Premier League preview: Sunday’s action including Chelsea vs Tottenham
Arsenal vs Burnley
Postponed games, red cards, cup exits – it’s not been a great few weeks for Arsenal. In fact, four games into the new year the Gunners are still without a win in 2022 – but Mikel Arteta’s side can hopefully address that on Sunday.
Burnley were beaten by Huddersfield in the FA Cup last time out, and have lost four of their last five matches in all comps.
But Sean Dyche’s side haven’t played a match in two weeks and should at least be raring to go – could that offer a rare opportunity for the team to make their mark against Arsenal at the Emirates? Last time they played this fixture, they won 1-0, after all.
A repeat of that result would really make for a sorry outcome for the North London side – but surely Arsenal aren’t sloppy enough to let that happen again. Nevertheless, the visitors might at least be able to score, as they’ve done in their last two away games against Leeds and Man Utd. You can combine Arsenal to win and BTTS in a double at 5/2.
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool
In the last four league games between these two sides, the aggregate score is 16-0 (in Liverpool’s favour, if that needed clarifying). It gets worse, somehow – in Liverpool’s last six league visits to Selhurst Park, the Merseyside team have won each encounter.
With stats like that, it’s hard to find a bet on the visitors that offers a decent return. But perhaps taking a flutter on Roberto Firmino to score could be a good shout here. He produced a brace against Palace in this fixture last season, and since then each of his Premier League goals have come on the road.
Not the most prolific of scorers, nevertheless with Mane and Salah still absent at the AFCON, Bob might get a few more chances to find the net (and flash his dazzling set of chompers in the process). Firmino is 5/1 to score the opener.
Leicester vs Brighton
Fresh from Leicester’s reality-wobbling loss to Tottenham earlier this week, despite having been 2-1 up going into the 95th minute, now the Foxes face Graham Potter’s staunch side. Can Brendan Rodgers’ team stop the Seagulls?
Brighton’s trademark seems to be their tenacity – even if Leicester can take the lead, it’s such a characteristic of Potter’s team to score a late goal and earn a share of the points, it’s not hard to see it happening again here (even if Potter himself will be absent – the manager will be watching from home, having tested positive for Covid this week).
In three of Brighton’s last four away games in the Prem, the opposition have scored in the first half, with the Seagulls scoring late to finish the match with a draw. You might want to simply take a punt on the draw at 23/10, then.
But alternatively, in the Half Time / Full Time market you could try backing Leicester to be winning at half-time with the game ending in a draw at full time – that bet is available at 12/1.
Chelsea vs Tottenham
Chelsea have faced Spurs twice already this month, winning both games without conceding a goal. Is there any reason to think this one will be any different?
Well, Cup form aside, the Blues haven’t been at their sharpest of late. Their last four league matches have included two draws against Brighton and one against Liverpool, as well as a defeat to Man City.
Tottenham are still unbeaten in the Prem under Conte, and the side pulled off a ridiculous win against Leicester earlier this week which should fire up the Spurs faithful. Harry Kane looks back on it, too.
Meanwhile, for Chelsea everyone looks thoroughly browned off, with Tuchel’s talk of tiredness affecting his players – and the coach too – perhaps having the unwanted consequence not of excusing Chelsea’s performances, but serving as a self-fulfilling prophecy, too.
We’ll see – Tuchel gave his squad a couple of days off to recharge the batteries after the draw against Brighton. Perhaps that brief lull will see the Blues return to Stamford Bridge hungry to claim a third win over Tottenham this month.
But with Conte’s team seemingly in a more positive place than Chelsea right now, it’s not outrageous to think Spurs could at least land a point here. The draw is a 3/1 shot.
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