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Everton’s clash with Liverpool, the last Merseyside derby to be played at Goodison Park, will be an emotional clash for the home side. Will that be enough to lift the Toffees to a famous win over their high-flying cross-town rivals?
Two other derbies catch the eye this weekend as Fulham host Arsenal while Chelsea travel to Tottenham.
EVERTON v LIVERPOOL
History: Liverpool has dominated the Merseyside Derby for many years, losing just five times in the league since the turn of the century. One of those defeats came last April when the Toffees won 2-0 at Goodison.
Overview: Everton clawed their way well clear of the drop zone with a season-best performance against Wolves midweek, winning 4-0 and it could have been more. That makes it just two losses in their last ten and ended a four-match streak without scoring. It's the sort of form that will give them a sniff of hope on what will be an emotion-charged match.
Liverpool dropped a couple of points at St James' Park midweek in a classic. Stand-in keeper Kelleher made a dreadful blunder in the closing stages to allow Newcastle an equaliser. Salah starred again with two goals and an assist – the Reds would be mad not to secure him to a contract extension.
The visitors must be favoured, but I'm sure it will be close.
Prediction: Liverpool to win at $1.45.
ASTON VILLA v SOUTHAMPTON
History: Until the 21/22 season this was a meeting that Southampton did well in for many years. However, the last three encounters have seen Villa prevail without conceding.
Overview: Villa got things back on track with a comprehensive 3-1 win over Brentford on Wednesday evening. It ended a horror run that saw the Villains pick up just two points from their previous five games. Their home form remains reliable though, with a luckless loss to Arsenal the only defeat at Villa Park this season.
With just over a third of the season gone things already look dire for Southampton. A 5-1 thumping at the hands of Chelsea midweek sees them seven points plus goal difference away from safety. The Saints have shipped three goals or more on eight occasions in the campaign to date in all competitions. Unless they tighten that up, they are heading straight back to the Championship.
Prediction: Aston Villa to win at $1.40.
BRENTFORD v NEWCASTLE
History: There have been six meetings since Brentford arrived in the Premier League – five have been won by Newcastle and the other drawn. All three matches in west London have seen the Magpies leave with all three points.
Overview: There are two Brentfords. The home version is an irrepressible force that is yet to taste defeat seven league matches this season, scoring a massive 22 goals in the process. The away version has picked up a solitary point and netted a paltry five goals in six games. Their first half at Villa Park midweek, against a side that is struggling, was tepid. No doubt we will see a different outfit for this one.
It is a similar but less dramatic tale for Newcastle, who are far more effective at St James Park. Their pulsating 3-3 draw with Liverpool on home soil midweek was one for the ages. They dominated the Reds in the first half the way no other side in 24/25 has done. They then showed great determination to come from behind late, with the brilliant Guimaraes pulling the strings. If they can travel better, another top four finish is not out of the question.
Expecting lots of goals – potentially the match of the round for the neutral observer.
Prediction: Draw at $3.80.
CRYSTAL PALACE v MANCHESTER CITY
History: Palace has managed just three wins in 22 matches against City since they returned to the top-flight in 2013/14. Oddly, two of those came at the Etihad.
Overview: Palace is still walking the tightrope, but recent efforts have been encouraging. Draws with Newcastle and Villa were followed by a gritty win at Portman Road midweek – not an easy place to visit. A paucity of goals continues to be an issue, but by the same token their defence is mostly sound. Save for losses to West Ham and Fulham, their Selhurst Park form has been strong.
Man City finally awoke from their slumber with a decisive 3-0 win over Forest midweek. It ended a remarkably poor run by any standard, let alone theirs. They had found the net just twice in the five previous league matches before Wednesday's success, with Haaland uncharacteristically impotent. The reality is they cannot afford to drop more than a eight or so points in the next 24 games to win an unprecedented fifth straight title. It looks a bridge too far, but they should get things rolling with a win here.
Prediction: Manchester City to win at $1.60.
MANCHESTER UTD v NOTTINGHAM FOREST
History: These sides have met seven times in all competitions since December 2022, with Man U winning six of them. Forest's last win at Old Trafford came almost 30 years ago to the day.
Overview: Man U may have come away from the Emirates with nothing on Wednesday evening, but the quality of the performance must have pleased new manager Amorim. Only questionable goals from corners breached an otherwise resilient defence. It followed a big win at Everton which saw the resurgence of Marcus Rashford – if the new gaffer can get his head in the right place they can move up from 13th quick smart.
Forest's wheels haven't fallen off but look very wobbly. Aside from their memorable win at Anfield, recent form against quality opposition has been poor, with recent losses to Newcastle, Arsenal and City. Momentum is a powerful thing in sport, and without it this looks a daunting trip for Nuno's men.
Prediction: Manchester United to win at $1.65.
FULHAM v ARSENAL
History: Fulham derailed Arsenal's title hopes last season when they grabbed an unlikely 2-1 at the Cottage. Prior to that, Fulham had picked up just two points of a possible 30.
