The Christmas period is on the horizon for the Premier League and just over half of the teams get a step closer to that when they play their penultimate game before the festivities begin as another weekend kicks off on Saturday afternoon.
The leaders Liverpool are in action on Saturday in what is actually their last domestic clash before Christmas as they head off to compete in the World Club Cup next week. Their only real challengers are also on show on a decent Saturday.
Early Kick Off
It is top against bottom to kick us off on Saturday when Liverpool host Watford in the early start. Liverpool have still amazingly only dropped two points all season and while they have not been as tight at the back as we might expect at home, they take on the lowest scorers in the Premier League here. Watford start yet another new era in this match with Nigel Pearson taking charge for the first time and it will be interesting as far as their fans are concerned to see just what he has to offer and what difference he makes.
3pm Matches
There are four matches in the usual kick off slot on Saturday afternoon with the chasers Leicester City the highest team in action. They play host to Norwich City who will be eager for the points to assist them in their survival quest. Burnley are at home on Saturday and they take on a Newcastle United side who are in excellent touch heading to Turf Moor. Chelsea will look to respond to their indifferent defeat at Everton last week when they host injury ravaged Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge, while promoted outfits Sheffield United and Aston Villa meet for three more valuable points.
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Late Kick Off
We end with a huge battle down the bottom end of proceedings as Southampton host West Ham in a match involving two of the bottom five. The losers could well end the weekend in the bottom three, which is not the place to be with Christmas approaching. Both teams are in pretty ordinary form and have been playing mediocre stuff over the course of the campaign, so it will be interesting to see who has it in them to hold themselves together.
Betting
This is a really tricky card to call with so many really short favourites, each of whom should oblige but at the same time they probably all just want to win rather than run up the score and exert energy which will be needed in the busy period to come. That puts me off taking a bunch of handicaps here but I will go with one bet.
That is for Chelsea to be leading at half-time and full-time against Bournemouth. Bournemouth are absolutely decimated with injuries and now Callum Wilson and Nathan Ake have joined the casualty list which is less than ideal. Chelsea have flattered to deceive in the Premier League in recent outings but there is no denying the quality they have in their ranks. I expect them to make a fast start against a Cherries side who travel badly, and control the contest from there.
Tips
Back Chelsea HT/FT for a 4/10 stake at 1.80 with Coral
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