2024/2025 EPL Week 18 Preview

The festive obligations are over and done with, which means it is time for a whole lot of Premier League football in the coming days.

We start it all off with the traditional Boxing Day set of games which will begin at the home of the reigning champions Manchester City.

However the headline fixture is buried in the 2:00am (AEDT) kickoff window with Newcastle hosting Aston Villa as two top four hopefuls will look for a big three points.

There’s no time to waste so read on and see who we are backing in the upcoming Premier League matches.

In their last eight Premier League matches, Manchester City has taken just four of a possible 24 points, leaving them 12 points adrift of Liverpool at the top of the table.

During that same run, Everton has (without the additional workload of Cup and European football) played eight matches and taken eight points, which is half of their season total.

Who would have expected that the Toffees would be in better form than the reigning champions heading into this game?

Perhaps most impressively is that in their last three matches they have demolished Wolves 4-0 before holding Arsenal and Chelsea to 0-0 draws, making it five clean sheets from their last six.

Meanwhile, City’s attack is far from its best and even if they can find a way to win this, it might be in non-Guardiola fashion, playing something less than free-flowing, fancy football.

Under 2.5 Goals @ $2.40

Make that five matches unbeaten for Bournemouth and an impressive run of 20 points of a possible 30 since the October international break.

That run has included a draw at Aston Villa as well as wins over Arsenal, Man City, Tottenham and most recently a convincing 3-0 victory at Manchester United.

Palace meanwhile had a bit of a reality check with back to back defeats against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup and Premier League in the last seven days, including a 5-1 scoreline in the league at Selhurst Park.

Take the Cherries to add another win to their impressive run and keep their push for a top four finish intact.

Bournemouth to Win @ $1.95

Two teams that are used to playing in high scoring matches were held to uncharacteristic 0-0 draws by relegation battlers last weekend.

Chelsea could not find a way through a stubborn Everton team while Fulham were held by Southampton at Craven Cottage.

Both teams to score has been a pretty successful bet for both of these teams all season so we will add that to the slip along with a Chelsea win.

The Blues had won their previous eight matches before that draw and they should be able to find a way past Fulham here.

Chelsea to Win and Both Teams to Score @ $2.60

Can Aston Villa back it up after last week’s win over Man City?

It is a tough spot for them given their uneven form away from Villa Park, losing their last four away matches in the Premier League.

However Newcastle can be caught out at St James’ Park, it will just depend on whether or not their attack comes to play on the day.

There really is not a lot between these teams on paper and assuming we get a similar level of performance, the points could very well be shared.

Draw @ $3.75

Just when it looked like Tottenham were once again getting back on track, they found a way to Spurs it up with a diabolical loss at home to Liverpool.

Ange Postecoglou will need to produce something special here with the calls for his job once again intensifying.

However it’s not looking good for his chances of picking up all three points given Forest just keep winning matches.

They head into Christmas occupying fourth place on the Premier League table, having won their last three and just playing much more convincing football.

Nottingham Forest to Win @ $2.30

Last time Southampton took a point in a Premier League match, they followed it up by losing their next four in all competitions.

There is a reason why they are six points adrift of 19^th placed Ipswich at Christmas and probably planning to approach the January transfer window with one eye on the 2025/2026 Championship season.

Take the Irons to record their third win away from home this season.

West Ham to Win @ $2.10

Ruben Amorim has a massive rebuild on his hands at Manchester United and the scale of the project was once again put on display with a 3-0 loss at home to Bournemouth.

The good news for him is that he has a very winnable clash coming up against Wolves.

It might not be the win that “defines the season” or the match where fans knew they were heading in the right direction, but they are a much better team than Wolves.

Manchester United to Win @ $1.85

Four points clear on top of the table with a game in hand at Christmas, it is now Liverpool’s title to lose.

Fresh off scoring six goals at Tottenham, the Reds head into this match as unbackable favourites, which means the search for value is on.

Even Mo Salah is $1.44 as an anytime goalscorer which should salute but you can never be too certain.

Especially when you consider that there may be some rotation from Arne Slot, which could bring both teams to score into play.

It is not the most confident of selections but it looks like the best value in the market.

Liverpool to Win and Both Teams to Score @ $2.38

This is a match where one play stands out above the rest and it is taking a home win for the Seagulls.

Brentford might be the league’s best team at home, picking up 22 of a possible 27 points, but they are the worst travellers by a fairly long way.

All up they have one point from eight away matches and have shown no reason to think that form will turn around here.

Brighton to Win @ $1.73

Fresh off a five star showing at Crystal Palace, the Gunners return home to take on relegation battlers Ipswich.

At $1.13, there is not much value on offer for the Gunners outright but with Bukayo Saka likely missing this match after picking up a hamstring injury, they will have to reimagine their attack.

That could bring the German Kai Havertz into play and he has been a reliable option for Mikel Arteta this season.

