Premier League Gameweek 8: Predictions, best bets, and odds

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After an exciting midweek of UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League action, football fans turn their attention to gameweek eight of the English Premier League.

The curtain goes up at Portman Road on Friday, where Ipswich Town play Nottingham Forest live on TV from 20:00 BST. Saturday brings another four games, with the remaining five decided on Sunday afternoon.

With major UK bookmakers offering pre-match betting odds and promotions on each of this weekend's 10 EPL fixtures, there's plenty to consider. 

Keep reading as trusted football betting pundit Frank Monkhouse walks Flashscore readers through his predictions.

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Ipswich v Nottingham Forest, Friday, 20:00 BST

The show begins in Suffolk on Friday evening, where Ipswich Town host Nottingham Forest. A packed stadium and huge TV audience will cheer every tackle, save, and goal, but which team will shine under the bright lights?

Ipswich start round eight in mid-table, with stats of three wins against four defeats, scoring 11 goals and conceding 15. Gary O'Neill's team have lost two of their previous three, including a 3-2 reverse at the Etihad Stadium last time.

Nottingham Forest arrive second from the bottom of the league, with only Sunderland worse off. The Tricky Trees have won just one match all season, drawing two and losing four. Taking none of the last nine points available piles pressure on Oliver Glasner.

Head-to-head stats on the Flashscore app show the clubs last met at Portman Road in March 2025, when Forest won 4-2.

There's not much to get excited about in the stats, but Ipswich have won two of their last three home games, beating Sunderland and Fulham 2-1. It's also worth knowing that home boss O'Neil has never lost against Friday's opponents in the Premier League, winning one and drawing four.

I'm adding Ipswich on the double chance market to my midweek accumulators. If the locals avoid defeat, you'll secure a profit.

Tip: Ipswich win or draw @ 8/13 (bet365)

Bet explanation: Your bet pays if the home team wins or the match ends in a draw.

Aston Villa v Man City, Saturday, 12:30 BST

On Saturday, we have a mouth-watering showdown at Villa Park, where Aston Villa play Manchester City. You can follow this early-afternoon kick-off on TV and live-streaming apps. Let's find a bet worth following.

Villa got off to a poor start, but a three-match unbeaten record has lifted them to 12th. Unai Emery's men beat Tottenham 3-2 in London, drew 2-2 with Brentford in their last home match, and edged Newcastle United 1-0 last weekend.

Man City open in pole position and are the only team left in the Premier League with a 100% record of seven wins from seven games. The pace-setters have beaten all-comers, and will fancy their chances of banking another maximum payout in Birmingham.

Traders working at major sportsbooks price Man City as strong favourites in the match-winner market, but the stats encourage us to shoot for the value.

Our partners at Opta Stats show that Aston Villa have won four of their previous six EPL meetings with Man City. It's also worth knowing that City have suffered defeat in each of their last two visits to Villa Park. 

With the home team appearing to find their feet in recent weeks, it's another one from the double chance market. Back Aston Villa to win or draw on Saturday in front of their loyal fans, and I'm confident we'll get a run for our money.

Tip: Aston Villa win or draw @ 11/10 (bet365)

Bet explanation: You'll make a profit from this bet if Aston Villa avoids defeat at home to Man City, with a win paying the same as a draw.

Arsenal v Everton, Saturday, 15:00 BST

The pick of the Saturday 15:00 starts is in North London, where defending Premier League champions Arsenal aim for a third win on the bounce when hosting an Everton side with one win in six.

Mikel Arteta had his men at Bayern Munich on Wednesday for a Champions League clash. It was a fascinating game, but the Gunners must dust themselves off, recover, and get ready to go again. 

They're entering a busy period, and this is when we'll see how good the Arsenal squad is.

Everton hope to hurt the champions, and David Moyes' team enjoyed a free week, with their last match a 2-0 home defeat to Chelsea seven days ago. The Toffees started the round in eighth, but have drawn four of their previous six. 

Another draw wouldn't be a bad result at the home of the champions.

Arsenal are unbeaten in their previous seven league matches with Everton, returning five wins and two draws. The locals have lost only one of their last 30 home league games against Saturday's opponents, with 24 wins and five draws. 

Lastly, Moyes has never guided an Everton team to victory at this venue, losing 10 of 13.

In the last five EPL games between Arsenal and Everton at the Emirates, the home team has built an impressive 13-2 aggregate lead, including 5-1 and 4-0 victories.

Stick with an Arsenal side that has won 11 of 12 Premier League games and boasts a 100% record at the Emirates during that purple patch.

Tip: Arsenal win @ 19/50 (bet365)

Bet explanation: If Arsenal continue their impressive run and beat Everton, you'll beat the bookies.

Chelsea v Tottenham, Saturday, 17:30 BST

Saturday evening's live Premier League match brings armchair fans an intriguing London derby from Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea enjoy the home advantage, with Xabi Alonso knowing his Blues must make it count if they're serious about mounting a title challenge this term. 

