The busy Christmas period is fast approaching and the jostling for places in the Premier League table heading into the festive time is getting stronger and that continues with seven more matches on Saturday including arguably the biggest match of the season so far.
As with most Saturday’s we have three kick off times so the action continues over the best part of seven hours to give us plenty to watch and bet on.
Early Kick Off
The huge match from the Etihad Stadium gets us underway as the title challengers Man City host the league leaders Chelsea in a match which could have a major bearing on who heads into Christmas top of the table. With Liverpool not playing until Sunday whoever wins this will be top of the table for 24hrs at least.
3pm Matches
There are five matches in the regular slot this week. Crystal Palace host Southampton in what is a huge match for Alan Pardew in particular while Stoke welcome Burnley to the Britannia Stadium. There is a bottom of the table clash at the Stadium of Light as Sunderland welcome the champions Leicester to town.
The other two matches see Spurs looking to get back into the top four mix when they host a Swansea side who should be buzzing after their win last week still and West Brom take on Watford at The Hawthorns with a place in the top seven overnight at stake.
Late Game
The action finishes at the Olympic Stadium as West Ham host Arsenal in a London derby which could well see Arsenal finish the day in third place is they win the match. West Ham need the win themselves to pull away from the bottom three so it should be an extremely competitive end to the day.
Betting
I’m going with three bets across this card although I’m leaving the big early match alone. I really think Chelsea are the real deal this season and I think they are great value but a theme of this campaign so far has been these matches that have been hyped up ending up stinking the place out and that puts me off there.
One match I don’t think will disappoint is the one between Crystal Palace and Southampton where I like the idea of both sides scoring. In only one of Palace’s last 11 matches have both sides not scored while Sunderland, Burnley and Hull have all scored against Southampton this season so there is a strong chance both score here. Sometimes I would be concerned about Palace tightening up after shipping five last week but I don’t think they can.
They’ll attack and Southampton will counter so this is well set up for both to find the back of the net. I’m also going to take a chance on Virgil van Dijk to score anytime. Having watched Palace miserably defend set-pieces last week the Dutchman should be a constant threat and we can afford to pay to see if he can find the net at 9/1.
I’ve regularly mentioned in Premier League previews how Burnley are chalk and cheese at home and away. Their only point on the road came at Old Trafford in a match they were battered in from start to finish while West Brom put four past them and Southampton and Leicester three each. Stoke are no great shakes but they have enough up front to find the net and enough at the back to secure a win. Evidence so far suggests that win will be by more than a goal too.
Finally in the late game I’m expecting to see a few goals. Arsenal have scored in every match recently apart from the Middlesbrough home game and they have already won at two struggling sides in Hull and Sunderland both by 4-1. West Ham just can’t stop conceding goals but it is matches like these that Dimitri Payet has his biggest impact so I fancy the Hammers to find the net on the way to this one having more than 2.5 goals.
Tips
Back Crystal Palace vs Southampton – Both teams to score for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Betfair
Back it here:
Back V.van Dijk to score anytime for a 1/10 stake at 10.00 with Betfred
Back him here:
WON – Back Stoke (-1AH) to beat Burnley for a 4/10 stake at 2.09 with 188bet
WON – Back West Ham vs Arsenal – Over 2.5 goals for a 4/10 stake at 1.67 with 188bet
Back them here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2016
