2016-17 Premier League Week 21 Predictions, Picks and Preview

It’s going to be Manchester vs. Merseyside this weekend in the English Premier League. But with all due respect to Everton and Manchester City, everyone knows what the big one is: it’s Manchester United vs. Liverpool. To spare everyone from the suspense, let’s start off with our preview of that marquee rivalry matchup first before providing predictions and best bet recommendations for the rest of the weekend’s action.

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Sunday, January 15

Manchester United vs. Liverpool (11:00 AM ET)

So, United are apparently unbeatable now. Jose Mourinho’s men have won nine games in a row in all competitions (and six in the Premier League) ahead of their big game against Liverpool. United have a very good defensive record at Old Trafford – just eight goals conceded in 10 games – and Liverpool will be without Sadio Mane, who’s off the to African Cup of Nations. Mane’s loss will be huge, as could the absence of captain Jordan Henderson and center-back Joel Matip, who are both injury doubts.

The first meeting between the two at Anfield finished 0-0 with Mourinho employing a fairly negative gameplan. He’ll have a lot more offensive weapons at his his disposal this time around, though, and those weapons should help fire an in-form United team past their old rivals.

Writer’s Prediction: United (+101) score a big 2-1 home win over Liverpool.

Everton vs. Manchester City (8:30 AM ET)

Everton’s mini-revival took a bit of a hit as they crashed out of the FA Cup to champions Leicester. The Toffees’ three-match unbeaten run in the Premier League is still intact, though. The last time they were at home in the league, they smashed Southampton 3-0. Everton has one of the meanest defenses at home, conceding just 7 goals in 10 games.

However, keeping out a Man City side which has scored 22 away goals will be tough. City put five past West Ham away in the FA Cup last weekend, and will be eager to keep pace with leaders Chelsea. Everton’s midfield will be an unfamiliar one with the absence of Idrissa Gueye and the possible inclusions of new signing Morgan Schneiderlin as well as 18-year-old Tom Davies. That’s only more reason to be confident in City getting all three points.

Writer’s Prediction: City (-138) make it a clean sweep for Manchester as they beat Everton, 2-0.

Saturday, January 14

Tottenham Hotspur vs. West Bromwich Albion (7:30 AM ET)

Tottenham will be riding high after halting Chelsea’s unbeaten run last time out in the league with a 2-0 win. And with their FA Cup win over Aston Villa, that’s now five wins in a row for Spurs, who should be high on confidence. They should feel confident because of their home form, which has been outstanding. They’re still unbeaten (8-2-0) in 10 games, with 21 goals scored and just 5 conceded.

West Brom will be a tricky test, as Tony Pulis will look to make things as difficult for Spurs as possible. But despite putting up tough fights, the Baggies have been defeated by five of the top-six teams this season. Tottenham will complete the set this weekend

Writer’s Prediction: Spurs (-400) extend their win streak with a 2-1 triumph over West Brom.

Burnley vs. Southampton (10:00 AM ET)

Burnley’s home form this season has been simply spectacular. The Clarets have won six of their last eight at Turf Moor, with their only losses coming to Arsenal and Man City. They’re as close to an automatic three points as you’re going to get at the bottom half of the table.

Southampton, meanwhile, have been poor away from home, winning just two of 10. They got a big win against Liverpool in the EFL semifinal first leg, but with a lot of first-team players included in that team, the Saints could be a bit short of energy for what will be a tough game at Turf Moor.

Writer’s Prediction: Burnley (+220) book yet another home win, 1-0.

Hull City vs. Bournemouth (10:00 AM ET)

New Hull manager Marco Silva has a major injury crisis to contend with in his first Premier League game in charge. Silva could be without his first-choice center-backs, just two of 15 senior players who might miss out on the visit of Bournemout. That’s the last thing he needs to turn Hull around after nine matches without a win.

Bournemouth have been a fairly disappointing team away from home, with just two wins in 10. But you’d have to think they still have enough quality to overcome a severly depleted Hull side and pick up all three points.

Writer’s Prediction: Bournemouth (+118) beat a banged up Hull, 2-1.

Sunderland vs. Stoke City (10:00 AM ET)

Speaking of crises, Sunderland and Stoke both have a host of absentees to contend with, either because of injury or the African Cup of Nations. With both teams a long way away from full strength, it’s tough to see either side being that much better than the other. We could very well see the spoils shared in this one.

Writer’s Prediction: Sunderland and Stoke play out a 1-1 draw (+215).

Swansea City vs. Arsenal (10:00 AM ET)

New Swansea manager Paul Clement will be without at least two key players for his first Premier League game in charge, and possibly a third with Modou Barrow. The Swans are still stuck in the relegation zone and just went out of the FA Cup after losing to Hull.

Swansea got a big 2-1 away win over Crystal Palace in Clement’s first game in charge, and will now face an Arsenal team which hasn’t been quite at its best. The Gunners needed a fantastic comeback just to draw 3-3 against Bournemouth in their last Premier League away game. But Arsenal will be desperate for all three points to keep pace with the leaders, and they have the quality to go get it.

Writer’s Prediction: Arsenal(-245) get back to winning ways with a 2-0 away win over the Swans.

Watford vs. Middlesbrough (10:00 AM ET)

Watford got a much-needed 2-0 win against Burton Albion in the FA Cup to arrest a five-game slide without a win. The Hornets have a handful of injury concerns to contend with ahead of their home game against Middlesbrough.

Boro also got a nice 3-0 win in the FA Cup, but they have been atrocious away from home. They have just one win and five draws in 10 home games. Boro have a good chance of adding to that one win, but wit their lack of firepower (a league-low 17 goals), they’ll most likely just add another draw to their record.

Writer’s Prediction: Watford and Middlesbrough battle to a goalless draw (+182).

West Ham United vs. Crystal Palace (10:00 AM ET)

It’s a homecoming for new Crystal Palace boss Sam Allardyce as he visits his old club, West Ham. The new Eagles boss has yet to record a win for his new club, having lost to Arsenal and Swansea. But it feels like a matter of time before he turns things around, and a matchup against West Ham looks like the perfect opportunity.

The Hammers have lost three games in a row (with zero goals scored) and have lost back-to-back home games to the Manchester clubs by an aggregate score of 7-0. Their best player, Dimitri Payet, wants out and there’s no one to fill his boots.

Writer’s Prediction: Allardyce haunts his old club as he leads Crystal Palace (+210) to a 2-1 win.

Leicester City vs. Chelsea (12:30 PM ET)

Leicester are unbeaten in 23 of their last 25 matches at home, but one of those two losses came on Boxing Day against Everton. The visit of leaders Chelsea will threaten a third home loss, especially with Leicester without three of their most potent forwards (Riyad Mahrez, Islam Slimani, and Ahmed Musa) on African Cup of Nations duty.

Chelsea don’t score a lot of away goals (just 14 in 10 games) but they have only conceded nine goals, and have won seven of those 10 games. Expect a response from the Blues after they were beaten by Tottenham, and expect the championship favorites outclassing the reigning champs in the end.

Writer’s Prediction: Chelsea (-180) comfortably take care of Leicester, 2-0.

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