Boxing Picks 2026- Johnny Fisher vs Michael Pirotton (Saturday 26th September)

After the back and forth over a number of weeks and months, an announcement was made that Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua would finally be meeting in the ring in Cardiff on December 11th.

However, just like the journey to get the two best British Heavyweights of their generation signed to fight has had many twists and turns, yet another one may put a kibosh on everything.

In the immediate aftermath of the announcement, Eddie Hearn made it pretty clear that the 'collaboration' with Dana White was against what was written in the Anthony Joshua contract and it was a situation that had to be cleared up.

Reports leading into the weekend suggest the main event is still very much in doubt with Hearn and Joshua digging in to have Dana White's association removed from the event, at least as far as the main event is concerned.

With Zuffa Boxing having an event in London this weekend, Dana White is likely going to be asked by the media to clear things up, but something is going to have to give and even now there is a serious doubt that the long awaited Fury vs AJ fight goes ahead.

It has been another busy month for Boxing fans with some big nights in the books, but there are still plenty of good looking events coming up between now and the conclusion of the calendar year.

This weekend is perhaps not the most appealing to the casual fan, but a couple of solid cards in the United Kingdom will be followed by the latest offering from Japan on Sunday.

Over the last couple of years, those events held in Japan have featured some very strong fighters in the lower weight classes, headed up by Naoya Inoue.

It is brother Takuma defending his World Titles this weekend when facing Tenshin Nasukawa for a second time after a very good main event between the two last year and it should be very interesting to see how both have developed having won big fights in the time since the first fight in November 2025.

Zuffa Boxing 11 and a solid Queensberry card make up the Saturday night action first and then we have a run of fight nights that should appeal to the hardcore and the more casual supporters over the weeks ahead.

Johnny Fisher vs Michael Pirotton

The first fight against David Allen may officially go down as a draw, but most felt Johnny Fisher had been beaten that day before an emphatic defeat to the same opponent put a ceiling on where many believe The Romford Bull can go in the sport.

He has a pretty good fanbase and is likeable, which means being marketable, and Johnny Fisher has been given a healthy paycheque to leave Matchroom and sign with Zuffa Boxing.

Much like the deal to sign Conor Benn, it feels this has been a move designed to irritate Eddie Hearn as much as it has been about building up Fisher under a new promoter.

Regardless, he fights for the second time since the Knock Out loss to David Allen and Johnny Fisher is expected to be too quick for Michael Pirotton.

The Belgian has not really stepped up his level, not even to the one that Johnny Fisher represents.

He does have a big opportunity- if Michael Pirotton can upset the home fighter, he will likely sign up with Zuffa Boxing and earn the fights that have been reported to have been readied for Johnny Fisher if he can win this one.

That should motivate Michael Pirotton, but Johnny Fisher can come out firing very early and he has the power and speed to bulldoze past this opponent before the bell for the Sixth Round is sounded.

Over in Birmingham, Liam Davies and Nathaniel Collins face off for the European Title in the Featherweight Division and it feels like something of a crossroads fight.

The winner can look to move towards a World Title opportunity, but the loser will take a significant step backwards and that raises the stakes.

Nathaniel Collins came up short when trying to win the European Title, but Liam Davies made no mistake when his own opportunity came up and these two fighters are expected to gel together very effectively.

Both have shown they can put the power punches together to finish an opponent inside the distance, but fans of Nathaniel Collins have to be a little concerned about his last two performances. He looked to be running out of steam and not having the same output as we have been accustomed to seeing and you do have to wonder if that is going to change in this bout.

If it doesn't, Nathaniel Collins will be giving Liam Davies the edge and the local fighter may not have to look too hard to find a home for his punches.

A Stoppage is possible for Liam Davies if he can build up some momentum, although Collins will make this a fun contest for however long it lasts.

On the undercard, Luke McCormack is expected to be fresh enough and fighting with the momentum to pick up the British Title in the Light-Welterweight Division.

The less experienced fighter may want to be getting out more than twice per year, but he is facing Kay Prospere who has fought once since December 2024 and can be outworked.

Credit has to be given to Prospere for only having two losses on the record and one of those was against Sandor Martin, but 'Special K' is perhaps fortunate to be in a position to fight for this vacant British Title and Luke McCormack can wear him down for a late Stoppage.

Bradley Goldsmith can also earn a Stoppage to back up the solid win over Brad Pauls and he is going to be the naturally bigger man when stepping into the ring with once beaten Amir Abubaker.

The latter has earned plenty of Knock Out wins, but was Stopped in the Light-Middleweight Division and the step up may be one too far in this contest.

Last November, Takuma Inoue beat Tenshin Nasukawa to earn the WBC World Bantamweight Title.

After both have wins over veterans with solid names, they meet again on Sunday and Inoue looks capable of making sure repeat, rather than revenge, is what is spoken about.

He does not have the power of brother Naoya, but Takuma Inoue has solid fundamentals and it would take a huge improvement from Tenshin Nasukawa to win this World Title.

The impressive win over veteran Juan Francisco Estrada will have given Tenshin a lot of confidence, but the Mexican looked a faded force before being put down for good as he retired on his stool.

This is a much tougher fight and Takuma Inoue looks capable of doing what is necessary on the cards again.

The Japanese cards always try and put a solid undercard together and it is no different this weekend.

The standout fight looks to be Sam Goodman taking on home hope Ryosuke Nishida with the Interim IBF World Title on the line.

Winning could see that fighter leap to the front of the queue to take on Naoya Inoue, who is the king in the Bantamweight Division.

Being at home gives Nishida the edge, but he is moving up in weight class, while Sam Goodman is coming back down.

Concerns about the drop in weight have been raised after Goodman's team asked for an earlier weigh in on the day of the fight as per IBF rules. However, the home fighter's representatives are demanding the usual time is kept with the feeling that it will prevent the Australian from rehydrating to make the size and strength count.

It has the makings of a fascinating fight, but Sam Goodman looks a little overpriced to find a way to win his first bout outside of Australia.

His power could be the difference on the night and Sam Goodman has enough skill about him to edge to a victory.

MY PICKS: Johnny Fisher to Win Between 1-5 @ 1.91 Coral (2 Units)

Liam Davies to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 3.10 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Luke McCormack to Win Between 7-12 @ 3.25 Coral (1 Unit)

Bradley Goldsmith to Win Between 1-5 @ 3.25 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Takuma Inoue to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 1.95 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Sam Goodman to Win @ 2.62 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Boxing 2026: 24-42, - 13.76 Units (104 Units Staked, - 13.23% Yield)

College Football Week 4 Picks 2026 (Saturday 26th September)

The expanded College Football Playoff gives a few more teams an opportunity to overcome a loss or two, but in the years ahead, the field is likely to be expanded and that should ensure strong schedules are played.