Overview: Fulham is one of the more enigmatic sides in the league. Just when they look like a serious European qualification candidate things go awry. The 4-1 loss at home to Wolves was a dreadful performance but has been followed by a draw at Tottenham them an impressive win over high-flyers Brighton at home on Thursday evening. Their six wins prior to this came in three groups of two, so they do hold form when they find it – for a short while anyway.
Arsenal are being called 'Stoke Mark II' due to their heavy reliance on set piece goals, particularly corners. If referees start penalising the pushing and barging that leads up to these goals, they might be in a spot of bother. Three straight wins in the league, all by clear margins, has set them back on track but there is a vulnerability to the 24/25 version that wasn't there for most of 23/24. This is a historically good game for the Gunners, but this should be very tight.
Prediction: Draw at $4.20.
IPSWICH v BOURNEMOUTH
History: There have been four meetings between these teams in the 21st century. All were in the Championship, and each ended in a score draw.
Overview: Life in the top-flight has been tough for Ipswich. A loss at home to Palace midweek, a game they played well enough in to earn at least a point, sees them three points adrift of safety. They are generally tough to beat though, with their last six matches being drawn or decided by a solitary goal. The Tractor Boys haven't scored in the last 227 minutes which needs to be corrected.
Bournemouth has had a diamonds or stones season. The significant scalps of Man City, Arsenal, and most recently Tottenham on Thursday evening, sit amongst five defeats. Getting the defence right is key, and a clean sheet against Spurs midweek will please the gaffer no end. The away form isn't great, although a 4-2 win at Wolves last weekend was encouraging. A good side, particularly pleasing on the eye, and capable of a spot in Europe if they find a little consistency.
Prediction: Bournemouth to win at $2.10.
LEICESTER v BRIGHTON
History: Leicester has the edge of late, losing just twice in the past 14 encounters across all competitions. The Foxes are undefeated in the last nine clashes at the King Power.
Overview: Leicester heralded the arrival of new manager Ruud Van Nistelrooy with a 3-1 over struggling West Ham at home on Tuesday evening. The caveat is that the visitors created enough chances to win three games but couldn't convert until the 93rd minute. A better side would have put the Foxes to sleep before half time. This is a side that leaks far too many goals, and a wounded Brighton pose a daunting task.
The Seagulls excellent table position has been damaged by a couple of poor results in the past seven days. A draw at home to the hapless Southampton was followed by a comprehensive defeat at the hands of Fulham on Thursday evening. It is interesting that, at home, they have failed to beat Ipswich, Forest, Wolves and Southampton to date – all games they would expect to win. That's eight points gone. Some fine results on the road keep them afloat. They are wounded and will be keen to put the Thursday night debacle behind them.
Prediction: Brighton to win at $1.75.
TOTTENHAM v CHELSEA
History: Chelsea has become a bogey team for Spurs. In the past five seasons, Chelsea has won seven and drawn two of the ten games in the league. They memorably disposed of a nine-man Tottenham 4-1 in north London during the last campaign.
Overview: Tottenham is probably the hardest side in the league to pick. Just two weeks ago they destroyed Man City 4-0 to once again look like Champions League material. Subsequently, they have picked up a single point against Fulham and Bournemouth and have slumped to mid-table. The home fortress was breached by lowly Ipswich last month, so nothing is certain with Ange's side, other than his tactics.
There is a real panache about Chelsea, who are finally looking like a sum of their brilliant individual parts. Villa and Southampton have felt the full force of a wonderful attacking side in the past week. Their only losses in the league have come at the hands of City on opening day, and Liverpool. They love taking on this cross-town rival and need a win to keep in touch with the Reds.
Prediction: Chelsea to win at $2.30.
WEST HAM v WOLVES
History: The results fall firmly West Ham's way of late, winning six of the last eight including a double last season. Interestingly, there have been no draws in the last 14 meetings.
Overview: This is the clash of the two managers that head the 'next to be sacked' markets. Should either lose this one, they are sure to be gone by sunrise the following day.
West Ham created plenty of chances but were woeful in front of goal at Leicester mid-week. That followed a first half humiliation at home to Arsenal last weekend – they look a shadow of the side that put Newcastle away just a fortnight ago. Lopetegui looks unsure of his best eleven, with poor form across most positions not helping his cause. Defensively they have been atrocious in the past seven days; the high line does not work with slow backs. Wolves are capable of exploiting this.
Wolves clawed their way out of trouble with two impressive wins in late November, but it has all come on done in the past seven days. Eight goals conceded against Bournemouth and Everton. The four shipped at Goodison was particularly concerning as the Toffees have been notoriously impotent for much of the campaign. This is a decent side, but their awful defence is costing them dearly.
Prediction: West Ham to win at $1.95.
SUGGESTED WAGERS
Manchester United and Manchester City to win: 3 unit all-up at $2.64.
Brighton to win and both teams to score: 2 units at $3.10.