Six games, six wins. Manchester City have given the rest of the Premier League almost no room for error — and Matchweek 7 is where the pressure starts to spread.
Arsenal are only three points behind, but the more unusual story is further down. Liverpool have slipped to ninth after a 3–0 home defeat to City, while unbeaten Brentford are fourth and now welcome them as slight favourites.
Here are the key games and the current 888STARZ line.
Everton vs Chelsea
We start with two sides level on points.
After six matches, Everton sit fifth and Chelsea sixth, both on 10. The mood around them is very different, though: Everton have just drawn 2–2 with Hull, while Chelsea arrive after hammering Bournemouth 5–1.
888STARZ:
3.24 / 3.88 / 2.23
Chelsea are favourites despite playing away and having exactly the same number of points.
But 2.23 is hardly the price of a routine away win. Everton are still unbeaten in the league this season: two wins and four draws.
A good test of whether Chelsea’s 5–1 really marked a step forward.
Brentford vs Liverpool
Probably the most unusual line of the entire round.
Brentford are fourth and still unbeaten. Liverpool are only ninth, and after the 3–0 loss to Manchester City they need an immediate response.
888STARZ:
2.51 / 3.74 / 2.87
The home side are favourites.
Not a coin-flip with Liverpool slightly ahead — Brentford are actually given the edge.
That says plenty about the first six weeks. The hosts have 10 points and no defeats; Liverpool have nine and are coming off their first major setback.
For Liverpool, this is already a test of how quickly they can reset.
Manchester City vs Ipswich
There is far less uncertainty here.
City have made a perfect start: six games, six wins, 16 goals and first place. Last weekend they also went to Anfield and beat Liverpool 3–0.
Ipswich are 10th with nine points and have already shown they can compete. The Etihad, however, is an entirely different assignment.
888STARZ:
1.29 / 6.91 / 10.70
The clearest favourite of Matchweek 7.
At this point, the main question is no longer whether City deserve to be favourites.
It is whether anybody can stop them at all.
Newcastle vs Aston Villa
This one is far less straightforward.
Newcastle are coming off a painful 4–1 defeat to Coventry and remain on eight points. Villa drew 2–2 with Brentford and have managed only five points from their first six games.
888STARZ:
2.26 / 3.86 / 3.19
The market gives Newcastle a slight edge, but after conceding four to a newly promoted side, confidence in the hosts is hardly overwhelming.
Both teams could use a result to change the mood quickly.
Villa in particular cannot afford to spend much longer drifting around the bottom half.
Leeds vs Manchester United
The tightest line among Sunday’s headline games.
Leeds are seventh with nine points. Manchester United are only 13th with six. Leeds pushed Arsenal hard last weekend before losing 2–1, while United let a lead slip against Tottenham in a 1–1 draw.
888STARZ:
2.42 / 3.70 / 3.01
Leeds are favourites.
Not the bigger name, but the side with the better start and home advantage.
United’s position is becoming increasingly uncomfortable: only one league win in six matches and already seven points behind second place.
Leeds, meanwhile, can strengthen their place in the top half with another big result.
Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal
Arsenal have responded to their setback against Brighton with two straight wins, including a 2–1 victory over Leeds last weekend.
They sit second on 15 points and remain City’s closest challengers.
Forest have had a very different start: 15th place, five points and a 3–1 defeat to Crystal Palace last time out.
888STARZ:
6.11 / 3.99 / 1.66
The favourite is obvious.
And Arsenal know exactly what is at stake. While City keep winning, dropping points against a bottom-half side is the sort of result they simply cannot afford.
1.66 on the away win makes Arsenal one of the strongest favourites of the round behind City.
The Rest of Matchweek 7
17 October: Everton — Chelsea, Brentford — Liverpool, Fulham — Hull, Manchester City — Ipswich, Newcastle — Aston Villa.
18 October: Bournemouth — Sunderland, Brighton — Crystal Palace, Leeds — Manchester United, Nottingham Forest — Arsenal.
19 October: Tottenham — Coventry.
Brighton are another side worth watching. They sit third with 13 points and have scored a league-high 18 goals. On Sunday, they face Crystal Palace in the derby.
Before Matchweek 7
The main question at the top could hardly be simpler: who stops Manchester City first?
City have taken 18 points from 18, but Arsenal remain close enough that one slip would immediately reopen the race.
Below them, the picture is much stranger. Brentford and Everton are still unbeaten, Brighton are third, while Liverpool and Manchester United are already outside the top six.
That is why two prices stand out this weekend: Brentford are favourites against Liverpool at 2.51, while Leeds are 2.42 favourites against Man United.
If both deliver, the early-season hierarchy will look even less familiar after seven rounds.
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