2024/2025 EPL Week 19 Preview

There is not a lot of time to reset as we approach the midway point of the Premier League season over the next few days.

Just over 60 hours separate the conclusion of Matchweek 18 and the beginning of Matchweek 19, which gets underway at the King Power Stadium.

At the top of the table teams are going to be desperately trying to avoid dropping points that could prove pivotal in five months time and at the other end, the opportunists will be trying to steal points that could help them avoid relegation in May.

All of that will also come while the players are just trying to get through this busy patch in one piece.

So with no time to waste, let’s take a look at all ten fixtures and our best bets for the upcoming weekend.

English football’s funniest story heads on the road this weekend with Leicester taking on the flailing Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola’s side suffered another embarrassment on Boxing Day, getting held to a 1-1 draw by Everton.

So of course they are $1.35 favourites to beat 18^th placed Leicester at the King Power Stadium.

The Foxes have lost their last three matches thanks in large part to a defence that is now the equal worst in the league, allowing 40 goals in 18 matches.

City’s backline is not exactly watertight either and even Leicester should be able to find a way through, making both teams to score the best play in this market.

Both Teams to Score @ $1.57

Southampton has now gone four Premier League matches without scoring a goal, and nine matches in all competitions without a win.

Outside of a couple of bad nights against Arsenal, Palace has actually been solid lately.

Two wins and four draws since the November international break have helped pull them up the Premier League table and they should account for the lowly Saints here.

They have only been held scoreless in consecutive matches once this season and Southampton is not going to have the capability to keep Palace at bay.

Crystal Palace to Win & Over 1.5 Goals @ $1.85

Nottingham Forest on the road remains one of the more solid selections in the Premier League this season.

The promoted side has taken 17 of a possible 27 points on their travels and Everton is definitely beatable at Goodison Park.

The Toffees have only won twice from eight at Goodison Park, although they have drawn four of their last five at their soon to be former home ground.

But Forest’s form overall is too good to ignore here, winning their last four starts including a big victory over Spurs on Boxing Day.

Nottingham Forest to Win @ $2.75

Fresh off their massive win over Chelsea on Boxing Day, an in form Fulham now has to back it up against another red hot side.

The Cottagers have lost just one of their last ten, while Bournemouth has won five and drawn three over the same period.

Both of these teams are quite reliable in attack, even with the Cherries coming off a rare scoreless draw against Palace on Friday morning (AEDT).

Taking the over is not the biggest value play, but it offers enough at its current price to be worth throwing in as a bank builder.

Over 2.5 Goals @ $1.62

English football’s second funniest story (unless you are an Australian) is at home this weekend as the under pressure Ange Postecoglou desperately chases a result against a suddenly resurgent Wolves.

The visitors have won back to back games for the second time this season, taking the points at Leicester and at home to Manchester United in their last two outings.

Meanwhile, Spurs have lost their last two against league leaders Liverpool and away to a feisty Forest, with some real questions over whether or not Postecoglou will survive until the opening of the transfer window.

To do so, he needs to find a way to take all three points from this fixture, but based on what they have put out over the last week, it’s impossible to have confidence in them, especially at $1.57.

Wolves Win or Draw Double Chance @ $2.30

The Reds just keep marching on and they have now shortened to $1.30 to lift the Premier League trophy in May (although it could be April if they keep winning).

Back in September they hosted West Ham in the Carabao Cup, fielding a relatively strong side and cruising to a 5-1 win to advance in that competition.

While they have slipped up from time to time at the London Stadium, they have been a relatively reliable bet here, winning five of their last eight at the venue.

Under Arne Slot they have been a very good bet away from home, winning six and drawing two from eight starts, with an aggregate score of 22-11.

They should win and they should score a few goals in the process too, scoring 12 in their last three Premier League away games so take the Reds and the over for a best bet.

Liverpool to Win and Over 2.5 Goals @ $1.75

This is normally the matchweek where you like to play it a bit conservatively because of the quick turnaround, but that doesn’t mean you should turn down value if it is there in the market.

Villa was outmatched by Newcastle on Boxing Day, but they should be able to bounce back in a big way against an out of sorts Brighton.

Unai Emery’s side was held scoreless for the first time in the Premier League since early November, but they have been a good team for backing both teams to score.

The same applies to Brighton, who have seen that hit in their last ten matches (prior to Saturday morning’s clash with Brentford) and 14 of their last 15.

However they have not been winning a lot of those matches, taking maximum points in just two of their last ten.

If Villa wants to be seen as a side that will be able to maintain a challenge for the top four again this season, they have to win this one.

Aston Villa to Win and Both Teams to Score @ $3.25

Right, how much will that Boxing Day defeat to Fulham have annoyed Chelsea?

Chances are quite a lot, and Ipswich will be the unfortunate recipients of said frustration.

It might not be a repeat of Chelsea’s 7-0 win last time they met in the 2011 FA Cup, but a resounding win will be on the cards.

Chelsea to Win -2 Goals @ $3.30

Newcastle heads to Old Trafford possessing a four match winning streak, set to take on a Manchester United side that has lost three in a row in all competitions.

