Saturday's 3pm Premier League games: predictions, team-news & free tips

Free Premier League football tips for Saturday's matches: Newcastle United v Everton, Southampton v Crystal Palace & Watford v Aston Villa.

Best bets

Newcastle
1pt 13-5 generalSouthampton
1pt Evs Betfred, Betway, RedZone
Watford
2pts Evs general
West Ham
1pt 3-1 general

Newcastle v Everton 3pm

Team news

Newcastle
Ciaran Clark (calf), Matt Ritchie (ankle), Jamaal Lascelles (knee) and Allan Saint-Maximin (hamstring) are injured and Paul Dummett (groin) and Javi Manquillo (calf) are doubts.

Everton
Morgan Schneiderlin (calf) is a doubt while Alex Iwobi (hamstring), Theo Walcott (calf), Jean-Philippe Gbamin (thigh) and Andre Gomes (ankle) are out.

Verdict

Everton got off to a winning start under Carlo Ancelotti but their contest at Newcastle looks a lot tougher than the markets anticipate.

The Toffees are favourites at a shade of odds-against but have mustered just five points from a possible 27 on their travels and are taking on a Newcastle side who haven't lost at home since the opening weekend of the season.

Magpies' manager Steve Bruce made four changes for Thursday's 4-1 loss at Manchester United but is likely to name a stronger side against the Toffees.

Key stat

Newcastle are unbeaten in their last nine home matches.

Southampton v Crystal Palace 3pm

Team news

Southampton
Yan Valery (illness), Moussa Djenepo (hamstring) and Shane Long (knee) are out.

Crystal Palace
Christian Benteke (muscle strain), Scott Dann (calf), Andros Townsend, Jeffrey Schlupp (both groin), Joel Ward and Gary Cahill (both knee) are out.

Verdict

Southampton are playing as well as they have at any stage of the season and can make it five wins in seven by defeating Crystal Palace at the St Mary's Stadium.

Saints' manager Ralph Hasenhuttl gambled with his selection at Chelsea by leaving out Danny Ings and watched his team pick up a superb 2-0 victory.

A refreshed Ings should return to the starting line up and could make a major impact.

Palace have been injury-ravaged for the last few weeks and the last thing they need is a second game in three days.

Key stat

Southampton have won four of their last six fixtures.

Watford v Aston Villa 3pm

Team news

Watford
Abdoulaye Doucoure returns from suspension but Sebastian Prodl, Jose Holebas, Daryl Janmaat and Danny Welbeck are injured.

Aston Villa
Tyrone Mings (hamstring) is a doubt and John McGinn (ankle) is sidelined.

Verdict

Watford climbed off the foot of the table with a creditable 1-1 draw at Sheffield United and can cap off a positive week by defeating relegation rivals Aston Villa at Vicarage Road.

Hornets manager Nigel Pearson inherited a tough situation but is getting his message across to a squad, who have underperformed this season.

Pearson is boosted by the return from suspension of key midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure and his team may be too strong for Villa, who have the worst away record in the division.

Key stat

Aston Villa have lost seven of their last nine away league matches.

West Ham v Leicester 5.30pm

Team news

West Ham
Lukasz Fabianski and David Martin (both hip) are doubts but Ryan Fredericks is back from a ban. Winston Reid (knee) and Jack Wilshere (groin) are out.

Leicester
Harvey Barnes shook off an ankle injury to start at home to Liverpool but Matty James (Achilles) remains sidelined.

Verdict

Manuel Pellegrini may not have many more opportunities to save his job but his struggling West Ham side look overpriced to defeat Leicester at the London Stadium.

The Hammers have played better in their last two matches. They deservedly won 1-0 at Southampton and lost out 2-1 to Crystal Palace in a tight game at Selhurst Park.

Their poor home record (two wins in eight) needs addressing but it could be a good time to play Leicester, who may not have fully recovered from their 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Liverpool.

Key stat

Leicester have not won any of their last four matches.

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