EPL win streak that involves successes over Arsenal and Liverpool. 

Losing to Brighton and Brentford sparked concern for United; however, the Red Devils fired back emphatically in overcoming Liverpool (2-1) before delivering Arsenal’s first (and thus far, only) loss of the campaign by a 3-1 score. However, despite United’s "big six" slaying antics, Pep Guardiola’s Man City won't be nervous about defending their unbeaten streak against Tag and company.  

The Citizens have nearly tripled (23) the goal-scoring efforts of United (8) this season, which underlines the clear separation in depth and talent in attack for each squad. While United's fullbacks have broken out in recent weeks and delivered far more trustworthy performances at the back, an attack led by Erling Haaland, who’s penetrated all defenses in all competitions with 14 goals from 10 appearances, won’t be fazed.

While the expectation is for a routine victory for the home side, the Red Devils have found an outstanding balance in their defensive efforts, and the result may not be as authoritative as expected. For this reason, the under 3.5 goals market is a great value bet at -145. Plus, the “Haaland anytime goal scorer” prop has become so juiced (-210 at Pointsbet) that we can no longer simply hammer it for easy money.  

Matchweek 9 Premier League Prediction: Recommended Bet

• Under 3.5 goals, -145 @ Caesars 

Matchweek 8 Premier League Odds

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What Premier League teams are playing this weekend? 

Of the 20 Premier League teams, 18 are playing this weekend. There are seven Premier League games on Saturday and two on Sunday. That leaves one game to be played on Monday between Leicester City and Nottingham Forest.

Who are the Favourites to win the Premier League 2023?

Manchester City is currently the heavy favorite to win the Premier League title in the 2022-23 season. They have won the league in four of the last five seasons. Liverpool has the second-shortest odds despite a sluggish start to the season, while Arsenal and Tottenham are both potential contenders after a promising start to the new season.

Conclusion

With the International break over, normal play resumes. Our EPL predictions for week 9 look at what's in store for the heavy hitters in this upcoming game week. If you're looking for more soccer content, read our guide: How To Bet on Soccer, and visit our odds comparison tool to compare the latest odds.

Written by David Manyun

David Manyun specialises in combat sports, having followed MMA for over 20 years, and has an impressive record in pre-fight predictions, regularly wagering himself. 

An experienced content writer who also has strong EPL knowledge, he offers an extensive analysis of odds and the numbers crucial to betting.