SETTLE in for a Christmas feast of football this weekend.
With the festive fixtures in full swing, we’ve betting tips for you from three top-flight games which will hopefully net you some pocket money ahead of the big day.
Arteta’s side are on a dismal run of form – and we expect it to continue this weekendCredit: PA:Press Association
Everton vs Arsenal, Saturday 5.30pm
The crisis continues to deepen at Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta’s men laboured to a 1-1 draw with Southampton on Wednesday, although on recent form that wasn’t actually a bad result.
Hey, at least it wasn’t a fifth-straight Premier League defeat on the spin for a team with more red cards than goals in the last two months.
Everton meanwhile have started to turn around their own form, coming into this one on the back of two excellent victories.
Six points over Chelsea and Leicester is a terrific return and they saw out their 2-0 win at the King Power with relative ease in midweek.
One positive for Arsenal was Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang finally breaking his goal duck.
But on the flip, they’ll have to wheel out a backup defender for this one after Gabriel saw red for a needless pair of bookings.
The Gunners don’t have a great record at Goodison, with just one victory on their last four visits.
Last season saw a dismal 0-0 draw, with Everton failing to get a shot on target.
Richarlison can bag again for the Toffees at a massive 12/5Credit: EPA
Arsenal this season on the road have scored just five times, conceding six – that’s the third-best defensive record on the road, despite their troubles at the Emirates.
As such, we’re not expecting a goal-fest here by any means.
Three of the last five head-to-head’s on this ground have featured less than three goals and you can back that at a generous 19/20.
Just like on Wednesday, Arsenal are getting too much leeway on the results market and we won’t stop you going with an Everton victory at a juicy 13/10.
The Toffees are full of confidence and two wins without conceding against sides with far more firepower than the Gunners.
Richarlison was superb against Leicester and took away the man of the match award after nabbing the opening goal.
He’s a confidence player and tends to score his goals in fits and bursts, as showcased by the three-in-three blitz he produced against Fleetwood, Crystal Palace and West Ham earlier this season.
The 12/5 on him scoring at anytime is too big. Get on.
SunSport’s best bets
Man Utd vs Leeds
Trust us, this one matters.
When Leeds secured their return to the top-flight for the first time in 16 years back in the summer, this was the fixture all fans in the West Yorkshire city were looking forward to.
Leeds versus Man Utd is a proper Yorkshire vs Lancashire grudge-fest and this one couldn’t be better poised.
Marcelo Bielsa’s men come into the match on the back of a thumping 5-2 win over Newcastle, where they showcased just what the Argentine’s philosophy can do when everything clicks.
Man Utd meanwhile had to battle from behind at Sheffield United to keep their winning run on the road going.
Ole’s men always seem to start slowly away from Old Trafford, but found their groove midway through the first half and never looked back – no matter how much Dean Henderson tried to throw things away.
Leeds continue to impress and bouncing back from back-to-back defeats in the way they did against Newcastle was impressive.
We expect them to arrive at Old Trafford and really put the frighteners up United with their aggressive, high-press approach.
If it spooked Liverpool, it terrifies this timid United side.
Rodrigo is a great price to score again for Leeds after finding the net against NewcastleCredit: EPA
Leeds are a team which create chances and pile men into the area – expect them to score, as they’ve done in every away match this season.
8/13 for both teams to score is short, but we’re happy to make that our bet of the weekend.
But we’re happy to hunt for value and reckon that Leeds to score in BOTH halves is way overpriced at 7/2,
They did that at Liverpool when riding on a crest of emotion and adrenaline – at £45 back for a tenner, it’s a gamble well worth taking on.
Record-signing Rodrigo is settling into life in the Premier League and the new role Bielsa has given to him at Elland Road.
He bagged a goal in the Toon rout and is a player for the big occasion.
On a day in which we believe Leeds will at the very least show pride and passion, he’s the value pick of the market to net at a whopping 16/5.
SunSport’s best bets
Chelsea vs West Ham, Monday 8pm
There’s nothing better than a full-bloodied London derby under the lights on a cold, December evening.
With no love lost between these two sides, expect a blood and thunder encounter at the Bridge.
Chelsea are hurting from two straight losses on the road, denting their title hopes and allowing Liverpool to gain the advantage for the time being.
West Ham meanwhile have lost just one of their last five, but will be disappointed the couldn’t break down ten-man Palace last week.
It’s now nine home games unbeaten for Chelsea and although fans are banned again from the Bridge, it feels like Frank Lampard’s men are starting to make it a fortress.
The Hammers will have fond memories from their visit here last season, when Aaron Cresswell’s strike was enough to give them all three points.
That was their first win on Chelsea soil in FIFTEEN attempts and ended a barren run stretching right back to 2002.
David Moyes’ side have scored in all their away games this season, as well as four of their last five visits here.
Chelsea meanwhile have conceded in three of their last four home games, putting the brakes on any ideas of a comfortable home victory.
Chelsea were beaten at Wolves – but Christian Pulisic showed enough that we’re happy to back him at 13/10Credit: PA:Press Association
That Wolves defeat at Molineux certainly confirmed that Lampard’s side have a soft underbelly – and he will be concerned that his expensively assembled frontline is being overshadowed week-after-week by Olivier Giroud.
It’s 4/6 for both teams to net and we’re a fan of that, but also the 7/4 on Chelsea to win with both teams netting.
As much as West Ham have impressed this season after a slow start, they’ve lost at Arsenal, Everton and Liverpool on the road.
All of those defeats have come with them scoring – 7/4 is just too big considering Chelsea’s home form.
We gave Timo Werner a chance to shine last week against Wolves but the German continued to frustrate.
It’s not his fault he’s not in his natural position, but he ran down plenty of blind alleys and seemed to be trying to do too much rather than acting purely on instinct.
He’s evens to net anytime – steer clear of that and instead back Christian Pulisic at 13/10.
The American was the brightest spark – barring Giroud – against Wolves, with his tireless running and ability to cut inside while beating a man.
He’s endured a stop-start campaign due to injuries but scored against Leeds on December 5 and this looks like another game in which he can shine. Get on that big price.
SunSport’s best bets
*All odds from Ladbrokes and correct at time of publication.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
