With Emirates FA Cup football taking place this weekend, we have a packed, bonus midweek Premier League fixture list to the look forward to. All 20 Premier League clubs are in action on Tuesday and Wednesday, with several mouth-watering matches to get stuck into.
The standout fixture of the week is no doubt Tuesday’s clash between Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool and Antonio Conte’s table-topping Chelsea. With the sides in contrasting form, the Blues have gone a huge 10 points clear of the Reds in the Premier League table and they’ll be keen to extend that further still.
We will also be previewing Arsenal’s home match with Watford, Tottenham Hotspur’s visit to the Stadium of Light, West Ham United’s clash with Manchester City and Hull City’s trip to Manchester United.
- Arsenal v Watford – Arsenal to Win -1 (4/6 at Coral)
- Sunderland v Tottenham Hotspur – Tottenham Hotspur to Win to Nil (5/4 at Coral)
- Liverpool v Chelsea – Chelsea to Win (2/1 at Ladbrokes)
- West Ham United v Manchester City – Manchester City to Win and Both Teams to Score (2/1 at Bet365)
- Manchester United v Hull City – Manchester United to Win 2-0 (11/2 at BetVictor)
Premier League
After back-to-back Premier League victories, Chelsea have gone eight points clear at the top of the table. Meanwhile, Arsenal’s late winner against Burnley lifted them into second, whilst Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur played out a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium. Swansea City moved off the foot of the table with a stunning 3-2 victory at Anfield, leaving Sunderland to replace the Swans at the bottom of the pile.
Arsenal v Watford – 31st January
We kick things off with Tuesday’s match at the Emirates Stadium between Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal and Walter Mazzarri’s Watford. Alexis Sanchez’s late penalty against Burnley last weekend lifted the Gunners into second place in the table, eight points adrift of the leaders. As for Watford, just one win in their last 10 league games sees them looking over their shoulders in 14th position in the table.
In the reverse fixture at Vicarage Road back in August, goals from Santi Cazorla, Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil gave the north London outfit a comfortable 3-1 win. Arsenal have won all seven Premier League meetings between the two, and they will be searching for another three points in this one, as well.
We can see Wenger’s men easing to victory against the Hornets on home soil on Tuesday. Coral are offering the tempting price of 4/6 for Arsenal to win -1 at the Emirates, which we think offers a good amount of value.
Arsenal to Win -1 – 4/6 at Coral
Sunderland v Tottenham Hotspur – 31st January
After falling to a fourth Premier League defeat in five last weekend, David Moyes’ Sunderland dropped to the bottom of the league table. Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur came from behind to draw 2-2 at the Etihad Stadium. On Tuesday, the Black Cats host Spurs at the Stadium of Light.
It’s been a pretty dismal start to 2017 for Sunderland. Not only have they hit rock-bottom in the Premier League, Moyes’ men were also dumped out of the FA Cup by Burnley. In contrast, Tottenham had an excellent end to 2016 and have made a wonderful start to 2017. Spurs have won seven of their last eight in all competitions.
Sunderland may be at home, but we can see the Lilywhites easing to victory in Teesside. Spurs’ last three wins have come without conceding, and we like the look of Coral’s price of 5/4 for Tottenham to win to nil at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday.
Tottenham Hotspur to Win to Nil – 5/4 at Coral
Liverpool v Chelsea – 31st January
The biggest match of the week comes from Anfield, as Chelsea make the trip to Liverpool. The Reds, who have dropped a huge 10 points behind the Blues in the Premier League table, will be desperate to make home advantage count against the league leaders.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have made an abysmal start to 2017, winning just one of their seven matches in all competitions. Still, Liverpool are the only side to have taken points away from Stamford Bridge this season. Because of that, they will be looking to secure a league double over their visitors on Tuesday.
However, Chelsea have hit back superbly since their defeat at Tottenham, and are beginning to look an unstoppable force once again. No side has a better record on the road than Antonio Conte’s men this season, and we like the look of Ladbrokes’ 2/1 for the away team to prevail.
Chelsea to Win – 2/1 at Ladbrokes
West Ham United v Manchester City – 1st February
On Wednesday, Pep Guardiola takes his out-of-sorts Manchester City side to the London Stadium to face Slaven Bilic’s improving West Ham United. City have already beaten West Ham twice this season, including 5-0 at the London Stadium in an FA Cup fixture three weeks ago.
The Citizens have dropped to fifth in the PL table, having won one of their last four league matches. In contrast, the Hammers have won five of their last seven to move into the top half of the table. City have dropped an incredible 12 points off the pace at the top, and will eager to start clawing some points back sooner rather than later.
City had no problems at West Ham’s new stadium in January – although we can’t see the same kind of scoreline, we do still believe Pep’s troops will secure their third win of the season over the Irons. Bet365 are offering the tempting price of 2/1 for Man City to win and both teams to score.
Manchester City to Win and Both Teams to Score – 2/1 at Bet365
Manchester United v Hull City – 1st February
After meeting in the second leg of the EFL Cup semi-final on Thursday, Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United and Marco Silva’s Hull City go head-to-head in Premier League action this coming Wednesday.
The Tigers put in an outstanding performance against United on Thursday, but despite winning on the night, Silva’s men lost out on aggregate. Nevertheless, Hull have made a noticeable improvement under their new boss. Thursday’s cup defeat was the Red Devils’ first loss in 17 games in all competitions.
Even though Hull are showing signs of life, we feel United will be too strong for them in this one. In the EFL Cup semi first leg at Old Trafford, Jose’s boys won 2-0, and we think BetVictor’s 11/2 for a repeat 2-0 United victory on Wednesday is the way to go in this one.
Manchester United to Win 2-0 – 11/2 at BetVictor