Head Coaches have made it clear that the Playoff Committee should not be punishing those who take on big opponents in non-Conference games.

Losing to the Ohio State Buckeyes hurt the Texas Longhorns last year, although they did have a couple of other losses on the record which ultimately impacted their hopes of earning a spot in the twelve team Playoff field.

This time around it is the Buckeyes who will be needing to win some big games if they are going to overcome the second half capitulation that cost them the chance to beat the Texas Longhorns again.

Conference play has gotten underway already and the final round of games in September will see plenty of those games on the schedule.

Games are of such importance in Week 4 that the President of the United States will be attending one of those- Tennessee hosting Texas has plenty of storylines attached to it already and President Trump expected to be on campus is another one.

Big games mean big headlines are ready to be made and it is also a chance to finally begin bouncing back from what has been a difficult start to the 2026 season for the College Football Picks.

Texas Longhorns @ Tennessee Volunteers Pick: Two teams who have begun the season at 3-0 will now move into SEC play and with President Trump expected to be in attendance.

It would have been a big game anyway when the Texas Longhorns (3-0) visited Knoxville to face the Tennessee Volunteers (3-0) with Arch Manning set to Quarter Back the road team on a campus where Uncle Peyton was a former College star for the Volunteers before having a very successful career in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos.

Bigger expectations are on the shoulders of the Texas Longhorns when these unbeaten teams open Conference play in 2026 and the come from behind win over the Ohio State Buckeyes has already placed a strong victory in the record books. There are going to be some significant challenges to meet in the SEC and the Texas Longhorns will be well aware of the test that is facing them when playing the first road game of the season.

The Tennessee Volunteers do have a road win over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, and they will have taken great pleasure in beating a historical rival, but two home wins against overmatched opponents won't mean a great deal before facing one of the top teams in the SEC.

Some will already be backing Arch Manning to be the top Draft Pick for the NFL next year, but the Volunteers will be going into this game with a much more inexperienced Quarter Back.

Faizon Brandon has made a positive start to his College career, and there are huge expectations as to how he will grow into a top Quarter Back at this level and then beyond, and all credit has to be given to the Volunteers for being able to recruit him. He has been able to throw 6 Touchdown passes without an Interception and Faizon Brandon has added three more Touchdowns on the ground, but facing the likes of Furman, Georgia Tech and Kennesaw State is one thing and facing the Texas Longhorns is another.

The Longhorns Defensive Line have begun the season looking pretty sharp in the trenches and they have been able to slow the run, which is always a key approach for any team at any level to adopt. Stop the run and making the Offensive game-plan one-dimensional will put the Longhorns in a position to try and bait the young Quarter Back into a mistake or two, while the Secondary have used that advantage up front to make big plays when the ball is thrown against them.

Trying to put it altogether on the road can be a test, but the Longhorns have to be confident in their ability on this side of the ball and that may give them the edge.

Stopping the run has been more of a test for the Volunteers Defensive Line and you just know the Texas plan will be to see if they can find the push at the Line of Scrimmage that will keep Arch Manning in third and manageable spots on the field. That is so important on the road, even for a Quarter Back with some serious College experience, and the Longhorns have looked strong enough to believe they can establish the run with some success.

Arch Manning should then be given the time he needs to find his playmakers and it should also mean he is not having to hold onto the ball for long enough to allow the Volunteers to ramp up the pass rush.

Pressure up front has certainly helped the Secondary early in the season, but the Volunteers have not come up against any Offensive Line like the one the Longhorns will be running out onto the field and that gives the road team any advantage.

Moving the ball up and down the field is never going to be easy on the road in the SEC environment, at least not with any consistency.

However, the Longhorns do have enough about them to win at the Line of Scrimmage on both sides of the ball and the extra experience of Arch Manning should see him outperform Faizon Brandon and lead Texas to an important road win in Knoxville.

Illinois Fighting Illini @ Ohio State Buckeyes Pick: A loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes (2-1) was part of the reason the Texas Longhorns were the 'first team out' of the College Football Playoff in 2025.

This season it is the Buckeyes who were beaten by the Longhorns by a single point and that means Ohio State are going to have to move through a difficult schedule without too many more setbacks.

They open the Big Ten portion of the schedule with a home game against the Illinois Fighting Illini (2-1) who are also playing the first Conference game of the season. Much like the Buckeyes, Illinois have beaten a couple of overmatched opponents, but been beaten by a Power 4 opponent on the road in a narrow defeat, although the defeat to the Duke Blue Devils is against a significantly weaker opponent than the Texas Longhorns.

Controlling the Line of Scrimmage is going to be important for the Fighting Illini as they bid to find a way to establish the run against the toughest Defensive Line they will have faced so far. This always the approach that Head Coach Bret Bielema wants from his team with the hope the run game can then open up the passing lanes, and he will want to see the Fighting Illini stay in front of the chains.

Katin Houser is the Illinois Quarter Back and has begun his career with the team with a solid three game run, but the challenge will be that much greater if the Buckeyes Defensive Line wins up front. Even if they don't, Houser will be throwing into a Secondary that have started this season in really strong form and this is likely going to be a tough road environment for the Illinois Fighting Illini to find consistency Offensively.

Establishing an Offensive game-plan should be all the more comfortable for the Ohio State Buckeyes who have should have a comfortable balance on this side of the ball.

The Offensive Line are still working through the early issues, but the Buckeyes should be able to have some success running the ball and that should make things pretty easy for Julian Sayin at the Quarter Back position.

Ohio State have a lot of talent in the passing game, although Head Coach Ryan Day has admitted his team need to find some consistency on this side of the ball ahead of the start of Conference play. Being at home should help and the Buckeyes look strong enough on both sides of the ball to eventually be able to overwhelm the Fighting Illini.

Last season the Buckeyes won by 18 points on the road against this opponent, but a couple of key Defensive plays could help them add another ten points to that gap and cover this line.

Oklahoma Sooners @ Georgia Bulldogs Pick: A comfortable road win saw the Georgia Bulldogs (3-0) open the SEC play in the manner they would have expected, but the Arkansas Razorbacks may be the weakest team in the Conference. There is little doubt that the Oklahoma Sooners (2-1) represent a much tougher challenge, although the Sooners will arrive in Athens with plenty to prove having already suffered a loss to the Michigan Wolverines.

The Sooners will be going into a Bye Week before facing the Texas Longhorns in Week 6 and they are going to need to find some Offense to go with the strong Defensive performances that have been produced.