On the plus side for Ruben Amorim, his team has improved defensively, losing 4-3 at Tottenham in the Carabao Cup, 3-0 to Bournemouth in the league and 2-0 at Wolves on Boxing Day so maths suggests that Newcastle will score just the one here.

Perhaps United even finds a way to flip the form line and win this match, but with the way they are playing at the moment, they are not inspiring a whole lot of confidence.

Newcastle on the other hand is, not only winning games, but winning them convincingly, posting scorelines of 4-0, 3-1, 4-0 and 3-0 in their run.

If Amorim didn’t already fully grasp the scale of his rebuild at Old Trafford, he will now and Newcastle is a side he has to find a way to chase down.

Newcastle to Win @ $2.45

We will get a better idea of how Arsenal copes with the absence of Bukayo Saka when they play Ipswich on Saturday morning (AEDT) but given this is being published before that match kicks off, we have to engage in a bit of guesswork.

On the surface they still have more than enough good players to see off the Bees, as long as the likes of Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice and their defensive duo of Saliba and Gabriel start this match they will still be able to function like a good football team.

Brentford is struggling for form heading into their trip to Brighton, but they could play themselves back into form on the South Coast.

They did lose their first Premier League home game of the season before Christmas, going down to Forest and Arsenal has won their last three matches at the Gtech, keeping clean sheets on every occasion.

It might not be pretty but the Gunners should find a way to see them off.

Arsenal to Win 1-0, 2-0 or 3-0 @ $3.40

2023/2024

It’s a quick turnaround for the Premier League clubs as they back up for the traditional Boxing Day fixtures.

Unlike in the past the matches have been spread out a bit more over three days so the clubs in action on Friday morning will get a slightly better prep than those playing Tuesday night (AEDT).

There is plenty to look forward to in terms of big games with Man United hosting Aston Villa, Everton taking on Man City and Brighton’s clash with Tottenham.

We’ve got you covered with our Premier League previews and best bets below so read on and see who we are backing in those matches.

Last season Newcastle picked up all six points on offer from their two matches with Nottingham Forest and the market is expecting them to do the same in their Boxing Day bout here.

With Nuno Espirito Santo now at the helm (and boy weren’t there a whole lot of barely funny Santo/Santa jokes last week), maybe Forest will get things sorted out but he has such a big job and their away form is not going to undergo a sudden turnaround.

Newcastle have been almost infallible at home winning eight of nine and outscoring opponents 22-4, this one shouldn’t be close.

Newcastle to Win -1 Goal @ $2.20

Take the hot hand in this one, Bourneouth has been in red hot form this month and Fulham are not good travellers.

The Cottagers have won once and drawn three times on the road so far this season and their lack of consistency is incredibly frustrating for punters to try and get a good read on them.

Both teams are capable of scoring but until Bournemouth slows down, I’ll take the value on offer for them.

Bournemouth to Win @ $2.25

It’s been a draining festive period for Luton with captain Tom Lockyer suffering a cardiac arrest that forced their game before Christmas to be abandoned.

As heartless as it may sound, it is the nature of top flight football where this team will have to get back on track as they prepare for a midseason relegation six-pointer against the Blades.

This has been a pretty even rivalry over the last two years in the Championship with each team winning once and a pair of draws as well.

While those matches have been quite low scoring, there have been plenty of goals (usually conceded) in the Premier League when these sides take to the pitch and I’ll jump on the overs here.

Over 2.5 Goals @ $1.95

While there were moments that saw Burnley give Liverpool fits, the Clarets’ most recent tenure in the top flight ended with three consecutive defeats against Jurgen Klopp’s men while failing to score a goal in that time.

Outside of a couple of isolated moments, Vincent Kompany’s team has not exactly been free scoring and Liverpool still has one of the Premier League’s most resolute defences.

They are good enough to beat up on bad teams and this should be a comfortable, professional win for the Merseyside club.

Liverpool to Win to Nil @ $2.70

Does Old Trafford really provide enough of a home ground advantage for Manchester United to have them favoured here?

Despite being one of football’s most iconic venues, the Theatre of Dreams has seen United lose four of nine league fixtures at the venue plus two of their three Champions League ties.

Aston Villa is one of the better teams away from home, taking points in six of their nine road trips and the value on them here is too good to pass up.

Aston Villa to Win @ $2.80

Wolves might not be travelling that well at the moment with points coming sparingly, but Brentford is not exactly setting the world alight either.

There has been no shortage of goals for either of these clubs with both teams to score and the overs being very profitable plays for both sides.

That’s why it’s worth steering clear of trying to pick a winner in this match because neither team warrants a whole lot of confidence based on their seasons so far.

On the plus side, there is a decent price on offer for the over.

Over 2.5 Goals @ $1.91

Speaking of struggling teams, Chelsea and Crystal Palace will face off early Thursday morning.

On the surface it makes sense for Palace to be outsiders but we’ve all seen just how bad Chelsea have been and would anyone really be surprised to see them crumble in a heap here?

The Eagles’ last win over Chelsea came in October 2017 but with they way they have played, I can’t back them in good conscience either.

However there has been plenty of scoring in both of these teams’ fixtures this year so let’s back another high scoring game.