Look for him to find a way onto the scoresheet for the second match in a row after starting and scoring against Palace.

Kai Havertz Anytime Goalscorer @ $2.20

2023/2024

The Premier League’s festive calendar is bringing us 29 matches over 13 days and we’ve got plenty to look forward to over the next couple of weeks.

Thanks to Manchester City’s participation in the Club World Cup, we are a game light in Matchweek 18 as Brentford gets a head start on their Christmas break.

As for the other nine fixtures this weekend, it doesn’t get much bigger than the top of the table clash between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield.

With a lot of football on the cards, let’s not waste any time and get into the best bets and match previews.

*MATCH POSTPONED DUE TO CITY PLAYING IN THE CLUB WORLD CUP*

It took almost half a season but Brighton’s streak of both teams to score hitting in every Premier League match came to an end at the Emirates Stadium last weekend.

That was also just their second loss since the start of November across all competitions and they are well placed to bounce back against a struggling Crystal Palace team.

Roy Hodgson’s side did take a point off Manchester City last weekend but the last time they picked up points in consecutive matches came in early October and I don’t have a lot of confidence in their ability to build on that result here.

It is also worth throwing in both teams to score considering Brighton’s remarkable run and the fact it has hit in five of Palace’s last six matches.

Brighton to Win and Both Teams to Score @ $4.20

There is no bigger mismatch in the Premier League this weekend with third placed Aston Villa hosting last placed Sheffield United.

You cannot sugar coat just how bad this season has been for the Blades, losing 13 games compared to 12 goals scored so far.

They have scored just once in the last four matches while Villa has kept a pair of clean sheets in their last two matches at Villa Park.

Aston Villa to Win to Nil @ $1.91

There are so many punchlines available when you realise that West Ham are favourites over Manchester United that listing even 10% of them would be excessive.

On their last visit to London Stadium in May, United walked away frustrated as the Irons recorded a 1-0 win and on their recent form, winning here does not seem likely.

They held on for a draw at Anfield last weekend but that would have taken a lot out of them and their struggles in front of goal are a massive concern.

Across their last five fixtures in all competitions they have scored two goals, both of which came against Chelsea who are a far cry from the Jose Mourinho brick wall days defensively.

It is amazing what a bit of confidence can do for a team and West Ham is comparatively flying at the moment, winning seven and drawing one of their last ten outings in all competitions.

They are liable for a no-show every now and then but I’m just that eager to take on United.

West Ham to Win @ $2.45

This is one of the few times where you have to consider the League Cup with Fulham coming off a win on penalties over Everton on Wednesday morning (AEDT).

Having fielded a strong lineup in that fixture, fatigue might be a real problem for them as they face an out of sorts Burnley side.

It would not be a surprise to see the Clarets dictate the proceedings of this match and that would lead into a low scoring affair.

The under has hit on Burnley’s last three matches and there has been a clean sheet in Fulham’s last three matches so let’s have a play on this being a low scoring, cagey match.

Under 2.5 Goals @ $1.91

Just when Newcastle looked like they had got their season back on track, a relatively full strength team went down to Chelsea on Wednesday morning in the League Cup.

However Luton should provide them with another bounce back opportunity on the back of three straight defeats.

They have given teams all sorts of trouble at home, albeit not always for a reward (see their 3-4 loss to Arsenal) so I’m not looking going to take a huge risk on this one and just go for Newcastle straight up.

Newcastle to Win @ $1.62

The winds of change have reaching Nottingham Forest and many will feel as though it is not a minute too soon as Steve Cooper has been sacked after a run of one point from six matches.

There is always the risk of the players responding to the managerial change with a much improved performance once they realise they are next on the chopping block, but there is a lot of improvement that needs to come from this squad.

Bournemouth is in red hot form and the Cherries remain one of the best performing sides in the Premier League with four wins and a draw in their last five.

That is an impressive run on its own but even moreso when you realise they beat Newcastle and Manchester United while also taking a point off Aston Villa.

Maybe there’s a response from Forest but Bournemouth are too good to back against.

Bournemouth to Win @ $2.50

It’s the unstoppable force against the immovable object, Tottenham’s free flowing attack will take on one of the Premier League’s stingiest defences.

Across their last four Premier League games, the Toffees have not only won all four but kept a clean sheet in each match, however Spurs have scored in every Premier League fixture.

With the way Tottenham have committed to play, it is going to offer up a number of scoring chances both ways and the over looks to be the way to go here with some dangerous attackers on both clubs.

Over 3.5 Goals @ $2.25

A win for either side will put them on top of the table heading into Christmas but it has been a long time since Arsenal won at Anfield.

Under Mikel Arteta the Gunners just have not been able to respond to the bell with the Reds inflicting some of the more damaging results of his tenue, including last season’s 2-2 draw which began their collapse in the title race.