All of the questions are being asked of John Mateer at Quarter Back who had entered the College ranks without the same kind of reputation that had been built up in his first full season with the Washington State Cougars. A transfer to Oklahoma saw John Mateer help the team to a spot in the College Football Playoff, although the 14 Touchdown passes and 11 Interceptions suggested the team overcame the play of the Quarter Back.

In 2026, John Mateer has thrown for 652 yards with 6 Touchdowns and 3 Interceptions and the team have scored just 24 points in the last two games.

It simply has not helped that the Sooners Offensive Line have not been able to establish the run and this looks unlikely to change in Week 4 of the season. While the Georgia Bulldogs have yet to be tested, they have been very strong on the Defensive Line and forcing John Mateer to win this game out of third and long spots for much of the game is going to be the minimum expectation from the watching home fans.

Placing any Quarter Back in third and long spots consistently will see the pressure build on them, but John Mateer will also be dealing with a solid Georgia pass rush and a Secondary that will certainly feel they can force a turnover or two. His personal level has not been good enough to give the Sooners fans a lot of hope, but Oklahoma are always dangerous and the Georgia Bulldogs cannot afford to overlook them.

The road team will certainly believe the quality on the Defensive side of the ball will allow them to remain competitive and this is the toughest team that the Georgia Bulldogs will have faced.

David Stone is a doubt for this Week 4 game and that would be a bitter blow for the Oklahoma Defensive Line, which has been stout against the run and ahead of a big test against the Bulldogs Offensive Line. He is a disruptor that can get into the backfield, but any time missed by Stone will give Georgia an opportunity to establish the run and ease the pressure on Gunner Stockton.

After throwing for almost 3000 yards in 2025, Gunner Stockton has been leading the Bulldogs up and down the field in his time on the field in 2026. He has 9 Touchdown passes and has yet to throw an Interception, but Stockton will want to be in front of the chains if only to see the Sooners pass rush slowed down.

The Sooners Secondary have opened the season in fine form, but there are some talented playmakers around Gunner Stockton and the Bulldogs will feel they can do enough to keep drives moving.

It is a big spread set for the game, but Georgia look capable of shutting down the Oklahoma Offensive unit.

This could be key to set up some short fields and Gunner Stockton has begun the season looking very efficient.

If the Sooners are without David Stone, the Defensive Line takes a serious hit and that may be enough for the Georgia Bulldogs to produce at least three Touchdowns, which may be enough to secure a cover.

Utah Utes @ Iowa State Cyclones Pick: Winning games on the road is tough no matter what, but doing that in Conference play is always hugely challenging, regardless of how strong a team believes itself to be.

The Utah Utes (3-0) were considered a team that could perhaps challenge for the Big 12 Championship and earn a spot in the Playoff, and the three wins to open this season makes it nine in a row going back to the end of 2025. However, all three wins have been at home and, despite dominating, this is another test as Big 12 action gets underway.

The Iowa State Cyclones (2-1) are not unbeaten moving into the Conference, but they were only narrowly beaten by rivals Iowa Hawkeyes and have since bounced back with another win. Preseason expectations have been pretty low around the Cyclones who have had to replace Head Coach Matt Campbell with Jimmy Rogers, especially as that transition can take a bit of time, but there has been enough to like about them early on to believe they can surpass those expectations.

It is quite clear what the Cyclones have to do on the Offensive side of the ball, but whether they can do it is another matter.

Everything begins and ends with the running game and the Offensive Line have begun this season by helping open up big lanes that have been exploited by Aiden Flora. However, they are facing a Utah Defensive Line that have prided themselves about how they go about their business in the trenches and how effective Iowa State can be will be based around which of these teams wins up front.

Relying on Jaylen Raynor at Quarter Back to make enough plays with his arm could make it a long night in the office for the Cyclones on this side of the ball. Being able to run the ball has given Raynor time, but he has not been very efficient and will be under some duress from the Utes pass rush if left in third and long spots on the field.

There will be challenges for the Utah Utes when they have the ball, although they have shown a lot more Offensive balance than the Cyclones.

Much like the home team, Utah's Offensive Line have been able to open up some big running lanes and that has kept the team in front of the chains, but they are facing an Iowa State Defensive Line that have been pretty stout up front. That is likely to be the case, but the difference between the teams is that Utah can look to Devon Dampier at Quarter Back to continue his strong start to the season and keep the chains moving with his arm.

In three games, Dampier already has 7 Touchdowns with a single Interception, although plenty of respect has to be given to this Cyclones Secondary, even if they have not been as tested as they could have been. That will at least give Utah pause for thought, but the balance is the key to breaking this game open and the Utes can earn revenge for a home loss to Iowa State a couple of years ago.

Covering will not be easy, but Utah do look capable of largely controlling the ability of the Cyclones to move the chains with the same type of consistency as they can manage on the day. That may lead to a win in the field position battle through much of the contest and the Utes may end up pulling away for a double digit win on the road to show they can be huge contenders in the Big 12 in the weeks and months ahead.

MY PICKS: Texas Longhorns - 4.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Ohio State Buckeyes - 26.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Georgia Bulldogs - 13.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Utah Utes - 7.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Nebraska Cornhuskers - 5.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Penn State Nittany Lions - 10.5 Points @ 2.00 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Baylor Bears - 9.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Week 3: 1-4, - 3.17 Units (5 Units Staked, - 63.40% Yield)

Week 2: 2-3, - 1.28 Units (5 Units Staked, - 25.60% Yield)

Week 0: 0-3, - 3 Units (3 Units Staked, - 100% Yield)

Boxing Picks 2020- Charlo Twins and Josh Taylor (September 26th)

Like many sports in the United Kingdom, Boxing promoters have been waiting to see whether the government were going to allow ANY fans into Arenas for the big Boxing fights that are set to be scheduled for the final quarter of the terrible 2020 year.

Over the past week it has been announced that new restrictions are going to be place for up to six months and that has effectively postponed any attempt to bring fans back into Stadiums for sporting events.

It could be a big blow for many sports, but Boxing has a habit of getting on with the job and that has seen some big cards announced either side of the Atlantic. The three top Heavyweights are all expected to be in action before the end of the year with the promoters looking to avoid stagnating careers, while in the UK the big fights between Oleksandr Usyk and Dereck Chisora and the rematch between Alexander Povetkin and Dillian Whyte have been announced for the coming weeks.

At least that will keep the fans entertained during what could be the difficult winter months where restrictions might become much tighter as they were back in March and April.

This weekend Boxing fans are spoilt with some top fights scheduled across three different venues- I am a huge Josh Taylor fan so it will be brilliant to see him back in action before he, hopefully, can move onto the big Unification fights and potentially moving up in weight in 2021. The WBSS Cruiserweight Final looks to be one filled with huge punches and has finally been scheduled for this weekend, while the Charlo Twins head up a PPV in the United States on what is a stacked card and with some uncertainty as to how the two main events will develop.

