Soccer Betting News This Month | City Face Uncertain Future, Market Watch & Analysis | October 2026

By Seb Blasco, Updated on: Oct 1, 2026

Nations League games to watch

France v Italy — 2 October

France arrive with six points from six available, having beaten Türkiye and Belgium without conceding; Italy recovered from defeat to Belgium by thrashing Türkiye 4–1.
That contrast sets up a test: France’s press against Italy’s attacking confidence and organised shape. The hosts look favorites, but Italy’s win showed how dangerous they can be when transitions click.

Expect France to dominate territory while Italy seek space behind the fullbacks. A draw keeps Italy in contention, making the visitors’ risk calculation interesting.

France -225, draw +425, Italy +600

Croatia v England — 3 October

England and Croatia need a response after losing to Spain, though Croatia also beat Czechia and England subsequently also beat the Czechs.

That leaves a balanced Group A3 encounter: England’s pace and pressing against Croatia’s experience, midfield control, and comfort in tight games.

England are slight favorites, but Rijeka’s crowd and Croatia’s ability to slow the tempo make an away win far from certain. The key may be whether England can turn possession into chances before Croatia settle into their rhythm.

Croatia +310, draw +280, England -110

Greece v Germany — 4 October

Greece head into this rematch on six points after beating Serbia and Germany, while Germany has one point after drawing with the Netherlands.

The 1–0 Greek win exposed Germany’s difficulty turning possession into goals and punished a defensive lapse. Germany must respond against a confident side that can defend compactly and break quickly.

Jürgen Klopp’s team should control more of the ball, but needs greater penetration and sharper finishing. Greece will aim to frustrate and exploit counters.

Greece +250, draw +320, Germany +100

How The Premier League Title Contenders Are Shaping Up

Arsenal — Favourites facing a reality check

Title odds: 4/7

Arsenal began their title defence with four successive victories, including a 2–1 win over Chelsea, before Brighton delivered a sobering 3–0 defeat.

Twelve points from five games still represents a strong start, but that setback exposed vulnerabilities after three clean sheets in their opening four matches.

Mikel Arteta’s immediate challenge is to restore defensive control without blunting his side’s attacking ambition. Leeds at home offers an opportunity to respond, followed by Nottingham Forest away and Everton at home.

Expect Arsenal to remain central to the title race, although their reaction to Brighton will reveal plenty about their resilience this season.

Manchester City - City start strong, but face uncertain future

Title odds: 18/5

Manchester City have made the strongest possible league start under Enzo Maresca: five wins from five and a three-point lead over Arsenal.

Their 5–3 victory against Sunderland demonstrated formidable attacking power, although conceding a hat-trick highlighted defensive weaknesses.

The next league assignment, away at Liverpool, should provide a tougher measure of their progress. However, the financial-rules verdict now hangs over their campaign. City deny wrongdoing and intend to appeal, with sanctions still unresolved.

Expect them to keep winning regularly on footballing merit, but any assessment of their title chances must account for potential sporting penalties alongside performances on the pitch.

Liverpool — Unbeaten, but needing another gear

Title odds: 12/1

Liverpool’s opening five matches have produced two victories and three draws, leaving them sixth with nine points. That unbeaten record suggests stability under Andoni Iraola, but too many shared points have allowed Manchester City to establish a six-point advantage.

Alexander Isak’s winner at Bournemouth supplied a timely boost and an example of the finishing that can turn tight contests into victories. City’s visit on 11 October now looks particularly significant, with Brentford away following.

Expect Liverpool to become more convincing as Iraola’s methods settle, although sustained title contention requires converting their resilience into a much more consistent winning run over the coming weeks.

Chelsea — Bright start gives way to familiar defensive concerns

Title odds: 20/1

Chelsea opened with victories over Fulham and Brighton, but their momentum has evaporated. Defeat at Arsenal, a home draw with Hull and a 3–0 loss at Brentford leave Xabi Alonso’s side with seven points from five games.

Twelve goals conceded underline the central problem: Chelsea cannot sustain control across entire matches. João Pedro’s absence also weakened their attack at Brentford. Bournemouth at home offers a chance to reset before Everton away and Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.

Expect flashes of attacking quality, but their prospects depend on defensive improvement. Until that arrives, the early title optimism looks difficult to justify over a full campaign.

Manchester United — Pressure on Carrick

Title odds: 66/1

Manchester United have collected only five points from five matches, leaving Michael Carrick with an early repair job. The derby defeat was especially frustrating because City played much of the match with ten men, yet United struggled to make their advantage count.

A late Matheus Cunha equaliser at Fulham prevented another defeat but hardly suggested a convincing recovery. Tottenham’s visit on 10 October gives United a chance to rebuild confidence against another struggling side, before a demanding trip to Leeds.

Expect uneven results until their attacking threat becomes more reliable; improving performances and climbing the table are the immediate priorities for Carrick’s team.

Tottenham — De Zerbi back to square one

Title odds: 250/1

Tottenham’s opening has been alarming: no victories, two points and bottom place after five matches. Four successive games without scoring were followed by a 3–2 home defeat against Aston Villa, leaving Roberto De Zerbi searching for answers despite substantial summer investment.

The immediate requirement is a functioning attack supported by greater defensive discipline. Manchester United away comes next, followed by Coventry at home and Chelsea away, a sequence offering opportunity alongside considerable pressure.

Expect improvement from such a poor starting point, but confidence looks fragile. A first victory would change the mood; sustained consistency will determine how far Spurs can recover this season.

Previous market updates

• [October, 2026]: Man City Charged.
• [September, 2026]: Messi announces retirement from international football.
• [August, 2026]: Arsenal favourites for the Champions League final.
• [July, 2026]: England bow out to the holders, who face a final vs Spain.
• [July, 2026]: England through to the semi-finals of the World Cup.
• [July, 2026]: England through to quarter-finals of the World Cup.
• [July, 2026]: Spain through to last 16 of the World Cup.
• [June, 2026]: Ecuador qualify for the knockout phase of the World Cup.
• [June, 2026]: USMNT qualify for the knockout phase of the World Cup.
• [June, 2026]: USMNT kicked off the World Cup with a 4-1 win against Paraguay.
• [June, 2026]: Spain are favourites to win the World Cup.
• [May 28, 2026]: PSG edged into slight favouritism for the Champions League final in Budapest, with Arsenal still close behind.
• [May 27, 2026]: England's World Cup squad announcement caused a stir after several big-name omissions, while they remained among the main contenders.
• [May 25, 2026]: Spain stayed near the top of the World Cup outright market despite injury concerns around key players.
• [May 22, 2026]: Norway gained traction as a popular dark horse ahead of the World Cup, led by Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard.
• [April 15, 2026]: Arsenal entered the Champions League quarter-final market as +225 favourites.
• [Early February 2026]: Arsenal moved to -500 favourites to win the Premier League following a dominant winter run.
• [December 2025]: Arsenal slipped to -145 in the title market after a rash of injuries disrupted their momentum.

Meet the author

Seb Blasco

Seb Blasco has a background spanning journalism, sports betting, and filmmaking. After earning a degree in sports business with a focus on European football, he began his career as a sport betting analyst, working with major broadcasters and sports betting firms. More r...