Boxing Day signals the beginning of the second half of the Premier League season with a full round of fixtures. There is a chance for the top four to become more entrenched and begin to pull away from the chasing hopefuls.
Our previews include the latest team news and the best value odds in the market.
Tottenham vs. Southampton
Kick Off: 12:30 26th December 2017
Harry Kane’s hat-trick at Burnley pulled him level with Alan Shearer as the scorer of most Premier League goals in a calendar year. If Tottenham are as impressive at Wembley against Southampton – whom they have beaten in 8 of the last 10 clashes between the two sides – then Kane will grab that record with ease.
At home, Spurs are in good form with 5 wins in the last six, but only three of their nine at Wembley featured 3+ goals. The remaining six were -2.5 goals.
Alderweireld and Wanyama are unlikely to be fit while Winks is doubtful after suffering an ankle injury at Burnley.
Southampton are without Charlie Austin following his three-match ban while Bertrand and Cedric are out.
The Saints have won 1 of their last 8 away from St Mary’s, a run which includes 3 draws. Defensively they have real issues, not having kept a clean sheet in the last six. It begs the question of whether Virgil Van Dijk’s omission from the squad at the weekend will continue for this match.
Tottenham vs Southampton Premier League betting tips:
- Tottenham to win both halves @ 21/10 with Ladbrokes - Visit Ladbrokes!
- Tottenham to win to nil @ 23/20 with Coral - Visit Coral!
Bournemouth vs. West Ham
Kick Off: 15:00 26th December 2017
Bournemouth come into the match after successive 4 – 0 drubbings. While Eddie Howe will have been prepared for defeat, he has defensive issues to solve.
His options to make changes are limited with Defoe, Federici, Mings, Smith, and Stanislas out. Arter, Daniels and King are doubtful for this vital clash.
At Dean Court, the Cherries have yet to lose against teams in the bottom half of the table, but they are without a win in 6. Their form is dismal whichever way you cut it; no wins in 7 overall with 4 defeats in that run.
West Ham suffered their first defeat in four against Newcastle. However, their away form has been dismal with just 1 win in their 10 on the road.
Byram and Fonte are definitely out while Lanzini is available after suspension. Mark Noble is a doubt.
Bournemouth vs West Ham Premier League betting tips:
- Bournemouth to win by 1 goal @ 10/3 with Betfair - Visit Betfair!
- Over 2.5 goals @ 6/5 with Betfair – Visit Betfair!
Chelsea vs. Brighton
Kick Off: 15:00 26th December 2017
Antonio Conte has almost a full squad to call on with only David Luiz missing. While Chelsea have won 21 of their last 25 home games, 5 of the 7 featured under 1.5 goals.
The Blues are favourites and look set to continue their run of 5 consecutive wins.
Everton frustrated Chelsea at Goodison Park with stout defending and Lewis Dunk will need to increase the number of shots he’s blocked this season. His total of 30 is the Premier League’s highest this season so far.
Goals continue to be Brighton’s major issue with their last four away games featuring -2.5 goals.
Away from home, the Seagulls are in freefall. Three defeats on the bounce with no goals scored isn’t the kind of form you want to go to Stamford Bridge in.
Chelsea vs Brighton Premier League betting tips:
- Chelsea to win/over 3.5 goals double @ 15/8 with Paddy Power – Visit Paddy Power!
- Eden Hazard to score 2 or more goals @ 6/1 with Betfair – Visit Betfair!
Huddersfield vs. Stoke City
Kick Off: 15:00 26th December 2017
A well-deserved point at Southampton came at a price for Huddersfield. Jonas Lossl suffered a bad facial injury for which Charlie Austin received a three-match ban. That's little comfort to David Wagner who may lose his impressive goalkeeper for this match.
The Terriers are in good form with 1 defeat in 4 and on course to reach the magical 40 points which should preserve their Premier League status.
Their home form is good with few defeats and plenty of goals. They have won 3 of the last 5 with four of the last six featuring over 2.5 goals. Crucially in their fight against relegation, they are unbeaten in 4 home games against teams in the bottom half of the table.
Stoke on the other hand are in dreadful shape. The win against West Bromwich Albion was very welcome before Christmas but away from home, they have lost 6 of the last 9 and all of the last three.
Injuries and absences continue to hurt the Potters. Jese remains absent for personal reasons while Ireland and Martins Indi both miss the trip to Yorkshire. Johnson and Pieters are doubts but expected to make the matchday squad.
Huddersfield vs Stoke Premier League betting tips:
- Over 2.5 goals @ 23/17 with Ladbrokes - Visit Ladbrokes!
- Correct score, Huddersfield 2 – 1 Stoke City @ 10/1 with bet365 – Visit bet365!
Manchester United vs. Burnley
Kick Off: 15:00 26th December 2017
Bristol City, Leicester City; dare Burnley dream of scoring an injury-time equaliser at Old Trafford? Their home defeat to Tottenham suggests it will be wishful thinking, no matter how unimpressive Manchester United were last week.
Mourinho’s team has 8 clean sheets in 10 at home, winning 9 of those games with goals aplenty; over 2.5 goals were scored in 5 of the last 6 at Old Trafford.
Head-to-head, the news doesn’t get any better for Burnley. United haven’t lost any of the last five and in the last seven meetings, United kept a clean sheet.
Chris Smalling is added to United’s injury list with Matteo Darmian a doubt.
Burnley are unbeaten in three of their last five away games and only lost at Manchester City of the top five. Against the remainder, they are unbeaten in three away fixtures.
Manchester United vs Burnley Premier League betting tips:
- Over 2.5 goals and only one team to score @ 11/4 with William Hill – Visit William Hill!
- Romelu Lukaku and Manchester United to win 3 – 0 @ 25/1 Bet Victor – Visit Bet Victor!