That uncertainty builds intrigue and I am looking forward to an evening on the sofa and will be completely unaffected by pubs now closing at 10pm rather than 11pm.

I am stunned that none of the big sporting channels in the United Kingdom have picked up the Charlo card, but over the coming weeks and months they are going to be focusing on building their own PPVs and perhaps the cost was too much. At this time it feels like the costs are going to be placed on the consumers head rather than the big networks and that means we have a number of PPV events coming up which will also mean picking and choosing which cards you are willing to pay for.

Over the last couple of years the PPV market in the United Kingdom is certainly not as strong as it was in the years before that and outside of Anthony Joshua it is very hard to know where people are willing to spend their money. I can see the Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder 3 card and the Alexander Povetkin-Dillian Whyte being popular, but the other cards that have been suggested for PPV will find it much tougher at a time when people are suffering financially.

Charlie Edwards vs Kyle Williams

It has been over a year since we last saw Charlie Edwards in the ring and he has since moved promoters and also weight.

He actually will be up two Divisions when he enters the ring on Saturday, and the long-term plan may be to drop back to Super-Flyweight which is where some massive fights could potentially await, but Edwards has to make a statement here.

The last time we saw him he was very fortunate to escape with his World Title at Flyweight after it was ruled that Julio Cesar Martinez had hit Edwards while he was already ruled down. Regardless of the result, Charlie Edwards knew his time was over having felt drained boiling down to the weight and he has spoken about being much stronger at his current level.

Charlie Edwards is a big favourite to get the better of Kyle Williams who has come up short when fighting for British and European belts at this weight. That may mean Williams feels like the naturally bigger man, but he is going to have to bridge some levels to make this a competitive contest.

Only one of his two defeats have come by Stoppage, but I think Charlie Edwards will be able to break him down over the course of the Ten Rounds. He isn't exactly known for stoppage powers with six of his fifteen wins coming inside the distance, but Edwards does feel he can make more of an impact at this weight compared with his previous one.

I think this fight has been put together for Edwards to do that and he might be able to move through the gears and show his superior quality as the Rounds progress. Kyle Williams is unlikely to want to cover up and see it through to the bell and when he takes chances Charlie Edwards can make him pay.

A small interest in a late Stoppage is the play here.

Ricards Bolotniks vs Hosea Burton

The Golden Contract tournament has captured the imagination of Boxing fans in Europe and the Semi Final of the Light Heavyweight tournament takes place on Saturday evening in Latvia.

That is where the home hope Ricards Bolotniks will be hoping to back up his upset win in the Quarter Final when he takes on the favourite for the tournament in Hosea Burton.

The second Semi Final is going to be fought during the week, but both Bolotniks and Burton will not be worrying about that and are instead feeling pretty good about their chances of winning this fight.

Ricards Bolotniks crushed unbeaten Steven Ward in One Round in Brentwood back in December, but I don't know if you can read too much into that victory. He has won five fights in a row, but Bolotniks has also been beaten five times already in his career and I do think Hosea Burton is a real step up in class for him to deal with.

The favourite had a fairly comfortable win in his own Quarter Final as he took a Unanimous Decision, but Burton will be disappointed with the way his career has somewhat stalled in the last few years. Hosea Burton lost to Frank Buglioni, the sole defeat he has on his record, but that was back in 2016 and this will only be the eighth fight since then.

He has been linked with some bigger names, but Burton has not really been able to push forward and that is what makes this Golden Contract tournament so important for him. I do think he should be able to put some on Bolotniks in this fight and I do think that will give Burton every chance of making a statement ahead of any potential Final.

I am not buying the suggestion that Burton can end this in the first stanza, but I do think Ricards Bolotniks won't be very hard to find and eventually the bigger hitting of Hosea Burton should pay off.

I think the British fighter can avoid trying to win a Decision away from home by finding the stoppage at some point over the course of Twelve Rounds.

Josh Taylor vs Apinun Khongsong

The Coronavirus crisis has put a number of Boxers on hold in their career, but the decision was made by Josh Taylor's people that he needs to get out there and get his mandatory out of the way.

There is no doubt that Taylor would love to Unify the Light Welterweight Division and then perhaps move up for some monster fights, but he does want to clear things out in his own Division. Last year he won the World Boxing Super Series Light Welterweight tournament with an impressive victory over Regis Prograis and that makes Josh Taylor a big favourite to win a fight like this one.

To be perfectly honest it is hard to know what to expect from Apinun Khongsong who has won sixteen pro fights and thirteen by stoppage to move into the mandatory spot. Only one of those fights have taken place outside of Thailand, but the 24 year old will feel he can hurt Taylor if he has been underestimated.

Realistically it would be a big surprise if Josh Taylor was caught out, although I do think he might take a bit of time to warm up having been out of the ring for almost twelve months. The counter punching should open things up for Taylor as the fight develops and I do think by the mid-Rounds he will be in complete control and landing some spiteful punches of his own.

Josh Taylor hits plenty hard and I think the big test for Apinun Khongsong will be how much punishment he is going to be willing to take- I don't think the Thai fighter will fold quickly, but by halfway it should be a one-sided bout and I believe the corner or the referee may have to step in at around that point.

Mairis Briedis vs Yuniel Dorticos

The World Boxing Super Series has had some problems in the time it has been in operation, but they have also managed to do what they set out to and that is create some real stars.

The previous Cruiserweight Tournament crowned Oleksandr Usyk as the man to beat and he has since become a very big name, and the second running of the Cruiserweights has been brilliant to watch.

Finally we have the Final set to go as Mairis Briedis and Yuniel Dorticos meet in Germany and I honestly can't see this being anything but a big hitting contest. At any time you may see a punch that swings the contest in favour of one of the fighters and I do think it will be a contest that ends with one of the Boxers unable to go any further.

It is hard to know who should be favourite- I am a big fan of Yuniel Dorticos, but Mairis Briedis has shown tremendous resiliency and hits very well himself. Either way I would be a little surprised to hear the final bell sound in this one and am going to look for one of the Boxers to put enough punches together to announce themselves as the Champion and man to beat in the Division going forward.

Daniel Roman vs Juan Carlos Payano

This is not quite a crossroads bout for Daniel Roman, but it will be a long way back to relevancy if he was to be beaten by Juan Carlos Payano.

That is no disrespect to Payano who is a former World Champion, but he has been stopped by the elite of the Division in two of his last three fights and at 36 years old I do wonder how much is left in the tank.