The hosts suffered a sticky spell when they took one of nine points, but have since steadied the ship with back-to-back wins to move to fourth in the league.

Tottenham last played on Monday evening, beating lowly Coventry City 3-1 in North London. Goals from Kudus, Marmoush and Davies earned Spurs their first win of the season. 

Perhaps a short warm-weather training camp in Spain did the trick. That result puts Spurs on six points, two more than bottom club Sunderland.

Chelsea enter with a 100% record in their last six meetings with Spurs, and the stats show that's the Blues' joint-longest-running record against their neighbours. 

Stamford Bridge has also proven a fortress for Chelsea against Spurs, with the visitors claiming only one win in their previous 36 visits. That's good enough for me.

Tip: Chelsea win @ 4/6 (bet365)

Bet explanation: If Chelsea beat Tottenham on Saturday evening live on TV, this bet wins, and followers will secure a profit.

Liverpool v Brighton, Sunday, 14:00 GMT

We cover two of the five Premier League games played on Sunday, starting at Anfield, where Liverpool play Brighton.

The Reds have lost just one EPL match so far, but have drawn as many as they've won. Andoni Iraola's team lost 3-0 at home to Man City earlier this month, but responded with a stunning 6-3 away win over LASK in the Champions League, and a 2-1 win at Brentford eight days ago.

Liverpool hosted Villarreal in the UCL on Tuesday, but have a squad big enough to handle playing twice a week.

Brighton began round eight third in the Premier League, with five wins, one draw, and one defeat. The Seagulls are five points off the pace set by Man City, and only two behind last season's league champions, Arsenal.

Fabian Hurzeler's crew arrive unbeaten in five, with victory in each of their last four starts. That run includes a 5-0 home win over Crystal Palace last Sunday. Their most recent road trip produced a comfortable 2-0 win at the Stadium of Light.

Here, we have a meeting of two teams in fine form, and two targeting a top-four finish this season. On paper, there's little between the pair, but it's worth remembering their midweek commitments. Liverpool played Villarreal here on Tuesday, and Brighton went to Jablonec on Thursday in the Conference League.

The extra recovery time, no travel, and the home advantage all point to a home win. The stats also support that approach.

Brighton have managed just one win in their last 13 visits to Anfield, with the Seagulls losing each of their previous four. That's too good to ignore.

I expect a hard-fought contest, and Brighton will play their part in a great match, but I'm adding a Liverpool win to my multiples. The odds make Liverpool best suited to your accumulators or Liverpool v Brighton Bet Builders.

Tip: Liverpool win @ 1/1 (bet365)

Bet explanation: Keep it simple and back Liverpool to beat Brighton. You don't care about the winning margin, who scores the goals, or when. As long as Liverpool outscore Brighton and collect all three points, you'll boost your betting balance.

Sunderland v Leeds, Sunday, 16:30 GMT

I round things off at the Stadium of Light, as Sunderland seek a vital three points against a Leeds United side 13 places higher in the Premier League.

Sunderland are rock bottom of the division. The Black Cats have won one from seven, drawn one, and lost the other five. They've scored six goals, but conceded 14. With four points on the board, they are just three behind Manchester United in 13th at the time of writing. 

It's still too early in the season to hit the panic button, but pressure is building in the home dressing room.

Leeds United have started the season well, losing only one of seven games, but drawing four. The visitors ended level in two of their last three outings, sharing the points with Crystal Palace and Man Utd at Elland Road. The only other result in that three-game run was a narrow 2-1 defeat at the home of the champions, despite taking the lead that day.

Leeds find themselves in the European places, but manager Daniel Farke knows his team must start turning draws into wins if they are serious about lasting the pace.

They may be the away team, but the Stadium of Light holds no fear for Leeds. Results show they have lost just one of their previous eight visits, winning six and drawing one. The teams met here once last season, ending 1-1 in late December, with goals from Simon Adingra and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

If you enjoy taking your lead from the head-to-head stats, you may be interested to learn that a bet on both teams to score landed in three of the last four. I wouldn't put anyone off adding that bet to their weekend accumulators.

You may prefer to take a bit more of a gamble and back Leeds United on the match-winner market at odds of 29/20 with bet365. There's enough to follow that one as a single.

I'm happy to back Leeds, but the only slight concern is their two draws in three and four of six. The Black Cats may be on a losing streak, but they're capable of better, and I'd be surprised if Regis Le Bris took them down to the Championship in spring.

Play the double chance market to cover yourself against another share. Leeds or draw is 2/5 (bet365). Backing Leeds to win or draw would've ensured a profit in four of the last five meetings. 

That run goes all the way back to April 2024. Two of those five matches were at the Stadium of Light, and they produced 2-2 and 1-1 results.

Tip: Leeds United win or draw @ 2/5 (bet365)

Bet explanation: As the name suggests, the Double Chance market gives you two chances to win. Either a win for Leeds or the visitors taking a fifth draw in eight games will do the job.