Additional Coverage:
- Premier league best bets: Manchester City to dominate West Ham, goals galore in Tottenham vs. Liverpool (cbssports.com)
Premier League Title Race Heats Up as AFCON Looms
The Premier League is back with another thrilling week, and we could be in for a genuine title race! Arsenal currently holds a slim two-point lead over both Manchester City and Aston Villa. Unai Emery has masterfully guided Villa back into contention after a shaky start, and they’re now firmly in the mix, even while juggling European commitments.
The festive period promises to tighten things up even further, but a significant factor impacting several teams will be the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), kicking off this Sunday. Teams like Sunderland and Manchester United are set to feel the pinch with key players departing for international duty.
This element of uncertainty makes betting a tricky proposition this week, as the impact of AFCON absences is difficult to predict. With that in mind, let’s dive into some of the weekend’s key matchups.
Manchester City vs. West Ham United
- Prediction: Manchester City to score 2+ goals in the first half (+154)
- Saturday, 10 a.m. ET
While the obvious picks of a City win and an Erling Haaland goal offer little value due to their consistent success, there’s still a strong play here. West Ham, despite improvements under Nuno Espirito Santo, are likely to be outmatched by City’s formidable talent.
Even with midweek EFL Cup duties, Pep Guardiola managed to rest Haaland, making the fresh Norwegian a terrifying prospect for opposing defenses. City rarely fails to find the net in the first half, and West Ham is unlikely to be the team to stop that trend.
Tottenham vs. Liverpool
- Prediction: Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals (-125)
- Saturday, 12:30 p.m. ET
Both Tottenham and Liverpool have been navigating European competitions with mixed results, and their league form has been somewhat inconsistent. With Mohamed Salah and Pape Matar Sarr off to AFCON, both sides will need to adjust to significant absences while also shoring up their defenses.
Picking a winner in this unpredictable fixture is a challenge, but one thing is almost guaranteed: goals. Tottenham may have recorded two clean sheets recently against Brentford and Slavia Praha, but Liverpool’s attack, even without Salah, presents a far greater threat.
Similarly, Liverpool’s Premier League performances have often differed from their Champions League outings. While they kept clean sheets against Inter and Brighton, they were fortunate not to concede in those matches.
A trip to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will undoubtedly be a stern test for their defensive resolve.
Aston Villa vs. Manchester United
- Prediction: Aston Villa to win (+105)
- Sunday, 11:30 a.m. ET
Here’s where the AFCON effect truly comes into play. Aston Villa has been on a remarkable run, and hosting Manchester United at Villa Park seems unlikely to be the end of it.
Ruben Amorim’s United will be missing two crucial starters, Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo, due to AFCON commitments. This comes on the heels of an emotionally taxing 4-4 draw against Bournemouth, a result largely attributable to United’s defensive woes.
While United still possesses attacking threats in Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes, and Benjamin Sesko, Unai Emery’s meticulous preparation will likely exploit their weaknesses. Expect Villa to secure another victory and maintain their strong position in the title race through the Christmas period.