The English Premier League has officially reached its halfway point and Leicester City will amazingly find Christmas Day as competition leaders.
Manchester City and Arsenal are both offered good opportunities to keep the pressure on the Foxes when they face Sunderland and Southampton respectively, while Chelsea face a big task of posting a second-consecutive victory against the in-form Watford.
We’re offering the best odds on the widest range of markets for all ten matches in Week 18 of the Premier League!
Stoke City vs Manchester United
Both Stoke City and Manchester United suffered defeats in Week 17 of the Premier League and will be hoping to return to positive form upon their meeting on Saturday night Australian time. With the exceptional of an occasion blemish, Stoke have really started to find form through recent weeks as players like Xherdan Shaqiri find their feet at the club and they look a club capable of challenging for a European berth towards the end of the season. United have been particularly disappointing through the last fortnight; dumped out of the Champions League and losing league matches to Bournemouth and Norwich City. The Red Devils should win this match on class alone and are worth consideration for a bet at current $2.25 odds.
Manchester City vs Sunderland
Manchester City remain a big chance of winning the Premier League this season and could very well post Week 18’s biggest score line when they host Sunderland early Sunday morning. City have displayed they are still capable of a poor performance this season but boast incredible depth and class over all corners of the pitch and are undoubtedly one of the world’s best teams on their day. Sunderland have started to pick up more and more through the last month but are still a long way from peak form and caught in the relegation dogfight. City will win this game and win well.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
Aston Villa will sit last overall come Christmas Day following a truly horror start to their Premier League campaign this time. Having posted just one win from seventeen matches so far, the Villans have become easy beats at home, away and even when their opposition are depleted of big name players. West Ham have made a name for themselves as the Premier League giant killers this time but have been unable to make much of their matches against lowly opposition and sit eighth overall. The Hammers are currently available at odds of $2.50 in win-draw-win markets and are more than worth consideration as a result.
Tottenham Hotspur vs Norwich City
Spurs continued their slick run of form past Southampton away last weekend and remain fourth overall; tied on 29 competition points with Manchester United and Crystal Palace but ahead on a positive goal difference. Harry Kane again made his presence felt when converting an incredible solo effort that would only materialise in England’s top flight and his side continues to go from strength to strength. Norwich City posted undoubtedly their best result of the season when defeating Manchester United 2-1 at Old Trafford last weekend and will have taken plenty of confidence from the performance. If they can recapture some of that performance the Canaries are a chance in this match but at home, Tottenham will be very hard to beat.
Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
Bournemouth have found club-best condition through recent weeks and have pulled themselves up and away from the drop zone off the back of wins over Chelsea, Manchester United and West Brom since week 15. Palace have continued to go from strength to strength and again stamped their legitimacy as a top six side with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Stoke at the Potteries last weekend. Following their three recent results the Cherries deserve to start this match as favourites but Crystal Palace represent terrific value as $2.70 outsiders.
Chelsea vs Watford
Week 17 winners Chelsea and Watford meet in the second London Derby of the weekend at Stamford Bridge early Sunday morning. Chelsea remain in the relegation fight halfway through the season but responded favourably to the sacking of Manager Jose Mourinho with a comfortable 3-1 win over Sunderland and will have taken plenty of confidence from the result. Watford have continued their fairy-tale season and now sit seventh overall after delivering Liverpool a crushing 3-0 defeat last weekend. The Hornets are undoubtedly better at home than they are away and if Chelsea can muster a similar performance to last week’s they should win.
Swansea City vs West Bromwich Albion
Swansea City have been anything but their usual, competitive selves this season despite a hard-fought draw with West Ham last weekend and will enter Christmas a disappointing 18th overall and in the drop zone. West Brom have continued to produce a number of classy performances and results this campaign and enter their week 18 match in Wales 13th overall. At the Liberty Stadium the Swans are a far-better prospect for success and following a reasonable amount of reshuffling at the Welsh club, we’re confident they will get the job done at good odds.
Liverpool vs Leicester City
The match of the round could be played when Liverpool host Leicester City at Anfield on Sunday morning, depending on which Reds outfit turns up to play. Liverpool have produced some good play and results since Jurgen Klopp was appointed to the helm but they have also been capable of a shocker; last week’s 3-0 loss to Watford a perfect example. Having been anchored to the bottom of the table at this point of the 2014/15 season, Leicester City have incredibly been the Premier League’s benchmark this season and will be top of the table at Christmas. It is simply too hard to tip against the Foxes in current form and they represent terrific value at $3.30 odds.