Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea
Sunday 22nd December 2019
FA Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Live on Sky Sports Main Event HD – Kick Off: 16:30 GMT
Tottenham return to Premier League action this weekend as they welcome Chelsea to the London Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
It’s a highly anticipated encounter as fledgling Spurs’ boss Jose Mourinho faces his old club Chelsea. Sunday is the first time that the Portuguese has faced the Blues as Tottenham’s new manager.
Spurs enter this weekend’s fixture in a fine run of form and have won four of Mourinho’s five Premier League matches since his arrival at the end of November. Jan Vertonghen was the hero last time round, as his stoppage time winner secured all three points against Wolves. Spurs currently sit 5th, three points and a place behind Chelsea.
Chelsea on the other hand will be eager to return to winning ways in the Premier League following their surprising defeat to Bournemouth last time round. Frank Lampard has seen his side lose four of their last five in the league. Chelsea have lost more Premier League matches in the last five then they managed in the twelve matches prior.
In the Premier League last season both sides managed a win apiece. Chelsea won 2-0 at Stamford Bridge, meanwhile Spurs were victorious 3-1 at Wembley, their part-time home ground for last season. Chelsea’s last win away to Spurs came over two years, in August 2017 where they won 2-1 thanks to a brace from Marcos Alonso.
The referee for this clash is Anthony Taylor. The 41-year old has taken charge of fourteen Premier League matches so far this season, accumulating a total of sixty-nine yellow cards, and two red cards. This considered, as well as the magnitude of the game, I would recommend a minimum of 40+ booking points for this fixture. Sunday’s fixture is the second time Taylor has taken charge of a London Derby concerning these two in the Premier League, with his last coming in 2017. Taylor awarded four yellow cards in Chelsea’s 2-1 win at Wembley.
This match will be shown live on Sky Sports Football, with kick-off scheduled for 16:30 GMT on Sunday afternoon.
Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Chelsea
Suggested Tips – Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea – (BET 365)
- Correct Score – Tottenham Hotspur to win 2-1 – (link no longer available).
- First Goalscorer – Harry Kane – (link no longer available).
- Half-time/Full time – Draw/Tottenham Hotspur – (link no longer available).
- Player to be booked – Eric Dier – (link no longer available).
Suggested Tips – Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea – (SKYBET)
- Correct Score Group Betting – Tottenham Hotspur to win 1-0, 2-0, or 2-1 – 3/1.
- RequestABet Specials 11/1 to 28/1 – Alli to score, Tottenham to win, over 2.5 goals and Jorginho to be carded – 16/1.
- Popular Player Stats RequestABets – Kane to score a header and Chelsea to score a penalty – 40/1.
RequestABet Specials Up to 10/1 – BTTS, 4+ corners each team and 20+ booking points each team – 4/1.
Markets last updated on Sunday 22nd December 2019 at 13:05 GMT.
Manchester City vs Leicester City – Match Preview
Manchester City vs Leicester City
Saturday 21st December 2019
FA Premier League, Etihad StadiumLive on Sky Sports Premier League HD – Kick Off: 17:30 GMT
Manchester City return to Premier League action this weekend when they welcome high-flyers Leicester City to the Etihad on Saturday.
Pep Guardiola’s side will be hoping to pick up all three points, and close the gap on Leicester, who currently sit above them in the Premier League standings.
City made it through the quarter-final of the Carabao cup in midweek following their win over Oxford, but attention will immediately turn to Premier League action, and the huge clash with the Foxes on Saturday. City bounced back from their Manchester derby defeat by winning convincingly away at Arsenal. Kevin De Bruyne starred in the 3-0 win, scoring twice and showing why he’s one of the best performers in the division.
Leicester on the other hand were thwarted by strugglers Norwich in their last outing in the Premier league. Brendan Rodgers side were held 1-1 at home, which ended their eight-match winning run. Rodgers will be keen for his side to bounce back from their stalemate, and will believe that Saturday’s game is winnable, considering City’s tentative home form this season.
Last seasons Champions have lost twice at home this season and have drawn once dropping eight points in total; more than they managed at home for the entirety of last seasons campaign.
There’s an added incentive ahead of this fixture, as current league leaders Liverpool won’t be playing this weekend. The reds are currently in Qatar, on the hunt to add the club world cup to their cabinet for the first time in their history. Saturday provides a chance for both sides to claw back some points on Liverpool in the race for the Premier League title.
The last time these two sides met, former City captain Vincent Kompany stole the show with a stunning late winner, which all but secured City’s fate as champions. Pep Guardiola’s side have won six of the last seven meetings between the two sides, their only defeat coming last season on boxing day. Ricardo Pereira’s late strike secured all three points for the Foxes. Leicester haven’t won at the Etihad in almost four years, but their last win was a meaningful one on their way to their first Premier League title.
