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GOLDEN GOALS MD16: MAN CITY’S DERBY DAY REDEMPTION

A compelling Premier League Matchday 15 saw the Merseyside Derby fall victim to Storm Darragh while there was a storm of a different kind in north London as Chelsea overcame Spurs in a remarkable game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The Blues closed the gap at the top to four points and, with Arsenal and Manchester City both failing to win, Enzo Maresca’s men are now the closest challengers to Liverpool.

Our Golden Goals slate this week sees a huge Manchester Derby as well as Brighton vs Crystal Palace. Meanwhile, Liverpool return to action against Fulham as title rivals Arsenal host Everton and Ruud van Nistelrooy takes his Foxes to Tyneside to face Newcastle. Aston Villa, enjoying a resurgence in form, head to Nottingham Forest.

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This is how we see it going on Golden Goals Matchday 16…

Arsenal vs Everton

Lionel Messi is great, but has he defended an Arsenal set-piece on a cold night in London?

The Gunners have developed a huge weapon in their armoury. In Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, they have two players capable of unbelievable deliveries, and the work of the likes of Gabriel, Thomas Partey and William Saliba causes havoc in the area.

Indeed, since the start of last season, they have scored from 23 corners – a noticeably higher number than any other team from around Europe’s top leagues. Interestingly, they also average the shortest distance for shooting on goal at 14.7 yards in the league, surely a byproduct of their corner-taking revolution.

However, does the potency from corners belie their issues with scoring in other ways. Against Fulham, they only accumulated 0.3 xG from open play. On Wednesday night in their Champions League clash against Monaco, they were also wasteful in front of goal in the first half before finally clear in the final 10 minutes.

In Everton, they may not have the perfect dance partner, despite their lowly position in the table. The Toffees have conceded just 21 goals this season – the same number as Manchester City and fewer than the likes of Brighton (22) and Aston Villa (23).

However, Everton’s issue with finding the net from any play, let alone open, is proving rather difficult this campaign. Only Southampton (11) have scored fewer goals than the paltry 14 the Toffees have produced this season.

They do have an extra week in their legs after the postponement of the Merseyside Derby last weekend – but it’s difficult to see any other result than a comfortable home win.

Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Everton

Newcastle vs Leicester

A 4-2 defeat at Brentford was not how Eddie Howe would have wanted to build on an impressive display at home to Liverpool — but that is exactly what he got.

A defensive shambles saw the Magpies slip to 12th as their inconsistency this term continues to hold them back.

A team that scored 85 goals last season has this campaign managed just 19 in 15 games. Defensively, having shipped just 14 goals in the first 13 games, Newcastle have now conceded seven in the last two.

That will be a cause for concern for Howe — defensive fragility and attacking struggles are not ideal for a side with aspirations of European qualification.

The Foxes, meanwhile, visit St James’ Park somewhat rejuvenated under new boss Van Nistelrooy.

The 3-1 victory over West Ham was followed by a draw against high-flying Brighton, where a last-minute equaliser showed a resilience that was perhaps lacking under Steve Cooper.

The ageless Jamie Vardy has two in two under his new boss, the man whose Premier League scoring record for consecutive games he broke.

Vardy is 16/1 to score in a draw this weekend, though a stalemate between these two has happened just once since 2010, a scoreless affair last time out.

It won’t be scoreless this time. Leicester have found a rhythm while the Magpies are shipping goals. A 2-2 draw is in order on Tyneside.

Prediction: Newcastle 2-2 Leicester

Liverpool vs Fulham

Liverpool remain in full command of the Premier League title race and they could further strengthen their position with a win over Fulham this weekend – a side they have beaten nine times out of the last 12.

Mohamed Salah is playing at the peak of his powers this season and you’d expect another goal-laden performance from the Egyptian frontman. He has 99 Premier League goals at home in 140 appearances and is 22/25 to become the fourth-fastest player to hit a century this Saturday.

Fulham dented Arsenal’s title chances again with a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage last time out – could they play spoiler against Liverpool at Anfield? It seems unlikely.

The Cottagers have one victory over the Reds in the last decade, admittedly it was a 1–0 win at Anfield, but history certainly is not on their side. However, Marco Silva has made it more difficult for his team to be beaten on their travels.

Last season, Fulham earned 18 points away from home and conceded 37 goals, which was the joint-sixth most in the league. This season, Silva's men have already secured nine points while allowing only seven goals in seven away matches

It is a much-improved away record from Fulham – but it won’t be enough against a seemingly unstoppable force in Liverpool.

