Eight English Premier League matches take place on Saturday and we have a play in each game including Newcastle v Chelsea, Spurs v Liverpool and Everton v Arsenal
Prices quoted are correct at the time of publication but subject to change.
Newcastle v Chelsea
Newcastle put in a very poor shift given they went to Sunderland for the first Wear Tyne derby in a decade last week and they lost the game 1-0. They have won 5 of 8 home games, drawing 1 and losing to both Liverpool and Arsenal and they come into the festive program just below halfway in the standings.
Chelsea booked an EFL Cup semi final berth with victory at Cardiff in midweek. They also returned to winning ways in the EL last weekend with a 2-0 home win over Everton. Recent road trips have delivered a 3-1 defeat at Leeds and a 0-0 draw at Bournemouth plus a defeat away to Atalanta in the UCL. Chelsea are in fourth spot, 6 points better off than their opponents here but 5 shy of third placed Villa.
Newcastle are also in EFL Cup action in midweek but regardless of the outcome there I would view this is tricky and 2-3 total goals is something of a token play.
Bet: Total goal bands, 2-3 at 21/20 with Sportingbet
Bournemouth v Burnley
Bournemouth were involved in a chaotic 4-4 draw away to Man United last Monday night, it’s now 7 league games since their last win (3 draws and 4 defeats) and they have slipped into the lower half of the table but they have only lost once in front of their own supporters this season.
Burnley’s 3-2 home defeat to Fulham last week was a seventh straight loss and they remain second from bottom, 3 points behind third bottom West Ham nut now 6 shy of fourth bottom Leeds.
An ideal opportunity for Bournemouth to get back into the winners box and although they have shipped plenty of goals in a number of recent matches, that’s happened away from home rather than in front of their own supporters. I’m with Justin Kluivert any time
Bet: Anytime goalscorer Kluivert at 5/2 with Sportingbet
Brighton v Sunderland
Brighton went down 2-0 at Liverpool last weekend, they have taken just the 1 point (1-1 draw at home to West Ham in their last 3 league games to slide down to tenth, albeit in a very congested area of the standings.
Sunderland’s 1-0 win in the derby with Newcastle saw them climb above Brighton in the standings. They have won at Forest and Chelsea this season and also drew at Palace and Liverpool and over the coming weeks we will find about more about them with 4 regulars and a couple of squad men now away on AFCON duty.
Brighton have a couple of suspensions (Dunk and Gomez) plus Baleba at AFCON and Tzimas injured so it’s not just the visitors who are understrength. I’m open minded about the result but feel the Sunderland have a goal or 2 in them. Enzo Le Fee has been playing really well of late, he is 2/2 from the penalty spot this season and is more of a threat in open play since he was shifted into a more central position. He gets the any time vote
Bet: Anytime goalscorer Enzo Le Fee at 6.75/1 with Sportingbet
Man City v West Ham
City’s 3-0 win at Palace last weekend kept up the pressure on league leaders Arsenal. They remain in second spot 2 points adrift of the Gunners but in top form with 9 wins in their last 11 EPL outings and 13 goals in winning each of their last 4.
West Ham went down 3-2 at home to in form Aston Villa last week. Prior to that they drew away to Man United and then Brighton but they are still third from bottom, 3 points adrift of Leeds.
What was already a really tough task for West Ham is made even harder with 2 first choice defenders away at AFCON and although Doku is reportedly out for City, I fear for the visitors here. I’ll go with Haaland to bag a brace of goals.
Bet: Player to score 2 or more Haaland at 2/1 with Pokerbet
Wolves v Brentford
It took a 94th minute goal from Arsenal to deny Wolves a most unlikely point at The Emirates last week. They went down 2-1 after what was one of their better displays this season but remain rooted to the foot of the standings with just the 2 points to their name.
Brentford have 20 points they are 7 clear of the drop zone. They had to settle for a 1-1 draw at home to Leeds last weekend but should view this as an opportunity to improve on an away record that comprises of 1 win and 7 defeats.
Wolves can take plenty of encouragement for their display at Arsenal and Brentford’s away record is sub standard. I’m thinking goals here and hopefully 3 or more with both sides registering.
Bet: Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals ? (yes) at 13/10 with Sportingbet
Spurs v Liverpool
Spurs continue to blow hot and cold. After a draw at Newcastle and a home win over Brentford plus a victory in the UCL over Prague they put in a very average show in a 3-0 defeat at Forest last weekend and remain in mid table.
Liverpool’s 2-0 home win over Brighton moved them up to seventh place, 2 points off a top 4 spot. Recent road trips include a draw at Leeds and win at West Ham plus a UCL victory over Inter in Milan. Salah played a part last week but has now gone to the AFCON.
Both teams will no doubt be grateful not having had a midweek fixture but this looks another difficult one in my book. I doubt a draw would be overly welcome and a chance is taken on both sides scoring and either team to win.
Bet: Both teams to score and either team to win at 5/4 with Sportingbet
Everton v Arsenal
Everton’s 2-0 loss at Chelsea saw them slip to ninth place. They saw off Forest 3-0 in their most recent home game, 1 of 4 home wins alongside 2 draws and defeats to Spurs and Newcastle.
Arsenal got out of jail with the very late winner at home to Wolves to bounce back from a 2-1 loss away to Villa. Their only other defeat this season came on Merseyside, 1-0 at Liverpool early in the campaign and with their lead over Man City down to just 2 points, another slip here could see them lose top spot.
Arsenal have been costing me lately and whilst I’m nervous about siding with them again Everton are without Ndiaye (AFCON) and at the time of writing Grealish and Dewsbury-Hall were described as doubtful. That trio are key to Everton in terms of creativity, it might pay to wait for a team sheet but on this occasion I’m going to take a flyer and go with the Gunner to win with daylight
Bet: Handicap Arsenal -1 goal at 16/10 with Sportingbet
Leeds v Crystal Palace
Results wide Leeds are in their best form of the season with a 3-1 home win over Chelsea followed by battling draws at home to Liverpool and at Brentford. They have 3 points worth of daylight over third bottom West Ham and whilst are finding the net more regularly now it’s 13 games since their last clean sheet.
Palace had their chances in the 3-0 home defeat to City and paid the price for not taking them. They slipped down to fifth and now hit the road again and with an away record 5 wins, 1 draw and 2 defeats, they certainly don’t mind traveling.
The match result market has a wide open look to it but I’ll go with the visitors to improve their already impressive stats away from home.
Bet: Palace to win at 1.75/1 with Pokerbet
Note, odds are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change