Premier League Gameweek 18 Tips: 18/1 Accumulator

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.