Unlike Manchester United, Arsenal will not set out to frustrate their way to a 0-0 daw which is going to open up plenty of chances for the home side and they have the ability to convert them.

This should be a pretty even match but at home in front of the Kop, there is only one result to back.

Liverpool to Win @ $2.35

The final match of the round will bleed into Christmas morning for viewers here and the market is not expecting much from Wolves.

What we can expect here is plenty of goals with the over hitting in seven of the home side’s last nine fixtures while it has saluted in five of Chelsea’s last seven in the league.

That makes the price on this quite surprising, especially given what it is at in some of the other matches so there is some value on offer.

Over 2.5 Goals @ $1.75

2022/2023

We’re bringing in the new year with some very exciting EPL Fixtures! What a year of football it has been so far but the show must go on.

We’re almost halfway through the 22/23 season and there’s heaps of questions on our lips. Are Arsenal the real deal? Can Newcastle keep this hot streak going? And just how are Everton going to get themselves out of this hole?

The last couple of fixtures for 2022 kick off on Saturday night and then we are treated to a heap of Prem action on New Years Day.

As always we have your back for tips, here is our preview of Week 18 of the EPL

16th placed West Ham will host the 10th placed Brentford and the bookies are leaning towards a West Ham win here.

They are $2.05 favourites against a $3.60 Brentford. West Ham went down 1-3 to Arsenal in their return to football last week despite holding a 1-0 lead for a good portion of that game.

Brentford are coming off a 2-2 draw with Tottenham which makes me feel like backing them head to head is the value play here. I haven’t really seen enough from West Ham to back them with any confidence and $3.60 is value

Back Brentford H2H @ $3.60

Their on a 3 game win streak and the 6th placed Liverpool will host Leicester in their final game of 2022.

Leicester are 5-2-9 this year and have been incredibly inconsistent which makes anything but a Liverpool win hard to back. They are $9.75 to win for a reason and it’s hard to argue.

The ‘Over 2.5 Goals’ market has hit in each of Liverpool’s last four EPL games and ‘Both Teams to Score’ market has failed to hit in each of Leicester’s last seven EPL games.

I’m going to multi those two legs up with a Liverpool win and hope for something like a 3-0 scoreline

Back Liverpool H2H, Over 2.5 Goals, Both Teams to Score (No) @ $4.04

If you put this Wolves game on here in Australia at the 30th Minute mark you will start the year with some sort of football being played.

United are $1.91 favourites here and will be hungry for a win against the 18th placed Wolves beacuse they are only 1 point outside of Champions League qualifications.

It was no Ronaldo, no problems last week against Forest, they walked in 3-0 and that’s a huge shout here once again.

‘Both Teams to Score’ market has hit in each of Manchester United’s last five EPL away games and I’m liking that in a multi with United to win.

Back United H2H & Both Teams to score @ $3.94

What better way to start your 2023 than by staying up for a mid table clash between Bournemouth and Crystal Palace!

All sarcasm aside this one is shaping up as a fairly even affair. Palace ($2.50) have opened as slight favourites over Bournemouth ($2.90)

Palace haven’t won a game since early November and won’t get a chance to win another game this year (how many more times can I make that joke)

I’m leaning towards the draw here, anytime I see the H2H markets so even I think the draw is a fair shout.

Back the Draw @ $3.10

The 3-3-10 Southampton will look to have a better 2023 and it all starts against Fulham early on the 1st of January.

They are $3.60 underdogs and it’s very hard for me to back them with any confidence.

Fulham are coming off a 3-0 belting of Crystal Palace and are $1.95 to get another 3 points against the last place Southampton.

The ‘Both Teams to Score’ market has hit in eight of Fulham’s last nine EPL day matches but Southampton only have 14 goals to their name this year. I see that streak being broken.

Back Fulham to win & Both Teams to Score (No) @ $3.59

This would’ve been somewhat of an interesting match up several seasons ago but I get the feeling this one could get very ugly.

Everton are $19 underdogs, yes you read that correctly… $19.

It’s hard to find value in one sided affairs like this but I think I’m going to go with City -2 Goals at $2

Hoping for another Haaland masterclass.

Back Man City -2 Goals @ $2

Rounding out the early games on New Years Day is Newcastle v Leeds.

Newcastle have only lost 1 game so far this year and have earned that 3rd place spot. They are 9-6-1 and that massive amount of draws is why they’re still 7 points behind the Gunners.

They are $1.44 to beat Leeds who haven’t quite been at their best once again this season. They currently sit just 2 points above the relegation zone and a loss here could see them swirling closer to the drain.

I’m taking Newcastle -1 here at $2.20. Looking at the markets it’s all quite one sided and short so I’m leaning towards like a 2-0 or 3-1 situation here.

Back Newcastle -1 Goal @ $2.20

1st placed Arsenal will visit the 7th placed Brighton early on New Years Day.

Despite Arsenal being 5 points clear at the top they are $2.10 favourites over Brighton which I think is a bit of value compared to the other head to head markets this round.

