EPL Matchday 18 Betting Tips
Leeds United vs Arsenal
Sunday December 19th, 4:30am (AEDT), Elland Road
The season started as a horror show for the Gunners with an 0-0-3 start, but after a 2-0 win over West Ham on Thursday, Arsenal have jumped into fourth place on the Premier League table. Leeds are coming off a 7-0 hiding at the hands of Manchester City, as their season continues to go from bad to worse. Leeds are stuck in sixteenth place on the Premier League table, a massive drop off from their ninth placed finish in season ‘20/’21.
Leeds are one of the most out of form sides in the Premier League, with just one win in their last seven outings. Arsenal however, have been red hot since the opening month of the season with a 9-2-3 in their last fourteen Premier League games. Leeds’ struggles have been largely due to their defence, which has been the third worst defence in the Premier League. Leeds have conceded 32 goals from 17 games, and have conceded 12 goals in their last three games. The Gunners will be looking to put plenty of pressure on the Leeds defence, having scored 10 goals in their last five matches.
Arsenal have an excellent record against Leeds, with eight wins and two draws from their last ten fixtures in all competitions against Leeds. Leeds have not beaten the Gunners since 2003. This is a golden opportunity for Arsenal to firmly entrench themselves inside the top four against a struggling Leeds side. The Gunners attack is far too potent for Leeds to contain, and will pick up a comfortable victory.
Wolverhampton vs Chelsea
Monday December 20th, 1:00am (AEDT), Molineux Stadium
Chelsea dropped crucial points on Friday morning, and now sit four points behind league leaders Man City. Chelsea dominated Everton with 81% possession and 23 shots on goal to Everton’s 5, however Jarrad Branthwaite’s 74th minute equaliser held Chelsea to a 1-1 draw. Wolves ended a four game winless run with a gritty 1-0 victory over Brighton during the week. Wolverhampton have struggled badly in attack, scoring just two goals in their last seven games.
Despite being in eighth place in the Premier League, Wolves have the second worst attack in the league, scoring just thirteen goals through seventeen games. Chelsea have scored three times the amount of goals Wolves have scored this season (39), and have the second best defence to pair with it, conceding just twelve goals this season. It’s tough to see this struggling Wolves side finding a way to penetrate an elite Chelsea defence.
Chelsea have been incredibly consistent across the entirety of the season so far, with an 11-4-2 record and will be desperate to bounce back after giving up ground to City in the title race. Expect a big statement from this Chelsea side.
Tottenham vs Liverpool
Monday December 20th, 3:30am (AEDT), Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
The leading fixture of the Matchday is the final game, as Liverpool head to London to take on Tottenham. Spurs have been the most impacted club by covid, having not played a Premier League match since the sixth of December. Nearly all clubs have played either sixteen or seventeen games, while Tottenham have only played fourteen. Despite conceding an early goal, Liverpool were in complete control against Newcastle on Friday.
The Reds won 3-1, with 73% possession and 23 shots to Newcastle’s 4, to extend their winning streak to six games. The disparity in attacking power in both of these sides is the biggest difference between Liverpool and Spurs. Liverpool are the number one ranked attack in the Premier League this season with 48 goals, Tottenham rank 16th with just 16 goals. Liverpool also have the third rank defence in the Premier League, having allowed just 16 goals, meaning Spurs are going to have a serious challenge on their hands at both ends of the pitch.
Tottenham will have plenty of headaches trying to contain Liverpool’s dominant front three, who make up three of the top four goal scorers in the league, in Mo Salah (15), Diogo Jota (9) and Sadio Mane (7). Liverpool have had the wood over Spurs across the last four years, with 6-1-0 in their last seven Premier League meetings against Tottenham. Tottenham have not beaten Liverpool since 2017, and that streak will extend on Monday morning.
Other Tips
Aston Villa vs Burnley - Aston Villa H2H ($1.72 with Sportsbet)
Newcastle vs Manchester City - Manchester City -2.0 ($2.50 with Sportsbet)
