Our football pundit previews the English Premier League week 19 action which kicks off on Friday 22 December 2017.
The Premier League reaches its halfway mark with the title seemingly wrapped up by Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s side are 11 points clear of second-placed Manchester United (41 points), while Chelsea (38) are third and Liverpool (34) fourth, with a point above fifth-placed Arsenal. High-flyers Burnley sit in sixth position, a point behind Arsenal and one above Tottenham, who find themselves seventh.
The top sides face some tough fixtures this week as Arsenal battle Liverpool at the Emirates on Friday, before Chelsea visit Everton in Saturday’s early kick-off. Spurs face a tough trip to Burnley in the afternoon, while Man United travel to Leicester City. As for Man City, they’re hosting a Bournemouth side who were thumped 4-0 on their ground by Liverpool last Sunday.
Friday 22 December
14/10 Arsenal | Draw 26/10 | Liverpool 7/4
Liverpool are unbeaten in 12 matches in all competitions, winning eight times. Klopp’s men have outclassed the Gunners in recent seasons and won the reverse tie 4-0 in August. I’m backing Liverpool to Win & Both Teams to Score at 3/1. Click here to read full match preview.
Saturday 23 December
Everton 9/2 | Draw 28/10 | Chelsea 6/10
Chelsea travel to Goodison Park to take on in-form Everton in Saturday’s early kick-off. The Toffees are unbeaten in their last six games with five wins, including their 3-0 Europa League win away at Apollon. Sam Allardyce’s men have won their last four league matches at home, scoring 12 goals while conceding three.
Chelsea are riding a two-match winning streak, having won 3-1 away at Huddersfield, before edging out Southampton last Saturday thanks to Marcos Alonso’s superb free-kick. Antonio Conte’s side have won their last four meetings against Everton, scoring 12 goals while conceding just once. The champions are tipped to end the Toffees’ unbeaten run.
Brighton 15/10| Draw 21/10 | Watford 19/10
Brighton did well to hold high-flyers Burnley to a goalless draw at home. Chris Hughton would have been pleased to avoid a fourth straight defeat and he’ll be hoping his side can build on that result against strugglers Watford. The Seagulls have been tough to beat at the Amex Stadium. Although they won just two of their nine games there, only Man City and Liverpool have beaten them. Watford are without a win in five games and their 4-1 home defeat to promoted Huddersfield was their third loss in a row. I’m backing Brighton on the Win/Draw Double Chance at 4/10.
Manchester City 1/10 | Draw 17/2 | Bournemouth 21/1
Manchester City should see off Bournemouth and extend their extraordinary winning streak. Guardiola’s side thrashed Tottenham 4-1 at the Etihad to make it 16 wins in a row and five out of five against the rest of the big six. Eddie Howe’s side were annihilated 4-0 by Liverpool at the Vitality Stadium. That was the Cherries’ fifth home defeat this season and they are now hovering above the relegation zone by just one point. I’m going for City to Win By Three Or More Goals at 7/10.
Southampton 6/10 | Draw 28/10 | Huddersfield 47/10
Southampton suffered their second defeat in a row as a superb free-kick from Marcos Alonso gave Chelsea a 1-0 victory at Stamford Bridge. Although they lost the match, it was an encouraging performance by Mauricio Pellegrino’s side. However, the result extended their winless run to five matches. A win for the Saints here will take them level on points with Huddersfield who occupy 11th place. The Seagulls recorded an emphatic 4-1 victory away to Watford, but prior to that, they were winless in eight of their away games, losing seven times and failing to register a goal. My money’s on the hosts at 11/20.
Stoke City 12/10 | Draw 43/20 | West Brom 5/2
Stoke have lost five of their last six games and are now only one place above the relegation zone, with one point separating them and Newcastle in 17th and 18th position. Mark Hughes is under pressure after seeing his side slump to a third consecutive defeat, going down 3-0 at home to West Ham. Talk of a return for Tony Pulis has intensified in recent weeks and Hughes will be desperate for victory against West Brom.
The visitors are 19th on the table after just two wins, eight defeats and eight draws in 18 matches. There have been signs of improvement since Alan Pardew took over. The Baggies managed to shut out Liverpool at Anfield – few teams are able to do that – and they played quite well in last Sunday’s 2-1 home defeat to Man United. I’m backing the draw at 43/20.
West Ham 11/10 | Draw 23/10 | Newcastle 26/10
West Ham have really impressed since the appointment of David Moyes, picking up seven points from a possible nine. The Scotsman’s first game in charge saw the Hammers claim a stunning 1-0 win over Chelsea and that followed with a goalless draw against Arsenal, both at the London Stadium. Moyes’ side got back to winning ways last Saturday, thrashing Stoke 3-0 in their own backyard. Newcastle dropped two places to go into the relegation zone following their 1-0 loss at Arsenal. That was their fourth defeat in a row and their eighth from their last nine games. The home win looks a top bet.
Swansea 2/1 | Draw 2/1 | Crystal Palace 15/10
Swansea remained bottom of the table after succumbing to their 12th defeat of the season, losing 3-1 at Everton on Monday. The Swans are now four points adrift of Stoke in 17th and Paul Clement will be desperate to stop the rot. Clement has to turn the season around fast if he wants to keep his job, but his side will face another tough matchup against Crystal Palace.
Roy Hodgson’s side are unbeaten in seven matches and come into this game off a 3-0 victory away to Leicester City. Prior to that game, they beat Watford 2-1 at Selhurst Park. Great value on the away win – get on.
Burnley 57/10 | Draw 3/1 | Tottenham 5/10
Tottenham face a tough trip to Turf Moor to take on sixth-placed Burnley. Sean Dyche’s men are unbeaten in their last three matches. After recording back-to-back 1-0 wins at home to Watford and Stoke, they were held to a goalless draw at Brighton. Mauricio Pochettino’s side became the latest team to suffer defeat at the hands of Man City, losing 4-1 at the Etihad Stadium.
Prior to that, Spurs had won two in a row, beating Stoke 5-1 and Brighton 2-0 at Wembley. Pochettino’s side are winless in their last five away games, losing four times. Another defeat would be disastrous for their Champions League qualification hopes. It should be a tight affair but I fancy the Clarets to get something from this game. I’m tipping them on the Win/Draw Double Chance at 27/20.
Leicester City 7/2 | Draw 26/10 | Manchester United 8/10
Leicester welcome Man United to the King Power Stadium on Saturday in the final game of the round. Claude Puel’s side slumped to a 3-0 home defeat against Crystal Palace last Saturday. Prior to that defeat, the Foxes were in good form, going unbeaten in five games with four straight wins.
Jose Mourinho’s side have beaten Bournemouth and West Brom since losing at home to Man City earlier in the month. Their win at the Hawthorns last Sunday was their third straight away victory following wins over Watford and Arsenal. United are unbeaten in their last seven meetings against the Foxes, winning five times, including four on the spin. The away win is the way to go.
TREBLE @ 6/1
Chelsea Win 6/10
West Ham Win 11/10
Man United Win 8/10
