The bulk of the next round of Premier League matches take place on Saturday with the top three all in action on what could be a pivotal day in the race for the title. A New Year might be around the corner but there is plenty still to play for in 2016.
We only have two kick off times on Saturday with the early kick off not in operation this week. Surprisingly given it is New Year’s Eve there is a late game.
3pm Matches
There is a big clash at Turf Moor as Burnley host Sunderland while the leaders Chelsea will go in search of a crazy 13th successive win when they welcome Stoke to Stamford Bridge. The champions Leicester face a resurging West Ham side at the King Power and Man Utd welcome Middlesbrough to Old Trafford.
West Brom make the trip south to take on Southampton while both Swansea and Bournemouth will be targeting the points from their clash at the Liberty Stadium.
Late Game
The day ends with second against third as Liverpool host Man City in a match where quite simply the losers can kiss goodbye to any chance of winning the Premier League in my eyes. As it is the winners will have their work cut out too.
Betting
There are three bets I like on what is a decent looking card here. I’m going to stick with my trusted Premier League bet which is Burnley because although the bookies are starting to cotton on to their excellent home record there is still plenty of draw cover on them in their match with Sunderland which is a cracking position to back them in.
I’ve no need to repeat what I think of Burnley but their home form is no fluke. They have taken 12pts from the last 15 available at home. Sunderland have only picked up four points from 27 on the road this season with a sound beating at Swansea recently highlighting their struggles on the road. I think Burnley win this so I’m on them again.
In recent times West Brom have been to Arsenal and Chelsea and only lost by the single goal in the game so I’m not expecting them to go to Southampton and get thrashed especially with Southampton having played 48hrs after West Brom in midweek and having played half an hour with 10 men against a rampant Tottenham.
I mentioned in midweek how only three sides have scored less than Southampton this season and it took a centre back to score for them in that match. Sides don’t get a lot of joy out of set pieces against West Brom and I’m not convinced Southampton will either. Saints have only scored three goals in their last five at home so I’m not expecting an avalanche of goals from them which makes West Brom attractive on the handicaps.
Finally I expect to see goals by the bucket load at Anfield where two sides potent in attack and naïve and poor in defence collide in a must win match. You have to go all the way back to 2011 for the last time a Premier League match between Liverpool and Man City didn’t contain three goals and I don’t expect that run to end here. Backing the overs in the goals looks the obvious play in that one.
Tips
WON – Back Burnley (-0.25AH) to beat Sunderland for a 4/10 stake at 2.06 with BetVictor
WON – Back West Brom (+0.75AH) to beat Southampton for a 4/10 stake at 1.90 with BetVictor
Back them here:
Back Liverpool vs Man City – Over 2.75 goals for a 4/10 stake at 1.82 with 188bet
Back it here:
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