Can anyone catch Chelsea? The Blues have opened up a six-point lead atop the league table after an impressive win over Bournemouth on Boxing Day. Can the chasing pack gain some ground on the leaders, who host Stoke City this weekend? Check out our complete predictions and bet picks for Matchday 19 of the 2016-17 English Premier League season.
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Premier League Week 19 Predictions and Preview
*Check out all English Premier League soccer odds here.
Friday, December 30
Hull City (+310) vs. Everton (-124) – 3:00 PM ET
Everton finally nabbed their first away win since September with a 2-0 victory over Leicester City on Monday. It was a huge bounce-back win for the Toffees who suffered a gut-wrenching 1-0 defeat to arch-rivals Liverpool in Week 17. They will look to make it back-to-back road wins when they face reeling Hull City this coming Friday. The Tigers are mired in relegation quicksand, nabbing just 12 points in their 18 matches. They are winless in their last seven games.
Writer’s Prediction: Everton (-124) edge past Hull, 1-0.
Saturday, December 31
Chelsea (-440) vs. Stoke City (+890) – 10:00 AM ET
Chelsea’s incredible winning run is now up to a club-record 12 games after posting a 3-0 win against Bournemouth on Boxing Day. The Blues have been close to untouchable at Stamford Bridge, winning eight of their nine home games, with 24 goals scored and just 4 conceded. They will fancy their chances of extending that excellent form against Stoke City with Diego Costa and Ngolo Kante returning from suspension for this weekend clash. The Potters are fresh off a 4-1 shellacking at the hands of Liverpool on Tuesday. They are winless in their last four outings.
Writer’s Prediction: Chelsea (-440) stretch their winning run to 13 games with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Stoke.
Manchester United (-490) vs. Middlesbrough (+890) – 10:00 AM ET
Another team that’s playing well at the moment is Manchester United. The Red Devils go into the last game of 2016 on the back of five straight wins. United actually have a poor record at Old Trafford, with just four wins in nine home games, but they have a glorious opportunity to improve that 4-4-1 mark when they host Middlesbrough this coming weekend. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been in fantastic form for the Red Devils, scoring a team-best 17 goals this season. He will have his work cut out for him, however, against a Middlesbrough defense that has only conceded 10 goals on the road this season, fifth-fewest in the entire Premier League.
Writer’s Prediction: Manchester United (-490) escape with a 2-1 victory.
Leicester City (-104) vs. West Ham (+235) – 10:00 AM ET
What in the world is happening to Leicester City? The Foxes’ title defense has turned into a nightmare relegation battle with the reigning Premier League champions standing in 16th place with just 17 points to their name. So what has gone wrong for Claudio Ranieri’s men? Their once-sturdy defense has been exposed this season with the Foxes already conceding a whopping 31 goals. They will need to shore up their back four against a West Ham attack who scored four goals past Swansea on Boxing Day. The Hammers have won each of their last three matches.
Writer’s Prediction: The Hammers (+235) pile more misery on the Foxes with a 2-1 win.
Burnley FC (+120) vs. Sunderland (+205) – 10:00 AM ET
The Clarets are just tough to beat at home. All six of their victories this season have come at Turf Moor, and two of their three defeats have come against heavyweights Manchester City and Arsenal. With their last-gasp win against Middlesbrough on Monday, the Clarets moved six points clear of the dreaded relegation zone. They will look to create further separation from the bottom clubs when they square off with Sunderland this coming Saturday. Scoring has been a problem for David Moyes’ men this season with the Black Cats finding the net just five times away from home in the Premier League.
Writer’s Prediction: Sunderland (+205) stun Burnley, 1-0.
Swansea City (+168) vs. Bournemouth (+141) – 10:00 AM ET
Swansea City are now without a manager after the sacking of Bob Bradley. The American won only two of his 11 games in charge and suffered seven losses, surrendering 29 goals in the process. He left Swansea second from bottom in the Premier League and four points adrift of safety. The Swans will look to get their season back on track when they lock horns with Bournemouth this coming Saturday. The Cherries have struggled mightily of late as well, losing three of their past four Premier League games. They have conceded three goals in each defeat.
Writer’s Prediction: Swansea and Bournemouth play out a goalless draw (+210).
Southampton (TBA) vs. West Bromwich Albion (TBA) – 10:00 AM ET
West Brom’s road woes continued on Boxing Day with a stinging 1-0 loss to Arsenal. The Baggies suffered another late heartache as they were undone by an 86th-minute strike by Olivier Giroud. It won’t get any easier for West Brom this coming Saturday as standing in their way in their next match are red-hot Southampton. The Saints have lost just twice at St. Mary’s this season. They have allowed just nine goals in their nine home games this campaign.
Writer’s Prediction: Southampton cruise to a 2-0 victory.
Liverpool (+122) vs. Manchester City (+184) – 12:30 PM ET
The Premier League will end 2016 with a bang with this blockbuster clash between Liverpool and Manchester City. The Reds leapfrogged City into second place in the league table with a commanding 4-1 win over Stoke City on Tuesday. Jurgen Klopp’s men have now scored 86 league goals in 2016 – their most in a calendar year since 1985. The Reds’ unbeaten home record will be put to the test, though, by a City side that has already scored 39 goals this season, second-highest in the Premier League. City have won three consecutive league matches for the first time since their run of six from the start of the current season.
Writer’s Prediction: Liverpool and Manchester City cancel each other out in an entertaining 2-2 draw (+225).
Sunday, January 1
Watford (TBA) vs. Tottenham (TBA) – 8:30 AM ET
Where would the Hornets be without star forward Troy Deeney? The Englishman scored a second-half penalty against Crystal Palace on Monday to rescue a vital point for Watford. It was a momentous goal for Deeney who became the fifth player in Watford history to score 100 goals in all competitions. He will look to continue that excellent form against a Tottenham side that’s second in the EPL in scoring defense, allowing just 13 goals this campaign.
Writer’s Prediction: Tottenham eke out a 1-0 win.
Arsenal (-395) vs. Crystal Palace (+690) – 11:00 AM ET
Arsenal will head to their showdown with Crystal Palace with momentum on their side after beating West Brom, 1-0, on Boxing Day. It was a morale-boosting win for the Gunners who finally snapped their two-game losing skid. The Gunners vented their frustration on West Brom’s stubborn defense, peppering them with 26 shots. What gave Arsene Wenger so much joy, though, was his side’s sterling defense. The Gunners kept their first clean sheet in nine Premier League matches.
Speaking of defense, that’s one thing that the returning Sam Allardyce must work on with his Palace side. The Eagles have failed to keep a clean sheet in 22 of their last 23 Premier League matches. They have already conceded a whopping 33 goals this season with only Swansea and Hull – in 19th and 20th respectively – allowing more.
Writer’s Prediction: Arsenal (-395) ease past Crystal Palace, 3-0.
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