The referee for this fixture is Mike Dean. The 51-year old has taken charge of thirteen Premier League matches this season, accumulating a total of fifty-seven yellow cards, and two red cards. This considered, I would recommend a minimum of 30+ booking points for this fixture. Dean has taken charge of City twice already this season, their 5-0 win over West Ham where he awarded four yellow cards, and their 8-0 win over Watford where he awarded four yellow cards. Dean has also taken charge of Leicester and awarded two yellow cards in their 2-0 victory away at Brighton in November.
This match will be shown live on Sky Sports Premier League, with kick-off scheduled to take place at 17:30 GMT.
Prediction: Manchester City 2-1 Leicester City
Suggested Tips – Manchester City vs Leicester City – (BET 365)
- Correct Score – Manchester City to win 2-1 – (link no longer available).
- First Goalscorer – Kevin De Bryne – (link no longer available).
- Half-time/full-time – Draw/Manchester City – (link no longer available).
Suggested Tips – Manchester City vs Leicester City – (SKYBET)
- Correct Score Group Betting – Manchester City to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 – 9/4.
- @FottyAccums RequestABet – Sterling & Vardy to score and Otamendi & Ndidi to be carded – 66/1.
- Popular PlayerStat RequestABet – Jesus to score a Header and Leicester to score a penalty – 66/1.
- Team Passes Completed – Manchester City 860+ passes completed – 13/2.
- To Score in First 10 Minutes – Raheem Sterling – 14/1.
Markets last updated on Saturday 21st December at 16:45 GMT.
Middlesbrough vs Stoke City – Match Preview
Middlesbrough vs Stoke City
Friday 20th December 2019
The Championship, Riverside StadiumLive on Sky Sports Football HD – Kick Off: 19:45 GMT
Middlesbrough return to the Riverside on Friday night as they welcome fellow strugglers Stoke City in the Championship.
To say Middlesbrough could do with a win is an understatement. Johnathan Woodgate has seen his side win only four times this season, which has got his side looking anxiously over their shoulder. Boro come into Friday evenings encounter looking for a win following the 3-1 defeat away to Swansea on Saturday.
Stoke on the other hand are adjusting to life under new management following Michael O’Neill’s appointment in November. Since the former Northern Ireland managers arrival, Stoke have won three, drawn three and lost one, which has seen them rise from the foot of the table. The Potters come into Friday’s game on the back of a stalemate, the 0-0 draw at home to Reading.
Boro have won twice in their last sixteen matches, form which that has seen them slip to 20th in the division. Their last victory came at the beginning of the month, where they defeated Charlton at the Riverside. Stoke on the other hand are unbeaten in their last two and have won more matches since O’Neill’s arrival than they managed in their previous fifteen matches.
Middlesbrough currently sit three points and two places above Stoke, but a win for the Potters would see them leapfrog Middlesbrough, and put more space between themselves and the relegation zone.
The last time these two met, Middlesbrough ran out 1-0 winners at the Riverside in April. That win for Boro is their only win against Stoke since 2008, where they were 2-0 winners in what was then a Premier League fixture. Before that last encounter, Stoke were unbeaten in four, drawing two and winning two.
In the last five meetings between these two sides, BTTS has landed once, the last time being in the 1-1 draw in August 2016.
The referee for this match is Oliver Langford. The midlands’-based official has taken charge of fourteen matches this season, accumulating a total of fifty-five yellow cards, and one red. This considered, I would suggest a minimum of 20+ booking points for this fixture. Langford has taken charge of Middlesbrough twice this season, in the 3-3 draw with Luton where he awarded four yellow cards, and their 1-0 home defeat to West Brom where six yellow cards were awarded. He has also taken charge of Stoke, in their 2-1 away win against Swansea, where he awarded three yellow cards.
This game will be shown live on Sky Sports football, with kick-off scheduled for 19:45 GMT on Friday evening.
Prediction: Middlesbrough 1-1 Stoke City
Suggested Tips – Middlesbrough vs Stoke City – (BET 365)
- Correct Score – Draw 1-1 – (link no longer available).
- Half Time / Full Time – Draw/Draw – (link no longer available).
Suggested Tips – Middlesbrough vs Stoke City – (SKYBET)
- Correct Score Group Betting – Draw 1-1, 2-2, or 2-2 – 5/2.
- Price Boost – Scott Hogan and Ashley Fletcher – 17/2.
- Match Specials – Stock to score in the first 10 minutes – 13/2.
- Popular Player Stats RequestABets – Tavernier to score from outside the area and Stoke to score a penalty – 250/1.
Markets updated at 18:54 GMT on Friday 20th December 2019.