We are about to reach the halfway point in the Premier League season and there are some very interesting looking matches to mark the occasion. On Friday evening we are treated to a clash between Arsenal and Liverpool, two sides both eyeing up a top four spot this season. Surprisingly Burnley also remain in the hunt to join them too and the sixth placed Clarets take on Tottenham at Turf Moor.
The title race looks to be over for Man United and Chelsea, not to mention the rest of the teams, but that doesn’t mean either side will be looking to take things easy. United face a tricky test against a revitalised Leicester City side who have largely performed well since Claude Puel replaced Craig Shakespeare. As for Chelsea, they have the challenge of Everton awaiting them, another club who swapped their manager to good effect this season.
Friday 22nd December 2017
Arsenal v Liverpool (19:45) – Liverpool to win (9/5 with BetVictor)
The Emirates has been a place where the Gunners have enjoyed their football this year bar during the 3-1 loss to Manchester United. In every other league game there this season Arsene Wenger’s side have collected three points so they boast an intimidating record coming into this game. What is a concern for Arsenal however is their rather poor record against the ‘top six’. Last season they had the worst record from the top six mini league and this season their only victory has come against a stuttering Tottenham side.
Liverpool began the season looking very vulnerable on the road but you wouldn’t have guessed that judging by their recent performances. They claimed a 3-0 win over Stoke at the end of November, gave Brighton their biggest defeat of the season in a 5-1 hammering and then breezed effortlessly past Bournemouth 4-0 last weekend. Some great performances away from home and ones in which the Reds looked defensively sound will give them a huge boost ahead of this contest. They hammered Arsenal at the start of the season 4-0 and with Mohammed Salah in unstoppable form, they are exceptionally well priced for the victory here.
Saturday 23rd December 2017
Everton v Chelsea (12:30) – Draw (3/1 with BetVictor)
Antonio Conte spoke out about how Man City’s sensational winning streak has overshadowed Chelsea’s own fine run of form, one that has seen them win eight of their last 10 league games. In this time it has been their backline that has impressed the most, conceding just six goals. These solid foundations make them tough to beat and bringing Andreas Christensen into the heart of defence has turned out to be a very shrewd move by Antonio Conte. Their rear-guard will be missing the suspended Marcos Alonso for this game though, perhaps making the Blues a little vulnerable down the left hand side.
Sam Allardyce has wasted no time in turning things around at Goodison Park. The previously struggling Toffees have now won four of their five games since the former England boss was appointed. Wayne Rooney is one player who seems to be relishing have a fresh face in charge and he’s managed to net in each of his last three appearances. Things have improved drastically in defence too, the Merseysiders formerly had the worst defence in the league but they’ve let in just two goals in their last six games across all competitions. With Everton playing more like people expected at the start of the season, they should have enough about them to claim a point here.
Burnley v Tottenham Hotspur (17:30) – Burnley to win or draw (6/4 with Betfair)
Burnley have been this season’s surprise package, quietly going about their business and finding themselves just two points behind a top four spot. They rarely win emphatically, in fact just one of their nine victories this season has been by more than one goal, but grinding out the three points is something they’ve mastered. Sean Dyche knows exactly how to get the best out of his players and they’ve become a very tough nut to crack both home and away. Only one side has had the beating of them in their least eight league matches at Turf Moor and even then it took an incredibly late goal from Arsenal to steal the points.
While Tottenham may only have a point fewer than Burnley, Mauricio Pochettino must be a little frustrated with how their league campaign has panned out. Regularly frustrated at home by deep sitting defences, their away form has taken a hit recently too. Spurs haven’t won a single one of their last five league away matches although that said, they have faced Arsenal, Man City and Man United in this time. Their inability to find a way past a well marshalled backline is a real problem and it’s led to them scoring 1.7 goals a game this season compared with 2.4 last year. With this is mind, a very stubborn Burnley side seem extremely well priced to avoid defeat here.
Leicester City v Manchester United (19:45) – Leicester to win or draw (11/10 with Betfair)
The Foxes were unexpectedly beaten 3-0 by Crystal Palace last weekend but that shouldn’t detract from the great impact Claude Puel has had since taking over. Leicester have lost just two games since his appointment and the match against Palace can simply be considered as one-off bad day. You can expect a big response from the home side here and their attacking talents should regain the spark they had when firing three past Newcastle and four past Southampton. The United defence is of course quite a stern one but they’ve let in three times more league goals away than at home.
The only time United have failed to win during their last seven league tests was against their seemingly unstoppable rivals Man City. Outside of this game Mourinho’s men have been getting the job done although often not in the most convincing of fashion. One-goal victories over Bournemouth and West Brom last week are not the results of a side playing at the top of their game. Away from home United always look a little more liable for a slip up and against a Foxes side who have generally impressed lately, don’t bank on the visitors winning this match.