The Premier League returns this weekend following a round of FA Cup fixtures.
The Game Week 20 action is highlighted by a pair of massive derbies, as United and City square off at Old Trafford on Saturday night (AEST), before the round comes to a spectacular end with a high-stakes North London showdown!
Our offside oracle has previewed all the Premier League action and provided his best betting plays below!
Fulham is out to build on a three-game winning streak in the league when they welcome the Blues to Craven Cottage.
Chelsea is currently dwelling in 10th place, with the pressure beginning to pile onto new manager, Graham Potter.
The Blues have only tasted victory once across their last eight PL appearances (3D,4L), a win which came against relegation favourites Bournemouth!
Though recent form may not be on their side, Chelsea can take solace from the fact they haven’t lost to Fulham since 2006 (13W,8D), winning the pairs’ last seven meetings with an aggregate score of 15-2.
15 of Fulham’s 18 league games this season have seen over 2.5 goals scored, more than any other side in the comp.
I like Fulham @$3.20 in the H2H market, but the safe play is to back the overs in what should be an entertaining affair.
Aston Villa looks to build on their decent form under new manager Unai Emery when they play host to Leeds this weekend.
The Villans have lost just one of their last five PL fixtures (2W,2D), seeing off the likes of Man U and Brighton during that run.
Meanwhile, the Whites have grafted their way to two draws on the trot, holding Newcastle to nil, and most recently rescuing a point late against the Hammers.
Villa is undefeated against Leeds across the pairs’ last four meetings (2W,2D), and I think they will be too good here with a home ground advantage.
Man U and Man City square off in the first big derby of the weekend, with both sides looking to push closer to Arsenal atop of the table.
United enters this fixture in decent form, winning their last seven competitive matches across all comps, though Fulham (7th) has been their highest-ranked opponent across that streak.
Meanwhile, the Sky Blues roll into this fixture off back-to-back victories over Chelsea, most recently putting four past the struggling London outfit.
City put United to the sword earlier this season, scoring four first-half goals before cruising to a 6-3 victory at home.
Of course, Man U are much improved since that fixture, regardless, City @$1.85 is an absolute steal in the H2H market, even more so when multi’d with over 2.5 goals!
Two of the lowest-scoring sides in the comp are set to meet a Molineux Stadium, as the Wolves host the Hammers.
Both teams will be desperate to secure all three competition points, with the pair dwelling at the foot of the table.
The Wolves have seen an uplift in form since the arrival of Julen Lopetegui, who has led his side to a win and a draw across their last three fixtures.
Alternatively, West Ham has managed just one competition point across their last six games and is fast becoming the biggest underperformer of the season.
I’m struggling to see where the goals will come from in this fixture, as such I’m happy to take on the Draw.
Speaking of clubs in disarray, Leicester hopes to break a three-game losing streak when they take to the field against Nottingham Forest.
The Foxes enter this clash off the back of a 2-0 defeat to the Toon in the EFL Cup, with their side struggling to replace the offensive output of the injured James Maddison.
Alternatively, Forest is experiencing a rare vein of form, picking up eight points from their last five Premier League fixtures (2W,2D,1L).
Superior form and a home-ground advantage has me leaning towards Notts Forest here.
Only one competition point separates Brighton (8th) from Liverpool (6th) on the league table, with both sides in similar form (4W,2L).
Liverpool was rolled by Brentford in GW19, with the Bees putting three past Alison without the services of their top scorer Ivan Toney!
Meanwhile, Brighton made the most of their fixture against the struggling Toffees, cruising to a 4-1 victory.
The Reds have enjoyed playing at Amex Stadium in the past, winning five of six fixtures in Brighton (1D).
I’m expecting both sides to find the back of the net here, with the quality of Liverpool’s front three pushing them across the line.
Value pick:
Liverpool to Win and Both Teams to Score $3.40
Everton plays host to the Saints in the saddest fixture of the weekend.
Southampton sits dead last on the league table following six straight defeats!
Similarly, the Toffees are without a win in six (2D,4L), but did manage to take a point off Man City two weeks back.
Though their league form might leave much to be desired, the Saint has found recent success in both the FA and EFL Cups.
I’m backing Southampton to claim an upset against a confidence-void Everton side here.
This fixture couldn’t get any more straightforward.
Brentford is absolutely flying at the minute, undefeated in six league matches (3W,3D), claiming wins against both Man City and Liverpool!
Meanwhile, the Cherries have lost seven of their last eight (1W), and have failed to score since GW15.
Four of the last five fixtures involving the Bees have seen over 2.5 total goals scored, and I’m backing the overs to hit again coupled with a victory for the home outfit.
Fulham attempts to build on a run of three straight league wins (at the time of publication) when they take on the Toon at St James’ Park.
Standing in their way is a Newcastle outfit who are undefeated in 13 league fixtures (8W,5D), including a conclusive 4-1 drumming of Fulham at Craven Cottage!
The Toon are playing out of their skin at the moment, not only do they possess far more quality across the pitch than Fulham (barring Mitro), they are playing with the confidence of a fat man at a pie-eating contest!
Seven of Newcastle’s nine wins this season have been accompanied by a halftime lead, and I’m backing them to get off to another flyer here.
The blues continue of Chelsea, who are in danger of slipping into the bottom half of the table!
With just a single win under their belt since GW9 (at publish) the pressure is mounting on the falling giants.
Alternatively, the Eagles have won just one of their last four league fixtures, while both sides to score has failed to hit in six of their previous seven PL games.
In fact, both sides have failed to score in six of the last nine H2H’s between this pair, with Chelsea winning to nil in for straight home fixtures against Crystal Palace.
I can’t bring myself to back the Blues on current form, instead, I’ll put my money on both forward lines to continue to misfire.
Game Week 20 comes to a close with a massive North London Derby!
This fixture has largely been dominated by the home side in the past, with the last away Deby victory in the Prem coming back in 2014, a 0-1 win to Arsenal, a game which Mikel Arteta started at the base of the Gunners midfield!
It’s safe to say that all form goes out the window in the North London Derby, with the pressure from the home fans acting like a 12th player on the pitch.
I’m backing the Spurs to get up for this fixture and take great joy in pegging the Gunners back to the chasing group.