Arsenal has won each of their last six EPL night games and they’ve also won four of their last five EPL away matches to nil which I see continuing here despite Brighton sitting in 7th and being 7-3-5.

Back Arsenal H2H @ $2.10

Here’s a market that justifies me taking Arsenal outright. The Spurs are $1.67 to beat the 12th placed Aston Villa ($5.00)

Spurs have been great to watch this year and I expect them to pinch another 3 points which will make it hard for United to sneak into the Top 4.

Tottenham has won each of its last eight EPL Sunday matches against Aston Villa and ‘Both Teams to Score’ market has hit in each of Tottenham’s last seven EPL day matches.

Spurs only have a goal difference of +10 which looks to me like they have had some defensive issues this year. I’m liking a little same gamer in this one.

Back Spurs H2H & Both Teams to Score @ $3.41

Rounding out Week 18 we have Forest hosting 8th placed Chelsea.

Chelsea are sitting on 24 points this year and are stuck in a traffic jam in the middle of the table. They’re $1.67 to win against the second last Forest and 3 points to Chelsea should see them jump up the ladder quite a bit.

Chelsea has won seven of its last eight EPL matches against promoted teams and are coming off a 2-0 win against Bournemouth.

I’m taking Chelsea -1 goal in this one at $2.88. I think that’s a huge value play and a scoreline like 2-0, 3-0 is very easily in the realm of possibilities.

Back Chelsea -1 Goal @ $2.88

2021/2022

Covid has played havoc with the Premier League’s festive calendars with half of Matchweek 18 already postponed, following three match cancellations in Week 17.

Five fixtures are still going ahead (at the time of publish) and we will continue to try and find value in our Premier League markets.

Leeds will look to bounce back from a hammering at the hands of Manchester City when they host Arsenal with the Gunners out to cement their spot in the top four.

We’re previewing every match that is still going ahead below so read on and see who we are backing.

Steven Gerrard continues to impress at Aston Villa picking up another win during the week with a professional 2-0 display at Norwich during the week.

They face another winnable clash with struggling Burnley, whose match with Watford was postponed due to a Covid outbreak within the Hornets squad.

Any advantage they might have gained would have been negated with the fixture being cancelled only hours before kickoff.

Their form prior to that was hardly encouraging with just one win on the season.

Instead I’ll buy in on the Gerrard revolution at Villa and back them to pick up a big three points to solidify their place in the top half of the Premier League table.

Back Aston Villa to Win @ $1.75

Are the Gunners genuine top four contenders?

They moved into fourth spot with a 2-0 win over West Ham on the weekend and have a great opportunity to cement their status with a win over a depleted Leeds team.

Marcelo Bielsa will have to rely on all of his managerial experience to get his side back on track after getting belted by Manchester City 7-0 during the week.

He might be a good manager but expecting that big of a turnaround is a bit much, take the Gunners, although probably not 7-0.

Back Arsenal to Win @ $1.88

Chelsea have not looked very good since the start of December, struggling through their four matches this month.

Both Teams to Score has hit in all five of their matches and facing Chelsea might be just what a stagnant Wolves attack needs to get going.

There is a case to be made for backing Wolves to pull off an upset as a value play however I’ll go for something a bit safer and take Both Teams to Score at over even money.

Back Both Teams to Score @ $2.10

If there is one team that is reliable during the Premier League’s festive period it is Manchester City.

Fresh off their hammering of Leeds they take on a Newcastle side that is limping to the transfer window.

This could get very ugly for Newcastle as City shows its ruthless streak.

Back Manchester City to Win -2 Goals @ $2.38

After their last three matches were cancelled due to Covid outbreaks among their squad and their opponent’s, it looks like Tottenham will be back in business this weekend.

While you could argue the squad will be fresh having not played since December 6, it is not an ideal first up assignment with Liverpool riding an eight match winning streak in all competitions.

The Reds have been rampant in that time scoring goals for fun and I’ll back them to pick up a fourth straight Premier League away win at Tottenham.

Back Liverpool to Win and Over 2.5 Goals @ $2.25

2020/2021

Six midweek fixtures get us back into the swing of things after the Premier League clubs took an FA Cup detour over the weekend.

Manchester United has a chance to take over top spot on the Premier League table this weekend while several other sides continue to position themselves for a run in the back end of the season.

Check out all of our match previews below.

The Blades might have collected their first win of the new season when they defeated Bristol Rovers 3-2 in the FA Cup but I can’t bring myself to back them, even against Newcastle.

As we have seen numerous times, Cup football is a whole different animal to the Premier League and Sheffield still is the worst side in the latter competition.

Newcastle’s form is a cause for concern, winless in their last seven in all competitions but at this price, I’ll back them to get back to winning form.

Back Newcastle to Win @ $3.10

A catch up match from Matchweek 1 in the Premier League, Manchester United can go top of the table ahead of this weekend’s clash with defending champions Liverpool.

