Midweek action in the EPL concludes this Thursday with two fixtures before the focus shifts to this weekend’s games. Below, you’ll find betting options to consider for each of the upcoming matches.
Before we dive in, let’s take a peek at the latest odds for the Premier League title race. Liverpool remain the strong favourites to secure the title at 1/4, followed by Arsenal in second at 9/2. Manchester City are next in line at 22/1, while Nottingham Forest can’t be overlooked at 40/1. The rest of the field are currently priced at 50/1 or higher.
Click here for English Premier League Outright Betting
IPSWICH v BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION – Click here to bet
A relegation battle meets mid-table aspirations as Ipswich Town face Brighton & Hove Albion at Portman Road on Thursday night.
Ipswich enter this crucial fixture with renewed optimism following a morale-boosting 3-0 FA Cup victory over Bristol Rovers on Sunday. Despite their Premier League campaign being plagued with struggles, the Tractor Boys are showing signs of a potential survival bid as the relegation battle heats up. Having collected seven points from their last five league matches (W2, D1, L2), they are now within striking distance of exiting the bottom three ahead of this midweek encounter. A positive result could mark a significant milestone for Ipswich, as they aim for back-to-back home victories in the top flight for the first time since 2002. However, achieving that feat will demand a strong display against a resilient Brighton side.
EPL Home Form
Ipswich’s struggles at Portman Road are well-known, having earned just 7 points from their 10 home games this season (W1, D4, L5). This poor record places them with the second-worst home form in the Premier League heading into this round. While they’ve shown some improvement recently, their defensive frailties persist, having conceded 16 goals at home. Notably, Ipswich have kept just one clean sheet all season at home in the league—coming in their most recent home match, where they triumphed 2-0 over Chelsea.
Brighton & Hove Albion, under the guidance of Fabian Hürzeler, will travel to the East of England buoyed by a commanding 4-0 FA Cup triumph over Norwich. This victory not only showcased their attacking prowess but also ended an eight-game winless run (D6, L2). Currently sitting 10th in the league standings with 28 points from 20 matches (W6, D10, L4), the Seagulls enter this clash as warm favourites. However, their recent patchy form and tendency to settle for draws in the Premier League could prove a stumbling block once again this Thursday.
EPL Away Form
Brighton have a respectable away record, earning 13 points from 10 road trips (W3, D4, L3). Their attacking strength is clear, with 16 goals scored on their travels. However, defensive issues remain a concern, as they have conceded the same number of goals, highlighting an imbalance between attack and defence. In fact, both teams have found the back of the net in Brighton’s last six consecutive away games in the league, with over 2.5 goals featuring in 5 out of those 6 matches (83%).
Head-to-Head
Earlier this season, the two teams played out a goalless 0-0 stalemate at the Amex Stadium, extending their run of three consecutive draws between these two sides.
Betting
Ipswich 28/10
Draw 28/10
Brighton & Hove Albion 19/20
Verdict
There is no denying that Brighton enter Thursday’s clash as the favourites, especially given Ipswich’s struggles at home this season. However, with the Seagulls showing vulnerabilities at the back on the road, there’s an opportunity for both teams to score, with the expectation that the visitors will still walk away with something from the game.
Suggested Bet: Double Chance and Both Teams to Score, Draw/Brighton & Hove Albion and Yes at 21/20
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MANCHESTER UNITED v SOUTHAMPTON – Click here to bet
Manchester United face Southampton at Old Trafford in a crucial Premier League clash on Thursday, as Ruben Amorim’s side look to bounce back from a tough period. United are coming off an intense 120-minute FA Cup battle against Arsenal, which saw them secure a 5-3 penalty victory despite playing with 10 men for nearly half the game. The Red Devils are currently 13th in the league with 23 points from 20 matches (W6, D5, L9), but they’ll be looking to build on their recent form and snap a worrying three-match home losing streak in the league.
EPL Home Form
Old Trafford has long been a fortress, but recent results suggest the Theatre of Dreams has lost some of its former magic. United’s home league form has been disappointing, with no wins in their last three matches (L3). If they lose again on Thursday, Manchester United run the risk of repeating history for all the wrong reasons, as they are on the verge of losing four consecutive league games at Old Trafford—a feat last seen as far back as 1930. With just 13 goals scored and a disappointing 16 conceded in their 10 home matches (W4, D1, L5), the Red Devils will be desperate to reverse their slump at Old Trafford before the situation worsens further.
Southampton, meanwhile, find themselves at the very bottom of the table. Despite a morale-boosting 3-0 FA Cup victory over Swansea, their league form remains dire, with just 6 points from 20 matches (W1, D3, L16). The Saints have earned only 1 point from their last seven league games, leaving them in desperate need of a turnaround if they are to avoid relegation. While Southampton may find a potential lifeline given United’s struggles at home this season, it remains a big ask for the visitors this week.
EPL Away Form
Southampton’s away form in the league has been abysmal, with just 2 points from their 10 road games this season (W0, D2, L8). They’ve scored a mere 5 goals on their travels while conceding 17. Their struggles are further compounded by the fact that they have managed to keep just one clean sheet away from home all season. Southampton face a monumental task in Manchester, where their historical record at Old Trafford has been poor, although they’ve been slightly more competitive in recent years, managing four draws and just two defeats from their last six visits.
Head-to-Head
Earlier this season, Manchester United secured a comfortable 3-0 victory at St Mary’s. The last time these two sides met at Old Trafford was in the 2022/23 season, where this fixture ended in a goalless 0-0 draw.
Betting
Manchester United 3/10
Draw 5/1
Southampton 17/2
Verdict
Backing Manchester United to win to nil against Southampton could prove profitable, given the Saints’ ongoing struggles to score away from home. The home side will be eager to avoid a fourth consecutive defeat at Old Trafford and could draw motivation from their recent strong performance at the Emirates. With pressure evidently mounting, United will be determined to turn their season around in the hopes of securing maximum points this Thursday.
Suggested Bet: Manchester United to Win to Nil, Yes at 12/10
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Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
