It’s a packed Saturday in the Premier League, and three matches are firmly on our agenda.
The day gets underway at the City Ground, where Nottingham Forest’s improving home form faces a stern test against title-chasing Manchester City. Focus then shifts to Anfield, as Liverpool look to continue their upward momentum when they welcome a struggling Wolves side. The schedule rounds off with a standout evening fixture at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea host a red-hot Aston Villa in a clash with major implications at the top of the table. Here’s a closer look at all three encounters, along with a suggested bet for each match.
Before we take a closer look at the fixtures, here’s a snapshot of the Premier League outright markets where Arsenal remain clear favourites at 73/100, with Manchester City close behind at 6/4. Liverpool and Aston Villa are both available at 25/1, while the rest of the field is priced at 40/1 or higher.
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NOTTINGHAM FOREST v MANCHESTER CITY – Click here to bet
We start at the City Ground on Saturday as Nottingham Forest welcome Manchester City in a clash that pits home momentum against title ambition. Forest begin the weekend 17th in the table with 18 points from 17 matches, coming off a narrow 1–0 defeat away at Fulham last Monday. While that result slowed their progress, Sean Dyche’s side have shown clear signs of improvement in recent weeks, winning six of their last nine matches across all competitions.
Home form has played a big role in Forest’s upturn. The Tricky Trees have picked up ten points from their first eight league games at the City Ground, with performances steadily improving. They’ve lost just once in their last four home league outings, most recently producing an emphatic 3–0 win over Tottenham. Forest have now scored three goals in three of their last four home matches, underlining a growing confidence in the final third when backed by their own supporters.
Manchester City arrive in strong shape and firmly in the title race. Pep Guardiola’s side sit second in the table with 37 points from 17 matches and are currently on a seven-game winning run across all competitions, including five straight league victories. Last weekend’s 3–0 win over West Ham at the Etihad marked City’s 12th league win of the campaign and their third consecutive clean sheet in all competitions.
Away from home, City have been solid rather than spectacular, but recent signs are encouraging. They’ve taken 13 points from eight away league fixtures, with back-to-back road wins, dramatic 5–4 success at Fulham followed by a controlled 3–0 victory at Crystal Palace, suggesting Guardiola’s side are starting to strike the right balance away from home at a crucial point in the season.
Top of Form
Bottom of Form
Head-to-Head
The sides met three times last season, with both teams winning their home league fixtures, City prevailing 3–0 at the Etihad, while Forest edged a 1–0 win at the City Ground. Their most recent meeting came in the FA Cup semi-final earlier this year, where City advanced with a 2–0 victory. Overall, the Citizens have won four of the last five meetings between the two.
Betting
Nottingham Forest 17/4
Draw 13/4
Manchester City 61/100
Verdict
Forest have been solid at home and shouldn’t be written off at the City Ground, but Manchester City arrive in strong form and are tough to go against. Forest can make it competitive, though City’s quality should still see them come through, even if they’re asked a few questions along the way.
Suggested Bet: Draw or Manchester City (Double Chance) & both Teams to score at 11/10
LIVERPOOL v WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS – Click here to bet
Saturday’s action continues at Anfield, where Liverpool welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers looking to build on a growing sense of momentum. It hasn’t been a vintage campaign for the defending champions, but there are clear signs things are heading in the right direction. Last weekend’s 2–1 win away at Tottenham extended Liverpool’s positive run and lifted Arne Slot’s side into fifth with 29 points from 17 league matches. The Reds are now unbeaten in their last six matches in all competitions (W4 D2) and arrive in good spirits.
At Anfield, performances have begun to settle after a patchy start. Liverpool are unbeaten in their last two home league games, backing up a 1–1 draw with Sunderland with a more convincing 2–0 win over Brighton on Matchday 16. Overall, they’ve taken 16 points from eight home league fixtures (W5 D1 L2). While goals have rarely been an issue, defensive consistency has proved harder to find, with just five clean sheets kept across 17 league matches.
Wolves make the trip to Merseyside in the midst of a miserable campaign. Last week’s 2–0 home defeat to Brentford stretched their losing run to ten straight league matches and left Rob Edwards’s side rooted to the foot of the table. Still winless after 17 games, Wolves have picked up just two points all season and look short on confidence as the festive period rolls on.
Those struggles have been even clearer away from home. Wolves have lost seven of their eight league matches on the road, collecting just a single point from a draw at Tottenham earlier in the season. Their last five away league games have all ended in defeat, with 11 goals conceded and only one scored in that stretch.
Head-to-Head
Liverpool have dominated this fixture in recent seasons, winning their last five meetings with Wolves. That run includes a league double last term, with 2–1 victories recorded both home and away.
Betting
Liverpool 1/4
Draw 11/2
Wolverhampton Wanderers 10/1
Verdict
Liverpool may still have the odd defensive wobble in them, but the difference in quality and confidence here is clear. Wolves have found things tough on the road, and that should play into Liverpool’s hands. With their firepower at Anfield, the hosts ought to have more than enough to see this through.
Suggested Bet: Asian Handicap – Liverpool -1.5 at 67/100
CHELSEA v ASTON VILLA – Click here to bet
Saturday’s evening action wraps up with arguably the standout fixture of the round as Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea host a red-hot Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge. The Blues come off a 2–2 draw at Newcastle, extending their unbeaten run to three matches in all competitions (W2 D1). Chelsea sit fourth with 29 points from 17 matches (W8 D5 L4), 10 points behind leaders Arsenal.
At home, Chelsea have been relatively solid, unbeaten in their last three league games at Stamford Bridge. Their most recent outing saw them secure a clinical 2–0 win over Everton, marking four wins from eight home league fixtures this season. The Blues have scored 12 goals at home while conceding seven, showing a balanced, if not rock-solid, defensive record.
Aston Villa travel to London in sensational form under Unai Emery, aiming to keep their remarkable run going. The Villans have won ten games in a row across all competitions, including seven straight league victories, lifting them to third with 36 points, just three behind Arsenal. Their attacking play has been particularly eye-catching, with both sides combining for 21 goals in their last five matches, 13 of which came from Villa themselves, setting the stage for an entertaining clash at Stamford Bridge.
On the road, Villa have won their last three league games, averaging three goals per outing while conceding six in total over that run. They’ve scored 12 in eight away fixtures this season while letting in 11, highlighting both their attacking firepower and defensive vulnerability. Recent results suggest Emery’s side are happy to lean on their attack, even if it leaves them exposed at the back.
Head-to-Head
Last season, both sides shared league victories, with Chelsea winning 3–0 at Stamford Bridge before Villa secured a 2–1 win at Villa Park. Recent meetings slightly favour Chelsea, who have recorded two wins and two draws in their last five encounters against Aston Villa in all competitions.
Betting
Chelsea 87/100
Draw 57/20
Aston Villa 3/1
Verdict
Chelsea are usually solid at home, but Aston Villa arrive with plenty of attacking momentum and won’t make things easy. This has all the makings of an open game with chances at both ends, and Villa have the quality going forward to test Chelsea throughout.
Suggested Bet: Both Teams to Score & over 2.5 at 23/20
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Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
