Though I haven’t totally forgiven them after Gameweek 5, the bookies went some way to redeeming themselves in Gameweek 6. Man City scored 8 and kept a clean sheet against Watford. Liverpool beat Chelsea but conceded in the process. The bookies got it pretty spot on.

Looking at the odds alone, Gameweek 7 isn’t going to be a pleasant one for FPL managers. If you were hoping for clean sheet certainties and 8-0 romps, you’ve come to the wrong part of the internet. Instead, the bookies have been much more cautious. Let’s take a look at what they’ve got to say.

Gameweek 7 Clean Sheet Odds & To 2+ Goals Odds

Leicester’s good form acknowledged

Having conceded just 5 goals so far this season, Leicester have the joint-best defence in the league on paper. Only Liverpool have conceded as few, with the likes of Manchester City, Spurs and Everton all conceding more. They also have the second-best xGA to boot (5.58).

It looks like the bookies have cottoned on to this fact. With a 54% chance of keeping a clean sheet against Newcastle on Sunday, they’re the bookies’ favourites for a shutout in Gameweek 7. Then again, we were saying a similar thing when Liverpool hosted Bruce’s men at Anfield a few weeks back. The result? Newcastle scored in the first 10 minutes.

Man City edge Liverpool

Not in that way. Behave.

I’m obviously talking about their 2+ goal odds. They’ve edged out their title rivals by a single percentile, which probably has something to do with the fact they scored 8 goals in Gameweek 6. Still, they’ll visit an Everton side that have shown an ability to frustrate top teams in recent fixtures.

Liverpool, meanwhile, have been given a 74% chance of scoring 2 or more goals away at Sheffield United. The fact Sheffield United have the fifth-best xGA at home (2.52) must surely tip the scales in City’s favour.

Chelsea to secure first clean sheet?

Chelsea are one of four teams yet to keep a clean sheet. The other three are Bournemouth, Norwich and Watford, which are hardly good company to be keeping when you’re a top-six side.

Gameweek 7 presents a great opportunity to lose their 19/20 clean sheet virginity, though. They’ll host Brighton; a side who have scored just 5 goals this season – 3 of which came in their opening fixture.

Chelsea have been a little unlucky too. Whilst they’ve conceded 13 goals, they have an xGA of just 7.97. Hardly fantastic underlying stats, but a sign that a shift in fortunes could be around the corner.

Gameweek 7 Anytime Goalscorers By Position

Gameweek 7 captain still unclear

Just when we felt the captaincy debate might be settled, the bookies have thrown us another curveball. Despite backing City as the more likely to score 2+ goals, Liverpool’s Mo Salah has trumped Raheem Sterling in the anytime goalscorer department.

As with recent weeks, Aguero tops them both. The Argentinian has a huge 58% likelihood of scoring against Everton.

But it’s Harry Kane who emerges the most likely player to score in Gameweek 7. Is it time for his owners to have their faith repaid?

Kevin De Bruyne still being overlooked?

Despite scoring in both of his last 2 Premier League starts, Kevin De Bruyne still lacks the backing of the bookies to score against Everton. The Belgian has been in unstoppable form but, once again, it’s Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez that have been given the shorter odds.

For me, his absence from this list is another oversight by the bookies. Such is Man City’s attacking power that any player that has as much involvement as De Bruyne is bound to get goals. For me, he could well be a captaincy shout for Gameweek 7.

Wolves defenders due returns

On current form, I don’t expect we’ll be seeing much of Wolves’ players at the top of the anytime goalscorer tables this season. This week, however, they host Watford.

Juggling the responsibilities of the Europa League has taken its toll on Nuno Santo’s men, but a home fixture against a struggling Watford side looks like a great opportunity to get their first win of the season.

The bookies have acknowledged this by backing their backline – Matt Doherty and Romain Saiss in particular – as the 2 most likely defenders to score in Gameweek 7. Based on how their attackers have fared this season, they might be their best hope of a goal too.

The Hornets, meanwhile, will be keen to bounce back from their 8-0 defeat at the Etihad last weekend. Last season Molineaux would’ve been a difficult place in which to do that: this season, however, it might be one of the best.