League leaders Chelsea could open up a double-digit gap over their closest competitors by the end of the weekend’s set of games. While the championship favorites have a tricky visit to Burnley, 2nd-place Tottenham have an even tougher assignment away to Liverpool in the weekend’s marquee matchup. Read on below for my predictions and best bet recommendations for all 10 games in the Premier League.
*Check out all English Premier League soccer odds here.
Saturday, February 11
Arsenal vs. Hull City (7:30 AM ET)
This is a must-win game for Arsenal. After losing two in a row, including a shock 2-1 loss in their last home game against Watford, they can’t afford to drop any more points. However, despite Mohamed Elneny returning from the African Cup of Nations, he’s carrying an injury and might not be ready to return to the lineup just yet.
Arsenal thumped Hull 4-1 in September, but this is a much different Tigers team. Hull have found new life with new manager Marco Silva. After holding Manchester United to a goalless draw at Old Trafford, they stunned Liverpool 2-0 at home. Even with the absence of striker Abel Hernandez and defender Michael Dawson, the Tigers are still more than capable of making things tough for the Gunners.
Writer’s Prediction: Hull battle their way to a 2-1 away loss. Take the Tigers at +1.5, +2 on the Asian Handicap to earn big on a narrow defeat.
Liverpool vs. Tottenham Hotspur (10:00 AM ET)
Liverpool will come into this must-win matchup with Tottenham in horrible form. They have just one win in their last nine, as the pressure on manager Jurgen Klopp continues to grow. But despite the Reds’ current struggles, they will be at home, where they have been very good this season (7-3-1) and their high-pressing style is most effective against the big sides like Spurs and Chelsea, whom they took a point from at Anfield.
Tottenham have been uneven away from home all season (4-6-2) and will have to weather what should be a raucous atmosphere at Merseyside. Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino knows a draw will do his team no good in their chase of leaders Chelsea, but he and Klopp have drawn each of their first three meetings in the league, and this matchup is likely destined for another stalemate.
Writer’s Prediction: Liverpool and Tottenham play out a fourth-consecutive Premier League draw (+215).
Manchester United vs. Watford (10:00 AM ET)
United finally broke a streak of three consecutive draws with a 3-0 win over struggling Leicester. They are now just two points from the top-4, but they need to continue winning. They haven’t been able to win consistently at home, though. They’re only 5-6-1 at Old Trafford this season, but have conceded just 9 goals in 12 games.
Watford upset United 3-1 earlier this season, and have won back-to-back games after a seven-match winless run. But doing the double over United could be a bridge too far. Watford have conceded 22 only in 12 away games, and United should be able to break through eventually.
Writer’s Prediction: United likely wins, but taking the total to go UNDER 3.0 goals is the safer play in what is likely to be a low-scoring affair.
Middlesbrough vs. Everton (10:00 AM ET)
Everton are back! Since their Merseyside derby defeat, they’ve gone seven games unbeaten (5-2-0) and are coming off a huge 6-3 win over Bournemouth. That’s the complete opposite of Middlesbrough, who have gone seven games without a win (0-3-4).
It might seem a bit too easy to side with the recent trends, but sometimes it is just easy and doesn’t need too much overthinking.
Writer’s Prediction: Take Everton (EVEN) to get the away win.
Stoke City vs. Crystal Palace (10:00 AM ET)
Stoke are unbeaten in their last six home games, which is good. But they’ve won just two of those games, which is not so good. They also lost their most recent game against West Brom, and are now winless in their last three. They do have a good opportunity to snap their skid against a struggling Crystal Palace side which just got smashed 4-0 by bottom club Sunderland.
But as bad as Palace have been under Sam Allardyce, you’d have to think they come out with a much greater sense of urgency in this match after that humiliation at home.
Writer’s Prediction: Palace (+245) spring a surprise as they leave Stoke with a 2-1 win.
West Ham United vs. West Bromwich Albion (10:00 AM ET)
West Ham are finally turning things around. They’ve won three of their last four games, and have scored at least three goals in those wins. But they face a tough test in the form of a West Brom side which is tough to break down. Outside of their 4-0 loss at Spurs, they’ve given up just three goals in their previous six games. Expect this to be a closely-contested matchup between the 8th and 9th placed teams.
Writer’s Prediction: The two mid-table sides play out a 1-1 draw (+215).
Sunderland vs. Southampton (10:00 AM ET)
Sunderland gave their confidence a huge shot in the arm with a terrific 4-0 win at Crystal Palace. That’s now two promising results on the bounce for the Black Cats, who also drew with Tottenham in their last home game.
They will be at home once again for the visit of a Southampton side that’s lost two in a row and will still be missing top defender Virgil van Dijk. The Saints have won just twice away from home all season, and still don’t appear to have the firepower to pull off a third.
Writer’s Prediction: Sunderland (+245) see off Saints, 1-0, at home.
Sunday, February 12
Burnley vs. Chelsea (8:30 AM ET)
Burnley have been one of the best home teams in the entire league this season, with an outstanding record of 9-1-3. But they’ll have to be in full defense mode for the visit of leaders Chelsea, and they’ll have to do so without first-choice midfielders Jeff Hendrick (suspended) and Steven Defour (injured).
Chelsea have gone just 1-1-1 in their last three away games, but two of those games were at Tottenham and Liverpool. With all due respect to Burnley, but Chelsea should be able to find a way past them eventually.
Writer’s Prediction: Chelsea come away from Turf Moor with a rather comfortable 2-0 win. Take them at -1, -1.5 on the Asian Handicap for better value.
Swansea City vs. Leicester City (11:00 AM ET)
Swansea have been a club transformed under Paul Clement. They’ve won three out of their last five matches under their new boss, with their losses coming against Arsenal and Man City, and City needed a stoppage time winner to beat the Swans at home.
Swansea look miles better than the champions Leicester, who are an absolute trainwreck at the moment. The two are currently tied at 21 points at the moment, but based on current form, and the fact that Leicester have yet to even win away from hom this season – 0-3-9 – Swansea should get the points needed to overtake the champs.
Writer’s Prediction: Swansea (+130) inflict more suffering on the champions as they get the 2-1 win.
Monday, February 13
Bournemouth vs. Manchester City (3:00 PM ET)
Bournemouth’s defense has just been awful, even before their 6-3 beatdown at the hands of Everton. They’ve now given up at least two goals in seven of their last eight games in all competitions. And now, they face a resurgent Man City attack which has scored at least two in their last five games in all competitions, with the exciting Gabriel Jesus adding another dynamic weapon to that attack.
City have the most away wins (along with Chelsea) with 8 and the second-most away goals with 26. They will no doubt add to both by the time they’re through with Bournemouth, whom they already smashed 4-0 this season.
Writer’s Prediction: Man City makes short work of Bournemouth, 3-0. Take City at -1, -1.5 on the Asian Handicap for better value.
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