Monday night football returns as we close out the year with three fixtures set to take place, offering betting insights for you to consider ahead of each match.
Before we do that, let’s take a moment to review the current outright market prices for the Premier League title race. Liverpool remain the bookies’ favourites to claim the title at 2/7, with Arsenal making steady progress at 9/2. Chelsea have drifted to third favourites at 18/1, while Manchester City’s recent slump in form has seen their odds drift to 40/1. The rest of the field is priced at 100/1 or greater.
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ASTON VILLA v BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION – Click here to bet
Aston Villa host Brighton at Villa Park on Monday, with both teams looking to strengthen their positions in the Premier League table. Villa currently occupies 9th place with 28 points from 18 matches (W8 D4 L6) and will aim to capitalize on their exceptional home form to bounce back from a 3-0 loss at Newcastle United on Boxing Day.
EPL Home Form: W5 D3 L1
Aston Villa has been dominant at Villa Park, losing just once in their last 12 outings across all competitions. Their recent home form is particularly impressive, with three consecutive league victories, during which they have averaged 2 goals per game. Their consistency on home soil has been a cornerstone of Unai Emery’s campaign, in stark contrast to their struggles on the road, where they have suffered five consecutive league defeats.
Brighton & Hove Albion, meanwhile, occupies 10th place with 26 points from 18 matches (W6 D8 L4) and comes into this game on a six-match winless streak across all competitions (D4, L2). On Friday, they drew 0-0 at home to Brentford, extending their recent struggles. However, the Seagulls remain dangerous opposition, particularly upfront, with both teams finding the back of the net in nine of their last ten league appearances. Moreover, seven of those games featured three or more goals, showcasing their capacity for high-scoring affairs.
EPL Away Form: W3 D3 L3
Brighton’s away form has been a persistent issue, with only four league wins on the road since December last year. The Seagulls have accumulated just 5 points from a possible 15 in their last five away games (W1 D2 L2), leaving manager Fabian Hürzeler admitting to a deflated atmosphere in the dressing room
Head-to-Head
Villa has the upper hand in recent encounters, winning their last three home Premier League meetings against Brighton. This includes a commanding 6-1 victory last season. In the reverse fixture, however, it was the Seagulls who secured all three points with a 1-0 win.
Betting
Aston Villa 23/20
Draw 27/10
Brighton 23/10
Verdict
Aston Villa’s strong home form and Brighton’s struggles on the road suggest the hosts should take points from the game. While Brighton’s attacking talent makes them a potential threat, Villa’s consistency at Villa Park—particularly their recent run of victories—should see them prevail in an entertaining clash.
Suggested Bet: Full Time Result, Aston Villa at 23/20
IPSWICH v CHELSEA – Click here to bet
Ipswich Town faces a difficult test on Monday when they host Chelsea at Portman Road. The Tractor Boys are enduring a tough season and find themselves on the brink of relegation, as they’re set to finish the year in the Premier League’s relegation zone in 19th place with 12 points (W2 D6 L10). After a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on Friday night, Ipswich has now lost five of their last six league fixtures (W1), four of those losses without scoring, and their home form has been particularly worrying, as they remain winless at home in the league this season (D4, L5).
Home Form: W0 D4 L5
Ipswich will be hoping to avoid becoming the fifth team in Premier League history to go winless in their first ten home games of the season. Their current struggles at Portman Road have made it hard for them to gain momentum, and with their next fixture coming just three days after this one, they could be up against it once again.
On the other hand, Chelsea will be looking to bounce back from their disappointing 2-1 defeat to Fulham on Boxing Day. That loss saw them drop points to local London rivals, but they remain firmly in the top four and are in strong overall form, particularly away from home. The Blues are currently 4th in the league standings with 35 points from 18 matches (W10 D5 L3).
EPL Away Form: W6 D2 L1
Chelsea has been solid on the road, losing just once in their last 12 league appearances, dating back to last season (W8, D3). Their unbeaten run in the final league matches of the year is also worth noting, with the Blues having not lost their last league match of the calendar year since 2011 (W8, D4). Chelsea will look to continue that trend as they aim to make up for their recent slip-up against Fulham.
Head-to-Head
These two sides last faced each other in league action during the 2001/02 season, when Chelsea secured a 2-1 victory in the reverse fixture, followed by a 0-0 draw at Portman Road. Interestingly, the Blues have drawn their last three fixtures away to Ipswich. However, with this being a new era, this meeting will present entirely different challenges for both teams
Betting
Ipswich 6/1
Draw 9/2
Chelsea 4/10
Verdict
Chelsea’s strong away form and Ipswich’s ongoing struggles at home point toward an away win for the Blues. While Ipswich will continue to fight for survival, their recent form, particularly at home, suggests that Chelsea will have too much quality for them in this encounter.
Suggested Bet: Result and Totals, Chelsea and Over 1.5 at 8/15
MANCHESTER UNITED v NEWCASTLE UNITED – Click here to bet
Manchester United’s festive season has been nothing short of disastrous. The Red Devils have suffered four Premier League defeats in December, including a 2-0 loss away to Wolves on Thursday, leaving them languishing in 14th place in the table with 22 points (W6 D4 L8). Head coach Ruben Amorim, who has overseen five defeats in his first ten matches, has been left scrambling for answers as United continue to slide down the table this season.
EPL Home Form: W4 D1 L4
Manchester United’s struggles are undeniable, and if they suffer another defeat on Monday, it will mark their worst calendar month in over six decades. Their home form, however, provides a glimmer of hope, particularly against Newcastle United, against whom they have lost just one of their last 39 league meetings at Old Trafford. Manchester United have won four, drawn one, and lost four of their home league matches overall this season.
Newcastle United, on the other hand, arrive at Old Trafford in superb form. Eddie Howe’s men have won their last three league games with a stunning aggregate score of 11-0. The 3-0 demolition of ten-man Aston Villa on Boxing Day was particularly impressive, propelling the Magpies into seventh place with 29 points from 18 matches (W8, D5, L5) and back in the hunt for a UEFA Champions League spot.
EPL Away Form: W3 D3 L3
Newcastle’s defensive solidity has been impressive as they aim for their fourth consecutive win without conceding. However, on the road, the Magpies have earned 7 points from a possible 12 in their last four league outings, keeping just one clean sheet during that stretch. Notably, their most recent away victory, a commanding 4-0 win at Ipswich Town, marked the first time both teams failed to score in the same match during the same period.
Head-to-Head
Newcastle’s recent record against Manchester United has improved significantly, with the Magpies winning two of the last three meetings at Old Trafford in all competitions. Historically, however, they have struggled at this venue, but their current form makes them extremely dangerous this Monday. Last season, Newcastle secured a 1-0 victory in the reverse fixture, while Manchester United claimed a 3-2 win at home.
Betting
Manchester United 7/4
Draw 26/10
Newcastle 31/20
Verdict
With Manchester United in freefall and Newcastle in red-hot form, the Magpies look set to extend their dominance, potentially adding to United’s miserable festive campaign by handing the Red Devils another defeat as they head into the New Year.
Suggested Bet: Draw No Bet, Newcastle United at 17/20
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Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