Burnley is starting to put together a strong run, taking 10 points from their last 15 in the Premier League which has lifted them five points clear of the relegation zone as the season approaches its midway point.

Unfortunately for them, goals are still few and far between so I’ll back a confidence boosting clean sheet victory for United here.

Back Manchester United to Win to Nil @ $2.45

Both of these sides scraped through the FA Cup Third Round in differing fashion with Wolves edging out Crystal Palace 1-0 while Everton’s fringe players needed extra time to get by Rotherham.

As for their Premier League form, the Toffees have clearly been the better side on the year however Wolves are the perennial tease side showing flashes of potential but ultimately frustrating punters.

Having been able to rest some of their key players during the FA Cup weekend is what swings this game towards the visitors for me.

Back Everton to Win @ $3.00

COVID has wreaked havoc throughout the Manchester City team over the last week or so, and it will not be enough to stop them picking up another three points when they take on Brighton.

With all due respect to the Seagulls, they are simply not at the level of City’s second or possibly even third team.

Sure they have fought to a trio of draws in their last four league matches but this is a severely limited side that you have to back against at all costs.

Back Manchester City to Win & Over 2.5 Goals @ $1.62

New opponent, same projection for Spurs as their midweek match has been rearranged after a COVID outbreak at Aston Villa.

They still should have minimal trouble with Fulham in their catch up from Matchweek 16 as the Cottagers face the unenviable prospect of trying to end a five match winless run in the Premier League.

During that run they have taken a point from Liverpool and Southampton but also were held scoreless by Brighton and Southampton.

Their form in front of goal is quite troubling, failing to score in 90 minutes in four of their last six including their FA Cup Third Round tie with QPR.

Spurs should still find them a step up from eighth tier Marine FC whom they dispatched 5-0 in the FA Cup.

They are looking for their third consecutive clean sheet in all competitions and there is no reason to think they won’t achieve that here.

Back Tottenham to Win to Nil @ $2.38

Perhaps the festive period was just what Mikel Arteta needed to get the best out of his side.

A third consecutive clean sheet and fourth straight win saw Arsenal through to the fourth round of the FA Cup.

It’s not like they have come up against a murderer’s row after defeating Chelsea 3-1, but considering where they were before Christmas, this is an encouraging sign in North London.

Chances are they will not blow out Crystal Palace who have been somewhat stout defensively, giving up just two goals in their last three matches but they should have enough to get over the line.

Back Arsenal to Win & Under 3.5 Goals @ $2.25

2019/2020

There’s just nine matches in the English Premier League this weekend with Liverpool over in Qatar for the Club World Cup.

Of course, even without the defending European champions and current Premier League leaders there’s still plenty to look forward to.

City and Leicester face off with both sides trying to close ground on Liverpool while Jose Mourinho faces (another) one of his former clubs when Chelsea travels across London.

We’ve got previews and betting plays for all nine matches this weekend while West Ham can just sit back and watch before things get REALLY busy.

*MATCH POSTPONED DUE TO LIVERPOOL’S PARTICIPATION IN THE CLUB WORLD CUP*

It’s the new manager derby with both sides undergoing a change at the top of the football departments.

Everton appear to have settled on Carlo Ancellotti while Arsenal will be bringing in a former player for both of these clubs in Mikel Arteta.

While nothing is finalised (at the time of writing), it sure looks like that is the way both clubs will be headed.

There is plenty of reason for optimism about what Arteta can do for the Gunners if/when he does take over but short term it’s going to be a very rough start to his tenure.

Top to bottom this squad needs a massive overhaul and until they get that, it’s not worth risking anything on them.

Back Everton to Win @ $2.25

Every few matches, these sides manage to put together a performance completely out of the blue.

Last week that happened to both teams with Burnley getting by Newcastle at home while Bournemouth took advantage of an out of form Chelsea to snap a losing run.

Chances are this is going to be a pretty scrappy encounter unlike some of the previous matches between these sides.

I’m happy to back a low scoring affair as Burnley tries to turn this one into an arm wrestle.

Back Under 2.5 Goals @ $1.87

Aston Villa got a nice little confidence boost during the week, comfortably beating Liverpool’s youth team in the Carabao Cup, which should help them snap their Premier League skid.

Southampton has been pretty poor in the last couple of weeks and now find themselves back in the relegation zone, behind Villa on goal difference.

It’s not quite the time of year to call this a “desperation six pointer” but it’s something that neither side can really afford to drop.

While it’s not with a great deal of confidence, I do have to give the edge to Villa here, at home they have picked up 11 of their 15 total points this season and have managed to beat other lower table teams as well.

Back Aston Villa to Win @ $2.30

Since losing to Liverpool on September 28, Sheffield has gone on a remarkable run with four wins, five draws and just one loss to get themselves up to seventh on the table.

