Game Week 17 gets underway with Spurs looking to deforest Nottingham.
Elsewhere, the Gunners host Brighton, Brentford attempt to slow down Villa, and Liverpool eagerly await Manchester United.
Our Offside Oracle has previewed all ten Premier League fixtures and provided his best bets below!
Tottenham will be looking to consolidate their first win since GW10 with another strong performance on the road to Nottingham Forest.
Ange’s side humbled fellow top four contenders Newcastle last weekend, scoring four times on the way to a much needed victory.
Alternatively, Forest extended their winless streak to five league fixtures (1D,4L) following a 1-1 draw to the Wolves.
12 of Tottenham’s 16 games this season have seen over 2.5 total goals scored, only Brighton and West Ham sit level with the Spurs in that regard.
I’m backing Tottenham and Over 2.5 Goals.
Man City put a four league game winless streak to rest last weekend thanks to a narrow 2-1 victory over Luton Town.
They will now face a Crystal Palace side who have collected just one competition point from their last five starts (1D,4L), leaving them well and truly entrenched in the bottom half of the table.
The Sky Blues will likely be without the league’s top scorer Haaland, who has sustained a foot injury, this means World Cup winner Julian Alvarez will likely lead the line.
Alvarez should be heavily involved in all the final third action, as such I’m backing him to have 2+ Shots on Target multi’d with a Man City win.
Sheffield United may be 20th in the league and five points below the relegation line, but all the pressure will be resting squarely on the home side’s shoulders here.
After spending north of $1B in new players, the Blues have absolutely nothing to show for it, they’re shipping goals left, right and center, while they can’t hit the broad side of a barn at the other end of the park.
Fortunately for Pochettino’s side, they be facing the team with the fewest goals scored and most goals conceded in the league!
As much as I hate backing Chelsea, I can’t see them dropping points at home here, I’m taking them to win, combined with over 2.5 total goals.
A fatigued Newcastle outfit will be out to stifle the form of a red hot Fulham side.
The Toon are staring down the barrel of three straight league defeats, after losing convincingly to both Everton (3-0) and Tottenham (4-1) last week.
Meanwhile, the Cottagers enter this game off back-to-back 5-0 victories over Forest and West Ham, forcing their way into the top half of the table.
Fulham’s last top-flight win at St James. Park came way back in 2009 in a game that featured both Mark Schwarzer and Mark Viduka!
With injuries and suspension to key defenders and their first choice keeper, I think the Toon will struggle to hold out this attack minded Fulham unit.
I’m backing the visiting side to travel home with all three points here.
The Cherries are out to build on a purple patch of form when they welcome the Hatters to town.
Bournemouth have won four of their last five league fixtures (1D), taking points off Man U (W), Aston Villa (D) and Newcastle (W)!
While the Hatters have put forward improved performances, the results haven’t followed, losing three straight games while conceding nine goals across the trip.
Both Bournemouth and Luton have seen mover than 2.5 goals scored in 11 of their 16 league games this season.
I’m backing the Cherries to win combined with a handful of goals!
The Toffees look to further seperate themselves from the drop zone when the travel to Turf Moore.
The Clarets have only bettered both Luton and Sheffield this season, with Kompany’s men failing to fire against all of the established Premier League outfits (2D,12L).
Meanwhile, Everton has put their points deduction behind them and are taking no prisoners, winning five of their last seven games (1D,1L).
Only Arsenal, Villa, Liverpool and Bournemouth have accumulated more competition points than Everton across the last five game weeks, a true testament to Sean Dyche’s player management.
I’m going to keep this one simple and back the Toffees to take the chocolates.
After a disappointing away defeat to Fulham, West Ham returns home to host Wolves.
Wolverhampton have lost their last three away fixtures, including a defeat to cellar dwellers Sheffield.
Prior to their defeat in GW16, the Hammers were on a solid run of four games without loss (3W,1D).
The home side has won the last four meetings between this pair, and based on form I’m backing that trend to continue!
The Gunners will be looking to reinstate themselves on top of the league with a victory against their bogey side, Brighton.
The Seagulls have won their last three trips to the Emirates across all competitions, outscoring the Gunners 8-2 across the trip.
Brighton are a far-cry from their former dominant self, dropping points in five of their last seven league fixtures (4D,1L), with European football and a host of injuries stretching their squad to the limits.
I’m backing the Gunners to right the ship here, but not without conceding a goal or two.
The rise of Aston Villa is in full swing, as they look to build on their league-high wins tally of 11!
The Villans have recently made light work of Arsenal, Man City and Tottenham, with Emery’s men scoring goals hand over fist.
Alternatively, Brentford have lost four of their last five starts (1W), and are in dire need of an in-form striker.
The Bees don’t have enough sting to bother this impressive Villa outfit, and I’m more than happy to take the visitors at over even odds!
Game week 17 wraps up with a Northwest Derby between table toppers Liverpool and Man United.
The Red Devils last win at Anfield came back in 2016, curtesy of a Wayne Rooney winner, it’s been grim reading for Man U fans since.
The last time this pair met at Anfield, the Reds swaggered away as 7-0 victors, with Sarah, Nunez and Gakpo all scoring a brace!
Manchester will be without club captain and attacking threat Bruno Fernandes, a vital piece they will struggle to replace.
I’m backing the Reds to secure another multiple goal victory here, ensuring they finish the week on top of the league.