Football, football and more football – that’s what it has felt like the past few weeks.

It may be proving a little too overwhelming for some people, particularly in the VAR officiating room, but we for one are absolutely loving it. That’s why we are back again with another in-depth analysis of the upcoming set of fixtures to help you with your Premier League Golden Goal predictions.

Remember: if you can pick the correct six scorelines you could win up to £1 million. You don’t even have to be get all six to earn something. If the jackpot isn’t won, just get more scores correct than your BetMGM peers to win a share of our prizepool – which has now increased to £5,000.

In midweek we ran our first-ever Golden Goals Champions League special with one player correctly predicting three scorelines and taking home the £2,000 prizepool while, on Premier League matchday seven, two players split that prizepool with a trio of correct calls each.

Last week there were victories for West Ham, Arsenal and Newcastle but shock wins for Wolves over Manchester City, Crystal Palace away to Manchester United and Luton Town away at Everton means it would have taken a highly-skilled clairvoyant to come close to landing the jackpot.

Elsewhere, there was a hard-fought draw between Nottingham Forest and Brentford and an incredible 6-1 win for Aston Villa over Brighton, a match which the Seagulls actually ‘won’ on xG (1.6-1.7)

The main talking point, though, was reserved for the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where an inexplicable error from VAR officials denied Liverpool a legitimate goal.

In a game which included two red cards, a last minute own goal, and a vibrant attacking display from both teams, the only thing anyone was talking about in the aftermath was the onside goal that never was.

VAR is under the microscope like never before – it needs a flawless weekend. Will you have one of those yourself? Onward to our predictions for matchday eight…

Manchester United vs Brentford

Form (all competitions)

Manchester United: LLWWL

Brentford: DLLLD

There’s no hiding place for the Red Devils – they are in crisis mode.

Consecutive home defeats to Crystal Palace and Galatasaray means the season feels like it could be almost over after no more than two months. They need to put together an incredible run of form to even think about the top four come the end of the campaign. When you consider the pre-season expectation was to challenge on all fronts, this campaign has been a total bust.

They are proving distinctly average both in front of goal and in quelling attacks at the other end. They sit 10th in the table for expected goals allowed (xGA) with 11.1 – given they have conceded 11 goals so far, that’s as ‘expected’ as it gets.

An expected goal (xG) figure of 11.2 also puts them in the middle of the pack in the Premier League – a return simply not good enough for a club with United’s expectations. It gets worse, too. Only Everton (-6.3) and Chelsea (-6.2) have a poorer goals minus expected goals ranking, meaning that not only are the Red Devils failing to create chances but proving terrible at taking the ones they do get.

One shining light has been the performances of new striker Rasmus Højlund. He hit two goals in the defeat to Galatasaray, his second a showpiece of what United fans will hope he brings to the club. Picking the ball up at the halfway line, he powered past the defence before dinking a delightful finish. He has, however, yet to find the net in the league.

Could Brentford provide an opportunity for the embattled Erik ten Hag to lift the doom and gloom as well as Højlund to break his Premier League duck? Possibly.

The Bees are struggling in the early stages of the campaign and go into this one without a win in six. In Bryan Mbeumo, they do have a genuine goalscoring threat. He has hit four goals so far and has an xG of 4.6 – the best in the competition when excluding Erling Haaland.

It’s hard to justify a win for the hosts at present. This will finish a score draw.

Prediction: Manchester United 2-2 Brentford

Everton vs Bournemouth

Form (all competitions)

Everton: LWWLD

Bournemouth: LWLDD

In the absence of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, the lack of a true goalscoring option for the Toffees is clear to see. They rank bottom of the G-xG metric as mentioned above but are actually fifth in the competition for number of shots taken per 90 minutes (15.4, more than Arsenal, Newcastle and Aston Villa). The problem? Just five of those 15.4 tend to find the target per game and a league-lowest 0.17 actually go in the net.

Unsurprisingly for a Sean Dyche unit, Everton are creating a lot of these shooting opportunities from set-piece situations; they sit fifth in the league for dead-ball passes (for instance, free kicks, corners, kick-offs, throw-ins and goal kicks) that lead to a shot attempt.

When you consider they also have the fourth-shortest average shot distance of 15.7 yards – and thus aren’t having much trouble getting to the box in general – the need for that goalscorer is extra clear.

The law of averages dictates their profligacy has to change at some stage, though, and in this week’s opponents they find a team for whom it was not gone to plan so far.

Indeed, Andoni Iraola’s winless Cherries look ripe for the picking with 15 goals conceded in their seven games. They are also, with just five, one of only three teams to have scored fewer goals than Everton this term.

This one can go to the Toffees.

Prediction: Everton 3-0 Bournemouth

Wolves vs Aston Villa

Form (all competitions)

Wolves: WLDLL

Aston Villa: WWLWL

Nobody saw that coming – and we’re not even talking about Aston Villa 6-1 Brighton!

A deserved 2-1 win over the champions for Wolves last weekend means they have put some daylight between themselves and Everton in 16th. While that was a huge victory, securing all three points against Midlands rivals Aston Villa would likely mean even more.

The Molineux men have had the better of the Villans recently – winning three of their previous four matches – but there is no getting away from the fact that they are underdogs here.

They have the fifth-fewest shot-creating actions in the division with 19.86 and, remarkably, have been awarded the fewest number of corner kicks in the division with just 19 from their opening seven matches. That’s despite having the third-highest attempted take-ons.

A lack of cohesion going forward afflicts Wolves, then, but the same cannot be said for Aston Villa, whose fans are no doubt still bouncing around after that thrashing of Brighton.

Striker Ollie Watkins finally clicked into gear with a lethal hat-trick and the result on matchday seven means Unai Emery’s men have racked up 17 goals, level with champions and treble-winners Manchester City.

This could be a classic case of attack versus defence – and the former should come out on top.

Prediction: Wolves 0-3 Aston Villa

Brighton vs Liverpool

Form (all competitions)

Brighton: DLLWL

Liverpool: WLWWW

Is this the game of the weekend? If Arsenal and Manchester City weren’t going toe to toe a couple of hours later on Sunday, it may well be.

Understandably spitting with rage following the incomprehensible VAR error against Tottenham Hotspur, Jurgen Klopp demanded his team be afforded the chance of a replayed match in the pre-match press conference ahead of their Europa League tie against Union Saint-Gilloise in midweek.

That was never going to happen – but it is clear the Reds have a bee in their bonnet and the German manager will want to use it as fuel for his team to put in a statement performance out there domestically.

Brighton, meanwhile, will be out to right their own wrong in a way after their chastening 6-1 defeat to Aston Villa. There is lots on the line at the Amex and this feels like it could be a cracker.

On that note, there have been 56 goals across the 14 combined league matches these two sides have played so far this season – that’s an average of exactly four per game.

Despite their offensive prowess, the Seagulls have the joint-fourth leakiest defence in the division to date, with 14 goals conceded, while the Reds have kept just one clean sheet all season themselves.

Sometimes fortune favours the bold – but we are going with a high-scoring affair that, ultimately, will see the spoils shared.

Prediction: Brighton 3-3 Liverpool

West Ham vs Newcastle United

Form (all competitions)

West Ham: WWWLW

Newcastle United: WWWWD

Are the Geordies still on cloud nine after Wednesday?

A memorable 4-1 thrashing of Paris Saint-Germain will go down in Newcastle United folklore. The atmosphere was absolutely electric on Wednesday night and there is a general sense of optimism around Eddie Howe and his team at the moment.

They have scored 16 goals in the previous six games in all competitions, conceding just once along the way. With a resultant 4.14 goal-creating actions per 90 – the third-highest in the division – it is difficult to see how David Moyes’s West Ham can stop them scoring.

Despite having a goal difference of three, the Hammers’ expected goal difference is not as promising at -3.2. They are struggling to gain control of matches in general, with an average possession of 38.1% coming in as the third-lowest in the league.

They will need their defence to step up – including Kurt Zouma, who leads the league with 49 clearances so far, five ahead of anyone else. The bite and guile of midfielder Lucas Paquetá could also prove crucial in stopping the Newcastle tide with the Brazilian having won 18 of the 23 tackles he has attempted the second-most successful in the competition.

If Newcastle control the game, as the stats suggest they should, then this should be an away win.

Prediction: West Ham 1-2 Newcastle

Arsenal vs Manchester City

Form (all competitions)

Arsenal: LWWDL

Manchester City: WLLWW

Here we go: an early season tussle between two challengers.

Both, however, have suffered defeats of late. It will be a fascinating affair and a true test of how far the Gunners have come from last year, where they were totally outclassed as the two meetings between the sides ended in City victories by a combined score of 7-2.

The hosts can rest easy knowing one of Pep Guardiola’s talismen is out with an injury. Two incredible individual displays from Kevin De Bruyne, who hit three goals and two assists across the two matches last term, will live long in the memory for many a football fan and likely haunt those of an Arsenal persuasion for some time too.

With the Belgian out, all eyes will be on the midfield battle. Can Declan Rice assert dominance over a City side that is also, lest we forget, without another of Guardiola’s best in Rodri? The Spanish linchpin is serving the final game of his three-match suspension – the champions have lost the previous two.

Indeed, since making his debut for the Citizens in August 2019, the team have lost five of the 15 Premier League matches in which he has not featured.

Wedded to that, Arsenal have currently made the second-highest tackles in the middle third of the pitch (52, with only Aston Villa having managed more at 53). The Gunners also possess the highest average defensive line height in the competition at 42.69 metres – beating out, you guessed it, Manchester City (42.29) for top spot.

With no De Bruyne and no Rodri to contend with, if the Gunners can win the midfield battle then we think this is theirs for the taking.

Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Manchester City

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Please note: This week’s Golden Goals deadline is Saturday October 7 at 15:00, opt-in is required and you can find out more here.

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Another international break down, another round of Premier League fixtures to go. After all the continental craziness, English football is back with a bang – including a pair of delicious derbies for fans to enjoy.

The standout contest pits title challengers Arsenal, high off their victory against champions and treble-winners Manchester City, against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

At the bottom end of the table, there are plenty of proverbial six-pointers available in our Golden Goals fixture list this week. Wolves visit a struggling Bournemouth after seemingly turning their own season around, while Nottingham Forest will hope to turn one point into three against Luton after three draws in the last four.

It’s a tough round of fixtures to predict but it’s worth a go as we are offering you the chance to win up to £1 million by predicting six correct scores with Golden Goals, our free-to-play football predictor game. Read more about Golden Goals here.

Last week, we got three correct results, one of which was a correct score. As for our players, 38 of them correctly predicted three scores to split the £5k prizepool that we offer if the jackpot is not won.

Will you be next? Let’s take a closer look at matchday nine

Bournemouth vs Wolves

Form (all competitions) Bournemouth: LLWLD Wolves: DWLDL

We kick-start our Golden Goals predictions with the Gary O’Neil Derby. Heads were turned on the south coast when Bournemouth parted ways with the 40-year-old after the conclusion of last season – a decision which has so far not proven to be a fruitful one.

Andoni Iraola, the new man at the helm at the Vitality, is yet to oversee a Premier League victory. What makes for even worse reading? The Cherries look completely abject in front of goal. They are the lowest scorers in the league with five goals – significantly underperforming their xG of 8.8 on the season so far.

Much of the goalscoring burden falls on the shoulders of Dominic Solanke but, it must be said, the Englishman is doing his best with the opportunities he’s given.

Bournemouth’s number nine is level with his xG on the season (three goals from exactly three xG) while also leading the team in chances created and touches in the penalty area. If Solanke isn’t involved at the top end, Bournemouth are unlikely to find the net in this one.

As for O’Neil’s Wolves, they continue to shock and surprise this Premier League season. Following up a historic win over Manchester City with a point against Midlands rivals Aston Villa, the Molineux men have doubled their points total from the first six games.

One player that epitomises their upturn in form is Pedro Neto. The Portuguese winger has been scintillating in recent weeks, with six goal contributions in his last six games. His five assists is also tied for the league lead alongside Kieran Trippier and James Maddison.

It does seem a little early for genuine talk of six-pointers – but both teams are very much in need of three points in this one. We reckon they’ll share the spoils though.

Prediction: Bournemouth 1-1 Wolves

Manchester City vs Brighton

Form (all competitions) Manchester City: LWLLW Brighton: DDLWL

Are we finally seeing Pep Guardiola’s side falter? A defeat to Arsenal before the international break made it three losses in four games for the Citizens, who also lost their grip on Premier League top spot as a result.

Manchester City’s downturn in recent times has coincided with the absence of midfield linchpin Rodri due to suspension.

When the Spaniard doesn’t play, City are not quite the untouchable outfit they sometimes feel like when at their dominating best; they lose more than 30% of their games when Rodri isn’t available compared to only around 13% when he features.

Indeed, he leads the team in ball recoveries per 90 minutes (9.10), passes per 90 (133) and sits second in ball carries per 90 (29) too. It truly can’t be overstated how integral Rodri is to the blue side of Manchester.

It can be argued he’s more important to Guardiola’s style of play than striker Erling Haaland – so City fans can rejoice at the fact Rodri returns this weekend for the visit of Brighton.

Speaking of Haaland, though, it is undeniable the Norwegian has not appeared his usual self for the last few weeks. While he has eight goals in eight league games this season he has failed to find the net in his last four matches across all competitions for the club.

Yet his affinity for goals has shone against Brighton in the past, especially at the Etihad. In last season’s fixture, Haaland scored twice in the opening half of the game, leading City to a 3-1 win.

Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton are a very different side now though. They are, don’t forget, a team which Guardiola himself has shown quite the admiration for, even describing the Seagulls boss as “one of the most influential managers in the last 20 years” a few months ago.

It’s praise that certainly has substance. Brighton's possession-heavy style sees them rank second in pass completion percentage in the Premier League, behind only Guardiola’s men. They also rank inside the top six for passes into the penalty area, progressive passes and crosses into the box while entering the top four in xG total for the season to date.

De Zerbi’s style has, though, become football’s version of boom or bust this season. For 3-1 victories over Newcastle, Manchester United and Bournemouth in the bank, see 3-1 and 6-1 defeats to West Ham and Aston Villa respectively.

For all the praise the Seagulls receive – and deservedly so – their defensive fragility is on display for all to see too. Ten of their 11 matches in all competitions have featured over 3.5 goals and they are yet to register a single clean sheet this campaign.

In the league, they have an xGA (expected goals against) tally of 12.2 in only eight games. That is a dangerous game to play against one of the league's most potent attacks.

Brighton are certainly to be admired – but it’s hard not to see them falling to defeat here.

Prediction: Manchester City 3-1 Brighton

Brentford vs Burnley

Form (all competitions) Brentford: LDLLL Burnley: LWLWL

It’s a battle of two disappointing starters as Brentford meet Burnley at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Thomas Frank’s side, in particular, have struggled to find consistency and have failed to register a victory in the league since the second game of the campaign. It has certainly become a cause for concern among the Brentford faithful – especially when they snatched defeat from the jaws of victory against Manchester United when conceding two goals in added time from Scott McTominay.

All in all, the Bees have certainly lost their sting since the beginning of the league season. Bryan Mbeumo has tried his best to fill the large gap left by Ivan Toney up front, notching four goals and ranking the fourth-highest league-wide in xG into the bargain.

The options after Mbeumo leave a lot to be desired. Besides Yoanne Wissa (3.25) no other member of the Brentford team has mustered an xG above 2.0 throughout their eight games.

At the back, clean sheets have been hard to come by as well; a far cry from last season when David Raya ranked fourth-highest in the whole division with 11 shut-outs. New goalkeeping recruit Mark Flekken has come under scrutiny since his arrival but a 66.7% save percentage ranks puts him only slightly below average.

While the man between the sticks hasn’t been in top form, the defence isn’t exactly throwing itself in front of the ball to prevent goals from being conceded. The Bees backline has the fourth-fewest amount of shots blocked in the league this season. A worrying statistic considering their opponents haven’t been shot-shy when facing Frank’s men. They’ve conceded the eighth most shots in the league overall and per 90 so far.

Burnley can have similar complaints about their defensive unit. With the second-highest number of goals conceded in the division, the highest average goals conceded per shot and the highest number of actual goals conceded over expected (4.3), it’s all trending in the wrong direction for Vincent Kompany’s Clarets.

The Turf Moor men have outscored the other members of the bottom four, marginally outperforming their xG by 0.5, so it does look slightly better for them at the top end of the pitch – but not by much.

Despite this Burnley have suffered just one defeat on the road in three outings. Contrastingly, home fans at Brentford are yet to see a win from their side at the Gtech this season.

We think this weekend bucks that trend and gets the West London side back to winning ways.

Prediction: Brentford 3-1 Burnley

Newcastle vs Crystal Palace

Form (all competitions) Newcastle: DWWWW Crystal Palace: DWLDL

Newcastle fans probably would have rejected the international break if they could have.

The Magpies are in insatiable form, knocking off Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain in cup competitions while enjoying a four-game unbeaten run in the Premier League.

Many of the plaudits are falling on striker Alexander Isak, who has found the net in three consecutive league matches. It’s hard to argue considering the Swedes accuracy within the six-yard box: he is the second-highest scorer in the league with six as well as carrying the second-highest expected goals per shot taken (excluding penalties).

It isn’t just Isak that has lifted Newcastle to lofty league heights and memorable European nights, the defence has played its part too. Even without the unflappable Sven Botman, Newcastle have proven to be unwavering in their pursuit of clean sheets.

Eddie Howe’s side have forced a blank from the opposition in three of the last four league games, which included the 8-0 drubbing of Sheffield United. These shining defensive statistics are unsurprising considering they hold the fourth-lowest xGA in the division and they face the third-fewest shots per 90 minutes.

But we can’t talk about stubborn defences and not talk about Crystal Palace. Roy Hodgson’s men are astute defensively and produce just enough going forward to get results in big games.

Palace’s backline has conceded the second-fewest goals in the entire league – behind only Manchester City and Arsenal – but they lead the league in clean sheets with four (or, to put it another way, in exactly 50% of the games they have played).

Their forward line, despite getting results for now, does remain a slight worry though. They have only scored seven goals in those eight matches, placing them only one goal ahead of surely-relegation-threatened Sheffield United and Luton Town.

These struggles align with the absence of Michael Olise who led the team in chances created per 90 and expected assists per 90 last campaign. His mantle was picked up by Eberechi Eze – who leads the team in those categories this season – but he also missed the last game due to injury and looks set for a spell on the sidelines.

With the absence of their dynamic wingers, it is unlikely Crystal Palace will offer enough going forward to trouble Newcastle at St James’ Park. However, they’ll still be hard to beat so we’re opting for a safe 2-0 home win here.

Prediction: Newcastle 2-0 Crystal Palace

Nottingham Forest vs Luton Town

Form (all competitions) Nottingham Forest: DDLDW Luton Town: LLWLD

No, really, it is too early in the season for six-pointers. That said, Nottingham Forest vs Luton Town is a prime example of a match both sides would have circled on the calendar before the campaign began.

Forest have mastered the art of the draw in recent weeks. Steve Cooper’s men have three of those in their last four games, failing to convert their performances into three points since facing Chelsea back in September.

It’s hard to create chances when you don’t have the ball – and Forest spend a lot of time without possession. Cooper’s side are one of only four teams in the division that average less than 40% per game and 18th in touches in the opposing penalty area. They also rank 18th in xG in the Premier League, behind both Sheffield United and Burnley.

Fortunately for Forest, possession is a luxury they may well have this weekend when facing Luton, the side that ranks dead last in possession in the Premier League (37.3% on average this season).

So it appears to be counter-attacks, set-pieces or crosses into the box that will be the best recipe for Luton’s survival. The Hatters are the bottom-dwellers for live passes so far this season but have managed to create the fourth-most shot-creating actions from dead balls.

Only Brentford, Liverpool, and Everton have topped Luton in that metric – but no one has in crosses attempted per 90 minutes. That seems to make it fairly obvious where they will be most likely to find success against Forest who have conceded the fifth-most crosses so far this season.

While we don’t think that success will come in the form of a win, a point is within the realms of possibility. It’ll be a third successive draw at the City Ground.

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Luton Town

Chelsea vs Arsenal

Form (all competitions) Chelsea: WWWLD Arsenal: WLWWD

And so we reach the marquee bout of the weekend; a battle of red vs blue, North London vs South London. You couldn’t ask for much more from a Golden Goals headliner.

If this game had come a couple of weeks earlier, it is likely we would have Arsenal breezing past this Chelsea team. But, the Blues have slowly cultivated some form in recent outings. Since a winless run against Forest, Bournemouth and Aston Villa, they have dispatched both Fulham and Burnley with relative ease.

Given the opposition it’s true they can’t afford to get ahead of themselves – but it’s a positive sign for Mauricio Pochettino’s men nonetheless.

Profligacy is still the Achilles heel of this Chelsea team though. Both Nicolas Jackson and Enzo Fernandez ‘lead’ the league in terms of underperforming their xG to date. Fernandez with 2.2 goals fewer than expected and Jackson with 2.1.

The Blues have been able to depend on their rearguard to keep them in matches so far this season. They have not conceded more than once this entire campaign and have racked up two clean sheets in their last three games across all competitions.

Whether it’s been Conor Gallagher’s industrious work in the midfield – ranking top five in both tackles and interceptions – or Thiago Silva’s leadership in defence, Chelsea have become a tougher group to breach this season than they were last.

Still, they will have to be at their very best to stop a Gunners side which has been firing on all cylinders so far this campaign.

A point against Tottenham in the North London Derby was followed up by back-to-back wins in the league against Bournemouth and defending champions City, leaving Arsenal as one of the two unbeaten sides left in the Premier League alongside their great rivals.

Mikel Arteta’s men got the victory over City without talismanic winger Bukayo Saka – the team’s leading goalscorer (four) and assister (two). His absence was certainly felt but both Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard filled the void dutifully, the former ultimately scoring the winner against City on the day.

Another integral part of Arsenal’s victory over Manchester City was their ability to win the midfield battle in the absence of Rodri. A factor that is now possible in most games thanks to Declan Rice’s arrival from West Ham.

Arsenal win the most tackles in the middle third of the pitch, with Rice’s 10 in that area ranking as the second-most among Arsenal players. Much like Gallagher for Chelsea, Rice has been the Gunners’ hard-working midfield anchor and leads his team in combined tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes (minimum 100 minutes played).

Battles all across the pitch to look out for; Chelsea’s wasteful attack against Arsenal’s solid defence; two midfield trios trying to out-work and out-pass one another; the Blues’ back three trying to shackle Arsenal’s attacking quartet.

So much can decide this game – and we think it’ll be closer than expected – but it’s Arsenal who get the nod.

Prediction: Chelsea 0-1 Arsenal

Add our Golden Goals predictions to your betslip here

Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation

Please note: This week’s Golden Goals deadline is Saturday October 21 at 15:00, opt-in is required and you can find out more here.

Golden Goals Terms and Conditions

Opt in & predict 6 correct scores weekly (see Game Lobby for weekly Tournament cut-off time) to win up to £1m jackpot or up to £5k Prizepool if Jackpot is not won. Void if 1 or more matches are postponed/abandoned or not completed. Verification procedures apply. T&Cs apply.

Golden Goals is back after a week in which goalkeepers seized headlines rather than shots.

Chelsea fans know what we are talking about. After a promising 77 minutes against Arsenal, taking a comfortable 2-0 lead and underlining the budding Mauricio Pochettino rebuild, disaster struck. Robert Sanchez moved away from his goal and passed the ball straight to Declan Rice, who hit the ball first time to curl it into an unguarded net. Less than 10 minutes later, the Gunners were level and the London Derby finished 2-2.

Earlier in the match, it had been Sanchez’s Arsenal counterpart David Raya at fault – he was too far out of his goal when Mykhailo Mudryk floated a delightful lob-cum-mishit-cross over his head from close to the touchline to put Chelsea 2-0 up.

Elsewhere last weekend, there was a second yellow card that never was for Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konaté in the Reds’ Merseyside Derby win over Everton and wins for an impressive Brentford, a scintillating Newcastle United and a frankly excellent Aston Villa.

Gary O’Neil, meanwhile, gained sweet revenge on previous employers Bournemouth as his pack of Wolves devoured the Cherries and there were rather more mellow triumphs for both Manchester clubs.

A late comeback from Luton Town against Nottingham Forest joined Chelsea 2-2 Arsenal as the only draws from the weekend, which was rounded off by a comfortable 2-0 win by league leaders Tottenham over Fulham on Monday night.

We got four out of six results correct in our article in Gameweek 9 and were only one goal away from nailing the correct result in three. In total, 16 players managed three correct calls to split the prizepool.

Remember: if you can pick the correct six scorelines, you could win up to £1 million. You don't even have to get all six to earn something. If the jackpot isn't won, just get more scores correct than your BetMGM peers to win a share of our prizepool – which has now increased to £5,000.

As for us, we go again with our matchday 10 stats, facts, insights and predictions.

Arsenal vs Sheffield United

Form (all competitions) Arsenal: WDWLW; Sheffiled United: LLLLL

After the euphoria of beating Manchester City before the international break, a comeback against Chelsea seemed to pale into comparison somewhat for Gunners fans, which says a lot about where the two London sides find themselves at the moment.

In truth, Arsenal would have fancied themselves at Stamford Bridge but were comprehensively outplayed for most of the match.

To come from 2-0 down and draw is the stuff of champions, some may argue, but there is still some concerning underlying form that Mikel Arteta may need to start addressing soon if they are to launch a sustained title challenge again. Facing feckless Sheffield United at home seems the perfect place to start.

One issue Arteta might want to look at is the number of shots his team are popping off – since the beginning of the season they have had 126 efforts on goal for an average of 14 per game. That’s ninth in the league with the likes of Everton, Brentford and Aston Villa having all managed more.

Their shot-creating actions (SCA) rate could be better too. They currently rank sixth in the league with 26.22 SCA per 90 minutes – behind teams such as Brighton, Manchester United and arch-rivals Tottenham – while the loss of forward Gabriel Jesus to injury in the Champions League win over Sevilla on Tuesday will not help their cause up top.

They also need to cut out the errors – they have made five which led to a shot on goal, the joint-third highest number in the division – but against Sheffield United there is a chance to correct these trends at both ends of the pitch and bolster the goals column into the bargain.

No team has conceded more goals (24) this season than the Blades, nor managed fewer shots on goal (82). On the advanced stats front, they also carry the lowest expected goals (xG) rate in the division at 7.5.

This should be a hammering – and the Gunners will oblige.

Prediction: Arsenal 5-0 Sheffield United

Bournemouth vs Burnley

Form (all competitions) Bournemouth: LLLLW; Burnley: LLWLW

An early relegation throwdown? Quite possibly, with the way these two are carrying on. Except for Sheffield United both these clubs are arguably the most underwhelming sides in the division, performing way below even modest pre-season expectations.

Under new manager Andoni Iraola, Bournemouth were reportedly going to be irrepressible, dynamic and exciting to watch. A record of three goals in the last six games is putting paid to those suppositions.

One particularly alarming stat for Cherries fans is they rank at the bottom of the division for progressive passing distance – which measures the total yardage that completed passes have travelled towards the opponent's goal – with 18,323. For context the top seven in this metric are, unsurprisingly, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham, Brighton, Arsenal and Newcastle.

It's not even close at the bottom either – next up is Luton on 19,016. If you are inching forward at a snail's pace, it's going to be difficult to score goals. To top it all off, no team has made more errors leading to a shot on goal this term than Bournemouth (eight times).

Burnley – second in the errors leading to a shot department, for what it’s worth – were phenomenal to watch in the Championship last year and manager Vincent Kompany was even considered a candidate for the Tottenham job at one point. One win in their opening nine in the top flight shows how quickly things can change in football.

It’s more than just the end results that have changed though. In the 2022-23 season they averaged 13.52 shots per 90 minutes; this year, it's down to 10.11. Last year their xG per 90 was an impressive 1.44; in the opening nine games it's a pitiful 0.85.

One has to take the difference in the quality of the competition into account, of course, but there is no doubt Burnley are misfiring as an attacking unit. With both teams struggling for goals and so much on the line, we predict an edgy bore draw.

Prediction: Bournemouth 0-0 Burnley

Aston Villa vs Luton Town

Form (all competitions) Aston Villa: WDWWL; Luton: DLLWL

The Villans are ticking along nicely under manager Unai Emery and there are whispers of a top-four challenge among those in the Holte End. A clinical 4-1 triumph over West Ham on the sole Sunday game last week certainly boosts that belief.

The numbers reflect that positivity – Aston Villa are averaging 1.89 xG per 90 minutes (fourth-highest in the division) as well as 5.67 shots on target per 90 minutes (fifth-highest) and 4.22 goal-creating actions per 90 minutes (third-highest).

We know they are a potent force moving forward and, in Ollie Watkins, they have a striker who has well and truly found his form. The 27-year-old has five goals and five assists so far, with all five of those strikes coming in his previous four matches. Add in an England goal in the most recent international break to boot and he will be licking his lips at the prospect of facing The Hatters.

A fightback from 2-0 down against Nottingham Forest to earn a draw could prove a crucial turning point for Luton.

They are showing some fight and are proving hard to get past – literally, they have the second-highest percentage of dribblers tackled in the league this year. Their clean-tackling reputation is further bolstered by the fact they have only received 15 yellow cards and no red cards, good for the second-best record in the league.

They will need to time those tackles to perfection again while transforming their attacking capabilities to get anything from this game, though. Currently, they are fourth from bottom in goal-creating actions per 90 at 4.4.

It seems too big an ask – this one will go to the hosts.

Prediction: Aston Villa 3-1 Luton

Brighton vs Fulham

Form (all competitions) Brighton: WLDDL; Fulham: LWLWD

The Seagulls are in a mire – the first they have experienced since Roberto De Zerbi joined last year. They have picked up just one point in their previous three games, conceding ten goals in the process.

While it’s true Aston Villa, Liverpool and Manchester City is a tough call sheet for any team, fans would have hoped for a better return and a more resolute defence. To add fuel to the fire, midfielder Solly March and striker Danny Welbeck both look set for a significant spell on the sidelines.

It's not been an ideal few weeks. However, De Zerbi’s men remain a thrill to watch. They rank second in the non-penalty xG + expected assists per 90 minutes metric at 3.46, third in xG with 17.2 and fourth in progressive carrying distance at 11,194 yards.

In Fulham they could not find a better opponent to face to get out of their dip in league form – at least on paper.

The Cottagers concede 5.33 shots on target per 90 minutes in the Premier League and they struggle to hold onto the ball – they are dispossessed 11.1 times per 90 minutes, the third-highest number in the division. Against Brighton's high-octane pressing style, they will need to be much better, or it could prove a long afternoon.

This feels like a big win for Brighton but they will continue to concede goals.

Prediction: Brighton 5-2 Fulham

Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest

Form (all competitions) Liverpool: WWDWL; Nottingham Forest: DDDLD

Is it the slam-dunk fixture of the weekend? The BetMGM sportsbook has priced a Liverpool win at 7/25 (1.28) – not as short as Arsenal to beat Sheffield United at 1/9 (1.10) but hot favourites nonetheless.

They were, it must be remembered, a similar price in April 2023 when a spirited Forest came close to springing a surprise as five second-half goals resulted in a 3-2 home-win thriller at Anfield.

One could make the case that the current Liverpool forward line is the strongest in the league – and the stats support that assertion.

With 20, they have the joint-fourth highest goals in the league and possess the second-highest xG per 90 minutes with 2.12. Only league leaders Tottenham (168) have registered more shots on goal than the Reds (151).

That said, they need to be much more consistent to launch a sustained title tilt. With a shots on target percentage of 27.2%, only Burnley (26.4%) and Luton (16.8%) are more wayward with their attempts.

An average shot distance of 17.9 yards per 90 minutes – the joint-highest in the league – helps explain their profligacy somewhat but that lack of accuracy in front of the net will stick in Jurgen Klopp's craw if it continues.

Forest fans were left fuming last week after letting a 2-0 lead slip at home to Luton. Despite dominating for long spells they couldn't get over the line and now a challenging run of fixtures awaits, starting with Liverpool at Anfield before games against European sides Aston Villa, West Ham and Brighton.

Steve Cooper's men have been happy to let the opposition have the ball this season – they average 40.7% possession this campaign, the fourth-lowest in the league. They have a chance with the pace of an in-form Anthony Elanga and the physical presence of Chris Wood on the counter-attack but Forest will need to be ruthless.

It's hard to see any result other than a home win.

Prediction: Liverpool 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Manchester United vs Manchester City

Form (all competitions) Manchester United: WWWLL; Manchester City: WWLWL

The Manchester Derby rounds off the weekend and, unusually, both teams come into the game behind some unconvincing form.

Watching the Red Devils tends to be a real struggle at the moment. A night of redemption in the Champions League saw a Harry Maguire header and a last-minute penalty stop by Andre Onana save their skin against FC Copenhagen, but United’s first-half performance was attritional in the extreme.

Somehow they have managed three wins on the bounce. In the league they are managing to get shots off on goal – with 143, they have registered the third-highest number of attempts – however a pitiful xG of 1.52 per 90 minutes (10th-lowest) speaks to the desperation that characterises so many of those efforts.

Erik ten Hag's men have lost four of their last five matches in all competitions against the Citizens while conceding 15 goals. Shipping to this Manchester City team is no shame, it’s true, but seeing how they can turn them over this time on current performances is complicated.

That said, City have some issues of their own even if they are far less concerning than those faced by their neighbours.

Erling Haaland is still scoring goals – he has nine in the league – but not quite at last year's rate. In the Norwegian’s previous three games his total xG has reached just 0.4 while in his team's recent defeat to Wolves, he took a season-low 14 touches.

Critiquing a player who's nearly reached double figures before November feels like clutching at straws but his recent domestic performances have raised some questions.

Chief among those: is Haaland overreliant on the injured Kevin De Bruyne? The Belgian provided a direct assist for 13 of the Norwegian’s goals last year – that means De Bruyne was a key cog in 25% of all his goals.

Still, if Pep Guardiola's main concern is his striker not scoring at the incredible rate of more than a goal per game like last season, that problem feels insignificant compared to the quandaries troubling their opponents.

It could get messy for the hosts.

Prediction: Manchester United 1 - 4 Manchester City

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BetMGM’s Golden Goals returns after a particularly goal-happy Matchday 10. No fewer than 30 were scored across the Premier League last weekend – let’s hope for a similarly entertaining Matchday 11.

Five of those goals were netted at the Emirates as Arsenal continued their impressive start to the league season with the 5-0 dismantling of Sheffield United. Eddie Nketiah proved more than worthy of filling Gabriel Jesus’s boots, netting his first Premier League hat-trick.

The only other unbeaten team in the league, Tottenham, also continued their winning streak by beating Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. Despite a late scare from the home side courtesy of Jordan Ayew, Ange Postecoglou’s men held on to remain top of the table.

But we couldn’t mention the happenings of last weekend without highlighting the Manchester Derby. Pep Guardiola’s men once again asserted their dominance over the fixture as Manchester City steamrolled local counterparts Manchester United 3-0, extending their winning record in recent derbies to five out of six.

That was a result correctly predicted right here on our Golden Goals blog last week. In total we landed three correct scores as well as the correct result in the Manchester Derby, while 10 of our players went one better and split the £5,000 prizepool after nailing four correct scorelines of their own.

You can give it a go this week and be in with the chance to win up to £1 million by predicting six correct scores with Golden Goals, our free-to-play football predictor game. Read more about Golden Goals here.

Will you be next? Let’s take a closer look at Matchday 11…

Brentford vs West Ham

Form (all competitions) Brentford: WWLDL West Ham: WLLLD

It’s a tale of two teams at opposite ends of the Premier League form table as Brentford welcome West Ham United to the Gtech Community Stadium.

The Bees are on a two-game winning stretch and, without Scott McTominay’s heroics for Manchester United early last month, it could have been three. Pair their back-to-back victories with consecutive clean sheets and it makes good reading for Thomas Frank’s side.

They’re also making their opponents work hard to create openings. Brentford have conceded only three shots on target in the last two matches. This a trend that has continued throughout the season, with only 28% of shots taken against Brentford troubling Mark Flekken between the sticks.

Bryan Mbeumo continues to carry the load for Brentford at the top end of the pitch. The Cameroon international has the third-highest xG in the entire division – only Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah have mustered more through the opening 10 games. Mbeumo is performing in line with his xG with six actual goals from 6.4 expected.

He has also, it is worth noting, netted in three of four Premier League meetings against West Ham United. You can back him to add to that tally against the Hammers in BetMGM’s match market here.

West Ham themselves have a significant goal threat in Jarrod Bowen. The former Hull City man has scored in all five away games in the league this season and is the Hammers’ top scorer overall with six.

Though Bowen has found his groove on the road, West Ham’s away record as a whole continues to deteriorate. They’ve suffered two heavy Premier League defeats in a row away from the London Stadium against Aston Villa and Liverpool while Olympiakos got the better of them on their European travels too.

Brentford have won three of the last four meetings between these two by a 2-0 scoreline – and haven’t tasted Premier League defeat against West Ham since arriving in the top tier – but we reckon David Moyes’s men have enough to pick up something from this after their confidence-boosting EFL Cup mauling of Arsenal in midweek.

Prediction: Brentford 2-2 West Ham

Burnley vs Crystal Palace

Form (all competitions) Burnley: LLLLW Crystal Palace: LLDWL

It was another week, another loss for Burnley in Matchday 10. In a game that seemed winnable on paper, the Clarets fell to defeat again – their eighth already in the league this term – and gifted potential relegation rivals Bournemouth their first win of the entire campaign in the process.

Where do they go from here? Well, they face another team on a three-game winless run in Crystal Palace so they may fancy their chances of picking up a result. They do, however, need to be far more productive in the final third.

Only Sheffield United have a lower xG (8.53) and fewer shot-creating actions (167) than Vincent Kompany’s side. For context, consensus relegation fodder Luton Town have conjured over 50 more shot-creating actions than Burnley.

They haven’t been the well-renowned defensive unit from their pre-Kompany era either. Their porous backline has conceded 25 goals throughout 10 games, again only ranking ahead of Sheffield United in this category. In short, Burnley are struggling and it’s hard to find the positives for the Lancashire outfit when it comes to their own performances.

There could be a glimmer of hope in the poor form of Crystal Palace, however. Roy Hodgson’s Eagles haven’t exactly been flying high themselves – they have now gone three straight games without victory since beating Manchester United at Old Trafford in September.

The core of Palace’s issues lie in the forward areas. They have scored only eight goals so far this season and half of them have come from Odsonne Edouard; no other member of the squad has managed more than one. But even the Frenchmen seems out of sorts in front of goal. He hasn’t scored since September 16th, with all four of his goals coming in the opening five.

They rank towards the middle of the table when it comes to shots taken but it’s rare that these shots are converted into goals. They’ve got the third-worst goals-per-shot ratio in the entire division, ranking only ahead of newly-promoted Luton Town and Sheffield United.

Both teams are toothless in attack, so we don’t think the goals will be flowing at Turf Moor. A low-scoring draw between two struggling sides seems more likely.

Prediction: Burnley 1-1 Crystal Palace

Everton vs Brighton

Form (all competitions) Everton: WWLWL Brighton: DWLDD

Our next Golden Goals fixture features two sides yearning for consistency. Everton have alternated wins and losses over their last six fixtures whereas Brighton’s form has stalled since their sensational start to the campaign with no wins in their last four.

Admittedly, it’s hard to curate form when you can’t keep a clean sheet – and Brighton simply cannot keep a clean sheet in the Premier League. They’ve conceded 18 goals in 10 games, which gives them the fourth-leakiest defence in the entire division, slotting in just above the actual bottom four teams in the Premier League.

They may have been able to sugarcoat their defensive fragility if they had a more reliable shot stopper. Jason Steele and Bart Verbruggen have split the goalkeeping commitments domestically but neither has helped Roberto De Zerbi’s side keep the ball out of the net; in save percentage Verbruggen (62.5%) sits second-bottom of all 22 keepers used in the Premier League this year while Steele is only marginally better in sixth (64.5%).

They can, however, always rely on their attack to score goals. The Brighton forward line is spearheaded by 18-year-old Evan Ferguson, who has five goals in only six Premier League starts. It’s even more impressive when you delve deeper and realise he’s scored more than double his xG (2.7) in the Premier League.

But can they break down a Sean Dyche defence? Everton are quietly turning a corner in the defensive third and the manager’s influence has been on full display.

The Toffees rank in the top three for tackles won, blocked shots and blocked passes in the Premier League this campaign. Helped hugely by the solid partnership that has been formed between James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite at the heart of the backline.

We have already swooned over Ferguson’s clinical finishng but Everton talisman Dominic Calvert-Lewin has returned from injury and got amongst the goals as well; he’s already the team’s top scorer alongside Abdoulaye Doucoure even though he’s started five fewer matches than the Malian midfielder.

Simply put, we fancy goals in this one. Indeed, it is a fixture that has averaged 4.5 total goals across the last four meetings – who are we to say that will change? Everton’s alternating results means they may well be in line for a defeat so we think Brighton oblige and take all the spoils.

Prediction: Everton 1-3 Brighton

Manchester City vs Bournemouth

Form (all competitions) Man City: WWWLW Bournemouth: LWLLL

Well, the possible struggles of Manchester City did not last very long. They’ve quashed any shred of doubt about a lack of motivation or drive with three consecutive wins after their 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in early October concluded a run of three defeats in four.

The champions were never in real trouble, of course, but they will be delighted to see Erling Haaland return to his unmatched form in front of goal. Before last weekend’s derby the Norwegian had a total of 0.4 xG across his previous three fixtures, a statline that seems inconceivable when talking about one of the best finishers in world football.

Though Haaland grabbed the headlines with his goalscoring exploits, Rodri's importance was underlined as the midfielder ran the show from City’s engine room. Once again, the Spaniard dictated play from deep, registering more touches (96) and shot-creating actions (9) than anybody on the pitch. He was also effective defensively, leading the way in tackles for his side.

We worry that Bournemouth may be next to face the full wrath of City’s resurgence.

The Cherries can enter this fixture with a little less pressure on themselves after securing their first win of the campaign last time out. After falling behind early, many were preparing to write Andoni Iraola’s obituary as Bournemouth boss. Yet they turned it around and moved out of the relegation zone in the process.

Any feel-good factor surrounding the club may be destroyed should they get a hiding from the blue side of Manchester – an outcome that may very well occur. Bournemouth possess the third-worst defence in the league with 21 goals conceded and they’ve lost the last two fixtures to Manchester City by a combined 8-1.

Even the most optimistic Bournemouth fan knows that a result at the Etihad is extremely unlikely. They have never beaten Manchester City in a competitive game and we don’t see that changing here. We’re expecting a goal-laden win for the home side.

Prediction: Man City 4-0 Bournemouth

Sheffield United vs Wolves

Form (all competitions) Sheffield United: LLLLL Wolves: DWDWL

And then there was one. Bournemouth’s win over Burnley last weekend leaves Sheffield United as the only winless team in the Premier League.

What makes it even worse? Paul Heckingbottom’s side have five fewer points at this stage than Derby County did back in the 2007-08 season – yes, the Derby side that has the lowest points total in Premier League history.

Wherever you look it’s grim reading for the Blades who have, pun intended, no cutting edge to speak of up top.

They struggle to get the ball to their forwards in and around the box, limiting themselves to shots from distance They have the second-highest average shot distance in the Premier League with both Cameron Archer and Oli McBurnie feeding off scraps with one goal apiece this season (McBurnie’s was a penalty). It is a struggle to see where the goals will come from for United.

That hasn’t been an issue for Saturday’s opponents. Most of anything creative offensively for Wolves has come from talented winger Pedro Neto. The Portuguese stands alone as the Premier League assists leader with seven, an impressive number considering his expected assists figure stands at just less than three.

Neto’s importance cannot be underestimated and that is why all Wolves fans held their breath when he was stretchered off against Newcastle United last weekend. The winger took to social media to announce he will be out for only “a couple of weeks” but his absence is sure to be felt.

The attacking baton will have to be picked up by his Wolves team-mates as his side-leading crosses and passes into the penalty area will be hard to replicate. However, if one man can do some of the heavy lifting, it’s Hwang Hee-Chan. The Korean is leading the way for Wolves on the scoring front with six – outperforming his xG by almost four goals.

While Wolves will still pose a threat in front of goal without Neto, it’s likely they still feel the hit of his absence. Therefore, while stopping short of predicting a first victory for the Blades, we are going to predict that they double their seasonal points tally with a draw.

Prediction: Sheffield United 1-1 Wolves

Newcastle United vs Arsenal

Form (all competitions) Newcastle United: WDLWD Arsenal: LWWDW

The headline fixture of our Golden Goals comes from St James’ Park as Newcastle United welcome Arsenal north.

