Premier League: Predictions for all six games on Saturday
Recommended bets:
- Back Chelsea Double Chance against Liverpool
- Back Bournemouth to win against Nottingham Forest
- Back Brighton to win against Leicester
- Back Aston Villa draw no bet against Southampton
- Back West Ham to win & over 1.5 goals against Everton
- Back a draw in Newcastle vs Crystal Palace
There are six Premier League matches to embrace on Saturday, beginning with a must-win contest between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield.
Those two Premier League giants have endured disappointing seasons so far and defeat for either could be fatal to their Champions League qualification prospects.
It could also be a big day at the bottom end of the table as West Ham host Everton in a relegation six-pointer, an encounter neither manager can afford to lose.
The remaining three 3pm kick-offs see Bournemouth entertain Nottingham Forest, struggling Southampton face a visit from Aston Villa and a bullish Brighton make the trip to Leicester.
Saturday’s action concludes at Selhurst Park, where Crystal Palace will be hoping to build on their recent 1-1 draw with Manchester United against high-flying Newcastle.
Liverpool vs Chelsea (Saturday, 12.30pm)
Graham Potter has left Anfield with positive results on each of his last two visits with Brighton and could make it a hat-trick with his improving Chelsea side.
The Blues were the better team at Fulham before the Joao Felix red card put them on the back foot and there was a solid look to them in last Sunday’s 1-0 win at home to Crystal Palace.
The same cannot be said for Liverpool, who have lost their opening two league games of the calendar year at Brentford (3-0) and Brighton (3-1).
Jurgen Klopp’s Reds are without a Premier League clean sheet in eight and with Chelsea injecting more quality in midfield and cleverness in attack, they can avoid defeat.
Bournemouth vs Nottingham Forest (Saturday, 3pm)
Despite Forest's solid home form, Steve Cooper's team have struggled on their travels, particularly when it comes to scoring goals.
No team has registered fewer away goals than the Tricky Trees, who have netted just twice and conceded 22 times in nine away league trips.
That lack of firepower will not be helped by the absence of Taiwo Awoniyi.
That makes this a huge chance for Bournemouth, who have beaten Forest on each of the last two occasions they have hosted them at the Vitality Stadium.
Leicester vs Brighton (Saturday, 3pm)
Buoyed by last weekend’s 3-0 win at home to Liverpool, Brighton can follow up by winning against Leicester at the King Power Stadium.
The slick Seagulls have won three away league games in a row at Wolves, Southampton and Everton and should have little to fear on their trip to Leicester, who have suffered four league defeats on the spin.
Brighton are 13 points above the Foxes in the Premier League standings and should showcase their qualities in the East Midlands.
Southampton vs Aston Villa (3pm, Saturday)
Southampton's recent resurgence has been impressive but three of their last six strikes have come from outside the penalty area and another directly of which resulted from a goalkeeping blunder.
That suggests their luck may run out at Aston Villa, who have become a solid unit under Unai Emery, having taken seven points from their last three league matches.
Villa can be backed to stop Southampton's hot streak and potentially pick up all three points.
West Ham vs Everton (3pm, Saturday)
This is a massive game in the scrap for Premier League survival while defeat for either David Moyes or Frank Lampard could be costly to their job prospects.
Danny Ings' addition at West Ham could prove to be one of the shrewdest moves in the January transfer window and his arrival ought to give the Londoners a much-needed lift.
Everton have conceded at least two goals in seven of their last eight games in all competitions and their treacherous road record makes them easy to oppose.
The Toffees have won only once in nine attempts on their travels, with them failing to score in four of their last five away games.
Crystal Palace vs Newcastle (5.30pm, Saturday)
Both of this season's prior meetings between Palace and Newcastle, one in the Premier League and one in the League Cup, finished 0-0 after 90 minutes.
And Palace, on the back of Thursday’s 1-1 draw at home to Manchester United, may be able to frustrate the Magpies once again.
Eddie Howe’s visitors are flying high in fourth in the Premier League but, with star midfielder Bruno Guimaraes sidelined, they may struggle to come away from Selhurst Park with all three points.