Daniel Roman is also coming in off a loss as he lost his WBA and IBF World Super Bantamweight titles, but he had won nineteen fights in a row before that. The narrow loss to Murodjon Akhmadaliev would have hurt Roman, but I do think this is a bout that has been put together for him to show there is plenty more to come from him.

He does only have ten stoppages from twenty-seven wins on his resume which is a concern about whether Roman has the power to get this done inside the distance like Naoya Inoue and Luis Nery managed to do against Juan Carlos Payano. However Daniel Roman has shown enough to put plenty of recent fighters down on their backside and I do think he can break down Payano in this one and force someone to step in on behalf of the former Champion.

It definitely feels like a fight that may go more along the lines of the Nery win over Payano rather than the Inoue win and I think Daniel Roman will return to winning ways and position himself to have another crack at a World Title sooner rather than later.

Brandon Figueroa vs Damien Vazquez

At the end of 2019 Brandon Figueroa may have lost his 100% record as a professional Boxer, but he remains unbeaten after being given a Draw when facing Julio Ceja. The American thought he had done enough that day,

He hits hard and this does feel like a showcase kind of fight for Figueroa who puts his World Title on the line against Damien Vazquez.

The 23 year old has won fifteen of the seventeen professional fights he has had, but Damien Vazquez has not really mixed in top company too often. His resume certainly does not look anything as strong as Brandon Figueroa's and Damien Vazquez' sole loss came to Juan Carlos Payano who sandwiched that win with Knock Out losses of his own.

The big test for Vazquez is showing he can handle the power of Brandon Figueroa and I am not sure that is going to be the case. The Champion can really get on top of his opponents very quickly and I do think he will get Damien Vazquez out of there to announce that he is ready for bigger fights.

Brandon Figueroa should have the power to get to Damien Vazquez early and I think that will lead to a stoppage in the first half of this bout.

John Riel Casimero vs Duke Micah

If it wasn't for the Coronavirus crisis, John Riel Casimero would have already have had a Unification bout with Naoya Inoue in the books in 2020. Instead the delay has meant he has had to look elsewhere and he defends his title against the unbeaten Ghanaian Duke Micah.

At 31 years old Casimero is unsurprisingly the favourite having last been seen ripping the World Title out of the hands of Zolani Tete in a Three Round whitewash. It was a hugely impressive performance and means the Filipino has won five fights in a row and all of those have come in stoppage victories.

His opponent is unbeaten but a look through the Duke Micah resume doesn't really have many names that standout and it is a big step up for him. He has to be respected having won nineteen of his twenty-four fights with a stoppage, but that may also mean Micah is going to be willing to stand and trade with Casimero which can only be music to the ears of the Champion.

John Riel Casimero may still get the shot at Inoue he is desperate to have, but that means he can't afford to overlook this opponent. The style of Micah may actually help Casimero make a statement of intent in this one and I do think he can win something of a shoot out as he shows the levels that are needed in Boxing to get to the very top and I will back the favourite to win this fight in the first half that has been scheduled.

Jermall Charlo vs Sergiy Derevyanchenko

The card might look pretty stacked, but I have little doubt that best one of the night comes from the Middleweight Division as Jermall Charlo defends his World Title against Sergiy Derevyanchenko.

We have seen this Charlo Twin being on the right side of a controversial Decision in recent times where his brother was perhaps an unfortunate loser, but this does look the most difficult test that Jermall Charlo would have faced.

Sergiy Derevyanchenko has a long amateur career and he has moved into the professional ranks and already taken on the likes of Daniel Jacobs and Gennady Golovkin. He lost both, controversially, and the only really worry for the Ukrainian is that those two tough fights have sapped some of the gas tank.

He is a quality Boxer like many coming out of the Ukraine, and there will be little give as far as Derevyanchenko is concerned. He will believe he is the better Boxer of the two and only the early Knock Downs suffered in both defeats have ended up proving costly on the cards.

Jermall Charlo is not short of power so I am a touch concerned that he could tag Derevyanchenko and give himself the edge by finding a Knock Down or two to swing things in his own favour. The American is a sharp counter puncher and I think that has to be something Derevyanchenko has to be aware of.

However I do really like Sergiy Derevyanchenko and I do think he is the kind of Boxer that can keep the pace high enough to take the Rounds when Charlo is perhaps sitting back and waiting to find a big punch to counter. There is always the chance that the Ukrainian will be three Rounds down on the local cards before the fight has even begun which makes getting a Decision very difficult on the night, but the controversial Decisions already made against Derevyanchenko should be on the minds of the judges.

I have thought for a while that this is a difficult fight for Charlo and only Derevyanchenko leaving something in the ring at the end of his defeat to Golovkin may prove to be the difference. If the Ukrainian has prepared as he did for the fights with Jacobs and GGG, I do think he can cause an upset here and has to be worth a small interest to win this one on the cards.

It would be a huge surprise if Derevyanchenko could force a stoppage so I do think this is the only way in which he can rip the WBC title away, but it is hard to oppose Jermall Charlo as the 'A' name in the bout.

Jermell Charlo vs Jeison Rosario

They tossed a coin to decide which of the Twins would be main eventing this card in the final fight of the evening and it is Jermell Charlo who won out. He will be looking to Unify the Light Middleweight Division with three of the four main belts on the line in this one and Charlo is the favourite to do that.

Most would have expected Julian Williams in the other corner and the easy storyline that would have been able to produce, but Jeison Rosario had other days. In a huge upset, Rosario stopped Williams to rip the belts from him and he will head into this fight with a lot of confidence.

You can't blame him for doing so, but there is still a feeling that Williams underwhelmed rather than Rosario being a world beater and I do think that Charlo will be able to ride out some early pressure to eventually take control of this one.

He may not be as strong as Jermall, but Jermell Charlo hits plenty hard himself and I can see him grinding down Jeison Rosario as the latter perhaps gets a little reckless the longer the fight goes. In the early Rounds I do think Charlo will want to keep control of things and not allow himself to fall into the Rosario rhythm or the fight he wants, but instead frustrating his opponent and exposing any mistakes made.

Eventually I do think Charlo will be able to get himself into a position where he is moving forward and imposing himself on Rosario and he should be able to put the punches together to force the corner or the referee to make a decision. It will take a bit of time to just start timing Rosario and I think that is why Charlo may have to wait until the Championship Rounds to Unify and perhaps end the night as the only one of the Twins with their straps having suffered an upset loss to Tony Harrison and needing to reclaim his titles before.

