A full midweek set of football games to delight sports betting fans.
As January ends and February arrives, will the shape of the table change?
WEEK 23 WEDNESDAY:
Arsenal vs Watford
You can probably bet online that Arsenal will not leave it as late to clinch victory in this one as they did against Burnley last time out.
There was much fortune about their 2-1 win over Burnley, and they will want to avoid another such slog.
Watford will be lifted by the signing of Mauro Zarate and loan arrival Tom Cleverley and will fondly remember their FA Cup success at the Emirates last season.
Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
When he was appointed days before Christmas, probably even Sam Allardyce didn’t think he’d still be waiting for his first league win as Crystal Palace manager.
Yet going into the final day of January, that is the position he faces.
The squad he has inherited is surely too talented to go down, although they remain under increasing pressure and go into this one in the drop zone.
Burnley vs Leicester City
At the start of the season, who would have thought the newly-promoted Clarets would be above the champions in the table?
Yet, that is the position for both these clubs at the end of January – not even a win for Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez (back from the Africa Cup of Nations) and co. at Turf Moor will alter that.
Burnley have one of the best home records in the top flight, and Leicester are yet to win away from home in the league as they try to avoid setting an unwanted record for defending champions.
Middlesbrough vs West Brom
Boro need a victory soon.
Their last Premier League victory was on Dec 17 against a Swansea side who are now just two points behind them.
A home match with West Brom, comfortably in eighth place, is the type of fixture they need to win to ensure their top-flight return is not brief.
Sunderland vs Spurs
Despite glimpses of promise just when you thought they were doomed, Sunderland are now rooted to the bottom and the optimism that arose from good results against Leicester, Watford and Liverpool seems to have quickly dissipated.
When manager David Moyes says that even any January signing would likely make little difference (such is his limited budget and the player it may attract), you know there’s a lack of belief, if not effort.
In-form Spurs will be strong favourites at the start of what will be a crucial month for the Wearsiders.
Swansea City vs Southampton
What confidence these two must have after superb victories at Anfield.
The Swans not only ended Liverpool’s unbeaten home record which stretched back over a year but also moved off the bottom with a victory they hope will kick-start the Paul Clement era.
Southampton’s achievement in reaching the League Cup Final with a 2-0 aggregate success has also given Claude Puel and his team a massive lift, and the Saints (who rested many first-teamers in their FA Cup exit) have a Wembley date to look forward to – reward for years of progress at the club despite constantly having to sell their best players and the departure of fine managers.
WEEK 23 THURSDAY:
West Ham vs Manchester City
A repeat of the FA Cup third round tie when City obliterated the Hammers with ease.
That showed City at their best and West Ham at their worse.
This should be a lot closer as some pressure begins to tell on Pep Guardiola.
Manchester United vs Hull City
This is the third meeting between the clubs in as many weeks and familiarity can breed contempt.
In truth, the law of averages suggested no team would win all three encounters, and it’s one win apiece after the League Cup semi-finals (United progressing on aggregate).
So injury-hit has been Hull’s squad that Marco Silva has had little to work with, especially now he has sold Jake Livermore and Robert Snodgrass – odd moves given they are two of the club’s best players – yet he will probably have strengthened by the time this comes around so there could be some debuts at Old Trafford.
Stoke City vs Everton
Mark Hughes is often underappreciated by Stoke; Ronald Koeman seems to be really appreciated at Everton.
If Toffees’ fans know what Koeman is trying to achieve and are willing to give him the time he requires – make Everton a regular top six club competing in Europe – then it should be remembered Hughes is working with far limited resources.
Their 1-1 draw with Man Utd showed that spirit and belief can take you so far, now they need more consistency which, of course, is easier said than done.
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