Expert Jury: Chelsea to leave their mark on champions City

We asked our top team of writers and a leading odds-compiler for their thoughts on this week's big talking points and this is how they answered...

What is your best football bet this weekend?

Racing Post's Aaron Ashley: League Two leaders Forest Green at a shade of odds-on make great appeal hosting Tranmere. Despite sitting 11th in the table, Tranmere have netted just four times in eight games and still await their first goal on the road after four attempts.

In the meantime, Forest Green have fired home 18 goals in eight outings and three straight clean sheets suggest they could frustrate their toothless visitors.

Racing Post's Steve Davies: Sunderland fans will be forgiven for not getting too carried away given recent shortcomings, but they can continue their fine start by beating Bolton.

Lee Johnson's men had a rare slip last weekend – held at Fleetwood after shipping late on – but bounced back with a confidence-boosting EFL Cup win at League One rivals Wigan. Bolton are a danger but do concede and Sunderland, in their form, should have their measure.

Racing Post's Henry Hardwicke: Middlesbrough have been a little unfortunate to record only two Championship wins this season and I fancy things to turn in their favour at Reading.

Boro somehow managed to lose 2-1 at home to Blackpool last weekend, despite the visitors having just a single shot on target. However, in terms of performances, Neil Warnock's side have been far more impressive than the Royals and they look a nice price to come away from Berkshire with three points.

BoyleSports odds-compiler Gerard Markey: Manchester United to cover the -1 handicap against Aston Villa. It seems Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will always have his doubters but it can’t be denied that the current United side on paper have a very exciting look.

With the majority of players rested in midweek and Ronaldo in top goalscoring form I expect them to have way too much for Villa.

Who are the most vulnerable favourites?

Racing Post's Aaron Ashley: Manchester United are plenty short enough at home to Aston Villa, who may have lost Jack Grealish but have built a deeper squad as a result.

Despite losing 3-0, Villa looked good on their last away trip at Chelsea and a repeat performance would certainly ask questions of United. Dean Smith’s side have since outclassed Everton in a 3-0 win and taken a strong Chelsea side to extra time in the EFL Cup.

Racing Post's Steve Davies: West Ham, just a missed penalty away from staying unbeaten, are clearly in decent nick under David Moyes but they still look short enough at Leeds.

Marcelo Bielsa's men are yet to win in the league but their two losses came at the hands of Manchester United and Liverpool. Leeds will soon start climbing the table and can take advantage of a busy couple of weeks for the Hammers.

Racing Post's Henry Hardwicke: I thought Leicester were being massively overrated at the start of the season and I haven't seen anything to change my view. The Foxes are long odds-on to beat Burnley at the King Power Stadium and they look a shocking price.

Leicester's only two Premier League wins this season have been one-goal victories over Wolves and Norwich, and although Burnley are winless this season, they have been performing better than their points total indicates.

BoyleSports odds-compiler Gerard Markey: Arsenal home to Tottenham. Arsenal were a shambles in the opening three matches of the season and I don’t think 1-0 victories over Norwich and Burnley is enough to convince me they should be so short against Spurs.

Harry Kane has a good record against the Gunners and was man of the match in midweek so I expect a much improved performance from him and Spurs.

Where's the value for Chelsea v Manchester City on Saturday?

Racing Post's Aaron Ashley: Under 2.5 goals looks the way to go. It seems Thomas Tuchel knows exactly what is needed to master Pep Guardiola’s men having won all three meetings he managed last season, and two of those encounters resulted in 1-0 wins.

The only goal Chelsea have conceded in the league this term was in a 1-1 draw at Anfield, where Mohamed Salah scored from the penalty spot with the Blues down to ten. I expect the title rivals to cancel one another out.

Racing Post's Steve Davies: I've got to say Chelsea. There's a case for City having a point to prove after their tame effort against Southampton and remember, they started slowly last term before igniting.

But Chelsea look to have the measure of everyone and Thomas Tuchel has already proven – three times lest we forget – that he's got the measure of Pep. Chelsea's midfield will boss this, keep Kevin de Bruyne stifled and that's the key, especially if they can get Romelu Lukaku running at City's last line.

Racing Post's Henry Hardwicke: Manchester City and Chelsea can barely be separated in the Premier League title betting, but I think City can show they are the team to beat and win at Stamford Bridge.

It's not often you get to back a side as good as Pep Guardiola's at 7-4 and I'm not sure Chelsea have been quite as impressive as their results suggest. City have a few players missing through injury, but they have the squad to absorb those absentees and I think they are a fantastic price.

BoyleSports odds-compiler Gerard Markey: I fancy Chelsea. Their performance against City in the Champions league final suggested that Thomas Tuchel might have Pep Guardiola's number.

It's early days but if City fall six points behind Chelsea and potentially both Liverpool and Man Utd this weekend it could be a long way back. All the pressure is on City so I think Chelsea will just edge it.

Give us a winner on the midweek coupon

Racing Post's Aaron Ashley: Benfica draw-no-bet at home to Barcelona. The Catalan giants are a club in crisis and heading into this weekend have already dropped points in three of their five La Liga games.

Barca barely put up a fight in a 3-0 loss at home to Bayern Munich on Matchday One and their squad is so threadbare that Benfica, who have won all five games in Lisbon this term, should fancy their chances.

Racing Post's Steve Davies: Lille are struggling to get going and look well worth taking on at Salzburg in their Champions League tie in Austria. The Austrian top division isn't the strongest - although France's is also on the decline - but Salzburg look a cut above the rest.

They've played eight, won eight in the league and their opening draw at Sevilla shows they are a live proposition to qualify from an open section.

Racing Post's Henry Hardwicke: Last season's French champions Lille lost some key players in the summer and look vulnerable when they travel to Salzburg in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

The Red Bulls put in a good performance when drawing 1-1 in Seville last week and they carry the attacking talent to cause Lille plenty of problems.

BoyleSports odds-compiler Gerard Markey: Chelsea to beat Juventus. The two sides have had contrasting starts to the season with Juventus struggling to fill the Ronaldo void while Chelsea look a finely tuned unit.

Travelling to other European clubs is becoming less of a disadvantage given the experience of players and quality of stadia and I think Chelsea are much superior.

What is your favourite ever football TV show?

Racing Post's Aaron Ashley: It has to be Monday Night Football.

Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher are not scared to express their views and watching them come exchange verbal jabs goes some way to making up for the goalless draw you’ve just forced yourself through at Turf Moor. They were enemies on the pitch but have a great working relationship off it and their powerful insight and humour makes it a must-watch.

Racing Post's Steve Davies: So soon after Jimmy Greaves's death it would be remiss not to mention Saint & Greavsie. I had the pleasure of being in the studio at one of their shows and met both. Top, top men.

Having said that, no event was more firmly timetabled in my childhood than The Big Match, Sunday lunchtime's highlights package presented by the peerless Brian Moore, a window into a world of orange balls, great beards, unpunished assaults on goalkeepers and a theme tune which to this day gets me welling up.

Racing Post's Henry Hardwicke: Tough heat this, but given I have only ever purchased the kit of one fictional football team, I'd have to say Dream Team.

Harchester had everything - FA Cup wins, relegation, Champions League qualification and each season would see half the squad killed off in increasingly bizarre circumstances. Lynda Block has to be one of the greatest TV characters of all-time.

BoyleSports odds compiler Gerard Markey: Fantasy Football – Baddiel and Skinner, Statto, Phoenix from the flames and a song from Jeff Astle. Quality

There are just so many though and I've loved the Big Match, Match of the Day, Soccer AM, Monday Night football, Saint and Greavsie and Football Italia.

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