Premier League betting tips: Matchweek 18 preview

Boxing Day is one of the great days of any English football season. The Premier League has eight matches spread across four time slots, all of which are available for UK viewers to watch on television via Amazon Prime. It’s a rare Christmas treat.

And if that’s not enough, there’s a pair of games on Friday evening too! It’s wall-to-wall entertainment in matchweek 18.

Check out the best UK bookmakers to claim free bets worth up to £850!

Manchester City vs Everton betting tips

Manchester City have long been a tough team to bet on. It used to be because they’d win easily and the odds were so skinny. Now it’s thanks to them being so unrecognisably poor. 

If they are to have an easier game soon, this is a good candidate. Everton have failed to score in their last four away games, drawing blanks against the likes of Southampton and West Ham in that run.

Sean Dyche will also have an eye on the home game with Nottingham Forest just three days later. He won’t risk anyone for this far tougher assignment, which will only help City’s cause.

Although after Everton stifled title hopefuls Arsenal and Chelsea in recent weeks it could be a tougher task than expected.

Scoreline prediction

Manchester City 2-0 Everton (11/2 with Mr.Play)

FIRST’s top tip:

Manchester City win to nil (29/20 with William Hill)

Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace betting tips

Crystal Palace’s matches broadly break into two sets for both teams to score: generally no if they’re at Selhurst Park, yes if they’re on the road.

The Eagles have had score draws at Chelsea and Aston Villa, plus a memorable 3-1 derby win at Brighton recently. Bournemouth’s home form isn’t wildly different either. 

Perhaps more pertinently, Andoni Iraola’s side have had a lot of high-scoring games against teams at the wrong end of the Premier League table. If that pattern holds, this should be a fun watch.

Scoreline prediction

Bournemouth 2-1 Crystal Palace (17/2 with bet365)

FIRST’s top tip:

Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals (21/20 with William Hill)

Chelsea vs Fulham betting tips

This should differ from most west London derbies. Fulham frequently lose to near neighbours Chelsea without scoring but they can be confident of avoiding a shut out this time. 

The Blues have only kept one league clean sheet at Stamford Bridge this season. Since their first game of 2024/25, Marco Silva’s men have scored in every away game too. 

And if they can take the lead against Arsenal and Liverpool, as they have this month, then Fulham should score against a leaky Chelsea side. They just won’t get enough to avoid defeat against their free-scoring neighbours. 

Scoreline prediction

Chelsea 2-1 Fulham (17/2 with bet365)

FIRST’s top tip:

Chelsea win and both teams to score (149/100 with Mr.Play)

Newcastle vs Aston Villa betting tips

Across their last three Premier League meetings with Newcastle, Aston Villa have scored a total of five goals. England international Ollie Watkins netted three of them, collecting the assist for the other two. 

He even opened the scoring in a pre-season friendly between the clubs during that time too. There is something about the Magpies which brings the best out of Watkins.

He hasn’t been in sparkling form in the last two months. But with three goals and two assists in his last six starts for club and country, Watkins is doing well enough to think he can punish one of his favoured opponents. 

Scoreline prediction

Newcastle 2-1 Aston Villa (131/20 with Mr.Play)

FIRST’s top tip:

Ollie Watkins to score any time (21/10 with Paddy Power)

Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham betting tips

The last six meetings between Nottingham Forest and Tottenham have all been settled by exactly two goals. This game promises to be closer. 

While neither team has drawn too often this season, Forest are the top team for one-goal wins whereas Spurs only lost by more than a single goal for the first time against Liverpool on Sunday. The home side are favourites but these facts suggest there won’t be much in it.

And let’s be honest, you can never know which version of Tottenham will turn up. The value might actually be to sit on the fence. 

Scoreline prediction

Nottingham Forest 1-1 Tottenham (15/2 with 888 Sport)

FIRST’s top tip:

Draw (14/5 with Matchbook)

Southampton vs West Ham betting tips

Recent matches at St Marys Stadium have tended to be very entertaining. The problem for Southampton fans (and former manager Russell Martin) is that the Saints have usually been on the wrong end of the results.

The last six games there in all competitions have seen scorelines including 3-2, 2-3, 1-5 and 0-5. While West Ham may be able to take advantage, they only have two away league wins this season, one in their last seven road matches.

They recently lost 4-1 and 3-1 on the road though, so there should be goals here. 

Scoreline prediction

Southampton 1-3 West Ham (16/1 with bet365)

FIRST’s top tip:

Over 3.5 goals (149/100 with Mr.Play)

Wolves vs Manchester United betting tips

The records of these teams suggest this match is unlikely to see many corners. Neither Wolves or Manchester United have regularly had lots in their games this season.

But the latter’s away record is worth breaking down. While the average of 4.4 corners for United on the road is low, that includes recent games with Arsenal (no corners) and Manchester City (two) in which they barely had any.

At struggling Southampton and Crystal Palace, they had seven and 11 respectively. With eight at Tottenham in their previous away game, United should dominate the corner count here. 

Scoreline prediction

Wolves 1-2 Manchester United (17/2 with bet365)

FIRST’s top tip:

Away team over 6.5 corners (59/50 with Unibet)

Liverpool vs Leicester betting tips

Leicester City are not the first struggling side to visit Anfield in the Premier League this season. 

However, as Liverpool won four successive home games against Champions League teams without conceding (Bayer Leverkusen, Aston Villa, Real Madrid and Manchester City), you have to think the Foxes will struggle to get on the board. 

Leicester fans will argue their side has already scored against Chelsea and Arsenal this term. The fact they had just four shots in a recent 4-0 loss at Newcastle does not auger well for their chances of beating Alisson Becker here though. 

Scoreline prediction

Liverpool 2-0 Leicester (63/10 with Mr.Play)

FIRST’s top tip:

Liverpool win to nil (19/20 with William Hill)

Brighton vs Brentford betting tips

These teams are among the top sides in the Premier League for taking half-time leads this season. No team has more than Brighton while Brentford are level with Chelsea. 

The Bees have a well-publicised issue with away games, though. They have the best home record in the division and the worst on the road. The impetus will be on Brighton to start fast, to ensure Brentford are not able to play their way into the game.

Having lost their last home game to bitter rivals Crystal Palace, the Seagulls also need to get their fans on board. With a good start, they should lead at the break.

Scoreline prediction

Brighton 2-1 Brentford (17/2 with bet365)

FIRST’s top tip:

Half time lead: Brighton (5/4 with William Hill)

Arsenal vs Ipswich betting tips

Everton recently left the Emirates Stadium with a hard-fought goalless draw. Arsenal have generally feasted on the struggling teams this season though.

They won 5-2 at West Ham and 5-1 at Crystal Palace, while Leicester and Southampton were swept aside at home 4-2 and 3-1 respectively. A trend of the Gunners’ last few seasons is that most of their high-scoring games have occurred against the teams at the wrong end of the division. 

With Ipswich having already conceded four goals at Manchester City, Brentford and West Ham, that pattern should remain. 

Scoreline prediction

Arsenal 3-1 Ipswich (11/1 with 888 Sport)

FIRST’s top tip:

Arsenal win and over 3.5 goals (Evens with Mr.Play)

Odds correct at the time of writing.