Christmas is fast approaching but we have one more round of Premier League fixtures to look forward to before then.
We have previewed five of the 10 games taking place in the upcoming round of games, including matches involving Arsenal and Manchester City.
A £10 wager on our three-leg acca would pay out £43.18, while the same stake on our five-leg version offers a potential return of £115.87.
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal: Under 3.5 goals (4/11)
Just three days after Arsenal beat Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup, the two teams will go at it again in the Premier League.
Palace took an early lead in Wednesday’s encounter, but Arsenal were the better side overall and deserved their 3-2 win. Palace just could not live with their opponents in the second half.
But with their home fans behind them, Oliver Glasner’s side will be tougher to beat on this occasion.
Palace are on a pretty good run in the league, having lost just one of their last eight matches, and Arsenal have struggled to create opportunities from open play of late.
Both of these teams are stronger defensively than they are going forward, so we should not necessarily expect a feast of goals.
True, we got five of them in the EFL Cup, but a Premier League match at Selhurst Park is bound to be tighter.
⚽ Select under 3.5 goals at 4/11 with bet365 ⚽
Aston Villa vs Manchester City: Aston Villa or draw (8/11)
Manchester City are stuck in a rut and they do not seem to know how to get out of it.
Eight defeats in their last 11 games is an extraordinary record when you consider how dominant City have been throughout the Pep Guardiola era. What started as a tactical issue in the absence of Rodri has descended into a multi-faceted, full-blown crisis.
Aston Villa have had their own issues in the first half of the campaign, not least as they seek to balance run-of-the-mill Premier League commitments with the glamour of the Champions League.
They will have no trouble getting up for this match, however, and it is a surprise to see City listed as comfortable favourites given how poorly they have been playing recently.
City will surely lift the malaise at some point, but they will struggle to do so here. Villa should be able to pick up a point or three.
⚽ Go for an Aston Villa win or a draw at 8/11 with bet365 ⚽
Manchester United vs Bournemouth: Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals (5/6)
Manchester United fans will hope that last weekend’s dramatic 2-1 victory over Manchester City kick-starts the Ruben Amorim era.
It is hard to be confident of that, however. United were poor for much of the game at the Etihad Stadium. It was only Amad Diallo’s brilliance that turned the derby on its head.
United are down in 13th place for a reason. Their opponents Bournemouth are seven places higher - and deservedly so.
United are not the best team in the league at playing out from the back, so the Cherries should have plenty of joy with their high press.
Bournemouth are yet to keep a clean sheet away from home, though, which is why goals at both ends looks like a sensible selection.
⚽ Choose both teams to score and over 2.5 goals at 5/6 with bet365 ⚽
Back the 3-fold acca ⚽
Tottenham Hotspur vs Liverpool: Liverpool to win (3/4)
Arne Slot made it 20 wins from his first 24 matches in charge of Liverpool in midweek, as his side beat Southampton 2-1 to reach the EFL Cup semi-finals.
Attention now turns back to the Premier League, where Tottenham await in a crunch pre-Christmas clash. The north Londoners beat Manchester United 4-3 in the EFL Cup in a typically eventful encounter.
You never know what you are going to get when Spurs take to the field, but they tend to give their opponents a chance. Against a team as strong as Liverpool, that could be their downfall.
Slot’s side have the best away record in the division on a points-per-game basis. They are also the only Premier League team yet to lose a game on enemy territory.
⚽ Tip Liverpool to win at 3/4 with bet365 ⚽
West Ham United vs Brighton & Hove Albion: Over 2.5 goals (8/15)
Julen Lopetegui has eased some of the pressure on his shoulders with a 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers and a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth.
The Spaniard is not out of the woods yet, but the players do at least seem to be playing for the West Ham boss.
Lopetegui still has work to do, not least when it comes to the defence. The expected goals data shows that only the promoted trio have given up more chances than West Ham.
Brighton have gone off the boil in recent games, failing to beat any of Southampton, Fulham, Leicester City and Crystal Palace in succession.
They have an enviable amount of attacking quality and depth, however, so the Seagulls look well positioned to take advantage of any defensive deficiencies from their opponents.
⚽ Back over 2.5 goals at 8/15 with bet365 ⚽
Back the 5-fold acca ⚽
About the author
Greg Lea
Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.
Follow Greg on X:@GregLeaFootball
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