Brighton is stuck in a bit of a yoyo pattern between mid table security and a relegation battle but, unbeaten in their last three should give them some confidence here.

Keeping a clean sheet has been a real issue for them with just three on the season and Sheffield is building their success from the back.

While overall it should be a pretty close contest, I have to give the edge to Sheffield and their phenomenal rear-guard efforts.

Back Sheffield United to Win @ $3.50

Before you roll your eyes and go “not these two again!” this looks like it might be a worthwhile encounter.

Newcastle is slowly clawing its way out of the dregs of the Premier League with Steve Bruce doing a much better than pretty much everyone expected of him while Palace is unbeaten in its last four.

It might not be the prettiest match but we have seen reason to believe both sides have a decent shot at all three points.

In the end though it’s too hard to split them so, like two of the last three times they’ve met, I’m expecting a draw.

Back the Draw @ $3.00

Norwich pulled off a very surprising result holding Leicester to a draw last weekend while Wolves suffered their first Premier League defeat in almost three months.

There was nothing to be ashamed about with the fight they put up against Spurs and I like them to get back into the winners circle here.

With the shine well and truly off Norwich now, it’s hard to see them getting too many points for the rest of the season, especially in the short term with Teemu Pukki battling a toe injury.

Back Wolves to Win @ 1.95

Is beating Arsenal at the Emirates enough to assuage the concerns about City’s recent form?

No, not it is not and Leicester will be desperate to hold onto second spot here, although Liverpool will be hoping for a confidence sapping draw.

With Brendan Rodgers at the helm though, the Foxes are every chance of stealing something and look way over the odds, especially if Jamie Vardy returns to his goalscoring form against City’s undermanned defence.

Leicester to Win/Draw in the double chance looks tempting but I’m going to back the firepower on both sides to come to the fore here and take both teams to score and over 3.5.

SGM: Both Teams to Score and Over 3.5 Goals @ $2.59

Let’s not overcomplicate this one, while United have their follies and are capable of a banana skin, there is absolutely no way they drop points in this one.

Consider this, since 1987, United have won all bar one match against Watford and it doesn’t look likely that number will change here.

United at that price look a bit over the odds so get on it while you can.

Back United to Win @ $1.80

It’s the return of the Special One… again.

After being held to a draw by Manchester United, Jose Mourinho has to fancy his chances against a very vulnerable Chelsea side.

With the way Chelsea are losing matches lately, I’m happy to back against them.

Back Tottenham to Win @ $2.35

2018/2019

Less than 12 months after getting a contract extension, Jose Mourinho is gone from Manchester United.

Despite the Mourinho news dominating the headlines, there is plenty of football on the agenda

While some leagues in Europe use the festive period for a winter break, the Premier League not only continues its calendar, but adds in some bonus fixtures.

For most clubs, the next 17 days will feature five matches when you add in the third round of the FA Cup and it all starts with this weekend.

This is where squad depth and preseason fitness work will be tested as a bad couple of weeks could have huge ramifications on the table.

Speaking of which, Liverpool enter the festive period as the league leaders which is encouraging for them, as eight of the last 11 champions have been on top over Christmas, although they have faltered twice in that position in 2008/2009 and 2013/2014.

Read on for our previews, predictions and Same Game Multis from all 10 fixtures.

Still unbeaten and on top of the table, Liverpool just have to hold serve for the next 19 games and they will be Premier League champions… that’s probably not as easy as it sounds.

What they do have to deal with this weekend is their first trip to the Molineux Stadium since January 2012 where they came away with a 3-0 win.

Wolves will put a three game winning streak on the line and they do have the comfort of winning their last meeting with Liverpool, an FA Cup clash in January 2017.

Looking for a value play here, Liverpool to win is a good multi (or same game multi) builder but with both teams to score is the straight up option.

Back Both Teams to Score @ $1.91

SGM: Liverpool to Win, Liverpool to Score Over 1.5 Goals, Wolves to Score Over 0.5 Goals

It turns out Unai Emery can’t fix every ailment from the Wenger era as Arsenal’s rough history continued last week.

After having their unbeaten run ended at 22 games, they have a chance to kick start a new streak when they host struggling Burnley

The good news for the Gunners is that they have a great recent record against Burnley with a number of exciting, and possibly controversial finishes.

Last season when they met at the Emirates in Wenger’s final home game in charge, the Gunners ran riot 5-0, ending a run of five one goal wins against the Lancashire club.

A straight up Arsenal win doesn’t offer good value so back their defence to bounce back from a bad performance last week and keep a clean sheet.

Back Arsenal to Win to Nil @ $2

SGM: Arsenal to Win to Nil, Arsenal to Score 2+ Goals

Two sides with two game losing streaks come into this game as they try to cement themselves as mid-table contenders while trying to rid themselves of some shaky form.

The both teams to score market has hit in six of Brighton’s last seven games and they have conceded in each of those seven games.

