GET ready for a frantic December as the Premier League enters a festive fixture pile-up this month.
Once again there’s a packed schedule this weekend and if you fancy a flutter, we’ve got you covered with betting tips from three top-flight matches.
Can Marcelo Bielsa’s men pick up another three points on the road?Credit: Reuters
Chelsea vs Leeds, Saturday 8pm (Sky Sports)
Frank Lampard’s side are really in the groove now.
You have to go back to September for the last time the Blues lost a Premier League game – and they have to be down as serious title challengers this season.
Alright, so they struggled against the low-block of Spurs last week in a fairly forgettable 0-0 London derby.
But this week, we’re expecting the goals to flow under the lights with Marcelo Bielsa’s men in town.
Low-block isn’t in the Argentinians vocabulary and the fearless Whites will arrive here to win.
They caught Everton napping last week with a tenacious display that proved they won’t be softening their approach as the season progresses.
Lampard’s side were held to a 0-0 draw by Tottenham last weekendCredit: AP:Associated Press
Of course things are a little different against one of the Premier League top four on the road.
Leeds showed off their approach in a 4-3 thriller with Liverpool in their opening game of the season and we expect this one to be very similar.
The men from West Yorkshire have scored in every one of their games on the road this season.
With both teams to score marked up at 4/7, the bookies are expecting them to continue that run.
In three of their last four home games in the league, Chelsea have scored three or more.
While Leeds have conceded four on the road twice this season, but have kept three clean sheets (Everton, Sheffield United and Aston Villa).
We’re expecting Chelsea to thrive in what should be a wide open game and the Blues to score three or more is a tempting 6/4.
If Palace can manage it, so can a team featuring Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic.
Timo Werner is yet to show his true colours in a Chelsea shirtCredit: Reuters
Despite their excellent start to life back in the top-flight, Leeds won’t have everything their own way here and we expect a Blues victory.
But 4/7 outright is a little too small to back, so instead go for Chelsea to win with a goal for Leeds at the other end – that’s a whopping 9/5.
Tammy Abraham was guilty of missing some half-chances against Spurs and plenty of Blues fans were crying out for Olivier Giroud to come on earlier.
The Frenchman got his chance against Sevilla in midweek and it’s fair to say he smashed it out the park.
Giroud has been on fire in Europe for the Blues since joining the club from rivals Arsenal
He went on to score all four as Chelsea thrashed the Spaniards in their own back-yard, netting a perfect hat-trick along with a late penalty.
If sense prevails, Lampard should roll with the hot-hand and start the Frenchman on Saturday – but wait for the team-sheet before committing to your goalscorer punt.
You can get a generous 13/10 on him to score anytime, which is a great bet even if he starts on the bench and comes on as a super sub.
For the braver among you, 4/1 on Giroud bagging the opener isn’t bad either. Don’t miss out.
SunSport’s best bets
Tottenham vs Arsenal, Sunday 4.30pm (Sky Sports)
It’s never dull in the North London derby.
Form usually goes out of the window in this emotional, charged-up fixture in the capital.
And that’s probably a good thing for Arsenal, because they’re in an absolutely shocking state.
Roy Keane was buoyant last weekend that they’d have enough to avoid relegation – and although he might have been tongue-in-cheek, the Gunners recent results are that of a bottom half team.
They’ve lost five of their first ten Premier League games this season, winning just four and have a single top-flight victory since September.
Under-fire Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta needs a win – and fastCredit: Getty – Pool
Spurs meanwhile are starting to look like a vintage Jose Mourinho side.
Solid with a sprinkle of the spectacular, everyone in a Tottenham shirt knows their job and the results are starting to flow.
At the time of writing they top the Premier League table and deserve to do so, with just one defeat all season and four wins in their last five.
As a result, Spurs are odds-on to win this and we wouldn’t put anyone off backing them at a decent 19/20.
Arsenal have one of the worst shooting records in Europe this season
Mourinho’s men have an excellent recent record in the derby, winning three of the last five home meetings and losing none.
But we’re after value and reckon this Arsenal side in shambles can provide us some.
Four of the last five NLD’s have featured both teams to score, but we’re expecting Mourinho to try shut-out this currently inefficient Gunners frontline.
Arsenal are averaging a goal every game, but that wins you nothing in this league – especially against statistically the best defence in the division.
Chelsea and Man City drew a blank against this Spurs rearguard and we’re going to trust them again – back Tottenham to win to nil on Sunday afternoon at a chunky 12/5.
We reckon Spurs start fast and in their last five home games across all competitions they’ve netted first within the first 20 minutes.
You can get a whopping 27/20 on them scoring first in the opening half – get on.
Harry Kane loves this fixture and has ten career derby day goals.
The England forward is carrying a knock and is a doubt for this one, but Mourinho expects him to play – just make sure you wait for confirmation.
He’s on a relative dry-spell of four without a goal at the moment, which has inflated his price to 6/5. Don’t miss out.
SunSport’s best bets
Brighton vs Southampton, Monday 8pm (Sky Sports)
There’s nothing better than a derby on a cold, miserable December Monday night.
Southampton head along the south coast to meet Brighton at the Amex, with the Saints still riding high in the table despite snatching defeat from the jaws of victory against Man Utd.
Let’s hope that late defeat doesn’t begin a decline for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men, because they have been superb so far this season.
Brighton meanwhile are just about keeping their heads above water, scrapping out three draws in their last five matches.
The Seagulls home form though is a real cause for concern and along with Sheffield United, they’re the only two sides yet to win at home in the league.
Graham Potter will be fully aware that they need to break that duck – and soon.
This looks like the perfect opportunity, especially as Brighton will have 2,000 fans back in to generate some support from the terraces.
But as much as the home side need those three points to keep them clear of the bottom three, we’re surprised to see Southampton aren’t favourites here.
Since Brighton were promoted back to the Premier League in 2016/17, the Saints are unbeaten on this ground with a draw and three wins (one in the cup).
And since losing to Palace in their opening road match, they’re unbeaten on the road despite some tough fixtures.
You can get 17/10 on a Southampton win and we’re all over that for a Monday night winter warmer.
James Ward-Prowse is our pick to continue his goalscoring formCredit: EPA
Even without Danny Ings they have a real goal threat throughout the side with Che Adams really stepping up in recent weeks.
Back the Saints to march home with all three points, while over 2.5 goals appears to be the safer play if you want to avoid the results market.
Matches involving the Seagulls this season have featured an average of 3 goals, while for Southampton it’s a whopping 3.5 per match.
Get on that at a very generous price of 10/11.
James Ward-Prowse is in the form of his life at the moment and has four goals in his last five games, prompting Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to claim he ‘can’t be stopped’.
He only needs one more to equal his tally of five for the entire of the 2019/20 campaign – and he’s the value pick in the field.
You can get a massive 7/2 on him scoring anytime, which is huge considering his set-piece threat and recent hot-streak. Get on.
SunSport’s best bets
*All odds from Ladbrokes and correct at time of publication.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
