Another year starts with a day of Premier League action as three matches in the top flight take place on New Year’s Day where the leaders Manchester City have the chance to scoot further clear at the top while events at the bottom of the table are on the also under the spotlight.
Two of the three matches are live on the TV for us to enjoy in the UK and the other match will be covered in full in shows like Soccer Saturday as well as at all the social media outlets so we should be able to keep up throughout the day.
Arsenal vs Manchester City (12.30 – BT Sport 1)
2022 kicks off with two of the top four teams in the Premier League meeting when Arsenal play host to the champions and runaway leaders Manchester City in a game where all eyes will be on the visitors to see if they can move 11 points clear at the top.
City head to the Emirates having won their last 10 in the Premier League and are looking more and more like an unstoppable juggernaut right now. Arsenal have done well against the lesser sides this season but generally when they’ve come up against the elite sides they have been found wanting. That is a concern in its own right as is the fact that Mikel Arteta won’t be around as he has tested positive for Covid. City have had the full set of festive fixtures though so they might not win this as clear as they might have done at a different time of the season so I’m not too interested in betting on this one.
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Watford vs Tottenham Hotspur (15.00)
The second match of the day is the first of two London derbies on the schedule as Watford look to ease themselves clear of danger at the bottom of the table when they play host to a Tottenham Hotspur side who are battling hard for a spot in the top four.
Watford have lost their last five matches and seven of their last eight and you get the impression that something is going to have to give soon. Usually that is the manager, particularly as results haven’t improved under Claudio Ranieri. Their record against the top teams, that freak showing against Manchester United aside, are nothing to write home about so you would imagine this is a good chance for Tottenham to come out on top. They are unbeaten under Antonio Conte but they haven’t won away under his stewardship which puts me off a bit at odds on. This is another one I’m happy to leave alone.
Crystal Palace vs West Ham United (17.30 – Sky Main Event & Sky Premier League)
The final match of the first day of action in 2022 sees two more London clubs in action when Crystal Palace play host to West Ham United with both sides looking to build on good wins to round off 2021 and push on in their quests for the season.
For West Ham that quest is the top four and if Arsenal lose earlier in the day then they will go to within a point of them should they come out on top here. Palace will have their sights on a top half finish this term and they’ll move up to eighth if they can come away with the points in this game. That should ensure both teams look to win this one. I wouldn’t think either will play strongest sides in the FA Cup next weekend so the players on show here can give it their all. Palace are a much more front foot side these days and will have noted that the West Ham defence has gone AWOL since Angelo Ogbonna got injured. Palace aren’t watertight themselves though which gives the Hammers interest in attacking areas and makes me think that a fixture which has a history of over 2.5 goals with seven of the last 10 going beyond that mark can do so again. The other three games all ended 1-1 so goals do come along when these two meet. The reverse meeting ended 2-2 and I think this one will have three or more as well.
Tips
WON – Back Crystal Palace vs West Ham – Over 2.25 goals for a 3/10 stake at 1.85 with Bet365
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