Eddie Howe has a slight injury crisis within the camp as Harvey Barnes, Sven Botman, Alexander Isak and Jacob Murphy could all miss another fixture. Even with all the absences impacting the team, Newcastle are six games without defeat in the Premier League and routed Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford in the EFL Cup just days ago.

Isak’s replacement, Callum Wilson, already proved he could step into the limelight and produce when he bagged a double against Wolves in Matchday 10. The English forward has the highest xG per 90 minutes (1.42) in the Premier League – surpassing Haaland, Darwin Nunez and Salah in this metric.

Wilson and co. will have to be on top form once again as they face the second-stingiest defence in the Premier League in Arsenal. The Gunners have conceded only eight goals in the opening 10 games.

Despite their impressive defensive record, Mikel Arteta’s side have not been averse to giving their opponents an opportunity in front of goal. Arsenal have made five errors which have led to a shot so far this season – ranking in the top half of the Premier League for that metric above the likes of Everton and Nottingham Forest.

They have more than made up for their somewhat error-prone defence with the second-most fruitful attack. Arsenal have simply been firing on all cylinders offensively, with Nketiah’s hat-trick last weekend the latest flex of their attacking muscles. It would not be a surprise if Nketiah continued his inspiring form against Newcastle and added to his tally of five goals.

It is likely to be a tense game between Newcastle and Arsenal but we are leaning towards history with our recommendation. The Magpies have won just once in their last 11 meetings with Arsenal – who have tasted victory in four of their last five visits to St James’ Park – so we expect a win for the away side.

Prediction: Newcastle United 1-2 Arsenal

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Opt in & predict 6 correct scores weekly (see Game Lobby for weekly Tournament cut-off time) to win up to £1m jackpot or up to £5k Prizepool if Jackpot is not won. Void if 1 or more matches are postponed/abandoned or not completed. Verification procedures apply. T&Cs apply.

We are back for some more Golden Goals predictions ahead of a huge weekend of Video Assistant Refer… football, we mean football.

There can, however, be no getting away from the endless rolling controversy that is VAR in the Premier League and how it continues to dominate the way players, coaches and fans experience the game.

In the instant classic that was Tottenham 1-4 Chelsea on Monday evening, there were no fewer than nine VAR checks on the action in the first half alone. These spawned 12 minutes of added time, one red card, one penalty and three disallowed goals among the chaos.

Other headlines from last weekend include a massive win for Nottingham Forest against Aston Villa, a first defeat of the season for Arsenal at Newcastle (in another VAR-centric game) and wins for Manchester United, Brentford, Crystal Palace, Manchester City and Sheffield United.

Luton, meanwhile, came within a whisker of a shock win over Liverpool before conceding a last-gasp equaliser. Everton and Brighton also shared the spoils.

It was not our week last weekend, with just two correct results and no correct scores. Can we do better on Matchday 12 ahead of the international break?

Remember: if you can pick the correct six scorelines, you could win up to £1 million. You don't even have to get all six to earn something. If the jackpot is not won, just get more scores correct than your BetMGM peers to win a share of our prizepool, which has now increased to £5,000.

Here is an insight into this weekend’s matches…

Arsenal vs Burnley

Form (all competitions) Arsenal: WLLWW Burnley: LLLLL

If you were an under-pressure football manager of a team which has scored just two goals in five matches, conceding 14 in the process, low on the list of teams you would want your charges to play is Arsenal at the Emirates.

Unfortunately for the embattled Vincent Kompany, he has to find a tune out of his misfiring Burnley charges or face a sixth defeat on the bounce.

Time seems to be slowly ticking to an inevitable conclusion for the Belgian but he can take some hope from his club's recent record at the Emirates. They are unbeaten in two Premier League games in North London, with a 0-0 draw coming in January 2022 after a 1-0 win in 2020 thanks to a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang own goal.

They need to be better in front of goal if they are to get anything here – no team has fewer in the bank than the Clarets, who have managed to find the net on just eight occasions in 11 games this season.

The Gunners are not enjoying a great time of it themselves, though. After a win over Manchester City before the last international break they have been dumped out of the EFL Cup by West Ham and suffered a damaging defeat to Newcastle in the Premier League.

They have also lost key players Gabriel Jesus and Martin Ødegaard to injury while in-form winger Bukayo Saka picked up a knock in their comfortable win over Sevilla in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

There remains concern around some underlying stats. Arsenal manage 25.82 shot-creating actions (SCA) per 90 minutes – a decent number but still behind the likes of Brighton, Aston Villa and a struggling Manchester United – and also sit in the bottom half of Premier League teams for shots-on-target percentage (32.2%) below Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace.

A recent 5-0 win over Sheffield United boosted the Gunners’ goals-for column but, generally, the numbers point to a need to improve their attacking output.

However, while Arsenal sometimes struggle in the final third, they control games effectively nonetheless. With an average possession of 60.5% in the league only Brighton (61.5%), Chelsea (61.6%), and Manchester City (63.2%) have more of the ball over the 90 minutes.

Combine that control with Burnley’s lack of threat and we are going with an Arsenal win here.

Prediction: Arsenal 3-0 Burnley

Crystal Palace vs Everton

Form (all competitions) Crystal Palace: WDLLW Everton: DWWLW

Although this fixture was a 0-0 bore draw last season, recent history dictates that this tends to be a game in which both teams find the net. Indeed, that has happened in five of the previous seven meetings between them.

A simple truth this time round is that they are both struggling in front of goal this season though; Crystal Palace have scored just 10 goals while Everton have 11. Despite that, we are going to make an argument for both teams bulging the net once more.

Of the two teams in the bottom half of the league, the Eagles (132) and the Toffees (159) are leading the way for number of shots taken and both are massively missing the target when it comes to taking their chances with respective goals-to-expected-goals underperformance of -2.0 and -9.4.

That suggests something has to give – and we can see this ending in a score draw.

Prediction: Crystal Palace 2-2 Everton

Manchester United vs Luton Town

Form (all competitions) Manchester United: LWLLW Luton Town: DLLDL

After 42 minutes of easily their most accomplished performance of the season away to a good FC Copenhagen outfit in the Champions League on Wednesday night, Manchester United were cruising. They were 2-0 up, dominating possession and creating chance after chance.

Then disaster struck. And, with it, a massive metaphor for their horrific season unfolded before everyone's eyes. Marcus Rashford was sent off then they conceded twice within four minutes and came in level at half-time. After retaking the lead through a Bruno Fernandes penalty, the Red Devils again conceded twice in four minutes towards the end of the game to fall to an agonising defeat and ensure a nigh-on impossible task of climbing out of the group stages.

This trend of falling to pieces after conceding is very worrying for Erik ten Hag – the under-pressure Dutchman has seen his side ship two goals in 10 minutes on seven occasions this season. It speaks to a lack of composure when they need it most.

In facing Luton, they have a chance to bounce back. Anything other than a victory would mean United head into the upcoming international break under the darkest of clouds.

It is not the best time to be playing the Hatters, either. A morale-boosting draw at home to Liverpool last time out would have been so much better but for a last-minute goal from Luis Diaz denying them a famous win.

However, the hosts should still win this. Luton let other teams have the ball – they average 36.2% in possession per 90 minutes this season, the lowest in the league – and Ten Hag likes his side to have control of matches.

So long as they keep their collective heads, we are predicting a comfortable home win.

Prediction: Manchester United 3-1 Luton

Brighton vs Sheffield United

Form (all competitions) Brighton: WDDWL Sheffield United: WLLLL

There is an elephant in the Amex. It's an entertaining elephant that plays phenomenal football and participates in breathtaking matches… but it's an elephant nevertheless.

You see, Brighton have won just one of their last six Premier League matches and have not managed to keep a clean sheet in that time either.

When you dig under the bonnet, their defensive woes are a puzzler. They're in the top six for the fewest shot-creating actions against per 90 minutes, which means they are better at limiting the opposition from creating shots than most teams.

Indeed, they are surrounded by teams such as Manchester City, Arsenal and Aston Villa Villa in that metric. Yet they have conceded 20 goals, the joint fifth-highest in the division ranking them alongside the likes of Luton Town and Burnley.

After a miserable start to the campaign, there was finally some joy for Sheffield United and their beleaguered boss Paul Heckingbottom last weekend.

A late penalty with 99 minutes and 16 seconds on the clock at home to Wolves got the Blades their first three points of the season. It was the third-latest winner in Premier League history and fans will hope it is the injection they desperately needed.

They still have so much work to do – no team has conceded more goals than United this year. They are rock bottom for shot-creating actions (averaging just 13.64 per 90 minutes which is 4.45 behind the next closest team, Burnley) while the same goes with goal-creating actions, where they have garnered just 0.73 per 90 minutes.

This one will go to the Seagulls despite the filip for the Blades last time out.

Prediction: Brighton 4-1 Sheffield United

Liverpool vs Brentford

Form (all competitions) Liverpool: LDWWW Brentford: WWWLD

Since Brentford first came up to the Premier League two seasons ago, there have been goals in this fixture.

The last four encounters between the two have produced 14 of them with Brentford winning one, Liverpool winning two and a thrilling 3-3 draw in there to boot. That's an average of 3.5 goals per game.

The Reds are yet to drop points at Anfield this season, scoring 14 goals and conceding just two in their five home games. It feels like an impenetrable fortress but, in Brentford, they face a similarly in-form side.

Thomas Frank's team have won their previous three games – beating Burnley, Chelsea and West Ham – to shoot up the table into ninth.

In Ivan Toney's absence, forward Bryan Mbeumo has stepped up with six goals and two assists in 11 matches. He's getting into great positions, too. He has the fourth-highest xG in the entire league at 0.60 per 90 minutes. Don't bank against him scoring again here as a result.

It’s bound to be an exciting game. We’re going with a score draw.

Prediction: Liverpool 2-2 Brentford

Chelsea vs Manchester City

Form (all competitions) Chelsea: WWDLW Manchester City: WWWWW

The game of the weekend has to be Chelsea vs Manchester City – and it's the final Premier League match before the international break too.

The Blues will be somewhat buoyed after their 4-1 win over the in-form Tottenham Hotspur on Monday but their profligacy in front of goal when playing against nine men was borderline shambolic. It took them 20 minutes to exploit Spurs' relentless and bizarre application of the high defensive line, which they continued to utilise despite their considerable numerical disadvantage.

Only two goals in stoppage time added the gloss to a game they came close to throwing away. It marked only the third time they have managed more than two goals in this campaign so far and Mauricio Pochettino will need his players to improve in front of goal.

That mightn’t be likely against the champions. Chelsea’s recent record against them is appalling – they have lost six straight games without even scoring a goal.

After a recent blip, or as close to a blip as City get these days, Pep Guardiola has his team playing some magical stuff again. A 6-1 win over Bournemouth last time out means no team has managed more goals this season (28) or conceded fewer (8).

The Citizens will make it seven in a row against Chelsea.

Prediction: Chelsea 1-3 Manchester City

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Football fans rejoice. Premier League football is back on the slate after a third international break in as many months.

Though it may seem like an eternity ago, Matchday 12 was one of the most goal-centric gamedays in recent memory.

No fewer than 36 goals were scored across the 10 fixtures a fortnight ago – a considerable chunk of those coming from Stamford Bridge in an instant 4-4 draw classic between Chelsea and Manchester City which saw Blues midfielder Cole Palmer net a 95th-minute penalty to grab a point against his former club.

Elsewhere, the Gunners took care of business by dispatching Vincent Kompany’s Burnley while Tottenham conceded a pair of stoppage-time goals to Wolves to fall to a second defeat in a row.

Aston Villa grabbed a third win in four games – extending their Premier League unbeaten run at home since February – while Liverpool, West Ham, Bournemouth and Everton were also all on the winning side. Brighton and Sheffield United played out the only draw of the weekend.

Remember, every week we offer you the chance to win up to £1 million by predicting six correct scores with Golden Goals, our free-to-play football predictor game. Read more about Golden Goals here.

We were victim to some shock results across the Premier League before the break, resulting in only two correct scores. As for our players, they were not as outfoxed by the unpredictability of the Premier League with 10 players selecting three correct scores for a share of the £5,000 prizepool.

Let’s delve deeper into matchday 13 of Golden Goals…

Burnley vs West Ham

Form (all competitions) Burnley: LLLLL West Ham: WLLLD

Most football fans wish for international breaks to come to an end but, based on recent form, we think Burnley fans wouldn’t mind it lasting even longer. The Clarets’ defeat to Arsenal two weeks ago left them six games without a win – conceding at least two during each defeat.

This easily-penetrable backline is one of many problems that Kompany has not been able to solve in his inaugural Premier League season as a manager. They are the second-worst defence in the league with 29 goals conceded, an alarming seven more than their expected goals against.

Surprisingly, Burnley have a better xGA record than this weekend’s opponents West Ham. The issue, however, is that they can not seem to keep the ball out of their own net. It doesn’t help that they shoot themselves in the foot more than any other team in the division; Burnley have made a joint-league-high eight defensive errors which have led to shots on goal.

Combine that with James Trafford holding the lowest save percentage among starting goalkeepers in the Premier League (60.6%) and it’s a recipe for disaster at the back for Burnley.

That porous defence will try to keep a lid on Jarrod Bowen. The in-form Englishman now holds the Premier League record for scoring in six consecutive away games to start the season. He is currently priced at 9/5 to score anytime in this one if he makes it back from a training-ground injury.

If it’s not Bowen terrorising defences, it’s James Ward-Prowse’s impeccable delivery. West Ham have created five goals from dead balls this season – the second-highest in the Premier League – with Ward-Prowse responsible for four of those.

David Moyes’ outfit still leave a lot to be desired defensively, holding the leakiest rearguard outside the bottom four in the league, but with Burnley’s lack of attacking output, we do not see their defensive rigidity being tested much in this one.

Burnley are yet to win a game at Turf Moor this season – and they won’t improve that record here. West Ham should take the three points.

Prediction: Burnley 0-3 West Ham

Luton vs Crystal Palace

Form (all competitions) Luton: LDLDL Crystal Palace: LWLLD

Cast your mind back to before the Premier League season began; almost every pre-season prediction or preview had Luton Town finishing bottom of the table. While that may still be the case come the end of the year, they are currently surpassing expectations in that regard.

Rob Edwards’ plucky side are outperforming fellow promoted teams Sheffield United and Burnley. They almost pulled off an unbelievable victory against Liverpool before being pegged back late on and they were only narrowly beaten by Manchester United. There’s more to this side than most first thought.

It also helps that they are reasonably resolute on their home patch. Despite not picking up a victory in front of their faithful just yet, they have only conceded seven goals in their five matches at Kenilworth Road. For context, that is the same amount as Arsenal at the Emirates and fewer than Chelsea, Brighton and Manchester United at their respective home grounds.

However, they do need to improve their attacking output if they want to go from ‘nearly men’ to potential Premier League survivors. The Hatters are currently the second-lowest scorers in the league and they have the lowest goals-per-shot-taken ratio in the division.

Luckily, Luton’s opponents are not too goal-happy themselves. Palace’s 12 goals this season is lower than the likes of Everton, Nottingham Forest and Wolves. Odsonne Edouard leads the Eagles scoring charts with five but his goal against Everton on Matchday 12 was his first since September.

Their attacking options have been bolstered back to almost full strength as Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise are now regular features after their injury concerns. Eze in particular has had defenders on their heels so far this campaign, completing the third-most successful dribbles per 90 minutes behind only City’s Jeremy Doku and Tottenham’s Manor Solomon.

Luton are capable of picking up another impressive result at home to add to their points tally. It won’t be three points though, we’re guessing a score draw between two battle-tested sides.

Prediction: Luton 1-1 Crystal Palace

Newcastle vs Chelsea

Form (all competitions) Newcastle: LWDWD Chelsea: DWLDW

The highlight of Golden Goals this week is undoubtedly Newcastle United vs Chelsea – but there is a dark cloud that continues to hover over St James’ Park with the lorryload of injuries the Magpies have to contend with.

There can’t be many beds left in the Newcastle physio room with Harvey Barnes, Miguel Almiron, Alexander Isak, Sven Botman, Fabian Schär, Dan Burn and Jacob Murphy currently all enduring a spell on the sidelines.

Some of these players may be back in training but they certainly aren’t 100%. Kieran Trippier, meanwhile, left the England squad this week due to ‘personal reasons’ and Sean Longstaff is a doubt.

Even with all the injury issues in the north-east, Bruno Guimarães is back and Newcastle were on a steady run of form prior to the loss against Bournemouth before the hiatus for internationals. They were on a seven-game unbeaten stretch in the league – including an 8-0 dismantling of Sheffield United. A victory that has very much swayed the goals scored table, in which Newcastle rank joint-third with 27.

The defence has also held up their end of the bargain as well, with Nick Pope attaining the clean sheet leader status alongside Palace’s Sam Johnstone.

Chelsea will hope that they have turned a corner when it comes to clinicality. The Blues have scored eight goals across their last two games, netting four against Manchester City and Spurs respectively.

Even with their goal tally getting a huge boost in recent weeks, they still sit an entire five goals behind their expected highlighting how wasteful Mauricio Pochettino’s side were earlier in the campaign.

On a positive note, Nicolas Jackson appears to have found his footing after some early-season struggles. The Senegalese frontman now has six goals this season, tied with the likes of Isak and Bryan Mbeumo.

Former Manchester City man Cole Palmer has been in inspired form for the Blues, even earning himself an England call in the process. Palmer leads the team in goal contributions per 90 minutes and has scored in four of his last five matches.

We expect a high-scoring shootout at St James’ Park, so we are going for another score draw in this one.

Prediction: Newcastle 2-2 Chelsea

Nottingham Forest vs Brighton

Form (all competitions) Nottingham Forest: LWLDD Brighton: DDDLD

When does a worrying trend become a glaring issue? That should be the question being tossed around on the south coast as Brighton’s winless run in the Premier League stretched to two months with the draw against Sheffield United.

More worryingly, their unwanted defensive record continued as well: the Seagulls are yet to keep a clean sheet in the entire campaign. The only other three teams with this undesirable accolade are the three promoted ones.

Their dire defensive situation is one of the most perplexing in the league. They don’t succumb to many shots, indeed they have faced the fifth-least amount in the league, so it is a struggle for any team to get something away on goal against them.

Yet, when teams do take fire, they often end up wheeling away in celebration. Teams facing against Brighton possess the fourth-highest goals-per-shot ratio, ahead of only Bournemouth, Sheffield United and Burnley who are propping up the Premier League table.

They are, at least, guaranteed to score goals; they have only failed to score in one game across all competitions, a 1-0 defeat to Chelsea in the Carabao Cup.

When you look beyond the curtain, it’s not hard to see why they are so fruitful in and around the penalty area. They have taken the second-most shots on target this season (70) which is only bested by the league leading Manchester City.

Nottingham Forest rank middle of the pack when it comes to shots against, which lends itself to their record of 18 goals conceded this season. That is also middling but it does mean they boast a better record than Brighton, West Ham’ and Chelsea.

Steve Cooper’s men have also found their feet at the top end of the pitch. They’ve managed to bag two goals in three of their last four fixtures.

Forest have yet to lose at home all season and both teams have a habit of sharing the spoils, so it’s another draw for us here. Brighton’s last three games have all ended 1-1, so we were tempted by the quadruple, but we think this one will have slightly more goals.

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 2-2 Brighton

Sheffield United vs Bournemouth

Form (all competitions) Sheffield United: DWLLL Bournemouth: WLWLL

Proverbial six-pointers do not come much more important than this one between Sheffield United and Bournemouth.

A win for the home side will see them finally escape the drop zone if results go their way. As for the Cherries, they could increase the gap between themselves and the Blades with a victory in Yorkshire.

As much as both sides are well and truly embroiled in the relegation battle, they both enter on a reasonable run of form having lost just once in their last three. Bournemouth, in particular, seem to have turned the corner under Andoni Iraola – ignoring the 6-1 defeat to Manchester City, of course.

This slight upturn in results has been inspired by Dominic Solanke, the sole goal threat that Bournemouth offer. He is the team’s leading goalscorer with six, which is four more than any other player in the entire squad.

United would love to have any player even close to six goals at this stage of the season; Gustavo Hamer and Cameron Archer hold the honour of being tied for the Blades’ top scorer with two goals apiece.

It is hard to muster any type of goalmouth action when you land bottom of the league in shot-creating actions per 90 (13.75) and goal-creating actions across the entire season (just 8). That goal-creating figure is six fewer than any other team in the Premier League.

Bournemouth seem to have the attacking edge coming into this one and that will translate into all three points come the end of 90 minutes. They may not have secured a single away win all season, but that should change come Saturday.

Prediction: Sheffield United 0-2 Bournemouth

Brentford vs Arsenal

Form (all competitions) Brentford: LWWWL Arsenal: WLWDW

The Saturday slate is rounded out with a London Derby between Brentford and Arsenal at the Gtech Community Stadium.

It may seem a long time ago but this is where Brentford’s rise to Premier League stability began: a Friday fixture under the lights in their inaugural Premier League campaign, during which they ran out 2-0 victors against Mikel Arteta’s men.

They seem to have lost their firepower against the Gunners as of late though. Brentford haven’t toppled the North London side since that Friday evening in 2021 and have only registered a further two goals across the four games between them in all competitions.

Their recent loss to Liverpool was a minor setback in the impressive run of form that the Bees had formulated. Thomas Frank’s side were on a three-game winning streak before encountering a Merseyside buzzsaw before the international break. It is a streak they wouldn’t mind reigniting against the Gunners.

If they are to get anything from this game, they are likely going to have to play on the counter-attack. Arsenal tend to dominate possession within games – holding the third-highest per-game average in the league with 60.7%.

Even with a large amount of possession, Arteta’s men don’t always translate it into troubling the opposition goalkeeper; they register less than five shots on target per 90 minutes this season., It’s by no means the worst but it does rank below Everton and the rest of the top four.

Arsenal are happy to wait for their openings rather than firing without aim, a clinical characteristic that we think will serve them well when they pick up all three points against Brentford.

It’ll be a close encounter but Arsenal should come out on top and keep the pressure on in the title race.

Prediction: Brentford 1-2 Arsenal

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We are back again after an incredible European interlude that saw games involving Newcastle, Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal spawn no fewer than 19 goals.

When you sprinkle in yet more VAR controversy, a goal of the decade debate and some surprising results, it has been quite the return to action after the international break.

We were not quite at the races with our predictions last weekend with just three correct results, but an impressive 19 players called that same number of correct scores to share the £5,000 prizepool.

Remember: if you can pick all six scores correctly, you could win up to £1 million. You don't even have to get all six to earn something – if the jackpot is not won, just get more scores correct than your BetMGM peers to win a share of our £5,000 prizepool.

On we go to Matchday 14…

Arsenal vs Wolves

Form (all competitions)

Arsenal: WWWLW

Wolves: LWLDW

These are good times to be an Arsenal fan.

The Gunners are free-scoring, a fact further reinforced on Wednesday when they became the first English team to ever lead a Champions League game 5-0 at half-time.

They are resolute in defence, conceding the fewest goals of the league season so far (11), and are dominating games with an average of 60.9% possession in the Premier League second only to Manchester City (62.2%).

They also have an excellent recent record against Wolves, winning their previous four Premier League games against the Midlands outfit with an aggregate score of 10-1.

Meanwhile, Wolves boss Gary O'Neil dropped the least surprising bombshell of the season ahead of this one – he is not a fan of VAR.

"Maybe tonight has finally turned me against VAR," he said in the aftermath of his side’s defeat to Fulham on Monday night. "I think it is a really complex [issue]. I have always been for VAR but I think it is causing problems now. I think VAR has cost us there."

He is referring to two penalty decisions that went against them on Monday – each one contentious and spawning the wrath of Wolves fans. A draw might have been the fairest result but Wolves could have done more to win the game, losing the non-penalty xG metric 1.3-0.6.

Still, they have managed some surprising results this season – notably they picked up wins against Manchester City and Tottenham – but a victory away to the Gunners is hard to envisage. This will be a home win.

Prediction: Arsenal 3-0 Wolves

Burnley vs Sheffield United

Form (all competitions)

Burnley: LLLLL

Sheffield United: LLWLW

Heartbreaking, brutal, shattering… just some adjectives you could use to describe Burnley's late capitulation to West Ham at the weekend.

They were 1-0 up heading into the final five minutes but, come the full-time whistle, they were 2-1 down and consigned to a sixth-straight top-flight defeat. Incredibly, it's the first time since 1895 that the Clarets have been on a run this bad.

Remarkably, though, there remains some optimism around Burnley and faith in serial Manchester City winner Vincent Kompany at the helm, especially in light of Everton's 10-point deduction.

This will likely be a battle of which defence will be the least porous. Only one team has conceded more goals this term than Burnley (32) — and that's Sheffield United (34).

Fortunately for both goalkeepers, they also face the bluntest goalscoring threats in the division. No team has scored fewer than Burnley (10) with the Blades ahead by just one (11).

The recent record between these two suggests a home win — Burnley have won four and drawn one of the previous five home league games against Sheffield United. We see Burnley continuing that trend. Home win.

Prediction: Burnley 2-1 Sheffield United

Newcastle vs Manchester United

Form (all competitions)

Newcastle United: DWLLW

Manchester United: DWWLW

Both teams experienced leg-sapping and demoralising Champions League results in midweek.

Newcastle were absolutely battered by Paris Saint-Germain, conceding 31 shots in total, but held firm and defended their 1-0 lead well until a last-gasp, unfathomable penalty decision against Tino Livramento saw Kylian Mbappe equalise from the spot.

Manchester United let another two-goal lead slip after a poor performance in goal by Andre Onana to draw 3-3 with Galatasaray.

Two blunders from relatively straightforward free-kick attempts and questionable positioning for the equalising third goal mean that, even though the Red Devils have scored nine goals in their three away games in this group, they are bottom of the group and facing an early exit.

Against the backdrop of such momentous and confidence-denting results, how will both teams react?

The Magpies bounced back nicely from defeat to Bournemouth before the international break with a 4-1 thrashing of an underperforming Chelsea. The Blues' equaliser in that game was the first time Newcastle had conceded at home since August (in a 2-1 loss to Liverpool), ending a 382-minute clean sheet at St James' Park.

They know where the goal is too: no Premier League team hits the target more consistently than the Magpies, with 41.1% of their efforts finding the target.

Despite an uptick in results generally, there are still some worrying trends for the Red Devils. They have conceded 33 goals in all competitions so far this season, which is their worst record at this stage of a campaign since 1962-63.

They are in the bottom half of the table for expected goals (xG) with just 1.52 per 90 minutes despite taking the sixth-highest number of shots (14.2 per 90 minutes).

A wonder goal from Alejandro Garnacho plastered over an unconvincing first-half performance against Everton last week. The underlying form is far more convincing for Newcastle — we are going with a home win.

Prediction: Newcastle United 3-1 Manchester United

Chelsea vs Brighton

Form (all competitions)

Chelsea: LDWWL

Brighton: WWDWD

This is shaping up to be an exciting match — potentially the game of the weekend — with both teams having their fair share of struggles this season.

Chelsea have had a rough patch recently, conceding four goals in consecutive games for the first time in Premier League history against Manchester City and Newcastle respectively. However, they are still second in the league for xG, showing that they are creating quality chances but still need to finish them.

On the other hand, Brighton have struggled defensively this season and have conceded 23 goals — yet they have shown their attacking prowess with an impressive record of scoring in all 13 of their Premier League games.

Both teams, then, are very capable of finding the net and it makes for an exciting and rather unpredictable match. Adding to that unpredictability is Brighton's impressive record against Chelsea: the Seagulls are unbeaten in their last five Premier League meetings.

It's genuinely tough to call — we will go with a score draw.

Prediction: Chelsea 2-2 Brighton

Liverpool vs Fulham

Form (all competitions)

Liverpool: WDWLD

Fulham: WLLWD

Can we call Liverpool bonafide title contenders yet? They certainly have their mojo back under Jurgen Klopp and a draw away to Manchester City last weekend could prove a crucial result in the context of the season.

The mark of champions is how they can bounce back in games and no team has rescued more points from losing positions this season than the Reds (12). Indeed, they have avoided defeat in 10 of the last 11 games in which they have gone behind, with the solitary defeat coming when they were down to nine men against Tottenham.

They are behind only City in xG per 90 minutes (2.24) in the league and sit joint-top of the rankings for shot-creating actions per 90 with 30.77. To top it all off, they have the second-best defensive record in the league with just 11 goals conceded all season, only bettered by league leaders Arsenal.

Based on those numbers, the answer to our opening gambit is a resounding ‘yes’... yet Fulham could be a banana skin.

While the Cottagers have lost four times and won just once in their last five visits to Anfield, they have rarely been overawed. In their previous three league visits to the stadium, they have conceded just three times, winning one of those occasions 1-0. In all competitions, they have lost just once in their last four meetings with the Reds.

They do, however, need to start showing more intent in front of goal. Only Burnley (10.2) and Sheffield United (8.69) average fewer attempts per 90 minutes than Fulham’s 11.

All things considered, this should be a home win.

Prediction: Liverpool 4-0 Fulham

Manchester City vs Tottenham

Form (all competitions)

Manchester City: WDDWW

Tottenham: LLLWW

It has all gone wrong for Tottenham recently.

In fairness, the North London side have been ravaged by injury and suspension — the likes of James Maddison, Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero have been notable and consequential absentees. But there's no doubt Spurs fans are undergoing a recalibration of expectations after their flying start to the campaign.

The prospect of losing four on the bounce for Spurs is genuine despite a fantastic recent record against Manchester City. They have won five of their previous seven Premier League matches against Pep Guardiola's treble-winning conquerors.

This one could be a fascinating clash of styles, with Ange Postecoglou's bombastic strategy providing an intriguing match-up against City. Under the former Celtic boss, Spurs top the rankings for high pressure (passes per defensive action - another way of expressing pressing intensity) and sit third in the league for territorial dominance (share of passes a team has in a game, considering only passes in the attacking third) this season.

However, it's difficult to look past City. They have scored 23 goals in their previous seven games in all competitions, more than 3 per game on average, while Erling Haaland has rediscovered his relentless scoring form, with 11 goals in his last eight games. The draw at home to Liverpool at the weekend was the first time they had dropped points at the Etihad in the league in 2023.

This one will be a high-scoring home win.

Prediction: Manchester City 4-2 Tottenham

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It is Gameweek 14 in the Premier League and there are some crucial fixtures at both ends of the table, including Newcastle's meeting with Manchester United on Saturday and Tottenham's trip to Manchester City on Sunday.

We have picked out four bets from the weekend matches at Turf Moor, the City Ground, the London Stadium and the Vitality with the selections making up a juicy 13/1 acca.

Tip 1 – Burnley to beat Sheffield United @ 17/20

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Burnley were a cut above runners-up Sheffield United and the rest of their Championship rivals last season, but the Clarets have struggled with the step up to the Premier League.

Vincent Kompany's men have a great opportunity to claim their second win of the season on Saturday when they host the Blades, who have scored only four times in six away matches this term.

That modest tally was boosted by two own goals from opposition players and United also have the worst defensive record in the division, conceding 34 goals in 13 matches.

Burnley's stats are not particularly encouraging either, but they were unfortunate to lose 2-1 at Turf Moor last weekend as visitors West Ham scored with two of their three shots on target.

The Clarets’ only previous league win of the campaign came against Luton, the other club promoted from the Championship last term, so a victory over the struggling Blades could prove a turning point in their season.

Tip 2 – Everton to beat Nottingham Forest @ 8/5

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Everton's first Premier League game following their 10-point deduction ended in a disappointing 3-0 home defeat to Manchester United, who were galvanised by Alejandro Garnacho's brilliant overhead kick in the third minute.

However, the Toffees have been playing significantly better than their results suggest this season and they had 24 shots to United's nine at Goodison Park.

A similarly bold display may well earn them a victory over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground and Everton had won four of their previous seven league games before last weekend's reverse against the Red Devils.

Those successes included a 3-0 win over Bournemouth, a 3-1 victory at Brentford and a 3-2 triumph at Crystal Palace in their most recent away fixture.

Forest, held to home draws by lowly Burnley and Luton this term, have lost three of their last four games, conceding nine goals in those defeats. They may struggle to subdue Sean Dyche's Toffees.

Tip 3 – Over 2.5 goals in West Ham v Crystal Palace @ Evens

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Crystal Palace kept three straight clean sheets in the Premier League at the end of September and the start of October, drawing 0-0 at home to Fulham and Nottingham Forest either side of a 1-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford.

The Eagles' defensive standards have dropped significantly since then and they are hoping to avoid a fifth defeat in six league games when they travel to London rivals West Ham.

Palace lost 4-0 at Newcastle, 2-1 against Tottenham and 3-2 to Everton before going down 2-1 at Luton last weekend, so over 2.5 goals looks a solid bet at the London Stadium.

Winger Michael Olise has made a welcome return from injury for Palace and he scored a superb goal in the defeat at Luton, where the Eagles had eight shots on target.

But West Ham will be confident of breaching the visitors' defence after beating Burnley 2-1 and Nottingham Forest 3-2 in their last two league games.

Over 2.5 goals has been a winning bet in 10 of the Hammers' last 12 Premier League matches and that trend should continue on Sunday.

Tip 4 – Over 2.5 goals in Bournemouth v Aston Villa @ 13/25

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Aston Villa extended their stunning run at Villa Park to 17 wins in 18 league and cup matches with a 2-1 victory over Legia Warsaw in the Europa Conference League on Thursday.

On Sunday, though, they face a tricky away trip to Bournemouth and goals should be on the cards as the Cherries target a fourth victory in five games.

Manager Andoni Iraola was under pressure before Bournemouth beat Burnley 2-1 and Newcastle 2-0 in their last two home matches and his side returned to action after the international break with a 3-1 victory at Sheffield United.

Their defence remains a concern – they were hammered 6-1 at Manchester City in the first week of November – so over 2.5 goals is well worth a bet when free-scoring Villa come to town.

Unai Emery's side won 2-1 at Tottenham on their last away trip, although they rode their luck as Spurs hit the woodwork twice and had eight shots on target.

Villa are favourites to win the game but their last seven victories in all competitions were by 2-1, 2-1, 3-1, 2-1, 3-1, 4-1 and 4-1 scorelines, so Bournemouth look capable of playing their part in a high-scoring encounter.

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What an incredible, action-packed weekend of Premier League football we have just witnessed.

There were last-minute equalisers, come-from-behind dramatics and two red cards mixed in for good measure.

With 38 goals, it also became the second-highest haul of the season in that regard, with only the 41 goals scored during Matchday 4 topping it so far.

Our £1 million Golden Goals jackpot was out of reach for our players – but two of you did split the £5,000 prizepool with three correct scores.

We managed four correct results and we're back with another entry to help you with your midweek picks…

Sheffield United vs Liverpool

Form (all competitions) Sheffield United: LLDWL ; Liverpool: WDWDW

There’s not much in the way of Christmas cheer on the United side of Sheffield this December.

The Blades sit bottom of the Premier League table and are fresh off of a 5-0 thumping by fellow relegation candidates Burnley – a result which looks to have been the final straw for manager Paul Heckingbottom, with reports of his dismissal growing since Monday.

This lashing in Lancashire took United’s goals conceded tally to 39 for the season – the worst in the Premier League – which doesn’t make great reading for when they welcome goal-happy Liverpool to Yorkshire on Wednesday.

Liverpool sit atop the xG (32.15) and shot-creating actions per 90 (31.4) rankings, so we expect something of a barrage against the team conceding the most shots per 90 minutes in the entire division (18.86).

Add in the fact that Jurgen Klopp’s men are entering the fixture off the back of a four-goal flurry against Fulham – you’d be hard-stretched to find a better quartet of goals – and it makes dismal reading for whoever takes the United reins this midweek.

Has it ever been more obvious where we were going for this prediction? Liverpool haven’t lost to Sheffield United since 2003, they haven’t even conceded a goal against them in three of the last four meetings… it has to be a convincing away win.

Prediction: Sheffield United 0-3 Liverpool

Fulham vs Nottingham Forest

Form (all competitions) Fulham: LWLLD ; Nottingham Forest: LLLWL

It might be time for Fulham and Nottingham Forest to start looking over their shoulders. One win each in their last five fixtures has prompted a steady decline down the table for both teams, leaving them 14th and 15th in the table respectively.

With Bournemouth finding their groove under Andoni Iraola, Luton showing their resilience and a possible revitalised pair in Burnley and Everton, these two could well be in the midst of a relegation battle when the new year begins.

It is hard not to feel for Fulham, however. They were three minutes away from securing a historic win at Anfield before two wonder goals in less than two minutes condemned them to three defeats in their last four.

But the warning signs were always there for Marco Silva’s side. The Cottagers averaged the highest xGA per 90 minutes last season (1.85) and that trend has continued this year with them currently sitting fourth in this metric (2.01) behind Sheffield United, Luton and Bournemouth.

They ride their luck at times. Fortunately, they have the second-leading shot-stopper in the Premier League in Bernd Leno. The German has bailed his side out on multiple occasions already this season with his fourth-highest save percentage (73.5%), ranking only behind Alisson, Andre Onana, and Nick Pope.

Forest have just been on the wrong side of their close encounters. The formbook states they have lost three of the last four but there has only ever been one goal in it, including a pair of agonising 3-2 defeats to West Ham and Brighton respectively. It doesn’t feel like Steve Cooper’s men are a million miles away from turning their losses into points.

These two sides are in lockstep in the Premier League. They’ve scored the same amount of goals and only two points separate the sides. It’s too close to call for us – we’re going for a score draw.

Prediction: Fulham 2-2 Nottingham Forest

Crystal Palace vs Bournemouth

Form (all competitions) Crystal Palace: DLLWL ; Bournemouth: DWWLW

One team is on the rise, one team is falling... and that’s not something we expected to say about Crystal Palace and Bournemouth just weeks ago.

Crystal Palace’s draw against West Ham on Sunday afternoon extended the Eagles’ winless run to three consecutive games while Bournemouth’s draw against high-flying Aston Villa moved their unbeaten streak to three.

Is Iraola-ball finally in full effect for the Cherries? Let’s not get ahead of ourselves just yet but there has been an upturn in form on the south coast. Bournemouth currently sit eighth in the form table – ahead of Chelsea, Tottenham, Brighton and, crucially, their opponents this midweek too.

They have also found some rhythm in front of goal; Iraola’s men have scored in seven straight games across all competitions and they have netted two in four of their last five Premier League games.

That said, they seem to go goal-shy when they face Palace – Bournemouth haven’t scored against the Eagles in the last five meetings and they have not won away at Selhurst Park since 2016.

Despite Palace’s seemingly fantastic record against their upcoming opponents, Roy Hodgson’s side are in the middle of a slump this campaign. They have one win in seven and they have lost to two of the current bottom three in that spell.

What will be of most concern is that they are failing to pick up points at Selhurst Park. It is a place that is often considered a difficult place to play yet only the bottom four teams in the Premier League have a worse home record than Palace with only one win all season.

Palace are struggling at home, Bournemouth struggle in South London. This one will be a tight encounter dictated by fine margins. We’re going to say that Bournemouth buck the historic trend and at least pick up a point.

Prediction: Crystal Palace 1-1 Bournemouth

Brighton vs Brentford

Form (all competitions) Brighton: LWWDW ; Brentford: WLLWW

The Seagulls come into this one off the back of a painful 3-2 defeat against Chelsea, where they played 10 men for more than 45 minutes, managed 18 shots on goal and had 68% of possession but could not find a way to win.

That result means they continued their form as an excellent bet in the both teams to score market – it was the 18th Premier League match in a row in which Brighton have scored and conceded.

Brentford have been in some promising form with three wins from five solidifying a mid-table presence in 11th. They have hit 22 goals in 14 games, which is the second-highest number of goals of teams in the bottom half of the league – only Chelsea, in 10th, have more (25).

In the four Premier League meetings between the two, Brighton have won two games, Brentford have won one and a thrilling 3-3 draw was played out in the most recent clash. This one could be another score draw.

Prediction: Brighton 2-2 Brentford

Manchester United vs Chelsea

Form (all competitions) Manchester United: LDWWL ; Chelsea: WLDWW

There are plenty of adjectives to describe the Red Devils' performance against Newcastle United on Saturday evening but the most telling one is ‘insipid’.

For 80 minutes, they were totally dominated and a 1-0 defeat flattered them. Just look at the match momentum below.

It was their third defeat in a row to the Magpies – the first time such a feat has happened since 1992 – and the general mood around the club is on the floor. Manager Erik ten Hag has a mammoth job on his hands to turn his club’s fortunes around.

Chelsea, meanwhile, come into the clash after a morale-boosting 3-2 victory over Brighton but there are some defensive issues surrounding the Blues. They have conceded 22 goals in 14 league games, their second-worst start to a campaign since their disastrous 2015-16 season when they shipped 23.

It's hard to call – both teams are in a pickle. We'll go with another score draw.

Prediction: Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea

Aston Villa vs Manchester City

Form (all competitions) Aston Villa: DWWWW ; Manchester City: DWDDW

The Villans let some points slip in a 2-2 draw away to Bournemouth on Sunday but can be grateful for leaving with a result.

They have striker Ollie Watkins to thank, assisting Leon Bailey with their opener before scoring a last-minute equaliser to continue a run of five games without defeat in all competitions.

It means Watkins is only the fourth Aston Villa player to contribute 6+ goals and 6+ assists in back-to-back Premier League seasons. He has led his team to fourth and hopes of a Champions League spot remain piping hot.

A thrilling 3-3 draw with Tottenham on Sunday means Manchester City have conceded 10 goals in four games in all competitions – hardly the sort of control we are accustomed to seeing under Pep Guardiola.

It is not just the leaky defence that will worry the Citizens on the road to Villa Park – they are without the suspended Rodri and Jack Grealish. The absence of Rodri will be especially worrying – after receiving a three-game ban following his red card to Nottingham Forest, City lost all three games he missed.

Villa are also one of two teams, alongside Liverpool, to have won every single Premier League home game so far this season. We reckon they will do it again here.

Prediction: Aston Villa 2-1 Manchester City

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Continental champions from across the globe will descend on Jeddah in Saudi Arabia for the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup in December.

As winners of the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup treble, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City are the team to beat in this competition, so will anyone be able to deny the Citizens their first title in the tournament?

City stuttering into this competition

While City are firm favourites to come out on top in the 2023 Club World Cup, they go into the tournament struggling for form.

After a four-match winless run in the Premier League, they got back to winning ways last time out with a 2-1 win against Luton Town.

Going behind to a late goal in the first half at Kenilworth Road, Guardiola’s side were made to work hard for the three points.

In the end goals from Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish saw City overcome the Premier League newcomers but the performance further highlighted the European champions are yet to hit top gear.

Much like last season, when they fell eight points behind Arsenal at one stage, City have had their troubles in the first half of the campaign but they can be expected to find their rhythm in the new year when it matters.

Winning the Club World Cup would certainly boost confidence in the City camp and the chance to get away from the British weather in December might well give the squad a lift.

City have a bye into the semi-finals, where they will face the winner of Mexican outfit Leon against Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds.

The Citizens should have a straightforward route through to the final on December 22, with a couple of teams in contention to potentially face Guardiola’s star-studded side.

Tip 1 – Al-Ittihad to beat Auckland City and both teams to score @ 12/5

With home advantage in Saudi Arabia, Al-Ittihad will be hoping they can make a statement by winning the Club World Cup in their own backyard.

Al-Ittihad will have to play three games if they are to reach the final, starting on Tuesday December 12 when they face Auckland City at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.

Auckland will try to make themselves tough to beat but Al-Ittihad – whose squad includes N’Golo Kante, Fabinho and Karim Benzema – should have too much quality for the New Zealand outfit.

It will be intriguing to see how the trio of stars at Al-Ittihad fare in this competition after making big-money moves to Saudi Arabia over the summer.

Al-Ittihad have hardly dazzled in the Saudi Pro League this season and find themselves in fifth place in the standings, with 16 points between themselves and frontrunners Al-Hilal.

Conceding in all of their last six games in all competitions, Al-Ittihad have had their issues at the back and it would be little surprise to see Auckland get on the scoresheet.

A win over Auckland should be a confidence booster for Al-Ittihad but they would then face Al Ahly and then potentially a much sterner challenge against South America’s champions Fluminense.

Tip 2 – Al-Ittihad to beat Fluminense 2-1

With the Club World Cup schedule falling in pre-season for Brazilian side Fluminense, there is a chance they could be slightly undercooked going into the competition.

Having won the Copa Libertadores for the first time in their history this year, it has been a special time for the Rio de Janeiro club.

To win the Copa Libertadores while finishing only seventh in Brazil’s Serie A, showed what Fluminense are capable of in a cup competition.

