The Premier League enters its busiest part of the season with a jam-packed schedule across the festive period. After jumping into top spot last week, Arsenal has a chance to give themselves breathing space at the top of the table when they take on Liverpool in a top of the table clash. We bring you our best bets for the key games below!
EPL 2023-24: Matchday 18 Preview & Betting Tips
Aston Villa vs Sheffield United
Villa Park, Saturday 23rd December, 7:00am AEDT
Aston Villa’s dream season continues to roll on, with Villa sitting in third place on the Premier League table, four points clear of fourth placed Man City. Unai Emery’s side scored twice in the final thirteen minutes to steal a 2-1 victory against Brentford which gave Villa their third consecutive victory. Two of those three victories have come against Manchester City and Arsenal, a huge show of progression in Villa making the step to be a genuine top four contender. Aston Villa have been on an absolute tear in the last three months, with a 10-2-1 record from their last thirteen games. Sheffield United are anchored to the bottom of the table with just eight points from seventeen games.
Sheffield United are putting together a historically poor season, ranking dead last in nearly all key statistical areas. The Blades have lost thirteen games this season, have conceded a league high 43 goals and scored the fewest goals in the league this season with 12. On the contrary Aston Villa have been elite at both ends of the pitch with scoring 37 goals (ranked 2nd) and having conceded only 20 goals (ranked 5th). This balance makes Villa an incredibly dangerous side, and this fixture could get out of hand quickly if they score early.
The Blades simply don’t have a defence that is capable of handling Villa given the form they are in. For context, Villa have scored fourteen goals from their last eight games, which is more goals than Sheffield United have scored for the entirety of the season. The gap in quality between the two sides is too much for a Sheffield United side that has shown zero ability to be able to defend this season. It’s going to be another long outing for the Blades against arguably the most in-form team in the league.
Aston Villa -1
$1.60 (2 Units)
Tottenham vs Everton
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Sunday 24th December, 2:00am AEDT
A 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest has kept Tottenham’s hopes of a top four finish alive, with Ange Postecoglou’s side now within just one point of Manchester City who are in fourth place. Spurs have a golden opportunity to keep the pressure on City when they face sixteenth placed Everton at home on Sunday morning. Everton have dragged themselves out of the relegation zone with four consecutive victories. Although the winning streak has been much needed for the Toffees, three of their four wins have come against teams placed tenth or lower.
Even during their lean run of form over the last six weeks, Tottenham have still been excellent at maintaining possession. Spurs rank third in the league for possession averaging 60.4% possession per game. Their ability to finish in front of goal had eluded them during their five game winless rub, however after picking up 4-1 and 2-0 wins over the last two games, it’s clear Tottenham’s attacking game is back in order, which makes them one of the most dangerous teams in the league.
Everton have struggled badly against Tottenham over the past ten years, winning just one of their last 21 Premier League games against Spurs. Everton rank 13th for goals for this season, and don’t have the attacking firepower to match Tottenham if they get into a shootout. Everton have been solid in defence this season and Sean Dyche will try and turn this into a slow, dour affair, however with the way Tottenham’s midfield has moved the ball over the last fortnight, they will be able to break down Everton’s defence.
Tottenham to Win
$1.80 (1.5 Units)
Liverpool vs Arsenal
Anfield, Sunday 24th December, 4:30am AEDT
A week after taking top spot off Liverpool, Arsenal has a chance to defend their spot at the top when they travel to Anfield to take on the Reds. Liverpool were held goalless for the first time this season in their 0-0 draw with Manchester United last week, in what was the first time that the Reds had failed to claim all three points in a home fixture this season. Arsenal produced a dominant performance at home against Brighton in a 2-0 victory that gave the Gunners their fifth win from their last six league games. Arsenal recorded 26 shots on goal to Brighton’s 6, and the Gunners restricted the Seagulls to just one shot on target.
This fixture pits together the league’s best two defences, with Arsenal and Liverpool conceding 15 goals this season, the fewest in the league. They’re almost as hard to split down the other end of the pitch with the Reds possessing the league’s third most prolific attack (36 goals), while Arsenal have scored 35 goals (ranked 5th). The battle through the middle of the ground will be crucial, whichever midfield can get on top and win the possession battle will go a long way towards winning this game.
Liverpool have won six of their last nine Premier League fixtures against Arsenal, and have been a formidable force at Anfield this season. The Reds have a 7-1-0 record at home this season, with an aggregate score line of 21-5. Jurgen Klopp’s side have been utterly dominant at Anfield, and have produced their best in big games over the past few years. Although the Gunners have been in the title race over the past two seasons, it doesn’t match the experience that Liverpool have in these types of games. Liverpool will be desperate to claim top spot back, and will produce a big performance on Sunday morning.
Liverpool to Win
$2.35 (1 Unit)
