The English Premier League is back with Liverpool three points clear at the top of the table, as AFCON and the Asian Cup set to test teams' depth over the next month. Can the Reds hold their spot at the top of the table without Mo Salah?
Find out our thoughts and best bets for Matchday 21 in the EPL below!
EPL 2023-24: Matchday 21 Preview & Betting Tips
Newcastle vs Manchester City
St James’ Park, Sunday 14th January, 4:30am AEDT
Three wins from their last four games has kept Manchester City’s title hopes alive, in what looms as a decisive month for the defending champions. Pep Guardiola’s side are one of only three clubs in the Premier League who won’t lose any players to AFCON or the Asian Cup, and have a golden opportunity to make up ground on Liverpool and Aston Villa who will be missing key players across the next month. First task at hand for Pep Guardiola’s side is taking care of ninth placed Newcastle, who are currently on a three-game losing streak.
Eddie Howe’s side are under a mountain of pressure having lost five of their last six games, in which most have been largely in uncompetitive fashion. The five losses have come by an aggregate scoreline of 15-4, having conceded three or more goals in four of those five losses. After being the best defence in the league last season conceding only 33 goals, Newcastle have already conceded 29 goals as their hopes of consecutive top four finishes look dead and buried.
Manchester City are the number one ranked attack in the Premier League having scored 45 goals, and will expose a Newcastle defence that is struggling badly across the last month. Since 2006 City have dominated the Magpies holding a 26-5-1 record from the 32 Premier League meetings between the two clubs. With Newcastle’s lengthy injury list, it’s difficult to see them being competitive against a Manchester City side that is starting to find form.
Manchester City -1
$2.50 (1.5 Units)
Manchester United vs Tottenham
Old Trafford, Monday 15th January, 3:30am AEDT
Manchester United have fallen to eighth place on the Premier League table after an embarrassing defeat to fifteenth placed Nottingham Forest, as the Red Devils face a huge challenge against Tottenham, who are fifth place after winning four of their last five games. United have just one win from their last five games as the pressure continues to pile on Erik ten Hag. Across their last five games, the Red Devils have been held goalless three times, and have scored only 22 goals this season which is the equal third fewest in the league.
Tottenham’s 3-1 victory in their last game against Bournemouth was built on the back of an efficient performance in their front third. Spurs had just 12 shots to Bournemouth’s 24, but produced more shots on target, and maintained more possession in a gritty win at home. It was a similarly efficient performance that Spurs produced at home against United earlier in the season. Tottenham have been the fourth most prolific side in front of goal this season, with 42 goals from 20 games.
With a full-strength side Tottenham would be clear favourites in this fixture, however with Spurs missing Hueng Min-Son, Pape Sarr and Yves Bissouma to international duties as well as James Maddinson who is still out through injury, the result isn’t a foregone conclusion. Tottenham have still managed to produce consistent results without their best eleven available for the last two months, however the total goals market is the way to go in this fixture. Four of Tottenham’s last seven games this season have hit over 3.5 total goals, while four of the last seven Premier League fixtures between these two sides have also hit over 3.5 total goals.
Over 3.5 Goals
$2.15 (1 Unit)
Arsenal vs Crystal Palace
Emirates Stadium, Saturday 20th January, 11:30pm AEDT
The first game of the second weekend on Matchday 21 sees Arsenal looking to end their three-game winless run when they host Crystal Palace at the Emirates. The Gunners have fallen to fourth place on the table after consecutive losses against West Ham and Fulham. Arsenal are now five points behind league leaders Liverpool, only two Matchdays after sitting at the top of the table. Palace come into this clash on the back of ending their eight-game winless streak with a 3-1 victory over Brentford, with the win moving Palace six points clear of the relegation zone.
Crystal Palace’s struggles this season have largely surrounded their inability to be a threat in attack, Palace have scored only 22 goals from their 20 games this season, equal third fewest goals in the Premier League. The Gunners have scored 15 more goals than Palace this season, despite only scoring two goals in their last three games. It’s been a horror run for Palace since October, who have a 2-4-7 from their last thirteen Premier League games.
Arsenal have had the better of Crystal Palace over the past couple years, having won their last three Premier League games against Palace with an aggregate scoreline of 7-1. Given Crystal Palace’s lack of potency in their front third, if the Gunners score early, it’s going to be incredibly difficult for Palace to overcome. They simply don’t have the attacking firepower to compete with Arsenal, who will be desperate to regain some ground in the title race.
Arsenal -1
$1.95 (2 Units)