Likely to face Al-Ittihad after a bye through to the semi-finals, Fluminense will potentially have a tricky game against the Saudi Arabian outfit.

Al-Ittihad, assuming they make it past Auckland, will fancy their chances of taking down the Brazilians.

While they might find themselves conceding once again, with Benzema in their ranks they have enough firepower to edge past the Brazilians.

Tip 3 – Manchester City to win the Club World Cup

While City have not been in scintillating form heading into the competition, their squad is blessed with the talent that can do the business in Saudi Arabia.

In the last 16 FIFA Club World Cups, the reigning European champions going into the tournament have won the competition 15 times.

One has to go back to the Corinthians side of 2012 to find the last team outside of Europe to lift the trophy.

The last two English champions Liverpool (2019) and Chelsea (2021) have beaten Brazilian opposition in their respective finals.

With Al-Ittihad inconsistent in the Saudi Pro League this season and Fluminense yet to get their domestic campaign underway, it’s hard to look past City bringing the trophy home to Manchester.

To discover the full betting market on the FIFA Club World Cup, visit our dedicated page.

The Premier League action is relentless as we return for another weekend edition of Golden Goals.

Our £1 million jackpot was not won by any of our players in Matchday 15 but a whopping 60 of you shared the £5,000 prizepool with three correct scores.

We went a little draw-heavy with our predictions and ended up slightly off the mark with just two correct results – though one of those was Aston Villa’s incredible home win against champions Manchester City.

Yes, with the abundance of midweek football it truly feels like the festive fixture list is in full swing so, without further ado, let’s delve into Matchday 16…

Brighton vs Burnley

Form (all competitions) Brighton: WLWDD ; Burnley: LWLLL

Brighton will play entertaining football, both teams will score and, because the Seagulls are at home, they will most likely avoid defeat. Sorry, we are just trying to follow the script of almost every Brighton game at the Amex this season.

In midweek they once again proved they are simply unable to keep a clean sheet when Paul van Hecke brought down Brentford’s Vitaly Janelt in the penalty area.

Brighton’s goalscoring prowess at the other end was ultimately enough to see them through as 2-1 victors and extend their record to 19 straight games where both teams have found the net. Slightly more worryingly, it means they are still to keep a clean sheet during the entire Premier League season to date.

Their tally of 27 goals conceded is only beaten by four other teams in the league – fortunately one of them is this week’s opponents Burnley, who have allowed 33.

We’d expect Burnley’s porous backline to be preyed on by Roberto De Zerbi’s side. They are one of the highest scorers in the league and lead the league in shots-on-target percentage. That’s a scary thought against Burnley’s limp defensive wall that concedes the third-most goals in the league in relation to shots on target.

The Clarets are much improved in the last two outings, despite only meriting one win in those games. They dispatched Sheffield United and held Wolves to only one goal – it’s not much but it’s certainly a slight improvement.

It might not mean much here though. Brighton are the sixth-best home side in the division while Burnley are 17th in away form. Put us down for a comfortable home win – with both teams scoring because it’s still Brighton we’re talking about.

Prediction: Brighton 3-1 Burnley

Manchester United vs Bournemouth

Form (all competitions) Manchester United: WLWWW ; Bournemouth: WDWWL

As Forrest Gump’s mother once said: “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.”

She very well could have been talking about watching Manchester United. After an insipid performance against Newcastle on Matchday 14, you’d have expected them to roll over for any upcoming opponents.

But no. Erik ten Hag’s band of polarising players produced one of their best performances this season with a 2-1 victory over Chelsea – including a brace from midfielder Scott McTominay, who is now United’s top scorer in the league with five.

They looked relatively comfortable for the entire outing, too. Take a look at the match momentum graphic below – late push from Chelsea aside, the Red Devils remained in control for much of the game.

However, ten Hag’s men are facing one of the most in-form teams in the Premier League this time out in Bournemouth. Very few expected that to be a verifiable statement after the first few months of the season but Andoni Iraola has proven that patience pays dividends and is enjoying a four-game unbeaten run.

Despite all the justified positivity, the Cherries do have to improve their away form. They picked up a win at Crystal Palace in midweek but overall Iraola’s team have conceded the second-most goals on their travels.

Add in that Bournemouth have won only one game against the red side of Manchester since 2016 and we just cannot foresee an away upset. We’re taking a resurgent United for the win.

Prediction: Manchester United 2-0 Bournemouth

Wolves vs Nottingham Forest

Form (all competitions) Wolves: WLLWL ; Nottingham Forest: LLLLW

Gary O’Neil might be putting together a manager of the year campaign.

It may seem hyperbolic but, before the season started, many condemned his Wolves side to relegation due to the clear-out of huge names and a lack of incomings. However, O’Neil is working his magic at Molineux, much like he did in keeping Bournemouth up last term.

Wolves are proving to be a solid side with at least mid-table security in sight, mainly thanks to the inspirational Hwang Hee-Chan’s emergence as the main man in Wolves’ attacking trifecta.

The South Korean forward scored the winner against Burnley, taking his tally to eight for the season from an xG of only 4.87. Hwang’s almost four-goal overperformance is the second-highest in the Premier League – bettered only by his international compatriot Son Heung-min.

Nottingham Forest cannot boast such attacking clinicality. Taiwo Awoniyi remains their top scorer with four but the Nigerian has only found the net once since scoring at Old Trafford in August.

Steve Cooper’s side can’t keep them out at the other end either; they concede the second-highest amount of goals per shots faced in the Premier League this season, which has been the catalyst for only one victory in the last 11.

The fans are well and truly behind the manager, though, and they were even in full voice after the dismal 5-0 defeat to Fulham in midweek.

But it is getting desperate for Forest. We don’t think they will get a win at Molineux but we are going for the same result as the last two times these sides have faced. It’s a 1-1 from us.

Prediction: Wolves 1-1 Nottingham Forest

Everton vs Chelsea

Form (all competitions) Everton: WWLWD ; Chelsea: LWLDW

Midweek produced a familiar story for Chelsea: put in a positive performance against a very good side, then fail to muster a similar display and fall to defeat in the very next matchday.

Where do the inconsistency problems lie? Well, usually, it’s a lack of cutting edge which proves to be their downfall. The Blues are the fourth-least clinical in the division – underperforming their xG by four with 26 scored.

However, their inability to string together results might actually fall on the defence in recent fixtures. Over the last six games, Chelsea have given up the second-most goals, with only rock-bottom Sheffield United conceding more in that span.

Fortunately, Chelsea can lean on history against Everton – they have only lost once to the Toffees in the last five meetings between the two.

History might not be kind to Everton against Chelsea and neither is their home form. The Merseyside outfit have only mustered two victories at Goodison Park the entire campaign, though it was a pair of impressive 3-0 wins against Bournemouth and Newcastle respectively.

You never know which Chelsea will show up and Everton are now desperate for points due to their deduction. We reckon the London side has just enough to squeak by and get three points.

Prediction: Everton 1-2 Chelsea

Fulham vs West Ham

Form (all competitions) Fulham: WLWLL ; West Ham: WDWWL

No team will be riding higher into this weekend’s fixtures than Fulham after their five-star performance against Nottingham Forest in midweek.

Everything finally came together for the Cottagers. Raul Jimenez returned to his scoring best, adding two goals to his account and becoming Fulham’s joint-top scorer in the process (albeit that’s with three).

Goalkeeper Bernd Leno also impressed again and grabbed his fourth clean sheet of the season – drawing level with Manchester City’s Ederson and Guglielmo Vicario of Tottenham and better than the likes of Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez. It becomes an even more impressive statistic considering the German faces the third-most shots on target per 90 minutes (5.33).

He will have to be at his best once again to keep West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen from finding the net. The English winger began the campaign by scoring in six straight away games, becoming the first Premier League player to achieve such a feat.

He was unable to help out in West Ham’s away game against Burnley due to injury but picked up exactly where he left off by netting his seventh away goal as the Hammers beat Tottenham on Thursday night.

It is important to note that West Ham tend to get the better of Fulham historically. David Moyes’ men have won four of the last five fixtures against their London rivals, netting a goal beyond the 90th-minute mark in three of those four victories.

We’re going to back a narrow away win for the Hammers.

Prediction: Fulham 0-1 West Ham

Luton vs Manchester City

Form (all competitions) Luton: LLWLD ; Manchester City: LDDDW

A loss to Aston Villa on Wednesday night extended Manchester City’s winless run in the Premier League to four – including three draws, marking the only time in recent memory we are talking about a City hat-trick and it isn’t in relation to Erling Haaland’s exploits.

Speaking of the Norwegian, he has failed to net in the last two Premier League games despite having an xG of almost two across both games. There is no real concern that this ‘drought’ will continue but it’s nonetheless always a surprise when he doesn’t notch a goal in consecutive games.

Meanwhile, City will be buoyed by the return of midfielder Rodri. The Spaniard has missed four games this season and the treble-winners haven’t picked up three points in any of them.

He is the linchpin that makes City the unstoppable force of nature we are accustomed to. He leads the team in successful passes as well as ball recoveries per 90 minutes – the definition of an all-around midfield player.

If nothing else, we know they will be playing a valiant Luton side this weekend. The Hatters have shown resilience in every game, but particularly against elite opposition.

Rob Edwards’ men rarely get points for their efforts, however. They are very much the ‘nearly-men’ of the bottom half after being denied a historic win against Liverpool with a last-minute equaliser and robbed of a point against league leaders Arsenal with Declan Rice’s 97th-minute heroics.

It is unlikely they will be able to do the same to Manchester City this weekend. Pep Guardiola will want to turn this run of form around – making a statement in the process.

We have City winning big here.

Prediction: Luton 0-4 Manchester City

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It's been quite the week, with Champions League and Europa League drama building up to a memorable weekend of Premier League football.

Can Aston Villa actually win the title? Is the Manchester City mini-blip over? Are Manchester United and Chelsea condemned to mid-table mediocrity already? What other questions will this weekend throw at us?

This gloriously febrile festive period continues apace – and we are at hand to help you find the winning formula for this weekend's Golden Goals.

Remember: if you can pick the correct six scorelines, you could win up to £1 million. You don't even have to get all six to earn something. If the jackpot isn't won, just get more scores correct than your BetMGM peers to win a share of our prizepool – that’s exactly what 11 of our players did by predicting four correct scores in our midweek Champions League special to split £5,000.

Let’s look ahead to Matchday 17…

Bournemouth vs Luton

Form (all competitions) Bournemouth: WWDWW Luton: LLLWL

It's all falling into place for Bournemouth and manager Andoni Iraola, whose team is beginning to tick in his image after a sticky opening few months on the job.

A stunning win over Manchester United at Old Trafford was no fluke – indeed, the scoreline flattered the Red Devils, who were comprehensively outplayed. The Cherries now top the form table with 13 points from five games, having scored 12 goals and conceded just three (for context, in their first 11 games they conceded 27).

In the post-match interviews, Iraola pinpointed the work of his defence as one of the reasons for the result: "We needed to know that the work-rate, the defensive consciousness, the togetherness to help each other because we had difficult duels."

Whatever ideas he is selling to his team, they are currently buying it. Take Lewis Cook, for example. He averages the highest ball recovery rate in the Premier League of players who have played 500 minutes or more. At the same time, Bournemouth have the fourth-highest ball recovery rate of any team in the league.

For the Hatters, their recent run has included a lot of what-ifs. While losing by just one goal to Arsenal and Manchester City, and leading in each match, shows they can mix it with the very best, both games could have been incredible boosts to squad morale.

Instead, they now sit adrift of safety in the bottom three, remain one of only two teams yet to keep a clean sheet and face a daunting trip to one of the league's form teams.

What’s more, they are conceding too many chances. They sit at rock bottom of the expected goals against (xGA) metric. This one can go to the Cherries.

Prediction: Bournemouth 2-0 Luton

Manchester City vs Crystal Palace

Form (all competitions) Manchester City: WWLDW Crystal Palace: LLDLL

Mini-crisis? What mini-crisis?

After a come-from-behind win over Luton and an authoritative victory against Red Star Belgrade – making them the first English club to win eight consecutive Champions League matches – a semblance of normalcy has been restored to the treble-winning Manchester City machine after four league games without a win.

Some concerns remain, though. Erling Haaland’s fitness is uncertain after missing the game against Luton due to a foot injury, while conceding 10 in your last five league games contributes to a general defensive uneasiness.

However, it's difficult to see the Citizens missing out on three points here given the dire form of Roy Hodgson's men.

True, Crystal Palace were good against Liverpool. The match momentum and expected goals (xG) suggest they should have gotten more from the game, which turned on the head of a pin after a controversial second yellow card for striker Jordan Ayew.

But there's just no masking it – Palace are in a rut and struggling to find the net. With 15 goals so far this season, only Sheffield United have fewer.

Unless there's an epic shock in store, this one will be a comfortable home win.

Prediction: Manchester City 4-0 Crystal Palace

Newcastle United vs Fulham

Form (all competitions) Newcastle United: LLLWD Fulham: WWLWL

Defeat at home to AC Milan in midweek meant Newcastle finished bottom of the Champions League 'Group of Death' and are out of Europe altogether.

While disappointing, there will be more immediate concerns about addressing a slump in form, which has seen them win just two of their previous seven games in all competitions.

In truth, Newcastle look out on their feet, which is less than ideal coming into the busy festive period. They are currently without up to 10 first-team players due to injury or suspension, including the influential Kieran Trippier, who misses this one after picking up a fifth yellow card of the season against Tottenham.

The Magpies have already lost six league games this season – that's more than the entirety of the previous campaign – but they are creating chances. Callum Wilson (1.19) and Alexander Isak (0.74) are first and fourth respectively in xG per 90 minutes this league season.

There's clicking… and then there's Fulham scoring 16 goals in four games.

Their turnaround is extraordinary. In a 3-2 win over Wolves, a 4-3 defeat to Liverpool and back-to-back 5-0 victories over Nottingham Forest and West Ham, they have scored more than double the amount they had managed in the previous 12 games (12 goals).

It is even more impressive when you consider they rank just 14th in the league for shot-creating actions.

Some of it may be down to the form of Raúl Jiménez, who has scored in successive Premier League games for the first time since doing it for Wolves in October 2020. He represents a real threat to Newcastle's fatigued defence.

Those results have seen the Cottagers steam up the table and they now sit just five points off the seventh-placed Magpies.

It’s a tough one to call but we will go with an entertaining score draw.

Prediction: Newcastle 2-2 Fulham

Arsenal vs Brighton

Form (all competitions) _Arsenal: DLWWW _ Brighton: TBC

After a last-minute Declan Rice winner against Luton the previous Tuesday, you could forgive Arsenal fans for dreaming of title glory already.

That result secured a four-game winning streak for the Gunners and a healthy six-point advantage over defending champions Manchester City.

But a week is a long time in football and defeat to Aston Villa coupled with results elsewhere mean they go into Matchday 17 second, with just four points separating the whole top four.

Brighton, meanwhile, continue to struggle domestically and have just two wins in their previous 10 Premier League games. Has European football scuppered a presumed tilt for the Champions League places this year?

They're nothing if not entertaining to watch though – both teams have scored in all of their league games so far.

By all accounts, this should be a cracking game and two wide players at the peak of their powers could have a real impact. Will Gabriel Martinelli or Karou Mitoma come out on top?

We're backing a narrow home win.

Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Brighton

Brentford vs Aston Villa

Form (all competitions) Brentford: LLWLL Aston Villa: TBC

A run of 15 wins in a row at Villa Park, two points from the peak, wins against Tottenham, Manchester City and Arsenal in recent weeks… is it time to talk about the ‘T’ word in the Midlands?

Undoubtedly, Aston Villa are in incredible form. In the calendar year, only defending champions Manchester City have more points than Unai Emery’s men (86 vs 78).

But there remain questions surrounding their away form; they only have three wins from eight on the road and Brentford is exactly the sort of banana skin that can turn title contenders into title pretenders.

Indeed, with just one win in four attempts over the Bees since they were promoted two seasons ago, the Villans won’t be counting any chickens just yet.

For their part, Brentford are in pitiful form with just one win in five. But they do have the most lethal player in the league in their ranks – from a certain point of view anyway.

Danish midfielder Mathias Jensen averages 0.43 goals per shot (scoring three goals from seven attempts) and is the club's joint second-top scorer in the league this season.

Given Aston Villa's away form and Brentford's good recent record in the head-to-heads, we are going with a score draw.

Prediction: Brentford 1-1 Aston Villa

West Ham vs Wolves

Form (all competitions) West Ham: TBC Wolves: DWLLW

Reports suggest that the West Ham squad was ravaged by illness in the lead-up to their 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Fulham in midweek, which means they get something of a pass.

But it is still less than ideal for manager David Moyes who, days after seeing his team land an excellent 2-1 victory away to Tottenham, witnessed a mauling at the hands of the Cottagers.

The Hammers are a hard team to pin down at the moment. They have some exciting players, are capable of eye-catching results and sit just six points off fifth with a promising ongoing Europa League campaign to boot.

However, the underlying stats betray them slightly. As the graphic above demonstrates, they are allowing goals consistently and are hardly setting the world alight at the other end either, with a team xG of 1.45 per 90 minutes, which ranks them in the bottom half of the division.

Meanwhile, Wolves are currently outperforming expectations under Gary O’Neil. They sit 13th in the table but are one of four teams on 19 points and have lost just three of their previous 10 matches.

This could be a cagey affair, judging by previous results between these two. Indeed, three of the last four meetings have seen just one goal scored. We hate to do it but this one gets the dreaded goalless draw prediction.

Prediction: West Ham 0-0 Wolves

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The Premier League action is coming thick and fast as we launch head-first into a fruitful festive fixture list – with a massive game between Liverpool and Arsenal headlining this week’s Golden Goals.

Our £1 million jackpot for predicting six correct scores remained out of reach last weekend but 18 players shared the £5,000 prizepool with three correct choices.

As for us, we had a weekend to forget with results going against the tide. Who’d have predicted Manchester City to stumble at home to Crystal Palace or Brighton somehow not finding the net for the first time since September?

We are here to make amends, though, as we preview the latest Golden Goals matchday headlined by a massive game between Liverpool and Arsenal.

West Ham vs Manchester United

Form (all competitions) West Ham: LWLWD; Manchester United: DLWLW

Here we are again: the bi-weekly debate of whether Manchester United are back in form after a positive result or whether they are bound to scorch fans just as they start to believe again. At this point, it’s too difficult to tell which Red Devils will turn up.

The consensus last time out was that Manchester United would be dismantled by Liverpool at Anfield. They had conceded 21 goals in their previous five meetings with Jurgen Klopp’s men and had just lost to both Bayern Munich and Bournemouth.

Admittedly, Erik ten Hag’s men were outmatched from minute one at Anfield and barely mustered a chance that truly troubled Liverpool (Exhibit A: the one-sided match momentum graphic below). But, to their credit, the visiting side were stubborn on Merseyside to snatch a point.

There have been no such question marks surrounding the current form of West Ham United. Besides a 5-0 defeat to Fulham, and notwithstanding a midweek cup humbling at Anfield, David Moyes’s men are actually on something of an impressive stretch.

They currently rank sixth in the form table – ahead of Tottenham, Manchester City and this weekend’s opponents Manchester United – and enter this one off the back of arguably their most impressive recent performance against Wolves.

A 3-0 victory over the Midlands side featured a brace from in-form Mohammed Kudus and another goal from Jarrod Bowen, the Englishmen’s 10th of the campaign.

At this stage of the campaign only Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah boast a more impressive haul than the English forward. What’s even more impressive is that he is outperforming his xG by more than three goals; a feat only matched by Hwang Hee-chan, Son Heung-min and his Hammers team-mate Kudus.

Six of the last eight meetings have ended in a 1-0 scoreline, so perhaps there won’t be many goals at the London Stadium. Consistency should pay dividends, though, in a narrow home win for West Ham.

Prediction: West Ham 1-0 Manchester United

Fulham vs Burnley

Form (all competitions) Fulham: LWWLW; Burnley: LDLWL

A game at Craven Cottage now means one thing: a guaranteed 5-0 win for Fulham.

Jokes aside, the free-flowing attacking football on display when the Cottagers play at home in recent weeks is a marvel to behold.

They have scored 10 goals across the last two home games – remarkably that’s only five fewer than what they have mustered in the other 15 games this season.

One of the catalysts for this upturn in goalscoring output was Raul Jimenez. After a barren run to start the campaign, the Mexican has now found his footing and joined Willian as Fulham’s top scorer with three in his last three.

Unfortunately for Fulham, Jimenez is missing for this encounter after seeing red against Newcastle. The onus of goalscoring will likely fall on Carlos Vinicius, though the Brazilian has only found the net on two occasions so far.

If any striker wants a confidence boost, they will want to play Burnley. The Clarets have conceded the second-most goals in the division and they have the expected goals against differential in the division with 34 goals allowed from only 28 expected.

These defensive issues often come via their own doing. Vincent Kompany’s team are the joint-second-most error-prone side in the division and, when they make errors, they tend to concede goals.

Fulham’s goal-happy nature over the last month combined with Burnley’s inability to defend stoutly should mean another comfortable home win for the Londoners.

Prediction: Fulham 3-0 Burnley

Luton Town vs Newcastle

Form (all competitions) Luton Town: LLLWL; Newcastle: WLLWW

Luton’s lack of Premier League experience may very well be catching up with them.

They have looked inspired, galvanized and unquestionably determined but they just keep falling short of results. The Hatters have lost eight points from winning positions in the Premier League this season – including leads they held over Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal.

Could Newcastle finally be the big scalp that Luton have teased all season long at Kenilworth Road?

Possibly. The Magpies do not travel well this season. They have only managed one away win in the Premier League, which was an 8-0 smashing of Sheffield United back in September. Only the bottom four in the Premier League table have a worse away record than Eddie Howe’s men.

It is a somewhat puzzling statistic considering the volume of chances Newcastle create. They produce the third-most goal-creating actions per 90 minutes and they possess the highest xG per 90 in the league too.

Both teams will be desperate for the three points for very different reasons. Luton need a win to close the gap between themselves and safety, while Newcastle want to remain within touching distance of the top five.

It must be noted that the Magpies still have a plethora of first-team injuries and played an energy-sapping EFL Cup penalties defeat against Chelsea in midweek too. A point for the Hatters is not outside the realms of possibility here.

Prediction: Luton 1-1 Newcastle

Nottingham Forest vs Bournemouth

Form (all competitions) Nottingham Forest: LDLLL; Bournemouth: WWDWW

Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth are two teams at opposite ends of the Premier League ‘optimism’ spectrum.

At the bottom end, the pressure has mounted to the extent that Steve Cooper has lost his job at the City Ground. Nuno Espirito Santo inherits a team that has just one win in their last seven and which sits perilously close to the relegation zone.

It will be hard for Forest to win games if chances continue to be so hard to come by. Their toothless attack has not registered more than two shots on target in a game in a month – a 3-2 loss to Brighton on November 25th was the last time they mounted any consistent attacking threat in that regard.

This is partly a byproduct of Forest spending most of their time without the ball. They enjoy the third-lowest possession in the entire division, with only Sheffield United and Luton Town seeing the ball less.

As for Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, he is being lauded on the south coast with the Cherries’ recent upturn in form.

After a tumultuous start, the Spaniard has overseen four wins from the last five and his men have amassed more points in those games than they did in the previous 11.

His team are working for him as well. Bournemouth have the fourth-highest ball recovery rate in the division and are winning the ball higher up the pitch, emphasised by their top-half ranking among Premier League sides for recovery line height.

The ‘new manager bounce’ trope notwithstanding, form dictates that this game can only go one way and that’s an away win.

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 0-2 Bournemouth

Tottenham vs Everton

Form (all competitions) _Tottenham: WWLDL; Everton: WWWWL

Points deduction, what points deduction? The Toffees have gotten themselves out of what could have turned into a really sticky situation in no time at all with four wins on the spin.

Even better for Everton fans is that it is four wins without conceding a goal into the bargain, something we have come to expect from a Sean Dyche-led outfit.

With only 20 goals registered against them all season, Everton possess the joint second-best defence in the entire division alongside Manchester City.

While the back four have been formidable the Blues have found some rhythm at the top end of the pitch as well, mainly due to Dwight McNeil. The former Burnley winger has been involved in four goals over his last four matches, taking his total goal involvements to 12 for the campaign.

Tottenham are back picking up points after a November to forget in the Premier League. Ange Postecoglou and his all-out-attack style of play toppled Nottingham Forest last time out meaning the Lilywhites have strung together back-to-back wins for the first time October.

The confidence has returned to the squad and perhaps nobody embodies that more than Richarlison. Spurs’ number nine has scored three goals in his last two appearances, bettering his scoring total from his first 39 appearances by one.

Add a peaking Richarlison to an already impactful frontline spearheaded by Son, who has 14 goal involvements this season, and Tottenham’s frontline could be the gift that keeps on giving over the festive period.

Overall, Everton come into this one riding high and have the second-most points gained away from home in the league but Spurs have turned the corner and look back in business. The home side should feel confident they can take all three points.

Prediction: Tottenham 2-0 Everton

Liverpool vs Arsenal

Form (all competitions) Liverpool: WDWWW; Arsenal: WLWWW

It is often perceived by many football fans that being top of the league at Christmas means you are likely to win the title come the end of the season.

While this isn’t true – only twice in the last five seasons has the team leading on December 25th actually gone on to win the league – a win this weekend for either Liverpool or Arsenal would be a statement-maker nonetheless.

That said, Liverpool’s place atop the division did not last very long as two points dropped at home to Manchester United saw them lose their place at the summit to, funnily enough, this Saturday’s opponents.

Before the United stalemate, Liverpool had found the net in 26 consecutive home games. If Mohamed Salah and co. fail to get on the scoresheet against Arsenal, too, it will be the first time they have drawn a blank in back-to-back Anfield matches since 2021.

They will be facing one of the league's tightest defences on Saturday. The Gunners have faced the fewest shots on target and have the lowest xGA (expected goals against) in the division.

This is not usually the trend when they face Liverpool though. Arsenal have failed to keep a clean sheet in 15 straight matches and have shipped 43 goals in the process. We are expecting another goal-frenzy encounter at Anfield this time round.

Football fans live for this type of game. It is a titanic tussle between two title contenders where either team can go top with a win.

This match should live up to the hype – it’s a score draw in our book.

Prediction: Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal

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The hectic December schedule continues with a batch of nine Premier League fixtures spread across Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

There are some more fascinating games in the English top flight, including Manchester United's trip to West Ham and Liverpool’s home clash with Arsenal.

We have picked out bets from the Gameweek 18 fixtures at Nottingham Forest, Fulham, Luton and Wolves and our four-game acca covering the week’s top-flight action pays out at 18/1.

Tip 1 – Bournemouth to beat Nottingham Forest @ 8/5

Bournemouth have piled up 13 points from their last five Premier League matches and have a great chance to make further progress when taking on fourth-bottom Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

The Cherries started the season poorly, taking three points from nine games, and questions were being raised over their decision to ditch last season’s manager, Gary O’Neil, in favour of Andoni Iraola.

However, the tide has turned decisively in recent weeks and, instead of fighting against relegation, there is a realistic prospect of the south coast side pushing for a top half finish.

Nottingham Forest were promoted with Bournemouth in the 2021-22 season and had hoped to progress in a similar manner, but their fortunes have nosedived with only one point gathered from their last six fixtures.

The Tricky Trees are offering plenty of encouragement to the teams below them and their struggles look set to continue with a home defeat.

Tip 2 – Fulham to beat Burnley @ 7/10

Fulham fell to a 3-0 defeat at Newcastle last Saturday when they were disadvantaged by the 22nd minute dismissal of Raul Jimenez, but they have triumphed 5-0 in each of their last two Premier League home games and should be too strong for Burnley.

Marco Silva’s side are in a comfortable mid-table position thanks largely to their efforts on home soil.

Five of their six league wins have come at Craven Cottage and the most recent - a 5-0 success over West Ham - was an outstanding performance against one of the division’s form teams.

Jimenez will be unavailable at the weekend as he continues a three-match ban, but there are plenty of other goal threats for the Cottagers, who have netted three goals or more in four of their last five league fixtures.

While Fulham are finding the net on a regular basis, Burnley have looked a little toothless.

The Clarets took the Championship by storm last season, scoring 87 goals, but they are averaging less than one goal per game in the Premier League and have blanked in two of their last three matches.

As well as struggling to score goals, Burnley have looked soft and naive in defence.

Vincent Kompany’s side have conceded at least two goals in eight of their last 11 fixtures and their unreliable rearguard could let them down in the capital.

Tip 3 – Luton or draw double chance vs. Newcastle @ 27/20

Kenilworth Road will be in an emotional state just a week on from Tom Lockyer’s collapse at Bournemouth and the Luton players can rise to the occasion by avoiding defeat against sixth-placed Newcastle.

Lockyer will be missed but the Hatters have shown on multiple occasions that they can be competitive irrespective of the status of certain individuals.

They dug out a 1-1 draw at home to Liverpool and gave major scares to Arsenal and Manchester City before subsiding to respective 4-3 and 2-1 defeats.

Luton’s fate will probably be decided by results against the teams around them but they might be sensing an opportunity against Newcastle, who continue to be ravaged by injuries.

The Magpies were 3-0 winners at home to Fulham last Saturday but Fabian Schar and Joelinton were added to their lengthy absentee list and their losses will make it difficult for Eddie Howe’s side to secure maximum points in Bedfordshire.

Tip 4 – Wolves or draw double chance vs. Chelsea @ 17/20

Wolves have had some notoriously bad luck with refereeing and VAR decisions but they approach Gameweek 18 with a 10-point cushion to the drop zone and can move into an even more comfortable position by taking a point or three against Chelsea at Molineux.

Gary O’Neil’s side are unbeaten in six home games and have already taken down a couple of heavyweight clubs, posting 2-1 wins over Manchester City and Tottenham.

Chelsea have been big-hitters over the last 20 years but they have been going through a transition period for the best part of 18 months and are not a team to be trusted at short odds.

The Blues have failed to live up to their billing on numerous occasions, including the 2-0 loss to Everton on their last road trip.

They have suffered three successive away defeats and could be set for a bleak Christmas Eve in the Black Country.

The Premier League's festive period continues at a furious pace this weekend with Gameweek 20 taking place either side of the new year.

High-flyers Arsenal visit Fulham in what should be a gripping London Derby, while on New Year's Day Liverpool host Newcastle at Anfield.

We have picked out the best bets from Gameweek 20, selecting games at Luton, Aston Villa, Wolves and Nottingham Forest for our four-game acca, which pays out at 12/1.

Tip 1 – Luton or draw double chance v Chelsea @ 27/20

The great escape is on for Luton Town, who have narrowed the gap between themselves and 17th-placed Everton and they can avoid defeat against inconsistent Chelsea on Saturday.

Many would have expected the Hatters to be cut off from the rest of the pack at the bottom of the table at this stage of the season, but they have put in some valiant performances in the first half of the campaign.

They have collected 15 points from their 18 league matches, but nine of those points have been accrued since November 25th.

Indeed, Luton have won back-to-back games in the Premier League, beating Newcastle and Sheffield United either side of Christmas, and they can be troublesome opponents at Kenilworth Road.

Chelsea edged Crystal Palace 2-1 at Stamford Bridge last time out but it was not the most convincing performance with Mauricio Pochettino's men relying on an 89th-minute penalty from Noni Madueke.

The Blues have failed to win six of their nine away fixtures in the league this season and are worth opposing against Luton.

Tip 2 – Aston Villa to beat Burnley @ 4/11

Aston Villa dropped points in both of their matches either side of Christmas but they can respond with a win over Burnley this weekend.

Unai Emery's men were held to a 1-1 draw by Sheffield United at Villa Park last week, failing to win on home turf for the first time in the league this season, before they relinquished a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 to Manchester United on Tuesday.

It is a bit of a setback but, given their exceptional start and the busy schedule, results were inevitably going to drop off and they can dust themselves down and get back to winning ways against Burnley.

Villa have still won 12 of their 19 league fixtures this season and they have collected 28 points more than their opponents, who are in the thick of the relegation battle.

Vincent Kompany's side were pretty toothless in their 2-0 loss to Liverpool last time out, failing to record a single shot on target, and they have won just one of their last five games.

Tip 3 – Wolves to beat Everton @ 13/8

Wolves have started a stealthy ascension of the Premier League table, racking up three wins in December already, and they can see out 2023 with a win over Everton.

Things are starting to click for Gary O'Neil's men, who have beaten Burnley, Chelsea and Brentford this month, and they look a value bet to pick up another three points.

While the recent home win over Chelsea was a composed, counter-attacking performance, Wolves took things up a gear away to Brentford on Wednesday by crushing the Bees 4-1 having led 3-1 by the 28th minute of the contest.

Another quick start should see them on their way to three points against Everton at Molineux.

Everton have also enjoyed an upturn of results recently but their confidence will have taken a slight knock after successive defeats to Tottenham and Manchester City and, like Chelsea, they are worth opposing.

Tip 4 – Nottingham Forest or draw double chance v Manchester United @ 16/25

Rasmus Hojlund's first Premier League goal for Manchester United completed a stunning 3-2 comeback win over Aston Villa on Boxing Day but the Red Devils may fail to follow that up with a win over Nottingham Forest.

United took just four points from their first four league games in December and looked on course for another defeat against Villa when they fell 2-0 down after 26 minutes at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

But Erik ten Hag's men rallied and levelled the scores by the 71st minute thanks to a brace from Alejandro Garnacho before Hojlund found a late winner.

However, it is hard to ignore United's poor run of form beforehand. They have dropped points in five of their nine away assignments in the league and so could be worth taking on in the betting.

Hosts Nottingham Forest have had to deal with a catalogue of injuries recently, most notably to forward Taiwo Awoniyi, but that did not seem to faze them last time out as they ran out 3-1 winners against Newcastle.

That should give them a tremendous confidence boost ahead of this clash at the City Ground, where they can pick up at least a point.

After a jam-packed festive football programme, Golden Goals is back for a monster New Year schedule.

Some surprise results mean nobody managed to hit the jackpot last time out but there is always another chance to see in 2024 in memorable style.

Remember: if you can pick the correct six scorelines, you could win up to £1 million. You don't even have to get all six to earn something. If the jackpot is not won, just get more scores correct than your BetMGM peers to win a share of our £5,000 prizepool.

Let’s take a closer look at the final Golden Goals of 2023…

Luton Town vs Chelsea

Form (all competitions) Luton Town: WWLLL ; Chelsea: WLWLL

Luton Town probably don’t want the festive period to end. The Hatters backed up an incredible 1-0 at home to Newcastle with an impressive, if slightly fortunate, 3-2 victory on the road at relegation rivals Sheffield United.

But you cannot be surprised by Rob Edwards’ side picking up points with the performances they have put in recently. They have been moments away from taking points off the biggest sides in the Premier League and it might be finally coming together.

They are still vulnerable at the back with 11 goals conceded across the last five matches but they have found their footing in front of goal; Edwards’ men have scored in six consecutive Premier League matches, which is not bad for a team with the third-lowest overall xG.

Of course, we can’t bring up xG without mentioning Chelsea. The Blues continue to be alarmingly wasteful in front of goal, scoring almost eight goals below their expected this season. Unsurprisingly, that makes them the league leaders in that statistic.

Nicolas Jackson is proving to be the biggest culprit in Chelsea’s attacking options with a 3.5-goal underperformance in the campaign so far. Fortunately for Mauricio Pochettino, he is finally getting a tune out of the players on the periphery of the squad.

Mykhailo Mudryk looks to be finding his feet after a difficult start at Stamford Bridge while Noni Madueke scored his maiden goal of the campaign after earning his side a late penalty against Palace.

Encouragingly, they have a returning attacking option in Christopher Nkunku after he featured in the last two games. He has already been on the scoresheet once and could be the difference for Chelsea in the second half of the season given he netted 36 goals over his last two seasons of league football in Germany.

Luton are always tough to beat at home, and Chelsea need to provide more examples of their clinicality, but they will just squeeze by in this one and grab the three points – narrowly.

Prediction: Luton Town 1-2 Chelsea

Manchester City vs Sheffield United

Form (all competitions) Manchester City: WWWDW ; Sheffield United: LDLWL

The brand-new Club World Cup champions are back in town with a focus on fixing some domestic issues and making up for some lost time.

Manchester City are without a win in three at home in the league – drawing their last three while conceding six along the way – but that’s where the doubts begin and end ahead of this fixture.

In the red corner on this occasion is Sheffield United. The Blades are yet to win a game on the road, with seven defeats and two draws, while they have conceded 23 goals and scored just five in those games too.

Moreover, Pep Guardiola’s men have a pretty emphatic record over the Blades. The last time they lost to them was a 2-1 FA Cup defeat in 2008 where goals from Luton Shelton and Jon Stead were enough to do the business despite a Daniel Sturridge consolation.

Since then it’s been uninterrupted pain for the Blades against City – six straight defeats with only one goal scored. This one should be straightforward… home win.

Prediction: Manchester City 4-0 Sheffield United

Aston Villa vs Burnley

Form (all competitions) Aston Villa: LDWDW ; Burnley: LWLDL

It has been a magnificent season for Aston Villa – but is it starting to stall somewhat?

After almost losing to Sheffield United at home earlier in the week – with only a last-minute equaliser from Nicolo Zaniolo saving them from the ignominy of becoming the third Premier League team this season to lose to the Blades – they let a 2-0 lead slip away to the inconsistent Manchester United.

Even their last away win, to a 10-man Brentford, was fraught with tension. They were 1-0 down until the 77th minute before late goals from Alex Moreno and Ollie Watkins saved their skins.

The defeat to United also ended a fascinating statistic: it marked the first time Aston Villa have dropped points from a winning position this Premier League season. They have been impeccable at frontrunning all year and fans will hope the Old Trafford lapse is not the beginning of a bigger malaise.

This matchday they face Burnley – and they do have a good recent record against the Clarets, having won two of their previous three against them in all competitions and tasting defeat in just one of their last seven.

The men from Turf Moor, meanwhile, registered an invaluable win away at Fulham last weekend before a gritty display at home to Liverpool gave further cause for optimism.

However, it is still pertinent to point out that only lowly Sheffield United have conceded more goals in this campaign than Vincent Kompany’s ailing outfit. As such, this represents the perfect chance to bounce back for Aston Villa. They will do so.

Prediction: Aston Villa 2-1 Burnley

Crystal Palace vs Brentford

Form (all competitions) Crystal Palace: LDDLL : Brentford: LLLLW

You will not find two teams in poorer form over the last six games than Crystal Palace and Brentford. They have combined for six points out of a possible 36 – Palace securing three draws and Brentford with one sole victory over Luton Town.

But where do their respective problems lie? For Palace, they are crying out for a goalscorer since the departure of Wilfried Zaha in the summer. The Eagles have the third-fewest goals in the Premier League, sitting ahead of bottom two Burnley and Sheffield United.

Odsonne Edouard has scored a third of Palace’s league goal tally but the Frenchman is currently sidelined with an injury and scored just once between mid-September and the end of November.

Michael Olise has provided a boost upon his return with three goals in six starts. The winger is second among Palace players in successful dribbles and shots taken per 90 minutes and leads the team in passes into the final third per 90 too. In short, he is proving himself to be one of the few sources of attacking inspiration for Roy Hodgson.

Brentford have found themselves in a similar spot with a bluntness up front in recent outings, which means the desperation for Ivan Toney’s return is heightening.

Both Bryan Mbeumo and Yoanne Wissa were proving capable deputies with seven and four goals respectively but, with the former out with an ankle injury, the Bees are lacking sting at the top end of the pitch.

Palace have only scored more than once on three occasions this entire campaign and Brentford have scored more than once on a singular occasion over their last seven games.

Add to those facts that the last five encounters have been draws – a pair of 0-0s and three straight 1-1s – and it seems unlikely this one will buck the trend and end in a goal-fest.

Prediction: Crystal Palace 1-1 Brentford

Wolves vs Everton

Form (all competitions) Wolves: WWLDW ; Everton: LLWWW

It’s a meeting between two surprise packages which rounds out the 3pm Saturday kick-offs this week as Everton travel to Molineux to face Wolves.

Both sides, at some point or another throughout the campaign, have been branded as possible relegation fodder but the two of them have continued to defy the odds in that regard.

Gary O’Neil has put together an impressive run on what is a relatively shoestring budget, almost mirroring his job on the south coast last season with Bournemouth, while Everton have eradicated their 10-point deduction and would be in the top half of the table had it never been administered.

Who will come out on top when they meet on Saturday? History suggests it will be a home win for Wolves.

The Midlands outfit have not lost to the Toffees in their last five meetings, winning four of them. They do tend to keep it a tight affair, though, as no side has won by two clear goals in this fixture since 2020 (a 3-0 home win for Wolves in July that year).

Interestingly, this fixture seems to lend itself to goals from central defenders. In four of their last five meetings, a goal has come from a player lining up in the heart of defence. That could be music to the ears of Everton centre-back Michael Keane, who has the second-highest xG amongst Premier League defenders per 90 minutes.

These two both sit among the top 10 in the form table and they could cancel each other out. Wolves have the edge historically but Everton currently have the fifth-best away record in the league (bettered only by Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham).

It’s too close to call, put us down for a score draw here.

Prediction: Wolves 1-1 Everton

Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United

Form (all competitions) Nottingham Forest: WLLDL ; Manchester United: WLLWW

This is a meeting between two teams enjoying a mini redemption, of sorts, after some impressive results on Boxing Day.

December 26th saw Nottingham Forest beat Newcastle United 3-1 away from home while Manchester United came from behind to defeat Aston Villa 3-2.

A Chris Wood hat-trick against the Magpies upset the apple cart – it was just the fourth time in Premier League history a player has scored a hat-trick against their former club (the others, if curious, are Marcus Bent vs Blackburn Rovers, Andy Cole vs Newcastle and Joshua King vs Everton).

It was a much-needed fillip for the Tricky Trees, who had gone seven games without a win beforehand. With the pace of ex-Red Devil Anthony Elanga on the pitch, they were able to put Newcastle to the sword in the first hour, as our match momentum graph above demonstrates.

After 1,026 Premier League minutes, Rasmus Hojlund has his first goal – and boy did it come at the right time. Pressure was mounting on Erik ten Hag but United’s come-from-behind win over the Villans means they are still in with a shout of finishing in the European places.

While both sides had a morale-boosting victory last time out, history is with the visitors; no Forest side has beaten United since December 1994 and, with some players expected to return from injury, we can see an away win here.

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1-3 Manchester United

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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation

Please note: This week's Golden Goals deadline is Saturday December 30 at 12:30. Opt-in is required, and you can find out more here.

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Opt in & predict 6 correct scores weekly (see Game Lobby for weekly Tournament cut-off time) to win up to £1m jackpot or up to £5k Prizepool if Jackpot is not won. Void if 1 or more matches are postponed/abandoned or not completed. Verification procedures apply. T&Cs apply.

The 18th edition of the Asian Cup will see 24 nations taking part in Qatar in what the odds suggest is a wide-open tournament.

Hosts Qatar are the defending champions while Japan are Asia's top-ranked side and Australia and South Korea were each encouraged by joining the Japanese in the knockout stages of the 2022 World Cup.

Saudi Arabia won admirers at those finals by beating eventual world champions Argentina while it wouldn't be an Asian Cup without the promise of big things from former winners like Iran and Iraq.

The tournament begins on January 12 with a Group A clash between Qatar and Lebanon, while the final will be at Lusail Stadium on February 10.

Tip 1 – South Korea to win the Asian Cup

Winners of the first two Asian Cups in 1956 and 1960, South Korea have known only heartache since.

Four times since then they have reached the final – but they have failed in all four, three times in extra-time.

This time round they look to have the tools to make amends with head coach Jurgen Klinsmann starting to make his mark.

There were doubts over the appointment of Klinsmann after Paulo Bento's reign and the German former World Cup winner hardly covered himself in glory with a six-game winless streak across the first seven months of his reign.

Since the autumn, however, they have looked far better and the quality of players at Klinsmann’s disposal means the Koreans look a major threat.

Tottenham forward Son Heung-min captains a side full of major class in the likes of Bayern Munich centre-back Kim Min-jae, young Paris Saint-Germain talent Lee Kang-in, Mainz midfielder Lee Jae-sung and Wolves attacker Hwang Hee-chan.

Drawn in a group alongside Malaysia, Jordan and Bahrain, they will have no difficulty winning it and are handily in the opposite half of the draw to bitter rivals Japan and Australia, presuming those two win their groups as expected.

Tip 2 – Japan to win the Asian Cup

Japan have been to five finals in the last eight runnings of the Asian Cup and they do look an undeniably class act ahead of this one.

If the group stages work out as envisaged, expect Japan to top their section and boss the top half of the draw.

The Blue Samurai were outstanding at the last World Cup, beating both Germany and Spain to make the last 16 before losing on penalties to Croatia.

