Sport
GUIDE TO THE NEXT £1,000,000 1X2 PICK 15
Stoke vs Manchester United
Head-to-Head: STO 27-33-42 MUN
Stoke could not have wished for a better time to host Manchester United. Louis van Gaal is a man under immense pressure at Old Trafford and recent reports suggest he has only two more games to get the Red Devils back on track. United are in the midst of a run of six games, in all competitions, without a win, along with three consecutive defeats in their last three outings. As a result, they have slipped to fifth in the league and eight points behind pace-setters Leicester. Stoke have won three of their last four home games, which includes respective victories against Manchester City and Chelsea. Mark Hughes’ men are playing with a fresh attacking flair, but must put their most recent defeat to Crystal Palace on Saturday quickly behind them. In their current form, I struggle to see Manchester United winning at the Britannia on Boxing Day.
Selection: HOME & DRAW
Aston Villa vs West Ham
Head-to-Head: AVL 38-31-39 WHU
Aston Villa will probably take confidence from their recent 1-1 draw with Newcastle at St James’ Park, but Remi Garde’s men still sit bottom of the Premier League. Just seven points from 17 games has seen Villa go without a league victory in 16 games, dating back to the opening day of the season. They are already 10 points from safety and red hot favourites with bookmakers for relegation next May. West Ham, on the other hand, have lost just one of their last six games in England’s top tier though their recent five outings have all ended in a draw. The Hammers are without a goal in three games and will travel to Villa Park knowing that victory is crucial in their pursuit for European football next season.
Selection: DRAW & AWAY
Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
Head-to-Head: BOU 27-15-22 CPA
Bournemouth are enjoying the best run of form in their club history. Three consecutive Premier League victories have helped the Cherries to 14th in the table and four points from the relegation zone. Eddie Howe’s side looked electric in defeating both Chelsea and Manchester United in recent weeks and could be difficult to contain with such momentum. Crystal Palace, too, are in similar form. The Eagles recently secured a deal with new American owners for significant investment and travel down south following one league defeat in seven outings. Alan Pardew has them playing exciting football which should make for a good encounter with Bournemouth on Boxing Day afternoon. It is a very difficult to game to predict as the result can swing either way.
Selection: HOME, DRAW & AWAY
Liverpool vs Leicester
Head-to-Head: LIV 42-24-36 LEI
Jurgen Klopp’s honeymoon period with Liverpool came a crashing end of Sunday when the Reds endured a tough 3-0 away defeat at Watford. The Premier League new-boys were outstanding on that occasion and fully deserved the full three points. It left Klopp frustrated at the final whistle as keeper Bogdan made a number of crucial errors in goal. Leicester maintained their stranglehold on the league with a brilliant 2-3 success at Everton on Saturday afternoon. Claudio Ranieri’s side are atop of the Premier League at Christmas and are becoming legitimate title contenders more and more each week. They will travel to Merseyside with supreme confidence and will be tough to stop once again.
Selection: DRAW & AWAY
Swansea vs West Brom
Head-to-Head: SWA 15-7-13 WBA
Manager-less Swansea host West Brom on Boxing Day without a league victory since October. As a result, they have fallen in to the relegation zone and look a shadow of the team that executed a number of classy performances last season. West Brom will head to Wales on Boxing Day knowing that they have conceded in all of their last seven league outings. They do, however, boast some solid form in-between those performances with a respective victory over Arsenal included amongst one defeat in their last five games. Tony Pulis was criticised by Jurgen Klopp recently for having a side that play ‘boring’ football, though I’m sure the former Stoke boss would rather a safe draw than defeat.
Selection: DRAW
Tottenham vs Norwich
Head-to-Head: TOT 29-18-23 NOR
Tottenham returned to form nicely this weekend with a comfortable 0-2 victory over Southampton at St Mary’s. Spurs had previously gone 14 Premier League games unbeaten prior to their recent mishap against Newcastle. They are up to 4th in the standings and could develop into title contenders if maintaining their consistency once again throughout the remainder of the campaign. They host a Norwich side on Boxing Day who are arriving off of the back of a 1-2 victory at Old Trafford. The Canaries conceded much of the possession against Manchester United, but took full advantage of the few chances that were created. They may look to do similar at White Hart Lane, though could struggle against a side who had been lethal at home in recent weeks.
Selection: HOME
Hull vs Burnley
Head-to-Head: HUL 19-11-30 BUR
Hull have won five of their last six home games in the Championship and know that victory here is important to their automatic promotion claims. Steve Bruce’s men recently lost to Rotherham but will hope the return to home turf will spark a return to winning ways. Burnley secured their first victory in seven league games against Charlton last weekend. The Clarets are three points behind their hosts on Boxing Day, making victory over Hull important for keeping pace with their Championship rivals. However, they have not won any of their last four away games in the league and could struggle to topple an in-form Hull side.