Over 2.5 Goals @ $1.80

Normally this would be a match where you’d be working out how many goals City are going to win by, but coming back from the Club World Cup might have them a bit sluggish.

Not to mention, Everton are playing some good football at the moment and are getting the results to go with the performances.

The last time they won a home game against City was in January 2017 and as tempting as it is to take the value on the upset, City might just find a way to get the job done.

It’s not the biggest price but it’s also all the risk I’d be willing to take on this fixture.

Manchester City to Win @ $1.60

With two of the Premier League’s most attacking sides (not to mention two of the more vulnerable ones defensively) facing off, we should be in for a high scoring match.

I’m expecting a big change from the last few seasons where just one game has seen both teams scoring and the over hitting.

For this match, let’s have a SGM with both teams scoring at least two goals, we know they love to attack and will give up plenty of chances so as long as the attackers are not in a wasteful mood, this should hit comfortably.

SGM: Tottenham Over 1.5 Goals & Brighton Over 1.5 Goals @ $3.46

While Arsenal have struggled with their last few trips to West Ham, the home games at the Emirates have been one-way traffic for nearly a decade.

On this same weekend last season the Gunners ran out 3-1 winners with a second half blitz courtesy of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Eddie Nketiah.

In all competitions this season, the Gunners have been nearly untouchable, with 10 wins and 12 draws since August and that should continue here.

Arsenal to Win and Over 2.5 Goals @ $1.87

2022/2023

2021/2022

The English Premier League’s traditional Boxing Day fixtures have thrown up plenty of exciting contests as we reach the halfway mark of the season.

Chelsea is in danger of falling behind in the Premier League title race and will be desperate for maximum points against Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa.

Arsenal has climbed up into fourth spot and has a chance to consolidate its position with a trip to Norwich.

While the shadow of Covid lingers over every Premier League fixture at the moment, we’re previewing every contest below and finding our best bets.

There is not a strong case to be made for Leicester in this fixture however if you were so inclined, the away team has won the last four Premier League meetings between these clubs.

Of course City’s form is strong enough to still have me siding with them in the head to head market.

While both teams are capable of scoring goals for fun, we might be in for a bit of a defensive battle in this fixture.

Outside of Leicester’s 5-2 win in their last trip to the Etihad, four of the last five fixtures between the two have seen one or two goals scored.

The price on the unders markets seems too low so I’ll pair that with a City win in the doubles.

Back Manchester City to Win and Under 3.5 Goals @ $2.20

Arsenal’s young squad has been benefitted by avoiding postponements, allowing them to build up a decent head of steam heading into this time of year.

They have won their last four matches in all competitions by at least two goals.

Norwich on the other hand has taken just two points from its last five fixtures and been kept scoreless in four of those matches.

There are a couple of options to back and I’ll land on another Arsenal win by multiple goals.

Back Arsenal to Win -1 Goal @ $2.20

It was a tough return to action for Tottenham but they held their own against Liverpool to come away with a hard fought draw.

For this fixture, leaving with all three points is a must as they try and mount their assault on the top four.

Palace took advantage of a highly dysfunctional Spurs side in September, winning 3-0 however with the change in manager, Tottenham is the play to take here.

Back Tottenham to Win @ $1.73

We don’t need a whole lot of nuance to break down this match.

West Ham is the better side and should be able to handle the Saints.

Barring a number of major absences I’ll back the Irons to pick up their first league win since early December.

Back West Ham to Win @ $1.75

It’s hard to have too much sympathy for the supposedly “depleted” Chelsea squad that was held to a 0-0 draw with Wolves in their last match.

Thomas Tuchel was able to field seven of the 11 starters from May’s Champions League Final and the changes were Christian Pulisic for Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech for Kai Havertz, Marcos Alonso for Ben Chilwell and Trevoh Chalobah for Jorginho.

Oh and Mateo Kovacic and Saul Niguez were also on the bench.

It’s a convenient cover for some underlying issues at Stamford Bridge and for that reason, I give Villa a real shot in this fixture.

Back Aston Villa/Draw Double Chance @ $2.15

Brighton has already taken three points off Brentford this season and will be eying a sweep when they welcome the Bees to the Amex Stadium.

Recent results have not been kind to Brighton, who are winless in their last 10 league matches, but have been able to scrap to eight draws in that time thanks in large part to a stingy defensive group.

Another split decision looks to be on the cards here as Brentford returns to action after a 16 day break from play and the visitors return to action with a point.

Back the Draw @ $3.30

There may only be a few more opportunities to back against Newcastle in their current form before the new owners are able to splash the cash in the January transfer window.

Manchester United might not be the force they were when these sides met in September, but there is more than enough talent on hand to record a comfortable win in this fixture..

In their last three matches, Newcastle have given up a total of 11 goals and United should be able to cover the over themselves.

Back Manchester United to Win and Over 2.5 Goals @ $2.05

2020/2021

It’s a monster run of Premier League football coming up with 15 matches set to take place over the next week.

Manchester United’s trip to Anfield on Monday morning headlines Matchweek 19 of the Premier League season and with top spot on the line, it promises to be an excellent contest.

