Premier League Gameweek 9: What You Need to Know & Best Trade
Updated October 30, 2026
Updated October 30, 2026
Liverpool vs Arsenal and Chelsea vs an ailing Manchester United are undoubtedly the headline acts in Gameweek 9 of the Premier League, but there is so much more to look out for as we return to league action this weekend.
Here are the four most important fixtures of the weekend, and what you need to know about them.
Sunday, November 1, 11:30am ET
Arsenal have the best defense in the Premier League by a distance, with 6.19 xG allowed in eight games. They’ll go to Anfield without William Saliba again, and the attack has lost more since Gameweek 8. Bukayo Saka is out until mid-December, Noni Madueke has joined him on the sidelines until late November, and Riccardo Calafiori is a doubt.
That leaves a lot on Viktor Gyökeres. He started in Tuesday’s cup tie, where a rotated Arsenal took 26 shots and 2.21 xG against Fleetwood, drew 1-1 and lost the shootout 5-3. I wouldn’t read much into the result. A side that creates that many chances in a cup tie is still creating them.
Liverpool have their own gaps. Dominik Szoboszlai and Jeremie Frimpong are both out, and Andoni Iraola’s side only got their first home league win of the season last weekend. On the season numbers, Arsenal’s 21 points are 4.2 ahead of their 16.8 expected points, and Liverpool’s 15 points are 2.3 ahead of their 12.7.
Polymarket has Arsenal at 40¢ (+150), the draw at 29¢ (+245) and Liverpool at 33¢ (+203). In my Liverpool vs Arsenal preview, I passed on this one and said Liverpool become worth a look at 31¢. They haven’t drifted that far yet, so it’s still a pass.
Saturday, October 31, 8:30am ET
João Pedro is still out and isn’t expected back until early November. Chelsea managed just 0.47 xG against Tottenham without him last weekend. At Anfield on Wednesday, with Danny Welbeck leading the line and Morgan Rogers scoring, they produced 1.82 xG before losing the shootout 6-5. That’s a much better sign.
Cole Palmer is back from his suspension, which helps more than anything. The schedule is the worry. Chelsea go from a Wednesday-night shootout at Anfield to a Saturday lunchtime kickoff, while United haven’t played since losing 3-0 to Bournemouth on Sunday.
On the season numbers there’s very little between them: 10.3 expected points for Chelsea and 10.9 for United. The case for Chelsea is about United. They have one league win from eight, Benjamin Šeško and Manuel Ugarte are both out long-term, and they didn’t create a single big chance against Bournemouth.
Chelsea are 54¢ (-117) on Polymarket, with United at 23¢ (+335). My Chelsea vs Manchester United pick was Chelsea at 53¢, holding up to 55¢, and the price remains inside that range.
Saturday, October 31, 11am ET
These two met three days ago in the Carabao Cup, and Brighton were the better side. They won the xG 2.03 to 0.76 and had 17 shots to 13.
That City side was a long way from first choice: Gerónimo Rulli in goal, Ayyoub Bouaddi in midfield and Floyd Samba up front. Brighton’s was much closer to full strength, with Pascal Groß, Diego Gómez and Rutter all starting.
This will be Brighton’s fourth game in 10 days after Jablonec in Europe, Anfield and Wednesday’s tie, and they’re still without Evan Ferguson, Stefanos Tzimas and Kaoru Mitoma.
City’s first XI comes back with only Antoine Semenyo missing. Even so, their 10.66 xGA is high for a team top of the table, and Brighton’s 16.22 xG is the second-highest total in the league.
City are 60¢ (-150) to win, but I'm backing Brighton +1.5 at 64¢. I’d expect City to win, but by two or more is a lot to ask against a side that just out-created them.
Saturday, October 31, 1:30pm ET
Tottenham have won two in a row, but neither win was built on chances. They beat Coventry 3-1 on 0.86 xG and won 2-0 at Chelsea on 0.74. Over the season, their 8.22 xG is the second-lowest total in the league.
The injury list makes it adds to my scepticism.
James Maddison, who started at Stamford Bridge, is now out with no return date, and Lucas Bergvall is out for about a week.
Xavi Simons, Wilson Odobert, Sávio and Mykhaylo Mudryk are all sidelined, and Destiny Udogie is a doubt. That’s most of Roberto De Zerbi’s creative options.
Palace bring a defense that has leaked 15.76 xG, the second-most in the division, and they’re without Ismaïla Sarr until mid-November, making them the perfect opponent for a side struggling to create.
But they came through Europa League and cup ties in the last eight days with a draw at Beşiktaş and a 1-0 win at Fulham, and they keep creating chances despite their defensive woes.
Spurs are 62¢ (-163) to win. I'm taking Palace +1.5 at 62¢, good up to 66¢. It’s now 63¢ (-170), still well inside that range.
