English Premier League returns on Saturday and we have a play in all seven matches including Manchester United v Manchester City, Liverpool v Burnley and Notts Forest v Arsenal
Prices quoted are correct at the time of publication but subject to change.
Man United v Man City
Much has happened at United over Xmas and New Year. Since Boxing Day when they were 1-0 winners at home to Newcastle they drew 1-1 at Leeds, sacked Amorin and then drew at Burnley and at home to Wolves. They also lost at home to Brighton in the FA Cup. Michael Carrick takes over until the end of the season and United are seventh, 3 points behind fourth placed Liverpool.
City have dropped points in drawing each of their last 3 league games, at Sunderland (0-0) and at home to Chelsea and Brighton (both 1-1). They remain second in the standings, level on points with Villa and they are now 6 points behind Arsenal in the title race. After a 2-0 win at Newcastle in the EFL Cup semi final 1sst leg City are in really good shape to reach the final.
In the first league meeting this season City won 3-0 at the Etihad with Haaland scoring twice.
From what I recall of the first meeting there was an absence of yellow cards but I see scope for both sides to pick up at least 2 here.
Bet: Both teams to have 2 or more cards? Yes at 16/10 with Sportingbet
Chelsea v Brentford
In the EPL Chelsea’s poor run of 1 win in 9 included coach Maresca being replaced by Liam Rosenior in the new year. Chelsea have slipped out of contention in the title race and are now down in 8th position but only 4 points off a top 4 place. Rosenior oversaw a 5-1 win at Charlton in the FA Cup and on Wednesday his side hosted Arsenal in the EFL Cup semi final 1st leg but were beaten 3-2.
Brentford are unbeaten in their last 6 PL outings, 4 wins and 2 draws which has seen them shoot up to fifth on the log, 2 points better off than Chelsea. In their last 2 league games they won 4-2 at Everton and 3-0 at home to Sunderland and they also progressed in the FA Cup.
The first league meeting this season finished all square at 2-2.
A big test for Brentford and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them very competitive but my goalscorer interest comes in the shape of Garnacho who was on target twice for Chelsea in the EFL Cup in midweek.
Bet: Anytime goalscorer Garnacho at 3/1 with Sportingbet
Leeds v Fulham
A 7 match unbeaten run in the EPL (5 draws, 2 wins) came to an end when Leeds went down 4-3 at Newcastle. They bounced back with an FA Cup win at Derby and with 22 points they are 8 clear of third bottom West Ham.
Fulham have won 4 and drawn 2 of their last 6 league games to move into the top half of the standings with 31 points. Away form has improved dramatically recently with wins at Spurs, West Ham and Burnley plus a draw at Palace and they have also made progress in the FA Cup.
A very late goal gave Fulham a 1-0 win in the first league meeting this season.
Two sides who should be very happy with their recent form and I can see this one ending all square.
Bet: Match result draw at 24/10 with Pokerbet
Liverpool v Burnley
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 9 EPL matches but 5 of those were drawn, including each of the last 3 and they come int the weekend in fourth spot, 14 points behind Arsenal and 8 shy of Man City and Villa. Ekitike returned from injury to score in the FA Cup win at home to Barnsley on Monday.
Although they progressed in the FA Cup Burnley are 12 without a win in the EPL with their only points returns in that sequence coming from draws in 3 of their last 5. They remain second from bottom, 1 point behind West Ham but 8 shy of fourth bottom Notts Forest.
An injury time penalty gave Liverpool a 1-0 win over Burnley at Turf Moor early in the season.
Although they are on a decent length unbeaten run I still get the impression that Liverpool could really use a convincing performance and result at Anfield and this looks an ideal opportunity. Wirtz is my play in the anytime goalscorer market
Bet: Anytime goalscorer Wirtz at 23/10 with Sportingbet
Sunderland v Crystal Palace
Sunderland developed a draw habit over Xmas and New Years, taking a point from a visit to Brighton, home games against Leeds and Man City and then away to Spurs. However they went don 3-0 at Brentford to slip down to tenth before last weekends, penalty shoot out win in the Fa Cup at Everton.
Palace have taken just 2 points from their last 6 league games, draws at home to Fulham and Villa and are 2 points shy of Sunderland in the standings. They were humbled in the FA Cup at Macclesfield last weekend, losing 2-1 in one of the bigger shocks you could imagine.
The first league meeting this season failed to produce a goal.
Surely it can’t get any worse than last week’s cup defeat for Palace and they have the quality to bounce back but Sunderland are unbeaten at home this season. Granit Xhaka remains at the heart of all things good about Sunderland, he has registered a couple of assists in earlier home games which makes his price boost to set another one up all the more attractive.
Bet: Granit Xhaka 1 or more assists boosted to 7.25/1 with Sportingbet
Spurs v West Ham
Spurs have won just 2 of their last 10 league games to slip below half way in the standings. They also lost 2-1 at home to Villa in the FA Cup last weekend and Thomas Frank, or at least his playing style, has been coming under pressure from fans
West Ham have brought in 2 new strikers in what seems like a roll of the dice in their bid to avoid relegation. A favourable run of fixtures failed to deliver any real improvement, it’s 10 without a league win now (4 draws, 6 defeats) and they are third bottom, 7 points shy of safety.
In the first league meeting this season Spurs ran out 3-0 winners.
Spurs are under some pressure but the arrival of Conor Gallagher looks like a really good addition to me. Given they are short of options in midfield I reckon he will start and hopefully mark his debut with a goal.
Bet: Anytime goalscorer Conor Gallagher at 4.75/1 with Sportingbet
Notts Forest v Arsenal
Fourth bottom Forest have 7 points worth of daylight over third bottom West Ham whom they beat 2-1 away from home in their most recent league game. That ended a run of 4 straight defeats over the festive period including home games against Man City and Everton and last weekend they bowed out of the FA Cup after losing a shoot out at Wrexham.
Arsenal dropped points in drawing 0-0 at home to Liverpool in their latest league outing but Xmas and new year went well and they are 6 points clear of Man City and Villa at the top of the standings. Progress in the FA Cup keeps them going on all fronts this season and on Wednesday they visited Chelsea in the EFL Cup semi finals first leg and came away with a 3-2 win.
Arsenal were 3-0 winners at home to Forest in the first league meeting earlier this season.
Aside from the win at West Ham Forest have had little to shout about and I’m siding with Arsenal to find the net more than twice.
Bet: Team total goals, Arsenal over 2.5 at 2.05/1 with Pokerbet
Note, odds are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change