We are previewing every match below so read on to see who we are backing as the Premier League season approaches the halfway mark.

The form line for both of these clubs is admittedly quite brutal with both sides going a long time between Premier League victories.

What separates them is their FA Cup result where Wolves scraped by Crystal Palace while West Brom went down to Blackpool on penalties.

That match at least gave some life to what has otherwise been a listless attack that had failed to score in three of its four prior matches.

Wolves defence has been shaky at best keeping just one clean sheet in all competitions since the November international break.

Back Both Teams to Score @ $2.25

For better or worse, it looks like the Leeds bubble might be on the verge of bursting.

Back to back 3-0 defeats in their last two matches have seen questions raised about whether or not this is the time for their style of play to catch up with them.

Some fortunate fixturing gives them a chance to get things back on track with a vulnerable opponent up next.

Brighton has not won a Premier League match in almost two months and are heading into this contest on short rest after playing Manchester City during the week.

There’s an awful lot of faith that needs to be placed in Leeds to get the win here, but there’s a reason Brighton are very likely to be relegated on their current form.

Back Leeds to Win @ $2.05

All of a sudden West Ham is on a four match unbeaten run after sneaking past Stockport in the FA Cup.

Burnley is in impressive form in their own right with 11 points from their seven Premier League matches since the start of December.

The visitors head into this Claret and Blue Derby having won their last three matches against West Ham while keeping a clean sheet but I can’t bring myself to back against the Irons either.

This is where the draw can be your best friend as it gives the opportunity to split the difference.

Back the Draw @ $3.50

Fulham’s run of five straight draws (six if you count their FA Cup tie that was decided in extra time) is actually quite impressive.

As entertaining as it would be to see the Cottagers survive the drop on the back of a dozen draws or so, their run is likely coming to an end against Chelsea here.

Every single one of Fulham’s matches in this run has finished either 0-0 or 1-1 after 90 minutes which is a good sign for a previously permeable backline but not a great look for their struggling strike force.

It’s been a long time since Chelsea were kept scoreless and they will surely be happy to just get three points any way they can.

They might not blow Fulham out of the water, especially with the team buzzing after stealing a point from Tottenham but they should be able to pick up the victory.

Back Chelsea to Win and Under 3.5 Goals @ $2.30

You can’t help but wonder where both of these sides will go in the back end of the Premier League season.

Leicester is sitting in fourth place, unbeaten in its last four league matches and heading into the weekend, just four points off the top of the table.

Southampton is three points and three places further back in seventh having picked up points in their last three, all while keeping clean sheets.

It will have been almost a full fortnight between games for the Saints with their FA Cup tie postponed, having defeated Liverpool in their last outing.

This shapes up as another match that could produce just about any result and a draw seems like the way to go.

Back the Draw @ $3.60

*MATCH POSTPONED*

It sounds like this match will not go ahead due to Aston Villa’s COVID outbreak, even if it does it’s hard to see them being able to field a competitive squad.

NO BET

Some are calling it a minor miracle, others are calling it inevitable but Sheffield has finally won a Premier League match this season!

It came against a horrible Newcastle side and was in true Sheffield fashion of eking out a 1-0 victory, but after nearly half a season without a win, anything will do.

Unfortunately their streak will likely end at one win, with a frustrated Tottenham looking to take out some frustration on an opponent they are expected to defeat by a significant margin.

Spurs were made to pay during the week by Fulham and there is every chance Jose Mourinho will send out a side with a point to prove here.

It’s not exactly the most valuable option in the match markets, but considering one of the big six is at this price against the last placed team in the Premier League, it’s a must back.

Back Tottenham to Win @ $1.60

This is unquestionably the biggest match between Liverpool and Manchester United since the days Sir Alex Ferguson prowled the United dugout.

The defending champions host the Premier League leaders as United has a chance to extend the gap between these two to six points.

Without a doubt, United’s away form is exactly why they find themselves leading the pack as we close in on the midway point of the season however as formidable as they are as visitors, Liverpool are equally imposing hosts.

Liverpool’s home record is exactly the same as United’s away total this season with seven wins and a draw to date.

Six of the last nine competitive meetings between the two have finished as draws and it is a result that neither side will want, but will probably be content to settle for.

Back the Draw @ $3.60

Palace has given Manchester City plenty of headaches in recent times with two draws and a win from their last three trips to the Etihad.

Health is a major concern for City as well with COVID ripping through the squad, perhaps explaining their lacklustre performance against Brighton (though they did still win the match 1-0).

Given the spot Pep Guardiola finds himself and his team in, any result will do and their backline is still quite strong with four clean sheets from their last five competitive matches.

Back Manchester City to Win to Nil @ $1.80

If this fixture seems somewhat familiar, Arsenal and Newcastle met in the FA Cup Third Round barely a week ago.

It was a somewhat experimental Arsenal lineup with a few players getting rotated as the Gunners scraped through 2-0 in extra time.

Mikel Arteta should select a slightly stronger lineup for this fixture, even if Newcastle’s approach will be similar in this match where Andy Carroll operates as a de facto centre back.

