Premier League Weekend Preview – Ten Exciting Matches
We have ten thrilling games in the Premier League this weekend, with eight taking place on Saturday and two on Sunday. The standout fixture of the weekend happens on Saturday evening, with a clash between Arsenal and Manchester United. Both teams are currently in the top four and eager to secure a win against their rivals.
Manchester United cannot afford to let Manchester City extend their lead in the Premier League any further, making this game crucial for them. City already have an eight-point advantage, and with them playing at home against West Ham, they are likely to secure another three points this weekend.
Arsenal will also be looking to win in order to maintain their position in the top four. Their recent improved form, including a brilliant victory over Tottenham, has seen them climb the standings, and they will aim for a similar result against Manchester United.
Meanwhile, first-placed Manchester City and third-placed Chelsea both face relatively easy fixtures and should be able to consolidate their positions without too much difficulty. Other top-four hopefuls have tough away matches, with Liverpool traveling to Brighton and Tottenham visiting Watford. Tottenham, having dropped to 7th after just one win in their last five games, desperately need a win to revive their fortunes.
Exciting Games at the Bottom of the Table
At the bottom of the table, several important games are on the schedule as teams fight to gain crucial points. One of the key matchups sees 17th-placed West Brom take on bottom club Crystal Palace. West Brom sits just above the relegation zone and will need to start picking up wins to avoid a post-Christmas relegation battle. Despite being bottom, Crystal Palace has shown signs of improvement, losing only one of their last five matches.
Elsewhere, 16th-placed Stoke hosts 19th-placed West Ham in another crucial match for both teams. Stoke needs to capitalize on these types of games to pull away from the relegation zone. Meanwhile, Swansea, who have been struggling, need a win to improve their standing, and playing a fellow relegation rival offers hope.
Finally, Everton hosts Huddersfield in a game where both teams are fighting for different reasons. Everton is trying to climb the table, while Huddersfield is edging closer to the relegation zone. Both teams need points, and this should lead to an exciting contest.
Our Predictions
- Chelsea v Newcastle – Chelsea win
- Brighton v Liverpool – Draw
- Everton v Huddersfield – Everton win
- Leicester v Burnley – Draw
- Stoke v Swansea – Stoke win
- Watford v Tottenham – Tottenham win
- West Brom v Crystal Palace – West Brom win
- Arsenal v Manchester United – Arsenal win
- Bournemouth v Southampton – Draw
- Manchester City v West Ham – Manchester City win
What Games are on TV?
Chelsea v Newcastle – Saturday 12:30 pm, Sky Sports
Chelsea will host Newcastle at Stamford Bridge, and the teams arrive with contrasting recent form. Both have drawn one of their last five games, but Chelsea has won the remaining four, while Newcastle has lost theirs. Chelsea should be far too strong for Newcastle and should win this game comfortably.
Arsenal v Manchester United – Saturday 5:30 pm, BT Sport
The biggest game of the weekend sees Manchester United travel to the Emirates Stadium to take on Arsenal. Arsenal is fighting to stay in the top four, while United cannot afford for Manchester City to increase their lead in the standings. Arsenal has been in great form lately and looks set to take this highly anticipated clash on Saturday evening.
Bournemouth v Southampton – Sunday 1:30 pm, Sky Sports
Bournemouth and Southampton have both struggled this season, though Bournemouth has clawed their way out of the relegation zone. With only two points separating the teams, this game is crucial for both. Despite both teams needing a win, a draw looks the most likely outcome.
Manchester City v West Ham – Sunday 4 pm, Sky Sports
With Manchester City flying high at the top of the league and West Ham sitting in the relegation zone, this looks like a mismatch. City remains unbeaten, while West Ham has struggled. Anything other than a convincing Manchester City win would be a huge surprise to round off the weekend’s action.
Betting Odds
All betting odds correct at the time of writing.
Accumulator bettors will be eyeing this weekend’s fixtures, with many top clubs playing lower-ranked opposition, creating what some might describe as a “banker acca”. The two most likely teams to feature in every accumulator are Chelsea, priced at 1/4, and Manchester City, priced at 1/8. Liverpool at 1/2 and Tottenham at 8/11 are also expected to feature heavily, despite playing away from home.
For those seeking value, West Brom is priced at 6/4 at home against Crystal Palace, the same price as Arsenal at home to Manchester United in the weekend’s biggest game. Draw backers may be interested in the Leicester v Burnley and Bournemouth v Southampton matches, with draws priced at 27/10 and 23/10, respectively.
Betting Offers
- Coral is offering new customers 25/1 on a goal to be scored in the Arsenal v Manchester United match, a huge price for what promises to be a thrilling, high-scoring game.
- If you back Chelsea to beat Newcastle, Ladbrokes has a great offer for new customers with 25/1 on a Chelsea win.
- William Hill has enhanced the price of an Everton, Liverpool, and Tottenham treble from 3/1 to 6/1, offering double the returns compared to standard odds.
- If you fancy betting on a first goalscorer, Betfred is offering double odds if your player scores a second goal and triple odds if they score a hat-trick in the same game.