MY PICKS: Charlie Edwards Between 6-10 @ 6.00 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Hosea Burton to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 3.50 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Josh Taylor Between 5-8 @ 2.87 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Mairis Briedis-Yuniel Dorticos Fight to go the Distance? NO @ 2.10 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Daniel Roman Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 1.91 Sky Bet (2 Units)\

Brandon Figueroa Between 1-6 @ 2.10 William Hill (2 Units)

John Riel Casimero Between 1-6 @ 2.50 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Sergiy Derevyanchenko Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 3.80 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Jermell Charlo Between 7-12 @ 3.10 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Weekend Football Picks and Fantasy Football 2020 (September 26-28)

Two weeks of the Premier League might be in the books, but it has been a much more intense period than the players and the clubs are used to in normal circumstances.

Injuries and players still trying to improve their match fitness is where the majority of clubs feel they are at this stage of the season, although they only have another eight days before the UEFA Nations League returns.

You can't win the title at this stage, but teams won't want to be dropping too many points through the first four weeks of the new season and that does put pressure on the managers to get things right. The same can be said for Fantasy Football managers and I know how quickly things can change after a miserable GW2 following a reasonable start to the campaign.

I will have more thoughts about GW3 below following my thoughts on the Premier League games to be played from Saturday through to Monday.

Brighton v Manchester United Pick: Early goals were key for Manchester United in their 0-3 win at the Amex Stadium in June as they scored twice within the first half an hour and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be hoping for a much more intense start to this fixture than their opening Premier League fixture of the 2020/21 season.

Previous visits to this part of the south coast had been difficult for Manchester United who lost both of their previous games at the Amex Stadium.

Those came against Chris Hughton's Brighton who have tended to be a little more disciplined defensively compared with Graham Potter's team. That isn't to say that Brighton are not enjoying success under Potter, but it also means they are perhaps a little easier to play against for the top clubs who will know that their hosts won't sit deep, but instead will come out and try and get on top of them.

Chelsea punished Brighton 1-3 here, but it was only the extra quality in attacking areas which made them more clinical in a competitive game. The home team missed a big chance to equalise for a second time that day which may have changed the course of the fixture, but you can't ignore the fact that Brighton have lost to Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea at home since June.

The home team will create chances and get forward, but they do leave spaces to exploit at the back and this Manchester United team should be capable of doing that. I don't buy the excuses for the performance last week and I would expect the manager to pick a stronger team than he did for the defeat to Crystal Palace and that pace in the forward areas have benefit from the spaces Manchester United tend to get away from home.

They have created chances in their recent away games and Manchester United have won 4 on a row on their travels in the Premier League and scored at least twice in each. Three of those wins came against clubs that finished in the bottom seven and I do think Manchester United will appreciate the way Brighton will approach this game.

Brighton have created chances of their own in defeats to Liverpool and Chelsea and they might have deserved more in those games. However, they have been porous at the back and I will look for Manchester United to get their Premier League campaign off and running with a win in a game that features at least two goals.

Crystal Palace v Everton Pick: There are only five teams who have won both Premier League games played so far this season and two of them are meeting on Saturday in a big game at Selhurst Park. Both Crystal Palace and Everton would love to keep the momentum going before the international break which will begin at the end of next weekend and I think this could be a better game than the layers think it may be.

The first point I have to highlight is that the last two games between these clubs at Selhurst Park have both ended goalless so there is every chance they cancel each other out again.

We have yet to see a draw in the Premier League, but 5 of the last 7 between Crystal Palace and Everton on this ground have ended that way.

It definitely makes Everton feel plenty short to win here at close to odds on and I do think Crystal Palace will be very confident having deservedly beaten both Southampton and Manchester United. Both of those clubs ended last season in much better form than Everton, while the latter benefited from a first half sending off last weekend in their 5-2 success over West Brom.

Everton are playing well though and they are creating chances, but Jordan Pickford feels like a liability in goal and that will always give opponents a chance... Just ask Fleetwood Town who took advantage of a couple of mistakes to give Everton a scare in the League Cup Third Round during the week.

Crystal Palace were short of goals last season, but Roy Hodgson has moved to try and fix that problem and his team have looked very dangerous going forward in both League games played. Injuries at the back have seen Southampton and Manchester United create chances too, but Hodgson may feel the best form of defence is attack in their current state.

With that in mind I do think Crystal Palace will get forward and look to challenge an Everton backline which has conceded twice in each of their two games played over the last week. Roy Hodgson's team have been resting and preparing for this game and I do think they have enough in the final third to get on the scoreboard in this one despite the poor recent history of goals in this fixture.

The last two may have finished goalless between the clubs at Selhurst Park, but Everton have not been short of chances and their extra quality signed in the summer will feel they can end the barren sequence. Those players have already had an impact on Everton in the first two Premier League games of this season and I do think both teams can find the net in this one with the way their first two fixtures have developed.

Players like Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Wilfried Zaha are in form and scoring goals and I think that will help here.

This may be the first drawn game in the Premier League if recent history between the clubs is anything to go by, but this time I would expect both teams to hit the back of the net.

West Brom v Chelsea Pick: There is a real optimism about the team Chelsea are building having spent as much on young, quality players as they did in the off-season. That expenditure has raised expectations and it was perhaps no surprise to hear some fans being critical of Frank Lampard for the approach and the eventual result against Liverpool last Sunday at Stamford Bridge.

I was a little surprised by the approach myself, but for long periods it looked like Chelsea had got things right before Andreas Christensen was sent off moments before half time. Ultimately that changed the entire game and Chelsea were seen off, while Lampard will also be better judged when he has his first team healthy as possible.

Key players are going to miss out again this weekend, but Chelsea's level of opponent is not as high as it was last week. During the past few days they have hammered Barnsley in the League Cup to show what they can do when they get going and Chelsea also have a win at Brighton under their belt.

Now they are facing a West Brom team that arguably were fortunate to earn promotion to the Premier League in July and who have looked porous at the back. They have conceded eight goals in their two Premier League games, although there are factors that can't be ignored (two penalties against Leicester City and a first half sending off at Everton).

Even then you do have to worry about the defensive approach of this team and I do think Chelsea are more than capable of exposing the West Brom backline. They showed their attacking qualities in winning at Brighton and I do think The Baggies have shown a much greater vulnerability in their opening games.

Leicester City ended up with a comfortable win at The Hawthorns on the opening weekend and ultimately I think Chelsea will be able to do the same. Kai Havertz scored three times during the week, but it may be the turn of Timo Werner to announce himself in England and I think the visitors cover the Asian Handicap in the victory.

Burnley v Southampton Pick: There was a real sense of expectation around Southampton both in reality and in fantasy terms ahead of the new season, but it has been a very poor start for the team. Ralph Hasenhuttl might be bemoaning a bit of poor luck/finishing, but Southampton have to be a lot better defensively if they are not going to be dragged into another relegation scrap this season.

