Our betting expert Jones Knows provides his insight as Chelsea’s youthfulness can see them to victory over a legless Manchester City.
Bournemouth vs Nottingham Forest, Saturday 3pm
Along with playing with intensity, Bournemouth are the masters of stifling counter-attacks or dangerous situations with fouls.
No team since the start of 2024 averages a higher amount of fouls than the Cherries with a whopping 13.76 being made per game. This type of football inevitably leads to cards and only Chelsea are averaging more yellow cards per game than Bournemouth in the last year. Andoni Iraola’s team are getting 2.46 yellow card flashed their way per game.
This exciting fixture looks ripe for cards.
And, Tyler Adams looks a big price to be carded at 4/1 with Sky Bet considering his direct opponent will be Morgan Gibbs-White, who has been responsible for an opposition player being carded 18 times since the start of last season.
SCORE PREDICTION: 1-1 | JONES KNOWS’ BEST BET: Tyler Adams to be carded (4/1 with Sky Bet)
Brighton vs Everton, Saturday 3pm
There is a simple equation when it comes to predicting Brighton matches: when Danny Welbeck starts, back them.
The 34-year-old striker, despite his advancing years, is such a key figure for the way Brighton want to play. He occupies defenders, he holds the ball brilliantly to bring other people in and he still carries a goal threat. Welbeck’s influence can be seen through the with and without stats this season.
He’s missed eight Premier League games and Brighton are winless in seven of them, scoring just 10 goals. However, when he starts, the Seagulls are flying, winning eight of their 16 matches and scoring 1.8 goals per game. Brighton to win and under 4.5 goals at Evens with Sky Bet looks a runner.
SCORE PREDICTION: 2-1
FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Everton’s match against Tottenham in the Premier League
Liverpool vs Ipswich, Saturday 3pm – PLAY SUPER 6 HERE!
Anyone who can make a case for Ipswich here at 20/1 with Sky Bet, I salute you.
I’m always trying to spy an angle or two to get the big underdog onside but such is the relentless nature of Liverpool and the state of Ipswich’s defending against Man City it was an impossible task.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot praised Mohamed Salah following his performance in their Champions League match-up against Lille in which he scored their first
The approach from Kieran McKenna will surely be the same as their 1-0 defeat to Arsenal where they retreated into a low block and soaked up pressure. They’ve surprisingly done that in most of their away games this season. This does potentially open the Liverpool corner line up as a betting avenue in what is a very difficult game to find any value in.
Ipswich have conceded an average of 8.8 corners on the road this season against top-half teams whilst Liverpool have got into double figures for corners won against Southampton, Leicester, Wolves, Brentford and in the away fixture with Ipswich. Them to win nine or more at 11/10 with Sky Bet could be the answer.
SCORE PREDICTION: 2-0
Southampton vs Newcastle, Saturday 3pm – PLAY SUPER 6 HERE!
Getting thumped by Bournemouth might not actually be a bad thing for Newcastle. It may just give them a little bit of a backside kick heading into what is an open goal in terms of a winnable football match. Those taking pro Newcastle plays should find some easy winners.
My plan of attack is to concentrate on Southampton’s fouls. Since Ivan Juric took charge, Saints are making 14.4 fouls per game – only Bournemouth are making more (15.6). Juric has made this team more aggressive and that in turn is leading to a higher foul count. My player of choice in the fouls market is Jan Bednarek to make two or more fouls at 5/4 with Sky Bet.
He’s made 14 fouls in his last seven games, so an average of two per game and will be a busy boy up against the Newcastle frontline.
SCORE PREDICTION: 1-3
We’re starting to see why Vítor Pereira doesn’t stick around too long at football clubs. He’s a very engaging character but a very outspoken one and the decision to criticise Matheus Cunha is a risky strategy.
He said of his performance at Chelsea: “I don’t like this body language. I want someone as a captain trying to help the team – running, suffering, fighting together.”
Highlights of the Premier League match between Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolves need Cunha more than they need Periera if they want to stay up so to alienate someone of such importance could prove to be a catastrophic call.
Things could unravel very quickly again at Wolves, especially if Cunha isn’t available this weekend. In 18 games against top-half ranked teams they have conceded two or more goals in 17 of those 18 games, conceding 47 goals in total. That’s 2.6 goals per game. All this makes Arsenal to win by two or more goals very appealing at 5/4 with Sky Bet.
SCORE PREDICTION: 0-3 | JONES KNOWS’ BEST BET: Arsenal -1 handicap (5/4 with Sky Bet)
Man City vs Chelsea, Saturday 5.30pm, live on Sky Sports – PLAY SUPER 6 HERE!
Pep Guardiola remains a smart man, yes? Well, it’s worth listening to him then. In the wake of the latest City collapse in Paris, Guardiola said City are in survival mode and are struggling to beat the best teams. Chelsea do fall into that category, so investing in the away team here makes sense.
Saturday 25th January 5:00pm
Kick off 5:30pm
We saw against PSG just how much City struggled when tasked with an energetic and fearless side, full of youth, that move the ball dangerously and that’s what Chelsea are. Enzo Maresca’s team are the only Premier League team yet to use a player aged 28 or over this season whilst Man City have given 9,436 minutes to players 28 or older.
With City scoring 24 goals in their last six games and Chelsea enduring problems at the heart of their defence, the smartest way to play this game is to just back the total Chelsea goals line. In their 18 games against Premier League or Champions League opposition City have conceded two or more goals in 13 of those matches to an average of 1.84 goals conceded. Chelsea to score two or more goals at Evens with Sky Bet is a cracker.
SCORE PREDICTION: 2-3 | JONES KNOWS’ BEST BET: Chelsea to score 2+ goals (Evens with Sky Bet)
Jones Knows’ best bets…
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