• BoomBet
  • BetChamps
  • Neds
  • Unibet
  • TradieBet
  • Picklebet

EPL 2021-22: Matchday 18 Preview & Betting Tips

December 17th 2021, 12:41pm, By: Jack Tobin

EPL MD18 Betting Tips

Covid has wreaked havoc across Matchday’s 17 and 18 with an abundance of games postponed with the outbreak across the UK. There’s only five games this weekend, but we’ve still got you covered with tips and previews for Matchday 18!

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.

Arsenal

$2.10

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. 

Chelsea (-1.0)

$2.50

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. 

Liverpool

$1.60

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)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jack Tobin has a Bachelor of Media and Communications Degree, majoring in Sports Media, and has been part of the Before You Bet writing staff since 2019.

Jack is a sports fanatic but is particularly keen on Cricket, AFL, Basketball, NFL and Soccer where he has a keen eye for spotting a winner or three. Jack is still waiting for Essendon to win a final in the AFL, while he also supports the Miami Heat in the NBA, Manchester United in the EPL and the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL.

Horse Racing Tips

View More

Our team of expert horse racing analysts bring you regular horse racing tips from major horse racing meetings in Australia and internationally. The highlight of the Australian horse racing calendar is the Spring Carnival, featuring the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and, of course, the Melbourne Cup, and we'll be there riding every winner home with you with our free racing tips and best bets. Giddy up!

NFL Tips

View More

NFL tips and best bets for the 2024-25 NFL season. Arguably America's most popular sport, the National Football League is gaining popularity in Australia with all marquee games plus the 'Red Zone' coverage on ESPN Australia. We have you covered with regular NFL betting tips of all of the key matchups of the week.

NBA Tips

View More

NBA betting is very popular in Australia and we have free NBA betting tips all season long with our best NBA tips for the biggest games every week, along with coverage of the NBA Finals.

NBL Tips

View More

The NBL is the largest basketball competition in Australia with a rich history of developing the country's best basketball talent. The NBL has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years and we'll have NBL tips and betting previews for every match of every round for you right here.