It was some really shoddy work being done by the defenders last week in the 2-5 home loss to Tottenham Hotspur, but Southampton exited the League Cup in the Second Round and that means they have had a week to prepare for this fixture.

The manager will have wanted to make use of all that time having seen his team lose twice to Burnley last season in the Premier League. Burnley did not create a lot of chances to produce five goals, but this has become a feature of Sean Dyche's teams and I do think the performances over the last week shows they are a club that will be safe in the Premier League despite the rumours about the manager not being happy at Turf Moor.

Burnley scored twice at Leicester City last weekend, albeit in a losing effort, and they managed two more goals at Millwall in the League Cup to progress to the Fourth Round. I would be a little concerned by the fact that Burnley have not scored more than a single goal in any of their last 6 games at Turf Moor in all competitions, especially as they have only earned a single clean sheet in that time, and perhaps that is why they are the underdog here.

I can't be having Burnley as an underdog against an opponent that has lost 3 games in a row, but I also think this could be a game that continues the early trend in the Premier League over the first two weeks of the season. That trend has seen a huge amount of goals being scored in the English top flight as teams perhaps struggle with their fitness levels after a shortened pre-season than usual.

Both games between these clubs produced three goals last season and the game at Turf Moor saw both create chances. Neither have defended as well as they would have liked to open the season, but I think the managers will be impressed with some of the attacking elements to their game and that may lead to a higher than expected amount of goals.

Sheffield United v Leeds United Pick: The Yorkshire derby games between Sheffield United and Leeds United were intense and competitive two seasons ago as both chased down a spot in the Premier League.

Both teams earned narrow away wins, but chances were created by both sides and that will encourage Chris Wilder and Marcelo Bielsa. Since their last meeting both clubs have now returned to English Football's top flight and there will be a real belief that both have enough to survive at this level.

The opening games have been more positive for Leeds United than Sheffield United, but Chris Wilder will not be panicking just yet. His Sheffield United team may have lost 5 League games in a row, but The Blades have remained competitive and arguably deserved more from their 1-0 defeat at Villa Park on Monday night.

They were not helped by the relatively early sending off, while Dean Henderson's return to Manchester United is also a blow to the club. A lack of goals will be a concern for Chris Wilder considering Sheffield United have scored once in their last 5 Premier League games and only managed 39 in total through the entirety of the 2019/20 season.

Only four clubs managed fewer goals than The Blades, but they should find spaces to exploit against Leeds United who have conceded seven times in two League games back in the top flight. That will encourage Sheffield United who have created chances and I do think they can pose problems which could make a mockery of the fact that Chris Wilder's men are the home underdog.

You have to respect Leeds United under their current manager though and the week to prepare is something Marcelo Bielsa will have made full use of. Having Pablo Hernandez sidelined is a blow, but Leeds United have shown they have pace and ability in the final third which will give them a chance against any opponent they face in the Premier League.

Defensively there are holes and I do think at the moment Leeds United feel they need to outscore teams to earn points. It should encourage an open and entertaining fixture on Sunday and I think the two teams may surprise the layers by combining for at least three goals.

My very narrow lean is with Sheffield United, but having Henderson return to Manchester United and losing John Egan to suspension tempers the enthusiasm for the home team. We saw The Blades look vulnerable when the key players were not in action for them at the end of last season and I think both teams are likely to hit the net in this one.

Sheffield United and Leeds United should both be pushing for the three points though and I think that will help produce a fixture with at least three goals scored.

Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United Pick: This is an important game for both Jose Mourinho and Steve Bruce as they look to manage their teams through the very busy first month of the 2020/21 season.

Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United have both earned 3 points from a possible 6 in the Premier League and both enjoyed Cup wins during the week. There is another similarity in that both clubs have lost their first home Premier League game of the season, and they have won more away games than at home so far.

That might encourage Newcastle United who beat Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 here last season and who have won 4 of their last 6 visits to a fixture hosted by Spurs. Steve Bruce is likely going to set his deep up to be very cautious defensively and make Tottenham Hotspur work for everything they get, and he certainly won't want to make the same start as last Sunday when his team were 0-2 down to Brighton inside seven minutes.

A strong win in the League Cup and a very winnable tie coming up should give Newcastle United confidence they can put a strong run together before the next international break. However, the defensive injuries are adding up and Newcastle United have allowed their two Premier League opponents to create some very good chances.

Now they have to deal with a Tottenham Hotspur team who were playing in Macedonia on Thursday evening and who are coming off 3 pretty good wins. The travelling is a concern, but Jose Mourinho was able to rotate his squad to some extent and that should mean the players are fresh enough to compete in this Premier League fixture.

Tottenham Hotspur have been creating chances in all of their games played so far this season and they have players like Heung-Min Son and Harry Kane in fine form in front of goal. I think that will give them the edge against something of a bogey team in North London, especially as Tottenham Hotspur won 1-3 at St James' Park in July.

I do think Steve Bruce's men can have an impact on the match too, but my feeling is that Spurs will have a little too much against a team missing their starting goalkeeper. The quick turnaround from the Europa League Qualifier is not ideal for Tottenham Hotspur, but they can edge to the victory on Sunday.

Manchester City v Leicester City Pick: This is one of the big Premier League games of the weekend as Manchester City and Leicester City look to show they are ready for the long and tough schedule of fixtures that are in front of them over the next several months.

Both clubs finished in the top five last season and there will be some feeling in the Midlands that Leicester City can use the experiences of last season to take another step forward this time around. Joining the title race might be too much for Leicester City, but the early season form is encouraging and Brendan Rodgers will want his team to show the rest of the Premier League what they are about in this one.

They were beaten in both Premier League games against Manchester City last season though and Pep Guardiola's men have come out this season with a pretty strong performance in seeing off Wolves at Molineux.

While more signings may yet be made, Manchester City know they have to be a lot more consistent this season if they are going to close the gap to Champions Liverpool. The win at Wolves shows the team are going to be up for the fight and I do think they will largely enjoy playing Leicester City even though the latter are going to be dangerous on the counter attack.

Manchester City did create a lot of chances in their two wins over Leicester City in the Premier League last season and they look like they will have too much for them again. As good as Leicester City have looked in their opening two games, they are now playing a team that is much stronger than West Brom or Burnley.

The home team should be able to come through with a relatively straight forward win by the time this one is in the books.

West Ham United v Wolves Pick: There will be some serious testing done at West Ham United in the coming days after two players and David Moyes came back with positive tests for Coronavirus ahead of their League Cup tie played last Tuesday.

A severe outbreak could see this live game on Sunday cancelled and postponed for another time, but for now the players will be focusing on their training and looking for a first League point of the 2020/21 season.

