You know that when you hit December in the Premier League, the teams are going to be facing one of the busiest periods of the calendar over the coming weeks.
That all starts this week with the first of a couple of scheduled midweek matchdays for all 20 teams in the Premier League, barring poor weather causing a game to be postponed of course.
The first of these matchdays is this week and sees games taking place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night kick-starting a hectic couple of months where teams will play a large number of league and cup games that could have a significant impact on their season.
This week we have some intriguing gams to look forward to including a must-win game at St James’ Park as Newcastle United, still without a win in the EPL this season, face the team three points ahead of them in 19th place in the table, Norwich City.
Then on Wednesday night we have the bulk of the games with six matches including Chelsea facing a trip to Watford, Manchester City heading south to Birmingham to take on Aston Villa and the big game of the night is at Goodison Park where Rafa Benitez’s Everton will lock horns with their great rivals from across Stanley Park, Liverpool.
We then wrap things up on Thursday with a London derby between Spurs and Brentford and arguably the biggest game of the week as Manchester United host Arsenal at Old Trafford in a game that features two teams desperate to finish in the top four this season.
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Let’s now give you our preview and tips for the games taking place over midweek in the EPL.
Premier League Matchday 14
Tuesday 30th November
- 7.30pm – Newcastle United v Norwich City
A crucial game at the bottom of the table kicks off the midweek action and it is a game that Newcastle fans will feel their team must win to stand any chance of avoiding the drop. Norwich have taken seven points from the last nine available to go above Newcastle and put themselves back in touch with the teams above them. Newcastle badly need that first win of the season and I think Eddie Howe may get it here if they can play like they did against Arsenal at the weekend. Tip – Newcastle to win 1-0 – 15/2
- 8.15pm – Leeds United v Crystal Palace
Having seen Leeds a number of times this season, including this past weekend, I do worry that they are going to be embroiled in a relegation battle this season. They are missing a number of key players and the level of performance just isn’t quite there. In contrast, I think Crystal Palace are very much a team on the up under Patrick Vieira and I am backing them to make this a fruitful trip north by claiming the points here. Tip – Leeds Utd 1-2 Crystal Palace – 11/1.
Wednesday 1st December
- 7.30pm – Southampton v Leicester City
You may recall that a couple of season’s ago, this game finished in a 9-0 win for Leicester. I can’t see anything like that happening at St Mary’s tonight Saints fans will be pleased to hear, but I still feel this could be a tough night for them. Leicester have had a number of false starts this season but after two wins in two games, I think they are well set up to make it three wins from three here. Tip – Southampton 0-2 Leicester City – 16/1.
- 7.30pm – Watford v Chelsea
Can Watford get back to winning ways here. It has been a bit feast or famine for
Claudio Ranieri since he took over, but I think his team are going to have their work cut out to get anything from this game. After drawing with Manchester United at the weekend, Chelsea will want to get back to winning ways here and I expect Thomas Tuchel’s team to do that. They did look a bit toothless against United at times, so I expect Lukaku to start today and that could be the key for them here. Tip – Watford 0-2 Chelsea – 6/1.
- 7.30pm – West Ham United v Brighton
After losing their last two games, the Hammers have fallen five points behind Liverpool in third place in the EPL table and with Arsenal now level on points with the Hammers, David Moyes team need a win here. Brighton defend well but don’t score many, just 12 in their 13 EPL games so far and that was clearly evident in their draw with Leeds at the weekend. For me, this should be a game that the home side wins relatively comfortably. Tip – West Ham 2-0 Brighton – 17/2.
- 7.30pm – Wolverhampton Wanderers v Burnley
Burnley had a postponed game at the weekend at home to Spurs so they will have benefitted from extra rest for this game. Wolves are in a good run of form that has lifted them to sixth in the Premier League table and they are looking well organised, especially defensively. It is hard to see Burnley, a team that has won just once this season, being able to get the better of them especially on the road, and as such, I think Wolves win this one quite comfortably. Tip – Wolves 2-0 Burnley – 15/2.
- 8.15pm – Aston Villa v Manchester City
Aston Villa have improved a great deal since Steven Gerrard took over a manager, with the Villains winning both their games under the former Rangers boss. However, they face their biggest test yet at home to a Manchester City side who are making an expectedly strong defence of the title they won last year. I do think Villa will make this very tough for City here and City have looked a bit susceptible of late, but I am backing them to come through with the win here. Tip – Aston Villa 1-2 Man City – 17/2.
- 8.15pm – Everton v Liverpool
Rafa Benitez locks horns with his former side Liverpool for the first time as Everton boss in what is a crucial game for the Toffees. A poor run of seven games without a win in the EPL has seen Everton drop like a stone down the table, while Liverpool went clear in third with their second 4-0 win in a row at the weekend, this time over Southampton. The Reds have scored two or more goals in each of their last 17 games and I am backing them to continue that fine record here and to take the points. Tip – Everton 0-2 Liverpool – 15/2.
Thursday 2nd December
- 7.30pm – Tottenham Hotspur v Brentford
One of the mysteries to me this season has been Spurs lack of firepower, only
Norwich have scored fewer goals that Spurs 11 in the Premier League this season and when you consider the talent Spurs have in attack, that is a damning stat. Antonio Conte has his work cut out to make this team improve significantly and this will be tough against a Brentford side who have done superbly well this season in the EPL. However, I still feel Spurs should take the win. Tip – Tottenham 1-0 Brentford – 13/2.
- 8.15pm – Manchester United v Arsenal
Two of the most successful teams in the Premier League era clash at Old Trafford, but this time both are eyeing a place in the top four. Arsenal are closest lying in 5th place in the table, while United have dropped down to 8th and are five points off fourth placed West Ham and their opponents tonight. Ralf Rangnick comes in for his first game in charge, most likely, but my worry for United here is that if Ronaldo plays, he changes how their team plays so much, they struggle and if they do that, I think Arsenal take full advantage and claim a big win here. Tip – Man Utd 0-1 Arsenal – 12/1.
*All odds shown were correct with bet365 Sport at the time of writing but may have changed in the meantime.
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