WITH The Gunners, Arsenal, looking every bit like they mean business this season, Liverpool were seen as the likely challenger to the Manchester City juggernaut but they have had an underwhelming start thus far. Over in Italy unbeaten sides, Lazio and Inter Milan will square off in a much-anticipated encounter that should light up Rome today, Friday, August 26.

Event # 1 – ITA, Lazio vs Inter Milan – 1:45 pm

Lazio and Inter Milan will put their unbeaten starts on the line. Lazio have made a steady start to the new campaign, winning one and drawing the game against Torino last weekend. They will now aim to maintain their unbeaten start against an Inter Milan side that have their sights set on winning the Serie A title they lost by a point last season to their great rivals AC Milan. Having finished fifth last season, Lazio brought in a new coach, Maurizio Sarri to challenge for the title this term, and having defeated Bologna in their first home match of the season, they will now be aiming to win their first two home matches of a season for the first time since 2015.

After two straightforward wins to start their new campaign Inter Milan head to the capital, Rome, to face a Lazio side that should fully test their championship mettle. Inter Milan may have won each of their last three away matches in Serie A, dating back to last season, but they are yet to win four away matches in a row under current coach Phillipe Inzaghi — their last such run came under current Tottenham coach Antonio Conte, between February and April 2021, on their way to winning the title. With wins over Lecce and Spezia, Inter Milan have now won 10 of their last 11 Serie A matches and will travel to Rome full of confidence that they can maintain their unbeaten start to the new season.

KEY STATS

Lazio – won their first home league game this season, against Bologna; they could win their first two home Serie A games in a single season for the first time since 2015/16.

Inter Milan – have won their last three away league games but have never won four in a row under Inzaghi. The last time Inter Milan won four away league games in a row was under Antonio Conte, between February and April 2021 (five).

Both sides – Lazio are unbeaten in their last three home games against Inter in Serie A (W2 D1), after losing the previous three. Lazio have conceded in each of their last six home games against Inter Milan (12 in total) and could concede in seven in a row for the first time since between October 1948 and February 1960 (12 games, 21 goals conceded).

The betting tip: Inter Milan win.

Event #2 EPL – Liverpool vs Bournemouth – 9:00 am

Having been expected to challenge champions Manchester City for the title this season Liverpool have made an underwhelming start, drawing two and losing one of their first three matches.

The Reds’, Liverpool, dismal start to the Premier League season has taken everyone by surprise and they desperately need a win at home against Bournemouth to halt this run or risk losing further ground in the title race. Having come so close to an unprecedented quadruple last season, Liverpool were expected to regroup and make another bid for the title but, with a crippling injury list to start the season, things haven’t gone as planned for the Reds. Draws with Fulham and Crystal Palace hinted that things werent’ quite right, but Liverpool were still expected to get back on track against a Manchester United side that had just been humiliated 4-0 by Brentford. Oh, how wrong they were, as it was Liverpool who ended up on the canvas being floored 2-1 by United in impressive fashion.

Meanwhile, the Cherries, Bournemouth, got their campaign off to a flier by beating Aston Villa at home — but they have since been brought back down to earth with heavy losses to Manchester City and the impressive Arsenal. Now the Cherries make the daunting trip to Anfield, and they will be wary of a bite from a wounded Liverpool who will be looking to sink their teeth back into the title hunt with a win. Indeed, Bournemouth’s recent matches against Liverpool don’t make for good reading, having won just once in their last 13 meetings — a thrilling 4-3 victory back in 2016 — with Liverpool winning seven of their last eight meetings at Anfield including 2-1 the last time both teams met in 2020.

KEY STATS

Liverpool – have won each of their last six Premier League games against Bournemouth by an aggregate score of 19-1. However, Liverpool are yet to win in their opening three Premier League matches this season (D2 L1), last starting a league season with four winless matches in the 2012-13 campaign and failing to win any of their opening five games that season.

Bournemouth – have lost 13 of their last 15 Premier League away games, with the exceptions being a 1-0 win at Chelsea (December 2019) and a 3-1 win on Merseyside against Everton (July 2020).

Both sides – Bournemouth have lost seven of their eight away games against Liverpool in all competitions, with the exception being a 2-2 draw in the Premier League in April 2017.

The betting tip: Liverpool win.