Since then Hajime Moriyasu's men have enjoyed a stellar 2023, featuring wins over the likes of Peru, Turkey and Canada and, of course, an unforgettable 4-1 drubbing of Germany in Wolfsburg in a friendly in September.

Japan's side will feature players from the cream of Europe's clubs, captained by Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo alongside the likes of Takehiro Tomiyasu (Arsenal), Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad), Daichi Kamada (Lazio) and, if fit, Brighton winger Kauro Mitoma.

There is pace to burn throughout the Japanese side but also the big-league steel and guile which many of their opponents lack. It looks a well-balanced side and it is hard to see them not cruising through their half of the draw.

Tip 3 – Uzbekistan to reach the semi-finals

The Asian Cup is not averse to a shock or two and there are one or two lively outsiders, among them Uzbekistan, who could benefit from the draw.

Srecko Katanec's emerging side are priced to finish behind Australia in Group B which lines them up against the runner-up from Group F (quite possibly Oman) in the last 16 and the winner of Group A (presumably Qatar) in the quarter-finals – and there is nothing to fear from any of that.

Uzbekistan are on the rise and have enjoyed some impressive efforts over the last 12 months with wins over Bolivia and China and draws with Iran and Mexico.

Cagliari striker Eldor Shomurodov is prolific at international level, while Rubin Kazan's Rustan Ashurmatov and Lens' Abdukhodir Khusanov will make the Uzbek defence one of the sternest in the tournament.

Elsewhere, Graham Arnold's Australia have excelled against quality opposition over the last 12 months or so but the draw is shaping up for a Japan-Australia semi-final, where the Socceroos are set to come off second best.

Hosts Qatar cannot be overlooked, though they flopped as hosts of the World Cup just over a year ago and the jury is out on incoming coach Tintin Marquez.

There are no such doubts, on the other hand, over the man at the helm of Saudi Arabia with Italy's Euro 2020-winning coach Roberto Mancini having replaced Herve Renard. It would be a surprise if the Italian doesn't get a tune out of his new charges.

Discover the full list of games and odds on our dedicated Asian Cup betting odds page.

The January transfer window is now firmly open and one player on everyone's lips is the out-of-favour Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho.

The England international made substitute appearances in United's first three Premier League matches this season but he has not featured for the club since the start of September.

Sancho's relationship with manager Erik ten Hag has reportedly broken down so a January move away from Old Trafford – whether permanent or on loan – would appear to suit all parties.

We look at where it has gone wrong for the forward at United and what the future could hold for a player of undoubted talent who is still only 23 years old.

From City youth star to the darling of Dortmund fans

Sancho was born in south London and signed by Manchester City at the age of just 14. Despite being one of the star players in the Citizens' youth system, Sancho opted to leave England in August 2017, joining Borussia Dortmund in search of immediate first-team opportunities.

The move worked out both for the player and the German club as he made his Bundesliga debut at the age of 17 in October 2017 and scored his first goal against Bayer Leverkusen in April 2018.

The 2018-19 season was a breakthrough campaign for Sancho, who scored against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League and was named in the Bundesliga Team of the Season after contributing 12 goals and 14 assists.

The following season he scored 17 Bundesliga goals, finishing behind only Robert Lewandowski and Timo Werner in the race for the Golden Boot.

Those performances caught the attention of some of England's biggest clubs and in July 2021, a couple of months after scoring twice in Dortmund's DFB-Pokal final victory over RB Leipzig, Sancho signed for Manchester United.

Unsettled United fail to get the best out of Sancho

Sancho's success in Germany, coupled with a transfer fee of more than £70 million, meant expectations were high when he arrived at Old Trafford.

Just a week before the deal was completed, however, he was one of three England players to miss a penalty in the shootout defeat to Italy in the final of Euro 2020.

After that disappointment, Sancho needed a supportive and secure environment at his new club but Cristiano Ronaldo's shock return to Old Trafford in August 2021 changed the dynamic of United's attacking unit.

Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked in late November and Ralf Rangnick took charge on an interim contract until the end of the season.

Those issues made it harder for Sancho to settle at Old Trafford and he managed just eight goal contributions in 38 appearances in 2021-22.

Ten Hag's arrival at the start of 2022-23 should have offered a fresh start but United struggled for attacking fluency throughout the campaign.

They finished third but scored just 58 goals in 38 Premier League matches, compared with Manchester City's 94 and Arsenal's 88, and Sancho chipped in with six goals in 21 league starts.

Former United manager Solskjaer suggested that one factor holding him back was Marcus Rashford's superb form on the left-wing – Sancho's preferred position.

Rashford scored 17 league goals in 2022-23 and also struck three times for England at the 2022 World Cup, a tournament for which Sancho was not selected.

And the emergence of youngsters Alejandro Garnacho and Facundo Pellistri, along with the big-money signing of Antony from Ajax, meant there was even more competition for places on the wing for United.

European powerhouses offer escape route for England winger

Manchester United's lack of a top-class centre-forward has also made life difficult for Sancho, who spent his final one-and-a-half seasons at Dortmund teeing up superstar striker Erling Haaland.

Ten Hag left the winger out of the squad for September's clash with Arsenal, claiming that his performances in training had not been up to scratch, and that public criticism suggested it would be hard for player and manager to be reconciled.

Sancho's first-team exile means he has not played alongside Danish striker Rasmus Hojlund, who made his debut in the defeat to the Gunners, and a move away from United looks increasingly likely.

Having moved north from London to join City at the age of 14 before heading to Germany at 17, Sancho is clearly happy to challenge himself and broaden his horizons.

A rumoured autumn switch to Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia came to nothing but Sancho was one of Europe's hottest properties when he joined United so top clubs should be willing to give the 23-year-old another chance.

The German media has cooled speculation over a possible return to Dortmund in a swap deal for Netherlands winger Donyell Malen but Barcelona and Bayern Munich have also been linked with Sancho.

Those two clubs like to play with pacy wingers in support of a prolific centre-forward – Lewandowski of Barca and Bayern's Harry Kane – while RB Leipzig and Juventus and, closer to home, Newcastle and Chelsea are other potential destinations.

The new ownership set-up at Old Trafford and Ten Hag's uncertain future as manager also complicate Sancho's situation.

A loan move in January may be the best option for the winger, who is hoping to rekindle not only his club but his international career.

The most recent of his 23 England caps came against Andorra in October 2021 and, while it may be fanciful to suggest he could force his way into Gareth Southgate's Euro 2024 squad as it stands, Three Lions fans would love to see him recapture the scintillating form he showed for Dortmund.

In the three decades since it was formed, the Premier League has provided some of the biggest betting moments in the history of football.

There’s nothing quite like the thrill of the Premier League. From betting on matches and following games live on TV, to being at the likes of Old Trafford, The Etihad, Anfield, The Emirates or St James’ Park and hearing the roar of the crowd when a goal goes in, Premier League football for many people is life.

Here at BetMGM we’re just as passionate about England’s top flight. Let’s delve into the history of the Premier League and how one of the most popular competitions in all of sport became what it is today.

Premier League History

Let’s start with the basics. The Premier League launched for the 1992-93 season to incredible fanfare. Twenty-two teams competed in the inaugural season and games were shown live on Sky TV for the first time.

Manchester United won the maiden Premier League season, beating Aston Villa to top spot by 10 points. Defending champions Leeds United narrowly avoided relegation while Middlesbrough, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest slipped into the First Division.

United would come to define the Premier League in the 1990s. Under Sir Alex Ferguson the club won five titles in that decade and wrapped it up with the treble in 1999 when they won not just the league but the FA Cup and Champions League too.

Blackburn Rovers and Arsenal were the only teams to become Premier League champions during this time, despite Newcastle United coming close on a couple of occasions.

Everything changed in 2003 when Russian billionaire Roman Abramovic bought Chelsea. It heralded the beginning of major international influence in the top flight. As of 2023, 16 of the 20 Premier League clubs are at least partially foreign-owned.

Chelsea were champions within two years of Abramovich’s takeover, just a season after the Arsenal ‘Invincibles’ became Premier League champions without losing a single game. No other side has gone unbeaten for a full season in the Premier League era.

More changes were to follow. After their takeover in 2008, Manchester City’s owners steadily funded a team that would go on to dominate English football. City’s success did not happen overnight but, after lifting their first Premier League title with Sergio Aguero’s dramatic last-gasp clincher in 2011-12, the club would go on to dominate domestically for much of the next 15 years.

Premier League Timeline

• 1992 – The inaugural season gets underway with 22 teams in the division. Sheffield United’s Brian Deane scores the league’s first-ever goal in a 2-1 win over Manchester United

• 1995 – Blackburn Rovers win the Premier League to deny Manchester United a third straight title. In January of that year, United forward Eric Cantona was banned from football for eight months for kicking a Crystal Palace supporter

• 1996 – Liverpool beat Newcastle United 4-3 in one of the greatest games of the Premier League era. The defeat forms part of Newcastle’s title collapse as Manchester United beat them to the trophy by overcoming a 12-point deficit

• 1998 – Arsenal win their first Premier League title to again deny United three consecutive championships

• 1999 – Manchester United achieve the treble by winning the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League. Manager Alex Ferguson receives a knighthood for services to football

• 2000 – Leeds United break the British incoming transfer record by signing Rio Ferdinand from West Ham for £18m on their way to a fourth-place finish and a Champions League semi-final

• 2003 – Roman Abramovich buys Chelsea. The Blues make a raft of high-profile signings as they look to dominate English football

• 2004 – Arsenal go a whole season unbeaten to win the league and become the first ‘Invincibles’ of the Premier League era.

• 2005 – Chelsea win their first of two Premier League titles under Jose Mourinho and become the defacto challenger to Manchester United’s domestic dominance

• 2008 – The Abu Dhabi United Group buys Manchester City. The Citizens are league champions within four years

• 2013 – Sir Alex Ferguson retires after winning one last title. His successor as Manchester United manager, David Moyes, lasts a little over nine months in charge

• 2016 – Leicester win the Premier League at odds of 5,000/1, arguably the biggest shock in football betting history. That summer, Pep Guardiola becomes manager of Manchester City, triggering a new era of dominance in the top flight

• 2020 – Liverpool beat Manchester City to the league title during a Covid-19-impacted season. It is the first time in 30 years the Reds are top-flight champions

• 2021 – Jack Grealish becomes Britain’s first £100m player when joining Manchester City from Aston Villa

• 2023 - Manchester City complete a historic treble, with Pep Guardiola’s side winning the Premier League, the FA Cup and the Champions League – the second English side ever.

Premier League Winners

The history of the Premier League can often be viewed through its champions. Manchester United hold the most Premier League titles with 13 (as of 2023) and six other clubs can boast a championship too. Here is a quick list of Premier League winners by season:

• 1992–93 Manchester United
• 1993–94 Manchester United
• 1994–95 Blackburn Rovers
• 1995–96 Manchester United
• 1996–97 Manchester United
• 1997–98 Arsenal
• 1998–99 Manchester United
• 1999–00 Manchester United
• 2000–01 Manchester United
• 2001–02 Arsenal
• 2002–03 Manchester United
• 2003–04 Arsenal
• 2004–05 Chelsea
• 2005–06 Chelsea
• 2006–07 Manchester United
• 2007–08 Manchester United
• 2008–09 Manchester United
• 2009–10 Chelsea
• 2010–11 Manchester United
• 2011–12 Manchester City
• 2012–13 Manchester United
• 2013–14 Manchester City
• 2014–15 Chelsea
• 2015–16 Leicester City
• 2016–17 Chelsea
• 2017–18 Manchester City
• 2018–19 Manchester City
• 2019–20 Liverpool
• 2020–21 Manchester City
• 2021–22 Manchester City
• 2022–23 Manchester City

Top Goalscorers in the Premier League

The history of the Premier League is nothing without its goalscorers. Interestingly, despite the influx of foreign talent in the Premier League, eight of the top 10 goalscorers of all time are English.

Alan Shearer – 260 goals

His record may never be beaten. Shearer scored twice on the opening weekend of the 1992-93 Premiership season for Blackburn and never looked back. He bagged 260 Premier League goals for Rovers and Newcastle during his career while picking up three Golden Boot awards in the process.

Harry Kane – 213 goals

Currently at Bayern Munich, Kane was widely considered the most likely man to break Shearer’s record had he remained at Tottenham instead of moving to the Bundesliga. His first Premier League goal came against Sunderland in April 2014 after loan spells at four lower-league clubs. Like Shearer, Kane won three Premier League Golden Boots before he decided to head to Germany in 2023.

Wayne Rooney – 208 goals

When Rooney scored his first Premier League goal, a famous winner against Arsenal in October 2002, the Evertonian had the world at his feet. The teenager scored 15 league goals for the Toffees before moving to Manchester United and finding the net 183 times. He won five titles at Old Trafford but never the Golden Boot and headed back to Everton to score 10 more Premier League goals. A stint at Derby County followed before he ultimately retired in Major League Soccer (MLS).

Biggest Premier League Betting Upsets

Betting on Premier League football allows punters to get even closer to the action. Over the last three decades, the English top flight has proven to be one of the most unpredictable divisions on the planet.

Here are three of the biggest Premier League betting upsets in the history of the division:

Leicester Win the Title

Sportsbooks up and down the country had Leicester priced at 5,000/1 to win the 2015-16 Premier League title. A few lucky punters put money on the Foxes, who held their nerve as Arsenal and Tottenham chased them down. Claudio Ranieri’s side couldn’t be stopped and Leicester ended up winning the league by 10 points.

West Brom’s Great Escape

West Brom were bottom at Christmas in the 2004-05 season but became the first Premier League team to avoid relegation from that position. They were also 20th on the final day when facing Portsmouth on ‘Survival Sunday’. But a 2-0 victory, a draw for Crystal Palace and defeats for Norwich and Southampton sent the others down at the Baggies' expense. Some bookmakers had West Brom at 2,500/1 to survive at certain points in their live odds before they completed the turnaround.

Mourinho’s Unbeaten Home Record Ends

After 77 home games over two spells as Chelsea’s manager, no one expected bottom side Sunderland to be the ones to end Jose Mourinho’s unbeaten home Premier League record as Blues boss in April 2014.

This was even more the case after Samuel Eto’o put Chelsea ahead in the first half but a goalkeeping mistake allowed Connor Wickham to equalise before half-time then Fabio Borini converted a second-half penalty as the Black Cats took the three points back to the North-East.

It was a first win since February for Gus Poyet’s side, who went on to pull off their own great relegation escape using the victory in West London as the catalyst in a run which also saw them beat Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Premier League Transfer Records

The Premier League transfer record has been broken 18 times between 1992 and 2023. When Alan Shearer moved from Southampton to Blackburn on the eve of the Premier League era, the £3.6m fee was criticised as a waste of money and a sign that cash was ruining football.

Who would have predicted a £100m transfer for a British player just 19 years later?

Here’s a timeline of the Premier League transfer record:

• £3.6m: Alan Shearer – Southampton to Blackburn – July 1992
• £3.75m: Roy Keane – Nottingham Forest to Manchester United – July 1993
• £5m: Chris Sutton – Norwich to Blackburn – July 1994
• £7m: Andy Cole – Newcastle to Manchester United – January 1995
• £7.5m: Dennis Bergkamp – Inter to Arsenal – June 1995
• £8.5m: Stan Collymore – Nottingham Forest to Liverpool – June 1995
• £15m: Alan Shearer – Blackburn to Newcastle – July 1996
• £18m: Rio Ferdinand – West Ham to Leeds – November 2000
• £19m: Ruud van Nistelrooy – PSV to Manchester United – April 2001
• £28.1m: Juan Sebastian Veron – Lazio to Manchester United – July 2001
• £29.3m: Rio Ferdinand – Leeds to Manchester United – July 2002
• £30.6m: Andriy Shevchenko – AC Milan to Chelsea – July 2006
• £32.5m: Robinho – Real Madrid to Manchester City – September 2008
• £50m: Fernando Torres – Liverpool to Chelsea – January 2011
• £59.7m: Angel Di Maria – Real Madrid to Manchester United – August 2014
• £89m: Paul Pogba – Juventus to Manchester United – July 2016
• £100m: Jack Grealish – Aston Villa to Manchester City – August 2021
• £106.8m: Enzo Fernandez – Benfica to Chelsea – January 2023
• £115m: Moises Caicedo – Brighton to Chelsea – August 2023

BetMGM and the Premier League

The Premier League is one of the most exciting competitions in the world and at BetMGM we offer betting markets to match.

As well as accumulators and correct score betting, you can build a bet on individual games choosing from options including shots on target, players to be carded and on stats such as corners and passes. Check out the host of sportsbook markets we have available.

The January transfer window is over a week old and there are still plenty of potential moves that could take place between now and February 1st.

With clubs across Europe's biggest leagues looking to add reinforcements to hunt for trophies, battle relegation and everything in between, we have taken a look at some of the names that have been cropping up in the headlines of late.

Jadon Sancho - Manchester United

England international Sancho has been exiled from Manchester United's squad since the middle of September after a falling out with manager Erik ten Hag and it appears the forward will be heading back to Germany this month.

His former club Borussia Dortmund, who sold the 23-year-old to the Red Devils in 2021, are believed to have reached a broad agreement on a loan deal until the end of the campaign.

Sancho enjoyed a fantastic spell at BVB from 2017-2021 and his return could help reignite Dortmund's pursuit of a top-four finish in the Bundesliga, with the club currently six points off fourth and priced at 7/5 to finish in a Champions League position.

Ivan Toney - Brentford

English forward Ivan Toney has been the subject of huge transfer speculation over the past couple of months and he continues to be linked with a switch to title-chasing Arsenal, who have lacked a cutting edge in recent weeks.

The 27-year-old scored 20 Premier League goals last season, improving on his tally of 12 from the 2021/22 campaign, and his arrival at the Emirates could be just what the Gunners need to get back in the title race.

However, the Bees are asking for a reported £100million to allow the former Newcastle and Peterborough ace to leave the Gtech Community Stadium, a fee that several clubs have baulked at.

Arsenal are available at 7/1 to win the Premier League this season, behind 4/6 Manchester City and 11/5 Liverpool, but the arrival of Toney could see those odds shorten.

Kalvin Phillips - Manchester City

It has not turned out to be the dream move to Manchester City for Kalvin Phillips, who has been limited to just two Premier League starts since making the switch from Leeds in 2022.

Injuries have played a part in the lack of minutes, while the quality ahead of him also has something to do with it, and a temporary January switch looks like the best course of action for the midfielder.

With the European Championships taking place this summer, Phillips will be eager to get onto the pitch and prove to England boss Gareth Southgate that he should be in his final squad for the tournament.

Of the interested clubs, Newcastle United are believed to be working on a loan deal until the end of the campaign and it is thought Phillips would welcome the move to St James' Park.

Ligue 1 outfit Paris Saint-Germain are another side said to be in the running, while Serie A giants Juventus are also vying for his signature.

Eric Dier - Tottenham Hotspur

With just 197 Premier League minutes to his name this season, Eric Dier is expected to head out of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this month in search of regular first-team football.

The England international, who still harbours hopes of making the Euros squad, is reportedly being tracked by reigning Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, who are four points behind Bayer Leverkusen in the table and 33/100 to retain their title.

Dier offers versatility, as he can play in defence and midfield, and Bavarians manager Thomas Tuchel is keen to bring in the 29-year-old, either on loan or permanently, this month.

One potential factor blocking this deal is Spurs' lack of cover if they allowed Dier to leave, as they have a lengthy injury list, but Tottenham may sanction an exit if they find a replacement.

Serhou Guirassy - Stuttgart

It has been a sublime season so far for Stuttgart forward Serhou Guirassy, whose tally of 17 Bundesliga goals is only bettered by Bayern Munich's Harry Kane (21).

The 27-year-old has been attracting interest from the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Newcastle in the Premier League, while a number of leading European clubs are keeping tabs on his situation.

It is understood that Guirassy's release clause is in the region of £15-16m, which is a snip in today's market for a player that continues to bang in the goals.

The only issue for any club that may decide to buy Guirassy is the fact he won't be available straight away, as he is away with Guinea at the Africa Cup of Nations for at least the next couple of weeks.

With the festive period now behind us, there's a chance for some teams to take stock of their seasons so far, but the likes of Chelsea, Fulham, Liverpool and Middlesbrough have EFL Cup fixtures to fulfil this week.

We have already reached the semi-final stage of the competition, and there are two fixtures planned this week, with Middlesbrough hosting Chelsea, while Fulham travel to Anfield to take on Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool.

The first legs of the ties will take place across Tuesday and Wednesday before the second legs get underway later in January.

Bet 1 - Over 6.5 Chelsea corners @ 6/5

Middlesbrough and Chelsea endured contrasting fortunes in the FA Cup last weekend, with Michael Carrick's side crashing out in the third round while Chelsea progressed into the fourth round.

Boro fell to a 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa, but they kept Unai Emery's men at bay until the final few minutes. Chelsea struggled to click in the opening exchanges of their meeting with Preston North End before they finally outclassed the second-tier outfit, winning 4-0 at home.

Chelsea have struggled for consistency for large parts of this season, but they have won three in a row in all competitions under Mauricio Pochettino.

They have also started to find the back of the net on a regular basis, scoring in six consecutive matches.

Pochettino's side are likely to have the majority of the ball and create the majority of the chances, so we fancy them to pick up at least seven corners. Most of their quality comes from out wide, and Boro recently conceded 12 corners to Aston Villa in their FA Cup defeat.

Bet 2 - Over 2.5 goals - Middlesbrough v Chelsea @ 3/5

Boro are enduring a bit of a mid-season slump at the minute, with Carrick's side losing three of their last four, and four of their previous five at the Riverside Stadium.

Even though their home turf has not been a happy hunting ground, Tuesday's fixture presents them with their best chance to reach the final.

Fans are expected to pack into the ground, to try and make the atmosphere as daunting as possible for Chelsea's squad.

Boro have conceded at least two goals in three of their last five at home, and that bodes well for the over 2.5 market.

Chelsea have scored in eight of their previous 10 on their travels, so this contest could be entertaining from the first whistle.

Bet 3 - Raul Jimenez Over 0.5 shots on target @ 21/20

In Wednesday's semi-final, Liverpool will welcome fellow Premier League side Fulham to Anfield, in a game they should be winning, at least according to the formbook.

Jurgen Klopp's troops sit at the top of the Premier League table after a superb few months, and they have only lost two of their previous 15 matches in all competitions.

It has been 13 matches since the Reds last lost in the league, with Tottenham beating them back in September in London.

Liverpool look like they can compete for honours on several fronts, and they proved that at the weekend, as they beat Arsenal 2-0 in the third round of the FA Cup. The Gunners dominated large parts of that tie at the Emirates Stadium, but it was Liverpool who showed they had the composure when it mattered.

The most surprising aspect is that they got the job done without Mohamed Salah, who is away with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Fulham have won two on the spin, including their own 2-1 success over Arsenal, but both of those victories came at Craven Cottage.

Away from home, Marco Silva's men have lost four in five in all competitions, but they did score three goals against Liverpool at Anfield at the start of December.

Striker Raul Jimenez failed to score on that occasion, but he has been in a rich vein of form of late.

The former Wolves man scored four goals in December, and he looks to have rediscovered the magic touch in front of goal.

Liverpool are without defenders Andrew Robertson, Kostas Tsimikas and Joel Matip due to injuries, so with a weakened backline, Jimenez should at least get more opportunities to score, so we expect him to register at least one shot on goal.

After a week off for the FA Cup, the Premier League is back with a bang with some intriguing matches over the weekend.

Highlights include champions Manchester City looking for their third successive win when they travel to Newcastle and a potentially entertaining tussle between Manchester United and Tottenham on Sunday.

We have picked out the best bets from Gameweek 21, selecting games at Chelsea, Newcastle, Everton and Manchester United for our four-game acca which pays out at 19/2.

Tip 1 – Chelsea to beat Fulham @ 3/5

There is a danger that Chelsea could become embroiled in another underwhelming season despite their hefty transfer investment. Mauricio Pochettino’s side need to get their act together if they are to rescue anything from their poor first half of the campaign.

A 1-0 defeat in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final against Middlesbrough was hardly welcome but there is a strong chance that they can earn three points against Fulham at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

There was a time when the Blues were a soft touch on their own patch — losing to Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa and Brentford — but they have at least collected a full return from each of their last three home games.

Victories over Brighton, Sheffield United and Crystal Palace may not be that much to shout about but they are steps in the right direction and they should fancy themselves to come out on top against their West London neighbours.

A Saturday lunchtime kick-off is not ideal for the Cottagers after a Wednesday night trip to Liverpool in the League Cup and, while Marco Silva’s side posted consecutive 5-0 home wins over Forest and West Ham recently, their away form is of greater concern.

They have conceded 13 goals in their last four matches on their travels on league duty, including 3-0 defeats in their last two against Newcastle and Bournemouth, so this looks a difficult task.

Tip 2 – Manchester City to beat Newcastle @ 3/5

Another team who are struggling to live up to the early-season hype are Newcastle, who have their work cut out to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

That quest could be even more difficult to navigate after a visit from treble-winners Manchester City, who are hungry for results themselves with five points to make up on leaders Liverpool.

City won just one of six games before the Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia but wins over Everton and Sheffield United have steadied the ship and, ominously for the rest of the league, both Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland are nearing full fitness.

They should spearhead a real title push in the second half of the campaign and that does not bode well for the Magpies, who have won just one of their last seven league outings.

City have lost at Wolves, Arsenal and Aston Villa this season but there is a feeling that they are over their blip and it is likely they could make a true statement of their intent when they head to the north-east on Saturday.

Tip 3 – Everton to beat Aston Villa @ 19/10

Aston Villa head into their first Premier League fixture of the new year in second spot and gaining a Champions League spot for next season appears a realistic aim — but they face a potential banana skin at Everton on Sunday.

It has been a strange few weeks for Unai Emery’s side and, while it is too early to suggest that the wheels may be about to come off, there have been signs of a few wobbles lately.

Those concerns started when they needed a late goal to earn a home draw with bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United and they followed that performance by giving away a two-goal lead in a 3-2 loss at Manchester United.

They then needed late strikes to earn wins over Burnley and Middlesbrough, so it could be that their luck is about to run out.

The Toffees have hit the buffers with straight defeats to Tottenham, Manchester City and Wolves but only the City defeat came at Goodison Park, where they produced strong performances in wins over Newcastle and Chelsea in early December.

Sean Dyche’s side are just hovering above the relegation zone so motivation will not be an issue — and it is worth chancing that they can get the better of their visitors from the Midlands.

Tip 4 – Over 2.5 goals in Manchester United v Tottenham @ 4/9

Goals should be on the agenda when Tottenham visit Manchester United, who have won just one of their last five Premier League games.

United have already suffered four home league defeats this season and there have been more than two goals in five of their last six Premier League outings at Old Trafford.

Tottenham were poor in their last away game at Brighton, when two late goals left them with a flattering 4-2 defeat, but that is the only match in their last five in the league that they have not won so we can expect them to be positive.

Just one of Ange Postecoglou’s men’s 10 away games has featured fewer than three goals and they have scored at least twice in eight of those, so over 2.5 goals looks the way to go in the Sunday teatime showdown.

Controversial football transfers don’t come around too often these days. The rumour mill works overtime to throw up unlikely deals between clubs and players – so much so that the football transfer odds can hardly keep up!

Down the years most players have learned not to cross certain red lines. Yet some of them have ignored the warning signs and have gone ahead with controversial switches nevertheless.

The increase in player power over the last three decades has meant more money is spent on transfers than ever before. But those rival-to-rival switches aren’t as common.

So, we’ve looked back into the annals of history to find eight of the most controversial transfers. Some broke the hearts of entire fanbases, some quit their club for money. One changed football transfers forever.

World’s Most Controversial Football Transfers

Here are the most controversial football transfers in world football…

8. Sol Campbell | Tottenham to Arsenal

Whisper it quietly. Tottenham and Arsenal don’t like each other much. Just four miles splits the two north London clubs and there’s not much love lost on match days.

So when Sol Campbell let his contract at Spurs run down and hot-footed it to Highbury in 2001 on a free transfer, the Tottenham supporters were far from pleased.

Spurs had been willing to make Campbell their highest-paid player. But the 26-year-old wanted Champions League football and saw Arsenal as the obvious choice. He would suffer horrendous abuse from Spurs fans for the rest of his career.

7. Ashley Cole | Arsenal to Chelsea

Not that Arsenal always get their own way with transfers. In 2006 Campbell's Gunners teammate Ashley Cole wanted to stay in north London but wasn't happy with the new contract Arsenal had offered him. "Trembling with anger" over a proposed £55,000-a-week salary, Cole looked for a new club and found Chelsea calling.

After a long drawn-out process Cole joined Chelsea for around £5m in the summer of 2006, having just helped Arsenal to the Champions League final months earlier.

The move signalled a change in football superiority in the capital. Cash-rich Chelsea paid Cole's £120,000 weekly wage demands and hoovered up trophies. The Gunners, shackled by the cost of their Emirates Stadium move, validated Cole's decision to leave by not winning another trophy until 2013.

6. Jean-Marc Bosman | RFC Liège to Unattached

When anyone talks about player power in football the discussion should always come back to Jean-Marc Bosman. In 1990 Bosman was coming to the end of his RFC Liege contract and wanted to join Dunkerque. A fee couldn't be agreed and Liege subsequently offered Bosman a new contract with a 70% wage cut.

Bosman went to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg to sue his employer for restraint of trade. The ruling found in his favour, and the EU established free movement of labour within football. From 1995 onwards, any player whose contract expired was free to join another club.

This may sound sensible these days but at the time it was controversial. Players suddenly had the power to bargain for more money on extended contracts, as clubs didn't want to risk losing their assets on free transfers.

5. Fernando Torres | Liverpool to Chelsea

Fernando Torres was loved at Anfield. He scored 91 goals in 244 appearances for the Reds, had the finishing quality Liverpool had yearned years for, and terrorised opposition defenders. But he remained without a trophy.

Midway through his fourth season at the club, Torres handed in a transfer request to force Liverpool into accepting Chelsea's £40m offer. On deadline day in January 2011 he moved to Chelsea for around £50m, setting a new British transfer record.

Cue fans burning shirts outside Anfield. To make matters worse, Liverpool signed Andy Carroll in a £35m deal as a replacement on the same day. Carroll took Torres' No.9 shirt. He didn't replace Torres' goal threat.

4. Roberto Baggio | Fiorentina to Juventus

Roberto Baggio wanted to stay at Fiorentina. In 1990 he led the club to the UEFA Cup final, where they lost 3-1 over two legs to rivals Juventus. That summer Baggio was wanted across Europe and Fiorentina were in financial trouble. They had to sell their star man.

Along came Juventus and Baggio, despite his reluctance to leave his beloved club, moved to Turin "by force", as Gazzetta dello Sport put it.

He left Florence ablaze, with fans rioting in the streets and throwing Molotov cocktails at the club's HQ. There were 50 injuries and nine arrests on the day of Baggio's departure. The following season he refused to take a penalty against his former club.

3. Mo Johnston | Celtic to Rangers

Mo Johnston didn't transfer directly from Celtic to Rangers in 1989. He had a spell at Nantes between the two Glasgow clubs. Surely those two years would be enough to dampen the anger a switch to Ibrox would trigger?

Well, no. Johnston had been down for a return to Celtic before Graeme Souness convinced him to join Rangers instead. Celtic fans were livid, while many Rangers supporters were adamant they wouldn't support a Catholic player who had once donned the green and white jersey.

Johnston won over the Gers fans when he scored in the Old Firm a few months after his arrival. He would go on to win two Premiership titles with Rangers before moving to Everton in 1991.

2. Jordan Henderson | Liverpool to Al-Ettifaq

Jordan Henderson's decision to quit Liverpool for a £700,000-a-week contract at Saudi Pro League club Al Ettifaq in 2023 went beyond football. Henderson, a champion of LGBT+ causes when captain at Anfield, was criticised across society for heading to a country that deems homosexuality illegal.

The controversy wasn't that Henderson was willing to cash in and quit a team chasing the Premier League title, just to score a few extra bucks. The issue was that Henderson had become an ally to the LGTB+ community that is so fiercely abused in Saudi.

Liverpool's official LGBT+ fans group, Kop Outs, questioned whether Henderson "was ever an actual ally". In his welcome video on social media, Al Ettifaq blacked out the rainbow armband on Henderson's images.

1. Luis Figo | Barcelona to Real Madrid

"We hate you so much, because we loved you so much". That was the banner that greeted Luis Figo when he played at the Bernabeu for the first time after quitting Real Madrid for rivals Barcelona in 2000.

The world-record £40m fee didn't matter to the 100,000 Real Madrid fans in the stadium. Figo was public enemy No.1 and still is to this day. A suckling pig was even thrown at the former Portugal superstar.

Figo moved to the Bernabeu after Real's new president Florentino Perez signalled he wanted to start a Galactico era at the club. He was the first of many big signings each summer, which included David Beckham and Ronaldo (another former Barcelona player).

The deal sparked a rekindling of the Barcelona-Real Madrid rivalry that has grown to the day.

Want to see the biggest movers and shakers, and what the odds are on the latest transfer rumours? Check out our dedicated next transfer odds page for the most up-to-date odds and where the biggest names in football could be heading to.

There is a full midweek schedule in the Premier League, running from Tuesday to Thursday, with a number of intriguing fixtures taking place that impact teams at both ends of the table.

Highlights include Newcastle’s trip to Aston Villa, who boast the best home record in the division, as well as table-topping Liverpool’s crunch clash with Chelsea at Anfield.

We have picked out the best bets from the midweek matches, with the fixtures taking place at Luton, Villa, West Ham and Wolves helping to form our four-game accumulator which pays out at 25/1.

Tip 1 - Draw in Luton v Brighton @ 16/5

Luton are fighting hard to retain their Premier League status and they head into Tuesday's home showdown with Brighton just one place and point clear of safety.

The Hatters have lost just one of their last seven games in all competitions to give renewed hope of avoiding relegation, but they do come up against a Seagulls side that are unbeaten in six and eyeing another European finish.

Brighton have chalked up two big wins in their last two away outings, both of which came in the FA Cup, and their most recent road matches in the Premier League have ended in draws at Crystal Palace and West Ham.

No team has drawn more matches than Roberto De Zerbi's visitors, who have shared the spoils eight times this term, and that may be the result at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday.

Of Luton's four draws this season, three have come on home soil and they have put in stellar performances against top opposition in their own backyard, holding Liverpool and suffering one-goal defeats to Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea.

Tip 2 - Over 2.5 goals in Aston Villa v Newcastle @ 1/2

Newcastle defeated Aston Villa 5-1 on the opening weekend of the season at St James' Park and, while the same result is unlikely, there should still be plenty of goals in Tuesday's tussle from Villa Park.

The Villans sit fourth heading into this contest, five points behind Liverpool at the summit, and their sensational home form is a huge reason why they remain in the title conversation.

Unai Emery's side have recorded nine wins and a draw from their ten Villa Park assignments, the best home record in the division, and seven of those contests produced over 2.5 goals.

Newcastle may not be where they want to be down in tenth in the standings, but they have been an entertaining side to watch and their tally of 41 goals in the league is bettered only by Arsenal, Villa, Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester City.

There have been at least three goals in four of the Magpies' last five matches in all competitions and it would be no surprise to see over 2.5 goals oblige again.

Tip 3 - Both teams to score in West Ham v Bournemouth @ 4/7

West Ham are unbeaten at home in the league since the end of October and next up they entertain Bournemouth, who have won five of their last six away matches in all competitions.

Picking a winner between two in-form sides at the London Stadium looks difficult, therefore, and backing both teams to score may be the avenue to take.

The Hammers have failed to score at home in the league just twice from ten attempts this term, while the Cherries have scored in 11 of their 12 away outings in all competitions.

Tip 4 - Wolves to beat Manchester United @ 37/20

Rounding off this accumulator is for Wolves to get the better of Manchester United, who were given a real scare in their 4-2 win at League Two outfit Newport in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday.

The Red Devils are without a win in their last four away league games, taking just one point during that torrid run, and they look set to struggle against a Wolves side that have impressed on home turf.

Gary O'Neil's side, who are on a seven-game unbeaten in all competitions heading into this contest, haven't lost at Molineux since going down 3-1 against Liverpool on September 16.

Wolves have gone nine games unbeaten at home since that defeat, beating Manchester City, Tottenham, Burnley, Chelsea, Everton and Brentford alongside draws with Aston Villa, Newcastle and Nottingham Forest.

Wolves also come into this off the back of a derby victory over West Brom in the FA Cup, so confidence is sky high and they may chalk up another win at Molineux on Thursday.

Another week, another opportunity to win life-changing money with BetMGM Golden Goals.

After some surprise results midweek, attention turns to the weekend with a mammoth showdown between Arsenal and Liverpool headlining affairs.

We have gone deep into the details to help you pick out some correct scores from this week's games.

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Let’s take a look at Matchday 23…

Brighton vs Crystal Palace

Nobody on the south coast saw Tuesday night coming – the 4-0 defeat to Luton is a genuine low point of Brighton's season. Manager Roberto De Zerbi said as much in his post-match interview, apologising to fans for his side's 'blackout' before adding: "We are suffering from this result more than people think."

A match against their fiercest rivals is an excellent opportunity to put things right.

Crystal Palace, meanwhile, nabbed a much-needed 3-2 win over Sheffield United to ease the pressure on Roy Hodgson and climb six points clear of Everton in the bottom three.

Despite the 40km-plus distance between the two teams, the Brighton and Crystal Palace rivalry is no joke. It began in the 1970s, when ill-feeling was stoked by genuine animosity between respective managers Terry Venables and Alan Mullery as both successfully guided their teams from the Third Division to the First Division. The line in the sand came after an FA Cup first-round replay in 1977, when Brighton boss Mullery – possibly smarting after a 1-0 defeat – stormed into the dressing room to throw £5 on the floor, reportedly telling Venables “your team's not worth that”.

It has been a tasty match-up ever since. Indeed, in the previous 10 matches between these two, there have been 41 yellow cards and one straight red card – that's 43.5 booking points on average (10 points per yellow card and 25 points per red card).

It's also typically a tightly-contested affair. In six of the previous 10 matches between these two, it finished 1-1 and only once in the last 10 years has a game been settled by more than one goal.

Keeping with that tradition, we’re going with a 1-1 draw.

Prediction: Brighton 1-1 Crystal Palace

Burnley vs Fulham

It's been a little over five weeks since Burnley snatched a shock away win against Fulham at Craven Cottage as strikes from Wilson Odobert and Sander Berge securing a much-needed three points for Vincent Kompany's men.

It was supposed to spark a better run of results for the Clarets – it's done anything but. They have since managed just one point from 12 available and crashed out of the FA Cup into the bargain.

Despite their woes this season, Burnley actually have a decent record on the road. It's at home where they struggle — with just one win in 11 across all competitions at Turf Moor. They also also labour when it comes to chance creation, carrying the joint-lowest expected goals (xG) ranking in the league per 90 minutes.

Fulham, meanwhile, come into the tie in need of that winning feeling. After scoring 16 goals in eight games across December, winning three of them, they have managed just three in six matches in January with their sole victory coming over Rotherham in the FA Cup.

The 0-0 draw with Everton on Tuesday night was the 10th time in the league that Fulham have failed to find the net – and the loss of key striker Raul Jimenez will further blunt their attacking thrust.

We think Burnley can get a much-needed home win.

Prediction: Burnley 1-0 Fulham

Newcastle vs Luton

Has Eddie Howe weathered the storm? After a wretched run of results and some awful luck with injuries, Newcastle have put back-to-back wins together in all competitions for the first time since the beginning of November.

The 3-1 triumph over Aston Villa on Tuesday night was especially notable – it helped end a record run of victories at home for Unai Emery's high-flying Champions League contenders – and if the statistics are anything to go by Magpies might feel a little calmer.

Indeed, according to expected points (xPts) this season, Newcastle should be fourth in the league. This metric quantifies the probability of a team winning, losing or drawing the match based on the two team's total xG during the match.

Newcastle do need to address their sliding home form, though. They have suffered three defeats in the previous four games at St James' Park. Before that run, they had lost just six home games in all competitions since the beginning of 2022.

They come up against a Luton team in the groove. They have registered three wins on the trot and have lost just one of their last eight matches across all competitions.

A goal from Andros Townsend delivered a 1-0 victory for Luton over Newcastle as part of that run of games, so they have a recent blueprint in place to beat the Magpies.

It’s tough to see Newcastle not taking all three points, though, despite recent concerns around their home form.

Prediction: Newcastle 2-0 Luton

Manchester United vs West Ham

How to solve a problem like Manchester United? If it's not anti-board mutiny in the stands by fans, it's on the dancefloor in Belfast. If it's not finishing bottom of your Champions League group, it's letting a two-goal lead slip to League Two Newport County.

He has made mistakes but there is no doubt Erik ten Hag has had his plateful of external issues since taking the reins. Despite the off-the-pitch drama, he does have as close to a full squad as he's ever had thanks to the return from injury of key players Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro and Luke Shaw.

The Red Devils also have a good record against West Ham at home – winning seven of their last 10 against the Hammers at Old Trafford with just two draws and one loss in that run.

They will cast a nervous eye over West Ham's recent away record though. The East London outfit can count victories over Brighton, Tottenham and Arsenal in a run that's seen them land five wins from 10 on the road.

However, we think a full-strength Manchester United can get the job done.

Prediction: Manchester United 3-1 West Ham

Chelsea vs Wolves

Are the Blues bouncing back from their dose of the Blues? After a tricky opening period to life under Mauricio Pochettino, they found their groove, as evidenced by some encouraging recent results. However, a 4-1 defeat against Liverpool on Wednesday night has brought them back down to earth with a bump.

There is a feeling among fans, though, that the result should not overshadow a decent run of form which now reads five wins from their previous eight games.

The 6-1 mauling of Middlesbrough last week means Pochetinno has a chance to finally win his first trophy in England. The Argentine has been close before - getting his Tottenham team to the Carabao Cup final in 2015 before taking them to the Champions League final in 2019.

They should be concerned by the number of shots they conceded to Liverpool – the Reds racked up 28 efforts on goal. For context, Chelsea managed just four.

Meanwhile, Wolves are maintaining an excellent run of form. They are one of the hot teams at the moment and have a genuine eye on the European places. Given many had them down for the drop, this campaign is yet another tick on the Gary O'Neil CV.

The Midlands team can also be excited by a good recent record against their London opponents – they have won two of their previous two league games against Chelsea.

Can they make it three from three? On this occasion, we don’t think so. Score draw.

Prediction: Chelsea 1-1 Wolves

Arsenal vs Liverpool

All of the headlines over the last week have been focusing on Jürgen Klopp – the German manager has announced he will stand down at the end of the season after eight hugely successful years at the club.

His team has responded with two mammoth victories since the news became public, scoring nine goals at Anfield in 5-2 and 4-1 wins over Fulham and Chelsea respectively.

But Arsenal away represents an entirely different kind of challenge. A win for the Gunners throws them straight back into the title race and would put them just two points behind the Reds, who are the current leaders.

The 2-0 FA Cup defeat to their title rivals at the Emirates last month is likely still ringing in the ears of Arsenal fans, especially given the game pattern. Many observers feel they should have won but a failure to take their chances let them down.

While they have not exactly been ruthless in front of goal at home this season, they have been defensively sound, conceding just 10 goals all year at the Emirates in the Premier League. Had it not been for the aberration 2-0 loss against West Ham, they would be top of the pile in that regard.

After a worrying run where they managed just five goals in seven games they have found their scoring boots in their previous two matches, with seven in total coming thanks to wins against Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest.

Whatever happens, expect shots on goal. Liverpool (18.9) and Arsenal (16.3) have the two highest average number of attempts per 90 minutes this term.

Arsenal have an opportunity here – they are playing well, they look like they have some confidence back and, as a result, we think they can replicate their victory in the same fixture last season.

Prediction: Arsenal 3-2 Liverpool

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Goals, goals and more goals. Matchday 23 was the most goal-laden gameday in Premier League history, with 45 goals scored across 10 contests.

The five-game Saturday slate alone contained 26 goals, which was also a Premier League record.

While we can’t necessarily promise another matchday filled with quite that much goalmouth action, we can guarantee you will have another crack at winning our huge £1 million jackpot with Golden Goals.

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Let’s look under the bonnet of Matchday 24 and see what to expect…

Fulham vs Bournemouth

Fulham looked well on their way to grabbing a first league win of 2024 before falling victim to substitute David Datro Fofana and being forced to settle for one point in Lancashire against strugglers Burnley.

Marco Silva certainly felt it was two points dropped from his side, “It’s disappointing the way we lost the two points, and it was clear we lost two points”. It’s hard to argue the Portuguese’s point when you look at the match momentum graphic below which shows a prolonged spell of dominance from the Cottagers.