Arsenal should find a breakthrough inside 90 minutes this time with the likes of Saka and Smith-Rowe continuing to grow as players but it will be another arm wrestle for the bulk of the match.

Back Arsenal to Win and Under 3.5 Goals @ $2.15

The Big Sam revival at West Brom is finally underway after a stunning 3-2 win away to Wolves on the weekend.

It was just their second win of the Premier League season and perhaps more importantly, they are starting score again after a lean period in front of goal.

Including their FA Cup match against Blackpool, West Brom have scored two goals in each of their last two matches, however they could be in for a real test against a resolute West Ham backline that has kept four straight clean sheets.

Their last three matches have all ended in 1-0 victories for the Irons and with two draws prior to that, it’s an encouraging sign that David Moyes is building a resilient team in East London.

One win is not quite enough to make me believe that Allardyce has found the magic potion to revitalise West Brom and at this time of the season, defending seems to win out over good attacking play.

Back West Ham to Win & Under 3.5 Goals @ $2.25

Chelsea might have managed its first Premier League win since December 22 when they defeated Fulham over the weekend, but it’s hard to feel too good about getting by a team that played with 10 men for the entire second half.

Leicester is starting to look like a serious title contender and could go to the top of the Premier League for 24 hours at least with a victory in this match.

History is not on Leicester’s side however with one win in 12 meetings since the start of the 2016 calendar year.

This is one of those markets where you have to back against history however with Leicester looking like a good value play as home underdogs.

Back Leicester to Win @ $2.85

You almost have to feel sorry for Aston Villa here, this will be their senior team’s first match in almost three weeks after COVID massively disrupted their season.

On top of that they have to face a suddenly good again Manchester City side that has ket four consecutive clean sheet.

Since January 2010, Villa has won just two matches against City in all competitions, and the last five have gone the way of City by an aggregate score of 19-2.

Generally when a team is forced into a COVID layoff they will be a bit sluggish out of the gate and I’ll back City to take full advantage of that.

Back Manchester City to Win to Nil @ $2.10

Fulham’s run of five consecutive league draws came to an end with a 1-0 defeat away to Chelsea leaving them four points adrift in the relegation battle.

United will not be feeling any ill effects after a dour draw with Liverpool that would not have taken too much out of the legs so they should be raring to go here.

Let’s not overcomplicate this, United will win this one, they probably won’t blow Fulham out since they have been quite resolute defensively but they should be able to pick up three points.

Back Manchester United and Under 3.5 Goals @ $2.40

This is a perfect storm of styles for a comfortable Liverpool victory.

Burnley really struggles going forward, scoring one goal in their last four Premier League matches.

As long as Liverpool finds a way to score one, they should be able to pick up their first league victory since Christmas.

While they have been kept scoreless in two of their last four matches in all competitions, I like their chances of breaking through here.

Back Liverpool to Win to Nil @ $1.83

This market just seems full of value with two teams that cannot win, cannot score and for the most part, cannot catch a break facing off.

Villa will not have too much time to dwell on their defeat against Manchester City, where they felt aggrieved by an alleged offside that wasn’t given.

The good news is they will face a Newcastle side that has gone 308 minutes since scoring a goal in all competitions.

Villa is still recovering from COVID ripping through their squad and probably won’t be in a position to blow their opponents out.

One or two goals is all we will get in this match.

Back Under 2.5 Goals @ $2.20

2019/2020

Boxing Day Premier League action, while the players may hate it, there’s no such thing as too much football for fans and punters alike.

We’ve received a festive gift from the powers that be with Liverpool taking on one of the few sides still with a chance of ending their Premier League title hopes in Leicester.

Elsewhere, with the fixtures coming at a breakneck pace, teams all over the table are looking to try and set themselves up for the run home in 2020.

This weekend also sees us reach the halfway mark of the Premier League season and with it being Liverpool’s title to lose, the big question remains, will they slip up?

We’ve got previews and predictions for all ten matches right here so check out who we are backing.

Spurs head into this match as clear favourites although the memory of a shock 3-0 loss in October will be lingering in their minds here.

Plenty has changed in North London since then and you have to think Jose Mourinho will have his side a little bit better prepared for this one.

When finding a play for this match, it comes down to whether or not you think Brighton will be able to get at least one goal.

They have been a bit better in front of goal in the last few matches and I’m not sold on Tottenham suddenly turning into the 04/05 Chelsea side.

SGM: Tottenham to Win & Both Teams to Score @ $2.93

It’s the first match of the Mikel Arteta era at Arsenal, or at least the first match for the Spanish boss on the touchline.

Generally the Gunners have not had too much trouble with the Cherries, even with their overall struggles in the last few seasons.

While it’s not with a great deal of confidence, it’s worth backing the new voice in the changing room giving a renewed spark to Arsenal, that and as hard as it is to have faith in Arsenal, it’s even tougher to back Bournemouth here.

Back Arsenal to Win @ $2.00

If the Boxing Day fixtures are late Christmas gifts, this is the pair of socks that somehow already has a hole in them.

Villa and Norwich are going to be competing against each other to avoid relegation for the next five months.

The good news is that neither of these sides are all that good at defending, so back a few goals to go in and hope it’s a mildly entertaining fixture.

