Game week 24 of the Premier League has some cracking matchups in store. Chelsea visit Brighton in Saturday’s early game and Manchester United face a tricky trip to Burnley, while Arsenal target their first win in 2018 when they host Crystal Palace in a London derby. There are other exciting fixtures to look forward to and some great value on offer this weekend.
Saturday 20 January
6/1 Brighton | Draw 3/1 | Chelsea 5/10 (14:30)
Chelsea will be hoping to return to winning ways when they travel to Brighton in Saturday’s early kick-off. Chris Hughton’s side dropped down four places to 16th in the table after losing 2-0 away at West Brom. The Seagulls are now winless in four matches, drawing back-to-back games against Newcastle and Bournemouth, before losing 2-0 at Chelsea, who they host this weekend. Antonio Conte’s men looked short of ideas in their goalless draw at home to Leicester City and were fortunate to get a point. The form and fitness of Alvaro Morata, who has now gone five games without a goal, and Eden Hazard, who has been substituted in each of the last four games he has started, is becoming a cause for concern. Conte could turn to new signing Ross Barkley to help create more goalscoring opportunities. Back the Premier League champions to claim maximum points.
1/1 Stoke City | 9/4 | Huddersfield 3/1 (17:00)
Stoke’s poor form continued on Monday night as they were thumped 3-0 by Manchester United at Old Trafford, with newly appointed manager Paul Lambert watching from the stands. The Scot, who signed a two-and-a-half-year contract, knows he faces a tough task of keeping the Potters up this term and 
will be desperate to get a positive result against Huddersfield. The sides played to a 1-1 draw on Boxing Day, but since then, Stoke have suffered four straight defeats. David Wagner’s side have also been struggling in the league, having gone five games without a win. Their heavy 4-1 loss at home to West Ham was their second defeat in a row. Prior to that game, the Terriers were thrashed 3-0 away to Leicester City. The sides are tipped to cancel each other out.
5/1 Burnley | 28/10 | Manchester United 6/10 (17:00)
Manchester United face a tricky trip to Burnley on Saturday. Sean Dyche’s men are struggling to find their early season form and have gone seven games without a win. In that run, they’ve suffered four defeats, including three on the spin. The Clarets gave United a tough time when the sides met on Boxing Day, taking a two-goal lead at Old Trafford only for a late double from Jesse Lingard to earn a point for Jose Mourinho’s side. The Red Devils, who might even have Alexis Sanchez signed up for this game, are riding a three-match winning streak and have won four of their last five away games. Back the away win at 6/10.
1/1 West Ham | 49/20 | Bournemouth 11/4 (17:00)
Both these teams come into this game high on confidence after recording impressive wins this past weekend. West Ham romped to a 4-1 victory at Huddersfield to lift them up to 11th in the table, while Bournemouth moved up three places to 13th following their superb 2-1 home win over Arsenal. These sides played to a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Vitality Stadium on Boxing Day. The Hammers led 3-2 going into injury time after a late Marko Arnautovic braced had put them ahead, cancelling out goals from Dan Gosling and Nathan Ake. But in injury time Bournemouth found a 3-3 leveller through Callum Wilson, who was offside and scored via a handball. I fancy David Moyes’ side to claim all three points this time, but Both Teams to Score is safer bet and still offers good value at 15/20.
5/4 Everton | 2/1 | West Brom 26/10 (17:00)
Sam Allardyce’s honeymoon period at Everton is over with the Toffees in danger of being dragged back into the relegation dogfight. A humbling 4-0 defeat against Tottenham last Saturday at Wembley extended their winless Premier League run to five games, the last three of which have been defeats. It’s in stark contrast to when Allardyce first took over in November, with Everton unbeaten during his first seven games in charge. West Brom ended a 20-match winless streak in the Premier League with a 2-0 victory over Brighton, thanks to goals from defenders Jonny Evans and Craig Dawson. Alan Pardew’s side will be desperate to build on that result, but they’ve won just once from 11 matches on the road this season, losing seven times. I’m backing Everton to stop the rot and secure maximum points.
5/10 Arsenal | 7/2 | Crystal Palace 47/10 (17:00)
Arsene Wenger’s miserable start to the new year took a turn for the worse as his Arsenal side – missing wantaway forward Alexis Sanchez – lost 2-1 at struggling Bournemouth. Wenger is already preparing for Sanchez’s exit and if he is able to bring in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Brazil sensation Malcom, while keeping Mesut Ozil, then Arsenal could get their season back on track. The Gunners are currently sixth in the Premier League, with eight points behind fourth-placed Chelsea. Crystal Palace made the Gunners work for three points in their 3-2 loss in December and since then, the Eagles earned a goalless draw against Man City – and were unlucky not to win with Luka Milivojevic missing a penalty in injury time – and won back-to-back games against Southampton and Burnley. I do think Arsenal will win this match, but Both Teams to Score is a safer bet and offers more value at 6/10.
8/10 Leicester City | 26/10 | Watford 32/10 (17:00)
Leicester City put in an impressive display in taking the game to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The Foxes dominated the game, but due to spurning several chances and getting reduced to 10 men with Ben Chilwell collecting two quick yellow cards, Claude Puel’s side had to settle for a 0-0 draw. The hosts will look to build on that result against Watford who have lost their last four away games. Marco Silva’s side came from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw at home to Southampton, but the equalizing goal from Abdoulaye Doucoure looked a clear handball. Silva admitted it was a mistake from the referee, but was happy to see his side snap a two-match losing streak. The Hornets’ last victory was a 2-1 home win over Leicester on Boxing Day, but the Foxes will fancy their chances of picking up all three points. My money’s on Both Teams to Score at 7/10.
1/8 Manchester City | 15/2 | Newcastle 17/1 (19:30)
Runaway leaders Manchester City welcome Newcastle to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday. City’s 22-match unbeaten start to the Premier League came to an end with a 4-3 loss to Liverpool in a thrilling game at Anfield last Sunday. Having won all but two of their league matches this season, Guardiola’s side are tipped to return to winning ways against the Magpies. With little value on the home win, back the Citizens to be leading at half-time at 4/10.
Sunday 21 January
17/4 Southampton | 28/10 | Tottenham 13/20 (18:00)
Mauricio Pochettino returns to his old club on Sunday as Tottenham take on Southampton at St. Mary’s. The Saints are winless in 10 Premier League matches – losing five times – but were robbed of victory against Watford last Saturday as Abdoulaye Doucoure’s equalizing goal was a clear handball. Tottenham are unbeaten in their last six matches following last month’s 4-1 defeat at Manchester City. Pochettino’s side come into this match off an impressive 4-0 victory over Everton which saw Harry Kane score twice to become the club’s record scorer in the Premier League. Kane was last on target in the league against the Saints last month, netting a hat-trick in a 5-2 win at Wembley. The away win is a top bet at 13/20.
Monday 22 January
9/1 Swansea | 17/4 | Liverpool 3/10 (22:00)
Liverpool travel to the Liberty Stadium on Monday night to face bottom side Swansea. As I predicted, Jurgen Klopp’s side overcame the odds to defeat Manchester City 4-3 at Anfield and end City’s unbeaten domestic run. That was the Reds’ fifth straight victory and they showed they can cope without Philippe Coutinho and even Virgil van Dijk, who missed the clash against City through injury. Liverpool thrashed Swansea 5-0 on Boxing Day and are tipped on the (-1) Handicap at 8/10.
TREBLE @ 34/10
Chelsea Win 5/10
Tottenham Win 13/20
Liverpool (-1) Handicap 8/10
Chadley Nagel
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