We begin the Premier League action in England a little earlier than usual this week with two matches postponed from earlier in the season being rearranged for Wednesday and Thursday nights this week.
And it just so happens that three of the top five teams in the table, including both Manchester giants, will feature in those midweek matches.
This is then followed by a full weekend of games across the division, with some hugely important encounters at the top and bottom of the table, plus a game between two former Premier League giants that have fallen unexpectedly on hard times this season.
We then cap the week with a Monday night cracker – a London derby game which could see one of the Big Six potentially overtaken by a team that was expected to be a relegation contender at the start of the campaign.
Bet365 Sport offers a comprehensive betting service on all of these games, with a massive choice of pre-match markets to pick from, plus extensive In Play betting on each game when it gets underway.
Let’s now take a look at the games coming up this week in the EPL which could well have a significant impact on how the table stands by this time next week.
Premier League Fixtures & Tips
Midweek games shown will kick off at 8pm unless otherwise stated, while all weekend games kick off at 3pm unless otherwise stated.
Wednesday 18th January
- Crystal Palace v Manchester United
Strangely, Crystal Palace have won two of the last four between the two teams, losing just one, but their record coming into this game of four defeats and one win in their last five doesn’t inspire great confidence against a Man Utd side that have won all their last five, including a 2-1 win over Manchester City at Old Trafford last weekend. The visitors should be the team to back here given their excellent form at the moment.
Our Prediction – Crystal Palace 0-2 Manchester United – 8/1 with bet365.
Thursday 19th January
- Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspurs
Strange as it may seem, Tottenham have a pretty good record against City in recent times, having won four of the last six games between the two. City will be well aware that they cannot afford to drop further behind Arsenal than the eight points difference currently, so this is a game the home side will view as a must win encounter. I do feel City will win, but I think it is going to be a tougher game than the bookies odds suggest.
Our Prediction – Manchester City 2-1 Tottenham Hotspurs – 17/2 with bet365.
Saturday 21st January
- Liverpool v Chelsea (12.30pm)
Taking the two cup final wins Liverpool achieved via penalties over Chelsea last season as draws, the last four between the two have finished all-square and before that the last four games were shared with two wins apiece. However, with both sides suffering from a loss off form this season and well off the pace in the Premier League, it is a case of who can steady their ship quickest here. I’m not sure either team will do enough to achieve a win here, so a draw looks the best bet.
Our Prediction – Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea – 7/1 with bet365.
- Leicester City v Brighton & Hove Albion
Leicester’s improved form before the World Cup is a distant memory with the Foxes losing all their last four and Brighton, in contrast, have racked up three wins in their last four games to move up to 8th in the table. There are real problems at Leicester I feel and I think that lack of confidence is making them even more nervous in games. Brighton are more than capable of taking advantage of that here.
Our Prediction – Leicester City 0-1 Brighton – 8/1 with bet365.
- Southampton v Aston Villa
A huge win last weekend away to Everton has put Southampton back in touch with the teams above them and although Aston Villa are well clear of those teams on 15, 16 or 17 points, they won’t want to drop too many more points against teams below them. Inconsistency has dogged the Saints all season long though and I think that could be a problem here against a Villa side much improved of late under Unai Emery.
Our Prediction – Southampton 1-3 Aston Villa – 22/1 with bet365.
- West Ham United v Everton
What a massive six-pointer this game is with both of these teams in the relegation zone and desperate for points after picking up just one point from their past five games. It’s shocking to see both these teams struggling but their results have been very poor. No team has lost more than West Ham’s 12 defeats, no team has won fewer than Everton’s 3 wins. This will be a nervy and edgy encounter and I can see one goal being enough to win it.
Our Prediction – West Ham 1-0 Everton – 6/1 with bet365.
- Bournemouth v Nottingham Forest
The Cherries struggles have been evident in the last few games and they have dropped back down towards the relegation spots on the back of four defeats in five. Forest have gone the other way with three wins and a draw from their last five moving them well up the table and clear of the drop zone for now. A win for either team here would be huge and I think that we may well see Forest just get that.
Our Prediction – Bournemouth 0-1 Nottingham Forest – 15/2 with bet365.
- Crystal Palace v Newcastle United (5.30pm)
Defensively, both these teams are solid, with Newcastle having the best record in the division conceding just 11 goals in their 19 games so far. Palace have conceded 26, but that is still better than Spurs, Fulham and Brentford in the top half. Goals may be at a premium in this game then but I think of the two teams, Newcastle have the better firepower especially with Wilson and Isak now starting to get some understanding together.
Our Prediction – Crystal Palace 0-2 Newcastle United – 8/1 with bet365.
Sunday 22nd January
- Manchester City v Wolves (2pm)
After playing on Thursday night, Man City will be back in action on Sunday against Wolves in a game that they will fee they must win, especially in view of who Arsenal are playing later in the day. Wolves won their last away game at Everton and have picked up 6 points from the last nine in the EPL so this may be tricky for City, but they have so much class that you would expect them to win this one very comfortably indeed.
Our Prediction – Manchester City 4-0 Wolves – 10/1 with bet365.
- Leeds United v Brentford (2pm)
A side in form (Brentford) head to Leeds to take on a United side out of sorts, without a win in five and with just two draws in that run, one of those in the FA Cup. As such, the Bees, who have won four of their last five drawing the other, should be confident of getting something from this game. Leeds are tricky opponents though and I feel picking the winner here is a tough one, which suggests to me that a draw is on the cards.
Our Prediction – Leeds United 2-2 Brentford – 12/1
- Arsenal v Manchester United (4.30pm)
These two teams have bounced back in the Premier League this season and as Chelsea and Liverpool have faltered, they along with Newcastle have come to be the main challengers to Manchester City. Both teams are in superb form and United are the only team to have beaten Arsenal this season. Whether they can do that once again at the Emirates, I am not so sure.
Our Prediction – Arsenal 2-1 Manchester United – 17/2 with bet365.
Monday 23rd January
- Fulham v Tottenham Hotspurs
Can Fulham continue their excellent recent form against Tottenham in Monday Night’s game? The Londoners have won four of their last five, and their only defeat was a narrow one away to Newcastle. Spurs’ form of late hasn’t been great but they do have so much quality in attack, and their record against Fulham is superb over the years. They are too good to be in a rut for too long Spurs, so I am backin them to pick up the win here.
Our Prediction – Fulham 0-2 Tottenham – 11/1 with bet365.
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