Watford vs. Leicester City
Kick Off: 15:00 26th December 2017
Watford lost their 5th game in 6 at Brighton before Christmas and there is no sign of that run ending although as a bright spot, they finished the game with 11 men. In the previous five games, at least one player from either side had been sent off.
Goals are an issue for the Bees and Troy Deeney’s continued absence through suspension won’t help. Marco Silva will want Will Hughes fit for duty for added goal threat. However, scoring under 1.5 goals in 5 of the last 6 isn’t offering much hope.
Leicester meanwhile fought back with 10 men to take a point against Manchester United. The price is Danny Simpson injured and missing for this match while his replacement Amartey is suspended. They join James and Huth on the sidelines.
Away from the King Power, the Foxes are unbeaten in 7 of the last 8 with 3 or more goals in 5 of those fixtures.
Watford vs Leicester City Premier League betting tips:
- Leicester City to win @ 15/8 with Paddy Power – Visit Paddy Power!
- Shinju Okazaki, anytime goalscorer @ 12/5 with Betfair – Visit Betfair!
WBA vs. Everton
Kick Off: 15:00 26th December 2017
West Bromwich Albion are heading through the Premier League trapdoor unless they find some form quickly. No wins in 17 after Saturday’s 1 – 3 reverse at Stoke but only 1 win in 8 at the Hawthorns.
The Baggies have conceded at least 2 goals in 5 of the last 6 at home, with those matches also sharing over 3 goals.
Alan Pardew welcomes back Dawson, Krychowiak and Phillips but Chadli and Morrison are both missing.
Everton meanwhile, continue their revival. Unbeaten in 8 of the last 9 following the draw with Chelsea at Goodison Park.
A lot of hard work remains to be done away from home with 4 defeats in the last 9. However, the green shoots of recovery shown as they are unbeaten in the last two games on their travels.
And they enjoy good fortune on this ground. One defeat in the last 5 and scoring 2 or more goals in the last three visits to the Black Country.
Barkley, Jagielka, McCarthy and Rooney are all doubts for the trip to the Hawthorns but Bolassie may feature at some point.
WBA vs Everton Premier League betting tips:
- Gylfi Sigurdsson, anytime goalscorer @ 7/2 with bet365 – Visit Bet365!
- Everton to score over 1.5 goals @ 5/2 with Betfair – Visit Betfair!
Liverpool vs. Swansea City
Kick Off: 17:30 26th December 2017
Jurgen Klopp may want a new goalkeeper and defence for Christmas, but he needs to wait a week longer. Expect Simon Mignolet to drop to the bench after his howler in the 3 – 3 draw at Arsenal.
Joel Matip is on the mend and the temptation for the Liverpool boss must be to restore the centre-back to the starting line-up. Lorus Karius will take over in goal, surely?
Anfield is far from a fortress at the moment with Liverpool drawing their last three home games. However, they have only conceded 3 goals in their 9 home games so far this season.
Swansea are rooted to the bottom of the table and with just 1 win on the road – at Crystal Palace – this season. Their last six away games have ended in defeat, and they didn’t score in 5 of those.
Bartley and Bony remain absent with Fer, Ki, and Routledge are all doubts.
Liverpool vs Swansea Premier League betting tips:
- Liverpool to win by 3 goals @ 7/2 with Betfair – Visit Betfair!
- Both teams to score and over 3.5 goals @ 31/20 with Coral – Visit Coral!
Newcastle United vs. Manchester City
Kick Off: 19:45 27th December 2017
Three points at West Ham were very timely as Newcastle won their first game in nine Premier League matches. The enormity of their task hits home when Manchester City’s total of 55 points so far this season, is probably more than Newcastle will manage in their 38 games.
The Magpies haven’t won any of the last six of this fixture, losing five and conceding at least two on those occasions. Indeed, City are unbeaten in 20 of the last 21 games against Newcastle.
St James Park has seen them draw blanks in 3 of the last 4, conceding 8 in that time. However, the win may breed a bit more confidence, which they will need against a team on a run of 17 consecutive wins.
12 of those games have seen City score at least twice and in the last 7, there have been over 2.5 goals.
Newcastle United vs Manchester City Premier League betting tips:
- Manchester City win with under 2.5 goals @ 3/1 with Betfair - Visit Betfair!
- Manchester City to win both halves @ 7/5 with Ladbrokes – Visit Ladbrokes!
Crystal Palace vs. Arsenal
Kick Off: 20:00 28th December 2017
Crystal Palace are unbeaten in their last 8 Premier League fixtures and at home are beginning to put together a useful run. Unbeaten in the last 6, they have scored 2 in each of those games.
There is a vulnerability though. No clean sheets and in three of those games, they only claimed a point.
Fosu-Mensah and Ward are doubts while Delaney and Sakho are both missing. Christian Benteke returns from suspension to a team whose last six homes games all featured over 2.5 goals.
Arsenal by contrast are struggling away from home. In their last 5 away games, they have won and drawn twice, with the last three games all featuring under 2.5 goals.
Despite last year’s 0 – 3 rout at Selhurst Park, Arsenal hold the upper hand in this fixture with three wins out of the last four, scoring 2 goals on each occasion.
Only Nacho Monreal is a fresh injury worry and with six days rest since the 3 – 3 draw with Liverpool, few changes are expected.
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal Premier League betting tips:
- HT/FT – Draw/Arsenal @ 19/5 with William Hill - Visit William Hill!
- Christian Benteke, anytime goalscorer @ 5/2 with Betfair – Visit Betfair!
Enjoy all the festive football!
Please note all odds are correct at the time of publishing (12:00 25th December 2017) and are subject to change.
Min deposit requirement. Registration Required. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply
Click to Claim
