The Premier League rolls into Game Week 26 with just five points separating the top three sides.
Both Manchester City and Arsenal will be looking to close the gap on Liverpool when they play out their respective fixtures against Bournemouth and Newcastle.
Our VAR Virtuoso has previewed every Premier League fixture over the weekend and provided his best bets below.
Game Week 26 gets underway at Selhurst Park, where Crystal Palace are set to play their first match under the management of Oliver Glasner.
They’ll be taking on a Burnley side nailed to the foot of the table, and starring down the barrel of five consecutive defeats on the road across all comps.
The Eagles have won two of their previous three games at Selhurst Park, and buoyed by the arrival of a new manager and should kick off his reign with a win.
The Seagulls enter this fixture fresh off destroying Sheffield United 5-0.
While, Everton managed to climb out of the drop zone curtesy of a 1-1 draw against Palace, there third league stalemate in four games.
Brighton have turned Amex Stadium into a fortress this season, losing just one league fixture at home (6W,5D).
I’m backing the home side to prevail here, combined with over 1.5 goals scored, a mark that has hit in 23 of Brighton’s 25 league games.
Man U have started 2024 in fine fashion, winning six of their seven games across all comps (1D), and will be looking to secure their fifth straight win in the league.
Alternatively, Fulham has won once across their last eight games in all comps, most recently falling to Villa at home.
The Cottagers hold the 2nd worsts away record in the league (1W,4D,7L), last winning at Old Trafford in 2003!
Fulham have trailed at the major break in eight of their 12 defeats this season and I’m backing them to concede early here again.
Aston Villa have lost their last two home fixtures, following a run of 10 league games without defeat at Villa Park (9W,1D).
They’ll face a Forest outfit searching for their first back-to-back victories in 2024 (3W,3D,3L).
Both teams have scored in Villa’s previous five home games, while the same can be said for five of Nott’s last six away fixtures.
I’m backing Forest to make it onto the scoresheet, but to no avail, with Villa securing all three competition points.
Man City head to Vitality Stadium looking to extend their perfect Premier League record against the Cherries to 14 wins!
The pressure is on the Sky Blues here, with both Liverpool and Arsenal racking up points faster than a P-plater in a Holden Commodore.
The Citizens will be confident in securing a result here, after scoring 4+ goals in each of their last three games against Bournemouth.
I have City winning big.
The Gunners are in hot pursuit of both Liverpool and Man City, and are looking the form side of comp at the moment.
Arteta’s team has won their last five PL games, outscoring their opponents 21-2 across the trip!
Alternatively, Newcastle has failed to make the most of a favourable run, dropping points to both Luton (4-4), and Bournemouth (2-2) across their last three starts.
The Toon haven’t travelled all too well this season, winning just three of 12 road fixtures (2D,7L).
I’m backing Arsenal to win here, but not without conceding.
Wolves bid for a top ten finish is set to take a boost as the play host to “the bye” this round.
Sheffield boast a league-high goals against (29) on the road this season, and a league-low goals for (10) away from home.
Wolverhampton enters this game off the back of seeing off Tottenham on the road, thanks to a Joao Gomes double and Pedro Neto’s ninth assist of the season, only Kieran Trippier and Ollie Watkins (10) claim more.
I’m backing Neto to be active in the final third again, combined with a victory for the home side.
Game Week 26 wraps up in London, when the ineffective Hammers meet the stingless Bees.
West Ham continues to free-fall down the league standings, following a run of six games without a win (3D,3L).
They’ll meet a Brentford outfit with two wins across the same trip, be it, against a far tougher draw.
Believe it or not, the Bees hold a perfect record against the Irons in the Premier League, winning all five of the pair’s previous meetings.
I’m backing West Ham’s misery to continue here, with Brentford claiming three points on the road.