Premier League Predictions – EPL Betting Preview For December 21-23
EPL Betting Preview Including Predictions and Picks
WagerTalk Premier League handicapper Kevin Dolan presents his Premier League prediction preview heading into December 21-23 matches. He gives betting previews for key matches including Brighton vs Crystal Palace and Newcastle vs Luton. Which teams is he looking to pick up points and which will have goals being scored? Read his betting preview now!
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Brighton vs Crystal Palace | December 21 | 3:00pm ET
Brighton +120 | Crystal Palace +225 | Draw +250
Brighton finally saw their epic both teams to score streak snap over the weekend as they lost 2-0 away to league leaders Arsenal at the Emirates.
The result wasn’t that much of a surprise however as Brighton put everything into last Thursday’s Europa League matchup against Marseille, a result that ensured they booked their spot into the Round of 16 knockout round early next year.
That performance was always going to foreshadow a flat spot for the Seagulls and Arsenal duly delivered, netting two second-half goals to take all three points in that game at the weekend.
Speaking of second-half goals, none were as dramatic as last weekend’s 95th-minute penalty equalizer from Michael Olise to snatch a draw away from Manchester City for Crystal Palace.
The Eagles had lost four of their previous five games heading into that matchup, and were massive +1400 underdogs as well, with the video of Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson laughing at Pep Guardiola on the sidelines a sign of how unpredictable the sport can be.
Brighton are struggling right now no question and Selhurst Park is always a difficult venue to go to and try and get a result in, a situation proven by the fact that Brighton have won just once here across their last five matchups going back to 2019.
In fact, all of the four previous matchups between these two sides in London have ended in 1-1 draws, and that’s a scoreline that would not come as a surprise once again here on Thursday.
Premier League Prediction: Correct Score 1-1 (+550)
Sheffield United vs Aston Villa | December 22 | 3:00pm ET
Sheffield United +1230 | Aston Villa -490 | Draw +615
Two teams at opposite ends of the table meet at Villa Park on Friday night with the EPL’s hottest team right now, the Villains, looking to leapfrog Arsenal at the top of the table, albeit however briefly, with yet another outright home victory heading into Matchday 18.
That result certainly appears on the cards in this one given Aston Villa own the league’s best home record this season, notching a perfect eight wins from eight games, along with a league-best +20 goal differential as well.
However, Sheffield United have shown more resolve of late under returning manager Chris Wilder, with tough performances against both Liverpool and Chelsea, as well as an outright victory over Brentford, showing they’re not content to simply mail it in in games.
Whether that newfound confidence for the Blades will be enough to slow down a rampant Villa side on their home patch in this one is another matter however, but we know how Wilder will likely set up in this game, looking to stifle the Villains with a five-man backline leaving McBurnie up front on his own to hopefully get on the end of something.
Despite having by far and away the league’s worst defensive record this season, things have tightened considerably under Wilder for Sheffield United across their last few starts, and we believe this game could well come in under the total on Friday as a result.
Premier League Prediction: Under 3.25 (-115)
Newcastle vs Luton | December 23 | 10:00am ET
Newcastle -155 | Luton +390 | Draw +330
After a tough spell that saw Newcastle win just two of their previous eight games heading into last weekend’s matchup against Fulham, the Magpies responded with a comprehensive 3-0 victory after Fulham were reduced to 10 men in the first half after Raul Jimenez’s reckless challenge.
That positivity was short-lived however as Newcastle went out to Chelsea on penalties in the midweek EFL Cup quarter-final matchups, another extended matchup that Eddie Howe’s men really didn’t need seeing as how badly they’ve struggled to juggle multiple competitions already this season.
They face a Luton side on Saturday that despite battling hard in games, giving both Arsenal and Manchester City really tough tests over their last two matchdays, are nevertheless finding ways to come up short, so Saturday’s matchup should present a good opportunity for Newcastle to make a push to try and get back inside those European spots at the top of the table.
The big factor ahead of this one is that Newcastle have been poor away from home this season, sitting with the third-fewest points generated on the road this year, as well as ranking bottom half in defensive xGA also. That’ll likely mean they’ll be made to work for whatever they get here on Saturday, as Luton have scored in all but one of their previous ten home matchups going back to last season.
It’s defensively where Luton have struggled this year, allowing the second-most shots and third-most goals from open play at home this season.
Therefore we’re happy to take a piece of the Over 2.75 goals in this one as both teams will likely find the back of the net and push this one over the total as a result.
Premier League Prediction: Over 2.75 (-105)
Stoppage Time | Weekly Soccer Preview
Join Carmine Bianco, Kevin Dolan, Nick Borrman, Bryan Power and Pavlos Laguretos for Stoppage Time every Thursday breaking down betting angles across the European soccer schedule including possibly matches in Premier League!
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