A quick look around the weekend's fixtures, and how they could affect the APLT.
Leaders Chelsea travel to APLT whipping boys Manchester United, in a game that could leave the title race looking close to being settled just a quarter of the way into the season. It's a par 1 for Chelsea, par 3 for United, but with Chelsea clear favourites to take all the points, the Russian crime syndicate-funded London outfit could well find themselves on +6, while the side from the dark side of Manchester could take full advantage of not being in Europe by ending the weekend on a staggering -15.
Chelsea win= Chelsea +6 (+2) Manchester United -15 (-3)
Draw = Chelsea +4 (=) Manchester United -14 (-2)
Manchester United win = Chelsea +3 (-1) Manchester United -12 (=)
Champions Man City travel to West Ham in their third Par 1 match of the season. They won away to Newcastle on the opening day, and kept to par with a draw against Arsenal. West Ham would be the surprise package of the season so far if not for Southampton, and the Par 1 looks about right on current form.
City win = City -1 (+2)
Draw = City -3 (=)
West Ham win = City -4 (-1)
Liverpool entertain Hull City Not Hull Tigers in what should be a straightforward Par 3 win on paper. The reds are looking to consolidate league form, while Hull will no doubt be encouraged by the apparent fragility of the Liverpool defence. Hull's only win away from home to date has come at drossfest QPR.
Liverpool win = Liverpool -5 (=)
Draw = Liverpool -7 (-2)
Hull win = Liverpool -8 (-3)
Spurs may not be the most impressive team in the league at the moment, but the APLT shows them currently occupying 4th place, which would probably make Tottenham fans very happy, or they might just sack the boss again, like they did last time, who knows? Who cares? Spurs entertain underperforming Newcastle United in what should be an easy Par 3. It's still too early in the season for Tottenham to bottle it, or for Newcastle to turn it round.
Tottenham win = Spurs -7 (=)
Draw = Spurs -9 (-2)
Newcastle win = Spurs -10 (-3)
Arsenal used to be boring because they played dull football. Now they are boring because every season seems to follow the same pattern for them. This time around, they are starting slowly, as the APLT shows them in 5th place on -9. And with a par 3 away to Sunderland, they have no chance to improve on that position. Sunderland are coming off the back of a pasting, with a lot to prove. If they pull it off, Arsenal could find themselves in double figures below the line at an early stage of the season for the first time.
Arsenal win = Arsenal -9 (=)
Draw = Arsenal -11 (-2)
Sunderland win = -12 (-3)
Everton are probably very happy that Manchester United are doing so badly, as it deflects from their own form, which has been utterly shocking. 13th in the traditional table, with just 9 points from 8 games, they sit 6th on the APLT on -11. With a short Par 3 trip away to newly promoted Burnley this weekend, they'll need a win to stay on -11, while the relegation-threatened new boys could make life very uncomfortable for the toffees.
Everton win = Everton -11 (=)
Draw = Everton -13 (-2)
Burnley win = Everton - 14 (-3)