Soccer Picks

Tottenham pipped Manchester United 1-0 in last season’s Europa League final to claim their first piece of silverware in 17 years, but it is the Red Devils who have come on stronger in the Premier League this term. Spurs replaced Ange Postecoglou as manager with Thomas Frank soon after that success, and it has been hard work for the former Brentford boss, with his team sitting only 14th after 24 games.

A come-from-behind 2-2 draw at home to Manchester City on Sunday has stretched Tottenham’s unbeaten run to 4 and eased some of the pressure that had been surrounding his position. However, Spurs were held to a point at Burnley in their last road trip, and that means that they have won only 1 of their last 7 away games in the English top-flight.

United have also parted ways with their manager from the Europa League final, eventually calling it a day with Rubem Amorim in January after 14 months in charge. Michael Carrick was made interim head coach until the end of the season and he has brought about instant success, reeling off three straight Premier League wins against fierce rivals Manchester City, league leaders Arsenal and Fulham.

Turning up to the big games and letting themselves down in others has been the United theme for a while, but they showed great fight to dig themselves out of trouble at home to Fulham last time out. Having led 2-0 with 84 minutes on the clock, the Cottagers scored twice to move level, only for Benjamin Sesko to have the last laugh deep into injury-time. Those trio of scalps ensure United are 4h in the table, some 12 points clear of Spurs, and they should be able to extend the winning run at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils have lost only 1 of their last 11 home league games, winning 7 times — including against City, Chelsea and Newcastle.

Manchester United vs Tottenham prediction: Manchester United ML & Both Teams to Score (+155) at the time of publishing. Playable to +135.

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Arsenal booked their place in the EFL Cup final with a 1-0 victory at home to London rivals Chelsea on Tuesday, and they are 6 points clear of Manchester City in the Premier League title race. The Gunners have lost only 3 of their 24 matches, winning on 16 occasions, and come into this Emirates showdown on the back of a 4-0 rout of Leeds at Elland Road.

Mikel Arteta’s side were frustrated in a 2-2 draw against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light earlier this season, and the Black Cats have been this season’s surprise package, sitting 8th after Monday’s routine 3-0 success over Burnley. However, Sunderland have picked up 26 of their 36 points at their home fortress and have won just twice in 12 away trips — which are ominous signs for a trip to the league leaders.

Only Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United have picked up positive results at the Emirates, and ten clean sheets in 19 home games show why Arsenal remain the Premier League’s most robust side defensively. Sunderland have scored just 6 goals in 12 away league games, failing to score on 7 occasions, so they should be fearing the worst in the capital.

An Arsenal win while recording a shutout makes the most betting appeal. The Gunners will want an easy ride ahead of Thursday’s trip to Brentford, and Arteta isn’t always one to let the shackles off when his team are in the driving seat.

Arsenal vs Sunderland prediction: Arsenal win to nil (-160) at the time of publishing. Playable at that number or better.

Crystal Palace are sliding down the Premier League standings at an alarming rate, and they remain in danger of being dragged into the relegation scrap. Unfortunately for them, things may not improve on this trip to bitter rivals Brighton. Billed as a derby dust-up in the loosest of terms, this south-coast contest looks set to be a real war of attrition, as hosts Brighton are in not much better shape than Sunday’s visitors.

Backing a draw is our prediction, as neither side can be trusted to secure a victory in a match which each will be determined just not to lose. That could lead to a cagey contest, and the Seagulls have become used to those, as 4 of their last 5 home matches have finished all-square.

Between them they have drawn 18 times in the league this term, and November’s 0-0 draw at Selhurst Park featured just 5 shots on target in a long-forgotten stalemate. Things might be slightly better in this return fixture, but it’s unlikely the floodgates will open at the Amex Stadium.

Four of Brighton’s last 5 home matches have finished 1-1, and there may be a feeling of deja vu among the Amex faithful on Sunday afternoon. A derby draw isn’t the worst result usually, but both sides need more as they each slip down the table faster than they would like.

Palace’s last visit yielded a 3-1 victory, but those were the heady days of joy — when there was a great team spirit and the Eagles were all flying in the same direction. Since then, club captain Marc Guehi has left, boss Oliver Glasner has said he will leave and top scorer Jean-Philippe Mateta had 1 foot out of the exit door, only to be dragged back inside following the collapse of his move to Milan on transfer deadline day.

It’s a sorry situation at the home of the FA Cup holders right now, and spirits are unlikely to be lifted by a jaunt to the seaside on Sunday, where draw looks the best bet.

Brighton vs Crystal Palace prediction: Draw (+250) at the time of publishing. Playable to +230.

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Meetings between Liverpool and Manchester City at this stage of the season are usually decisive in the direction of which way the Premier League title will go, but City are 6 points adrift of leaders Arsenal while the Reds are 14 points adrift of the top spot at the start of this round of matches.

These two have been way off their normal standards, but a high-class, pulsating contest can still be expected at Anfield on Sunday with a Liverpool win in which both teams score. The last three meetings have finished 3-0 2-0 and 2-0, but neither side are particularly tight at the back right now and goals could flow accordingly.

Liverpool have picked up the pace in recent weeks following their miserable slump through autumn into winter, and they are looking lethal in attack with Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz starting to show why the Reds paid big money for the pair last summer.

City’s talisman Erling Haaland has hit something of a barren spell by his standards, bagging just 2 goals in his last 12 outings in all competitions, but there plenty around him in sky blue to still pose a threat, so a lively home win looks the best option.

Liverpool vs Manchester City prediction: Liverpool & Both Teams to Score (+250) at the time of publishing. Playable to +225.

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Leeds United and Nottingham Forest face off in a crucial game in terms of the relegation battle at Elland Road, in a Friday night Premier League fixture this week. The hosts are 16th in the table, level with Forest immediately below them and 6 clear of West Ham in 18th. A victory for either side would be huge as they look to pull clear of the Hammers in the drop zone, which could lead to a nervy affair in West Yorkshire.

Given just how much is at stake, the best angle for our main bet looks to be backing both teams to score, rather than focus on a match result. Goals at both ends has been a regular occurrence in Leeds’ home games, with 8 of their last 10 at Elland Road seeing both teams score. Daniel Farke’s side have scored in 10 of their 12 home games in the Premier League, hitting 19 goals in total, and have conceded in 9 of those.

Forest have struggled for clean sheets on the road with just 1 in their last 8 trips across all competitions, but they have been in solid scoring form overall with goals in 6 of their last 8 games – only failing to get on the scoresheet against Arsenal and Braga.

Leeds United vs Nottingham Forest prediction: Both Teams to Score (-122) at the time of publishing. Playable to -135. 

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