Premier League preview: all the Boxing Day action

Man City vs Everton

Look on Pep Guardiola’s works, ye mighty, and despair. Man City’s transformation from implacable force of footballing totalitarianism to a feeble, forlorn imitation of their past greatness is something to behold.

The Manchester side lost again this past weekend, going down 2-1 to Aston Villa. That makes for a ninth defeat in 12 matches. At this point, you’ve got to take them on, right?

Well, Pep’s imploding side have been less terrible playing at home – faint praise, but all we can muster right now. And Everton have failed to score in six of their last seven games. The exception was a 4-0 battering of Wolves at Goodison Park.

With City still struggling for belief and Sean Dyche unlikely to set his team up to provide a Boxing Day blockbuster, a festive feast of goals may not be on the menu at the Etihad.

Yes, there’s an argument that this is the game where City can rediscover at least some of their mojo. But Everton have kept clean sheets in goalless draws against Arsenal and Chelsea in their last two matches. Who’s to say they can’t do the same against this struggling City?

Under 2.5 goals is a 6/4 shot. If you want to really buy into the Sean Dyche way, you can back the 0-0 scoreline at 17/1.

Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace

Bournemouth should be in good spirits for this one, having humbled Man Utd 3-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday. Palace were in decent nick themselves, but back-to-back defeats to Arsenal might have sapped some of their momentum.

With the Cherries unbeaten in five league games – four of which were victories – there’s little reason to doubt the south coast side here. This could be a fairly routine home win; Bournemouth are 17/20 for the victory.

Chelsea vs Fulham

Each of these sides have exceeded expectations so far this season. Fulham already look a decent prospect to play in Europe next year, while Chelsea are challenging for the title.

Enzo Maresca has got the Blues back to something like their best, and it’s tough not to fancy the hosts to win. Even with the Cottagers impressing, Fulham have only won one of their last six league games.

And this derby has tended to be a tad one-sided; in each of their last six visits to Stamford Bridge, Fulham have failed to find the net.

Marco Silva’s side may again struggle to trouble opponents who had won eight on the bounce in all competitions before having to settle for a draw away to Everton on Sunday.

Combine Chelsea to win and Nicolas Jackson to score at any time in a double at 39/20; Jackson has nine goals for Chelsea so far, scoring in three of his last four appearances at the Bridge.

Newcastle vs Aston Villa

Newcastle held Liverpool to a 3-3 draw earlier this month at St James’ Park, and have racked up 4-0 wins over Leicester and Ipswich in their last couple of outings.

The Magpies are a force to be reckoned with once again after a less impressive run earlier in the season. But it’s a similar story for Aston Villa, who’ve looked decent in the last few weeks – even if they did lose away to Nottingham Forest last weekend.

Unai Emery’s side got back on the winning trail with a 2-1 win over Man City on Saturday; however this one finishes, we’d be surprised if there’s not goals. Over 3.5 is a 17/10 shot; Alexander Isak, who scored a hat-trick for the Mags against Ipswich, is 27/25 to find the net here.

Nottingham Forest vs Spurs

The Tricky Trees are tearing it up this season; Forest moved up to fourth in the league table with victory over Brentford on Saturday.

As for their opponents, Tottenham undeniably offer a robust attacking threat. It’s just a shame the north London side’s potency upfront is so often undermined by their dog’s dinner of a defence. Last time out, they shipped six goals to Liverpool at home. Unacceptable.

So is this one of the matches where Tottenham swing back the other way, scoring a hatful and suggesting there might be reason to Big Ange’s recalcitrance after all? Maybe, but having spent four unhappy months in charge of Spurs back in 2021, Forest coach Nuno would certainly enjoy getting one over on his old club.

Because Spurs are as capable of coming good as they are of catastrophe, backing goals rather than the outcome might be the right way to go here. Over 4.5 goals is a 3/1 shot.

Southampton vs West Ham

Rock bottom of the Prem with one league win all season, Southampton are looking for a Christmas miracle. Could their new manager play the role of Santa?

Ivan Juric is the man in question. Could the not especially jolly Juric bring a new manager bounce effect to St Mary’s? The new coach will certainly want a fast start. His last gig, managing Roma earlier this season, lasted less than two months.

West Ham certainly look a beatable team – though perhaps not for the Saints, who have scored one goal in their last four league games. In each of their last two home games, they’ve conceded five goals too, to Chelsea and Spurs.

The Irons have faced south coast opposition in their last two matches, drawing 1-1 against both Bournemouth and Brighton. But while it’s been a disappointing season so far for Julen Lopetegui’s side, West Ham have shown glimpses of promise, beating Newcastle away last month.

The visitors are clearly the better side, and Southampton may not be able to keep the Irons at bay. Take West Ham to win at 11/10.

Wolves vs Man Utd

Wolves romped to a 3-0 win away to Leicester at the weekend under new manager Vitor Pereira. With a certain clunking symmetry, Ruben Amorim, another Portuguese, had to watch his Man Utd team lose by the same scoreline at home to Bournemouth.

More positively, United did win away against Man City earlier this month. So can Amorim’s side take something from this trip to Molineux?

If they do, there’s a fair chance it will be Amad Diallo who steps up for the Red Devils. He’s scored twice in his last three appearances for United, both goals coming away from Old Trafford. Diallo is 3/1 to find the net here.

Liverpool vs Leicester

Liverpool aren’t perfect – shipping three goals against Spurs on Sunday demonstrated that. But the six goals Arne Slot’s side put past Tottenham’s hapless defence suggests Leicester could be in for a rough time of it at Anfield.

The hosts have just overcome a blip of sorts – back-to-back draws against Fulham and Newcastle. They’ve lost just one league game all season, and in Mo Salah they have a player who has reached double figures for goals and assists before Christmas. Salah is the first player in the history of the Premier League to achieve that feat.

Leicester, by contrast, have lost five of their last seven league games. This weekend they shipped three goals before half-time to Wolves at the King Power; that loss came on the back of a 4-0 defeat away to Newcastle.

And the last time these sides met on Boxing Day, back in 2019 at the King Power, Liverpool won 4-0, too.

The Foxes are not flying, and it’s tough to see any scenario where they get something from this encounter. Indeed, with Leicester shipping plenty of goals lately, this match could serve up the proverbial Boxing Day glut of goals.

Backing over 4.5 at 6/5 is probably reasonable. You could also consider backing Mo Salah to score at least two goals at 23/10.

Meanwhile, if you’re willing to dream a little bigger – it is Christmas, after all – you might consider a small punt on over 8.5 goals at 28/1…

To bet on a wide range of markets, visit 32Red Sport today. If you’re looking for a different kind of flutter, check out our 32Red Casino site. There’s plenty of slots and table games to keep you entertained!