Not only have Bournemouth lost their last two, they have dropped six of their past seven games and haven’t scored since the 22^nd minute of their win over Huddersfield in early December.

They come into this game as favourites but it’s hard to have any confidence and instead a score draw looks like the play here.

Back the Draw @ $3.50

SGM: Draw, Over 1.5 Total Goals

Chelsea have lost to Leicester just once in the last 16 years and given the respective form of the two sides going into this match, it seems like that streak will extend into 2019.

The Blues are at short odds to win their third straight Premier League match and Leicester have lost their last two.

As a straight up bet there is not a lot of value in this game but there is enough to build a tasty same multi.

NO BET

SGM: Chelsea to Win, Chelsea to Score Over 2.5 Goals, Olivier Giroud Anytime Goalscorer

Huddersfield’s season has officially entered “year from hell” territory as they prepare to host fellow strugglers Southampton.

The Saints pulled off an upset win over Arsenal at home and are favoured to make it two wins in a row here.

Having scored just ten goals so far this season, it’s hard to see Huddersfield suddenly kicking into form although Southampton are conceding almost two per game.

This game should be one that you can just catch up on in the highlights in the morning.

Back Southampton to Win @ $2.45

SGM: Southampton to Win to Nil, Charlie Austin Anytime Goalscorer

After their slip up against Chelsea, City returned to winning ways against Everton.

They are at typically short odds against a Palace side sitting three points out of the relegation zone thanks to their win over Leicester.

The tough part for Palace though, their one win over City in the last 15 years came in April 2015 and aside from a battling draw on New Years Eve last season, they have lost the other 13 games in that time frame.

Like most City games, their win price offers no appeal so if you do back that, it may be best to match it up with another side in a multi.

NO BET

SGM: Manchester City to Win, City to Score Over 2.5 Goals

A play in this game is not so much a vote of confidence for an inconsistent Newcastle side as much as it is a display of faith that Fulham’s struggles will continue.

They have lost 12 of their 17 Premier League matches this season and have conceded a whopping 42 goals and have far and away the worst goal difference in the Premier League.

At even money Newcastle are offering good value here.

Back Newcastle to Win @ $2.00

SGM: Newcastle to Win, Over 2.5 Goals

In terms of position on the Premier League table, this is far and away the most competitive fixture of the weekend.

Sitting in ninth and tenth respectively, both on 24 points and separated by just two goals scored, West Ham and Watford would be very happy with their starts to the season.

West Ham are one of the form sides of the competition, currently holding the second longest winning streak behind Liverpool, they will look to make it five in a row here.

This will be the biggest test of that side as Watford look capable of matching them but the Irons are a value pick here at over even money.

Back West Ham to Win @ $2.25

SGM: West Ham to Win, Over 2.5 Goals

The first game of the post Mourinho era for Manchester United and they travel to Wales to take on Cardiff.

By all reports Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will takeover as the caretaker manager and his job will be to pull United up from a disappointing (by their standards) sixth place and close the gap on Arsenal and company.

It helps that Cardiff have not won against United since 1960 but it should be noted they have only played seven games since that match.

United should take care of business and you can almost certainly count on them to get the post manager sacking boost so the value here is for a big United win.

Back Manchester United to Win -1 Goal @ $2.55

SGM: Manchester United to Win, Over 2.5 Goals

It’s just about time to ask the question, “are Everton good this year?”

They certainly have the potential to be the best of the rest in the Premier League, but they do need to end their four game winless run.

That’s a big ask when they face a Tottenham side that is grinding out results even when they aren’t playing as well as they could.

In a tipping competition you could take a flyer on Everton but anytime a side like Tottenham are over even money you have to take them as a value play.

Back Tottenham to Win @ $2.20

SGM: Tottenham to Win, Harry Kane First Goalscorer, Everton to Score Over 0.5 Goals

2018/2019

The temperatures in England are dropping and the weather is turning nasty but the EPL Round 18 promises to have plenty of action to keep us entertained.

The midweek round saw plenty of surprises with Palace staging a staggering comeback against Watford plus West Ham holding Arsenal to a draw at the Olympic Stadium.

Check out our preview for the upcoming round here with the recommended plays.

Palace’s revival continued with another remarkable win midweek where a late surge propelled them past Watford.

Leicester have discovered a similar vein of encouraging form to bring them within striking distance of a European position.

The Foxes have not lost to Palace in over two years and that run should extend with a draw here.

Back the Draw @ $3.40

Arsenal will be glad to see Newcastle come to town when they face off this weekend.

Three matches without a win including two tough away draws at Southampton and West Ham in the last week.

The Gunners have not lost to this side since going down 1-0 in November 2010 and are on a nine match winning streak in this fixture.

In that winning run they have conceded just six goals while scoring twenty-two so expect them to make it ten on the trot here and break out of their funk.

