Football
West ham vs Chelsea: Punters pile into away win as odds shorten on Blues
West Ham and Chelsea go out against each other on Friday night to earn their first three points of the season after failing to do so on Matchday 1.
Dave James, Odds expert comments:
Chelsea make the short trip across London tonight to face West Ham, and punters are firmly backing the Blues to deliver. Money continues to come in for Enzo Maresca’s side, with odds of 8/11 on the away win shortening as confidence grows. West Ham, struggling to find consistency, have drifted to 4/1 for the home win, while a share of the spoils is currently priced at 3/1. Bookmakers clearly see Chelsea as favourites to heap further pressure on the Hammers.
Where to watch: West Ham United vs Chelsea will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League TV in the United Kingdom. The game will kick off at 8 pm BST at the London Stadium on August 22, 2025.
West Ham’s Premier League opener did not go according to plan as they were thrashed 3-0 by newly promoted Sunderland. Eliezer Mayenda, Daniel Ballard and Wilson Isidor were on the scoresheet for The Black Cats as they grabbed their first English top-flight win in eight years.
The opening day result has put manager Graham Potter under immense pressure as his side does not have a favourable run of games coming up. There was a noticeable deficiency in squad performance and managerial decisions in the Sunderland match, but all of those need to addressed quickly to avoid being the first coach in the Premier League this season to get the boot for Potter.
Callum Wilson could get a full debut against Chelsea since he only came off the bench in The Hammerers’ last match. Tomas Soucek, Edson Alvarez and Andy Irving are in contention to start as James Ward-Prowse is likely to be benched.
Despite riding on their Club World Cup triumph festivities, Chelsea were held to a goalless draw by Crystal Palace in the Premier League opening weekend.
Enzo Maresca’s men were quite relieved to come off the match with a point since they had already seen Eberechi Eze find the back of the net through a free-kick.
However, the goal was ruled out by VAR due to a minor infringement, which led to much controversy.
The Blues started the season with high hopes after landing the Conference League last campaign and then with the success in Stateside, but fans are now reconsidering their expectations after watching Chelsea’s first performance.
Chelsea have three London derbies coming up as they face West Ham, Fulham and Brentford in consecutive upcoming matchdays.
Nine points from these games will put The Stamford Bridge dwellers right back on contention to be early league leaders. Maresca knows this, and it is time for him to rally his men to prove themselves on the pitch.
Considering both teams’ forms, a comfortable victory for Chelsea is predicted.
Well, the main question on everyones lips is whether Sunderland can maintain their fine start to the Premier League and take all three points against Everton, writes Dave James.
Few could have imagined (I certainly didn’t) Sunderland sitting inside the Premier League’s top four after nine games, but that is exactly where the Black Cats find themselves heading into this Monday night fixture.
Regis Le Bris’ side have matched their best-ever points tally at this stage of a Premier League season, a feat last achieved in 1999, and confidence is high following a stunning 2-1 victory away at Chelsea last weekend.
Back at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland will aim to maintain their impressive home form, having gone unbeaten in four league matches on their own turf this season (W3, D1). However, history is not on their side in this fixture they have lost their last three meetings with Everton without scoring a single goal.
Everton have struggled to find consistency despite a new manager and a spanking new Stadium. After a promising start, David Moyes’ side have won just one of their last seven matches in all competitions and arrive in the North East on the back of consecutive Premier League defeats.
Their away form is a growing concern, with four losses from their last five away games and three of those ending without a single goal. The Toffees just can’t seem to keep a clean sheet at the back.
This will be the first meeting between Sunderland and Everton since 2017, and both teams have struggled to find the net regularly this season.
Sunderland’s matches have averaged two goals per game, while Everton’s stand at 2.3, suggesting this could be one for the unders markets.
Moyes endured a difficult spell in charge of Sunderland lets not forget, overseeing their relegation from the Premier League in 2017, and his return to the Stadium of Light is unlikely to be a warm one.
The home crowd will be eager to remind him of that chapter, while Sunderland’s players will see this as another chance to underline their impressive progress under Regis Le Bris.
Given the form of both sides and with Sunderland enjoying the advantage of playing at home in front of their vociferous Stadium of Light support, the momentum seems to be with the Black Cats.
At odds of 2/1 across the board, a home win looks like an appealing prospect as Le Bris’ men aim to extend their fine start to the campaign.
Despite delivering a Premier League title in his debut season, Liverpool boss Arne Slot is now under mounting pressure following a sharp decline in form, writes Dave James.
Liverpool’s struggles deepened on Wednesday night as they crashed out of the Carabao Cup, suffering their sixth defeat in seven matches with a 3-0 home loss to Crystal Palace.
Ismaila Sarr struck twice in the first half for the visitors, before Yeremy Pino added a late third to compound a miserable evening for Reds fans at Anfield. Slot’s side finished the match with ten men after 18-year-old Amara Nallo was sent off just 11 minutes after coming on as a substitute.
The Liverpool boss made ten changes from the side that lost 3-2 to Brentford at the weekend, fielding a youthful and inexperienced line up that failed to cope with Palace’s energy and organisation.
The slump has sparked fresh speculation about his future, and according to the latest odds from the bookies, former Reds manager Jurgen Klopp is the frontrunner to make a dramatic return to Anfield.
Klopp is currently priced at 3/1 to take charge of Liverpool once again, leading a long list of potential successors that includes Andoni Iraola at 5/1 and Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner at 11/2.
