Before the Game Week 23 action gets underway there are three rescheduled fixtures to enjoy across Wednesday and Thursday morning (AEST).
The action gets underway in Brighton, as the Blues attempt to slow their slide down the competition table.
Elsewhere, whatever is left of Leicester’s depleted squad will play host to the resurgent Spurs, while Man U looks to atone for their Villa atrocity when they take on the Bees in Brentford.
We’ve previewed the three rescheduled games along with all ten Game Week 23 fixtures, while providing our best betting plays below!
Brighton and Chelsea meet at Amex Stadium on Wednesday morning (AEST), with the visitors searching for their first league win of the calendar year (1D,1L).
These two sides met at Stamford Bridge three weeks back, where the Seagulls nicked a point in injury time thanks to a Welbeck finish.
Graham Potter’s side has held the Blues to a draw across the pair’s last two outings, while the Seagulls have registered more shots on target over their previous three matches.
The current Champions League holders have struggled for results in the league of late, dropping points to Everton, Wolverhampton, Brighton, Liverpool, and City.
Despite the glaring advantage Chelsea holds in squad quality, the Seagulls have easily been playing the better football and have a strong case to claim at least a point here.
Tottenham have gone eight games without defeat (5W,3D) under their new manager Antonio Conte, a club record.
Meanwhile, the Foxes have 16 members of their extended squad listed on the injury report including Jamie Vardy, four of which are absent due to AFCON commitments (more than any other side in the PL).
The Spurs have secured five clean sheets across their last nine fixtures, only Wolverhampton managing more across the same trip (6).
The Spurs have no excuse not to win this fixture, and I am expecting them to do just that.
Brentford and Manchester United are set to play out their first league meeting since 1947 when they meet at Brentford Community Stadium on Thursday morning.
The Bees have won just once across their previous five matches (4L), and are looking to avoid their third straight defeat here.
Meanwhile, Man U have lost just once over their last eight fixtures and have only tasted defeat in two of the ten games on the road (4W,4D).
The pressure seems to be lifted off the shoulders of United’s mentally frail squad (Ronaldo’s words) when they hit the road, as such I’m backing Ralf to silence a few pundits with a resounding victory here.
17th place and a temperary reprieve from the drop zone is on offer for the winner of this absolute blockbuster!
Watford have bettered the Canaries across the par’s last five meetings, outscoring their newly promoted rivals 9-2 across the trip.
Norwich have scored just three goals from ten away fixtures this season, two of which came in one game against the Bees.
Watford is the best of an extremely bad bunch here, and I’m happy to take them at the $2 currently on offer.
Hopefully Alex De Minaur is battling it out in a hardfought five set thriller on Saturday night, because the EPL has dished us up with an unwatchable match during prime time!
Everton are set to start life without Rafa, after the ex-Reds manager was sacked following his side’s defeat to Norwich.
Duncan Ferguson is set to take the reigns as interim manager once again, though there is little the Club legend can do to unpoison this well before the weekend is upon us.
I’m backing Stevie G and his Villans to claim the spoils here at what looks to be clear overs in the H2H market.
Geez, at least we’re getting these fixtures over and done with early!
Newcastle head to Elland Road, where they’ll be met by a Leeds side who are coming in off the back of their best performance of the year.
The White’s saw off a fast finishing Hammers unit to secure a nailbitting 3-2 victory in London, with Marcelo Bielsa forced to name eight teenage debutants!
Leeds last six Premier League fixtures have all seen over 3.5 goals scored, and I’m expecting another end-to-end contest to play out here.
Alright, one more Barry Crocker!
Brentford are set to play their fourth match in two weeks, as the newly promoted outfit scramble to avoid four straight defeats.
Meanwhile, the Wolves have found their stride, winning three of their last four league fixtures (1D), taking points away from both Man U and Chelsea.
I’m backing the Wolves hot form to continue, with their fresh legs carrying them to a comfortable win here.
Manchester United can break back into the top four for the first time since Game Week 7 should they secure all three points against the visiting Irons.
Despite have just one league defeat to his name from eight starts (5W,2D), Ralf Rangnick is under no illusion that his side are seriously underperforming.