Back Over 3.5 Goals @ $2.20

There is no overstating how big that win was for Chelsea as they search for some consistency.

Now comes the tough part, backing it up with another good performance.

We saw just how tactically astute Frank Lampard can be and I think he’s going to be able to set his side up for another efficient, professional win.

SGM: Chelsea to Win & Under 3.5 Goals @ $2.41

At this time of year, a couple of extra days rest can go a long way towards getting some points and for West Ham, they come into this game having last played on December 14.

Palace had their unbeaten run ended by Newcastle but did beat West Ham earlier this season, their first such win since February 2015.

At Selhurst Park I like the side with Wilfried Zaha, the most talented player on the pitch, to get the job done.

Back Crystal Palace to Win @ $2.25

Carlo Ancelotti is another manager set to take charge for the first time in this match, replacing Marco Silva at Everton.

Unfortunately for him, he had to watch a dour 0-0 draw with Arsenal over the weekend which hopefully gave him an idea about the scale of the task at hand.

There is no doubt there is talent in the Everton squad and the new manager boost might just get them over the line here but I can’t bring myself to back them just yet.

What I can do though is have a bit of confidence that this will be a lot scoring affair, Burnley aren’t exactly setting the scoreboard alight so I am expecting a tight affair.

Back Both Under 2.5 Goals @ $1.91

Watford took all three points from Manchester United with a massive assist from David De Gea and now they take on fifth placed Sheffield United.

The Blades have won three in a row and look like they have no plans of dropping out of that position anytime soon.

This one is a simple case of backing the better side to get the job done at a time of the year where style points are not that important.

Back Sheffield United to Win @ $1.83

There’s a real temptation to back Newcastle to get something out of this match, after all, these are the sides United seem to really struggle against.

Not to mention the fact they defeated United 1-0 in the first meeting this season and have proven to be a tough out in recent times.

For this one I’m happy to stay out of it and let the goals fall where they may.

NO BET

The new club champions of the world (WRITERS NOTE: I had to call them that that sorry) are back in action domestically and they face a Leicester side that still has borderline realistic title ambitions.

The Foxes know that after losing to City on the weekend, they have to pick up points and what better way to get going than to defeat the side they are trying to catch?

What does work against them though, is the fact that they have not defeated Liverpool in the Premier League since February 2017, although this is the best side they have put out in recent memory.

Considering Liverpool will have also flown back from the Club World Cup in the Middle East, there has to be a big concern over a possible burnout factor with their players as well.

It would take a brave person to back against Liverpool at the moment but I feel comfortable doing that considering this could be a bad spot for them.

Back Leicester/Draw Double Chance @ $1.73

It’s one of the downsides of being Manchester City, they have to play Wolves in this fixture and have a very short turnaround for their next match.

With injuries already depleting their playing stocks, this becomes a real test of mental strength for the defending champions against a side that has overcome a slow start themselves.

I just can’t back against City here, especially with De Bruyne in the form he’s in but I also can’t back them to keep a clean sheet, so I’ll back Both Teams to Score for a bit of extra value.

SGM: City to Win and Both Teams to Score @ $2.96

2018/2019

Festive football, how can you not love it?

Less than 3 days after one round of Premier League action finished, we get the traditional Boxing Day feast of action with all ten Premier League clubs back in action.

While there aren’t any “big clashes” in this round of fixtures no side will want to drop points as a single loss can turn into a losing streak pretty quickly at this time of year.

Read on for our previews, predictions and same game multis for all 10 midweek fixtures.

An all promoted sides clash at Craven Cottage gets Round 19 of the Premier League underway as Fulham take on a Wolves side they have struggled with in recent years.

While the Cottagers did win the last meeting, their record in the Championship was less than ideal, losing six of the eight meetings.

At least they have comfort in the fact they have been a strong side at home this season, picking up eight of their nine points in front of their fans.

That being said the history is too hard to ignore and Wolves, despite their loss against Liverpool over the weekend, is at too good of a price to pass up.

Back Wolves to Win @ $2.30

SGM: Wolves to Win, Over 3.5 Goals, Raul Jiminez Anytime Goalscorer

Burnley gave it their all against Arsenal at the Emirates but still fell 3-1 however they face an Everton side fresh off a 6-2 hammering from Tottenham.

The Clarets did win both meetings last season and have claimed three of the last four, which won’t inspire confidence in an Everton side that has lost five straight.

Neither side is in great form and you can’t feel great backing any play in this game, it might be worth steering clear of for the time being.

NO BETS

The festive mood around Selhurst Park would have been very joyous after their stunning upset of Manchester City, giving them their first winning streak of the season.

Both Premier League meetings between these sides have seen Palace win while holding Cardiff scoreless.

With Cardiff conceding an average of over two goals per game this is a great chance for a Palace side that was struggling to score to extend their streak of games with a goal to six.

For a Same Game Multi play, the Both Teams to Score market has hit in four of Cardiff’s last five so expect a few goals in this game as well.

Back Crystal Palace to Win @ $1.62

SGM: Crystal Palace to Win, Over 3.5 Goals

Who saw Manchester City losing two of their last three games going into Christmas?