The Hammers will actually be looking for their first League points against Wolves since the latter returned to the top flight. In fact West Ham United have not scored in any of the 4 games played against Wolves in that time and it won't be easy to change that here.

However West Ham United have to be encouraged by the away performance at Arsenal last Saturday and they are a team that can create chances. They will be going up against a Wolves team that are transitioning the squad a little bit, but who continue to perform at a high level which makes them very difficult to beat.

In saying that, Wolves have not been watertight at the back and that should give West Ham United a chance to at least finally break their streak of failing to score against this opponent. They are a threat from set pieces and there is some pace in the West Ham United ranks, although defensively they remain vulnerable.

Wolves have shown they are certainly capable going forward and I would be surprised if they are not able to score here. They are favourites deservedly, but I do think West Ham United can finally break down the Wolves door for the first time since January 2016 and so expecting both teams to hit the net looks to the be the most likely outcome here.

Fulham v Aston Villa Pick: Two seasons ago Fulham had returned to the Premier League and made huge investments in the transfer market during the off-season to prepare for the top flight.

Things went horribly wrong for them and they were going to be inevitably relegated when Scott Parker was appointed as caretaker manager. He impressed enough to be given the permanent role and has helped Fulham earn promotion back to the Premier League at the firs time of asking, but a shortened off-season and not having the same policy as two years ago has made them favourites for relegation along with West Brom.

The early indications are not good as Fulham have looked miserable defensively, but they deserved more than they got at Leeds United last weekend. Scott Parker will be looking to build on that performance, although Fulham only won 6 of 19 home games at this level two seasons ago and look like one of the weaker teams in the Division.

In saying all that, I am not sure what Aston Villa have done to deserve favouritism in an away game in the Premier League. They were fortunate to eventually beat Sheffield United last week despite their visitors playing with ten men for the majority of the fixture, and I am not going to place a lot of stock in their two League Cup wins at Burton Albion and Bristol City.

Aston Villa have made some decent signings, but this is a team who won just 2 of 19 away games in the Premier League last season and were beaten at Bournemouth and Watford, two teams who eventually were relegated to the Championship.

Since the three month break, Aston Villa have played better all around, but there is still a feeling that they don't score enough goals. They have purchased players to improve on the numbers, but I don't think Aston Villa are deserving of being away favourites at any ground in the Premier League.

Fulham have a strong record at home against this opponent and there was enough to like from them in their 4-3 loss at Leeds United. Defensively there will need to be improvements, but a fixture like this one might not see Fulham fully exploited anyway and being able to get behind the home underdog looks like the right approach.

The draw could be a real player in this one, but I would be surprised if Fulham were to be beaten. A defeat and they might already want to plan on how to prepare for life back in the Championship before the fans are invited back into the Stadiums.

Liverpool v Arsenal Pick: These two teams will become familiar with one another over the coming days having already met at Wembley last month and having two games to come in the Premier League and the League Cup Fourth Round at Anfield.

There are likely to be differing line ups used for the League and League Cup fixtures, but that won't lessen the desire of the two managers to oversee two statement wins.

Arsenal are clearly a side progressing under Mikel Arteta and they have been clinical under the Spaniard, even if the defensive performances have perhaps not been as strong as some of the results have indicated.

Those defensive performances will be tested to the fullest by a Liverpool team that scored 52 Premier League goals at Anfield last season and have already produced four in the win over Leeds United. Their victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge underlines why so many believe Liverpool can defend the Premier League title and they were able to rest many of their key players in the 2-7 win at Lincoln City in the League Cup on Thursday.

Mikel Arteta will also restore some key players, and his team are well drilled and can cause problems with the pace they have on the counter attack. Their wins over Liverpool in the Premier League and Community Shield under Arteta will only increase the confidence at a ground where Arsenal have suffered some heavy losses in recent seasons.

I do think Arsenal will be able to get forward and test a Liverpool team that have conceded at least three times in their last 2 Premier League games here. However, I also think Liverpool are not going to be as wasteful in front of goal as they were when losing 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium in July.

On another day Liverpool would have won very comfortably with the level of performance produced and I think that may be the case at the end of this one. While I don't underestimate Arsenal in their current form, Liverpool are still considerably stronger and look to have the goals and the confidence to hurt a team that does give more chances than the overall numbers being conceded will suggest.

Liverpool have scored at least twice in 9 of their last 10 Premier League games at Anfield and I think they will get to that mark in a winning effort on Monday Night Football.

MY PICKS: Manchester United to Win & Over 1.5 Goals

Crystal Palace-Everton Both Teams to Score- YES

Chelsea - 1.25 Asian Handicap

Burnley-Southampton Over 2.5 Goals

Sheffield United-Leeds United Over 2.5 Goals
Tottenham Hotspur & Over 1.5 Goals

Manchester City - 1.5 Asian Handicap

West Ham United-Wolves Both Teams to Score- YES

Fulham + 0.25 Asian Handicap

Liverpool & Over 1.5 Goals

Fantasy Football GameWeek 3

GW2 was pretty brutal for a lot of people, but I have to be most disappointed with my late decision to bring in Marcus Rashford instead of Heung-Min Son.

It might not have changed the week into a really strong one, but it certainly would have made up for the fact that the majority of my starters offered nothing of significance.

In hindsight it looked an obvious miss, but I never would have expected Son to score four goals away from home while Rashford and Manchester United struggled as badly as they did.

After watching much of the Southampton collapse against Tottenham Hotspur I did really consider changing the plan and going with the early Wild Card... But instead of making a rash decision I stepped away, had a coffee and a spot of lunch and ultimately waited to see how the rest of the weekend would go.

It would be very easy to panic that some of my early differentials have not had the impact I would have wanted, but the underlying stats have given me enough belief to stick with the idea of not using the Wild Card this side of the next international break.

One decision I did want to make on Monday evening was removing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and bring in Kevin De Bruyne and to avoid waiting for the Belgian to increase in price. Fortunately that did end up being a transfer made before that was the case, although the unfortunate part is that De Bruyne picked up a slight worry against Bournemouth in the League Cup and is potentially going to miss out.

I won't lie, I have been frustrated by Che Adams for a second season in a row as he continues to find himself at the end of glorious chances but for some reason is attempting to hit through goalkeepers rather than either side of him. He isn't the best finisher, but the overall performances should mean Adams continues to earn a start for Southampton who have fixtures that can still be taken advantage of.

My patience will be running thin though and I am looking for more consistency from the eleven being picked- my bottom line at the moment is I picked a squad I believed in through the first four GWs which included using my transfers and I am sticking with the plan despite the kick in the teeth I took last week.

Hopefully the restraint will be rewarded over the next three days.