Author: Cody Aceveda

Cody Aceveda is a freelance writer based in Porto, Portugal. He has written for The Trivela Effect since February 2023. Cody is a fan of the Brighton, Portland Timbers, Portland Thorns, and Rayo Vallecano. He is also an experienced iGaming writer with over two years experience writing about sports betting and the sports betting industry for a variety of outlets.
Arsenal, Mikel Arteta’s dark arts will inevitably lead to Premier League rule changes
Analysis

Arsenal, Mikel Arteta’s dark arts will inevitably lead to Premier League rule changes

After the Gunners' 2-1 win over Chelsea on Sunday, the football world is again talking about Arsenal corner routines and the so-called ‘dark arts’ used by Mikel Arteta’s side. These conversations have been a staple of the 2025-26 Premier League season, but it’s starting to feel like we have finally reached a tipping point for what fans, commentators, and even other clubs are willing to accept. Manchester City legend Yaya Toure said he was “disappointed” by Arsenal’s performance in the London Derby match, while former AC Milan and Chelsea star Ruud Gullit described the Gunners’ tactics as “truly awful to watch” on Dutch television. On Tuesday, Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler added his name to the long list of football fans unhappy with Arsenal’s corner routines this season. Spe...
2025/26 Premier League Picks, Score Predictions for Every Matchday 11 Fixture
Analysis

2025/26 Premier League Picks, Score Predictions for Every Matchday 11 Fixture

Premier League Matchday 11 starts on Saturday with a Big 6 battle between Tottenham and Manchester United and caps off on Sunday with a heavyweight clash of Manchester City vs. Liverpool. Let’s get ready for these games and rest of the weekend’s fixtures with our Premier League predictions and picks for every match. Tottenham vs. Manchester United Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, 12:30p.m. GMT (7:30a.m. ET), Saturday, November 8 Manchester United snapped a three-game win streak with a 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest on Matchday 10. Tottenham, meanwhile, suffered another disappointing defeat at home in a 1-0 loss to Chelsea. The Man Utd result was surely disappointing for Red Devils fans, but it’s hard to overstate just how bad Spurs were last weekend. The Lilywhites created 0.05 expected...
2025/26 Premier League Picks, Score Predictions for Every Matchday 10 Fixture
Analysis

2025/26 Premier League Picks, Score Predictions for Every Matchday 10 Fixture

Premier League Matchday 10 will see Burnley host league leaders Arsenal, Tottenham take on Chelsea in a London Derby, and a struggling Liverpool will play against a resurgent Aston Villa at Anfield. Let’s get ready for these games and rest of the week’s fixtures with our Premier League predictions and picks for every match.  Brighton vs. Leeds United American Express Stadium, 3:00p.m. GMT (11:00a.m. EDT), Saturday, November 1 After two successive defeats on the road to Manchester United and Arsenal, Brighton will host Leeds at the Amex. Fabian Hurzeler’s team have kept just one clean sheet in their last 22 matches in all competitions. If there’s ever a chance for the Seagulls to get their first clean sheet of the season, it would be here.  Leeds have been shut out in three of their f...
2025/26 Premier League Picks, Score Predictions for Every Matchday 9 Fixture
Analysis

2025/26 Premier League Picks, Score Predictions for Every Matchday 9 Fixture

Premier League Matchday 9 kicks off on Friday with Leeds facing West Ham. On Saturday, Chelsea take on high-flying Sunderland, while Manchester United host Brighton at Old Trafford. It all ends on Sunday, with Arsenal battling Crystal Palace in a London Derby and Everton playing Tottenham. Let’s get ready for these big games and the rest of Matchday 9 with our EPL picks and predictions.  Leeds vs. West Ham Elland Road, 8:00pm BST (3:00pm ET), Friday, October 24 We’re only nine weeks into the 2025/26 Premier League season, but this is a must-win match for both teams.  Leeds suffered their second straight loss last weekend with their 2-0 defeat at Burnley. Another loss could see them drawn into the thick of the relegation battle. West Ham, meanwhile, are already in the relegation zone....
2025/26 Premier League Picks, Score Predictions for Every Matchday 8 Fixture
Analysis

2025/26 Premier League Picks, Score Predictions for Every Matchday 8 Fixture

The international break is over, and the Premier League is back. Matchday 8 starts on Saturday with Nottingham Forest taking on Chelsea and Crystal Palace playing Bournemouth in a battle of two surprise top-four challengers. On Sunday, Manchester United head to Anfield to play Liverpool in the biggest matchup of the weekend.  Let’s get ready for these fixtures and the rest of the weekend’s action with our Premier League Matchday 8 picks and predictions.  Nottingham Forest vs. Chelsea The City Ground, 12:30pm BST (7:30am ET), Saturday, October 18 Matchday 8 kicks off with arguably the most lopsided match of the weekend. Nottingham Forest have yet to win a match since Ange Postecoglou took over in September (0W, 2D, 5L). The Reds lost three matches in a row before the international bre...
2025/26 Premier League Picks, Score Predictions for Every Matchday 7 Fixture
Analysis