Bournemouth, similarly, earned a draw for their weekend’s efforts but the Cherries will not feel as aggrieved with another point on the board. Andoni Iraola’s side raced into a 1-0 lead after five minutes thanks to Justin Kluivert before being pegged back by a wonderful solo effort from Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Kluivert appears to be finding his footing since his summer move from AS Roma, netting two goals in his last four Premier League starts. One of those goals came in the last meeting against Fulham – a comfortable 3-0 win for Iraola’s men.

Neither of these sides is lighting up the form table – both sit within the bottom half over the last six fixtures with one win apiece across the last five fixtures – and they each enter this game with two draws in a row.

We reckon they make it a hat-trick with a tight score draw at Craven Cottage.

Prediction: Fulham 1-1 Bournemouth

Liverpool vs Burnley

So Liverpool are beatable. The Reds’ incredible run of 15 games without defeat in the Premier League came to an end as they succumbed to fellow title contenders Arsenal.

The most worrying part for Liverpool fans is that they looked second-best all over the pitch in that one. Indeed, Jurgen Klopp’s attack mustered a measly 0.54 xG against Arsenal – the lowest of their league campaign so far.

It could just be an anomaly considering that Jurgen Klopp’s side still leads the league in shot-creating actions per 90 minutes (32.87) but we could finally be seeing the effects of Mohamed Salah’s absence. The Egyptian forward is still tied for top scorer in the division (14).

Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo had all proved to be capable replacements until the Arsenal game; Jota averages the second-highest xG per 90 behind only Erling Haaland.

There was a clear lack of cutting-edge against the Gunners but the plus side for Liverpool is that there aren’t many better teams to face in the Premier League when you need to bounce back in the goalscoring department than Burnley. Vincent Kompany’s men have conceded the second-most goals this season (45) and 11 over the last five fixtures.

Burnley seem to have found some inkling of a goalscoring threat in Fofana. The Ivorian Chelsea loanee has three goal contributions in two appearances for the Clarets, including a brace this past weekend against Fulham. That already makes him the joint-third-highest scorer of the season for the Turf Moor outfit.

Kompany and co. are desperate for wins – but it’s unlikely that they’ll get one here. Liverpool will have revenge on their mind after the Arsenal defeat and Burnley will pay the price. It should be a win for the home side – and a big one at that.

Prediction: Liverpool 3-0 Burnley

Luton vs Sheffield United

During last weekend’s Premier League goalfest Sheffield United drew a blank – on of only two Premier League teams to do so.

The Blades’ ineffectiveness in front of goal has been the story of their entire campaign. They are the only team in the division to average fewer than a goal per game, finding the net only 19 times in their 23 outings.

January addition Ben Brereton Diaz seemed to add some cutting edge to Chris Wilder’s forward line with two goals in his first two games for the club. That double slots him in as the third-highest scorer for Sheffield United and the most likely goal threat ahead of both Oli McBurnie and Cameron Archer who are each averaging under 0.5 goals per game.

It is hard for any forward to score chances with such little service though. United have the lowest amount of assists in the league with nine and Gustavo Hamer accounts for a third of those with his season tally of three.

Before the season, plenty expected Luton Town to have a similar bluntness in the attacking third but that hasn’t happened. Rob Edwards’s side rank midtable in goals scored – ahead of both Bournemouth and Fulham who occupy spots above them in the table.

The Hatters' threat from set-pieces has been their main source of success. They have achieved the second-most goals from dead balls this season with eight and are the most clinical team when it comes to scoring headers, where they sit level with title challengers Arsenal with 11.

It all makes for even better reading for those of a Luton persuasion when this week’s opponents have, coincidentally, conceded the joint-most goal-creating actions from dead balls this season.

This one can still be viewed as a proverbial six-pointer in the wider context of the season – but there is no ignoring the perception that Sheffield United already feel cut adrift at the bottom.

Luton, though, are edging ever closer to a historic season that ensures safety. For that reason, we’ll back the home side to seal another three points and extend their three-game unbeaten run to four.

Prediction: Luton 2-1 Sheffield United

Tottenham vs Brighton

Has there ever been a game that should guarantee goals like Spurs vs Brighton?

These two have an unquenchable appetite for attacking football, with both sides ranking in the top half for xG per 90 minutes. Tottenham hold a slight edge with an average of 2.0 per 90, while Brighton slot in just below them at 1.75.

The similarities between them do not end there with a pair of Brazilian frontmen stealing the headlines for each side. For Brighton, Joao Pedro has made an impressive start to 2024 with five goals in Brighton’s two FA Cup outings and he added another to his tally in the Premier League with his goal against Crystal Palace last weekend.

Tottenham fans will not have happy memories of the former Watford man either – the 22-year-old bagged a brace and an assist when the sides met in Brighton’s 4-2 win back in December.

However, Spurs have a samba star of their own in the reinvigorated Richarlison. Their number nine has flourished in recent weeks after a difficult start to life at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

His nine goals in his last eight matches have fired Ange Postecoglou’s side to five wins and two draws in that span – the only loss coming to Saturday’s opponents Brighton.

It’s defensively where both teams have glaring issues. Both rank in the bottom half of the league for clean sheets this campaign and the Seagulls have only held their opponents to a blank on two occasions this season, a record only Sheffield United ‘beat’.

We have already said it but it bears repeating: this game should guarantee goals. They both play on the front foot with a relentless press which can only mean excitement for the neutral. We’ll take the home side to win in a close but entertaining affair.

Prediction: Tottenham 3-1 Brighton

Wolves vs Brentford

On the subject of in-form Brazilians, Wolves forward Matheus Cunha snatched the spotlight from his compatriots over the weekend when he single-handedly destroyed Chelsea at Stamford Bridge with three goals in a comfortable 4-2 victory for Gary O’Neil’s side.

The Wolves manager himself could not have been more full of praise for his forward, saying: “He's a fantastic guy. Always had quality, we know he has that. He is so humble and hard-working, all I have worked on him with is his understanding of situations. A Premier League hat-trick speaks volumes of the improvements he's made.”

The former Atletico Madrid man has threatened to put together an extremely impressive goalscoring outing all season. He leads Wolves in xG with 8.33 and his nine goals throughout the season place him only behind Hwang Hee-Chan (10) in the team rankings.

Brentford also have attackers in the news – though it’s not quite for scoring goals. Instead, Neal Maupay is stealing headlines – when he’s not stealing celebrations – for his on-the-field antics with Kyle Walker while Ivan Toney is doing likewise with Thomas Frank prematurely announcing his likely departure in the summer transfer window.

Either way, Brentford need to start picking up points and fast. The Bees appear to have lost their sting with one win in the Premier League since 2nd December – a record worse than every other team except Sheffield United over that six-game span.

Unfortunately, they cannot take any solace in their record against this weekend’s opposition; the London outfit have not won against Wolves since 2021 and are possess the third-worst away record in the league.

Everything points to a Wolves win. The points will stay at Molineux.

Prediction: Wolves 2-1 Brentford

Nottingham Forest vs Newcastle

Newcastle fans will be glad there has been an entire week between fixtures after the drama of last Saturday’s game against Luton.

The Magpies looked like they would breeze to a comfortable ninth home win of the season when they raced into a 1-0 lead after seven minutes… then 80 minutes of madness ensued and it ended in a 4-4 draw.

If we are taking the positives from the games, Eddie Howe’s men have well and truly got their goalscoring form back. They have scored 16 goals across the last six fixtures and are the most prolific goalscorers in the league outside the top five.

They do need to address their poor away form though. The three promoted teams and Brentford are the only sides with worse away records than the Magpies and all of them occupy places in the bottom six of the Premier League table.

Luckily Newcastle’s opponents this weekend do not have a home record to be proud of. Nottingham Forest have struggled at the City ground all season long, gathering only 12 points from a possible 33 on their patch.

This has not improved with the arrival of Nuno Espirito Santo either. The Portuguese tactician has only guided his men to one league victory in front of his home crowd since taking the job – a 2-1 win over Manchester United before New Year.

Forest have already shown they know how to beat Newcastle this season – with the 3-1 victory in the return fixture – however hat-trick hero that day Chris Wood is due for a spell on the sidelines.

Conversely, Newcastle feel like they are almost back to their best with their injury list easing. A third away win of the league season beckons here for them as a result.

Prediction: Forest 0-2 Newcastle

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The Champions League returns this week, with the first batch of last-16 games taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Tuesday sees RB Leipzig host injury-hit Real Madrid, while Manchester City travel to FC Copenhagen.

Then on Wednesday, Bayern Munich will look to bounce back from a tough weekend when they face Lazio in Rome and Real Sociedad will aim to be the latest side to upset Paris Saint-Germain when they travel to the Parc des Princes.

Tip 1 - RB Leipzig's Lois Openda to score against Real Madrid @ 31/20

Real Madrid took a big step towards winning the La Liga title with Saturday's 4-0 win over Girona but did not come through that game unscathed, with Jude Bellingham, who scored twice, twisting an ankle.

Bellingham will miss Tuesday's trip to RB Leipzig and Die Bullen will be confident of troubling the record 14-times winners, with Real also without key defenders Antonio Rudiger, Eder Militao and David Alaba.

Die Bullen finished second behind Manchester City in Group G but pushed the Citizens hard, with forward Lois Openda netting three times across their two meetings.

Openda has scored in his team's last four games and has the pace and skill to test a makeshift Real rearguard.

Tip 2 - Manchester City to beat Copenhagen and both teams to score @ 41/20

Holders Manchester City cruised through Group G but, while usually in control, did show vulnerability by conceding in all three away games.

They have kept just two clean sheets away from home in the league this season and Copenhagen have the talent to test them.

The Lions beat Manchester United on their way to progressing from Group A, but the scheduling of this game works against them, with the Lions still in the Danish Superliga's winter break.

That division resumes this weekend and they have recently been getting minutes in the legs by playing in the mid-season friendly tournament, the Atlantic Cup, in the Algarve.

After scoring against Bayern Munich, United and Galatasaray during the pool stages, impressive young coach Jacob Neestrup will fancy his side to grab a goal, but City's class should pull them through.

Tip 3 - Bayern Munich to beat Lazio and over 2.5 goals in the game @ 27/20

Lazio could be on the end of a backlash when Bayern Munich visit the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday.

Saturday saw Thomas Tuchel's side beaten 3-0 by Bayer Leverkusen to slip to five points behind Die Werkself in the Bundesliga title race and some tough talk from their senior pros after that game hints that they will be a lot better in Rome.

Lazio beat Cagliari 3-1 on Saturday, the third game in their last four in all competitions to have featured over 2.5 goals.

That tally has also been achieved in Bayern's last three and they also have Harry Kane to call upon.

The English striker netted four times during the pool stages to help his side top Group A, while Lazio were runners-up to Atletico Madrid in Group E and could again be second best in this tie.

Bayern were terrible on Saturday but they should be able to come through their first-leg tie against I Biancocelesti.

Tip 4 - Real Sociedad Double Chance against Paris Saint-Germain @ 5/4

Real Sociedad could be a surprise package in this season's Champions League and face Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16.

With the Ligue 1 title all but wrapped up, Luis Enrique's side can target a good run in Europe.

They finished second to Borussia Dortmund in Group F and look to have got a favourable draw against Sociedad.

PSG have failed to make it past the first knockout round since reaching the semi-finals in 2020-21. Admittedly, they often get the toughest draw possible, but will feel the tables have turned after being paired with La Real.

Sociedad have failed to win any of their last four in all competitions, but edged last season's beaten finalists Inter Milan to take top spot in Group D.

Although significant underdogs both on the night and to progress, Imanol Alguacil's side know how to execute a game plan and they could prove awkward visitors to the the Parc des Princes.

The knockout stages of the Europa League return on Thursday, with eight play-off ties kicking off across the evening.

Arguably the pick of the ties sees last season’s Champions League semi-finalists AC Milan host in-form Rennes, while Eredivisie champions Feyenoord host Daniele De Rossi’s Roma in one of four early kick-offs.

These two encounters are the focus of some of our tips for the week’s Europa League contests, with Sparta Prague’s trip to Galatasaray and Benfica’s battle with Toulouse also of interest.

Tip 1 - Galatasaray and Sparta Prague Both Teams to Score @ 3/4

Turkish champions Galatasaray dropped into the Europa League after defeat to Copenhagen on the final day of the Champions League group stages saw the Lions finish third in their group.

Despite being on a 12-game unbeaten streak in all competitions, including 10 wins, this may be a tricky test for Okan Buruk’s men, with Sparta Prague also in a rich vein of form winning each of their last eight competitive fixtures.

Managed by former Portsmouth defender Brian Priske, the Reds could offer a major challenge to the Turkish outfit, with a goalless draw against Rangers in October the last time that the Czech side failed to find the back of the net.

Galatasaray have also looked deadly in front of goal, scoring in each of their last 10 and bagging at least a brace in nine of these, and so a goal-fest may be on the cards in what looks to be a tight encounter.

Tip 2 - Feyenoord to win to nil against Roma @ 11/5

Another domestic champion fell at the first hurdle in the Champions League, with Eredivisie winners Feyenoord finishing behind Atlético Madrid and Lazio to drop into Europe’s second competition.

Home advantage could well be key in this fixture - a repeat of one of last season’s quarter-finals and the 2022 Europa Conference League final - with both sides winning their home leg in their last meeting.

Feyenoord collapsed in the second leg in Rome last time out in a 4-1 defeat, but this is a different beast to what they are used to facing with Roma now managed by former captain and club legend De Rossi, who has won three of his opening four games in charge.

However, they were beaten in their last outing at Serie A leaders Inter Milan, while the Dutch outfit have kept clean sheets in each of their last five games in all competitions, including against runaway league leaders PSV in the Dutch Cup. A low-scoring encounter could well be on the cards, with Arne Slot’s side the best bet to come out on top.

Tip 3 - Benfica to win and over 2.5 goals against Toulouse @ 23/25

Roger Schmidt’s Benfica side are incredibly fortunate to have any form of European football at this stage of the season with a 3-1 victory at RB Salzburg on the final day of the group stage securing Europa League progression based on away goals, the third of which being scored in the 92nd minute.

That victory was the first in a phenomenal run which saw the Eagles win 10 of their next 12, losing just once in the cup to Estoril.

This run also saw at least three goals scored in total in 10 of these fixtures, and a repeat in this metric could be expected when the Portuguese outfit host a Toulouse side in poor form.

The Violets have lost five of their last eight in all competitions, including to third tier Rouen in the Coupe de France, and are currently in the midst of a relegation battle in Ligue 1.

With their attention likely focused elsewhere, this could be a comprehensive victory for Benfica.

Tip 4 - AC Milan and Rennes to draw @ 3/1

Drawn in the “Group of Death” alongside Newcastle, PSG and Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan claimed a Europa League spot thanks to a late Samu Chukwueze winner against the Magpies in their final game.

The Rossoneri have won 10 of their last 12 in all competitions, but have not made the San Siro as much of a fortress as their city counterparts Inter, dropping points in six games at home in all competitions.

Another difficult test will be expected in this battle, with visitors Rennes in scintillating form going into this meeting.

Julien Stephan’s men have won each of their last eight games in all competitions, including impressive wins over second-placed Nice as well as French giants Marseille in the Coupe de France.

There could well be enough for both sides to cancel each other out in this encounter, with decent odds of 3/1 for a draw being provided.

The Europa Conference League, the newest of UEFA’s knockout events, is down to the last 24 teams with 16 of them in action on Thursday.

The play-off round first-leg ties feature the eight teams who were runners-up in the group-stage campaign against eight clubs discarded from the Europa League.

There are plenty of European big-hitters going to post on Thursday, among them Ajax and Eintracht Frankfurt, and we have tips from both of their contests.

Tip 1 - Maccabi Haifa to beat Gent @ 33/20

Israel aces Maccabi Haifa are having to trek up to Hungary to resume their European campaign but should be confident of being able to see off Gent.

The Bozsik Stadium in Budapest plays host to this tie between Maccabi, who pipped Panathinaikos for third place in their Europa League group, and Gent, who were runners-up behind another Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv, in this competition’s group stage.

And Maccabi are flying. Since losing at ‘home’ to Rennes in a Europa League tie in early November - also in Budapest - they have played 20 matches and lost just one of them in 90 minutes.

They hit the top of the table two weeks ago and won 2-0 at Beitar Jerusalem at the weekend.

And their form is in stark contrast to Gent’s, the Belgian side having failed to win since Boxing Day, a run of six matches which has seen them drop to sixth place in the table and right out of the title race.

Tip 2 - Sturm Graz to beat Slovan Bratislava @ 10/13

Sturm Graz returned from their winter break with a 2-0 cup win over Austria Vienna before following that up with a creditable 1-1 draw at Austrian Bundesliga leaders Salzburg.

Any point taken from mighty Salzburg is a well-earned one especially as it keeps Sturm just two points adrift in second spot, and means they take enormous confidence into the visit of Slovan Bratislava in the Conference League.

Sturm are here having dropped out of the Europa League where they found Atalanta and Sporting Lisbon too good to dislodge, but they nailed down third spot.

And Christian Ilzer’s men are in good form having not lost a domestic game since early November.

Slovakian league leaders Slovan also returned from a winter pause at the weekend and did so with a win, beating Zilina 4-0.

But they head for Austria minus two key players, veteran Austrian and ex-Spurs centre-back Kevin Wimmer and Canadian international keeper Milan Borjan both suspended.

Tip 3 - Ajax vs Bodo/Glimt Over 3.5 goals @ 6/5

You would expect goals and plenty of them when Ajax take on Norwegian aces Bodo/Glimt at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

The Conference League looks a big deal for Ajax who are having a sorry season by their standards and will not be winning the Eredivisie.

Both teams have scored in each of Ajax’s last 12 matches, nine of which produced four goals or more. And their three home matches in the Europa League, a campaign in which they finished third behind Brighton and Marseille, produced 12 goals.

There is a temptation to think they will win this easily but this is not a vintage Ajax and Bodo/Glimt, lest we forget, were quarter-finalists in this competition two seasons back.

They are just emerging from hibernation but last week’s 4-0 win at Malmo in their final friendly suggests they are still a more than capable outfit.

Tip 4 - Union Saint-Gilloise to beat Eintracht Frankfurt @ 23/20

Union Saint-Gilloise are on course for a first Belgian league title in 90 years and are more than capable of doubling up with a lengthy run in the Conference League.

You could argue they had one of the shorter straws by being paired with Eintracht Frankfurt but Union have good grounds to be confident.

The match is being played at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium in Brussels, a neutral venue but not one that proved a handicap in the Europa League group stage in which they beat LASK and Liverpool - both 2-1 - and drew with Toulouse.

And Eintracht’s efforts over the autumn in this competition were fairly modest, finishing seven points off PAOK in their group and even managing to lose 2-0 at Aberdeen.

They have returned from the winter break with two wins, two draws and a defeat in the Bundesliga, nothing that will have Union fearing the worst.

They also play Freiburg away on Sunday in a massive match in the chase for European places and will have one eye on that assignment.

The Premier League action comes thick and fast this weekend and we have picked out tips for three games to provide a 19/1 accumulator.

Liverpool's trip to Brentford begins the action at lunchtime on Saturday, while Manchester City's big clash against Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium brings that day's events to a close in the evening.

Sunday's two offerings see Brighton travel to Sheffield United and Luton host Manchester United, with the sole action on Monday coming from Goodison Park as Everton take on Crystal Palace.

Our accumulator focuses on a trio of Saturday matches that all begin at 3pm, these being Fulham v Aston Villa, Newcastle v Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest v West Ham.

Tip 1: Draw in Fulham v Aston Villa @ 11/4

Aston Villa's unexpected title bid has hit the buffers in recent weeks and they head to Craven Cottage with just one win from their last six matches in all competitions - that sole success coming against rock-bottom Sheffield United.

Having been unstoppable at home in their opening 10 matches, the Villans have now lost three in a row in their own backyard and they will be hoping an away outing can bring the best out of them.

Unai Emery's side are unbeaten in their last four road games, but they were held to 0-0 draws in two of these fixtures and they may have to settle for another share of the spoils against Fulham.

Although beating Bournemouth 3-1 last time out, the Cottagers have drawn three of their last five assignments - against Liverpool, Everton and Burnley - and these two sides could cancel each other out on Saturday.

Tip 2: Newcastle to win @ 4/5

Newcastle have started to string a few results together and they head into Saturday's visit of Bournemouth on a four-game unbeaten streak in all competitions.

The Magpies have only turned out at St James' Park twice in 2024, narrowly losing 3-2 Manchester City before the rollercoaster 4-4 draw against Luton, but they have been generally strong at home with 25 of their 36 points so far this season coming on Tyneside.

Eddie Howe's side now take on a Bournemouth outfit that have picked up just two points from the last 15 on offer and are without a win in their last three away matches in the league, conceding seven goals in the process.

Andoni Iraola’s side are also without a win in their last five league fixtures, with their two victories in 2024 coming in the FA Cup against Championship sides QPR and Swansea.

Bournemouth’s recent trips to St James’ Park have also been challenging ones, as they have lost three and drawn one on their last four visits.

Tip 3: Over 3.5 goals in Nottingham Forest v West Ham @ 2/1

Relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest will be eyeing a crucial three points when they welcome West Ham to the City Ground on Saturday afternoon.

Neither side are in sparkling form, with Forest winless in their last four league matches and West Ham failing to taste success in their last five top-flight assignments, so the play here is the goal market.

Since Nuno Espirito Santo took charge of Forest, there have been a combined 38 goals in 11 matches, with over 3.5 landing in six of those.

West Ham arrive on the back of a 6-0 hammering at the hands of Arsenal, that coming after a 3-0 loss to Manchester United, and those are just two of several heavy defeats they have suffered.

The Hammers have been beaten 5-0, 3-2, 3-1 and 4-1 away from home in the league this season, while they were also thrashed 5-1 by Liverpool in the League Cup.

While West Ham have been defensively poor, they are still a threat at the other end and have failed to score in just two of their 12 away days in the league.

David Moyes will be demanding a response from his side after the Arsenal drubbing and that could produce another high-scoring affair.

Two of the last three meetings between these two at the City Ground have produced over 3.5 goals, while the most recent clashes at the London Stadium have seen West Ham run out 3-2 and 4-0 winners against Forest.

The pressure is on at the top of the table – we could be in for the closest Premier League title race in years. Only in nine previous campaigns have two points separated the top three teams in the league at this stage of the season.

All of them have momentum but Arsenal's 6-0 victory away at West Ham last weekend was an eye-opener – they are a team in form and have put their rivals on notice.

At the bottom, the return of Ivan Toney has done the trick for Brentford. The Bees have been buzzing since his comeback, with two wins from their previous four and Toney bagging three of the eight goals they have scored in that time. They have conceded the fourth-most goals this season (44) and are looking vulnerable.

Plenty of storylines are on the docket this weekend, so let's take a deeper dive into the figures and help you land a potentially life-changing prize.

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Burnley vs Arsenal

Form (all competitions)

Burnley: LDLDL

Arsenal: WWWWL

Could there have been a worse time to play the Gunners? Probably not.

They are one of only two teams with a 100% win record in the Premier League since the turn of the year, a run in which they have scored 16 goals and conceded just twice.

What makes for more concerning reading for Vincent Kompany is Burnley’s home record against the Gunners. In the previous 10 matches they have hosted the North London side at Turf Moor they have failed to win, with eight of those games coming in the Premier League.

Only Chelsea have a better record against a team in the competition away from home (9 games also against Burnley).

It gets worse in that the Clarets are yet to win a home game against a side in the top 10 this season and could join an undesirable group of record-holders if they lose against the Gunners – they would be the joint-fastest team to accumulate 10 home defeats in a single season (13 games). Sunderland (2005-06), Huddersfield (2018-19), Sheffield United (2020-21) and Watford (2021-22) are the other teams with such an unwanted record.

They have the joint-lowest xG in the entire league and the second-most porous defence into the bargain. Don't be surprised to see a cricket score here… Arsenal could register another huge win.

Prediction: Burnley 0-5 Arsenal

Fulham vs Aston Villa

Form (all competitions)

Fulham: WDDLD

Aston Villa: LLWLD

Is this a bad patch for the Villans or symptomatic of something more serious? A run of just one win in five has turned potential title contenders into top-four challengers.

To be fair to Aston Villa, a glut of injury issues hasn't helped them. An interior cruciate ligament injury to Boubacar Kamara in the defeat to Manchester United meant he was the third player to suffer that injury this season, with Tyrone Mings and Emiliano Buendia the others.

In Fulham they face a tricky opponent; the Cottagers have lost just one of their previous seven Premier League games at home, scoring 18 and conceding just six in that run.

However, Unai Emery's team have a great record against London sides. Indeed, they have won their previous nine consecutive games against teams from the capital. Only Liverpool have managed more (a run of 11 between March 2019 and June 2020).

Keep an eye out for Leon Bailey – the winger was in excellent form against Manchester United, causing Luke Shaw and then Victor Lindelof all sorts of bother. His form is reflected in the stats, as you can see above, with the Jamaican contributing a goal or assist almost every 90 minutes.

It’s a tough one to call but we will go with Aston Villa to shade it.

Prediction: Fulham 0-2 Aston Villa

Nottingham Forest vs West Ham

Form (all competitions)

Nottingham Forest: LWDLD

West Ham: LLDDL

Their recent managerial switch has yet to pay real dividends for Nottingham Forest. A famous home win against Manchester United aside, they have been spiralling worryingly and have now lost nine of their previous 13 Premier League matches.

Defensively, they continue to struggle in this competition with at least one goal conceded in each of their previous 13 games. Since they won promotion to the big time they have kept just 11 clean sheets – the fewest number of any team to remain in the league since the beginning of last season.

Dig a little deeper, though, and Nottingham Forest are actually performing well in the expected goals against metric (xGA). They are only behind Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Brentford and Everton in terms of limiting opposing teams’ shots.

Meanwhile, West Ham are in trouble. They lost 6-0 at home to Arsenal on Matchday 24 and have yet to win a league game this calendar year. They have conceded nine goals in their previous two games, as many as the eight combined before them.

Given the European trophy boss David Moyes won last year there is a feeling he has credit left in the bank, especially given the Hammers are still only five points behind Manchester United in sixth.

Fans are reportedly becoming restless and he needs to turn it around soon – that won’t happen quite yet though. Score draw.

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1- 1 West Ham

Newcastle vs Bournemouth

Form (all competitions)

Newcastle: WDWWL

Bournemouth: LDDWL

It feels like a long time ago when Kieran Trippier had a stand-up argument with a fan pitchside after his side came to grief against Bournemouth on the South Coast.

While Newcastle had been struggling, the Cherries were flying. But that was then, this is now and the tide has been turning of late. Momentum is with Eddie Howe's charges and this could be the time he gets one over on his old team as Newcastle boss. In the three games he's faced since taking charge on Tyneside, they have managed just two draws and one defeat.

This could come down to a battle of the leading men. Alexander Isak has hit 10 goals in 17 games in the league and 14 goals in total while he boasts a 70% shot accuracy and mixes it with the best for shots on target per 90 minutes.

With Callum Wilson reportedly out for 12 weeks Isak, who could be involved against the Cherries as he steps up his own return from injury, will have to take on a lot of the heavy lifting.

Bournemouth have their own main man; Dominic Solanke has been directly involved in 15 Premier League goals (13 goals, two assists) to register his most impressive top-flight campaign to date.

However, after a burst of mid-season form, the Cherries are slipping back down the table again after taking just two points from a possible five.

As such, this one will go to the hosts.

Prediction: Newcastle 2-0 Bournemouth

Tottenham vs Wolves

Form (all competitions)

Tottenham WDWLD

Wolves: LWLWD

Tottenham are finding their groove again. A phenomenal last-minute Brennan Johnson winner against Brighton on Matchday 24 completed a comeback win and lifted Spurs above Aston Villa into the Champions League places in what felt like a symbolic moment.

Everyone recognises the entertaining football they play under Ange Postecoglou but there have been criticisms, especially early on in the season, that they try to walk the ball into the net rather than shoot.

Only Arsenal (37.1) average more touches in the opposition penalty area than Tottenham (34.5) but despite allegations of wasteful finishing they are still averaging more than two goals a game – a testament to the exciting, buccaneering football they play.

Indeed, you would have to go back to March 2023 to find the last time they failed to score a goal in a Premier League game – a 1-0 defeat to Wolves – a run stretching back 36 matches.

Wolves, meanwhile, continue to outdo expectations and are seeking their first league double over Tottenham since the 2009-10 season.

A disappointing home defeat to Brentford won't detract from the incredible job Gary O'Neil has done with this team since taking over, with European football remaining a distinct possibility.

Keep an eye out for the electric Pedro Neto - the Portuguese winger has six goal involvements in his last six away Premier League games (1 goal, 5 assists). He has been linked with a move away from Molineux of late, with Manchester United and Arsenal among prospective suitors. He’s a real threat.

Expect goals in this one for sure – but Postecoglou’s men will edge it in the end.

Prediction: Tottenham 3-1 Wolves

Manchester City vs Chelsea

Form (all competitions)

Manchester City WWWWW

Chelsea: WWLLD

Arguably the game of the weekend sees defending champions Manchester City aiming to keep the pressure on with a win over the free-spending – and, at times, free-falling – Chelsea.

The signs look ominous for Mauricio Pochettino's outfit. City look like they are on one of those runs where they become unstoppable and sweep all before them. In real terms that means they have won their last 11 games with a match against Crystal Palace in mid-December the last time they dropped any points.

What is worse for the London club is the return to full fitness of Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne – the latter has assisted a goal in all four of Manchester City's league games in 2024 despite only starting two of them.

If he bags another assist against the Blues, he will become just the 11th player in Premier League history to register an assist in five consecutive games.

The recent history of this fixture makes for grim reading for Chelsea. They have kept just one clean sheet in 19 Premier League matches against Manchester City while Pochettino has lost more matches against a Pep Guardiola team (13) than any other.

A win here would significantly ease the pressure on the Argentinian, who felt the full force of disdain from Chelsea fans in the aftermath of their home defeat to Wolves two weeks ago. Boos and anti-Pochettino chants were reported at Stamford Bridge that day.

Can he prove the doubters wrong? Possibly, but not at the Etihad this week.

Prediction: Manchester City 4-0 Chelsea

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Matchday 25 turned up the heat in the Premier League title race. Both Liverpool and Arsenal showed their mettle by dispatching Brentford and Burnley with ease, while Manchester City stumbled against Chelsea for the second time this campaign.

City responded with a 1-0 at home to Brentford on Tuesday night, making it 16 games unbeaten in all competitions since early December and leaving the title race as tight as ever.

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Read on to see what’s in store for Matchday 26…

Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest

A lot was made of Aston Villa’s formidable home record to begin the campaign but the Villans have not enjoyed such home comforts in their last two outings at Villa Park.

Firstly, Newcastle came to the Midlands and slotted three into Emiliano Martinez’s net before Manchester United made a huge dent in Villa’s top-four hopes with a late Scott McTominay winner a fortnight ago.

Add in Chelsea’s 3-0 victory in the FA Cup and Sheffield United’s point just before Christmas and it means Unai Emery’s men have only registered one home victory in their last five attempts across all competitions after losing just once competitively there since February 25th last year.

They did look back to form this past weekend with an impressive victory over Fulham spearheaded by the inspired Ollie Watkins. The Englishman grabbed a brace at Craven Cottage and took his tally to 13 goals for the season, which nestles him in behind Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah, and Dominic Solanke, the latter of whom joined Watkins in our team of the week.

He will be eyeing up the scoresheet once again against Nottingham Forest. Nuno Espirito Santo’s men carry the joint-fifth-worst defence in the league with 44 goals conceded and have conceded almost nine goals over their expected total in this campaign so far.

Forest, though, can feel buoyed by the form of Callum Hudson-Odoi. The former Chelsea man has now found the net in three consecutive outings and his current tally of four Premier League goals is the most prolific of his top-flight career.

Villa should return to form in this one. Nottingham Forest do not travel well – with only two wins away from the City Ground this campaign – so it seems a safe bet that Watkins will once again be the catalyst for a successful Saturday for the Villans.

Prediction: Aston Villa 3-1 Nottingham Forest

Brighton vs Everton

The season-long question remains: which Brighton is going to show up on Saturday afternoon? Will it be the team that dispatched five goals past Sheffield United for the second time this month or the side that lost 4-0 to Luton only three games ago?

You never truly know with Roberto De Zerbi and co. – and it’s why Premier League fans have fallen in love with them. Win, lose, or draw it will be an entertaining game when the Seagulls take to the pitch.

It all comes from De Zerbi’s philosophy of building from the back and it has made Brighton one of the most potent attacks in the entire division.

Lewis Dunk and Jan Paul Van Hecke produce the most successful passes by central defenders per 90 minutes. Pascal Groß lands within the top five for progressive passes in the entire league, so it’s always front-foot thinking from Brighton.

However, their playing out from the back also means they have notched the third-most errors that have led to shots on goal this season (14) with the aforementioned Van Hecke being the most culpable individually with four.

Brighton’s patient passing build-up isn’t for everybody and certainly not for Sean Dyche’s Everton. The Toffees average the second-lowest possession per game (39.4%) in the Premier League with the likes of Luton Town and Burnley averaging more.

Despite their lack of possession, Everton have still managed to create a lorryload of chances this season – but they just haven’t been clinical enough. They are by far the least-efficient team in the attacking third in the league with more than 10 fewer goals scored than expected.

This wasteful nature hasn’t helped them in their bid for survival and we don’t see it helping them this weekend. Brighton are more generous defensively than most but their offensive output should get them over the line. The Seagulls win in this one.

Prediction: Brighton 2-0 Everton

Crystal Palace vs Burnley

Is it a little too late for Burnley to consider this one a six-pointer?

The Clarets looked despondent on Matchday 25 as they fell to a second drubbing in as many weeks, following up 3-1 defeat to Liverpool with a 5-0 smashing at the hands of Arsenal. They are, admittedly, two of the Premier League’s best but it’s tough to see any sign of life from the Lancashire outfit.

Last weekend’s result took them to 17 goals conceded over the last six games – only Sheffield United can hold a candle to that unwanted record with 18.

Despite Vincent Kompany’s attacking philosophy, Burnley are the second-lowest scorers and hold the second-lowest expected goals tally in the Premier League this season.

Crystal Palace themselves haven’t had a regular goalscorer this year but they’ll be hoping new manager Oliver Glasner can strike a tune out of the offensive-minded players in the Eagles squad.

The former Eintracht Frankfurt boss will have to do it without the talismanic Michael Olise who is set for another spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury suffered against Brighton. The midfielder has averaged almost exactly a goal contribution per 90 minutes he’s played this campaign, a record only topped by Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota.

There will be a fresh feeling around Selhurst Park with a new man in the dugout and it may very well pay dividends for the Eagles. It feels like the perfect first game for Glasner – he will get off to a winning start against a limp Burnley side.

Prediction: Crystal Palace 2-0 Burnley

Manchester United vs Fulham

They have burnt their fans before… but are Manchester United back to their best?

The Red Devils extended their winning run to five straight across all competitions last time out against Luton and lifted themselves to within five points of the top four.

Even better, they have a consistent performer in the opposition's box with Danish forward Rasmus Hojlund. It may have taken him a while but the 21-year-old forward is hitting his stride in England’s top division with seven goals in his last six league matches, becoming the youngest player to score in six consecutive Premier League matches.

Hojlund, however, has been ruled out of Saturday's match with another striker, in opposing colours, potentially ready to steal the limelight instead.

Rodrigo Muniz may not be getting the headlines but Fulham’s rejuvenated forward has netted four goals in his last three games and has become the Cottagers’ joint-second-highest goalscorer in only six starts.

It will take a heroic effort from Muniz and co. to turn Fulham’s away form around this season and take points off the streaking Manchester United though. Marco Silva’s side are 11 games without a win on the road and have only taken a Premier League-lowest 24% of their points tally on their travels.

Manchester United should win this one and go perfect in February, making it the first time they will have won five games out of five in a month since January 2009.

Prediction: Manchester United 3-1 Fulham

Bournemouth vs Manchester City

Manchester City finally faltered on Matchday 25 with a dramatic 1-1 draw with Chelsea.

The blue side of Manchester had been on a tear since returning from the Club World Cup, with nine consecutive wins across all competitions before Mauricio Pochettino’s style stole a point at the Etihad.

In typical City fashion, they bounced back in midweek with a solid 1-0 win over Brentford, with Erling Haaland finally scoring against the Bees. The Norwegian frontman has now netted against every single team that he has faced in the Premier League after only two seasons in England.

Despite having arguably the best number nine in world football, Pep Guardiola’s men have looked wasteful rather than ruthless in the last two outings.

Across the last two games, City have taken 56 shots and only found the back of the net twice, underperforming their xG in both outings. It feels like a City smashing is on the way… but will it be Bournemouth who bear the brunt?

History suggests it could be. The South Coast outfit have lost the last three matches against the Citizens by an aggregate of 14-2 and have never beaten City, carrying into this one - a record of 18 losses and two draws.

However, the Cherries aren’t as ripe for the picking under Andoni Iraola as they have been in the past. After a shaky start, the Spaniard has turned things around at the Vitality Stadium and guided them into the haven of mid-table.

They are on a poor run at the moment though – their last victory came on Boxing Day –so we can only see an away win here. Unfortunately for Bournemouth, we also reckon the ruthless side of City will return… it could get ugly.

Prediction: Bournemouth 1 - 4 Manchester City

Arsenal vs Newcastle

The Gunners are, quite simply, firing on all cylinders in the Premier League.

It turns out their 6-0 victory against West Ham at the Olympic Stadium a fortnight ago was only the tip of the iceberg as a 5-0 win over Burnley at Turf Moor followed.

With those blowout victories, Mikel Arteta’s team continued their 100% winning record in the Premier League since the turn of the year, winning all five games by an aggregate of 21-2.

Almost a third of those 21 goals have come from Bukayo Saka. The English winger has now netted in his last four matches for Arsenal and has registered a goal contribution across his last six fixtures.

He is not carrying the attacking load on his own, though. Leandro Trossard, in particular, has impressed during Arsenal’s relentless run in 2024 with four goals in his last five appearances.

Newcastle themselves are a glutton for goals at the moment – at both ends. The Magpies are the league’s fourth-highest goalscorers and have managed two or more goals in eight consecutive games across all competitions.

Unfortunately for Eddie Howe, his men have not been able to keep the ball out of the net at the other end of the pitch. Their porous backline has conceded 16 goals in their last six Premier League fixtures which is only better than both Burnley and Sheffield United.

Away from the result itself, there could be some value in over 3.5 goals at 59/50 with BetMGM.

Overall, Arsenal should come out on top in a goal-heavy affair and get revenge on the team that handed them their first Premier League loss of the season back in November.

Prediction: Arsenal 3-2 Newcastle

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The Premier League has eight fixtures this weekend rather than the usual 10 as Liverpool and Chelsea meet in the EFL Cup final on Sunday.

With the table-topping Reds not involved, title rivals Manchester City and Arsenal have a chance to close the gap at the top as they face Bournemouth and Newcastle respectively.

New Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner oversees his first game in charge after replacing Roy Hodgson as the Eagles entertain Burnley, while Manchester United will attempt to make it six wins in a row in all competitions when they play host to Fulham.

We’ve focused on the best both teams to score bets and one total goals pick from Gameweek 26, selecting games at Brighton, Crystal Palace, Villa Park, Bournemouth and the Emirates Stadium for our five-game acca, which pays out at 18/1.

Tip 1 - Both teams to score Brighton vs Everton @ 13/20

Everton are in the middle of a miserable run as they haven’t managed a Premier League win since December - a sequence stretching to eight games - and they sit outside the drop zone on goal difference alone, but they have at least been picking up points over the last few weeks.

Sean Dyche’s men have three draws in their last four games but they will need to be on top form to get any kind of result at the Amex Stadium, as hosts Brighton have just one defeat at home in the league all season.

Albion have only failed to score in one of their home games across all competitions but clean sheets have been an issue. The Seagulls have managed three shut-outs, but two of those have come in Europe, and both teams have scored in 11 of their home league games.

The reverse fixture finished 1-1 and both teams have now scored in each of the last four meetings between these sides, so goals at both ends looks likely in this encounter.

Tip 2 - Both teams to score Crystal Palace vs Burnley @ 9/10

Glasner has inherited a Crystal Palace side who are involved in the fight against the drop but they are five points clear of danger ahead of his opening assignment against Burnley.

The Clarets appear doomed as they are seven points adrift of safety and have managed just three wins in 25 attempts - but they have at least been scoring goals.

Burnley had scored in four consecutive games prior to a 5-0 loss at Arsenal last time out and they have managed to get on the scoresheet in five of their last six away outings.

Both teams have scored in nine of Palace’s last 10 league games and they have gone 14 without a clean sheet, so goals at both ends could be on the cards at Selhurst Park on Saturday.

Tip 3 - Both teams to score Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest @ 4/6

Aston Villa’s improbable title challenge has stalled in recent weeks and that is perhaps due to a few lapses in defence. Villa started 2024 with three successive clean sheets in all competitions but they’ve managed just one in five attempts since, and that shut-out came against rock-bottom Sheffield United.

Forest come into this game in good scoring form having managed to find a way through in each of their last eight league games. They have conceded in seven of those, however, and Villa are yet to draw a blank at home in any competitions this season so goals at both ends looks likely at Villa Park.

Tip 4 - Over 3.5 goals Bournemouth vs Manchester City @ 11/10

Both teams to score has plenty of appeal in the game between Bournemouth and Manchester City at the Vitality Stadium, but going for over 3.5 goals at a bigger price looks the smarter move.

The Cherries have scored in 18 of their last 19 games across all competitions and City have scored in 25 of their last 26, so both teams are in good attacking form and can contribute to a high-scoring goal.

There have been at least four goals scored in six of Bournemouth’s last eight games and in five of City’s last nine, including cup ties, while the reverse fixture finished up as a 6-1 victory for the defending champions.

Backing over 3.5 goals also covers a big win to nil for the visitors, and they have scored at least four goals in each of their last three meetings with Bournemouth - with both teams scoring in two of those games.

Tip 5 - Both teams to score Arsenal vs Newcastle @ 7/10

We’re treated to a high-quality evening kick-off in the Premier League this weekend as title hopefuls Arsenal face Newcastle at 8pm.

The Gunners have managed back-to-back Premier League clean sheets but they’re coming into this game after a tough European midweek fixture as they went down 1-0 at Porto.

Arsenal have scored 30 goals in just 12 home league games and should be expected to score, but Newcastle can take advantage of any fatigue in the home camp and they have scored in nine successive games - so expect both teams to get on the scoresheet at the Emirates.

After a packed midweek of FA Cup action, the Premier League returns. All eyes turn to the top of the table, where Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal are putting the pedal to the metal in the race for glory.

Only two points are separating the three of them, making for what should be an enthralling finish to the campaign. Three-way title fights are unusual – the last time the top three teams finished within five points of each other was in 2013-14 when Steven Gerrard's infamous slip against Chelsea arguably cost Liverpool the title and the Citizens went on to lift the trophy.

Can Manchester United throw a spanner in the works by taking some points from their fierce rivals? The Manchester Derby dominates another massive weekend of Premier League action.

Remember: if you can pick the correct six scorelines, you could win up to £1 million. You don't even have to get all six to earn something. If the jackpot isn't won, just get more scores correct than your BetMGM peers to win a share of our £5,000 prizepool.

Onwards now to Matchday 27…

Newcastle vs Wolves

Form (all competitions) Newcastle: WLDWD Wolves: WWWLW

After a chastening defeat to Arsenal last week, Newcastle will look to kickstart their season once more against in-form Wolves, who continue to confound this term.

This fixture lends itself to goals – in 16 of the previous 17 meetings between the two both teams have found the net – and on current goalscoring form you wouldn't back against either keeping that run going here.

Despite indifferent form, the Magpies have found the net in each of their last 11 games in all competitions while Wolves have a fearsome recent away record in the Premier League, winning three of their last four on the road and scoring 10 goals along the way.

A lot of that form is down to the mercurial Pablo Sarabia, who is averaging a goal involvement every 122 minutes in the Premier League this season (three goals and six assists in 1,096 minutes).

Watch out, too, for Hwang Hee-chan – the South Korea international loves to score against the Magpies. Indeed, he has four goals in his last five appearances against Newcastle, the most he has netted against any Premier League team.

While St James' Park used to be a fortress for Eddie Howe's charges, it has become more of a bouncy castle of late. They have now gone winless in four Premier League home games, conceding 12 in that run.

It's all stacking up in favour of an away win to Wolves here – and that's what we're going with.