David De Gea has been one of, if not the only reason Man U are still in with a fighting chance for European qualification, with the shot-stopper racking up the move saves in the league to date.
At close to $4, West Ham are at huge overs to snatch a victory here, and on current form I can see them securing a point at the bare minimum.
we’re met with our first truly one-sided affair of the weekend when the Sky Blues travel to St. Mary’s Stadium.
City have opened up an 11 point gap on the rest of the league, following a barnstorming run of 12 straight victories.
Though Pep’s side has already dropped points to the Saints this season, settling for a 0-0 draw despite taking 16 shots to 10.
I’ve gone for a multi here with not much value to be found in the H2H market, backing the visitors to lead at the end of both halfs combined with a goal from the Citzens’ top scorer and a shot on target off the captain’s boot.
From one forgone conclusion to the next.
The Gunners look to bounce back to winning ways following a narrow defeat to the champs, when they welcome a Burnley outfit who have had their last five games postponed!
To rub salt into the Burnley faithfuls’ wounds, the clubs board has sold their top goalscorer to relegation rivals Newcastle, a deal that could easily be mistaken for the waving of a white flag.
If this fixture somehow goes ahead, there’s only one side who can win it, and they should do comfortably.
Cheese and Crackers, Fish and Chips, Bacon and Eggs, Crimson and Clover, Brighton and Draws, some things are just destined to go together!
Brighton travel to King Power Stadium in search of their 12th draw this campaign, taking them within 6 stalemates of Man City’s season record (1993/94: 18D from 42 matches).
To do so they’ll have to drop to Leicester’s level, who have been less reliable than a Maccas’ icecream machine.
Despite the Seagulls ability to outplay most sides in the league, their inability to convert in the final third has been a monkey they’re failed to shake across their last two seasons.
I backed Brighton to secure a point against the Blues last time out and I’ll dip my toes back into the same well for their fixture against the Royal Blues here.
No Mane, No Salah, Not even Origi!
If you were ever going to outscore the Reds, now would be the time.
Be that as it may, most of Liverpools scoring opportunities are created from the flanks, with Alexander-Arnnold and Robertson combining for 16 league assists.
Klopp’s side has dined out on this fixture in recent times, winning the last 9 league games against the Eagles, ourscoring their lessor opponents 27 goals to 5 across the trip!
Whack Benteke up the top for Liverpool here and even he would manage a brace!
I’m backing both sides to go after the game here, with the Reds to claim all three points in a high scoring affair.
We are treat to a London showndown in the last match of Game Week 23, as Chelsea attempt to knock over the Spurs for the fourth time in four months!
You have to wind the clock back to April 2018 to unearth the last Tottenham victory at the Bridge, a game in which the much maligned and out-of-favour Deli Alli scored a brace.
Since that fixture, Chelsea has gone on to win nine of the next 12 competitive fixtures between the pair (1D,2L).
Despite this pairs H2H history, something just ain’t right at Stamford Bridge at the moment, discontent is growing between players and coaching staff, and it’s beginning to show on the pitch!
The Blues have only managed to win one of their last seven league fixtures (5D,1L), and are spiraling towards obscurity!
Alternatively, Tottenham are undefeated across their eight Premier League fixtures since Conte arrived (6W,2D), and leap into this fixture following a moral boasting comeback victory against the Foxes midweek.
The bookies have this one heavily in the home sides favour, but for me this is a meeting of two clubs heading in separate directions, with the Spurs set to stake their claim on a position in the top four!
Roy Hodgson takes charge of his first Watford game, as the Hornets travel to Turf Moor to take on the Clarets in a bottom-of-the-table thriller!
This game has already been postponed on two previous occasions due to covid, perhaps a blessing for the neutral fans.
Burnley has been absolutely horrible at home across the last 12 months, winning just one of their previous 17 league fixtures at Turf Moor (9D,7L)!
Meanwhile, Watford has won two of the nine aways games since returning to the league, one win for every coach sacked this season.
I’m backing Premier League veteran Roy Hodgson to make an immediate impact on his new side, with the Hornets to deal the Clarets a crushing blow in their fight for survival.