Prediction: Liverpool 2-0 Fulham

Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa

Not since the halcyon days of the 80s and 90s has a game between Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa had repercussions in the race for European football.

It’s not quite a young Dwight Yorke or a prime Kevin Campbell but the goalscoring exploits of Jhon Duran and Chris Wood have catapulted both sides into a battle for the top six spots in the Premier League.

Duran became one of only three Villa players to score 10 times before turning 21 when he netted the only goal against Southampton in a 1-0 win last weekend.

Last Saturday’s strike was the Colombian's fourth game-winning goal of the season in the Villans' seventh campaign win so far. He added another goal to his tally in the Champions League against RB Leipzig on Tuesday.

Wood is enjoying a career renaissance under Nuno Espirito Santo. New Zealand’s all-time top scorer has already netted 10 goals, becoming the first Forest player to hit double figures in England’s top division before Christmas.

These in-form forwards each rank within the top 10 for goals per 90 minutes this season and you can combine them as anytime goalscorers on your Bet Builder at 10/1 with BetMGM.

History suggests this game is often exceptionally close to call: Villa have drawn four of their last five away games at the City Ground and five of the last 11 meetings between these two have ended honours even.

Side with history. High-scoring stalemate.

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 2-2 Aston Villa

Brighton vs Crystal Palace

As rivalries go, this one can slip under the radar at times. Sometimes referred to as the A23 Derby, sometimes the M23, either way there is something between the two fanbases.

This season, it is Brighton fans who have been able to hold the high ground. They are flying at the top end of the table and come into this clash just three points off a top-four spot despite throwing away a two-goal lead against Leicester.

Indeed, their tendency to throw points away to teams in the bottom half has been troubling fans; they mustered five points out of a possible 18 from fixtures against Ipswich, Nottingham Forest, Wolves, Southampton, Fulham and Leicester.

Check out our dedicated 2025 PDC World Darts Championship page throughout the action at Alexandra Palace

They do have a potent forward line, though, with the evergreen Danny Welbeck and Brazilian maestro Joao Pedro racking up 10 between them this season so far.

Crystal Palace, meanwhile, arrive off the back of a spirited performance against Manchester City. It looks like Oliver Glasner’s men are beginning to shake off the early-season cobwebs and showing the form that had neutrals purring at the back end of last season.

They are now four games unbeaten and we wouldn’t bet against them making it five without defeat. There have been six 1-1 draws between these two in the past five years – same again Sunday?

Prediction: Brighton 1-1 Crystal Palace

Manchester City vs Manchester United

There is lots to unpack across the city of Manchester right now.

This was supposed to be another new dawn for United as Ruben Amorim’s arrival sparked optimism on the red side.

Yet back-to-back defeats to Arsenal and Nottingham Forest have somewhat dampened the mood. Now, Amorim faces a trip to City… but all is not rosy at the Etihad either.

Pep Guardiola’s men sit 19th in the table over the last six games, picking up just one win in the process and just four points, the same as bottom-side Southampton.

It’s unheard of for Guardiola, and the draw at Palace still saw them slip behind twice. Rico Lewis salvaged a point but will sit this one out after being sent off at Selhurst Park. Another absentee not helping the manager’s cause.

Rodri’s loss was always going to be huge, but the effect the Ballon d’Or winner’s absence has had has been extraordinary. City had won all four games in the league before the Spaniard was injured against Arsenal — they have won just four in total since.

Mateo Kovacic’s injury with Rodri out too has really compounded things and City have struggled in midfield but the Croatian could return on Sunday to give his side a much-needed boost.

City did the double over United last season and have lost just one of the last six league meetings but United were victorious in the FA Cup final back in May. Manchester Derbies tend to be high-scoring, with all of the previous five Premier League meetings containing over 2.5 goals.

With some of the defending on show of late, it’s likely this one will too.

Marcus Rashford has three in his last four in the league for United, while Erling Haaland got back on the scoresheet for the Citizens last weekend. Both to score here — as they did in City’s 3-1 win at Old Trafford last term — is 8/1.

We’re going for the same scoreline this time round; United’s defensive issues to let them down once more.

Prediction: Manchester City 3-1 Manchester United

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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change. Please note: This week's Golden Goals deadline is Saturday 14th December 15:00. Opt-in is required and you can find out more here.

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