Prediction: Newcastle 1-2 Wolves

Tottenham vs Crystal Palace

Form (all competitions) Tottenham: LWDWL Crystal Palace: WDLLW

Ready for a mind-blowing statistic? Tottenham have scored in each of their last 37 Premier League games. Only bitter rivals Arsenal have managed a better streak in the competition's history (a 55-game scoring run that spanned three seasons from 2000-01 to 2002-03).

Despite, or perhaps because of, their free-scoring nature the Lilywhites are leaky at the other end with just one clean sheet in 16 attempts. What's worse is they have conceded at least two goals in five of their previous seven matches.

Their frailty at the back comes as no surprise when you consider their 16 errors (defined here as mistakes leading to a shot on goal) are the most of any team this season. They undoubtedly play with bravery but manager Ange Postecoglou needs to iron out the mistakes at the back if his side are to sustain a top-four tilt through to season’s end.

In the blue corner, the times they are a-changing at Selhurst Park. Club legend Roy Hodgson has been replaced by the highly-rated Austrian coach Oliver Glasner – a man renowned for his meticulous organisational abilities.

Glasner led Eintracht Frankfurt to Europa League final glory over Rangers in the 2021-22 season and fans will no doubt be excited by his first interview as club manager, where he said: "The philosophy is easy: it's scoring goals.”

He will need to have an immediate impact though; the Eagles have the third-lowest xG in the division while only Everton (28), Burnley (25) and Sheffield United (22) have scored fewer league goals.

Despite the genuine prospect of a new manager bounce, we can't see Tottenham dropping points here. They will concede though.

Prediction: Tottenham 3-1 Crystal Palace

Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool

Form (all competitions) Nottingham Forest: LLWLW Liverpool: WWWWW

After a last-minute FA Cup exit to Manchester United on Wednesday, all the Nottingham Forest focus is tuned into Premier League survival.

Can they get an unlikely result against the in-form Liverpool? Remarkably, the Reds haven't notched a win in six Premier League meetings at the City Ground, their longest run without registering a win at an away ground in the competition.

Despite that hoodoo, it is difficult to see them coming away with anything other than three points in their current form; they have won seven of their last eight Premier League games, scoring three times in six separate matches during that run.

The return of Mohamed Salah is crucial. The Egyptian is top of the league in goal contributions (goals + assists) per 90 minutes this season. He missed the EFL Cup final and midweek FA Cup win over Southampton due to injury but has a shout of being back in the fold for this one. Despite their success Liverpool do need him, especially now Diogo Jota is out with an injury himself.

Elsewhere in the Reds’ frontline, the form of Luis Diaz gives definite cause for optimism regardless of whether Salah starts against Forest or not – the Colombian has bagged five goal involvements in his last five games (three goals, two assists).

Add in the fact the Tricky Trees have conceded 18 goals in their nine Premier League games under Nuno Espirito Santo this season and it's hard to see how they keep out this rampant and well-oiled Liverpool machine that seems determined to see off Jurgen Klopp's final season at the club in style.

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1-4 Liverpool

Brentford vs Chelsea

Form (all competitions) Brentford: LLLWL Chelsea: WLDWW

It’s been a week since Chelsea were coined “blue billion-pound bottle jobs” by Gary Neville and the sting probably hasn’t worn off.

Everything looked set for Mauricio Pochettino to grab his first trophy in English football and his inaugural piece of silverware as Chelsea manager but the Blues just could not overcome a Liverpool side that slightly resembled their under-19s by the time the final whistle blew at Wembley.

Chelsea became the first English side to lose six straight major domestic cup finals in the process – can they get back on track against Brentford? Recent history doesn’t suggest so; they have not beaten the Bees in their last four attempts, losing three of them and only scoring a single goal.

Fundamentally, the Blues’ inconsistency in front of goal continues to cost them. Indeed, Chelsea have registered almost six goals fewer than expected which is the second-worst in the Premier League.

Their fortunes in the goalscoring department have taken a further hit with another injury-enforced Christopher Nkunku absence. The Frenchman has only featured in seven games since joining in the summer but has impressed in his limited appearances; he holds the second-highest xG per 90 minutes in the Chelsea team, sitting only behind Nicolas Jackson.

Brentford haven’t had such struggles at the top end of the pitch with both Ivan Toney and Neal Maupay pitching in with goals in recent weeks. The pair have combined for eight of them across the last six games for Thomas Frank’s side.

Defensively is another matter. The Bees have conceded 15 goals in the last six league matches, the fifth-worst tally of anyone in the Premier League.

They also tend to ship more goals at home as well. Brentford have the third-most goals conceded on their patch this campaign with 27 – only Burnley and Sheffield United have let in more in front of their home crowd.

These two are in desperate need of a win. Chelsea would like to right the wrongs of their EFL Cup disaster last weekend while Brentford need the three points to ease any relegation worries. Unfortunately for both this one has draw written all over it.

Prediction: Brentford 1-1 Chelsea

Everton vs West Ham

Form (all competitions) Everton: DDLDD West Ham: WLLLD

There will be a jovial feeling surrounding both of these clubs given how the last week has gone. Everton leapfrogged Brentford and Nottingham Forest after their impressive point at Brighton and their 10-point deduction being reduced to six.

As for West Ham, they ended a dismal eight-game winless stretch when they mauled Brentford 4-2 at the London Stadium on Matchday 26.

That was a victory for which Jarrod Bowen was well and truly the catalyst. The English winger netted the first hat-trick of his senior career and lifted his goal tally to 14 for the season – level with both Dominic Solanke and Ollie Watkins for third-most – earning himself a spot in the team of the week in the process.

While Bowen will rightly grab the headlines, the importance of Lucas Paqueta’s return should not go unmentioned. The Brazilian is an integral piece of the West Ham jigsaw and the results without him display just that.

The Hammers have played seven games without Paqueta this campaign – they have failed to win a single game and they average only 0.7 goals per 90 minutes. In comparison, they’ve won 11 of the 19 league games he has featured and average almost a full goal extra.

Any creative player from West Ham will have to be at their best to unlock an astute Everton defence. The Toffees tend to cut any attacking threat at the source, leading the league in both tackles and interceptions combined this season.

Plus, Sean Dyche’s side hold the fourth-best defensive record in the Premier League with only 34 conceded – only Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City boast more stubborn defences.

It will be tough for West Ham to break Everton’s robust backline but they have the attacking talent to do it. This one is difficult to call but a narrow away win for the travelling team is a sensible shout.

Prediction: Everton 1-2 West Ham

Fulham vs Brighton

Form (all competitions) Fulham: WLWDD Brighton: LDWLW

No team turned more heads last weekend than Fulham. The Cottagers waltzed into Old Trafford to face Manchester United without an away win since the first game of the campaign and managed to run out 2-1 victors.

It was a result that nobody saw coming, apart from maybe the most pessimistic of United fans. Either way it was an extremely impressive one for Fulham, who are putting together a nice run of results in recent weeks with just one defeat in five.

Defeat in general has become a rarity at Craven Cottage this season. They have amassed 22 of their 32 points when playing at home this campaign, which is level with both West Ham and Manchester United, both of whom occupy spots in the top eight of the Premier League.

Brighton enter this fixture in need of a win on their travels. They have picked up a sole victory in their last eight attempts away from the Amex with their only triumph coming against Sheffield United, who only three teams have failed to beat all season.

The Seagulls don’t have the best record against this weekend’s opponents either; they have failed to beat Fulham since they returned to the Premier League, losing three and drawing four in the seven meetings.

That unwanted record will not change this weekend but this is Brighton we’re talking about – they could just as easily win by five as lose by five. As it is, this one will end all square in an entertaining affair.

Prediction: Fulham 2-2 Brighton

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The Champions League round of 16 first legs have set up some intriguing contests for the first set of second-leg matches, which will be played on Tuesday and Wednesday this week.

Some huge names are in action in this half of the first round of knockout games, including defending champions Manchester City, who will be looking to showcase their potential to retain the title at home to Copenhagen.

Bayern Munich have work to do after losing the first leg of their last-16 tie against Lazio in Italy, and Paris Saint-Germain are also in action at Real Sociedad.

The final tie of this week sees 14-time European champions Real Madrid defending a narrow 1-0 lead at home to RB Leipzig.

With plenty of thrills in store, here are our recommended bets for the four-midweek Champions League matches.

Tip 1 - Bayern Munich -1 on handicap @ 10/13

Bayern Munich are capable of overcoming a 1-0 deficit from their first leg against Italian outfit Lazio after very little went right for them in Rome.

The German giants somehow managed to have 17 shots without getting one on target in that contest, a real outlier of a statistic that is unlikely to be repeated.

Even so they still might have managed to escape with a draw if defender Dayot Upamecano had not been sent off in the 67th minute.

Ciro Immobile converted the resulting penalty giving Lazio a precious advantage to take to Germany with them.

They have not impressed since then, however, losing three of their four subsequent games in Serie A to fall to ninth place in the table, and they look vulnerable if Bayern can get their attack operating closer to its usual level.

Lazio do most of their best work at home and have won only seven of their 14 road games in the league.

They also lost two of their three away games in the group stage by two-goal margins at Feyenoord and Atletico Madrid and needed a 90th-minute winner to beat Celtic in their other away trip.

This test is a higher level of difficulty than any of those matches and Bayern can make the most of home advantage at the Allianz Arena where they have won 10 of their 12 home games this season.

Bayern remain the highest scorers in the Bundesliga with 65 goals in 24 games and the attacking talent of Harry Kane and Jamal Musiala amongst others can help them to a victory by at least two goals, avoiding the need for anything more than 90 minutes of action.

Tip 2 - Paris Saint-Germain @ 7/4

Paris Saint-Germain do not need to win or even draw the second leg of their round-of-16 tie against Real Sociedad to advance to the quarter-finals, which is always important for bettors to bear in mind, but they look to have a major talent advantage over their hosts and look like a value bet to post another victory.

Sociedad cannot afford to sit back if they are to have any chance, but pushing forward should expose them to dangerous counter-attacks from the classy forwards of the French club and they look to be facing an uphill struggle.

Real have not looked in the kind of form to cause a major upset in their recent outings and they have won only one of their last nine games.

They lost their last two league matches to Villarreal and Sevilla, conceding three goals each time, and in between those games they went out of the Copa Del Rey on penalties after a 1-1 draw at home to Mallorca.

PSG have been held to draws by Rennes and Monaco in their last two outings but they have still won 10 of their last 13 games in all competitions.

They have shut out their opponents in six of their last 10 away games and should be capable of adding another victory in Spain.

Tip 3 - Manchester City -2 on handicap @ 11/10

Defending champions Manchester City bought themselves some valuable breathing space for their home leg against Copenhagen when Phil Foden's 90th-minute goal in Denmark stretched their advantage to two goals in a 3-1 win.

The Danes had scored from their only shot on target in the game when Magnus Mattsson equalised in the first half, while City had 13 of those and enjoyed a whopping 79% of the possession.

With the pressure off, Pep Guardiola's team can be fancied to play with freedom and put on a show for the home fans in a wide-margin win.

They should be in high spirits after fighting back from 1-0 down to record what was eventually a comfortable 3-1 home win in Sunday's Manchester derby in the Premier League and have more experience than almost any other team in finding ways past packed defences..

City scored three times in each of their home games in the group stage and should do just as well against a toothless Copenhagen team to book their place in the last eight.

Tip 4 - Real Madrid to win and both teams to score vs RB Leipzig @ 7/4

https://www.betmgm.co.uk/sports/football#event/1020370684

RB Leipzig gave a good account of themselves in their first leg against mighty Real Madrid, with sharing possession equally and outshooting their illustrious visitors, but it's hard to see them turning the tables on the road.

Real have not yet been beaten at home in any competition this season, winning 11 of 13 games in front of their own fans in La Liga and taking nine Champions League group-stage points there too.

Leipzig are only fifth in the Bundesliga and have lost five of their nine games since the winter break.

They are also much stronger at home than on the road and had failed to win four successive away games before Saturday's 4-1 win at struggling Bochum.

The Red Bulls do have some scoring prowess and the first leg against Madrid was the only time they have been shut out in their last eight games.

It may pay to anticipate a higher-scoring game than we saw in Germany and take Madrid to win a game in which both teams score.

It is a huge gameweek from top to bottom in the Premier League and here is a look at some of the best selections for the fantastic fixtures taking place this weekend.

The headline encounter comes at Anfield on Sunday as title-chasing pair Liverpool and Manchester City face off, while Arsenal host London rivals Brentford on Saturday and top-four hopefuls Aston Villa and Tottenham meet in the Midlands.

Our five-game acca for Gameweek 28 involves wins for Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Arsenal and West Ham as well as goals in the headline clash between Liverpool and Manchester City and it pays out at 12/1.

TIP 1 - CRYSTAL PALACE TO BEAT LUTON @ 4/5

Oliver Glasner's Crystal Palace tenure began with a 3-0 home win over Burnley last month and the Eagles are again a good bet to win when they return to Selhurst Park to face Luton.

All three of Palace's goals in that win over the Clarets came in the second half but they dominated the match, managing 15 shots and denying their opponents a shot on target.

They were on the road to Tottenham last time out and led 1-0 in that match until the 77th minute when Timo Werner equalised. Cristian Romero and Heung-min Son also scored late goals to turn that game on its head but there were positive signs for Palace.

Luton can be a tough nut to crack on their own patch but they have won only twice on the road in the league this season and are worth opposing in Croydon.

TIP 2 - BOURNEMOUTH -1 GOAL ON HANDICAP V SHEFFIELD UNITED @ 10/11

Sheffield United are likely already preparing for life in the Championship with the Blades 11 points adrift of safety with 11 games left to play in the Premier League this term.

The latest setback was a 6-0 mauling by Arsenal on Monday night and that was the fourth time in 2024 that they have conceded five or more goals.

Indeed, Sheffield United have leaked 72 goals in 27 matches in the Premier League this season, collecting a miserly 13 points in the process.

They look out of their depth and could be in for another comprehensive defeat away to Bournemouth, who are unlikely to be dragged into the danger zone in the coming months.

Andoni Iraola's men are a work in progress but with the likes of Dominic Solanke and Justin Kluivert leading the line, they can rack up the goals and win this by two goals or more.

TIP 3 - ARSENAL TO WIN & OVER 2.5 GOALS V BRENTFORD @ 8/15

Another side who know where the net is at the moment are Arsenal, who can win a high-scoring matchup with Brentford.

The Gunners took their goal difference to a potentially decisive +45 with their 6-0 hammering of Sheffield United on Monday and they have now netted 31 goals in the top flight in 2024 alone.

They have churned out seven successive wins in the Premier League this year and they should sniff an opportunity in the title race this weekend, knowing that Liverpool and Manchester City lock horns on Sunday.

With 19 wins from 27 matches, an Arsenal win is undoubtedly the way to play it but it could be worth combining it with over 2.5 goals.

Visitors Brentford have been involved in some high-scoring fixtures of late with their last four games producing a total of 16 goals.

TIP 4 - WEST HAM TO BEAT BURNLEY @ 8/13

West Ham endured a stuttering start to 2024 but have got back on track in the Premier League in the last couple of weeks and they should see off Burnley.

This is exactly the kind of fixture the Hammers would have wanted after what could be a gruelling Europa League clash away to Freiburg on Thursday, and they can make the most of home advantage against one of the division's weakest clubs.

Burnley have won only three games in the Premier League this term and are on a run of four successive defeats, having scored just one goal in that streak.

They lost 2-1 at home to West Ham in November and could again be beaten by the Hammers.

TIP 5 - BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE & OVER 2.5 GOALS IN LIVERPOOL V MANCHESTER CITY @ 3/5

This is a huge clash in the context of the Premier League title race.

A win for Liverpool would see the Reds extend their advantage over Manchester City to four points, while a win for Pep Guardiola's visitors would mean they return to the summit.

City head into the game having not lost a game since December 6th and they have key personnel Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland fit and firing again.

Liverpool, meanwhile, are depleted by injuries but have home advantage and the result could be worth swerving.

Instead, a good pick is both teams to score and over 2.5 goals.

Both teams have scored in eight of the last nine meetings between these clubs and three of their four encounters last season featured over 2.5 goals.

It’s FA Cup quarter-finals weekend which means there are just three Premier League fixtures on Saturday and one on Sunday.

But what we lack in quantity we make up for in significance with a pair of crunch relegation tussles as Luton in 18th play Nottingham Forest in 17th and 19th-placed Burnley shackle Brentford in 15th.

We’ve got tips from both those games and also the Saturday evening derby duel between Fulham and Tottenham and Sunday’s claret-and-blue clash between West Ham and Aston Villa.

Tip 1 - David Fofana to Score @ 13/5

No team in the Premier League has won fewer home games than Burnley and no team has lost more away games than Brentford.

Given those facts, making a watertight case for either team isn’t easy, especially given the tension of the occasion at Turf Moor.

Both come into the game on the back of encouraging efforts, with Burnley drawing 2-2 at West Ham last time out, although blowing a two-goal lead would have hurt Vincent Kompany. Brentford, meanwhile, gave Arsenal a stern examination at the Emirates before succumbing 2-1.

Burnley are almost at a must-win stage of their season so they should be positive against a makeshift Bees backline still missing key players. David Fofana, with three goals since his January arrival, is a key figure in the Clarets’ quest for safety and looks a nice price to find the net.

Tip 2 - Nottingham Forest @ 11/8

Luton have had just three days to try to recover from Wednesday night’s disaster at Bournemouth where they somehow managed to turn a 3-0 half-time lead into a soul-destroying 4-3 loss.

Their defensive vulnerabilities were there for all to see as they conceded three goals for the sixth time in their last eight matches. They have conceded a grand total of 27 goals in those games and look so fragile at the back.

Again, Rob Edwards will have to send his side out with an intent because they need to take opportunities like this, and they’ll be swept along by a vociferous Kenilworth Road crowd.

But the problem is they are too easily cut open, and if Forest score early you would fear the worst.

Forest are going through their own bad run, although they have just emerged from a brutal run of games and no one is overpowering them.

They have pace and guile on the counter, plenty of attacking match-winners and Nuno can oversee a critical away win.

Tip 3 - Tottenham to win at Fulham @ 27/25

Spurs make the short trip across town to Craven Cottage on the back of their best performance and result of the season, a stunning 4-0 win at Aston Villa.

That alone should give Ange Postecoglou’s men all the confidence they need to see off an inconsistent Fulham in a fixture that seems to bring out the best in Tottenham.

Fulham last beat Spurs at the Cottage in a league game in 2008. And the north London side have won nine of the last 11 matches against Fulham, the other two ending in draws.

Fulham, safely escorted to mid-table by Marco Silva, have won three of their last five to ensure a relaxed end to the campaign, although they were beaten at Wolves 2-1 last time out. Wolves are also the only team to beat Tottenham in their last eight league games. Spurs look ideally suited to life on the road with the pace of players like Son, Dejan Kulusevski, Brennan Johnson and Timo Werner to stretch teams.

Tip 4 - West Ham vs Aston Villa draw @ 11/4

West Ham and Aston Villa meet at the London Stadium on Sunday after successful European nights on Thursday.

The Hammers were 5-0 victors over Freiburg in the Europa League while Villa thumped Ajax 4-0 in the Conference League, a win that came at a price with top scorer Ollie Watkins picking up a nasty-looking injury.

With John McGinn still suspended Villa won’t want to be missing Watkins as well and the England frontman’s health will be watched by many ahead of a bet on a showdown between two closely-matched sides.

Villa have started to ship too many goals - eight in their last three league games - while the Hammers have bounced back from that calamitous 6-0 drubbing by Arsenal by scoring 11 goals in their subsequent three home matches.

Both have European places to pursue via their league positions so expect it to be tight.

The Premier League relegation odds have seen some movement over the past few days with the news that Nottingham Forest have been docked four points for breaching Premier League profit and sustainability rules making an instant impact.

Forest are now 5/4 to drop back into the Championship after swapping places with Luton, who denied them victory with a late equaliser on Saturday.

The odds have undergone a bit of a shake-up, despite only four Premier League games taking place last weekend, with Brentford not out of the woods yet and Everton still with some work to do if they are to maintain their long-established Premier League status.

Sheffield United To Be Relegated: 1/100

The Blades are already planning for life back in the Championship, but that does not mean that they have given up the ghost completely.

The team answered Chris Wilder's call to dig in and show they were up for the fight against Bournemouth by claiming a creditable away draw, but it still came with a tinge of regret as United could not hold on to a 2-0 lead.

The Bramall Lane club have been shipping goals at an alarming rate that currently puts them on track to concede 100 and tie the unwanted Premier League record of Swindon Town.

The Robins can at least point to their century coming in a 42-game season back in 1993/94.

Burnley To Be Relegated: 1/10

Burnley gave their survival prospects a much-needed boost when they overcame Brentford 2-1 at Turf Moor on Saturday.

The Clarets' fourth Premier League win of the season owed much to the fact that the Bees were reduced to 10 men after eight minutes thanks to Sergio Reguillion's clumsy challenge that also yielded a penalty.

Burnley fans have been given some hope by the recent displays of on-loan Chelsea striker David Datro Fofana and Vincent Kompany says his side still have "total belief".

But things are still looking forlorn for Kompany, who finally bit the bullet and dropped error-prone goalkeeper James Trafford at the weekend.

The Turf Moor outfit need to collect as many points in their next nine games as they did in their first 29 to give themselves a fighting chance.

Luton Town To Be Relegated: 13/20

Late shows from unsung heroes are becoming Luton's thing after Luke Berry rescued a point in the 89th minute of their 1-1 home draw with Forest.

Cauley Woodrow had done much the same at Crystal Palace a week before, but a 4-3 midweek defeat at Bournemouth after leading 3-0 meant the Hatters missed out on the chance to go level on points with Nuno Espirito Santo's men before the game.

However, Luton now occupy the coveted 17th spot because of Forest's four-point deduction and will be targeting maximum points from their upcoming home games against Bournemouth and Brentford.

Nottingham Forest To Be Relegated: 5/4

City Ground regulars had been fearing the magnitude of the points deduction, so the fact that there is now some clarity can be taken as a small positive even if Forest are now in the relegation zone.

But the team will have to rediscover some of the spirit they showed when beating the drop last season. Confidence in the camp is currently as low as anything Forest have experienced since getting promoted with their Portuguese coach again looking short of ideas on how to turn it around.

Everton To Be Relegated: 5/1

Everton's survival hopes were boosted without them kicking a ball last weekend as Luton and Nottingham Forest failed to make much ground while Brentford lost at Burnley.

The Toffees are scheduled to play Brentford at home and then go away to Luton in two potentially decisive relegation six-pointers on consecutive Saturday's soon, but their game in hand – a Merseyside derby against Liverpool at Goodison Park – may well prove just as critical.

Brentford To Be Relegated: 16/1

Defeat at Burnley was a major blow to Brentford, who blew their chance to halt a five-game winless sequence before the international break.

Thomas Frank’s side have been hovering a handful of points clear of the relegation zone for some time, but will need to take something from two of their next three home games - against Manchester United, Brighton and Sheffield United - if they are to avoid being drawn deeper into trouble.

Crystal Palace To Be Relegated: 20/1

Palace may be looking over their shoulders in 14th place, although their home form is strong enough to make you think they will get the nine points they need to be almost certainly safe for another season.

The Eagles duly received their new manager bounce when they beat Burnley 3-0 late last month, but that stoppage-time Woodrow goal denied them a fourth home win in five the weekend before last.

And with Manchester City, West Ham, Manchester United and Aston Villa still to come to Selhurst Park, Oliver Glasner's men may need to pick more than just a couple of away points to be sure.

After a brief break for international football, the Premier League returns for a weekend of captivating top-tier action.

Here is our look at some of the best selections from this week’s selection of fixtures.

Undoubtedly the pick of the weekend’s games is league leaders Arsenal’s visit to reigning champions Manchester City, with a win for either side likely to place them in the driving seat for this year’s title.

Our tips include a relegation six pointer at the City Ground, drama in the West Midlands derby and a glut of goals in North London.

TIP 1: Over 5.5 cards in Sheffield United v Fulham @ 6/4

Sheffield United host Fulham at Bramall Lane on Saturday and, with Chris Wilder’s men in dire need of three points, a testy and feisty contest could be in store.

Only Chelsea have picked up more yellow cards in the league this season than United, with six members of the first-team squad having picked up at least five yellow cards so far this campaign.

The Cottagers have been far more well-disciplined in comparison, with the 69 yellows accrued placing them eight in this chart.

However, they do possess the most booked player in the league within their ranks in the shape of Joao Palhinha, who has had his name written in the referee’s notebook 12 times.

With so many players more than familiar with the wrong side of the rules expected to be involved on Saturday, it could be a busy day in the office for the officials and the cards market therefore draws a lot of appeal.

TIP 2: Under 2.5 Goals in Nottingham Forest v Crystal Palace @ 4/5

Both Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace are in a battle to avoid the drop - although the latter are eight points clear of the drop and will likely be out of the woods with victory - and the magnitude of the occasion could make this a cagey affair.

Forest’s recent fixtures have not produced too much in the way of clinical striking, with each of their last four fixtures seeing no more than two goals scored, while two of Palace’s last four Premier League games would have followed the same trend.

All three of the meetings between these two clubs since Forest’s promotion back to the top-flight last season has seen winners in the under 2.5 goals market - with the reverse fixture in October ending as a goalless draw - and so an extension to this record should be expected this weekend.

TIP 3: Mario Lemina to receive a card in Aston Villa v Wolves @ 39/20

Derby days are renowned for being fiery occasions and Aston Villa’s meeting with Wolves is likely to be no different, with six cards shown by referee Rob Jones when the two rivals met at Molineux earlier this season.

Wolves midfielder Mario Lemina was shown his marching orders in that encounter for two bookable offences and the Gabon international has been no stranger to the ire of the officials this season, with the 10 yellows shown putting him second in the league booking charts.

A total of 28 cards have been shown across the last five clashes of these two sides and another intense and aggressive meeting will likely be the order of the day on Saturday, with Lemina expected to be right in the thick of the action in the middle of the park.

TIP 4: Over 3.5 total Tottenham goals v Luton @ 29/20

Luton’s recent defensive performances on the road have been abject, with the Hatters conceding four goals in three of their last four matches on their travels - including a 4-3 defeat at Bournemouth coming after taking a three-goal lead at the break.

Spurs will therefore be confident that their forwards can have a lot of joy in front of goal on Saturday, particularly given their scoring record under Ange Postecoglou this campaign - their defeat to Fulham last time out was the first time that they had failed to score in the league this season.

Two of Tottenham’s last three fixtures have featured over 3.5 goals, while the same can be said for four of Luton’s last six in all competitions, so plenty of goals could be on the cards in North London.

TIP 5: Over 9.5 corners in Manchester City v Arsenal @ 8/13

Sunday sees the game of the weekend in what could be a title-deciding meeting with Manchester City hosting Arsenal and there could be very little to separate the two sides.

Home advantage will undoubtedly make the Citizens favourites, but the international break was not kind on the injury front, with the likes of John Stones, Kyle Walker and Manuel Akanji now doubts for this clash.

With so much on the line, this game could come down to the quality from dead-ball situations and corners have been a regular occurrence for both sides this season, with City and Arsenal topping the table for most corner kicks in the league with 219 and 214 respectively.

Given that no side has scored more goals from corners this season than the Gunners, the visitors will likely try and win as many of these as possible and so this could be a lucrative market from a betting perspective.

Right then, where were we?

Oh that’s right - in the midst of one of the most exciting title races in a generation. It is neck-and-neck-and-neck at the top of the table between Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City.

And what a way to dive back into the action than a clash between two of them - Manchester City and Arsenal. It is shaping up to be an absolute corker and is arguably the game of the season so far.

There’s plenty of other action to follow, too so we have dusted off the form book after its time on the top shelf during the international break and attempted to pick out six correct scores for Golden Goals.

Remember, if you can pick the six correct scorelines you could win up to £1 million.

Chelsea vs Burnley

Form (all competitions)

Chelsea: WWDWL

Burnley: WDLLL

Is Mauricio Pochettino turning the Chelsea tanker?

Since losing to Liverpool in the League Cup final, they have won three of their previous four games in all competitions, and are in the midst of another deep cup run after a quarter-final win over Leicester. It’s now the sixth time in the last eight seasons that Chelsea have reached at least the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

Scratch the surface, though, and it is clear discontent remains rife among the Chelsea fanbase. You only have to see the reaction to Raheem Sterling’s missed penalty and free kick attempt to understand the apathy many Blues’ fans hold towards even the most senior playing staff at Chelsea.

The star signing of Todd Boehly’s dynasty that began last season, Sterling has endured a torrid time in front of goal. Indeed, this season, he ranks second most big chances at 14 but he is also second for most big chances missed with 10, while he has the ninth poorest conversion rate in the Chelsea squad, scoring with just 13.6% of his attempts.

One man’s desert is another’s oasis though - and Cole Palmer is drinking it all in. He is way out in front for the Blues this season.

Meanwhile, Burnley are showing some green shoots of recovery - a creditable draw with West Ham was followed up by a convincing win over Brentford before the international break.

They still need to fix some issues - they are second from bottom in the standings for goals scored (29) and have conceded the second-highest number of goals (63), while they also have issues with keeping 11 players on the pitch. Along with Liverpool, they are top of the red card standings having seen five players dismissed over the course of the campaign.

Hard to see any result other than a Chelsea win, here.

Prediction: Chelsea 3-0 Burnley

Sheffield United vs Fulham

Form (all competitions)

Sheffield United: DLLLW

Fulham: WLWWL

Just when it looks like the Blades were sharpening up, they get blunted. After taking a two goal lead away to Bournemouth before the international break, the Cherries plucked any hopes of a precious three points away from Chris Wilder and his charges with a devastating last minute equaliser.

They have actually performed better on the road than at home, with their recent record at Bramall Lane making for painful reading. In their previous three Premier League matches at home, they have lost by an aggregate score of 16-0 - with two 5-0 defeats to Aston Villa and Brighton before a 6-0 loss to Arsenal. It gets worse, They have conceded 4.6 goals per game on average across their last five Premier League home matches.

In many ways, there couldn’t be a worse time to play an in-form Fulham outfit, who can count Manchester United, Brighton, and Tottenham as teams they have overcome in a run of three wins in four.

The hype machine is starting to whir behind the exciting Rodrigo Muniz, who, with two goals in the 3-0 win over Spurs before the international break, became the first Fulham player to score in four consecutive Premier League home matches. He’s worth keeping an eye on.

Also look out for American full-back Antonee Robinson - he has six assists from open play in the league this season, the joint-most from open play by a defender. Hard to see how the Blades turn around an absolutely awful run of home form against this vibrant and exciting Fulham team.

Away win.

Prediction: Sheffield United 0-3 Fulham

Nottingham Forest vs Crystal Palace

Form (all competitions)

Nottingham Forest: DLLLL

Crystal Palace: WDLWD

The goals have dried up on the River Trent. After a run of six in three games, they have now just found the net once in four matches across all competitions.

The malaise is making for particularly tough watching for the raucous fans that pour into the City Ground - Forest have the second poorest Expected Goal (xG) ranking when playing at home (1.07 per 90 minutes). Only Sheffield United (0.57) are creating fewer clear cut chances.

Crystal Palace are just getting to grips with their new manager Oliver Glasner - but the initial signs are promising.

One of the urgent points of order for Glasner and his coaching staff is to increase their impact from setpieces - the Eagles are the most underperforming attacking team from setpieces, with just three goals all season from corners and free kicks, despite registering 106 shots and an xG of 8.36 from them.

Two of those set piece strikes have come in the first three matches under Glasner - can they continue improving in this regard against a leaky Nottingham Forest?

It’s a close one to call - we’ll go with a score draw.

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Crystal Palace

Tottenham vs Luton

Form (all competitions)

Tottenham: WLWWL

Luton: DLDLL

Just when it looked like the Lilywhites were going to creep into the top four, there was a bang back down to earth.

For the first time in more than a year, Tottenham failed to score in a league game. You have to go all the way back to March 2023 and a 1-0 defeat away to Wolves to find a Spurs front line blunted like this.

Despite all the positives around Spurs’ forward play, there remains definite concerns about the back line. They have kept just two clean sheets in 19 attempts and are conceding plenty of chances, as you can see in the graph below:

Meanwhile, despite their run of poor results (they have one win in 10 games), Luton are winning hearts and minds for their free-scoring, attacking style of play. They have bagged 42 goals in the league this season, more than any of the bottom eight sides in the division.

Part of the issue is they tend to concede the first goal - since they swept aside Brighton 4-0, they have taken the lead just once.

They also have the scars of Bournemouth fresh on their minds - two weeks ago, they went 3-0 up away to the Cherries, before succumbing 4-3 to suffer one of the most epic comeback defeats in recent times.

If Tottenham get going, this could be anything. We’re predicting a heavy home win.

Prediction: Tottenham 4-0 Luton

Liverpool vs Brighton

Form (all competitions)

Liverpool: LWDWW

Brighton: WWLLL

Despite a devastating last minute defeat to Manchester United in the FA Cup before the international break, Liverpool are still on course for an historic treble.

They are creating chances by the bucket load in league games. They average a mammoth 19.1 shots per 90 minutes - the next best is Manchester City (17.8), while the xG is also topping the league table at 2.24 per 90 minutes.

A run of eight wins in 10 league games makes for very impressive reading, and with their two title rivals playing each other in the later game on Sunday, this represents a very good chance to climb to the top of the table.

But Brighton will not be a simple task.

They are finally showing some defensive resilience - the clean sheet against Roma last week was the first time they have kept back-to-back shutouts since May 2023.

Now they are out of Europe, all focus will be on qualifying for European competition next year.

This fixture has produced 16 goals in the previous four meetings, with Liverpool failing to win any of them. Can the Seagulls maintain the recent hold they have over the Reds?

We think this could be honours even. Action-packed score draw.

Prediction: Liverpool 2-2 Brighton

Manchester City vs Arsenal

Manchester City: WDWWW

Arsenal: WWWWL

Has there been a bigger game between these two teams since, checks notes, this time last year? While this fixture was seen as a route back into the title race for Arsenal in the previous campaign, this time the Gunners sit on top of the pile.

There may just be one point in it, but if the North London side can fashion a win at the Etihad, they will stretch their lead to four, and suddenly, the prospect of a first title in nearly 20 years is in the reckoning.

The bad news? Their recent record away to Manchester City is borderline embarrassing - they have lost six straight games in all competitions and it’s approaching nearly ten years since they last managed to win there - (January 2015).

Meanwhile, the defending champions have won 17 of their last 19 games in all competitions and are in that dangerous groove. The eye is particularly drawn to Phil Foden - the gifted England international has been in imperious form, with 28 goal contributions in 41 appearances in all competitions this season.

There’s something about the way Arsenal are playing right now that makes us think they can spring a surprise.

We will go with an away win.

Prediction: Manchester City 1-2 Arsenal

Please note: This week's Golden Goals deadline is Saturday, March 30th at 15:00. Opt-in is required and you can find out more here.

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The international break is in the rearview mirror and the Premier League returned with a canter on matchday 30. However, the pace of England’s topflight is relentless and we’re back with another round of BetMGM’s Golden Goals ahead of midweek action on gameday 31.

Another slate of BetMGM Golden Goal games means one thing, there’s another chance for you to win up to £1 million if you can correctly predict six scorelines. If the jackpot isn't won, just get more scores correct than your BetMGM peers to win a share of our £5,000 prizepool.

Let’s take a closer look at what’s in store on matchday 31…

Newcastle vs Everton

Evertonians were probably desperate to see their side go into the international break. A dismal run of form before the hiatus culminated in a 2-0 defeat at Manchester United - extending their winless run since the turn of the year to 12 Premier League matches. The weekend’s return to domestic football saw that run extended further, with a last minute own goal seeing them fall to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Bournemouth.

That defeat above further continued the trend of the Toffees' wastefulness in front of goal. They’re the third-lowest scorers in the division this season, nestling below the likes of Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, and newly promoted Luton, as well as sitting last in goals below expected (13). For context, the next closest team in Brentford has only five less than expected.

If Sean Dyche’s men are to find the scoresheet this gameday, we’d expect it to come from Dwight McNeil, who has a favourable record against the Toon Army since joining the blue side of Merseyside.

The English winger has notched three goal contributions in his last three outings against Newcastle - including a goal and assist in December’s 3-0 victory.

Newcastle’s injury list seems to have been at capacity for the entire season, but the Magpies were dealt another huge blow before the international break when Sven Botman suffered an ACL injury that’s set to sideline him for 6-9 months.

The Dutch defender has been an integral part of Eddie Howe’s season, winning over 65% of his aerial duels and tackles in the heart of the Newcastle defence. He joins fellow key players Kieran Trippier, Callum Wilson, Nick Pope, and Joelinton on the physio table.

Despite all the absences, Newcastle are still a seriously strong side at St. James’ Park. They’ve amassed over 18 more points when playing at home compared to when they are away from Tyneside. Everton are solid away from home, but their lack of goalscoring output haunts them once again here. It should be a comfortable home win.

Prediction: Newcastle 2-0 Everton

Nottingham Forest vs Fulham

Nottingham Forest fell into the relegation zone over the international break without playing a match after a four-point deduction was sanctioned by the Premier League for breaching Financial Fair Play regulations.

The club has appealed the decision, but for now, they’ll have to focus on beating Fulham this midweek to try and steer themselves clear of the relegation battle. However, beating the Cottagers has proven a difficult task since Forest rejoined the top flight.

After beating them 1-0 during their first campaign back in the big time, they’ve gone on to lose three straight games against Marco Silva’s men by an aggregate of 10-2. The worst performance during this run was earlier this season when Forest fell to a 5-0 defeat on the banks of the River Thames.

No fewer than four Fulham players featured in our team of the week after the dismantling back on matchday 15 in December - including Alex Iwobi who netted a brace and Andreas Pereira for his pair of assists.

One man who wasn’t involved in December but has proven himself since the turn of the year is Rodrigo Muniz. The Brazilian has been in insatiable form and his seven goals in seven games before the international break had him considered for a call-up by Brazil boss Dorival Junior.

It’s hard to be convinced by Fulham’s away form this season, though. Before beating United at Old Trafford in February, they hadn’t won away from home since the opening game of the campaign. A win here could set up a strong end to the campaign for Marco Silva and company, but it’ll likely end a point apiece.

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 2-2 Fulham

West Ham vs Tottenham

2024 is the year of inconsistency for Tottenham Hotspur.

They began March with two huge results in their chase for the top four - beating both Crystal Palace and Aston Villa - winning back-to-back games in the Premier League for the first time since December against Nottingham Forest and Everton.

The path to top-four football was there for Ange Postecoglou but, in typical Tottenham fashion, they followed up their impressive results with a 3-0 defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage. This result also ended their historic run of 39 games where they scored at least one goal.

We shouldn’t have to worry about a lack of goalmouth action in this fiery all-London encounter, however, with two of the Premier League’s top scorers Heung-Min Son and Jarrod Bowen on the pitch. Plus, there’s not been a 0-0 between West Ham and Spurs since the 2011 season

Bowen found the net during West Ham’s victory in the reverse fixture earlier in the campaign during his impressive run of scoring in seven of eight away games to start the season. He hasn’t enjoyed such a purple patch since, scoring only three goals in eleven games before joining up with England.

One thing is for certain in this one, Spurs will dominate possession. Big Ange’s side ranks within the top four for average possession per 90 minutes, while West Ham hold a lowly 41% per game, which is only better than the likes of Sheffield United and Everton.

Tottenham will have to be wary of West Ham’s threat from the counter, the Hammers and Nottingham Forest are the only two sides with eight or more counter-attacking goals this campaign.

It’ll be a tight game at the Olympic Stadium but Spurs are a top-five team on their travels, it should be enough to get them through and grab a valuable three points in the race for Champions League football.

Prediction: West Ham 1-2 Tottenham

Brentford vs Brighton

Brentford’s season has gone from disappointing to dismal. The Bees have well and truly lost their sting. Even with the return of Ivan Toney in the new year, they are hovering perilously above the drop zone with only newly-promoted and points-deducted sides surrounding them.

Thomas Frank’s underwhelming campaign was epitomised before the international break when they fell to Burnley at Turf Moor, handing the Lancashire side their first win at home since the 2nd December against Sheffield United.

Helping the teams around them has become a scary pattern for Brentford. They are the only side to lose to both Sheffield United and Burnley in the Premier League this season, as well as conceding defeat to Everton earlier in the season.

Unlike most of the sides languishing in the bottom third of the Premier League, Brentford poses a potent attacking threat, especially when playing at the Gtech Community Stadium. They average over 1.7 goals per game when playing at home compared to 1.1 when playing away.

The art of goalscoring hasn’t been an issue for Brighton, they’ve mastered it. They’re currently the seventh-most effective attack in the Premier League, already reaching a half-century of goals this campaign with nine games to go.

Finding the back of the net is a joint endeavour for Robert De Zerbi’s side. No player features in the upper echelon of the goalscoring rankings, with Joao Pedro ranking as the summit on the seaside with eight goals in the league, but no fewer than 12 players have two goals or more this season.

Brighton are also expert at conceding goals, however. Outside of the newly promoted sides, De Zerbi’s outfit has the lowest amount of clean sheets so far this season with four, so we should see goals this midweek.

Goals might be guaranteed, but we’re not sure a winner is. This fixture has lent itself to high-scoring draws in previous years (two 3-3 draws in the last six meetings), so we are going to stick with the trend for this week’s iteration.

Prediction: Brentford 2-2 Brighton

Arsenal vs Luton

It feels like an age since Luton Town gave Arsenal an almighty scare at Kenilworth Road earlier in the season.

After taking the lead after 20 minutes through Gabriel Martinelli, Arsenal just couldn’t shake the newly promoted side and it looked like they were heading towards two points dropped in the title race. Declan Rice would save the day on that occasion - scoring his then-third goal of the campaign in the 97th minute.

That show of resilience left them top of the tree after matchweek 15, a place they have become accustomed to as the battle for the title continues.

A stalwart feature of the Gunners championship charge is their impressive home form. The 2-1 victory over Brentford before the international intervention extended their winning record on their home patch to four-straight games. The only slight surprise about the Brentford victory, they only managed to score two.

Before that result over a fortnight ago, Arsenal were averaging 4.8 goals per game across the previous five, including 6-0 wins over West Ham and Sheffield United, as well as netting just the five against Burnley.

Rob Edwards’ Hatters will be hoping his side can rebut the goalscoring wrathe of Mikel Arteta’s men, but recent outings suggest that’s more in hope than expectation. Luton conceded two or more in the ten games leading up to the international break - which included four goals in one half during Bournemouth’s epic 4-3 comeback at the vitality - before conceding another two against Spurs on Saturday.

It’s still impressive seeing Luton still swinging amongst the elite in the Premier League and they often give the bigger teams a stern test, but we just don’t see it at the Emirates. Look away Hatters, it's a heavy home win.

Prediction: Arsenal 5-0 Luton

Manchester City vs Aston Villa

Will we see a revenge-fulled set of Citizens on Wednesday night as Aston Villa visits the Etihad?

Don’t forget, Unai Emery’s Villans were only the second side to defeat City in the Premier League, extending an uncharacteristic winless run between November and December to four games for the blue side of Manchester.

That Leon Bailey-inspired victory was the first win that the Midlands side had notched over City in over a decade but their record at the Etihad doesn’t hint at lightning striking twice this season. Villa haven’t won at the Etihad since 2007.

It doesn’t get much better when you delve deeper either. Pep Guardiola’s side have scored at least three goals in 11 of the 12 games in which they’ve welcomed Villa to Manchester across the last 14 years.

Villa are a very different side to years past, however. They are on the precipice of a top four finish in the Premier Leaue for the first time since 1995/96 when Brian Little was in the dugout, with current away form being a huge catalyst for their success.

Since their Boxing Day defeat at Old Trafford, Villa are unbeaten on the road, accumulating 11 points from a possible 15 in a five-game unbeaten stretch.

All that being said, we think that their next away loss comes in the same city as their last away win did, Manchester. City are usually an immovable object at the Etihad and, after Sunday’s draw against Arsenal, they won’t want to let any more points slip in their chase for a fourth consecutive title.

Prediction: Manchester City 3-1 Aston Villa

Add our Golden Goals predictions to your betslip here

Please note: This week's Golden Goals deadline is Tuesday, April 2nd at 19:30. Opt-in is required and you can find out more here.

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Opt in & predict 6 correct scores weekly (see Game Lobby for weekly Tournament cut-off time) to win up to £1m jackpot or up to £5k Prizepool if Jackpot is not won. Void if 1 or more matches are postponed/abandoned or not completed. Verification procedures apply. T&Cs apply.

This incredible Premier League title race marches on with no team willing to give up any ground in one of the most epic three-way fights for glory in a generation.

