The week just gone is always a bit of a weird one with some people returning to work while others enjoy an extended Christmas break. The same is true in football as some countries are working incredibly hard while others, like Spain and Germany, are returning from their winter breaks this weekend. Italy, meanwhile, has moved its winter break this season and so players in Serie A have only just gone on their “Christmas holidays”!
Whether players are fatigued or well rested, there’s a great deal of action to get your teeth stuck into this weekend. But rather than trawling through the fixtures to try and find value bets, let us do the hard work for you. We’ve picked out the best bets from the weekend for you below, here’s hoping for some tasty winners to blast away those January blues.
- Chelsea v Leicester – Chelsea to Win and Both Teams to Score (15/8 with BetVictor)
- Huddersfield v West Ham – Huddersfield to Win (13/8 with Ladbrokes)
- Tottenham v Everton – Tottenham to Win by One Goal (12/5 with Coral)
- Liverpool v Man City – Raheem Sterling to Score Last (6/1 with Ladbrokes)
- Sheffield United v Sheffield Wednesday – Sheffield United to Win and Over 3.5 Goals (5/1 with Betfred)
- Eibar v Atletico Madrid – Eibar/Draw Double Chance (10/11 with Bet365)
- Real Sociedad v Barcelona – Barcelona to Win to Nil (19/10 with BetVictor)
Premier League
We’ve focussed our attention on the cup competitions over the last week but it’s time for the most important action to return this weekend. Although Man City have all but wrapped up the title, the battle for fourth place took another twist with Liverpool’s sale of Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona. The same is true of the relegation battle as Stoke decided enough was enough and sacked Mark Hughes. Will the Potters get the upturn they are hoping for and how will Jurgen Klopp splash the Kop cash?
Chelsea v Leicester – 13th January
Leicester returned to winning ways last time out in the Premier League with a comfortable 3-0 win over Huddersfield. That victory took the Foxes to eighth in the table, justifying the club’s decision to replace Craig Shakespeare, now assistant at Everton, with Claude Puel. The Frenchman has won over the majority of the Leicester fan base through a combination of good results and exciting football.
It will be very tough for Leicester to secure a good result when they travel to Stamford Bridge but there’s every chance the exciting football will continue in West London. The Chelsea players will be understandably tired after Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup semi final against Arsenal, something Leicester can exploit with their pacey forward line. However, the Blues should be able to do enough and claim all three points after an entertaining match.
Chelsea to Win and Both Teams to Score – 15/8 with BetVictor
Huddersfield v West Ham – 13th January
On the face of it, Huddersfield are in a comfortable midtable position with a little over half the Premier League season gone. It’s always a good thing to put teams between yourself and the relegation zone but with just four points separating the Terriers from the drop, German boss David Wagner will be wary about things changing very quickly.
If Huddersfield are to maintain the pace and avoid the drop they’ll need to maximise their games at home and they look good value to beat fellow relegation rivals West Ham at home at 13/8 with Ladbrokes.
Yes, West Ham have improved significantly under David Moyes but there are still big problems in east London. Moyes is battling against a major injury crisis and key players like Javier Hernandez, Winston Reid and Cheikhou Kouyate have lost form. The Irons have picked up big results against the best teams in the division but are rather less impressive in games they should be winning and another misstep could well be on the cards.
Huddersfield to Win – 13/8 with Ladbrokes
Tottenham v Everton – 13th January
The emergence of a top six in the Premier League is nothing new but this season will be remembered for the number of teams who have taken on the so-called big boys with an ultra defensive approach. Tottenham have already been frustrated by several teams parking the bus at Wembley and may find Everton doing exactly the same on Saturday.
After spending so much money in the summer, many people thought that Everton would be challenging the top six, or even the top four, this season. The change in mood at the club has been typified by the appointment of Sam Allardyce who has had no problem playing defensive football at any point in his career. The Everton faithful are not happy about Allardyce’s approach but he’ll be sticking to his guns at Wembley. Tottenham will have to work very hard for the win and look good value to just about squeeze by with a one goal victory priced at big odds of 12/5 with Coral.
Tottenham to Win by One Goal – 12/5 with Coral</
Liverpool v Man City – 14th January
Liverpool fans knew that Philippe Coutinho would join Barcelona at some stage, it’s the timing of the deal that has left them most upset. The loss of the little Brazilian will hurt Liverpool’s chances in the Champions League and make it tougher for them to earn a place in the top four. In the more immediate future though, Jurgen Klopp has enough talent to replace Coutinho for the visit of Man City on Sunday.
