Premier League Predictions > Dec 18th & 19th

[StevieDay1983]

[StevieDay1983]

The Premier League matches are heavily disrupted this weekend with at least 50% of the games scheduled postponed due to covid outbreaks. Only two games set to be played on Saturday and three matches set to go ahead on Sunday. Give us your thoughts on this limited number of matches. 

[StevieDay1983]

It's just been confirmed that Aston Villa versus Burnley has been postponed after an outbreak of covid cases. How the Premier League hasn't just called a winter break now is beyond me.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59665333

[Teodore]

I think we can forget about boxing day matches....

[StevieDay1983]

Leeds vs Arsenal

The only Premier League game to survive the covid outbreaks this Saturday is the 5:30pm GMT kick-off between Leeds and Arsenal at Elland Road. As the schedule dwindles down with all of us feeling a sense of inevitability about more games falling victim to the virus this weekend we can appreciate this game going ahead and giving us some sort of football on live television.

Leeds just don't seem to be able to catch a break with player injuries this season. It's believed that up to 8 first team players in the Whites side are ruled out including Patrick Bamford, Liam Cooper, Pascal Struijk, Junior Firpo, Daniel James, Kalvin Phillips, Jamie Shackleton, and Rodrigo. Marcelo Bielsa's team are in 16th place and just 5 points above the drop zone with teams behind them boasting games in hand. Just 1 win from their last 7 league games has seen the team slip into poor form. This run included the awful 7-0 loss away to league leaders Manchester City in midweek which equalled their largest margin defeat which was first recorded back in 1934 when they lost 8-1 away to Stoke. The good news is that Leeds are on a 5-game unbeaten run at home. If you're looking for a first goalscorer bet then 6 of the 7 of Raphinha's league goals this season have opened the scoring in games.

Arsenal will be looking to continue their decent form after back-to-back league wins. Mikel Arteta's side are up to 4th in the table with the club 1 point inside the Champions League qualification places. The Gunners have managed to keep clean sheets in both of those victories. It's been 9 wins from 19 away league games during 2021 which is the most number of away wins they have recorded in a single calendar year since 2015. However, they have lost their last 3 away league matches. If you want an anytime scorer tip from Arsenal then Emile Smith Rowe has bagged 5 goals in his last 7 league games. 

There is some bad news for Leeds in the head-to-head statistics with the team having failed to win any of their last 10 games against Arsenal across all competitions. The two sides did meet as recently as just 8 weeks ago in the EFL Cup 4th Round when Arsenal prevailed as comfortable 2-0 winners. I am concerned by the absentees hitting Leeds right now. It might be something that doesn't impact them too much against the lower-placed sides in the table but it could really hamper them in matches like this.

Arsenal to Win @ 1.77 with SBK

Total Goals Scored Over 2.5 @ 1.83 with Mansion Bet

[StefanBB]

Tottenham Hotspur vs Liverpool

After a disappointing start of the campaign, Tottenham Improved its form after Antonio Conte took over the bench. They booked three straight wins that launched them to 6^th place, being only four points behind Arsenal and with three games in hand. The Spurs played all three games at home, though, but they helped them build their confidence. Still, the hosts have issues converting their chances into goals since Harry Kane has netted only once this season. On the other hand, the Spurs tightened their defense after Conte’s arrival. They’ll have a tough task in this one, especially since Tottenham’s top scorer Heung-Min Son won’t be able to help.

Although they haven’t shined lately, the visitors keep their winning streak intact. Liverpool booked eight straight wins in all competitions, and Jurgen Klopp’s side is only one point behind Manchester City. They go to this game after beating Newcastle United 3:1 at home thanks to Alexander-Arnold’s late screamer that sealed their victory. The Reds have been excellent when playing on the road this season, winning six times in eight outings. Liverpool has also been lethal for the oppositions’ goalkeepers, as they’ve produced more than three goals per away game. The visitors want to continue their run and the title chase.

Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction

Both sides will have selection troubles, but it seems that the hosts have been hit more. Liverpool enjoys an excellent form, and we believe they will keep up where they left off. Therefore, we expect the Reds to get back home with all three points.

Goals Market Prediction

Tottenham will have trouble finding the back of the opposition’s net since their top scorer is out of the contest. We could see an unusually low-scoring game on Sunday, which should stay under a 2.5 margin.

Liverpool to Win @ 1.60 

Under 2.5 FT @ 2.35 

Correct score 0:2 @ 9.00

[StevieDay1983]

Newcastle vs Manchester City

The hope is that we can get through Sunday without any further postponements due to covid and, fingers crossed, it's all good so far. The first game I'm previewing is the 2pm GMT kick-off between struggling Newcastle and league leaders Manchester City at St James' Park. It's a one-sided affair in terms of the statistics and odds but is there any argument for backing a home win? No? Let's take a look anyway! 

Newcastle sit in 19th place and are only saved from being rock bottom due to a slightly superior goal difference compared to 20th positioned Norwich. Eddie Howe's tenure in charge of the Magpies has shown moments of promise but the club are still 3 points adrift of safety with the teams above them boasting games in hand. Howe is unbeaten at home with his new club but he has suffered back-to-back league defeats by an aggregate score of 7-1 so defensive issues need to be addressed urgently ahead of this tricky game. If Newcastle fail to win this game then it'll be the first time they would've spent Christmas Day in the bottom three of the Premier League. Newcastle have also conceded 75 goals in 2021 and it's the most number of top flight goals they have conceded in a single calendar year since the 78 goals they conceded back in 1966. That record could fall here! However, they have gone unbeaten in their last 5 home league games against the reigning champions but Howe himself has lost all 10 matches as manager against City.

