WE’RE heading into a bumper set of fixtures in the Premier League as the festive period gets underway.
With midweek action to come next week, we’re focusing on getting you betting tips for three massive games in the top-flight this weekend – starting with the Manchester derby.
After crashing out of the Champions League, it’s back to Prem duty for Ole and UnitedCredit: PA:Press Association
Man Utd vs Man City, Saturday 5.30pm
It’s safe to say it hasn’t been a good week for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
First Paul Pogba’s agent decides to go rogue just before United’s key Champions League clash at RB Leipzig.
And then they lose the game itself to crash out of the tournament – despite Pogba scoring. Just another week at Old Trafford.
Back on domestic duty though things are a little rosier for the Red Devils who are looking to bag a fifth-straight Premier League win.
They kick-off this game ahead in the table of their cross-town rivals City, who are seventh after an inconsistent start to the campaign.
Pep Guardiola’s spluttering side have won three of their last five, but have continued to drop points on the road at an alarming rate.
This will be a Manchester derby without fans and United’s struggles at Old Trafford have been well documented since football emerged from lockdown in this new form.
City have lost the last two Manchester derbiesCredit: EPA
It’s United’s flawless away results which see them occupy a place in the top six, not what they’ve done here at the Theatre of Dreams.
Ole’s side ended their horrid winless home start to the campaign against lowly West Brom, meaning they’ve taken just four points from a possible 15 at what is supposed to be their fortress.
City have won on three of their last four visits here, but were defeated when the teams met in a bad-tempered final hurrah before lockdown hit in March.
United are a huge 10/3 to win the game and you don’t usually see the Red Devils a price like that in a home league game.
We’re leaving that alone though, as well as the odds-on 3/4 on Man City picking up three much-needed points.
Goals are the order of the day in this one and we reckon this follows a similar pattern to recent Manchester derbies.
City have scored two or more on three of their last four visits and that’s a belting price to happen again at 7/10.
United have leaked ten in five home games and with City’s firepower and their need for a win, that looks a top pick.
Even so, we have to note that City continue to struggle with players getting in behind their high-line and are conceding far too many goals.
They’ve been breached by Spurs, West Ham, Leeds and Wolves on the road this season – and we expect both teams to score at Old Trafford.
That’s 8/13 and has been a winner in five of the last eight derby day head-to-head’s.
Mason Greenwood netted in the 3-1 comeback win over West Ham and is likely to feature again here with United’s forward line constantly chopping and changing.
If he plays, the fearless 19-year-old is a massive 3/1 to net any time. He’s the big value.
SunSport’s best bets
Everton vs Chelsea, Saturday 8pm
The Toffees are currently stuck in a rut.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side started the season off in style and topped the early table, leading some on Merseyside to dream of an unlikely top four charge.
But after just one win in their last five, Everton are sliding back towards mid-table and didn’t have the nous or patience to break down Burnley in their 1-1 draw last weekend.
Chelsea meanwhile have done the opposite, finally hitting their stride after Frank Lampard’s men failed to get out of first gear in the early matches of the season.
With so many new faces at the Bridge that was understandable – and you get the feeling things are starting to come together.
They’re chasing a fifth win in six matches and are yet to lose on the road this season.
Chelsea are 4/5 to pick up another three points and that’s a fair price, but we’re after more value.
The Blues actually have a pretty rotten record at Goodison Park, winning on just one of their last six visits.
Against his former club, we expect Ancelotti to have his players up for this one – but he will be aware they haven’t kept a clean sheet here all season in the league.
Jordan Pickford is still being trusted between the sticks, but the England man is so erratic he feels like an accident waiting to happen.
Chelsea have scored in both halves three times on the road this season out of five attempts – they average two goals per game and we’re backing that market at 29/20.
That’s a terrific price, while we also like over 2.5 goals at 3/5.
Of the 22 matches involving these two clubs so far in 2020/21, 14 have featured three or more goals.
After playing Tammy Abraham in midweek against Krasnodar, it appears Lampard is sticking with Olivier Giroud as his frontman.
That’s a wise choice, no matter what Didier Deschamps says.
Giroud is a man in red-hot form and exactly the sort of player you want to trust with your hard-earned. Back him at 5/4 to continue his scoring run.
SunSport’s best bets
Arsenal vs Burnley, Sunday 7.15pm
It’s not quite Christmas just yet, but Mikel Arteta is skating on thin ice.
The Arsenal boss could only watch on as his side crashed to North London derby defeat last week, barely landing a glove on Jose Mourinho’s well-drilled Tottenham.
That defeat left the Gunners languishing in 15th place, winless in four games and with just one goal in that period.
Burnley meanwhile toughed out a 1-1 draw with Everton to at least get back on track after a 5-0 mullering at Man City the weekend before.
Sean Dyche’s men are also struggling for goals though, with just five scored in 10 top-flight matches this campaign.
This feels like a huge match for Arteta who is now 6/1 to be the next Premier League manager dismissed.
At the beginning of November, you could get 50/1 on the same market.
We’d recommend a little play on that before it shortens some more – because the crisis at Arsenal isn’t going away anytime soon, even if they beat the Clarets.
Don’t go anywhere near the 4/7 on a Gunners win, especially as they’ve lost their last three on the bounce at home.
Giroud has been on fire in Europe for the Blues since joining the club from rivals Arsenal
Burnley might not be much threat going forward, but they can frustrate Arsenal here and the longer things stay 0-0, the nervier the 2,000 fans allowed into the Emirates will get.
History isn’t on Burnley’s side – they’ve lost on their last eight visits to North London and conceded at least two every time – but we’re backing them to at least give Arsenal a proper game.
They’ve kept two clean sheets in their last three away games and we really like the 7/4 on the game being 0-0 at half time.
Even if the Gunners do sneak the result, we hardly see a blowout – especially with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang looking a shadow of himself.
Back under 2.5 goals at 20/23 as Arsenal were clueless last week against Spurs despite sending in 44 crosses into the box – the most by any club this season.
Alexandre Lacazette came closest in the derby loss, his glancing header tipped wide by Hugo Lloris.
Aubameyang is 11/10 to score anytime but leave that well alone until he finally finds his form again.
Instead back Lacazette at a more tempting 13/10 – the Frenchman got back among the scorers last week in the Europa League and looks the more likely of the two.
SunSport’s best bets
*All odds from Ladbrokes and correct at time of publication.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