Back Alexandre Lacazette to Score and Arsenal to Win @ $4.00

Burnley’s Cinderella run continued with a 1-0 win over Stoke to put them tied on points with Tottenham and Liverpool.

Three wins in their last four matches and they now face a struggling Brighton side with three straight losses.

Burnley are not doing it the easy way but even so I like Burnley to make it three wins on the trot here.

Back Burnley to Win @ $3.00

Chelsea were out to prove that their loss at West Ham was an aberration rather than a sign of things to come and did just that with a rampant 3-1 win over West Ham.

Southampton came so close to upsetting Arsenal at home last weekend and get another chance at one of the big boys.

It is imperative for them to avoid giving the ball away to Chelsea as easily as Huddersfield did however I still think the Blues should get by at home.

Back Chelsea to Win and Over 2.5 Goals @ $2

Stoke will feel hard done by losing on a late goal midweek while West Ham will be ecstatic with their draw against Arsenal.

The Potters have not lost against West Ham since 2013 and the last time this fixture had more than three goals in it was November 2013.

With that in mind I like this to finish with a low goals total and a frustrating stalemate.

Back the Draw and Under 3.5 Goals @ $

Any encouragement Huddersfield could take from their last start win against Brighton was washed away by a Chelsea storm midweek.

We are starting to see a side struggling to cope with the rigours and demands of Premier League football.

Thankfully for them they face a side in a similar rut with Watford throwing away a late lead against Crystal Palace.

Normally you would suggest that somebody has to break their slump here but in this case they might just cancel one another out.

Back the Draw @ $3.50

Somebody will have to stop the City surge and Tottenham will get their first chance in the late game Saturday evening.

The form guide suggests it might be a chance with three Spurs wins and a draw in the past two seasons.

Of course that being said City do look good this season and until they show otherwise it is had to go against them.

Back Manchester City to Win @ $1.53

United bounced back from their derby disappointment with a 1-0 win at home to Bournemouth midweek.

West Brom held Liverpool to a scoreless draw despite conceding over 70% of possession and will probably set up with a similar game plan when United come to town.

Even so United still has the quality to get home here and Lukaku will be the difference maker here.

Back Romelu Lukaku to Score and Manchester United to Win @ $5

Bournemouth showed they are not afraid to mix it with the Premier League’s big boys and with Liverpool vulnerable after a draw they will go for an upset here.

It will be key for Liverpool to ensure that they are smart with the ball as Bournemouth will be looking to pounce on any loose touches.

Add in the history of this fixture with Bournemouth nabbing a win and draw last season and this screams of a possible upset so stay away.

NO BET

Those jokes about Everton finally going down might have to be put away for the time being as they are experiencing a minor revival under Big Sam Alladryce.

Four games without a loss including three wins against sides not competing in Europe this year and they are suddenly looking good.

The combinaton of Gylfi Sigurdsson and Wayne Rooney is leading the way for the Blues and with the mini revival for Rooney, they should get by Newcastle.

Back Wayne Rooney to Score and Everton to Win @ $

2016/2017

Christmas is now behind us and we have entered the busiest part of the English Premier League season.

This is the time of year when the depth of every side is tested and there is often plenty of upsets.

We will be looking for outsiders at a good price during this match day and you can find our recommended bets for all ten matches below!

Watford have drawn three of their past eight games as home favourites, while Crystal Palace have drawn six of their past 15 games as away underdogs.

Back The Draw @ $3.20

Arsenal have won 12 of their past 18 games as home favourites for a narrow loss, but West Bromwich Albion have won only three of their past 17 games as away underdogs.

No Bet

Burnley have won three of their past five games as home underdogs for a massive profit and this is the first time that Middlesbrough will start a game as away favourites since their return to the English Premier League.

Back Burnley To Win @ $3

Chelsea have not lost a game for well over two months and they have not conceded a goal in their past three games.

Chelsea To Win To Nil $2.38

Leicester City have won nine of their past 15 games as home favourites, while Everton have not won any of their past 10 games as away underdogs.

Back Leicester City To Win @ $2.30

Manchester United have won only 10 of their past 18 games as home favourites for a clear loss, but Sunderland have won just three of their past 16 fixtures as away underdogs.

No Bet

Swansea City are a tough team to trust from a betting perspective, but they have still won five of their past nine games for a profit.

West Ham generally struggle away from home and they have won just three of their past 14 games as away underdogs.

Hull City have taken at least a point from three of their past seven games as home underdogs and Manchester City are an unconvincing 8-5-3 as away favourites.

Back Hull City & Draw Double Chance @ $3.40

Liverpool have lost just one of their past 16 games as home favourites, but Stoke City have been able to take at least a point from four of their past 16 games as away underdogs.

Back The Draw @ $5.50

Southampton have just one of their past four games as home underdogs and Tottenham have won six of their past 11 games as home favourites for a clear profit.

Back Tottenham To Win @ $2.50