Probably not Pep Guardiola but at least he can take comfort in the fact his side has won five straight against Leicester in all competitions.

Of course, two of those wins came on penalties in the League Cup but they still count as wins for City.

Even the defending champions not looking quite like themselves, they should be able to take care of business here, even if it is a bit of a grind.

Back Manchester City to Win and Under 2.5 Goals

SGM: Manchester City to Win, Under 2.5 Goals, Gabriel Jesus First Goalscorer

Every manager has that bogey side they tend to struggle against and for Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, it’s Newcastle,

In four matches in charge, he has picked up just one win having lost once and drawn the other two.

Liverpool will be putting an unbeaten home record on the line here and they do have some comfort in the fact Klopp’s lone win over Newcastle came at Anfield.

That being said the Boxing Day fixtures always throw up a surprise or two and this has the makings of one with Liverpool perhaps overlooking this one.

Back Newcastle Win/Draw Double Chance @ $5.75

SGM: Newcastle to Win, Under 2.5 Goals

It’s the home debut for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and in all fairness, it’s a fairly cushy landing spot as they face a Huddersfield side on a five game losing run.

The Terriers did pick up a massive upset last October but United won at Old Trafford in the League as well as the FA Cup since then, both by a scoreline of 2-0.

United were much improved in their 5-1 win at Cardiff over the weekend and there is no reason to think they shouldn’t breeze by a struggling opponent.

It’s low hanging fruit but United are just so talented they should be able to handle Huddersfield at home here.

Back Manchester United to Win -1 Goal @ $1.67

SGM: Manchester United Win, United to Score Over 2.5 Goals, Marcus Rashford Anytime Goalscorer

After thumping Everton 6-2 over the weekend, Tottenham enter the Bournemouth game as clear favourites here, which makes finding a value play potentially tough.

In six Premier League meetings. Spurs have won five, with the other game in October 2016 ending in a draw.

There are two options for a play in this game, either Tottenham to Win to Nil or Tottenham to Win and Both Teams to Score.

It has been three games since the Both Teams to Score Market hit for Bournemouth but with 27 goals in their 18 games that may break here.

Back Tottenham to Win and Both Teams to Score @ $2.75

SGM: Tottenham to Win, Over 2.5 Goals, Harry Kane Anytime Goalscorer

Last time Brighton hosted Arsenal, they pulled off a huge upset toppling the Gunners 2-1 in a result that made everyone laugh (except for Arsenal fans).

While the road woes of the Gunners are not completely gone, they are much more composed away from home under Unai Emery.

With four wins and two draws from their eight away games so far, you can feel confident backing Arsenal, although don’t be surprised if this is level at 1-1 for a while.

Back Arsenal to Win @ $1.70

SGM: Arsenal to Win, Arsenal to Score Over 2.5 Goals, Alexandre Lacazette Anytime Goalscorer

If you are looking for positives from Chelsea’s loss to Leicester last weekend, they have not lost back to back Premier League matches this season.

After losing to Tottenham, they responded with a 2-0 against Fulham, after losing to Wolves, they claimed the massive scalp of Manchester City.

While Watford did win this fixture last February you have to back Chelsea to show some resilience and come away with a rebound victory.

Back Chelsea to Win to Nil @ $3.10

SGM: Chelsea to Win, Eden Hazard First Goalscorer

The final Boxing Day round clash takes place after Boxing Day with suddenly scary Southampton hosting a West Ham side whose form was brought to a sudden halt with a loss to Watford.

Both sides are more than capable of scoring goals and this has the makings of a high scoring fixture.

Each of the last four meetings between these sides has featured three or more goals so get ready for a couple of frustrated goalkeepers here.

Back the Draw @ $3.40

SGM: Draw, Over 2.5 Total Goals

2017/2018

While most European leagues are off on a winter break right now the Premier League just gets busier and busier.

Saturday morning’s blockbuster between Arsenal and Liverpool kicks off a run of 40 Premier League matches in 14 days.

It will be a crucial period for the Gunners as they close out this patch by hosting Chelsea on the morning of January 4.

For all clubs, this is seen as make or break time with so many points on offer and with the bottom half of the table so tightly congested, it is an opportunity to separate from those around them.

Will this be a happy homecoming for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain?

His last game for Arsenal was a 4-0 loss against the side that would go on to buy him days later.

Liverpool have won the last three meetings between these sides and Arsenal have not won since April 2015.

This game has way too many variables to confidently back any result but with the way both teams have been defensively this has the makings of a high scoring contest.

Back Over 3.5 Goals @ $2.30

A comfortable win for Everton cemented their place in the top ten of the Premier League and they have their second shot at Chelsea after the Blues won in August.

That game was decided by strikes from Cesc Fabregas and Alvaro Morata but it is a very different Everton side coming to play this week.

They are five games unbeaten and have a renewed commitment under Sam Allardyce.

Even so Chelsea should still find a way to get by in a low scoring arm wrestle.

Back Chelsea to Win & Under 2.5 Goals @ $3.70

Another rematch from late August, this game finished as a 0-0 draw with Watford playing most of the match with ten men.