Dave James from Whataretheodds.co.uk commented on the growing speculation, saying:
“The fact that Jurgen Klopp tops the next Liverpool manager market tells you everything about how much his legacy still resonates with fans and the hierarchy alike. His bond with Anfield was special, and there’s a genuine feeling that he could return one day if the circumstances were right.”
| Manager | Odds | Implied Chance |
|---|---|---|
| Jurgen Klopp | 3/1 | 25% |
| Andoni Iraola | 5/1 | 16.7% |
| Oliver Glasner | 11/2 | 15.4% |
| Steven Gerrard | 8/1 | 11.1% |
| Xavi | 9/1 | 10% |
| Pep Lijnders | 10/1 | 9.1% |
| Unai Emery | 12/1 | 7.7% |
| Julian Nagelsmann | 14/1 | 6.7% |
| Xabi Alonso | 16/1 | 5.9% |
| Roberto De Zerbi | 16/1 | 5.9% |
Klopp recently hinted in an interview that he would not rule out a return to Liverpool, adding further fuel to the speculation.
The German spent nine years at the club, delivering both the Premier League and Champions League titles before stepping down earlier this year.
Behind him in the betting, Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has caught the eye after an impressive transformation on the south coast.
Priced at 5/1, the Spaniard has taken the Cherries from relegation candidates to European hopefuls. His high energy, pressing football fits neatly with Liverpool’s traditional identity, something that could appeal to the club’s owners.
Dave James added:
“Iraola’s stock is rising fast. What he’s done at Bournemouth has been remarkable, and his tactical philosophy mirrors what Liverpool fans have come to love. If the Reds are looking for continuity in terms of footballing DNA, Iraola would be a serious contender.”
The third favourite is Oliver Glasner at 11/2, who led Crystal Palace to a historic FA Cup win last season.
The Austrian has built a reputation for attacking football and strong player development, having previously guided Eintracht Frankfurt to Europa League glory.
According to dave, Glasner’s success has not gone unnoticed:
“Glasner has proven he can deliver silverware and style. His FA Cup triumph with Palace was extraordinary, and he’s shown he can compete with the best. If Liverpool are looking for a manager with a winning mentality and modern approach, Glasner fits the bill.”
With Klopp, Iraola, and Glasner leading the early betting, Liverpool’s managerial market is already one of the most closely watched in English football.
While Arne Slot remains in the job, pressure is mounting at Anfield, and as the odds suggest, a managerial shake-up may be closer than many expected.
Wolves are staring down the barrel after a nightmare start to the season and boss Vitor Pereira could be out the door if his side crash out of the EFL Cup against Chelsea tonight, writes Dave James.
The Portuguese manager, once hailed as a saviour for keeping Wolves up last season, is now hanging by a thread with the club rooted to the bottom of the Premier League. Pereira was handed a shiny new three-year deal in September, but just a month later, fans are calling for change after a string of woeful results.
And according to WhatAreTheOdds.co.uk, former Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers is the red-hot favourite to take over at 2/1, after sensationally quitting his post in Glasgow earlier this week.
“Its always bad news when bookies start releasing odds on the next manager, and Bet365, Talksportbet and BetVictor have already installed Brendan Rogers the favourite at 2/1. The now ex Celtic manager has the pedigree, the experience and the pulling power to turn things around at Molineux,” said Dave James, football expert at WhatAreTheOdds.co.uk. “He’s proven at this level and Wolves fans would see him as a serious upgrade on Pereira right now.”
“Portuguese coach Sergio Conceicao and former Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer are next in the betting at 6/1, while Kevin Muscat ,a former Wolves hardman himself is in the frame at 8/1.”
“Conceicao only just took charge of Al Ittihad, managing superstars like Benzema and Kante, but Wolves could test his resolve with a Premier League offer,” added James. “And don’t rule out Solskjaer,he’s quietly waiting for the right job and could be tempted by a return to English football.”
Further down the list are Erik ten Hag (10/1) and Frank Lampard (12/1), while Steven Gerrard, Russell Martin, Mark Robins and Derek McInnes are all long shots at 14/1.
With Wolves staring at an early cup exit and another grim league weekend on the horizon, tonight’s clash against Chelsea could decide Pereira’s fate.
“The board backed him in the summer, but results have been dreadful,” said Dave. “Lose tonight and the chants from the stands might just make their decision for them.”
Next Wolves Manager Odds (via WhatAreTheOdds.co.uk):
- Brendan Rodgers – 2/1
- Sergio Conceicao – 6/1
- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – 6/1
- Kevin Muscat – 8/1
- Erik ten Hag – 10/1
- Frank Lampard – 12/1
- Derek McInnes – 12/1
- Steven Gerrard – 14/1
- Russell Martin – 14/1
- Mark Robins – 14/1
Wolves have picked up only two points from their opening nine league games and have now gone 13 Premier League matches without a win stretching back into last season.
Their 3-2 home defeat to Burnley last weekend, against a side who hadn’t picked up a single away point before arriving at Molineux has piled the pressure on Pereira.
Wolves are staring down the barrel after a nightmare start to the season and boss Vitor Pereira could be out the door if his side crash out of the EFL Cup against Chelsea tonight.
The Portuguese manager, once hailed as a saviour for keeping Wolves up last season, is now hanging by a thread with the club rooted to the bottom of the Premier League.
Pereira was handed a shiny new three year deal in September, but just a month later, fans are calling for change after a string of woeful results.
Wolves have picked up only two points from their opening nine league games and have now gone 13 Premier League matches without a win stretching back into last season. Their 3-2 home defeat to Burnley last weekend, against a side who hadn’t picked up a single away point before arriving at Molineux has piled the pressure on Pereira.