I’m back to guide you through the upcoming Premier League matchweek with expert insights and analysis. Here are my five best bets for this weekend including a pitch perfect opportunity for Richarlison and a potentially lopsided match between Liverpool and Manchester United.
Nottingham Forest vs. Tottenham (Friday, December 15)
We have Friday action in the Premier League this week with Nottingham Forest vs. Spurs kickstarting the weekend’s soccer. We’re going to back Spurs’ Brazilian forward Richarlison to score here. He comes into this after scoring two goals against Newcastle and putting on a masterful performance.
Spurs needed Richarlison to step up in what was a big game and he put on his best performance all season. I’m expecting him to continue that form against a Forest team who have conceded 13 goals in their past five games.
Pick: Richarlison to score (+160)
Newcastle vs. Fulham (Saturday, December 16)
Newcastle come into this match on a terrible run of form. They’ve lost their past three games in all competitions, losing 3-0 to Everton, 4-1 to Spurs, and 2-1 to Milan in the Champions League midweek.
I think this is a “get right” game for them. Fulham come into this having won their past two games by the same 5-0 scoreline. I think with Newcastle’s poor form and simply exceptional results for Fulham, we’re getting a bigger price at -119 than we would have a few weeks ago. Regardless of the past two weeks of results, there’s a clear gulf in class between these teams and Newcastle should get back to winning ways.
Pick: Newcastle to win (-119)
Read more:
Burnley vs. Everton (Saturday, December 16)
The final Premier League game on Saturday sees Sean Dyche return to Turf Moor. The best value bet on this game is for both teams to score. Everton have scored in five of their seven league games away from Goodison Park and are in great form.
Meanwhile, Burnley have scored in five of their eight home games this season and play an exciting brand of soccer under Vincent Kompany. Suspensions to Jarrod Branthwaite and Idrissa Gueye will make Everton far weaker defensively, and I expect Burnley to be able to take advantage.
Pick: Both teams to score (-118)
Read more:
Brentford vs. Aston Villa (Sunday, December 17)
Aston Villa entered this match-week third in the Premier League and have won 11 games and only lost three matches all season. Compare that with Brentford, who have lost four in their past five games alone.
This Aston Villa team are one of the very best in the Premier League and they continue to not get the credit they deserve from the bookies. At +105 we’re getting a great price here, so we’re going to back the Villa.
Pick: Aston Villa to win (+105)
Read more:
Liverpool vs. Manchester United (Sunday, December 17)
We’re not even at Christmas and all any Man Utd fan wants is for the season to be over. This has been a terrible campaign for Erik ten Hag’s men and it doesn’t seem to be getting any better. Every time they have a good performance and look to be progressing, they lurch into another catastrophe.
Liverpool are top of the Premier League, have lost just one game all year and have scored 36 goals, the second most in the league. Liverpool have won four of the last five Premier League meetings between the two teams, winning by four or more goal margins on three occasions. In those past meetings the combined score is 21-4. Jurgen Klopp has the better of this Man Utd team, and given how well Liverpool are playing I’m expecting a thumping against their hated rivals Man Utd, with Liverpool winning by three or more goals.
Pick: Liverpool -2.5 @ (+185)
