It's the start of the Christmas period fixtures, and here is the Football Gambler match predictions for Matchweek 19 of the 2021/22 Premier League season.
As things stand, we still have seven fixtures left for Matchweek 19 in the Premier League. Something tells me that will change, but here we go regardless.
Liverpool v Leeds, Wolves v Watford and Burnley v Everton have already gone. All have fallen victim to the Covid-pandemic.
The loss of the Liverpool match will no doubt not only have a bearing on the race to win the Premier League (especially if the fixture is rescheduled whilst Mane and Salah are away at the Africa Cup of Nations) but also on plenty of Fantasy Premier League teams.
In the betting to win the Premier League, last weekend's results have really seen the bookmakers tighten their odds on Man City.
The Cityzens are now into just 3/10 (1.30) to win the title, City were 1/2 (1.50) before their 4-0 win over Newcastle last Sunday.
On the back of their 2-2 draw with Spurs, Liverpool have drifed from 11/4 (3.75) to 7/2 (4.5).
While Chelsea are now out to 11/1 (12.0) after dropping yet more points. This time away to Wolves.
- Man City 3/10 (1.30)
- Liverpool 7/2 (4.50)
- Chelsea 11/1 (12.0)
- Man Utd 175/1 (176.0)
- Spurs 200/1 (201.0)
- Arsenal 250/1 (251.0)
Football Gambler Fantasy Premier League
Here is my Fantasy Premier League team for this week.
I’ve 4.8 million spare and one free transfer. I’m going to use this to transfer out Conor Coady, for Manchester City’s Joao Cancelo.
I’m leaving it until the last available minute though, in case of late match postponements. Hence why it’s not included in the above screenshot!
I’m also going to save my second Free Hit for later in the season. When I sign Cancelo, I will have nine possible starters this week, and I’m okay with that.
Premier League 2021/22 Matchweek 19 Match Predictions
Burnley's match with Everton is the latest fixture to be postponed, so with six matches now left for Boxing Day, here's our match predictions.
Man City vs Leicester - 3pm Sunday
City are on a roll now, they've won their last eight in a row.
As for Leicester, it's been the oddest of seasons for Brendan Rodgers' team. Every time you think they're about to get going, they seem to have a regressive result.
Jamie Vardy has been on the bench recently, and you just get the feeling something isn't quite right at the club.
That could be on the pitch, or off it!
Even if Jack Grealish and Phil Foden have taken the whole City squad clubbing over Christmas, I can still only see a win for Pep's team.
- Verdict - MAN CITY WIN
Norwich vs Arsenal - 3pm Sunday
In their last performance, the Canaries were well beaten by Aston Villa.
In the previous match, they were arguably the better team against Manchester United. But they still lost!
Arsenal is the side that has mastered the art of beating the lower teams, and are experts at losing to the higher teams.
That last paragraph sums the Gunners up and makes my prediction obvious.
- Verdict - ARSENAL WIN
BONUS TIP - Arsenal is flying at the moment and scoring goals for fun. Over 2.5 Goals is an appealing-looking 5/6 in this match, and I'm getting on that!
Spurs v Crystal Palace - 3pm Sunday
I asked the question last weekend if Spurs had a performance in them against Liverpool, and the answer was an emphatic yes.
Antonio Conte's side probably should have beaten Liverpool, and are now five matches in the Premier League unbeaten.
Crystal Palace halted a three-match losing run a couple of fixtures back with a 3-1 win over Everton.
Since then they have drawn 2-2 at home to Southampton, and by most accounts, were lucky to get a point.
I can only really see a Spurs win in this match.
- Verdict - SPURS WIN
West Ham v Southampton - 3pm Sunday
The Hammers seem to have finally leveled off.
One win in their last six is probably below where they should be performing, but even that win was over Chelsea.
That's the problem with David Moyes' side now. They're just becoming hard to predict.
As for the Saints, they are like the opposite of Leicester. Just when you think they are gone, they go and produce a performance.
They looked down and out after the recent 3-0 defeat to Arsenal and followed that up with a dominant display away to Crystal Palace, where they were unlucky to not leave with more than a point.
This match fits right into the category of one that West Ham should win, but you just know that something will probably go wrong.
The Saints seem to be fighting, and I'm going to give them a point at the London Stadium.
- Verdict - DRAW
Aston Villa v Chelsea - 5.30pm Sunday
Aston Villa has certainly looked the part since Steven Gerrard took over.
They missed out on the chance to play Burnley last weekend while in good form and will have fancied their chances of taking 3 points against the Clarets.
Instead, they take their excellent form into Sunday's match with Chelsea, who have been anything but in form of late.
Thomas Tuchel's team has won just two of their last six, and they were lucky to win them!
They are now 6 points behind City and really can't afford to drop any more points.
I suspect that they will find a way to somehow overcome Villa, but I think it will be a close call.
- Verdict - CHELSEA
Brighton v Brentford - 8pm Sunday
I wouldn't worry too much about being asleep in the chair by the time his match kicks off.
In all fairness, Brighton plays some good stuff, and Brentford does really give it a go. It's not that much of a turn-off fixture.
Brighton is really in trouble now.
I've kind of stuck up for Graham Potter in recent weeks, pointing out that his team hasn't lost many.
But it now has got to the stage where we have to point out that his team hasn't won in 11 matches, a run lasting three months.
If they don't win this, the knives really will be out for the Seagulls manager. I hope he can come through this, as he looks like a good manager to me.
Brentford is doing okay, they have won two of their last five, and sit in midtable.
I don't think any Brentford fan would complain about that. They are 9 points clear of the relegation zone, and as things stand, look safe!
This is a difficult one to call. Brighton will see this match as winnable, but confidence must be low without a win in 11 matches.
I'm going to stick my neck out though and go with the Seagulls to win this one. If nothing else, they are due one by the law of averages.
- Verdict - BRIGHTON WIN
Newcastle v Man Utd - 8pm Monday
I've said before, Newcastle's aim is to come out of the Christmas period of matches still intact with the rest of the bottom three at the very least.
They've taken some punishment lately, and a match that didn't end in a thrashing would probably be welcome for Eddie Howe at the moment.
As unpredictable as Manchester United can be, they are four unbeaten now and also have won their last three.
I expect them to make it four wins in a row.
- Verdict - MAN UTD WIN
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