Will Arsenal blink first? Can defending champions Manchester City keep performing at their relentless best? Is the long Jurgen Klopp goodbye just the tonic Liverpool need to get over the line?

After a healthy bout of midweek fixtures, Golden Goals is back in its usual weekend spot. Remember, if you can pick the six correct scorelines you could win up to £1 million. Find out more here.

This matchday all focus turns to the red half of Manchester, where bitter old rivals Manchester United and Liverpool headline affairs with one pursuing Europe and one the Premier League title.

What else do we have in store? Let’s take a look…

Wolves vs West Ham

Form (all competitions) Wolves: DLLWL West Ham: DLDWD

There is a danger that the season peters out for Wolves. They were dumped out of the FA Cup by Coventry back in March, have secured safety and are one of seven teams separated by six points for the final European spot.

It means their next two fixtures against fellow top seven challengers West Ham and relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest are absolutely crucial for those European aspirations.

The return of Matheus Cunha from injury in the recent 1-1 draw against Burnley brings some welcome respite to a squad beset by ailments in recent times. Standout winger Pedro Neto looks set to miss the rest of the campaign with a hamstring injury while Hwang Hee-chan is only just closing in on a return after a few weeks out. Key defender Craig Dawson is also missing.

Amid this injury crisis one man has stepped up for Wolves: Rayan Ait-Nouri. The Algeria international has been carrying the ball further forward of late and has registered two goals in his previous three league games (as many as he managed in his previous 87 Premier League appearances).

With three goals in four in all competitions he’s been attracting some prying eyes as Liverpool and Manchester United continue to be linked with the left-back ahead of the summer transfer window.

For West Ham, the incredible form of Jarrod Bowen is the talk of the terraces. The England international is on course to become the first man since Tony Cottee to score 20 goals in a Premier League campaign for the Hammers – though he still has a bit to do to get there.

While David Moyes’s men are not having any issues finding the net, they could do with tightening up at the back.

The Hammers have conceded at least once in each of their last 11 Premier League games, shipping 25 goals in total during this run. Their 55 goals conceded overall this season matches the same number shipped in the whole of last term even though they currently sit seven places better off than where they ended the 2022-23 campaign.

Confidence can be taken, though, in the fact they have beaten Wolves in three of their previous four meetings and, given the injury crisis at the Midlands club, we reckon there is substance in that here. Away win.

Prediction: Wolves 1-2 West Ham

Fulham vs Newcastle

Form (all competitions) Fulham: LDWLW Newcastle: DWLLW

A triple substitution in just the 33rd minute of Fulham’s 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest on Tuesday – the second-earliest a side has made three substitutions in a Premier League game – was not enough to correct course after a terrible start at the City Ground.

They conceded two goals in the opening 20 minutes, forcing manager Marco Silva into the unconventional early changes, which did not do the trick.

It was another disappointing performance from Fulham, whose season can perhaps best be summarised by contrasting impressive victories over Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal with poor defeats to Bournemouth, Burnley and Forest.

The upshot is they have now won just once in 15 on the road. But, while they struggle away from home comforts, they are proving a formidable force at Craven Cottage with seven wins in 10 games while scoring 25 goals in the process.

Newcastle, meanwhile, couldn’t quite kill off the game against Everton in midweek and paid the consequences. Despite dominating for large periods, a late Dominic Calvert-Lewin penalty snatched a point for the Toffees, causing a blow to the Magpies’ hopes of European football next season.

While there is an unprecedented defensive injury crisis at St. James’ Park (Jamaal Lascelles, Nick Pope, Sven Botman, Tino Livramento, Kieran Trippier and Matt Targett are all either out or struggling) the performances of striker Alexander Isak can offer fans some comfort.

He has scored in each of his previous five Premier League games at home – only Alan Shearer (15), Andy Cole (8) and Les Ferdinand (6) have scored in more consecutive games in the competition for the Magpies.

Can he get on the scoresheet again in what we predict to be an entertaining score draw in London?

Prediction: Fulham 2-2 Newcastle

Luton vs Bournemouth

Form (all competitions) Luton: LLDLD Bournemouth: WDWWW

One of the league’s most out-of-form teams takes on one of its in-form sides in a rematch of last month’s Premier League classic. Back then, Bournemouth came from three goals down to win 4-3. Can the Hatters exact revenge?

Recent form suggests not. Despite finding the net in nine of their last 10 games in all competition – and have generally outscored the teams around them in the table all season – Luton are without a win since January and are currently stuck in the bottom three.

The win for Nottingham Forest and point for Everton midweek further pours the pressure on Hatters manager Rob Edwards and his charges to get three points against Bournemouth in this one.

Meanwhile, Andoni Iraola’s outfit are in fine fettle with 13 points coming from the 15 available from their previous five games. Only title-chasers Arsenal and Liverpool have matched that over that period.

They have already surpassed last season’s points total (39) and have now set their sights on beating the club record (45) for points in a single top-flight league campaign.

Much of that has to do with the form of Justin Kluivert, who scored his fifth winner for his team this season in Bournemouth’s 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace in the week. He needs just one more goal to pull level with the haul his father, Dutch legend Patrick, managed in England for Newcastle.

This one will be close but we can see the south coast side coming up trumps.

Prediction: Luton 1-2 Bournemouth

Brighton vs Arsenal

Form (all competitions) Brighton: DLWLD Arsenal: WDWWW

Arsenal could not be playing Brighton at a better time.

Despite earning the glowing praise of Klopp in defeat against Liverpool last weekend, Seagulls manager Roberto De Zerbi and his team are in a funk and there doesn’t seem to be any shifting it.

They managed 24 shots on goal in the 0-0 draw with Brentford in the week, the most they have managed in a single Premier League game without finding the net. Indeed, their recent woes in front of goal make for grim reading, with just four goals coming in their last eight matches in all competitions.

However, they have a good recent record against the title-challenging Gunners with three wins from their previous five meetings in all competitions.

Arsenal, though, have made a valuable habit of protecting a lead; they are without defeat in 39 games under Mikel Arteta when they have been leading at half-time.

Unlike last season, there is no sense of an impending collapse and this Gunners team appears hungry, strong, and ready for their time in the sun.

We are predicting a comfortable win for Arsenal as they look to keep the pressure on at the top.

Prediction: Brighton 0-3 Arsenal

Manchester United vs Liverpool

Form (all competitions) Manchester United: LDWWL Liverpool: WWLWD

If this game even comes close to reproducing the drama we witnessed in the FA Cup at Old Trafford last month, it will be a corker.

The problem is, as always, nobody knows which Manchester United will turn up. The thrills and spills of that 4-3 triumph over their bitter rivals led to an atmosphere at Old Trafford that hasn’t been seen or felt for what seems like an eternity. They were full of running, attacking verve and excellent interplay; in short, they resembled the sort of side many fans thought they would see under Erik ten Hag.

Then, in what was arguably one of the poorest performances by a Manchester United team in recent memory, they conceded 31 shots in a 1-1 draw with Brentford before conspiring to lose 4-3 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge despite being 3-2 up in the 99th minute.

The Red Devils have faced 20 or more shots in 12 different top-flight matches this term, with only bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United (12) doing so as often. The ease with which teams can create chances against United should be of maximum concern to Ten Hag.

Liverpool, meanwhile, continue to churn out victories even when not playing at their best.

Mohamed Salah was unusually wasteful in the 2-1 win over Brighton when scoring just once in 12 attempts – the most a player has managed in a single match since Zlatan Ibrahimovic for Manchester United against Burnley in 2016 (12) – while he also failed to find the net against the Blades in midweek.

Remarkably, Liverpool’s recent record against the Red Devils is not the most inspiring with just one win in four attempts (W1 D1 L1). It should be noted, though, that one of those games was a famous 7-0 dismantling at Anfield.

This could be another high-scoring game but, unlike the FA Cup tie, it will go in favour of Liverpool.

Prediction: Manchester United 2-4 Liverpool

Sheffield United vs Chelsea

Form (all competitions) Sheffield United: LDDLL Chelsea: WDWWD

Sheffield United are going to be relegated this term, of that there is not much doubt left. The question is more likely ‘can they go down fighting?’

To start, they need to sort out a defence that’s leaking like a sieve. They have already conceded more goals in a top-flight campaign than any other since 1975-76, when they let in 82 goals across 42 games to finish bottom of the table.

Home games provide no shelter from the storm either; they have an abysmal recent defensive record at Bramall Lane with 21 conceded across the last five, an average of more than four goals shipped per game.

The odds are this is not going to improve against Chelsea, who have banged in 10 goals across their last five matches on the road and scored four in their come-from-behind win over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Thursday evening.

Indeed, with just one defeat in five away from home, Mauricio Pochettino’s Blues appear to finally be performing as they have threatened to all season at the business end of it. This one will be an away win.

Prediction: Sheffield United 1-4 Chelsea

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The Champions League quarter-final first legs take place this week and there are some heavyweight showdowns in the last eight of Europe's top club competition.

Holders Manchester City meet Real Madrid in the knockout stages for the fourth time in five seasons and Pep Guardiola's men will be hoping for a repeat of last term's 5-1 aggregate win over the Spanish giants.

City travel to Madrid for the first leg of their tie on Tuesday, when Premier League leaders arsenal also host Bayern Munich at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners are in superb form, but they will be wary of Bayern striker Harry Kane, who scored 14 goals against them in north London derbies for former club Tottenham.

Big guns City, Real, Arsenal and Bayern are in the same half of the draw, so the other four clubs left in the competition may have slightly easier paths to the final.

PSG welcome Barcelona to the Parc des Princes on Wednesday, while Atletico Madrid take on Borussia Dortmund and we have selected bets from each of this week's four quarter-final first legs.

Tip 1 - Manchester City to win 2-1 @ 15/2

Real Madrid produced an extraordinary comeback to beat Manchester City 6-5 on aggregate in the 2021-22 Champions League semi-finals, but City avenged that defeat in fine style last term.

The English champions routed Real 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium on their way to lifting the trophy for the first time after the first leg in Spain had ended 1-1.

Another tight contest between these classy rivals is expected in Madrid on Tuesday and the 2-1 Citizens win looks a tempting bet in the correct-score market.

City's forwards were kept quiet by title rivals Arsenal in a goalless stalemate at the end of March but they responded impressively, thumping Aston Villa 4-1 and winning 4-2 at Crystal Palace.

Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne dazzled in those two victories, while Jack Grealish's return from injury is another boost for Guardiola. Although clean sheets have been a rarity for City this season.

They conceded at least once in Champions League away wins at RB Leipzig, Young Boys, Crvena Zvezda and Copenhagen so Real, who have scored 10 times in their last three league games, should get on the scoresheet.

Tip 2 - Arsenal/Arsenal Half Time/Full Time @ 8/5

Being drawn against Bayern Munich brought back some unpleasant memories for Arsenal, who were thumped 10-2 on aggregate when these clubs last met in the 2016-17 round of 16.

However, the Gunners look solid favourites to establish a first-leg lead at the Emirates Stadium, having won 10 of their 11 Premier League matches in 2024.

The exception was a creditable 0-0 draw away to Manchester City and Arsenal have also excelled in Europe, winning their three Champions League group games at home by an aggregate score of 12-0 before a tense penalty-shootout success against FC Porto.

They have been leading at half-time and full-time in all four of their Champions League at the Emirates this term and should make another strong start against struggling Bayern.

The Bavarian powerhouses are 16 points behind Bundesliga champions-elect Bayer Leverkusen and suffered a fourth defeat in eight league games on Saturday, letting slip a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 at Heidenheim.

Tip 3 - Draw in PSG v Barcelona @ 14/5

The draw has opened up nicely for PSG and Barcelona, although their quarter-final clash promises to be a tight contest.

Barca drew 1-1 away to Napoli in the round of 16 before completing a 4-2 aggregate win at home and a draw in Paris looks the best bet on Wednesday evening.

Xavi's visitors have been defending well, keeping five clean sheets in their last six matches, including in an excellent 3-0 win away to Atletico Madrid.

PSG scraped through a tough group featuring Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan and Newcastle United and they have drawn four of their last five home games in Ligue 1.

Tip 4 - Borussia Dortmund or draw double chance @ 11/10

Atletico Madrid have done most of their best work at home this season, claiming 13 of their 18 league wins on their own patch and overturning a 1-0 first-leg deficit to beat Inter Milan on penalties in the Champions League last 16.

However, Atleti have lost two of their last three matches in La Liga, going down 2-0 at lowly Cadiz before a 3-0 home defeat to Barcelona.

They look vulnerable favourites to beat Borussia Dortmund, who have proved hard to beat on their travels this season.

BVB have lost only three of their 20 away games in all competitions and their most recent Bundesliga trip ended in a 2-0 victory at Bayern Munich.

Dortmund gained 11 points to top the toughest section in the Champions League group stage, recording away wins at Milan and Newcastle, and they can avoid defeat at the Metropolitano.

Real Madrid are favourites to win the Champions League for a record-extending 15th time after ending Manchester City's reign as European champions earlier this month.

Real take on fellow European heavyweight Bayern Munich in the semi-finals, with the first leg at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday (20:00 BST) and the return scheduled for next Wednesday in the Spanish capital.

Bayern are 6/4 to take a lead into the second leg but they may struggle against an in-form Real side who are 7/4 to win in Germany, while the draw is a 13/5 shot.

And in Wednesday's contest taking place at the Westfalenstadion, Borussia Dortmund are 7/4 to head to France next week with an advantage over Paris St-Germain, who are 7/5 to silence the Yellow Wall. The draw is quoted at 14/5.

Tip 1 - Real Madrid to win @ 7/4

Alphonso Davies returns after suspension for Bayern Munich, who are sweating over the fitness of Konrad Laimer, Matthijs de Ligt, Jamal Musiala, Leroy Sane, Serge Gnabry and Dayot Upamecano. Kingsley Coman will miss out this week, though.

Real Madrid should be boosted by the returns of Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo and Ferland Mendy but Thibaut Courtois and David Alaba remain long-term absentees.

Real Madrid have won on their last three visits to the Allianz Arena and they could flex their muscles once more on their return to Germany.

The Spanish giants are closing in on another La Liga title and they will take some stopping in their bid to be crowned kings of Europe, too, as they arrive in Munich on a 40-match unbeaten run in all competitions stretching back to September.

Bayern are also in decent shape having won their last four matches, but this competition represents their chance of silverware in a so far disappointing campaign and the pressure to succeed may prove too much.

These are often lively contests and this week's clash should prove no different with Real Madrid fancied to have the edge.

Both teams have scored in eight of the last 10 meetings while there have been at least three goals scored in all but one of those matches.

There is little value in either of those markets this week, however, but backing Real to head home with a first-leg advantage does look a decent bet.

Tip 2 - Borussia Dortmund to win & both teams score @ 14/5

Dortmund have doubts over the fitness of Mats Hummels, Donyell Malen and Ian Maatsen.

Sebastien Haller is expected to miss out once again as he struggles with an ankle injury.

Kylian Mbappe played just 45 minutes for PSG in the weekend draw against Le Havre but he will return to the starting line-up in Germany on Wednesday.

Presnel Kimpembe is stepping up his training after a lengthy absence but this match is likely to come too soon for the defender.

Borussia Dortmund scored five goals across the two legs of their quarter-final victory over Atletico Madrid, and their strength on home soil could ensure they take an advantage to the Parc des Princes with them next week.

Many gave the German side little chance following their 2-1 defeat to Atletico at the Wanda Metropolitano, but they stood tall with their famous Yellow Wall at their backs in the second leg and they could make home advantage count once more.

You write off PSG at your peril, particularly with a rested Kylian Mbappe in their ranks, but the French side have never won in Dortmund despite scoring on each occasion.

They are 7/5 to break their duck this week but preference is for the home side to nick a victory in which both teams score.

Goals often flow when PSG are in action and this week's clash in Germany could be a lively affair.

Each of PSG’s last five games have featured over 3.5 goals and Borussia Dortmund are no strangers to net-bulging action either.

Both teams have scored in Dortmund’s last five outings and they will be keen to put on another show in front of their own fans, having put four goals past Atletico Madrid at the Westfalenstadion a fortnight ago.

We have already seen Sheffield United relegated and the situation at the bottom end of the table could be even clearer by the end of this weekend.

Burnley have given themselves hope of pulling off the great escape, while Nottingham Forest head to Bramall Lane in what looks like a must-win game.

At the top, both Arsenal and Manchester City have home games against mid-table sides and it would be a big surprise if they didn’t both collect maximum points.

We have selected five bets to consider which, if successful and placed in an accumulator, could return at 165/1.

Arsenal v Bournemouth (Saturday 12:30)

Martin Odegaard to score @ 2/1

When you are battling for a title, the best type of fixture is often a home match against a mid-table team that has nothing to play for.

That’s what table-toppers Arsenal face this weekend, when they welcome Bournemouth to the Emirates Stadium.

The Cherries, who currently sit 10th, head to north London having won just two of their last seven games on the road.

Their record against Arsenal is also poor, with the Gunners unbeaten in eight in all competitions against Bournemouth, with victories in each of the last four.

Goals have been on the agenda in recent meetings, with three or more scored in those last four encounters – including a 4-0 win for Mikel Arteta’s men in the reverse fixture.

Martin Odegaard has been inspired form in recent weeks and also has a good scoring record against Saturday’s opponents, with three in the last three meetings.

Burnley v Newcastle (Saturday 3pm)

Burnley to win @ 13/5

Having romped to the Championship title last season, much was expected of Burnley this season and we’re now starting to see what they are capable of.

Vincent Kompany has seen his Clarets lose just one of their last eight Premier League games, picking up 11 points during that run.

Burnley have won one and drawn two in their last three matches at Turf Moor and two of their remaining three games are at their home ground.

Newcastle still have European qualification in their sights but they have been a much different side at home than they have on the road.

Eddie Howe’s men have won just four of their 16 Premier League away games this season, losing 10 on their travels.

Manchester City v Wolves (Saturday, 5:30)

Erling Haaland – To score least two goals @ 11/10

Manchester City still have the title in their hands and they will have some revenge on their mind when they face Wolves on Saturday.

City lost 2-1 at Molineux back in September, but prior to that Pep Guardiola’s men had won six in a row against Wanderers.

Goals look likely again when these two teams meet, with the ball hitting the net on 15 occasions over the last four encounters.

Three of those came in this clash last season when Erling Haaland bagged a hat-trick and the Norwegian will be desperate to prove that he is now back to full fitness.

The striker got his name back on the scoresheet at Nottingham Forest last week and still tops the Premier League scoring charts, with 21 goals.

Chelsea v West Ham (Sunday, 2pm)

Over 5.5 Total Cards @ 13/10

Many might be surprised to see Chelsea sat at the top of the Premier League yellow card stats, with 97 to their name in 33 matches – an average of 2.93 per game.

West Ham have 71 cautions to date, although Edson Alvarez is in the top four in the player standings with 10 yellow cards.

There were seven yellows and one red handed out by referee John Brooks in the reverse fixture, when West Ham won 3-1 at the London Stadium.

They reached that tally without Moises Caicedo on the pitch until midway through the second half, with the Chelsea midfielder having also received 10 cautions this season, and another feisty London derby looks likely.

Liverpool v Tottenham (Sunday, 4:30)

Total Shots on Target – Over 11.5 @ 29/20

Two teams that need a response after some poor recent form meet at Anfield, as Liverpool and Tottenham go head-to-head.

These two teams have scored 144 Premier League goals between them this season and the Reds have had more shots than any other team in the division (243).

At Anfield, Jurgen Klopp’s men - who have won just one of their last five league games - average 18.47 shots per game.

Meanwhile, Spurs have an average of 15.30 shots per match this term, with an average of 5.54 on-target efforts, so expect an action-packed affair on Sunday.

And so Liverpool are out of it… or as good as. Two defeats in a row – one at home against Crystal Palace and the other away against arch-rivals Everton – means the Reds are all but also-rans in the Premier League title race.

Now it is Arsenal and Manchester City going head to head in a repeat of last season’s face-off. So far, the Citizens aren’t blinking. Indeed, they haven’t lost a Premier League game since the end of 2023. The Gunners, though, are showing some steel in the run-in. It’s edge-of-your-seat stuff.

At the bottom, Sheffield United are done for and soon so will two of Nottingham Forest, Burnley and Luton Town. It’s a mad dash for the final safety spot.

Nottingham Forest are in action against the Blades this weekend in what is a must-win for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.

That particular match is also one of our six Golden Goals Matchday 36 fixtures. Remember, if you can pick all six correct scorelines you could win up to £1 million.

Brentford vs Fulham

Form (all competitions) Brentford: LWWDD Fulham: DLWLL

Another day, another London Derby for Fulham.

Not that it should bother them – the Cottagers have lost just one of their last six London Derbies in the Premier League and are unbeaten in their last three.

Given the Bees are already safe, might we see Fulham extend their recent unbeaten run against fellow London clubs?

Marco Silva does have one of the in-form strikers in his ranks in Rodrigo Muniz, while the Bees are struggling to get their talisman Ivan Toney back to his stinging best.

There is an argument to be made that Muniz is the best striker in the Premier League at the moment. Only Cole Palmer and Phil Foden have more goals than the Brazilian since the start of February; he’s potent, he’s dangerous and he’s scoring goals.

Meanwhile, time is running out for Toney. He needs to prove himself ahead of the Euro 2024 England squad announcement this summer. But something isn’t right – he has failed to score a goal in 10 appearances and, despite injury and illness curtailing his progress at crucial points of the season, there are some real concerns around his general output. Can he prove the doubters wrong here?

It’s a bit of a dead rubber, generally speaking, but both teams will want to finish the season strongly to churn some momentum going into the next campaign. When in doubt, back the team with the in-form striker.

Prediction: Brentford 1-2 Fulham

Burnley vs Newcastle

Form (all competitions) Burnley: DWDLD Newcastle: WLWWD

Burnley are scrapping hard. A hard-fought point at Old Trafford last weekend means they are still within a shout of staying up this season. They are finding form at the right time with just one defeat in their previous eight games (W2, D5).

They will need to overturn the form books with the Magpies. In the previous five matches between the two, they have lost all five.

One of the reasons for the recent uptick in results could be the tightening up in defence. They have not conceded more than one goal in their previous five matches – the five before that conceded two goals per game on average.

Newcastle, meanwhile, are in the heat of the battle for a Europa League spot.

With three wins in four, Eddie Howe’s men have engineered a good chance of securing European football next season.

But this will be a tough test. So much so, in fact, that we are going with a score draw.

Prediction: Burnley 1-1 Newcastle

Sheffield United vs Nottingham Forest

Form (all competitions) Sheffield United: LLLLD_ Nottingham Forest: LLDLW_

Two of the most out-of-form teams in the division meet one another in a match that means a lot more to one team than the other.

The Blades are down after what has, frankly, been an awful season back in the big time. It’s their ninth relegation from the top flight, moving the club level with Sheffield Wednesday for the number of times to drop down from the top tier.

Only one team in the history of the Premier League has conceded more goals than Sheffield United’s 97 and that was Swindon Town, who let in 100 goals in the 1993-94 campaign. However, back then, the season was 42 games long.

The visitors also have a problem keeping the ball out of the net – especially at set pieces. No team has conceded more from corners and free-kicks this season (23). In the history of the Premier League only Fulham in 2013-14 (28), Tottenham in 2007-08 (26) and West Brom in 2010-11 (24) have conceded more through set pieces.

Despite the frailty at the back for both sides, the quality going forward is hardly in abundance either. Both teams rank near the bottom of the league for goals scored.

Fundamentally, however, there is just more on the line for the visitors than the hosts. We think they will sneak through.

Prediction: Sheffield United 0-1 Nottingham Forest

Brighton vs Aston Villa

Form (all competitions) Brighton: LLDLD Aston Villa: DWWWW

Cast your mind back to the end of last September and Aston Villa’s 6-1 thrashing of the Seagulls at Villa Park.

It was an eye-catching result for many reasons – primarily because many believed Brighton would build on last season; many had predicted them to finish ahead of the Midlands side.

In hindsight, this was the game that signified Aston Villa were bonafide top-four contenders and Brighton as perhaps slipping back into the mid-table cluster.

It is difficult to really understand the struggles under Roberto De Zerbi this season – but comparing the attacking output between the two sides provides some useful insight:

Brighton’s total xG last season (73.3) was bettered only by champions Manchester City (78.6). This season, they rank 13th with an xG of 54.96.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa are scoring goals for fun. Ollie Watkins is in the form of his life and the top four looks signed, sealed and delivered given Tottenham’s struggles.

The upshot of all this? An away win.

Prediction: Brighton 1-3 Aston Villa

Chelsea vs West Ham

Form (all competitions) Chelsea: WDLLW West Ham: DLDLL

Another London Derby this weekend sees Chelsea face West Ham in a fixture that has seen plenty of drama down the years.

Despite being reduced to ten men for a third of the reverse fixture back in August, the Hammers secured a damaging 3-1 victory over the Blues.

Jarrod Bowen is on the verge of breaking a long-standing record. He has 16 league goals to his name, which is level with club legend Paolo Di Canio. One more will make him the highest-scoring West Ham forward in any Premier League season.

The Blues, meanwhile, are trying to keep the dying embers of their season alive by chasing down a European spot.

They have already conceded a record number of goals in any Chelsea Premier League campaign and recent performances have not been good enough, with just two wins in five bringing their season to a spluttering conclusion.

The 5-0 humiliation at the hands of London rivals Arsenal might be the straw that breaks the camel’s back for Mauricio Pochettino at the Bridge.

However, we think home advantage will play a big part – it always does in local rivalry games, as evidenced by the Blues’ 2-0 win over Tottenham on Thursday. We are going with the same scoreline here as a consequence.

Prediction: Chelsea 2-0 West Ham

Liverpool vs Tottenham

Form (all competitions) Liverpool: DLWWL Tottenham: LLLWD

The Reds, as we said, are out of it. A late-season capitulation means a push for the quadruple has powdered into dust.

It’s hard to place a finger on exactly what went wrong for Liverpool. They are thrilling to watch, play a heavy metal brand of football brimming with intense pressing and sprinting, and have some of the most exciting players in the game on their books.

However, perhaps it’s that blood-pumping, chest-beating approach that has been their undoing. Take a look at the total shots player metric below – not one but two Liverpool players lead the league.

Darwin Nunez, especially, sums up the freneticism that seems to have enveloped the Reds. Despite averaging more than four shots a game this year, he bags just 0.48 goals per 90 minutes.

The clash against Tottenham could provide lots of entertainment. Earlier in the season, we saw a wrongly ruled-out goal because of dodgy VAR lines, two red cards, and a last-minute winner for Ange Postecoglou’s charges.

Indeed, in the previous five meetings between these two, there have been 19 goals, with both teams scoring in each of them.

This one will be a goal-fest despite both sides’ poor form. Score draw.

Prediction: Liverpool 3-3 Tottenham

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It’s the penultimate Saturday slate of the 2024 Premier League campaign with plenty still to be decided at both ends of the table.

Tottenham are limping towards Europa League football and could go one step closer to cementing continental action next season with a win over Burnley.

The Clarets are involved in a fight at the opposite end of the table, requiring a near-miracle to survive. Fellow promoted side Luton’s chances took a hit when Nottingham Forest earned a win over Sheffield United last weekend – but the Hatters could pile the pressure on Nuno Espirito Santo’s side with a victory over a stuttering West Ham.

You could end the 2024 season with up to £1 million if you correctly predict six scorelines from this weekend’s action with BetMGM Golden Goals. Find out more here.

Let’s take a closer look at all the action…

Bournemouth vs Brentford

Form (all competitions) Bournemouth: LWWLD Brentford: DLWWD

Questions were asked when Bournemouth parted ways with Gary O’Neil last summer after the now-Wolves boss led the Cherries to safety – but Andoni Iraola has answered them all.

After an unremarkable start to the season at the helm, which included a six-game winless run to start the campaign, the Spaniard has laid the groundwork for the South Coast side.

An integral piece of those foundations is Dominic Solanke. The former Liverpool forward has had a sensational season and is being mentioned as a possible candidate for England’s 26-man squad for the 2024 European Championships.

Solanke is enjoying his best goalscoring return in England’s top flight with 18 goals so far this campaign, fifth-best amongst all Premier League players and tied with Mohamed Salah.

He also netted in the reverse fixture against Brentford, so it would be no surprise if he has a part to play this weekend.

The consensus is that Solanke will be up against Ivan Toney for that third striking spot in Gareth Southgate’s squad behind Harry Kane and Ollie Watkins. However, Toney’s form has not been what fans expected since he returned in January.

After firing four goals in his first five games, Brentford’s number 17 has failed to find the net in 10 consecutive appearances. He is also averaging his lowest goals per 90 minutes in league matches (0.28) since his 2015-16 campaign with Barnsley (0.11).

Neither side has anything to play for but Bournemouth have proven to be the better team this season – plus Iraola’s men have quietly put together an unbeaten stretch at the Vitality that extends back to February 24th. It’s a home win here to extend that streak.

Prediction: Bournemouth 2-1 Brentford

Everton vs Sheffield United

Form (all competitions) Everton: DWWWL Sheffield United: LLLLL

Sean Dyche should be heralded for the job he has done at Everton this season. The Toffees would be sat comfortably in midtable if not for their eight-point deduction.

Since the start of April, only Manchester City and Arsenal (15) have tallied more points than Everton (14). Dyche’s success, as expected, is built on his formidable defensive record. Across six matches in April they have kept four clean sheets, including becoming only the third team to hold arch-rivals Liverpool to a blank this domestic campaign.

While Jordan Pickford’s 12 clean sheets will not be enough to win him the Premier League Golden Glove award, England’s number one will likely finish second amongst keepers behind title-chasing Arsenal’s David Raya.

Clean sheets are a foreign concept to Sheffield United. They are the first team to concede a century of goals since Swindon Town in 1993-94, who did so across a 42-game season. It took Chris Wilder’s side only 36 matches.

They are a historically porous defensive unit, averaging over 2.5 goals conceded per game and the worst goals-per-shots-against record in the league this season (0.14). Like Sheffield United’s backline, the positives are almost non-existent.

It’s five straight defeats for the Blades heading into this one and that record will extend to six once Everton are done with them.

Prediction: Everton 3-0 Sheffield United

Newcastle United vs Brighton

Form (all competitions) Newcastle United: WWLWW Brighton: WLLDL

Newcastle have turned their season around and have been on the march for European football since, ironically, March. Eddie Howe’s have lost just two league games in two months, picking up 20 points from a possible 27 in their last nine matches.

The Magpies' upturn in form has coincided with the emergence of Alexander Isak since his groin injury. Newcastle’s leading scorer is enjoying a consistent scoring spell, netting 10 goals across his last 10 games, doubling what he had achieved in the previous 17 matchdays.

He is not the only one who is in fine fettle in front of goal. Bruno Guimaraes has also been finding the net more frequently in recent weeks; Brazil’s commanding central midfielder has contributed to four goals in the last four matches.

Goalscoring was the prime issue for Brighton last month. April’s goal of the month competition would have been won by Burnley goalkeeper Arijanet Muric as his own goal was the only time they found the net in a difficult month for the Seagulls.

After a barren April Roberto De Zerbi’s side did return to winning ways on Matchday 36 – despite Robin Olsen’s best efforts. The Swedish shot-stopper saved Joao Pedro’s original penalty before the Brazilian nodded home the rebound for his ninth goal in the league.

It still wasn’t the free-flowing attacking Brighton that we have been accustomed to and with their lorryload of injured players – including Evan Ferguson, Kaoru Mitoma and Jan Paul Van Hecke – they would have to be at their best to get a result at St James’ Park.

In short? Newcastle’s march toward Europe will continue unabated.

Prediction: Newcastle United 4-0 Brighton

Spurs vs Burnley

Form (all competitions) Spurs: LLLLW Burnley: LDWDL

What is happening at Tottenham Hotspur? Ange Postecoglou’s side were going blow-for-blow with Aston Villa earlier in the season for a space in the top four – now they are fending off Newcastle, Chelsea and Manchester United for a spot in the Europa League.

It’s not mathematically impossible for Spurs to be hearing the Champions League anthem next year but four consecutive defeats have left them with a mammoth task, so they are firmly in must-win territory against Burnley.

Fortunately, the North London side have a good record against Vincent Kompany’s men. They have won six of the last seven matches against Burnley, including a 5-2 victory earlier in the campaign where Son Heung-min scored a hat-trick.

Son’s trio of goals in September took his tally to six against the Clarets – the joint sixth-most he’s scored against an opposition.

It seemed like Burnley had turned a corner when they lost one of their five games in April but it all came crumbling down against Newcastle last weekend.

They were four goals down inside the hour and their defensive woes reared their ugly head once again. It is now 74 goals conceded across 36 games for Kompany’s side, which is the third-most in the division behind fellow promoted sides Sheffield United and Luton.

Win or go down. The task is simple for Burnley, however, it’s one they won’t achieve here. Spurs should run out with all three points and end their dismal run of form.

Prediction: Spurs 1-1 Burnley

West Ham vs Luton

Form (all competitions) West Ham: LDLLW Luton: DLLLW

The winds of change are blowing around the London Stadium. David Moyes’ departure has been announced after his second stint in charge of the Hammers. He’ll end his tenure with a 37.9% win percentage and producing West Ham’s first European trophy.

However, for all the good that Moyes has done, recent results have been polarising. Promising results against both Liverpool and Tottenham have been sandwiched between conceding five to both Crystal Palace and Chelsea.

Amongst all the inconsistency, Jarrod Bowen has remained a reliable force spearheading West Ham’s attack. He has 16 goals so far this campaign and one more would take him above the legendary Paolo Di Canio for the most goals by a Hammers forward in a Premier League campaign.

Luton kept themselves within touching distance of Nottingham Forest with a vital point at home to Everton on Matchday 36. That draw was the Hatters first positive result since beating Bournemouth 2-1 at Kennilworth Road on the first weekend in April.

To get another positive result on Saturday, Luton would have to alter their abhorrent away record. Rob Edwards’ side are the second-worst team on their travels this campaign, ahead of bottom-placed Sheffield United.

Ten points on the road isn’t exactly the form required to stay in the Premier League but, when it becomes a case of ‘needs-must’, will Luton pull a surprise to hang on to their survival hopes?

We think they will. West Ham have nothing to play for besides pride – it will end with a point apiece.

Prediction: West Ham 1-1 Luton

Wolves vs Crystal Palace

Form (all competitions) Wolves: WWDLW Crystal Palace: LLWDW

Wolverhampton Wanderers and Crystal Palace – two established Premier League sides that have put on some incredible performances this season, one more recently than the other.

The Eagles are now flying under Oliver Glasner, picking up four wins in their last five – an unbeaten streak that kicked off with a season-defining win over Liverpool at Anfield. This is a far cry from where they were a few months ago, with many predicting their downfall.

Palace have spent an entire decade in the Premier League and have the chance to set a new personal best should they continue making headwinds. They finished the 2014/15 season with 48 points on the board and are currently sitting on 43 with two games to go.

Wolves have struggled to leave their mark in recent weeks, losing 5-1 on Matchday 36 against a dominant Manchester City – despite being one of only three teams to beat them this season in the reverse fixture.

Wolves’ woes cover both their ability to score goals and keep them from the door. They have conceded 60 in 36 games, 27 of which were at home which is fifth-worst in the division. The Palace trio of Jean-Philippe Mateta, Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise have the ability and the momentum to only make matters worse at Molineux.

Mateta has scored in five in the last five, which includes a goal in Monday’s 4-0 hammering of Manchester United. The pairing of Eze and Olise has been just as impressive – since they both returned from injury they have shared the pitch together in four games and won all of them while combining to assist twice and put five goals in the back of the net.

Both teams have already secured another year in the top flight and more than know how to put on a show but the form Crystal Palace are in looks likely to keep them soaring.

Prediction: Wolves 1-3 Crystal Palace

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Places in the Champions League final are at stake this week with the second legs of the semi-finals taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday, with Paris Saint-Germain hosting Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich heading to Real Madrid.

BVB travel to the Parc des Princes with a 1-0 advantage from the first leg in Germany, while Los Blancos and the Bavarians are locked at 2-2 after a thrilling encounter at the Allianz Arena.

Tip 1 - Borussia Dortmund to go through @ 23/20

Team news

PSG defender Lucas Hernandez suffered a knee ligament injury in the first leg and has been ruled out until 2025, joining Presnel Kimpembe, Layvin Kurzawa and Sergio Rico on the sidelines.

Luis Enrique may decide to tweak his starting line-up following the defeat in Germany, with Marco Asensio, Lee Kang-In and Goncalo Ramos all in contention.

Dortmund are sweating over the fitness of Julian Ryerson, who missed the weekend win over Augsburg with cramp, while there are also doubts over Ramy Bensebaini, Julien Duranville and Sebastien Haller.

Karim Adeyemi sustained a knock at the weekend and will need to be assessed.

Borussia Dortmund to go through

PSG have been desperate to land a first Champions League trophy for so long but their wait may be prolonged for another year at least, as they could struggle to get past a solid Dortmund side on Tuesday.

Les Parisiens have wrapped up the Ligue 1 title, something which has been in the offing for several weeks, but their lack of domestic competition can have a detrimental impact when it comes to their European exploits.

Luis Enrique's troops have gone two games without a win, drawing 3-3 against Le Havre before losing to Dortmund, while they have tasted success in just one of their last four home assignments.

The pressure of delivering the club's first Champions League title appears to be weighing heavily on the squad and Dortmund, who last reached the final of this competition in 2013, can pile the misery on the French giants.

BVB warmed up for this clash with a 5-1 thrashing of Augsburg and that wasn't even their strongest side playing in that contest as a number of first-team regulars were on the bench.

Dortmund are playing with huge confidence and while the 6/1 on them to win the second leg in 90 minutes also appeals, backing them to qualify at 23/20 looks to be a safer bet.

Tip 2 - Real Madrid to win and Jude Bellingham to score @ 13/2

Team news

Thibaut Courtois returned from injury in Real Madrid's victory over Cadiz on Saturday and he is expected to retain his place, while Dani Carvajal is also available after completing his European ban.

David Alaba is the only absentee for Los Blancos, who are set to recall a number of first-team players after naming a much-changed side for their weekend success.

Bayern defender Raphael Guerreiro is set to miss the rest of the campaign with an ankle problem, but Eric Dier is expected to shake off a thigh issue and Matthijs de Ligt is closing in on a return.

The Bavarians are without the services of Kingsley Coman, Sacha Boey, Bouna Sarr and Tarek Buchmann.

Real Madrid to win and Jude Bellingham to score

Thomas Tuchel will be desperate to end his Bayern Munich reign on a positive note, and a Champions League triumph would certainly provide that, but the European journey looks like it will come to an end on Wednesday.

Having already lost the Bundesliga title to Bayer Leverkusen, the Bavarians are fighting hard to secure second place following Saturday's 3-1 defeat at third-place Stuttgart.

Bayern have struggled on the road, losing five of their last nine away fixtures in all competitions, and they now face a Madrid team that last lost at home in April 2023.

Los Blancos' last home loss in the Champions League was 12 months before that and their strong record at the Santiago Bernabeu can see them through into the final.

Jude Bellingham can get on the scoresheet for Madrid. The England star has netted 22 times this season across La Liga and Europe's top competition.

The 20-year-old scored at the weekend, making it two strikes from his last three appearances, and he can shine at home after being kept quiet in the first leg.

After a convincing win for Manchester City over Tottenham on Tuesday night the Premier League title race boils down to a tasty tete-a-tete between the Citizens and Arsenal, with the former holding the advantage.

A win for the blue half of Manchester means a fourth title in a row for Pep Guardiola’s charges, a feat never seen before in the competition. They can still win the title if they don’t win but they would need to match or better Arsenal’s result to do so.

The gauntlet has been laid; which of the challengers will run it?

Of course, with the Premier League final day comes the final Golden Goals of the domestic season. Remember: if you can pick all six correct scorelines you could win up to £1 million.

Arsenal vs Everton

Form (all competitions)

Arsenal: WWWWW

Everton: WDWWW

No folding under pressure this time around.

The Gunners have been fabulous this season, pushing City all the way with a heady mix of attacking verve and defensive steel. Only their title rivals (93) have scored more goals than Arsenal’s 89 and no team has a better defensive record.

In the five games since their defeat to Aston Villa they have banged in 14 goals and conceded just two (a David Raya mistake and a penalty in a 3-2 win over Tottenham).

Pundits have been waxing lyrical about the partnership between William Saliba and Gabriel at the heart of defence. And they are right to be.

Saliba has been a turnover titan, ranking first in the league for ball recoveries per 90 and third in the league for possessions won per 90.

Gabriel is the perfect foil for Saliba’s aggression. A great reader of the game, the Brazilian has an eye for a pass and can chip in with some important goals from set-pieces too. He has three strikes to his name this season.

Everton, it is worth pointing out, have been in fine form and secured safety with multiple games to spare. They can likely look forward to another season of off-field politics and drama — with the 777 ownership bid continuing to plough head-on into trouble — but there is nothing to play for here.

That said, the gritty and endlessly competitive Sean Dyche will want his team to end the campaign on a positive note. Yet, with so much on the line, we are pushed towards a narrow-ish win for the Gunners.

Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Everton

Brighton vs Manchester United

Form (all competitions)

Brighton: LDWLL

Manchester United: WLLDW

This is, quite simply, a match-up between two teams who have been extremely underwhelming this season.

We won’t dwell on the collective performance of both clubs, though manager Roberto De Zerbi’s future remains up in the air despite his side’s recent malaise, largely due to last term’s record-breaking campaign.

Nevertheless, the Seagulls have enjoyed a dominant spell over the Red Devils and go into this one having won their last four league encounters against them.

For Erik ten Hag, it’s about preparation for the FA Cup final. In time, perhaps the achievement of making back-to-back cup finals will be reflected upon more fondly.

Despite a 3-2 United win over Newcastle in midweek, on current form this has to be a home win.

Prediction: Brighton 2-1 Manchester United

Liverpool vs Wolves

Form (all competitions)

Liverpool: DWDLW

Wolves: LLWLL

Handkerchiefs at the ready, this is going to be an emotional one.

After eight enormously impactful years — years which spawned seven major trophies, including a long-awaited Premier League title and a Champions League trophy — Jürgen Klopp waves goodbye to Anfield.

One of the most successful managers in Premier League history, Klopp’s achievements are even more notable given the fact he was leading the Reds in an era of Guardiola dominance.

Twice during his tenure Liverpool missed out on a title by just one point. Indeed, in the 2018-19 campaign, they registered a mammoth 97 points and still couldn’t quite get over the line.

In future generations, we will whimsically reminisce on what was a stellar rivalry between two incredible managers.

But before we get there we have one more game; one last dose of heavy-metal football from Klopp’s relentless raiders.

They have managed to find the net 12 times in the last five games. Despite a drop-off in form in the closing stages of the campaign costing them a league title tilt, they remain entertainers.

Wolves, meanwhile, are in end-of-season mode. Without the emotional pull this is a bit of a dead rubber for Gary O’Neil’s side, who can be very proud of their efforts in securing safety after a problematic pre-season.

They are somewhat dragging themselves to the end of the campaign with just one win in the last nine games and no clean sheet since February.

It’s Klopp’s last game. Liverpool have still been finding the goals. Wolves have been letting them in.

Three words: big home win.

Prediction: Liverpool 5-0 Wolves

Manchester City vs West Ham

Form (all competitions)

Manchester City: WWWWW

West Ham: WLDLD

Just one more game, one more win, and Premier League immortality awaits.

If the Citizens can get the three points, they will hold a record for the most back-to-back titles in Premier League history. It is a record that will stand for at least another four years, but likely much longer.

Since the 0-0 draw with Arsenal in February, City have won eight Premier League games in a row, scoring 30 goals and conceding just five in that run.

If you want to talk about title-winning form, the Citizens are producing it week-after-week like a well-oiled machine seemingly devoid of human emotions like nerves.

On a day of farewells, David Moyes takes charge of the Hammers for one final game. The ex-Manchester United boss could inflict a mortal wound on his old cross-city rivals as a parting shot.

West Ham have bagged some big results against teams already this season — including a win at Arsenal away and a draw at home to Liverpool.

It’s difficult to see how the Hammers can upset the title party here, though. Only the bottom three have conceded more goals than the East London team; against the free-scoring defending champions you have to fear for their chances.

The Citizens are defending their title and breaking the record.

Prediction: Manchester City 4-0 West Ham

Burnley vs Nottingham Forest

Form (all competitions)

Burnley: LLDWD

Nottingham Forest: LWLLD

The Clarets are down. Again.

It’s a familiar feeling for fans. Since their debut campaign back in 2009-10, no team has experienced the drop from the top tier more times than Burnley (four).