Manchester City are proudly positioned on top of the division and 1 point ahead of title rivals Liverpool. Pep Guardiola's men have won 7 league games in a row and their 7-0 win at home to Leeds in midweek showed they are in no mood for slowing their form down. The team has scored 20 goals and conceded just 3 goals during this epic run that has seen them become one of the most feared sides in European football right now. If the club wins this game then they'll become the first team to win 34 games in the top flight in a single calendar year. It would also guarantee City are top of the Premier League on Christmas Day and on the two previous occasions they managed this (2011/12 and 2017/18) they went on to win the league title.

It's hard to justify anything other than backing a solid City win. Newcastle have seemingly shown signs of improvement under Howe but their points earned under him have come against Brentford, Norwich, and Burnley. All three of those games were at home and they did win just one of those. Newcastle have only won 1 of their last 27 Premier League encounters with City and I can't see that record improving here.

Manchester City HT/FT @ 1.61 with Coral

Manchester City to Win to Nil @ 1.85 with BetVictor

[StevieDay1983]

Wolves vs Chelsea

Coronavirus continues to plague the Premier League and even though this 2pm GMT kick-off between Wolves and Chelsea is scheduled to be played on Sunday afternoon at Molineux there is evidence that both sides have got their team line-ups blighted by positive infections. It'll be interesting to see what teams both head coaches field here with the absentee list growing.

Wolves are still loitering around at the right end of the table. Bruno Lage's men are in 8th but now find themselves 8 points adrift of the Champions League qualification spots after a run of just 1 win from their last 5 league games. Fortunately, that single win came in their last outing that was a 1-0 victory away to an out-of-form Brighton. Wanderers come into this game without a number of players due to injury and illness including Rayan Ait-Nouri, Hwang Hee-chan, Fabio Silva, and Yerson Mosquera. There is good news with striker Raul Jimenez returning from suspension. Scoring at home remains a problem for Wolves with the team scoring a division low 5 goals on home turf in the league. However, just 3 losses in their last 12 league games shows how Lage has made them a tough team to beat even when they aren't winning. They are also clearly starting games very tight at the back having not conceded a first half goal in their last 10 league games.

Chelsea come into this game in 3rd place but having won just 1 of their last 4 matches across all competitions. Thomas Tuchel will also have a team hit by covid with Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Jorginho, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are all either ruled out or big doubts. The Blues have conceded in each of their last 5 league games which is their longest run without keeping a clean sheet under the management of Tuchel. Mason Mount is a player in form right now and the attacking midfielder could become the first Chelsea player since Frank Lampard back in 2010 to score in 5 successive league games for the club. That has to be worth consideration for an anytime scorer bet. 

The head-to-head reading doesn't make for enjoyable stuff for Wolves fans with their club having won just 3 of their 14 Premier League games against Chelsea. They have also kept just 2 clean sheets in their last 18 encounters across all competitions. This is a tricky period though with teams suffering absentees due to covid and preparations being disrupted. I think there is a big chance for Wolves to get something here but, ultimately, you can't deny the quality of this Chelsea squad.

Chelsea to Win @ 1.80 with Betfred

Anytime Scorer: Mason Mount @ 4.33 with Betfair

[StevieDay1983]

Tottenham vs Liverpool

The final game in the Premier League before Christmas Day is coming up at 4:30pm GMT on Sunday when Tottenham host Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. This is the first game back to competitive action for the home side after their last three competitive matches were postponed due to a covid outbreak within the squad. It's a return with a baptism of fire as they face one of the big title contenders.

Tottenham could be any sort of state coming into this game. The time off could have re-vitalised their players at a key time of the season but then having a large number of players come down with the covid virus and being unable to train means they might also be lacking match sharpness and fitness. Antonio Conte has close to a full team available for this game and they come into this game with impressive form under their belt. The Conte effect is clearly being felt now with the team unbeaten in 4 league games including winning their last 3 in a row with 3 clean sheets kept across those 4 matches. The team are down in 7th place but have 2-3 games in hand on all the teams around them. Unfortunately, Spurs have lost 5 of their last 6 matches against teams in the top six this season.

Liverpool know the pressure is on them to get a win here with Manchester City looking set to keep setting the pace in this enthralling title race. Jurgen Klopp's men are in 2nd place and have won their last 6 league matches with 4 clean sheets kept during that run. The Reds have been particularly superb on the road having won 8 of the last 9 away games. Virgil Van Dijk is still absent for the away team so it'll be a big challenge for Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate at the back. It's 7 wins in a row for Liverpool in this fixture so they have every reason to feel confident even with a key absentee such as Van Dijk.

It's fascinating to see Tottenham slowly improving under Conte and you have to feel that we won't get to see them at their best under the Italian this season and that is a scary prospect in itself. Liverpool have been unreal recently but we saw how much they missed Van Dijk last season. Konate is now on the books to come in for him so that'll limit the damage his absence could bring. This will be a close game and I wouldn't be surprised to see Tottenham scrape a draw but I think with so many players in their squad not having trained or played recently their lack of match sharpness could hamper them.

Liverpool to Win @ 1.75 with SpreadEx

Total Goals Scored Over 2.5 @ 1.66 with SportNation