Premier League Matchday 8 odds, schedule: Leaders Liverpool host Chelsea in top-four clash

After the international break, the English Premier League is back with a full slate of matches this weekend. Liverpool host Chelsea in a meeting of top-four teams on Sunday plus Tottenham host West Ham in a clash between two teams that hope to be higher in the table than they currently are.

Spurs-West Ham is the first match of the weekend on Saturday. Spurs have likely been stewing on the 3-2 loss away to Brighton from two weeks ago, a match they led 2-0 at halftime. West Ham are coming off a 4-1 win against Ipswich, which ended a five-match winless run across all competitions for the Hammers. Tottenham are solid favorites to win at home.

There are two matches between teams in the top half in the next set of matches on Saturday. Fulham host Aston Villa and Brighton head to Newcastle. Villa are unbeaten in eight straight matches, including two wins in the Champions League , and haven't lost away from home yet this season. The Villains have a reasonable chance to move into the top four if Chelsea drop points at Liverpool. However, Fulham are actually slightly favored.

Newcastle and Brighton are level with 12 points, just outside the top four. The Magpies haven't won in the last three league matches but are even money to get the victory in this one.

Liverpool-Chelsea is the must-watch match of the weekend, but Arsenal and Manchester City are both playing away, which means three points aren't guaranteed for either. Arsenal head to Bournemouth on Saturday while Man City take on the Wolves on Sunday.

As for Liverpool-Chelsea, the Reds are clear favorites against the Blues. Chelsea last beat Liverpool in March of 2021. There have been nine matches across all competitions between the two teams since. However, five of the last six meetings in the league between these two have ended in a draw. Including three cup matches, these teams have been level after 90 minutes in eight of the past nine meetings.