After the FA Cup took centre stage last weekend, the Premier League comes back this weekend as clubs look to get 2015 off to a positive start. The New Year’s Day fixtures are still fresh in the memory, and teams will either be looking to build on a good result, or bounce back from defeat. As we head in to the second half of the season, everything’s still to play for across the division.
This weekend’s live games cover everything from the relegation battle to the Champions League chase. We have five sides who are chasing a top four place, including a meeting between two of them as Manchester United host Southampton. Elsewhere Arsenal host Stoke, in-form Tottenham go to Crystal Palace and Liverpool head up to Sunderland. Here are our previews for each of those games, including a betting tip for each.
Saturday 10th January 2015
Sunderland v Liverpool (12:45) – Both teams to score (4/5 with BetVictor)
Both of these sides earned narrow FA Cup victories, and now they come into this game on the hunt for Premier League points. Liverpool find themselves seven points behind fourth place, and they don’t appear to have the consistency to claw that back any time soon. They went from 2-0 up to draw 2-2 against bottom of the table Leicester on New Year’s Day, throwing away two points needlessly. They can’t afford to keep doing that if they want to finish in the top four.
As for Sunderland, they come into this game after a 3-2 defeat at the Etihad last week, a game in which they gave the champions a real scare, coming back from 2-0 down to level it at 2-2. Sunderland are the draw specialists this season, 11 of 20 league games having ended all square. They can hold their own against almost any side now, and they could really trouble Liverpool at the Stadium of Light this week. Given how easily Liverpool let Leicester back into the game, you would expect Sunderland to have a chance against this defence. Both sides have been involved in games which have produced plenty of goals in recent weeks, so both teams to score looks a good bet here.
Crystal Palace v Tottenham (15:00) – Tottenham to win (11/10 with BetVictor)
Alan Pardew is set to make his home bow as the new Crystal Palace manager here, but unluckily for him he’s up against one of the league’s most in-form sides. Spurs are currently unbeaten in six, and have won four of their last five Premier League games. They sit fifth, just two points off the Champions League spots, and look to be finally getting the results some of their early season form had hinted at. After their 5-3 win over Chelsea on New Year’s Day, they’re certainly not a side you’d want to face right now.
Palace come into this game in awful form, having not won since November last year. They’re 18th in the table, and Pardew has a tough job on his hands to turn their season around. Their last two games since sacking Neil Warnock have been draws, against QPR and Villa, but they need to start picking up more points if they’re to stay up. With Spurs coming to town, things might just get a bit worse before they can get better. Tottenham are well priced for the victory here with most bookies, and the away win is our tip here.
Sunday 11th January 2015
Arsenal v Stoke (13:30) – Arsenal to win and both teams to score (12/5 with Coral)
Arsenal will be out for revenge here, after Stoke beat them 3-2 at the Britannia earlier in the season, the home side having been 3-0 up at half time. After their defeat at Southampton last week, the Gunners are now sixth, three points off fourth spot and a place below their rivals Tottenham. That isn’t quite good enough for Arsenal, but they’re used to coming back and taking fourth place after a stuttering start. They just need to get going sooner rather than later, given the enormity of this season’s top four chase.
As for Stoke, they have been in good form of late, securing passage to the fourth round of the cup, recording a draw against Man United and ending 2014 with back to back victories. They look to be in mid-table safety, with the chance of pushing for a top half finish, but they’re a very competitive side who are not going to just lie down here. They like to trouble Arsenal, but more often than not that happens at home. In their recent trips to the Emirates they’ve managed to get a goal, but always came away with a loss. We expect the same result this weekend.
Manchester United v Southampton (16:00) – United to win (4/5 with Coral)
The final game of the weekend sees third placed United hosting fourth placed Southampton, with the Saints having forced their way back into Champions League contention in recent weeks. They’ve won three of their last four, including beating Arsenal, to move back up to fourth, but they might not be there come kick off. A win for Spurs on Saturday, and the Saints would be fifth before they make the trip to Old Trafford. Either way, this is far from an easy game for Louis van Gaal’s men.
United look comfortable in third place, and seem set to make a quick return to the Champions League next season. They’ve gained a level of consistency which should keep them out of reach of the sides below them, but they can’t seem to get close to the top two. They keep slipping up when given the chance to close the gap, so they don’t seem to have what it takes to mount a title challenge. With nine points separating them from the top, it’s hard to see them being able to close that gap now. They should keep up their good recent form here with a win over Southampton, and that would be a great boost for their Champions League hopes.