That meant that Brighton were able to dominate possession and Watford were held without a shot on target.

Neither side is in a great run of form with two draws and three wins from their last five and this will not be the game either side breaks out of that slump.

Back the Draw @ $3.10

There really is not much more you can add about City’s unbelievable start to the season.

With seventeen wins and a draw from eighteen matches, you will start to hear more and more talk of when they will claim the Premier League title.

In the meantime, that does not make the win markets all that enticing so you will have to look elsewhere for the value.

With an average of just over three goals scored per game and having put four past Swansea and Tottenham in the past fortnight, they should win and boost the goal tally while they are at it.

Back Manchester City to Score Over 3.5 Goals @ $2.05

Huddersfield got back into the winners circle with a convincing 4-1 hammering at Watford last week.

Southampton’s poor run continued when Liverpool put four past them at the weekend which followed a slim loss to Manchester United.

Even so I like the chances of Huddersfield in an upset away from hom.

Back Huddersfield to Win @ $6.00

With Mark Hughes seat getting hotter with each passing match, Stoke look like a side ready for a breath of fresh air.

Five defeats from their last six matches has Stoke looking for answers but their opponents are not exactly setting the world alight this season.

West Brom are sitting second from last but have been able to grab three draws from their past five and a win here would put them up above Stoke on the table.

Even so this is a game that screams draw with neither side really able to back themselves to take the chances that would produce a win.

Back the Draw @ $3.10

In the last two months, Palace have found a formula for survival if not success with the way they are managing to take points off the teams around them on the table.

A big win at the weekend over Leicester has fans buzzing and with Swansea up next they will be optimistic about getting halfway to the magical 40 point number at the exact midway point of the season.

Swansea claimed victory earlier this season at Selhurst Park but it shows how much the fortunes of these teams have swung that I am now liking Palace to get a win at these odds.

Back Crystal Palace to Win @ $2.50

As it stands Newcastle’s return to the Premier League might be a brief one and after four straight losses things are looking bleak.

West Ham have not lost in their last three and considering who they have played that is a pretty decent achievement.

Having beaten Chelsea, drawn with Arsenal and then comfortably defeated Stoke, they should be able to beat a Newcastle side that is reeling right now.

Back West Ham to Win @ $2.10

This season, whether it is wins or dropping points, Tottenham are a team that loves to go on streaks.

If they win once chances are it will be backed up with another win or at worst a draw, whereas a loss tends to kick start a couple of weeks of poor results.

Add in the fact that Burnley showed they can compete with Tottenham during their 0-0 draw in August and this has the makings of a result Burnley will be very happy with.

Back Burnley Win or Draw Double Chance @ $2.50

Now is a great chance to see what Leicester are made of as their winning streak was brought to a screeching halt by Crystal Palace.

With a big game coming up against Manchester United, a rebound performance to show it was just an aberration will go a long way to their quest to continue climbing up the table (even if it does mess with whatever title race is left).

Since their Derby loss, United are not doing things the easy way grinding out low scoring wins but they are finding ways to outscore their opponent and they have a good opportunity to do that here.

Back Manchester United to Win @ $1.80

2016/2017

This is the half-way mark of the 2016/2017 English Premier League season and every team in the competition has now played each other once.

There is a number of intriguing matches on what will be a big New Year’s Day of action, but the feature match will be at Anfield when Liverpool and Manchester City do battle.

Leicester City will be halfway through the title defence when they face West Ham in front of their home fans at King Power Stadium, while Manchester United will host Middlesbrough.

Hull City have won two of their eight games as home underdogs this season for a narrow profit, while Everton are 4-1-3 as away favourites.

Back Hull City To Win @ $4.20

Burnley have won six of their ten games played at home this season and Sunderland have won just three of their past 17 games as away underdogs.

Back Burnley To Win @ $2.38

Chelsea have won their past four games without conceding a goal and Stoke City have won just three of their past 16 games as away underdogs.

Back Chelsea To Win To Nil @ $1.91

Leicester City have won nine of their past 16 games as home favourites, while West Ham have taken at least a point from nine of their past 15 games as away underdogs.

Back The Draw @ $3.40

The under has saluted in 12 of the past 19 home games played by Manchester United and six of the nine away games played by Middlesbrough this season.

Back Under 2.5 Goals @ $1.91

Southampton have won ten of their past 13 games as home favourites and West Bromwich Albion have won just three of their past 18 games as away underdogs.

Back Southampton To Win @ $1.67

Swansea City will go into this clash with yet another manager and they have won just two of their past eight games as home underdogs.

Bournemouth have won one of their past three games as away favourites.

No Bet

This is easily the biggest game of the weekend in the English Premier League.

Liverpool have won only eight of their past 16 games as home favourites for a clear loss, while Manchester City have won two of their past three games as away underdogs.

Back Manchester City To Win @ $3

Watford have won three of their past nine games as home underdogs for a clear and Tottenham have also proven to be a profitable winning play as away favourites.

No Bet

Arsenal have won 12 of their past 18 games as home favourites for a narrow loss, while Crystal Palace have won two of their past 15 games as away underdogs.

No Bet