The atmosphere at Anfield will likely be one of defiance as the fans seek to prove that the club is much bigger than just one player. As fate would have it, Liverpool will come up against a former player on Saturday in the shape of Raheem Sterling. The England forward has come on leaps and bounds under Pep Guardiola this season and will be especially keen to make the difference at Anfield.
Sterling has scored the earliest and latest goal of the season so far and in a match which could end up any score, the best bet could be on Sterling making the final contribution by scoring last at 6/1 with Ladbrokes. That would be a cruel blow for the Anfield faithful but football is a funny old game and it’s well worth a small punt at long odds.
Raheem Sterling to Score Last – 6/1 with Ladbrokes
Championship
Wolves have been decried as ‘the Man City of the Championship’ and they continue to live up to that billing with some stunning performances. Nuno Espirito Santo’s team go into the weekend with a 12 point lead at the top of the table and are racing certainties to win promotion. Elsewhere, the fight for a place in the playoffs is as intense and tight as ever while there are some very big names in very real danger of relegation into League 1.
Sheffield United v Sheffield Wednesday – 12th January
What better way could there be to kick off the Championship weekend than the Sheffield derby? Although Wednesday have pushed for promotion to the Premier League in recent seasons and United only made it out of League 1 last term, it’s the Blades who have had the better time by some stretch so far.
Chris Wilder’s men have gone off the boil a little of late but they’re still exceeding expectations and will be able to crow about their 4-2 win at Hillsborough when the Owls visit Bramall Lane on Friday night. The Blades will fancy their chances of completing the double over their rivals and we think they can overcome their stutter to deliver the goods.
After sacking Carlos Carvalhal, Sheffield Wednesday will surely have to put off plans for promotion until next season at the earliest. In contrast, the Blades have every chance of claiming a playoff spot. Wilder needs his team to pick up their performances and while Wednesday will be very keen for revenge at Bramall Lane, the home side should be able to come through another end to end derby. So, back Sheffield United to win and over 3.5 goals being scored at 5/1 with Betfred.
Sheffield United to Win and Over 3.5 Goals – 5/1 with Betfred)
La Liga
Rumour has it that Barcelona pushed through the transfer of Coutinho because their players pressurised the club’s hierarchy to get it done as soon as possible. Morale at the club is already sky high as they sit top of La Liga by nine points and the addition of Coutinho will come as yet another blow to the forlorn chasing pack. That pack is headed by Atletico Madrid who saw their own new signing, Diego Costa, score on his return to La Liga last weekend. However, in true Costa style, there was controversy as he was sent off for his celebrations. Could that hurt Atleti on Saturday?
Eibar v Atletico Madrid – 13th January
Atletico Madrid have tasted La Liga success in recent years but they’ll be happy enough being second against this excellent Barcelona team. That said, Valencia and Real Madrid won’t be giving up the chase any time soon and Atletico certainly have some issues ahead of them. Dropping into the Europa League makes the schedule tougher while they have frequently dropped points away from home.
Eibar are the only Liga side yet to play Atletico. Underdogs they may be, but José Luis Mendilibar’s men are impressing in seventh. Their five home wins include a 2-1 triumph over Valencia which will give them confidence ahead of the visit of Atletico. Diego Simeone’s men are weakened by Costa’s suspension and may well drop points against this impressive Eibar outfit.
Eibar/Draw Double Chance – 10/11 with Bet365
Real Sociedad v Barcelona – 14th January
Real Sociedad are the last La Liga side to play Barcelona this season. So far only three teams (Atletico Madrid, Valencia and Celta Vigo) have taken points off of Ernesto Valverde’s unbeaten side. Every team tries to raise their game for the visit of Barcelona but it’s unlikely that any amount of effort will see Sociedad escape without defeat.
Valverde must be praised not just for the way he’s hit the ground running but for the way that Barcelona have improved under his management. He’s a quiet man who has an uncanny ability to move quickly on from success to focus on the next challenge. That approach will stand Barcelona in good stead both domestically and on the continent. It will also help ensure a fully committed performance in San Sebastian where Barca look set for their 13th win to nil of the season at 10/11 with Bet365.
Eibar/Draw Double Chance – 10/11 with Bet365