Another week of the Premier League and another week with Manchester City sitting comfortably at the top of the table. They enjoy an 11 point lead over 2nd placed Manchester United with the gap to 7th placed Tottenham now a massive 21 points. It illustrates just how one sided their matches have been this season in what has been an incredible run of performances that look set to continue. Their next 4 fixtures are all looking like wins over Bournemouth, Newcastle, Crystal Palace and Watford. It will take some pretty stunning results to stop this side now as we finish the first half of the season this weekend.
Week 19 Best Bet: Manchester City vs Bournemouth – 1st Half over 1.5 goals at $1.75
Week 19 Best Value Bet: Stoke vs West Brom – Draw at $3.1
Week 19 Head to Head Multi Bet: West Ham Win ($2.1), Stoke/West Brom Draw ($3.1), Manchester United Win ($1.83), Liverpool Win ($2.8) = $33.35
**Odds from Sportsbet.com.au as of 21st December
Headline Fixtures
Arsenal vs Liverpool
Recent meetings between these two have produced the goals with their last 4 seeing 21 goals scored. Liverpool have been the victor in 3 of those 4 matches and have the form and attack to triumph once again here. Liverpool are a side that typically steps up for the big matches and this shouldn’t be any different. Arsenal might be undefeated in their last 3 but they’ve had to endure draws at Southampton and West Ham before narrowly squeezing past Newcastle 1-0 last time out. They may find Liverpool’s attack difficult to tame and that’s where this one will be won and lost. Defensively Liverpool have plenty of room for improvement on the road having conceded 17 of their 20 goals away from Anfield. At the same time though, they’ve only lost twice on the road and have knocked in 24 goals of their own. This looks a match that will mostly be pretty close with goals to be had. Liverpool’s frontline attack though should give them the edge to cause more than a few problems for Arsenal’s defence.
Predicted Result: Liverpool 3-2
Best Bet: Liverpool to win either half at $1.78
Best Value Bet: Over 3.5 goals at $2.21
Everton vs Chelsea
Chelsea have the 2nd best away record in the league, losing just twice from 9 matches. Earlier in the season you would think this would be a pretty easy task for Chelsea too given how badly Everton were going, but they’ve turned the corner now and are looking far more assured under Allardyce. The 5 matches he’s managed the side thus far has seen 4 wins and a draw (all competitions). More importantly though, defensively they have looked more sound. Their last 5 matches they have conceded only 2 goals compared to 28 in their first 13 matches. At the other end of the pitch they’ve grown in confidence too scoring 11 goals compared to 13 in their first 13 games. It of course doesn’t mean they will win this one though with Chelsea themselves in pretty good touch, but it may be closer than what we’d otherwise expect. Allardyce will set Everton up to make it really difficult for Chelsea to score and so we may be in for a low scoring contest here and given how well Everton have been going, there’s no reason why they can’t make a draw from this.
Predicted Result: Draw 1-1
Best Bet: Under 2.5 goals at $1.78
Best Value Bet: Half-Time Draw at $2.1
Remaining Fixtures
Manchester City vs Bournemouth
The last 5 meetings between these two have resulted in 5 Manchester City wins by an aggregate of 17-2. It’ll be very surprising to see an upset here, not just from the recent results between these two but with the ease with which Manchester City cast away Tottenham last week 4-1.
Predicted Result: Manchester City 4-0
Best Bet: 1st Half over 1.5 goals at $1.75
Best Value Bet: Exactly 4 goals in match at $4.33
Southampton vs Huddersfield
Huddersfield dispatched Watford easily last weekend 4-1 and with Southampton struggling for form, they may fancy themselves another upset here. Southampton are without a win in their last 5 and need a strong performance to turn around their results. Huddersfield need to show a little more consistency before we see them really kicking on with good results but they are good enough to take something from this one.
Predicted Result: Draw 1-1
Best Bet: Under 2.5 goals at $1.7
Best Value Bet: Half-Time Draw at $2.1
Stoke vs West Brom
Both of these sides are struggling. The Baggies have at least been competitive in recent weeks with 4 draws and 2 losses over their last 6 but Stoke in contrast have lost 5 of their last 6. Home advantage will mean little here and West Brom are pretty sound defensively on the road having conceded just the 10 goals. Stoke on the other hand have had a poor run of it at home conceding 18 times whilst producing just the 3 wins from 9 games.
Predicted Result: Draw 0-0
Best Bet: Stoke no 1st Half goals at $1.67
Best Value Bet: Draw at $3.1
Brighton vs Watford
Watford have really started to fall away lately losing 4 of their last 5 to drop down to 10th spot. Brighton haven’t been in that great form either losing 3 of their last 5 but they have only lost twice at home this season and the way Watford are going right now, a win on the road looks too much to ask.
Predicted Result: Brighton 2-1
Best Bet: BTTS – Yes at $1.91
Best Value Bet: Brighton to win at $2.5
Swansea vs Crystal Palace
This is an interesting match where earlier in the week it was pointing to a potential Palace upset win given their form – Palace are undefeated in their last 6, winning 3. Swansea though have made the call to remove Paul Clement as manager and typically with such a move you tend to see a response from that side. Swansea have otherwise been in terrible form which sees them at the bottom of the table but recent events should give them enough to get something from this and 1 point would be a positive step in the right direction. That’s unfortunate timing for Palace who are in great form, but I don’t think they’d be too disappointed with a draw here considering the circumstances.
Predicted Result: Draw 1-1
Best Bet: BTTS – Yes at $1.91
Best Value Bet: Draw at $3
West Ham vs Newcastle
The Hammers are another side that are starting to turn the corner. They’re now undefeated in their last 3 which includes 3 clean sheets which is a fantastic return considering in their previous 15 matches they conceded 32 times. Newcastle will present a tough test defensively but away from home they may find this a little tough to get anything from this as West Ham are starting to look the goods.
Predicted Result: West Ham 2-0
Best Bet: West Ham to win at $2.1
Best Value Bet: West Ham -1 Handicap at $4
Burnley vs Tottenham
Spurs woes continue after their humiliating 4-1 defeat at Manchester City last time out. Burnley look a tough task as well and with the pressure on Tottenham to get a result, they may be in for a rough day here. Defensively Tottenham are not what they were without the injured Alderweireld along with the continuing absence of Wanyama in midfield. Burnley are having a fantastic season and their confidence will count for a lot in this one. Tottenham will still make a game of this but a winning result looks a tough ask and something we shouldn’t come to expect for the meantime.
Predicted Result: Draw 1-1
Best Bet: Under 2.5 goals at $1.73
Best Value Bet: Half-Time Draw at $2.1
Leicester vs Manchester United
Leicester were outplayed last time out when they lost to a damaging Crystal Palace side. The visit of Manchester United though is big for them and they’ll be eager to bounce back from a poor result. They may be a little weary though having played 120 minutes of league cup football during the week to lose to Manchester City on penalties. United on the other hand will be well rested and should subsequently grab another win here.
Predicted Result: Manchester United 2-1
Best Bet: Over 2.5 goals at $1.88
Best Value Bet: Manchester United to lead at Half-Time at $2.37
