The unpredictability of the Premier League is highlighted by the fact that Manchester City are the only team currently on a winning run of more than two games, and they’ve won just three games.
England’s top division is known for its competitive depth, meaning there is usually at least one upset every gameweek. It will be no different this weekend, with 10 fixtures spread across Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Here, The Athletic looks at three games over the weekend that could see the underdogs come out on top.
Newcastle United vs Everton
Saturday, February 28 (3pm GMT, 10am ET)
While Newcastle United have a Champions League last-16 tie against Barcelona to look forward to, Eddie Howe’s team have struggled for domestic consistency of late.
They have won just one of their last six league fixtures, dropping into the bottom half of the Premier League table.
This could offer Everton encouragement ahead of Saturday’s trip to the North East, as could Newcastle’s run of just two wins in their last five matches at St James’ Park. Only three teams (Arsenal, Chelsea and Aston Villa) have won more points on the road than Everton this term.
Priced at 10/3 to come out on top at St James’ Park, there is good value in backing Everton to win their sixth match in their last nine away trips.
There have been over 2.5 goals in Newcastle’s last four league games and Saturday’s match is priced at 8/11 to continue that trend.
Newcastle will be without Bruno Guimaraes, while Jack Grealish is sidelined through injury for Everton. The difference between the two teams in the table could be more than just one point after this weekend’s encounter.
Leeds United vs Manchester City
Saturday, February 28 (5.30pm GMT, 12.30pm ET)
Manchester City can narrow the gap on Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table to just two points by overcoming Leeds United on Saturday, with Mikel Arteta’s side facing Chelsea a day later.
There’s good reason for Pep Guardiola’s team to be favourites: City have won their last five matches against Leeds in all competitions and are the Premier League’s joint-top scorers this season.
Nonetheless, Leeds have been on a good run since the last time they faced Manchester City, when Daniel Farke made a tactical shift that now appears to be getting the best out of his squad.
Leeds have lost two of their last 14 league games. Since losing heavily to Arsenal at the end of January, they have gone unbeaten in games against Aston Villa, Chelsea and Nottingham Forest, underlining why there could be value in backing a Leeds win over City at 7/2.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin, the Premier League’s highest-scoring English player, is 11/5 to net his 11th league goal of the season and is 13/1 to bag a brace.
Farke’s team has lost just three times at Elland Road all season and will at least make Manchester City work hard for a result on Saturday.
Fulham vs Tottenham Hotspur
Sunday, March 1 (2pm GMT, 9am ET)
After suffering defeat in the north London derby on his debut as Tottenham Hotspur interim manager, Igor Tudor must find a way to get a positive reaction out of his new players at Craven Cottage this Sunday.
The outlook is bleak for Spurs. Their cushion to the relegation zone now stands at just four points following three straight defeats to Manchester United, Newcastle United and Arsenal, and a run of just two wins in 17 league games.
And yet Tottenham’s best results have come away from home this season, suggesting a price of 21/10 for a victory on Sunday might not be the worst punt.
Tudor is expected to set up Spurs in a back three, as he did against Arsenal. Pedro Porro and Djed Spence will give the visitors width as wing-backs, while Randal Kolo Muani will likely keep his place after scoring in the derby.
The French forward is 11/4 to make it two in two against another London opponent this weekend. The price of 3/4 for over 2.5 goals could also be good value, given there have been over 2.5 goals in each of Fulham’s last five league games.