Last weekend in the English Premier League, Manchester City dropped crucial points against Chelsea that has given Liverpool the upper hand in the title race. We now turn our attention to Matchday 26 which is headlined by a blockbuster clash between Arsenal and Newcastle, and we’ve got you covered with our best bets for this week’s action!
EPL 2023-24: Matchday 26 Preview & Betting Tips
Liverpool vs Luton Town
Anfield, Thursday 22nd January, 6:30am AEDT
Liverpool’s position at the top of the table is back in their own control after Manchester City’s draw against Chelsea last week. Even though the defending champions won their game in hand against Brentford on Wednesday, they’ll still sit one point behind Jurgen Klopp’s side. Mo Salah returned for the Reds and scored as they picked up a 4-1 win over Brentford on Matchday 25. It was the fifth time in their last six games that Liverpool have scored at least three goals, with the Reds ranking as the most prolific attacking team in the league with 58 goals.
Luton Town put up a solid performance in their 2-1 defeat against Manchester United, and were left to rue missing an abundance of opportunities in the first half when they had the game on their terms. Luton Town are winless in their last three games and have only one win from their last six games, sitting in eighteenth place fighting for their survival in the Premier League. Luton Town’s defence is going to be under a mountain of pressure against a red-hot Liverpool front three. The Hatters have conceded 47 goals this season, the third most of any side in the Premier League.
Liverpool will win this game comfortably, however given their mountain of goals they’ve scored over the last two months, the total goals market is where the best value lies in this clash. Liverpool’s last six Premier League games have hit over 3.5 total goals, while three of Luton Town’s last four games have hit over 3.5 total goals. It’s a clear mismatch of talent in this fixture, so expect goals aplenty from the league leaders.
Over 3.5 Goals
$1.80 (2 Units)
Bournemouth vs Manchester City
Vitality Stadium, Sunday 25th January, 4:30am AEDT
Manchester City travel to the Vitality Stadium on Sunday morning looking to keep the pressure on Liverpool after squandering a chance to be top of the table after their 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Matchday 25. City had 31 shots to Chelsea’s 9 and recorded 71% possession, however they couldn’t convert their dominance in general play onto the scoreboard. The defending champions experienced a similar game on Wednesday against Brentford, winning the shot count 25-6 and recording 71% possession, however Erling Haaland’s goal in the 71st minute saw City walking away with all three points.
Bournemouth had to settle for a draw after conceding a stoppage time equaliser against Newcastle last week. The result leaves the Cherries winless from their last six games, with their last win coming back on Boxing Day. Bournemouth have struggled in defence during their winless run, conceding fourteen goals across those six games. Bournemouth are the seventeenth ranked defence in the Premier League, with the three teams ranked lower than them all being in the relegation zone.
Coming up against the second highest scoring team in the league, things could get ugly in this game for Bournemouth given their recent form. Their head-to-head record against Pep Guardiola’s side doesn’t give much hope for the Cherries, with City winning all thirteen Premier League meetings between the two sides. The last three games have seen score lines of 4-0, 4-1 and 6-1, and this fixture will likely pan out in another one-sided affair.
Manchester City -1
$2.10 (1.5 Units)
Arsenal vs Newcastle
Emirates Stadium, Sunday 25th February, 7:00am AEDT
Emirates Stadium plays host to a battle of third versus eighth as Newcastle travel south to take on Arsenal. The Gunners come into this clash in scintillating form having won five consecutive league matches, with their last two wins coming by score lines of 5-0 and 6-0. Newcastle managed to secure a point against Bournemouth last week thanks to a 92nd minute equaliser from Matt Ritchie, however it was the second time in their last three games that they’ve dropped points against teams in the bottom half of the table.
Arsenal are the hottest team in the Premier League at the moment, with their five game winning streak coming at an aggregate score of 21-2. To back up their dominant attacking game that sees them as the second most prolific scoring side in the league, The Gunners have the number one ranked defence, conceding only 22 goals from 25 games this season. Arsenal are only two points behind league leaders Liverpool and are right in the title race with the way they’re playing at the moment.
After finishing in the top four in season 2022/23, Newcastle have struggled to maintain any level of consistency this season which has led to them struggling against the better sides in the league. Newcastle have a 1-0-4 record against the top three teams on the table, and that record doesn’t look like it will be improving any time soon given the way Arsenal are playing at the moment.
Arsenal -1
$1.95 (1 Unit)
