With the end of 2016 rapidly approaching, we’ve still got a number of Premier League and Sky Bet EFL Championship matches to preview.
The year ends with the blockbuster affair between Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, and 2017 gets underway with the tasty looking fixture between Walter Mazzarri’s Watford and Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham’s Hotspur.
With Chelsea still flying high at the top of the Premier League table, the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City will all be looking for a strong end to 2016 and a solid start to 2017.
- Hull City v Everton – Everton to Win -1 (5/2 at Coral)
- Liverpool v Manchester City – Draw and Both Teams to Score (7/2 at BetVictor)
- Watford v Tottenham Hotspur – Tottenham Hotspur to Win to Nil (7/4 at Ladbrokes)
- Arsenal v Crystal Palace – Arsenal to Win 2-0 (7/1 at BetVictor)
- Brentford v Norwich City – Draw (5/2 at Betfred)
Premier League
After seeing off the challenge of Bournemouth on Boxing Day, Chelsea extended their incredible winning run to 12 Premier League matches. However, with Manchester City and Arsenal also both coming out on top, Antonio Conte’s men remained seven points clear at the top. At the other end, Hull City’s 3-0 defeat to Man City kept them slumped at the bottom of the table, whilst Swansea City fell to a poor 4-1 home loss to West Ham United, and Sunderland were beaten 3-1 at Manchester United.
Hull City v Everton – 30th December
We kick things off with Friday night’s game under the lights at the KCOM Stadium, as Ronald Koeman takes his Everton side to East Yorkshire to face Mike Phelan’s Hull City.
After getting a much needed victory over champions Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on Boxing Day, the Everton fans will be full of festive cheer. Goals from Kevin Mirallas and Romelu Lukaku were enough to give the Toffees their first three points on the road since beating Sunderland at the Stadium of Light back in September. As for Hull, their 3-0 home defeat to Pep’s City left them rock bottom and facing the very real prospect of dropping out of the top flight of the end of the season.
Unfortunately for the Tigers, we can see Everton following up their win at Leicester with another triumph on the road in this one. Coral are offering the very generous odds of 5/2 for Koeman’s men to win -1 at the KCOM.
Everton to Win -1 – 5/2 at Coral
Liverpool v Manchester City – 31st December
Arguably the biggest game of the festive period comes from Anfield on Saturday, as Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool entertain Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. With both teams hunting down Chelsea at the top, which one of these can steal a march on their rivals in this one?
2016 is set to go out with a bang – and we’re not talking about the usual fireworks you get on New Year’s Eve; we’re taking about the fireworks these two English giants are going to produce at Anfield. Both teams go into this blockbuster affair in good shape, and it’s a game that really could go either way.
Being at home, Klopp’s Reds are the slight favourites with the bookies. However, it’s always difficult to rule out the Citizens. Therefore, we can see the pair cancelling each other out on Merseyside. BetVictor are offering 7/2 for the draw and both teams to score, a price we feel is worth grabbing with both hands.
Draw and Both Teams to Score – 7/2 at BetVictor
Watford v Tottenham Hotspur – 1st January
The first game of 2017 comes from Vicarage Road, as Walter Mazzarri’s Watford and Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur go head-to-head. With Spurs looking for the points to stay on the heels of the top four, Pochettino and co will be eager to win on the road in the Premier League for the first time since September.
Watford have had a topsy-turvy season so far, but they are a tough nut to crack on their own patch. The Hornets have won four, drawn two and lost just three of their nine PL home matches this term. As for Tottenham, they have taken 10 points from a possible 24 away from home.
Although Mazzarri’s men are strong at Vicarage Road, we can’t see the north Londoners having too many problems in this one. Ladbrokes have Tottenham Hotspur to win to nil available at 7/4, and we believe that’s a bet worth taking advantage of.
Tottenham Hotspur to Win to Nil – 7/4 at Ladbrokes
Arsenal v Crystal Palace – 1st January
The last of our Premier League previews is the fixture on New Year’s Day between London rivals Arsenal and Crystal Palace. With both teams needing the points for different reasons, we should be in for a cracker at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
The Gunners left it late to see off Tony Pulis’s West Bromwich Albion on Boxing Day. Olivier Giroud’s 86th minute header was enough to seal a vital win for Arsene Wenger’s men. As for Palace, they managed a 1-1 draw at Watford in Sam Allardyce’s first game in charge.
For the majority of Boxing Day’s match at Vicarage Road, the Eagles looked to be revitalised under their new boss. However, Palace failed to hold on for what would have been a priceless win. Although we believe the south London outfit will put in another brave performance in this one, we can see the home side edging it. Because of that, we like the look BetVictor’s tempting price of 7/1 for Arsenal to win 2-0.
Arsenal to Win 2-0 – 7/1 at BetVictor
Championship
The race to get up to the Premier League from the Sky Bet Championship is also turning out to be a fascinating battle. Newcastle United and Brighton and Hove Albion have been trading blows at the top in recent weeks, whilst the likes or Reading, Huddersfield Town and Leeds United are ready to pounce on any mistakes. Rotherham United still sit at the bottom of the lot, but they will be buoyed by beating fellow strugglers Wigan Athletic last time out.
Brentford v Norwich City – 31st December
On New Year’s Eve, Dean Smith’s Brentford welcome Alex Neil’s Norwich City to Griffin Park. After a disastrous last few months at Carrow Road, the Canaries have gone from a strong position as title challengers to mid-table obscurity in the blink of an eye. However, they will be eager to get back on track with a win at Brentford in their final game of 2016.
The Bees have also had an up and down season thus far. Brentford have lost five of their last eight Championship games, a run that sees them occupy 14th place in the table, nine points clear of the drop zone and 11 adrift of the play-offs.
This fixture is a tough one to call, especially as both sides have struggled for any kind of consistency or decent form of late. Therefore, we can see a share of the spoils between the duo, and we think there’s good value in taking Betfred’s 5/2 for the draw.
Draw – 5/2 at Betfred