Despite a decent run of results towards the end of the campaign, there were too many occasions where they failed to turn one point into three points and, ultimately, Vincent Kompany’s men have paid the price for a horrific run in the first three-quarters of the season.

Their failure to hold onto a lead has also been an issue. Only Brentford (30) have dropped more points from winning positions than Burnley (27), who let yet another lead slip away to Tottenham last weekend to confirm their relegation.

Barring a miraculous set of results, Nottingham Forest are safe too. They are three points ahead of Luton — their only remaining contender for the final safety spot — but a goal difference cushion of 12 means a seriously heavy defeat for Forest and a massive win for Luton would be the only way they go down.

While it’s been another struggle this season, the form of Morgan Gibbs-White has been encouraging. He recorded his 10th assist in the league this season in the 3-2 defeat to Chelsea. Only England striker Ollie Watkins has registered more. Can he serve up another goal to round off another good individual season?

Despite finding positive results hard to come by in the run-in, Forest have been finding the net with more regularity than earlier in the campaign. Indeed, 17.02% of the club’s entire Premier League goal output has happened in the previous three games alone (eight goals).

But with safety on the line – and no matter how far-fetched the prospect of relegation may be – this one is all set to be a cagey affair. Score draw.

Prediction: Burnley 1-1 Nottingham Forest

Luton vs Fulham

Form (all competitions)

Luton: LDLLL

Fulham: LDDLW

Luton are almost certainly exiting the Premier League but what an incredibly entertaining addition to the competition they have been.

In games involving the Hatters an average of 3.54 goals were scored. And it wasn’t just one way traffic; they have bagged 50 goals, which is only a handful fewer than Manchester United.

In truth the quality of the league was probably just too high for the newcomers and anything other than a double-figure win over the Cottagers is likely to confirm a defiant demise.

In the white corner, Fulham are sputtering and have managed just five goals in the previous seven matches.

Any potential place in the top half was in ruins some time ago and now the focus will be refocusing over the summer break and going again next season.

Luton will win here to give the fans a send-off they deserve. Naturally, there will be plenty of goals in the process.

Prediction: Luton 4-1 Fulham

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Another continental trophy is in sight for Real Madrid — the record 14-time European champions — and their final challenge this time around sees them take on Borussia Dortmund at Wembley.

This year’s Champions League final is looking to be like no other, with plenty of stories surrounding this fixture.

Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham will face his former employers for the first time since leaving the BVB Stadion last summer, Toni Kroos will likely play his final club match before his retirement after Euro 2024 and Marco Reus will also take to the field for the final time in a Dortmund shirt after 12 years at the club.

Los Blancos have looked at their dominant best this season, having not lost any of their continental fixtures, while they have dispatched two of the pre-tournament favourites on their path to the final with wins over reigning champions Manchester City in the quarter-finals and six-time winners Bayern Munich in the last four.

However, Real cannot afford to be complacent against Dortmund, with the Germans continuing to prove their doubters wrong.

Edin Terzic’s men have already produced heroics in their comeback victory over Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals as well as beating Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 on aggregate in the semi-finals — leaving superstar striker Kylian Mbappe without a Champions League success for the Ligue 1 champions before his expected move to the Bernabeu this summer.

Borussia Dortmund vs Real Madrid Betting Tips

• Real Madrid to win and Both Teams to Score @ 39/20 https://www.betmgm.co.uk/
• Over 3.5 Goals @ 33/20

Team news

Dortmund boss Edin Terzic faces a number of injury issues affecting his selection, with the likes of Ramy Bensebaini and Julien Duranville both expected to miss out with respective knee and thigh injuries.

Striker Sebastien Haller is also a major doubt for Saturday’s final, meaning Niclas Fullkrug will likely start up top with Manchester United loanee Jadon Sancho also expected to feature.

Real manager Carlo Ancelotti will also have a few first-team players in the treatment room, with Aurelien Tchouameni (leg) and David Alaba (knee) both unavailable.

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has only recently returned from a long injury lay-off and played just 63 minutes against Real Betis last weekend, while back-up Andriy Lunin has been suffering with the flu recently and so a big decision must be made on who starts between the sticks.

Tip 1 - Real Madrid to win and Both Teams to Score @ 39/20

Real have yet to lose in this season’s Champions League and they have not lost in any competition since mid-January — a 4-2 extra-time defeat to rivals Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey. This form should stand them in good stead on Saturday.

Los Blancos know how to get the job on the biggest stage, with their last continental final defeat coming way back in 1983 against a Sir Alex Ferguson-managed Aberdeen in the European Cup-Winners’ Cup.

Dortmund have scored in each of their last 10 games in the Champions League and go into this final on the back of four wins from their last five games in all competitions. However, they will have bad memories of Wembley Stadium, having lost 2-1 to bitter rivals Bayern Munich in the 2013 final.

Real Madrid should have the experience and quality to lift the trophy on the day, although each of their last four meetings with Dortmund have seen both sides find the net so do not be surprised if the Germans stun Los Blancos with a goal of their own.

Tip 2 - Over 3.5 Goals @ 33/20

Both Dortmund and Real Madrid are in a rich vein of goalscoring form and a high-scoring encounter could well be in store on Saturday.

Dortmund have netted 10 goals across their last four games in all competitions, including a 4-0 thumping of Darmstadt on the final day of the Bundesliga season.

Real Madrid have also been on the goal trail, registering 13 in three La Liga games on the back of their semi-final win over Bayern, before finishing their domestic campaign with a 0-0 draw against Real Betis after the champagne corks had long since been popped.

Each of the last four head-to-heads between these two sides (and seven of the last 11) have produced at least four goals and, given the form of the two sides heading into the final, a similar story could be in store.

Firstly, I’m delighted to be working with BetMGM. They are a really exciting and forward-thinking brand and I’m really looking forward to being involved with them as they progress. I feel like I’ve joined at a great time with so much brilliant sport on the horizon, starting with the Euros over the next month or so.

I’ll be sharing my views with BetMGM’s followers throughout the tournament and it promises to be a brilliant few weeks with so many sides, including England, having a great chance of winning it.

Working at the Euros is a Dream

I’m very lucky to be working with ITV at Euro 2024 this year – it really is my dream job. It wasn’t that long ago I was working at Euro 2016 for a company whose job it was to interview the fans because we didn’t have the rights to show the matches.

We didn’t have any pitchside access or anything like that, so it’s mad to think that I’m now presenting a European Championships for ITV. It’s a bit of a pinch-yourself moment but I’m incredibly excited and can’t wait to get going.

Southgate’s Squad Choices Not Expected

There’s no doubt this is one of the most talented England squads we’ve ever had and they have a real chance in the Euros. I was very excited and confident about our chances before Gareth Southgate made his squad choices, which I must admit weren’t what I was expecting.

I think the Harry Maguire omission is less surprising given his injury troubles but I was pretty shocked he didn’t pick James Maddison and Jack Grealish. I think I’d feel more confident with those players in the squad, even if they hadn’t been playing, just because they are the types of players you want in an England squad.

I’ve read that other teams are happy that Maddison and Grealish aren’t in the squad, so if the other sides are saying that then it does seem a real shame they haven’t been included. This is still an incredibly talented group, though, and one we need to get behind.

Three Lions Can Win It

I honestly do think Southgate’s side can win it. There is enough quality in the group and it’s just about harnessing that and believing in each other.

Germany would be the ones I’m most worried about given they’re playing on home soil. I remember when England hosted the Euros a few years ago, the whole country really got behind the team and it was almost like having a 12th man. I think they’ll really thrive off that and it makes them very dangerous.

France are clearly very strong but I just keep coming back to England – everything points to us going really, really deep this year.

Visit the BetMGM Euro 2024 Hub for the latest odds, specials, profiles, blogs & more

I think in previous tournaments there was that sense of trepidation about certain things but I really don’t think there is this time round. The disappointment of those near misses does count for something and motivation and a chance to prove people wrong goes an awfully long way, especially in those close matches at the business end.

It might come across that we’re being a bit arrogant but England need to back themselves. Every other country will be doing it and we should be no different.

I expect us to get to the final and I’m backing us to bring it home. Something feels different this time.

Bellingham the Definition of Old Head on Young Shoulders

We all know about Jude Bellingham’s quality on the pitch and of course he’s going to be crucial to how England do in Germany.

Having interviewed him a few times, what has struck me is how eloquent he is for someone who is only 20.

When you ask him a question, he really considers it before coming back with a response. He might only be 20 but everything just comes so naturally to him and nothing seems to phase him – it’s almost like he’s been here and done it all before.

He’s a really impressive individual and I can’t wait to see him lead England this summer.

Stage Set for Yamal to Show the World What He’s About

I always get asked for a player who is going to light up a major tournament and I fully expect Kylian Mbappe to put on a show again.

However, the one player I can’t wait to see is Spain’s Lamine Yamal. From what I’ve seen of him, he looks very special and I really hope he shows that over the next month or so.

There’s always one young star who makes a name for themselves at these tournaments and I expect it to be him. I think he’s that good and it’s quite remarkable he’s only 16.

The Euros has been a blast

I’ve had so much fun at the Euros so far. It feels like a proper football tournament again; the Dutch filling the streets and dancing from left to right. The Scots, who we’ll miss, seemed to be everyone’s favourite fans. I spent some time with them before their first game against Germany in Munich – they were incredible. Bagpipes, megaphones, singing, dancing, chanting, kilts, Scottish bonnets and many, many cuddles.

And the videos of the German saxophonist entertaining the crowds. It’s just been amazing. I’ve been able to hear them before I can see them and that’s what it should be like. Special mention to England fans. They usually get a lot of criticism for bad behaviour but have been praised by German police. They’ve been frustrated by performances but have been brilliant nonetheless.

Wright, Neville, Keane & Baumgartner…

I’ve loved every minute of the tournament so far and presenting it has been amazing. Working alongside the likes of Ian Wright, Roy Keane and Gary Neville still makes me pinch myself and, while they are brilliant pundits, they do make me laugh.

We’ve had many funny moments so far but there is one that really stood out and that’s around the Austria vs France game.

Ian and Gary started discussing Christoph Baumgartner’s shot and whether or not he had actually kicked the ground accidentally before trying to chip the keeper.

That argument started before we went on air and continued after we came off. Well into the break and beyond!

Sometimes what you see on air is actually a watered-down version of the same discussion. I always like them to try not to have the chat before we get on the air so we get the best bits.

But on this occasion they were both so passionate that they were right they couldn’t contain it. Meanwhile, I’m trying to get some kind of order and get their attention for the other bits of analysis we are going to see and Roy is sat there ignoring them both in his own calm state of mind. I asked him what he thought and he said: “It doesn’t matter, he still missed!”

"As soon as you miss a chance like that you're going to get punished"@IanWright0 and @GNev2 argue on Austria's chance to go 1-0 up in the first half against France... 🥊#Euro2024 | #AUTFRA pic.twitter.com/E9YEJgjFKa

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 17, 2024

Youngsters Taking Centre Stage

Germany set the marker in the opening game 5-1 win over Scotland. Jamal Musiala is having a great tournament and looks well at home.

Spain and their young wingers Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams have been very impressive and look big contenders.

Portugal have one of the best squads at the Euros and I’ve enjoyed watching them play. They lost to Georgia but had already qualified top of the group. They weren’t one of my favourites, for some mad reason, but they are now… especially where other favourites like England and France have stuttered a bit.

Austria and Ralph Rangnick have been a revelation. We shouldn’t be surprised as they were great in qualifying but to win two games in a group as competitive as theirs, and only narrowly lose to France, is massively impressive.

England Criticism Fair Game

I think a lot of the criticism around England has been fair but some has been over the top. We’ve qualified top of the group, although I don’t know how. We’re lucky the other results have gone in our favour – but we’ve topped the group and that’s the main thing.

Remember Portugal in 2016? They had a similar start. I went to a lot of their games in France that summer. They were less than impressive, they ground out draws in the groups, won games by the skin of their teeth in extra time in the knockouts and beat France in the final. There are many ways to win tournaments, having a bad start doesn’t have to set the tone.

Some things haven’t worked and players haven’t looked their best yet but the difference Kobbie Mainoo and Cole Palmer made off the bench made me much more optimistic. If we make those changes in the last 16 I think the team will click.

Changes to England Starting XI Needed

I don’t think Gareth [Southgate] has necessarily been wrong in the players he’s picked to start the group games but I think players have come off the bench and claimed their spots.

Mainoo instantly made an impact against Slovenia. He was very positive and linked up play nicely. We looked 100 times better and much more of a threat with him in midfield.

I love Palmer, he’s the kind of player other teams are scared of. I’d love to see Palmer start on the right and Bukayo Saka on the left against Slovakia. Mainoo deserves to start in midfield alongside Declan Rice and I think Trent Alexander-Arnold should come back into the side at right-back with Kyle Walker switching to left-back.

That looks like a much more balanced side to me.

Portugal My Pick For Trophy

I fancy Portugal to go close now and they’re my pick to win it. However, I do still think England will come good and make the final. We have a very favourable side of the draw and this is a golden chance so we can’t mess it up – there is too much talent in that team.

We have to get the selection right and we have to pull out a great performance in the next round to get our confidence back. I still have faith and England still have time.

Visit the BetMGM Euro 2024 Hub for the latest odds, specials, profiles, blogs & more

Injury-time scissor kicks, penalty saves, waterworks and possibly the greatest Gordon Banks impersonation in football history – the Euro 2024 last 16 did not disappoint.

Sure, a little more fluidity might have been expected from England against Slovakia. They had all the balance of a one-legged stall and did not manage a shot on target until Jude Bellingham did another Jude Bellingham thing in the 95th minute to level the scores.

But the Three Lions are through. They now face Switzerland after they overcame an abject Italian side in impressive style a day prior.

Spain came from behind against Georgia to win 4-1 and set up a last-eight tie against hosts Germany thanks to the performance of some precocious young talents. France, meanwhile, are yet to score from open play but still find themselves in the quarters.

Didier Deschamps’ men take on Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo, who went through a rollercoaster of emotions during his team’s penalty shootout triumph over Slovenia.

Elsewhere, the Netherlands put in a polished performance in a 3-0 win over Romania and will face Turkey, who beat Austria 2-1 in arguably the game of the tournament so far.

For this round of Golden Goals we have also shot across the pond to the Copa America – also entering its quarter-finals stage – and added two games into the mix in Venezuela vs Canada and Uruguay vs Brazil.

Remember: you can win up to £1 million by predicting six correct scores with BetMGM Golden Goals. If nobody manages all six, those who get the most correct will win a share of our £5,000 prizepool. Find out more about Golden Goals here.

Let’s take a closer look at all six Golden Goals quarter-final matches…

SPAIN VS GERMANY

Friday 5th July (17:00) Stuttgart Arena.

Are Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal the world’s newest superstars?

The former scored a wonder goal – sitting one defender down and finishing high past the excellent Giorgi Mamardashvili to put his team 3-1 up – while the latter is the first teenager to register two assists at a European Championship since 2004 when a certain Ronaldo was lighting up the stage.

Indeed, the whole Spain team have an undoubted swagger about them at the moment – Germany pose a different challenge though. They are the hosts, have played some tasty stuff at times themselves and, in Jamal Musiala, they have their own generational talent.

The last time these two met was at the World Cup in 2022. Both Alvaro Morata and Niclas Fullkrug scored in that game and both have been in the goals in this tournament, too. Can either find the net here?

This one truly is a tough call. Germany have not beaten Spain competitively since Euro 1988 but, with home advantage, they could exorcise that particular demon in Stuttgart. It won’t be in 90 minutes though.

Prediction: Spain 1-1 Germany

PORTUGAL VS FRANCE

Friday 5th July (20:00) Volksparkstadion, Hamburg.

So Slovenia are just a really tough team to break down then. Or, maybe, Portugal followed England in not finding the net against them because there is a whopping great tactical elephant in the dressing room.

He’s chiselled. He’s the most successful goalscorer in men’s international football history. He’s been one of the best players in the world for nigh-on two decades… but one does wonder how Portugal would perform without 39-year-old Ronaldo as their focal point in attack.

While his world-class moments do crop up now and then, they are getting fewer by the match. For example, he has scored just one of 60 direct free-kick attempts at major tournaments.

France find themselves in the quarter-finals 𝙒𝙄𝙏𝙃𝙊𝙐𝙏 scoring a single goal from open play. 😅

Kylian who? 👀 #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/cG0mKgejgp

— BetMGM UK (@BetMGMUK) July 2, 2024

It would help if he didn’t miss penalties when called upon, too. Jan Oblak’s extra-time spot-kick save prompted an emotional outburst by Ronaldo, who claimed afterwards he was “at rock bottom”.

On reputation alone this quarter-final tie should be getting the juices flowing – but France are hardly setting the world alight. They are yet to score a goal from open play, with three strikes coming from two own goals and one Kylian Mbappe penalty.

However, Les Bleus know how to get the job done. Indeed, they have lost only one of their last 15 European Championship matches (won eight and drawn six).

Add to that the knowledge that Portugal have won just one of the last 14 head-to-head contests between the sides stretching back to the mid-1970s and this meeting of pre-tournament favourites vs pre-tournament dark horses will end in a narrow French victory.

Prediction: Portugal 1-2 France

VENEZUELA VS CANADA

Saturday 6th July (02:00). AT&T Stadium, Texas.

In a group that included Ecuador, Mexico and Jamaica, Venezuela emerged having won all three games while scoring six times and conceding just once.

Defensively, La Vinotinto are incredibly difficult to break down and have conceded just 16 goals in their last 24 matches across all competitions.

They will rely on that solid spine to help them through again as the team look to emulate their best-ever fourth-placed showing in this tournament, back in 2011.

Canada, by contrast, are into the Copa America quarter-finals for the first time.

To make it they overcame two-time Copa America champions Chile and Peru in Group A, with a nail-biting 0-0 tie with the former enough to get them over the line behind Lionel Messi’s Argentina.

While, in Alphonso Davies, Canada possess arguably the most talented player between both teams and Lille striker Jonathan David continues to impress up front, we reckon Venezuela and their three-time 2024 Copa America player-of-the-match winner Salomon Rondon will have a bit too much know-how, experience and depth.

They will take their place in the last four.

Prediction: Venezuela 2-0 Canada

ENGLAND VS SWITZERLAND

Saturday 6th July (17:00). Düsseldorf Arena.

It is difficult to know what to say about this England team – and their manager.

The performances they are putting in are among the poorest of any recent England team at any international tournament. In the dying embers of the dramatic win over Slovakia, there were comparisons with the 2016 debacle against Iceland, where the Three Lions were humiliatingly eliminated in a 2-1 defeat.

But you could argue that the collective performance in that tournament was better – or at least more forward-thinking. In the four games they played in 2016, they averaged more than 20 shots per game. In this tournament, after the same number of matches, they have barely topped 11.

They are playing a right-back at left-back, a number 10 at left wing and have even experimented with a right-back in central midfield. There is, it seems, an imbalance and the lack of goalscoring threat is concerning.

What is more, they will have to do it all without Marc Guehi – arguably the player of the tournament so far for the Three Lions – after he picked up a yellow card against Slovakia.

The England head coach has won 𝙈𝙊𝙍𝙀 knockout games at major tournaments than 𝙀𝙑𝙀𝙍𝙔 other manager since 1966 combined...

𝙎𝙤, 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠? 👇 #ThreeLions #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/zdYjdeRFsH

— BetMGM UK (@BetMGMUK) July 2, 2024

Switzerland were impressive against Italy and have looked good all tournament, bar a poor second-half showing against Hungary.

There are goals across the team – each of the seven Switzerland strikes in the Euros have come from different players – and they play with a slick and quick tempo.

But can England finally click and cut through Switzerland where they failed to do so against Serbia, Denmark, Slovenia and Slovakia? There were moments against Slovakia; brief, fleeting glimpses of what could be.

This could be the moment Gareth Southgate turns it all around.

Prediction: England 3-1 Switzerland

NETHERLANDS VS TURKEY

Saturday 6th July (20:00). Olympiastadion Berlin.

The Netherlands have had a stop-start Euros so far but the 3-0 win over Romania was the clearest sign yet that things are starting to fall into place.

Much of the success for the Oranje is down to the form of Cody Gakpo. The Liverpool forward has scored six goals across the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024 – only Mbappe has managed more with nine. Gakpo made the BetMGM team of the last 16 as a result.

Turkey go into the game off the back of one of the most thrilling games of the Euros so far. The 2-1 triumph over Austria was brimming with drama but the moment of the match was reserved for goalkeeper Mert Gunok, who flew across his goal to keep out Christoph Baumgartner's header in the final seconds. It has, understandably, been compared to the famous Gordon Banks save from Pele at the 1970 World Cup.

We can expect more action here if the last two matches between these two are anything to go by. We have seen a combined 13 goals (6.5 per game), with Turkey winning 4-2 in March 2021 and the Netherlands winning 6-1 in September 2021, both in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.

All four Turkey matches in the Euros have featured at least one concession on their part and at least three goals in total – the only nation still in the competition to meet that particular criteria.

We will, then, go for a high-scoring Netherlands win here.

Prediction: Netherlands 3-2 Turkey

URUGUAY VS BRAZIL

Sunday 7th July (02:00). Allegiant Stadium, Nevada.

So Brazil are through to the next round – but at what cost? Real Madrid forward and Ballon d’Or frontrunner Vinicius Junior is suspended after picking up a yellow card just six minutes into the 1-1 draw with Colombia that sealed the Selecao’s second-place fate in the group stages.

It was one of 17 fouls and four yellow cards in the first half of that match alone. On the other side of the disciplinary scale, Uruguay picked up their only two bookings of the tournament in their victory over the USA.

Visit the BetMGM Euro 2024 Hub for the latest odds, specials, profiles, blogs & more

It is not just that their respect for the rules is near-flawless – Uruguay’s backline have conceded just one goal in three games so far and scored nine in the group stages. In short, they look threatening up front and formidable at the back.

Brazil, second and winners in the last two Copas, are struggling to impress at all with just five goals to their name for the loss of two.

This has ‘upset’ written all over it – and would mark the first time since the early 1980s that Uruguay have beaten Brazil in back-to-back competitive meetings. Prediction: Brazil 1-2 Uruguay

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After winning the Copa America in 2021 and the World Cup in 2022, Argentina are on the brink of a third consecutive major tournament triumph.

Lionel Scaloni's men beat Canada 2-0 in the Copa semi-final to set up the 1am Monday (BST) showdown with Colombia, who edged past Uruguay 1-0 in an ill-tempered last-four tie on Wednesday.

Los Cafeteros thrashed Panama 5-0 in the quarter-finals while Argentina needed penalties to see off Ecuador but the world champions have won their other four matches at the tournament to nil.

Colombia, however, must be respected after winning 12 of their last 13 internationals including a World Cup qualifying victory over Brazil and a friendly success against Euro 2024 finalists Spain in March.

Argentina vs Colombia Betting Tips

• Argentina to win 2-0 @ 15/2
• Jefferson Lerma to get a card @ 29/10

Team news

Argentina have no injury concerns or suspensions so manager Scaloni may name the same team that started the semi-final against Canada. That would mean Gonzalo Montiel retains his place at right-back while Julian Alvarez is expected to be preferred to Lautaro Martinez as Lionel Messi's partner up front.

Santiago Arias is set to start at right-back for Colombia as Daniel Munoz is suspended following his sending-off against Uruguay. Centre-back Jhon Lucumi will be assessed after missing the last four games with a thigh injury.

Argentina to win 2-0 @ 15/2

Colombia have had an impressive run to the final, finishing top of Group D ahead of Brazil before their 5-0 rout of Panama in the quarter-finals.

Jefferson Lerma's 39th-minute goal earned them a 1-0 semi-final win over in-form Uruguay but they had to play the entire second half with 10 men after Daniel Munoz was shown a second yellow card just before the break.

The energy expended in that victory could leave Colombia vulnerable against Argentina in Sunday's final, especially as the world champions had an extra day of rest after beating Canada 2-0 in the first semi.

The 2-0 correct score is an appealing price again given Argentina's terrific defensive record at the 2024 Copa – the only goal they have conceded in five matches was a 92nd-minute equaliser against Ecuador in the last eight.

Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez responded to that setback by saving Ecuador's first two penalties in the shootout and Argentina went on to outclass Jesse Marsch's Canada in the semis.

Aston Villa keeper Martinez has received excellent protection from a back four featuring Tottenham's Cristian Romero and centre-back partner Lisandro Martinez of Manchester United.

Argentina began their Copa defence by beating Canada 2-0, Chile 1-0 and Peru 2-0 in the group stage and those three opponents mustered only six shots on target against Scaloni's well-drilled outfit.

Knockout rivals Ecuador and Canada had just two efforts on target apiece and, while Colombia are a stronger opponent, Argentina's big-match experience and game-management skills give them the edge.

Alvarez and Messi scored against Canada so Martinez, the leading goalscorer at the tournament, may only be among the substitutes and the Albiceleste should be backed to retain the trophy with relative ease.

Jefferson Lerma to get a card @ 29/10

Crystal Palace midfielder Lerma was Colombia's goalscoring hero in the semi-final but he will have to showcase his defensive qualities in the final.

Lerma faces a tough midfield battle with Argentina's Enzo Fernandez, Rodrigo De Paul and Alexis Mac Allister and he is well worth backing to receive a card at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.

He was suspended for the quarter-final drubbing of Panama after being booked in the group stage fixtures against Paraguay and Brazil.

And Lerma also struggled to stay out of trouble towards the end of Palace's 2023-24 Premier League campaign, collecting five yellow cards in his last 11 starts for the Eagles.

Canada's two starting central midfielders – Ismael Kone and Stephen Eustaquio – were cautioned in Tuesday's semi-final defeat to Argentina and Ecuador enforcer Moises Caicedo was booked against the Albiceleste in the last eight.

Tip reminder + plus match odds

• Betting Tip 1: Argentina to win 2-0 @ 15/2
• Betting Tip 2: Jefferson Lerma to get a card @ 29/10
• Match Odds: Argentina 59/50, Draw 2/1, Colombia 14/5

A Southgate Special Beckons in Berlin

The Euro 2024 final against Spain will be tough for England – the toughest test yet by some distance actually.

Their young wingers, Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, have been amazing. Dani Olmo has come into the team virtually out of nowhere and played out of his skin. Rodri will just always be the unsung hero in every team he plays for.

I’m going to sing the Manchester City midfielder’s praises specifically here. That man is a juggernaut of a footballer. He is also on one of those Rodri-style winning runs with Spain at the moment that scares me a bit, if I’m honest.

Spain score goals and play attractive, fluid football. England, in contrast, haven’t been doing that… until the semis. But we have been excellent defensively, an area deemed our weak spot pre-tournament, and we have been winning ugly.

This might not be an end-to-end, open game of attractive football. England might do a Gareth Southgate special. Why not one more ugly win, eh? England on penalties?

No Substitute For Winning

I still think some of the criticism of Southgate’s substitutions has been warranted.

We haven’t played our best football and, at times, have been screaming from our armchairs at late changes and reacting only after we’ve gone behind or not being positive enough when we go ahead – which also dates back to Euro 2020.

You can't start a fire without a... 𝙇𝘼𝙎𝙏 𝙈𝙄𝙉𝙐𝙏𝙀 𝙒𝙄𝙉𝙉𝙀𝙍! 🔥

📆 14 Jul 20:00
📍 Berlin
🆚 England vs Spain

𝙄𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚?#NEDENG #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/y6GzibUyp2

— BetMGM UK (@BetMGMUK) July 10, 2024

But the change of formation in the last two games in Germany has worked and the manager’s substitutes against the Netherlands were perfect.

Southgate is the England manager and that comes with a lot of noise and always will. But we’re into another final and that’s what’s important for now.

No Start For Semi-final Hero

There’s definitely an argument to say Ollie Watkins deserves to start against Spain but I don’t think Southgate will do that.

His winner against the Netherlands was a typical Watkins finish – I love him as a player. From the start of this tournament, the England bench has won us matches. The changes, even if late, have contributed and changed games to get us this far.

Even though we might not have seen the best of him in Germany yet, Harry Kane is world-class and dropping him for a European Championship final is not going to happen.

Nobody likes to be an ‘impact sub’ but Watkins, and the rest of the nation, will remember that goal of his forever.

Visit the BetMGM Euro 2024 Hub for the latest odds, specials, profiles, blogs & more

Spain Are Serious Adversaries

Spain are the favourites because they have come through the toughest side of the draw and won every game.

They have six victories to England’s three and have taken some serious scalps in the process like knocking out the pre-tournament favourites France and the hosts Germany as well as beating defending champions Italy in the group stage.

Spain have also scored the most goals (13 to England’s seven) and conceded fewer than us too (three to our four).

Yamal, meanwhile, is fearless. He is a world talent that we are going to revel in for years and years.

I watched him a lot in the Champions League for Barcelona this season and was really excited to see him star for Spain at the Euros – but I still couldn’t have predicted this level of stardom.

The picture doing the rounds of him being bathed by Lionel Messi was the icing on the cake. He is the real deal.

So it’s pretty clear why Spain are favourites going into the final – but it’s a final.

Anything can happen… it’s coming home!

Gareth Going Regardless

I think whatever happens in the final against Spain, Southgate will go.

I’ve heard other managers talk about cycles before; having the sweet spot with a group of players only lasts so long and sometimes your cycle ends and you’ve taken a team as far as it can go.

I think Gareth is at that point. His demeanour has been different this tournament. He is slightly sharper in his interviews, seems tired of it and is referencing “the noise” a lot more.

𝙒𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙖 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩? 🤔 #EURO2024 #ThreeLions pic.twitter.com/DJpcAtGmkP

— BetMGM UK (@BetMGMUK) July 11, 2024

He also spoke about his players being crippled by a fear of public embarrassment in the group stages – although we seem to have shaken that I do think that belief is largely created by the manager.

I am a really big fan of his and I don’t like to criticise because my memories of him have been incredible… and still are. I would love for him to get the send-off and the recognition he deserves and win us the Euros.

His record with England is already impeccable – it deserves some silverware.

Final Word: The Future’s Not Orange

England fans were so heavily outnumbered in the BVB Stadion in Dortmund for the semi-final against the Netherlands. It was a sea, and wall, of orange in there.

The Dutch were in very high spirits and had been all day; I saw them partying in the streets long before kick-off and they completely dominated Dortmund.

And they were singing our songs too. The number of Dutch people who sang ‘You’re going home, you’re going home, England’s going home’ to me was unbelievable.

They had the bottle to sing Sweet Caroline too but, when the game started, it was the English fans who sang the loudest, stayed on their feet and willed their team on to win.

The supporters were there with their tops off, bellies out, tattoos on show and flags flying… and I have never felt prouder. We completely outshone them.

Unfortunately, my orange friends, it’s you going home. Auf wiedersehen.

The new Premier League season is fast-approaching as another rollercoaster campaign in England's top flight prepares for lift-off.

Champions Manchester City will be hoping to continue their dominance at the top, but at the bottom, the race to survive is every bit as engaging.

As they so often are, the newly-promoted trio of clubs are amongst the favourites for immediate relegation – with Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton eager to avoid a first-time Championship return.

Everton, after the trials and tribulations of last season, are also short in the betting, with Nottingham Forest, Wolves, Brentford and Fulham also amongst the clubs the market expects to be loitering in the bottom half.

Setting a new low bar

Last season raised the bar for under-performance as Luton Town eventually succumbed alongside Burnley and Sheffield United.

The Blades were blunt from the get-go, while Burnley's desire to stay true to their principles led to their demise but didn't stop Vincent Kompany getting the Bayern Munich gig. The Hatters were nothing if not brave, but eventually, their antics at Kenilworth Road were not enough.

The three combined to set a record low total of points for a Premier League bottom three. That figure stood at 76, which Cardiff City, Fulham and Huddersfield finished with in 2018-19, but the bottom three last season achieved 10 points fewer.

While the market for this season shows the three promoted clubs as favourites for relegation, it is worth noting that last season was only the second time in the Premier League era that fate has befallen all three new boys.

Foxes in the headlights

At one stage last season Leicester seemed destined for a procession in the Championship. The Foxes faltered, badly, but so too did Ipswich and Leeds during a frenetic run-in as Enzo Maresca took his squad up as champions before departing for Chelsea.

Steve Cooper has come in and is no stranger to a relegation fight in the East Midlands after his time at Nottingham Forest.

Both clubs are expected to be scrapping for survival in the coming season.

The Foxes are being linked to Japanese playmaker Reo Hatate, though former boss Brendan Rodgers may have something to say about that. Kalvin Philips is another name to be linked to the King Power Stadium.

Keeping hold of goalkeeper Mads Hermansen could be another key summer storyline, with Leicester said to have slapped a £40m price tag on the Dane.

Tractor Boys have it all to prove

Ipswich Town were the surprise package in the Championship last time as Kieran McKenna got the Tractor Boys rolling to automatic promotion. In doing so they joined a select group of clubs to achieve back-to-back promotions to reach the Premier League. The last two clubs to manage that feat were able to stay afloat amongst the big boys. One of those was Southampton – the Saints joined Leicester and Ipswich after winning the playoffs.

Keeping hold of McKenna could be the biggest plus for Ipswich this summer, though he has emerged as a possible contender to replace Gareth Southgate as England boss and that could be a hard job to turn down, if the speculation is accurate.

Forest fire may burn out

Nuno Espirito Santo managed to stave off relegation after arriving at the City Ground in December but that survival had as much to do with the three teams that hit the trap door as anything else.

That low points tally was damning and Forest – in 17th – were seven points adrift of Brentford immediately above them.

The former Wolves boss enjoyed initial success in the Premier League, but that feels like quite a while ago after his failed stint at Tottenham and the time spent in Saudi Arabia.

The Portuguese had better quality at his disposal at Molineux, and player turnover remains a concern at Forest.

History tells us that one of the promoted teams will make a fist of things and crisis club Everton might not be as bad as last time. Nottingham Forest could be on borrowed time in the Premier League.

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Seventy-seven days after Manchester City and Manchester United met at Wembley to contest the FA Cup final, they return to the home of English football for the right to lift the Community Shield.

Erik Ten Hag's United triumphed in the FA Cup showpiece, with young aces Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo scoring in a shock 2-1 win.

League champions City would doubtless like to wipe the smile off the faces of their bitter rivals but this isn't a match in which they have fared well in recent seasons.

Community Shield Betting Tips

• Manchester United To Win The Trophy @ 9/4
• Manchester United Over 3.5 Corners @ 13/10

Team news

It is highly likely that Manchester City will have a depleted look to them with their Euro 2024 finalists, Spain's Rodri and England trio Kyle Walker, John Stones and Phil Foden, only just having returned to training. It is doubtful any of them will start.

Plenty of others, including Nathan Ake, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva and new signing Savinho, have returned to training this week, so again, Pep Guardiola will want to tread carefully a week before the start of their title defence.

Julian Alvarez is on his way to Atletico Madrid, so the likes of Oscar Bobb, Rico Lewis and James McAtee can all expect starts.

Manchester United are without Leny Yoro, while fellow central defenders Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof are doubtful.

At least Ten Hag has welcomed back his summer international finalists to training, though that doesn't necessarily mean the likes of Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez and Kobbie Mainoo walk straight back in. Rasmus Hojlund is definitely out, so newboy Joshua Zirkzee should start.

Manchester United To Win The Trophy @ 9/4

When it comes to the Premier League, Manchester City have been head and shoulders above the pack for most of Pep Guardiola's reign.

However, when it comes to the Community Shield, they give everyone else a chance, having failed to win any of the last three.

Three summers ago, Leicester beat City 1-0, a year later, Liverpool saw them off 3-1, and 12 months ago, Arsenal pipped the champions on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

The big project for Guardiola includes retaining the Premier League, not necessarily reclaiming the Community Shield and that leaves them vulnerable against United, for whom every piece of silverware, no matter how seemingly trivial, is priceless.

Ten Hag seems to have the board on his side at the moment, but a repeat of last season's indifference won't work in his favour. What will impress the club's new owners is reproducing the performance that saw them beat United 2-1 in the FA Cup final at Wembley.

To that end, United should be taking this match seriously against a City team who will obviously carry a threat but will be short of superstars at the end of a long, hard international summer. In short, United's aces have returned to training earlier than most of City's and at this point of the season that could be significant.

Total Manchester United Corners Over 3.5 @ 13/10

United won just one corner in May's FA Cup final triumph over City, but that was a rare low tally in a season where they piled them up.

When the teams met at Old Trafford in the Premier League last season, United piled up seven corners, and Ten Hag's men averaged 5.9 per match in that competition.

It's definitely a possible scenario that they can amass at least four with over 3.5 United corners value at 13/10.

The team United will be sending out will be strong in the wide areas with the likes of Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Antony, Garnacho and Amad Diallo fighting to impress.

And, of course, City won't be anywhere near full strength so could be vulnerable to pace on the counter.

It isn't a season-defining match in the grand scheme of things, and there is always an element of just getting through it unscathed. But United will be desperate to build on May's FA Cup final triumph, a rare highlight in an otherwise bleak season, and getting onto the front foot at Wembley would be a step in the right direction.

Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation

Yes, that’s right, it’s time for the Premier League. A matter of weeks after football once again failed to come home, it’s time to put your England shirts away – domestic football is back.

The 2023/24 season saw Manchester City win their fourth title in a row, Aston Villa return to the top tier of European football and, for the first time since 1997/98, all three promoted sides relegated back to the Championship.

This coming season brings a new beginning at Anfield with Jurgen Klopp making way for Arne Slot, a new face in the dugout at Brighton and a new era for Manchester United getting underway with a show of faith in Eric ten Hag.

Here, we set out our best bets ahead of the season by looking at the frontrunners and the dark horses, the top goalscorers and the top assisters, the golden glove candidates, the relegation fodder and much more besides.

League Winners

After four titles in a row, can anyone stop Pep Guardiola’s men from a historic five on the bounce?

Last season was far from a procession for the Citizens, with Arsenal’s title challenge meaning a win was required on the final day albeit ultimately no one could stop a relentless City side once again.

At 11/10 favourites, it is quite tricky to look past City but could this finally be the year they are dethroned? There are no shortage of sides looking to stop them – and none more so than Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta led the Gunners to second place last season, coming closer than ever to ending the club’s 20-year wait for a league title. The permanent signing of goalkeeper David Raya and the addition of Riccardo Calafiori have bolstered an already solid defence that conceded just 29 goals last time round. They are 15/8 to win the league but could the lack of an out-and-out striker derail the men from North London?

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Across the capital, Chelsea have yet another new boss at the helm – this time it’s Enzo Maresca tasked with bringing success back to Stamford Bridge after a summer arrival from Leicester. The Blues finished sixth last year and Maresca will have to deal with a potentially tiring Europa Conference League tilt alongside the Premier League. In the latter they are 20/1 to claim what would be their fifth title.

On Merseyside, the Klopp reign is over at Anfield, with Slot the new boss looking to pick up where the German left off. It won’t be easy and, notably, the Reds are yet to make any moves in the transfer market. Their 7/1 title odds have them as third favourites in what could be a season of transition for Liverpool.

Elsewhere, ten Hag will expect a major improvement in league form following a disappointing eighth-place finish while Tottenham will be hoping to mount a serious challenge this season after a fantastic start to the last campaign faded away. Newcastle United, meanwhile, don’t have the distraction of European football this season and it will be interesting to see if Eddie Howe’s Magpies can mount a challenge at the top.

Top Goalscorer

As is becoming customary since his arrival in England, Erling Haaland topped the scoring charts again in 2023/24 with his 27 goals following up the staggering 36 he notched in his debut season.

His odds reflect his past form. A remarkably short 13/20 indicates there is little expectation for his goalscoring exploits to stop. The Norwegian did struggle a little with injuries last campaign – not enough to stop him, of course, but they did show he was human after all. If he goes through the full campaign unscathed this time, 7/2 for Haaland to outscore Ipswich in the league could be appealing.

Better value, then, may come elsewhere and one of the standout picks is Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins. His price of 16/1 seems tasty when you take into account his 19 goals last season and 15 the season before. The main man in Unai Emery’s attack, Watkins will be looking to fire Villa to Europe once more.

Other strong shouts include Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, who notched 21 times in 2023/24 and has 31 goals in 52 Premier League games for the club overall. He is priced at 16/1 but, for an even bigger shout in the same market, how about last season’s second-top scorer Cole Palmer? Odds of**20/1** for a man who scored 22 goals last season is tempting.

Elsewhere, Manchester United’s new number nine Rasmus Hojlund is 40/1 if you fancy him to build on a solid debut season at Old Trafford.

Most Assists

Despite injury restricting him to just 18 appearances, Kevin De Bruyne still managed an impressive 10 assists last season. The 2022/23 leading provider is favourite to top the charts again at 9/4 but a lot will depend on whether the Belgian magician can stay fit and how affected he is by Pep Guardiola’s famous tinkering.

Watkins was the leading assist maker with 13 and is an appealing 10/1 to do so again. Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard also made it to double figures for assists last term with 10 and is the same price as Watkins to be the out-and-out leading assist maker this time around, as is Manchester City’s Phil Foden.

Other interesting picks include Chelsea new boy Pedro Neto at 25/1 after registering nine in 2023/24 while James Maddison, who started last season strongly before injury hampered his form, can be taken at 33/1. Even longer odds are available for Arsenal’s Kai Havertz, with the Gunners forward an intriguing 66/1.

To be Relegated

When it comes to those at risk of dropping out of the top flight next season, it may once again be a tricky season for the promoted sides. 2023/24 saw all three promoted sides relegated for the first time since 1997/98, and Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton have some work to do to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

It is the Foxes that lead the betting for relegation. Their 2/5 odds do not make happy reading for the King Power faithful and suggest the 2015/16 Premier League winners may be making a swift return to the Championship.

The loss of key man Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to Chelsea, as well as manager Maresca, is a big blow and while the arrivals of Abdul Fatawu, Caleb Okoli and Bobby Decordova-Reid are encouraging, new boss Steve Cooper would surely benefit from further reinforcements.

Joining Leicester in the Premier League are Ipswich, here in the division for the first time since the 2001/02 season. The Tractor Boys have been busy in the summer transfer window, having made some shrewd additions including Burnley goalkeeper Arijanet Muric, Ben Johnson from West Ham United and central defender Jacob Greaves from Hull City.

Ipswich have also made last season’s 10-goal midfielder Omari Hutchinson’s loan spell from Chelsea permanent in an eye-catching £20 million deal. Last season’s joint top scorers Nathan Broadhead and Conor Chaplin are unproven at this level, however, and their relegation odds of 7/10 align with the lack of Premier League experience Kieran McKenna’s men have.

Third favourites for the drop are the final promoted side in Southampton but it is to west London we head for the final relegation spot. Thomas Frank’s Brentford side endured a difficult 2023/24 and at one point appeared to be sleepwalking into relegation danger. A run of just three wins in 21 games between November and April saw the Bees stuck in a rut and, while they ended the term comfortably clear of the bottom three, it was not an enjoyable campaign for the club.

Additions this summer have been scant but do include the impressive signing of Igor Thiago from Club Brugge, who scored 18 goals in last season’s Belgian Pro League. Ivan Toney will of course be available for the full campaign in what will be a big boost – providing he remains at the club amid lingering transfer speculation. They may have enough to continue their Premier League stay but odds of 5/1 are tempting for a side who lost half of their league games last season.

Notably, if you reckon all three newly-promoted sides have what it takes to stay in the top tier, you can get 8/1 for that to happen with BetMGM Specials.

Dark Horses

The Premier League has a habit of throwing up surprises – just think Leicester winning it in 2016.

New boys Ipswich Town famously finished fifth as a newly promoted side in 2001 and only three points off a Champions League spot. Their UEFA Cup qualification though was a mighty achievement – the brave of you can get a pretty meaty 66/1 for this Ipswich side to emulate the heroics of 2000/01.

A campaign of chaos for Chelsea last season ended ultimately with a sixth-place finish and a Europa Conference League spot. It is never quiet at Stamford Bridge, though their mammoth squad is packed with young talent. Maresca has a job on his hands but it isn’t one without potential.

The squad showed what they were capable of towards the end of last season and, while the strong run of just one defeat in 15 games couldn’t keep Mauricio Pochettino in a job, if they can sustain that sort of form across a full season then the 11/1 for a top-two finish doesn’t seem bad at all, while they are 6/1 to finish top London club.

Enzo Maresca's side managed just one win in pre-season... 😳

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BetMGM also offers up a range of specials on the Premier League, combining the league winner with markets such as top goalscorer.

Arsenal came close to ending the Manchester City dominance last season, playing some excellent football while finally shoring up a problematic defence, making it the best in the league.

A total of 91 goals scored represented a fine season in the attacking sense too. Losing only five games, it was the timing of the defeats that would harm the Gunners with back-to-back losses to West Ham and Fulham ultimately proving costly.