EPL Tips and Previews, Week 23
Everton vs. Tottenham
11:30pm, Saturday
Week 23 of the English Premier League kicks off with a mouthwatering match-up (in the early markets at least) between Everton ($2.65) and Tottenham ($2.50) on Saturday night.
While The Toffees have been given a chance on their home deck, they will need to overcome a five-game winless run in the League that all started with a 2-1 loss to the Spurs on Christmas Eve. They produced more shots (13-18) than their higher-ranked opponents on the night – including an Andre Gomes goal – despite only having possession for 38% of the time.
Ange Postecoglou’s men should be considered value at $2.50 after recapturing their winning form against Brentford on Thursday and making it two wins and a 2-2 draw (vs United) in the new year. Club captain and star forward Son Heung-Min will remain out of the Spurs’ squad ahead of South Korea’s Asian Cup match against Australia. While his 12 goals will be sorely missed, the Spurs will be looking to score through Richarlison and James Maddison.
While The Toffees will have the support of the home crowd, it’s hard to go past a rejuvenated Spurs squad.
Suggested Bet: Richarlison to score at $2.65
Manchester United vs. West Ham
1:00am, Monday
While the market is firmly in Manchester United’s ($1.72) corner ahead of their clash with West Ham ($4.40), there will undoubtedly be a few nerves from Erik ten Hag and his men after the scrutiny they’ve been under this week.
Not only will they be backing up from a Friday fixture against the Wolves, United has also been in the spotlight after Marcus Rashford was pictured at a Belfast nightclub last week. While the Red Devils’ star has been cleared to play after missing the team’s 4-2 FA Cup win over Newport County, it is certainly an off-field indiscretion the ninth-placed United didn’t need.
West Ham will also be backing up from their Friday match against Bournemouth, where they will be looking to remain undefeated for the sixth-straight League match.
A win for the Hammers would put a gap between them and the chasing pack, but a draw at $3.80 seems just as likely at a decent price.
Suggested Bet: Drawn match at $3.80
Arsenal vs. Liverpool
3:30am, Monday
The two heavyweights will go head-to-head at Emirates Stadium on Monday, with the market siding with the third-ranked Gunners on home soil.
After losing consecutive matches to the Hammers and Fulham over the new year period, the Gunners have recaptured their winning ways against Crystal Palace (5-0) and Nottingham Forrest (2-1) in their past two matches. The scoring power of Bukayo Saka and Brazilian pair, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli, has been on show, while they’re ranked second for defense behind only Liverpool.
The ladder leaders are on the hunt for their fifth consecutive League victory after accounting for Chelsea, Bournemouth, Newcastle and Burnley. Mo Salah (14), Diogo Jota (8) and Darwin Nunez (7) are all placed in the top 15 for goals, while Allison Becker boasts seven clean sheets.
These two sides recently met in the FA Cup, with the Reds running out 0-2 winners at Emirates Stadium. Can they repeat the dose?
Suggested Bet: Liverpool to win at $3.20
