Six more English Premier League matches take place on Wednesday and we take a look at each game including Arsenal v Brentford, Leeds v Chelsea and Liverpool v Sunderland
Prices quoted are correct at the time of publication but subject to change.
Note, picks will be added when we have some team news to work with on Thursday and Friday
Arsenal v Brentford
Arsenal’s 1-1 draw at Chelsea saw them finish Round 13 5 points clear at the top of the standings and they are now 17 games unbeaten across all competitions, 14 wins and 3 draws. They were without Gabriel (who remains injured) and Saliba (who is a doubt for this game) at Stamford Bridge but other players are returning from injury to give Arteta even more options for the busy period ahead.
Brentford’s 3-1 home win over Burnley moved them into the top 10 with 19 points, only 3 of which have come away from home. They did win at West Ham in October but they have lost at Palace and Brighton since then.
I think Brentford a better than their away record suggests and whilst I’m not calling an upset, I’m happy to give them a shout of contributing to the scoring given Arsenal’s have issues at centre back.
Bet: Both teams to score? Yes 23/20 with Pokerbet
Brighton v Aston Villa
Brighton’s 2-0 win at Forest moved them up to fifth position and they return to home truf here they are unbeaten with 4 wins and 2 draws.
Villa’s 1-0 home win over Wolves saw them finish the weekend in fourth, 2 points better off than Brighton. They have now won 7 of their last 8 league games with a 2-0 defeat at Liverpool the only blemish,
I like a 2-3 total goals bet and that has arrived in many Brighton games including 5 of 6 earlier home games. Given that bet has arrived in each of the last 4 Villa EPL road trips, it looks a decent stats play in a tricky game to call.
Bet: Goal range 2-3 at 11/10 with Betway
Burnley v Crystal Palace
Second bottom Burnley went down 3-1 at Brentford last time out, a fourth straight defeat and they remain second from bottom but just 1 point behind Leeds and West Ham. They have beaten Sunderland and Leeds in earlier home games and also drew with Forest.
Palace let a 1-0 lead slip in their 2-1 home defeat to Man United on Sunday which saw them drop to ninth place but still very much in the scrum of a host of teams separated by just a few points. They have won 3 of 6 road trips this season, drawing 1 and losing 2.
Palace ran out steam at the weekend and Burnley will make things tough. I see it being tight and will go with no more than 1 goal in each half.
Bet: Both halves under 1.5 total goals at 5/4 with Pokerbet
Wolves v Notts Forest
Wolves put in a spirited display in a 1-0 loss away to Villa but remain anchored to the foot of the table with just 2 points.
Forest had been improving prior to their 2-0 home defeat to Brighton. Recent results include a 3-0 win at Liverpool (3-0) and at home to Leeds (3-1) but they are still just 1 point clear of the drop zone.
Not a game I could ever be confident on but a chance is taken that Strand Larsen can find a goal for Wolves
Bet: Anytime goalscorer Strand Larsen at 2/1 with Sportingbet
Leeds v Chelsea
Leeds have now lost 4 in a row and are third bottom, just behind West Ham on goals scored. They weren’t bad in their last 2 games though, a 2-1 home defeat to in form Villa which they led at half time and last weekends 3-2 loss at Man City where they came from 2-0 down at the break to square things up only to concede another late goal.
Chelsea’s -1-1 draw at home to arsenal was earned with 10 men and saw them slip from second to third but in addition to some good results in the UCL they have now taken 10 points from the last 12 available and are clearly in good shape.
Chelsea will come up against a hard working Leeds side and given how busy the visitors been lately you can expect a few changes and probably a tough game. On the plus side Cole Palmer is ready to return but I’m siding with 2 or more goals in the second half regardless of who scores them
Bet: 2nd half total goals over 1.5 at 21/20 with Pokerbet
Liverpool v Sunderland
A 2-0 win at West Ham on Sunday was a much needed boost for Liverpool and came with added boost of a first league goal for Isak. The clean sheet was also a fairly rare occurrence after they had lost 6 of their previous 7 in the EPL along with a couple of really poor shows in the UCL and EFL Cup. Liverpool moved back into the top 10 but still 1 point and a couple of places behind their opponents here.
Sunderland came from 2-0 down to beat Bournemouth 3-2 and extend their unbeaten record at the Stadium of Light on Saturday. They have won at Forest and Chelsea this season along with a draw at Palace.
Sunderland do tend to sit back and play on the counter away from home and often struggle to create chances but they now seem to have found room to play Enzo Le Fee in a more central attacking role, he takes a mean penalty and is capable from set pieces and open play. I am backing him to register a shot on target.
Bet: Player shots on target Enzo Le Fee, 1 or more at 22/10 with Sportingbet
Note, odds are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change