Selection: HOME
Ipswich vs QPR
Head-to-Head: IPS 28-18-25 QPR
Ipswich are not showing much consistency thus far this season. A recent victory at Fulham was followed by a home defeat to Derby last weekend. Mick McCarthy’s men sit in sixth place in the Championship with plenty of teams snapping at their heals, including QPR. New manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has enjoyed a solid start to his career at Loftus Road which has seen his side go unbeaten since November. The Londoners have drawn their last three league games and are clearly struggling to close out their games. I find it hard to see QPR beating Ipswich away from home, and imagine that the side will be content with taking at least a draw.
Selection: HOME & DRAW
Wolves vs Reading
Head-to-Head: WOL 16-6-16 REA
Wolverhampton Wanderers fans are becoming increasingly frustrated with their teams performances in recent weeks which has seen them slump to one victory in their last eight league games. As a result, they have slid down the Championship table to 17th place and were victims of a thumping at the hands of Sheffield Wednesday last Sunday. They host Reading on Boxing Day evening who have lost all of their last five league away games but should be buoyed by the recent arrival of Brian McDermott as manager. McDermott’s side enjoyed a good victory over Blackburn last weekend and will take great confidence from the outing.
Selection: DRAW
Newcastle vs Everton
Head-to-Head: NEW 65-35-68 EVE
Following Newcastle’s 5-1 defeat to Crystal Palace at the end of November, the future for the Magpies looked very bleak. However, their form in December has been brilliant. Respective victories against Liverpool and Tottenham has eased the pressure on Steve McClaren and helped them to move outside of the relegation zone. Everton, on the other hand, are winless in their last four Premier League games and recently suffered a poor defeat to table-toppers Leicester City. They are without an away victory in the league since September, but will be up for the trip to Newcastle in a bid to get their campaign back on track.
Selection: DRAW & AWAY
Southampton vs Arsenal
Head-to-Head: SOT 18-24-45 ARS
The Saints’ form in recent weeks must be a cause for concern for manager Ronald Koeman. His side are without victory in their last six games, in all competitions, which includes five defeats and have dropped to 12th in the Premier League, after enjoying a solid start to their campaign, as a result. They host Arsenal here who are coming off their best performance this season in beating Manchester City 2-1 on Monday evening. Arsene Wenger’s side are second in the table and now odds-on favourites to lift the Premier League crown in May. Mesut Ozil secured his 15th assist against City and is now only five away from Thierry Henry’s record of 20. I can only see the Gunners prevailing in fine fashion once again.
Selection: AWAY
Hearts vs Celtic
Celtic have won 10 of their last 11 encounters with Hearts, in all competitions, and know that victory on Sunday will help distance themselves further from second-place side Aberdeen. Hearts, however, are in the midst of a good run of form. One defeat in 10 league games has helped the team to third in the Scottish Premiership, ten points behind their opposition this weekend. Celtic may have lost to Motherwell last weekend, but I expect them to return to their best on Sunday and move clear of their rivals in Scotland’s top tier.
Selection: DRAW & AWAY
Nottingham Forest vs Leeds
Head-to-Head: NOT 31-31-29 LEE
Dougie Freedman’s Nottingham Forest side are unbeaten in their last five Championship games which has included respective home victories against Reading, Fulham and MK Dons. Their form at the City Ground has been rock-solid since October where they have become renowned for starting matches with authority. Leeds, likewise, have enjoyed a brilliant December with three wins and a draw from their four outings. Steve Evans’ men are showing real grit in their performances but tend to lack on the goalscoring front which is becoming their major downfall.
Selection: HOME
Bolton vs Blackburn
Head-to-Head: BOL 68-38-61 BLA
Rock-bottom of the Championship, Bolton are without a win in their last 16 league games. The club are in a financial mess at present with over £170m in debt which has included the players going unpaid for November. They host Blackburn on Monday who have won three of their last five away games in the Championship and will relish their chance of a further three points here.
Selection: AWAY
West Brom vs Newcastle
Head-to-Head: WBA 46-33-45 NEW
West Brom recently suffered a defeat to Bournemouth last weekend, but their home form prior to that encounter was solid. Victory against Arsenal last month showcased Tony Pulis’ men at their best, though they continue to give away sloppy goals to their opposition. Newcastle have enjoyed a revival in form following a dire start to their campaign. Steve McClaren’s side recently defeated Liverpool and Tottenham in the Premier League and have improved to 17th place as a result. I fancy plenty of goals here between two teams that are now renowned for their solid defences.
Selection: DRAW
