Premier League Gameweek 21 Tips: 19/2 Accumulator
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.