Premier League betting tips: Matchweek 19 preview

Once these matches are complete, we will be half way through the 2024/25 Premier League season. With the onslaught of fixtures across the festive period, there is a stronger possibility of upsets, as tired players face a lightning-fast turnaround following the Boxing Day games. 

With the title contenders all away from home, this could prove to have been a crucial matchweek, once the destination of the trophy is decided. 

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Leicester vs Manchester City betting tips

When Manchester City visit the King Power Stadium, they usually win to nil. That has been the outcome of their last four away games against Leicester.

These are not ordinary days, though, with the defending Premier League champions in a slump of epic proportions. While that is true, the Foxes’ back line is so porous that if Pep Guardiola’s side don’t win they may as well give up for this season.

Equally, City’s defence is not the impregnable wall it once was so don’t be surprised if both teams score in this fixture for once. Leicester have netted in losses against each of the top four, after all.

Scoreline prediction

Leicester 1-2 Manchester City (9/1 with Matchbook)

FIRST’s top tip:

Manchester City win and both teams to score (141/100 with MrPlay)

Crystal Palace vs Southampton betting tips

The last two meetings of Crystal Palace and Southampton saw the former win while also keeping a clean sheet. This game should end in a similar fashion.

The Saints have lost more matches to nil than any other team in the Premier League this season, for one thing. But they have also scored just four goals in their nine away games, with only one across the previous five. 

And while Palace don’t have many wins this season, two of them were secured with 1-0 score lines. The outcome should be similar here. 

Scoreline prediction

Crystal Palace 2-0 Southampton (15/2 with Bet365)

FIRST’s top tip:

Crystal Palace win to nil (15/8 with BetVictor)

Everton vs Nottingham Forest betting tips

Everton won this fixture 2-0 in April, completing the double over Nottingham Forest after a 1-0 win at the City Ground earlier in the 2023/24 campaign. An away win is the likelier outcome here, but the trend of at least one side failing to score should continue.

Sean Dyche’s side entered Christmas having endured four 0-0s in their previous six league games. While they scored at the Etihad on Boxing Day, clean sheets are a rarity for Manchester City these days. 

A solid defence has been key to Forest’s impressive season too. They have won to nil against six teams in the bottom half, so expect at least one of these teams to draw a blank at Goodison Park. 

Scoreline prediction

Everton 0-2 Nottingham Forest (52/5 with MrPlay)

FIRST’s top tip:

Both teams to score: No (10/11 with Betway)

Fulham vs Bournemouth betting tips

This match sees a meeting of two of the xG darlings of 2024/25. The expected points data for this season suggests both clubs are worthy of a spot in the top four.

By this measure, Bournemouth have been the better side and should be favourites in the 1X2 market, rather than Fulham. The Cherries also have a good record at Craven Cottage.

Granted, they lost there 3-1 last season. But Bournemouth were unbeaten in four trips to this corner of west London prior to that. Let’s put our faith in the numbers and see what happens. 

Scoreline prediction

Fulham 1-2 Bournemouth (21/2 with Matchbook)

FIRST’s top tip:

Draw No Bet: Bournemouth (27/25 with Unibet)

Tottenham vs Wolves betting tips

Tottenham are odds-on to win this game, and chances are they will. But let’s consider a few of their results for a second.

Spurs provided Crystal Palace and Ipswich with their first wins of the seasons and drew at Leicester. They have struggled against the strugglers at times.

And Wolves have won at Fulham and drawn at Brighton; teams who are comparable with Tottenham in the table. The underlying data suggests Wolves avoiding defeat should be around evens, so it’s worth a flutter at the available price with Spurs’ erratic form.

Scoreline prediction

Tottenham 1-1 Wolves (11/1 with Bet365)

FIRST’s top tip:

Double chance: Wolves or Draw (29/20 with 888 Sport)

West Ham vs Liverpool betting tips

The numbers of goals in Liverpool’s matches seems to vary depending on whether they are at Anfield or on the road. 

A lot of their home games have ended in low scoring wins. By sharp comparison, they won 6-3 at Tottenham in their last away game, with other recent trips including a 3-2 victory at Southampton and a 3-3 draw at Newcastle. 

There are usually plenty of goals when they travel to West Ham too. The last four meetings at the London Stadium have all seen at least three goals and an average of four.

Scoreline prediction

West Ham 1-3 Liverpool (10/1 with William Hill)

FIRST’s top tip:

Over 3.5 goals (13/12 with Matchbook)

Aston Villa vs Brighton betting tips

The last meeting of these teams ended in a 1-0 win for Brighton but they tend to bring lots of goals out of each other. The corresponding fixture to this last season saw Aston Villa record a thumping 6-1 victory. 

While that was obviously an extreme example, four of the last five clashes of these clubs at Villa Park saw both teams score and at least three goals. As Villa and the Seagulls are among the top Premier League sides for this outcome in 2024/25, the Holte End faithful should be treated to entertaining fare. 

Scoreline prediction

Aston Villa 2-1 Brighton (27/4 with MrPlay)

FIRST’s top tip:

Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals (17/20 with Betway)

Ipswich Town vs Chelsea betting tips

Will Ipswich fans see their side win a home game this season? 

They surely will, but it’s very unlikely to occur against Chelsea. The wait for three points in Suffolk is likely to continue into 2025, sadly for the Town faithful. 

If anything, this could be a heavy defeat, as occurred when Newcastle won 4-0 in the previous game at Portman Road. Having won 6-2 at Wolves and 5-1 at Southampton already this season, Enzo Maresca’s men will fancy their chances of feasting at the home of another Premier League struggler. 

Scoreline prediction

Ipswich Town 0-3 Chelsea (43/5 with Matchbook)

FIRST’s top tip:

Handicap: Chelsea -1 (23/20 with William Hill)

Manchester Utd vs Newcastle Utd betting tips

Whisper it, but Manchester United have been worse at Old Trafford under Ruben Amorim than they were under Erik ten Hag this season. Come back, Ruud van Nistelrooy, all is forgiven.

There are easier teams to face than Newcastle too. The Magpies are having a stuttering campaign but have picked up some good results recently and have only lost one of their last four away games in the league. 

While they don’t have a great record at Old Trafford, they had won the previous three meetings prior to an end of season 3-2 loss in May too.

Scoreline prediction

Manchester Utd 1-2 Newcastle Utd (10/1 with Bet365)

FIRST’s top tip:

Draw No Bet: Newcastle (17/20 with AKBets)

Brentford vs Arsenal betting tips

2025 kicks off in the Premier League with Brentford hosting Arsenal. The Gunners won both meetings last season by a single goal, with Kai Havertz bagging the winner on both occasions.

The former Chelsea man is having an erratic season in front of the goal. Havertz has scored a couple of goals fewer than statistically expected, so could be due a little reversion to the mean, a bettor’s friend when placing goal scorer bets.

And despite squandering some good chances, he entered Christmas as Arsenal’s top scorer in the league. In a team of somewhat unreliable goal scorers, Havertz has arguably been the best of them.

Scoreline prediction

Brentford 0-2 Arsenal (17/2 with Bet365)

FIRST’s top tip:

Kai Havertz to score any time (17/10 with Paddy Power)