It was business as usual in the Premier League this past weekend as the current top four all claimed victories to stretch the gap between themselves and the rest of the UEFA Champions League hopefuls. Tottenham beat Arsenal 2-0 in the North London derby to maintain their lead at the summit, while Liverpool smashed Wolves 4-0 in front of 2000 fans at Anfield. The title race is looking interesting as we head into the festive period with Chelsea and Leicester City in the thick of things, while Manchester United and Manchester City, who play each other this weekend, are looking to build momentum.
Friday 11 December
Leeds United 23/20
Draw 26/10
West Ham 22/10
(22:00)
Leeds have had a strange start to the season thus far. Marcelo Bielsa’s side have played some entertaining football, got some impressive results, but haven’t been consistent enough to push them higher up the table as they lie in 14th spot. Luckily, they’ve got one of most lethal strikers in the league in Patrick Bamford, who has eight goals to his name. West Ham United dropped out of the UEFA Europa League spots with a 3-1 defeat at home to Manchester United. There was still plenty of positives to take from that tie with Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen showing their quality. At 5/10, I fancy Both Teams to Score on Friday night.
Saturday 12 December
Wolves 13/10
Draw 23/10
Aston Villa 9/4
(14:30)
Wolves look to get back to winning ways when they host Aston Villa this Saturday. Nuno Espirito Santo’s men were battered 4-0 in their last outing at Liverpool, which saw them drop down three places to 10th spot in the standings. The absence of Raul Jimenez really hurt Wolves’ chances of causing the Reds any problems with the Mexican striker still out for the foreseeable future. Aston Villa will be well-rested for this clash after their fixture against Newcastle was postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak in Tyneside. Ross Barkley could make a comeback for this tie after suffering a hamstring injury against Brighton a fortnight ago. My money is on a share of the spoils here.
Newcastle United 5/4
Draw 23/10
West Brom 9/4
(17:00)
Newcastle United, like Aston Villa, had the weekend off after their fixture was postponed. That will give Steve Bruce ample time to ensure his side claim back-to-back victories after beating Crystal Palace 2-0 away from home in their last fixture. West Brom dropped down to 19th on the log standings after an embarrassing 5-1 home defeat at the hands of Palace. Matheus Pereira got sent off in that tie, who is easily the club’s best player. I’ll be backing Newcastle United here.
Manchester United 32/10
Draw 3/1
Manchester City 15/20
(19:30)
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Everton 31/10
Draw 3/1
Chelsea 8/10
(22:00)
Apart from the Manchester derby taking place earlier, Saturday night’s humdinger at Goodison Park between Everton and Chelsea should be an interesting tie. After a superb start, the Toffees look to be in disarray at the moment, winning just one of their last seven matches. They do, however, have the league’s leading goalscorer in Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has 11 goals to his name. Chelsea have looked excellent in recent months, enduring a nine-game unbeaten run in the league. They’re scoring goals aplenty, while no goalkeeper has kept more clean sheets than Edouard Mendy. Chelsea should claim maximum points here.
Sunday 13 December
Southampton 15/20
Draw 26/10
Sheffield United 15/4
(14:00)
Southampton returned to winning ways on Monday night, beating Brighton 2-1 at the Amex Stadium. More importantly, the Saints were privileged to welcome back Danny Ings from injury, who netted a late penalty to hand Southampton their sixth victory of the campaign. Sheffield United have been dismal in their second season back in the top flight. The Blades are stone last in the standings and are the only team in the division yet to win a game this term. Chris Wilder’s men have lost 10 of their opening 11 matches, and are yet to even pick up a point on the road. Southampton look like a banker here.
Crystal Palace 15/4
Draw 28/10
Tottenham Hotspur 7/10
(16:15)
Tottenham have been treated with yet another London derby after putting their North London rivals, Arsenal, to the sword. It was once again the Harry Kane and Heung-min Son show as the pair assisted each other and scored to take their goal involvement to 31 between them, five behind the all-time partnership record set by Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba. Crystal Palace looked like a completely different side with Wilfried Zaha back in the team as the Ivorian scored twice to inspire the Eagles to a 5-1 victory at West Brom. With Tottenham playing their final UEFA Europa League game on Thursday and Liverpool next Wednesday, perhaps the schedule might take its toll on Jose Mourinho’s men. Put your money on Crystal Palace to Win or Draw at 21/20.
Fulham 7/1
Draw 47/10
Liverpool 7/20
(18:30)
It seems like things are going to get worse before they get better for Scott Parker as his Fulham side host high-flying Liverpool, so soon after travelling to the Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City. The Cottagers have already lost four of their opening five home matches, while the Reds are ready to welcome back some of their key players who were missing through injury. Alisson Becker is touch and go, while Trent Alexander-Arnold made his comeback in Liverpool’s 4-0 win over Wolves. I’d be crazy to imagine anything other than a victory for Jurgen Klopp’s men, although the German boss could rest some of his players for their tie against Spurs in midweek. Liverpool to win by one goal in the Winning Margins market seems worth a punt at 3/1.
Arsenal 6/10
Draw 31/10
Burnley 47/10
(21:15)
Worrying times lie ahead for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal after the club lost for the sixth time in the league this season at Tottenham, going down 2-0. That scoreline meant that the Gunners have scored just twice in their last five league encounters. Failure to beat Burnley, who are in the relegation zone, and the writing could be on the wall for the Spaniard. The Clarets are yet to win away from home this term and have only scored three times. Under 2.5 Goals look a certainty here at 17/20.
Leicester City 21/20
Draw 49/20
Brighton 26/10
(21:15)
Leicester City ended their two-match losing streak after snatching a late winner at Bramall Lane last weekend to beat Sheffield United 2-1. Jamie Vardy bagged his ninth goal of the campaign and will need to be at his best to test Brighton’s solid three-man defence. On the road, the Seagulls have conceded eight times from five matches, while the Foxes have lost three of their opening five games at the King Power Stadium. Leicester City are one of two teams yet to draw this season, but as they say, there’s a first time for everything. Back a share of the spoils here at 49/20.
TREBLE @ 7/1
Newcastle United Win 5/4
Southampton Win 15/20
Crystal Palace Win/Draw 21/20
Written by Jesse Nagel
