The Premier League returns after its winter break on Tuesday evening, with 18 of the 20 clubs in domestic action. There are interesting match-ups at both ends of the table, which makes for a competitive mid-week round of action. But, which teams are most likely to be winning selections this week?
Top Teams Look Safe Bets
The teams in the top positions of the Premier League look to have excellent chances of claiming mid-week victories. Manchester City welcome Brentford to the Etihad on Wednesday evening, and claimed success in the previous fixture against their rivals earlier in the season. City have a fine record in fixtures played on a Wednesday, as they have picked up victories in their last 17. Meanwhile, the Bees have lost their last four. City are priced up at -1000, which means that there could be extra value in City to win and both teams not to score at -163.
Liverpool will be looking to keep pace with City on Thursday evening when they host the out-of-sorts Leicester City at Anfield. The Reds are back to their formidable best at Anfield this term, having gone 14 without defeat. Leicester have won just twice in their previous five, and come into this after a 4-1 mauling at the hands of local rivals Nottingham Forest. Liverpool to win and both teams to score at +137 looks a decent bet.
Manchester United also look to continue their decent league form with a third straight win. The Red Devils have won their last five league games at Turf Moor without conceding a goal. United have also lost just once in the last 14 games home or away. We would be taking a chance on United to bounce back to winning ways at -163 this week following their FA Cup disappointment against Middlesbrough.
Huge Matches Towards Bottom
There are massive games with points up for grabs for the teams at the bottom of the standings. New-look Newcastle host Frank Lampard’s Everton on Tuesday evening. The Toon will be looking for back-to-back wins in the league, and claimed success in this fixture last season. However, the fact that Everton have scored in their previous ten away games against the Toon makes for an interesting angle. Both teams to score at -150 would be our pick.
Norwich have a huge fixture on Wednesday evening, as they look for a third straight win to move clear of the drop zone. The Canaries have certainly turned a corner over recent weeks, but are winless in six against Crystal Palace. Palace have also lost just twice in 20 league fixtures against Norwich. However, the Eagles have picked up just one win on the road this term. Cases can be made for both, but the draw at +225 would be our selection.
The final game we will look at is the fixture between Aston Villa and Leeds United on Wednesday. Leeds won on the road against West Ham last time out, but have failed to win back-to-back away games since May. Interestingly, this is Leeds United’s 4,000th game in the Football League. The last four teams to reach that milestone have lost their landmark game. However, Leeds have won their last two away games at Villa, and could be the value pick at +320.
Premier League Picks:
- Manchester City (Both teams not to score) @-163
- Liverpool (BTTS) @ +137
- Manchester United @ -163
- Newcastle vs Everton (Both teams to score) @ -150
- Norwich vs Crystal Palace- Draw @ +225
- Leeds United @ +320
