The football doesn’t stop this week with another full round of fixtures ahead of us this weekend. The weekend brings with it one major match which has one major question – Will Manchester City’s record breaking run of 15 straight wins be stopped by Tottenham? It’s a tough question but you have to wonder how long this run will keep going. Either way, it is an incredible run that they are on and there’s every chance it’ll continue. It’s a match that has to wait until the early hours of Sunday morning though with plenty of other matches to take place ahead of it in the build-up.
Week 18 Best Bet: Brighton vs Burnley – Half-Time Draw at $1.83
Week 18 Best Value Bet: Manchester United to beat West Brom to Nil at $2.4
Week 18 Head to Head Multi Bet: Everton Win ($1.67), Watford Win ($1.72), Manchester United Win ($1.62), Liverpool Win ($1.5) = $6.97
**Odds from Sportsbet.com.au as of 15th December
Headline Fixtures
Manchester City vs Tottenham
Manchester City look well placed to make this win number 17 for the season not to mention make it 16 straight wins. Tottenham though are finding some form after 2 straight wins and will step up their intensity against the league leaders who enjoy a huge 11 point lead over 2nd placed Manchester United. Spurs will also remember how they were the side that put a stop to Chelsea’s run of 13 straight wins last season whilst they were also the side to end Manchester City’s unbeaten 11 game start to the season last year. One thing for sure though is Tottenham look a side that will get themselves up for this clash and that should send some cause for concern through Manchester City. City have also only kept only 2 clean sheets in their last 8 league games which isn’t a great run of form defensively against a Spurs side that has all the capability up front to cause plenty of trouble. There is of course the fact that City’s offense is just too much to handle for anyone at the moment and Spurs are a little weak at the back with Alderweireld still injured along with Davinson Sanchez serving the last of a 3 game suspension. Dier and Vertonghen at the back then will be under extreme pressure to keep their side in it and that’s perhaps where City may just edge this through to make it 16 wins in a row.
Predicted Result: Manchester City 2-1
Best Bet: BTTS – Yes at $1.53
Best Value Bet: Half-Time Draw at $2.4
Remaining Fixtures
Stoke vs West Ham
Stoke are on a poor run of things at the moment losing 4 of their last 5 ahead of a match against a West Ham side that are growing in confidence. The Hammers have beaten Chelsea and drawn with Arsenal in their last 2 and will be pretty confident of adding to their tally here. There is question marks on West Ham’s away form, having taken just 3 points from 9 away games, but they look in better touch and have higher confidence at the moment to at least come away with a draw. Stoke you would expect to bounce back after 2 tough away games.
Predicted Result: Draw 1-1
Best Bet: Double chance West Ham at $1.62
Best Value Bet: West Ham to win either half at $2.14
Watford vs Huddersfield
Losing 3 of their last 4, Watford will be looking to take advantage here against a Huddersfield side that has only taken 4 points from a possible 24 on the road. Watford have had a tough run of fixtures but a home match against Huddersfield could be what they need to rebound back into some form.
Predicted Result: Watford 2-1
Best Bet: Watford to win at $1.72
Best Value Bet: Watford to lead at half-time at $2.2
Arsenal vs Newcastle
The Gunners have again hit a rough patch of form having previously pushed their way into the top 4. Their draw at West Ham last time out has seen them drop to 7th whilst they have added just 2 points from their last 3 games. Newcastle looks a favourable matchup this weekend though and whilst Newcastle will be pretty focused defensively, Arsenal should get the job done albeit unconvincingly at times.
Predicted Result: Arsenal 2-0
Best Bet: Arsenal to lead at Half-Time at $1.62
Best Value Bet: Arsenal to win to Nil at $2.1
Brighton vs Burnley
Brighton had a decent run of it against Tottenham during the week but were ultimately outplayed to lose 2-0. The visit of Burnley gets no easier though as they look to continue their excellent season that sees them in 6th level on points with 4th & 5th placed Tottenham & Liverpool. Brighton will be a tricky test at home though having lost just twice at home this season. Either way this one doesn’t look like it’ll have a lot of goals in it and Brighton’s home record could see them through to a draw.
Predicted Result: Draw 1-1
Best Bet: Half-Time Draw at $1.83
Best Value Bet: Burnley to win either half at $2.17
Chelsea vs Southampton
Just when you think Southampton had been playing decently enough, they go out and get thumped at home by Leicester 4-1 during the week. Chelsea will be licking their lips at this one as they look to maintain their 4 point lead over 4th placed Spurs and hope for a slip up from United and City above them. They were pretty convincing last time out over Huddersfield and this one looks like heading the same way.
Predicted Result: Chelsea 3-1
Best Bet: Chelsea -1 Handicap at $2
Best Value Bet: Chelsea to win both halves at $3.2
West Brom vs Manchester United
The Baggies were at their frustrating best defensively when they held Liverpool to a 0-0 draw during the week. This is one of those matches where it could very well be another good result for West Brom but United this year have been chugging along well enough against the bottom sides where this will end up being a thumping result or a narrow victory. For me this looks like the latter and probably a fair result too.
Predicted Result: Manchester United 1-0
Best Bet: Manchester United to win at $1.62
Best Value Bet: Manchester United to win to Nil at $2.4
Bournemouth vs Liverpool
You should expect a pretty convincing response from Liverpool this week. Klopp wasn’t by any means happy with their 0-0 draw at home to West Brom and so Bournemouth may be on the end of what could be a vicious display from Liverpool. Bournemouth have however had some pretty good results over Liverpool in recent seasons so they’ll fancy themselves a chance to make a game of this. In the end though, expect Liverpool to come out pretty intent on firing themselves to a strong victory here.
Predicted Result: Liverpool 4-1
Best Bet: Over 3.5 goals at $2.47
Best Value Bet: Over 4.5 goals at $4.6
Everton vs Swansea
It’s now 3 wins in 4 for Everton and they should be pretty strong contenders to make this 4 from 5 when they host Swansea this week. Swansea are still languishing at the bottom of the table and although they sit just 2 points off safety, they have a lot of work to do. Everton though are looking a much different side in recent weeks and should be well placed to make this win number 7 for the season.
Predicted Result: Everton 2-1
Best Bet: Everton to win at $1.67
Best Value Bet: Over 2.5 goals at $2.18
