Newcastle United will host West Ham this Monday in what promises to be an intriguing conclusion to Round 12 of the English Premier League. As always, here are our insights, along with a couple of betting suggestions for you to consider.
Before we proceed, let’s take a look at the outright market prices for the Premier League title race. At the time of writing, Liverpool remain the bookies’ favourites to lift this season’s trophy at 13/10, closely followed by Manchester City at 2/1. Arsenal’s recent slump in form has seen them priced at 4/1, while Chelsea can be snapped up at 20/1. The rest of the field is priced at 100/1 or greater.
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NEWCASTLE UNITED v WEST HAM – Click here to bet
Newcastle United head into Monday night’s clash full of confidence following an impressive 3-1 victory away to Nottingham Forest. Eddie Howe’s side is currently in fine form, riding a three-game winning streak across all competitions, which has lifted them to 8th place in the Premier League with 18 points. St James’ Park has been a fortress this season, with the Magpies losing just once at home. They have won three and drawn one of their five home games, earning a solid 10 points from a possible 15. Central to Newcastle’s recent success is Alexander Isak, who has rediscovered his goal scoring touch. After a relatively slow start to the campaign by his high standards, the Swedish forward has been in scintillating form, scoring in each of his last four appearances for the club in all competitions. Isak also carried his form onto the international stage during the recent break, finding the net for Sweden in the UEFA Nations League. His contributions will be crucial as Newcastle aim to maintain their momentum against a very desperate West Ham side at present.
HOME FORM: W3 D1 L1
At home, Newcastle United average 1 goal per game in the league, with under 2.5 goals occurring in 80% of their fixtures this season (4 out of 5 matches).
West Ham come into this game under mounting pressure after a frustrating 0-0 draw at home to Everton in their last outing. Julen Lopetegui’s side has endured a difficult Premier League campaign, managing just three wins all season and sitting 14th in the standings with 12 points. Away from home, the Irons have been particularly poor, losing their last two games on the road by a margin of three goals on both occasions. Their struggles away from London Stadium, where they have only managed to secure 5 points from a possible 15, underscore their vulnerability heading into Monday’s clash. With rumours swirling about Lopetegui’s future, this game could prove pivotal for his tenure at the club. Despite their challenges, Jarrod Bowen has been a standout performer, contributing three league goals this season. However, the Hammers must overcome their dismal away form to stand a chance against a confident Newcastle side. Anything less than a strong performance could see West Ham leave St James’ Park empty-handed and add further pressure on Lopetegui’s position at the Club.
AWAY FORM: W1 D2 L2
Away from home, West Ham average 1 goal per game, with under 2.5 goals arriving in 60% of their league encounters on the road this season (3 out of 5 matches).
Head-to-Head
Last season, these two sides played out a 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture in London, before Newcastle United claimed a 4-3 win in this encounter at St James’ Park.
Betting
Newcastle United 8/15
Draw 15/4
West Ham 5/1
Verdict
Given West Ham’s recent struggles on the road this season, I quite like the look of Newcastle winning by a relatively comfortable margin this Monday. This fixture has historically produced plenty of drama and goals, with over 2.5 goals scored in their last three encounters, averaging more than 5 goals per game. With that in mind, I’m opting for the Magpies to win by a margin of 2 goals or more, as well as backing Alexander Isak to open the scoring, given his current red-hot form.
Suggested Bet: Handicap, Newcastle United -1/5 at 13/10, 1st Goalscorer, Alexander Isak at 16/5
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Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
