Premier League: Predictions for all six games on Saturday
Recommended bets:
- Back over 1.5 2nd half goals in Luton vs Chelsea
- Back Aston Villa to win to zero
- Back Crystal Palace to win
- Back Manchester City and both teams to score
- Back Wolves and both teams to score
- Back Nottingham Forest draw no bet
There is no let-up in the festive Premier League actions, with Saturday’s programme kicking off at Luton, where Chelsea are the lunchtime visitors.
Aston Villa will want to bounce back from their defeat at Manchester United when they entertain Burnley, while bottom-side Sheffield United faces a frightening trip to champions Manchester City.
The day ends with Nuno Espirito Santo’s second home game in charge of Nottingham Forest as they welcome Manchester United to the City Ground.
Luton vs Chelsea (Saturday, 12.30pm)
It continues to be an underwhelming season for Chelsea, and there are no guarantees that they will end their run of four successive away defeats when they travel to Luton.
The Hatters have boosted their chances of avoiding the drop with consecutive victories over Newcastle and Sheffield United, and they have already equipped themselves well at home to Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City.
Just 14 of the 55 goals in Luton’s matches have come in the first half this season, so this could be another game where most of the scoring is done after the interval.
Aston Villa vs Burnley (Saturday, 3pm)
Aston Villa have had to deal with a couple of setbacks, but they are still right in the mix for a top-four finish and should enhance their chances by seeing off struggling Burnley.
Villa needed a late goal to earn a draw against bottom side Sheffield United and then saw a two-goal lead slip in a defeat at Manchester United, but Burnley have been struggling on the road.
The Clarets have failed to score in eight of their matches this season and did not have a shot on target in their 2-0 defeat last time out against Liverpool, so expect Villa to win without conceding.
Crystal Palace vs Brentford (Saturday, 3pm)
Both Crystal Palace and Brentford are in danger of being dragged into relegation after poor recent runs, as the Eagles have not won in eight matches, and the Bees have lost their last four.
However, there is more cause for optimism in the Palace camp as they were unfortunate to be defeated by a late controversial penalty at Chelsea in midweek.
They also earned a 2-2 draw at Manchester City before Christmas, while there is less to encourage Brentford, who have lost six of their last seven matches and could slip further into trouble after their trip to Selhurst Park.
Manchester City vs Sheffield United (Saturday, 3pm)
Manchester City ensured they made a winning return from the Club World Cup with a 3-1 success at Everton on Wednesday, but they are still not finely tuned, and struggling Sheffield United could at least trouble them on Saturday.
City have won just two of their last seven league matches and will remember that the Blades were no pushover when they needed a late Rodri goal to earn a 2-1 win at Bramall Lane in August.
Sheffield United were dogged in their 1-1 draw at Aston Villa, which earned them only their second away point of the season, and they will have to be positive.
City have kept just two clean sheets in their last 16 league games, so expect the champions to concede even though they are highly likely to take the three points.
Wolves vs Everton (Saturday, 3pm)
Everton have been in excellent form since they were handed a ten-point deduction, but their defeat to Manchester City on Wednesday has left them fourth from bottom of the table.
The Toffees won four straight-away games before an unfortunate 2-1 loss at Tottenham, but a trip to Molineux might just be too much for Sean Dyche’s side.
Wolves are unbeaten in their last seven matches on their own patch, beating Chelsea last time out on Christmas Eve, so expect them to win with both teams scoring, something that has happened in nine of their ten home games this season.
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United (Saturday, 5.30pm)
New Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo takes charge of his second home game when the Tricky Trees host Manchester United, and his team have a decent chance of getting something following their 3-1 win at Newcastle on Boxing Day.
Chris Wood was the hat-trick hero that day, and while they lost Nuno’s first game at the helm 3-2 to Bournemouth, they were reduced to ten men after just 23 minutes.
They have already shown enough in the new gaffer’s first two games to suggest they can get out of trouble, and United are a strange animal who sometimes cannot be trusted.
Recovering from 2-0 down to beat Aston Villa 3-2 on Boxing Day could have taken a lot out of them, and it is just worth siding with Forest in the draw-no-bet market.
Win up to £250,000 with LiveScore 6!
Win up to £250,000 with our free-to-play game, LiveScore 6!