2025/26 Premier League Picks, Score Predictions for Every Matchday 7 Fixture

Premier League Matchday 7 will see Liverpool play Chelsea in a Big 6 clash, undefeated Crystal Palace take on Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium, and Ange Postecoglou’s Nottingham Forest battle against Eddie Howe’s Newcastle. Let’s get ready for these games and the rest of this weekend’s action with our Premier League picks and predictions for every Matchday 7 fixture.   Bournemouth vs. Fulham Vitality Stadium, 8:00pm BST (3:00pm ET), Friday, October 3 Both Bournemouth and Fulham will be looking to set things right after disappointing results on Matchday 6. The Cherries barely managed to draw with newly-promoted sides Leeds, while Fulham conceded three unanswered goals in a 3-1 loss to Aston Villa.  Bournemouth have had the upper hand in this matchup since Andoni Iraola took over the ...
2025/26 Premier League Power Rankings after Matchday 6
Analysis, Rankings

2025/26 Premier League Power Rankings after Matchday 6

Premier League Matchday 6 saw Liverpool lose to Crystal Palace, Arsenal gain ground in the title race, and Manchester City hammer Burnley 5-1. Let’s look back at these results and the rest of Matchday 6 to see where each club stands ahead of Matchday 7.   20. Wolves (–1) It feels harsh dropping Wolves back down to 20th place after their gutsy 1-1 draw against Tottenham, but someone has to be last, and they are definitely deserving candidates. Vitor Pereira’s side have just one point this season and the league’s worst goal difference through six matches (-9). They’ve pulled off great escapes before, but it’s looking pretty unlikely this season.  19. Burnley (-1) Burnley’s 5-1 loss to Manchester City was the most expected result of the weekend. I guaranteed City would win by two goals in...
2025/26 LaLiga Power Rankings after Matchday 7
Analysis, Rankings

2025/26 LaLiga Power Rankings after Matchday 7

LaLiga Matchday 7 saw Atlético Madrid destroy Real Madrid 5-2 in the Madrid Derby, Barcelona jump to the top of the table, and Elche stay undefeated with a 2-1 win over Celta Vigo. Let’s review these LaLiga Matchday 7 fixtures and rank teams ahead of Matchday 8.   20. Girona Girona managed to scrap out a 1-1 draw with Espanyol on Matchday 7 thanks to a five-save performance from goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga. The Argentine was the Blanquivermells man of the match, but the entire defense did their part, holding Espanyol to just 1.08 xG from 20 shots.  Offensively, though, Girona really struggled to convert solid opportunities. Of their seven shots in the box, they only managed to get one on target. They missed their only big chance of the game. Results like this draw are why I think Giron...
2025/26 LaLiga picks, score predictions for every Matchday 7 fixture
Analysis

2025/26 LaLiga picks, score predictions for every Matchday 7 fixture

LaLiga had a full set of matches during the week, but the action doesn’t ever stop in Spain. The games pick right back up this weekend, with big matchups like Atlético Madrid vs. Real Madrid, Villarreal vs. Athletic Club, and Barcelona vs. Real Sociedad. Here are my LaLiga picks and score predictions for these matches and every other Matchday 7 fixture.  Girona vs. Espanyol Estadi Municipal de Montilivi, 9:00pm CEST (3:00pm ET), Friday, September 26 Girona unexpectedly found themselves in the relegation fight last season. This year, they look on track to actually go down. The Catalan club have lost four of their six LaLiga matches so far — all of which were by two goals or more. However, they managed to scrape out a 1-1 draw with Athletic Club in Matchday 6.  Espanyol finished just t...
2025/26 Premier League picks, score predictions for every Matchday 6 fixture
Analysis

2025/26 Premier League picks, score predictions for every Matchday 6 fixture

Premier League Matchday 6 features a full slate of weekend action, including a clash between new rivals Chelsea and Brighton and a matchup between top-of-the-table Liverpool and Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace. On Sunday, Newcastle will try to jump-start their season at home against Arsenal.  Let’s get ready for these big matchups and every other Matchday 6 fixture with our EPL predictions for each match.  Brentford vs. Manchester United Gtech Community Stadium, 12:30pm BST (7:30am ET), Saturday, September 27 Manchester United bounced back from their 3-0 defeat to Manchester City with a 2-1 win at home against Chelsea. As chaotic as that match was, the Red Devils played well and will be coming into this match on a high.  Brentford, on the other hand, are feeling as low as they’ve ...