Premier League betting tips: Chelsea to beat Newcastle, Bukayo Saka to score, and more Gameweek 17 betting tips
Won’t be long before we hear the ‘New Year New Me’ brigade, I guess. Can I just say, before people start making wild proclamations for 2026? You are all against alcohol, cigarettes and sugar now. But who was there for you when life fell apart? I’m pretty f***ing sure it wasn’t broccoli.
Read on for a breakdown of the best bets from the Premier League's TV games from Sports News Blitz’s punting laureate - The Bookie Basher - including Sunday’s big one between Aston Villa and Manchester United.
Newcastle United vs Chelsea
Troubling times for the Toon and Eddie Howe. The Magpies were awful against Sunderland and are 12th in the league as things stand, with six wins, four draws and four defeats.
A goal difference of +1 says plenty about how erratic they have been throughout the campaign thus far.
Plenty of Toon fans reckon Howe needs sacking off, so a win here would be handy for the former Bournemouth boss.
To be fair, Howe’s League Cup record with Newcastle is a joke and now stands at 16 wins (and just two losses) from 18 games.
However, that Sunderland loss was a tough one to swallow for Newcastle fans, with many feeling the players didn’t want it enough on Wearside.
Newcastle have conceded in each of their last nine Premier League games, and despite their home form being largely OK, they may struggle to cope with Chelsea's firepower here.
Suggested bet: Chelsea to win at 6/4 (General)
Tottenham Hotspur vs Liverpool
Who would have thought that when the fixtures came out that these two giants of English football would meet - just before Christmas - and be 11th and seventh in the league respectively?
Both managers are under the cosh and should either lose on Saturday, the clamour for them to be replaced would go up a notch.
Tottenham have won just one of their last five Premier League home games. The Reds have won just one of their last five Premier League away games. Something has to give.
Stat time. Spurs vs Liverpool is the top-scoring fixture in Premier League history with a colossal 206 goals.
Indeed, there have been at least three goals in 14 of their last 16 Premier League meetings between the teams.
Can Thomas Frank survive the long, cold winter? I’m not overly optimistic.
The football has looked dull and lifeless too often this season, and Liverpool can pile the pressure on the big Dane by winning on Saturday.
Suggested bet: Liverpool to win & both teams to score at 13/5 (bet365 / Boylesports / Paddy Power)
READ MORE: Premier League news: Red and White delight as Sunderland defeat Newcastle in Wear-Tyne derby
Everton vs Arsenal
This won’t be a cake walk for the Gunners. Goodison used to be a happy hunting ground for them, but in recent years, not so much.
Indeed, since Arsene Wenger's departure, they’ve won just one of their seven visits to the Toffees (D2 L4).
Everton have a new ground now, of course, but you can bet they will make it ‘orrible again for Arteta’s mob.
David Moyes has galvanised Everton since taking over from Sean Dyche, and a top-half finish is a realistic possibility this season.
However, they are having a mare with injuries, with about half a dozen players missing for this and irascible baller Jack Grealish is rated about 50-50 to feature.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall - who has scored in each of his last two home games - is also likely to miss the game.
Bukayo Saka was the star of the show as Arsenal beat Wolves last time out and will definitely start. He is 12/5 to score anytime, and quite frankly, I like those apples.
Suggested bet: Saka to score anytime at 12/5 (betway)
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Aston Villa vs Manchester United
I bet the Manchester United fan who’s growing his barnet wished he supported the Villa? He could have had two short, back and sides in the last three months.
Want to hear something mental? Aston Villa have won just one of their last 26 Premier League home games against Manchester United (D9 L16).
However, you will be less surprised to learn that the victory - a 3-1 win in November 2022 - came in Unai Emery’s first match in charge.
Emery can do no wrong at the moment. His team continues to laugh in the face of expected goals models. That 3-2 win at West Ham was their ninth in a row across all competitions.
Let’s have it right, Emery has the game by the orchestras right now doesn’t he!
Manchester United are less reliable. While that 4-4 draw with Bournemouth the other night was great fun to watch, it also underlined that they just can’t defend.
The ongoing tension between Ruben Amorim, Kobbie Mainoo and fellow Manchester United academy graduates is also very weird.
The Red Devils' midfield is failing to protect the defence, and yet he fails to utilise one of the best young midfielders in the country - Mainoo - preferring to play Bruno Fernandes out of position. Make it make sense.
Villa are odds against to win this, and that looks puntable.
Morgan Rogers scored an absolute sh*t-whistler at the weekend, and don’t rule out him bagging another worldie against this creaky Man United defence.
Suggested bet: Aston Villa to win & both teams to score at 11/4 (bet365 / Paddy Power / skybet)
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