The Premier League season rolls on with Matchday 23 commencing on Saturday. Liverpool takes on Arsenal in a fixture with implications in the title race. It’s a huge weekend of football, and we’ve got you covered with our best bets!.
See our preview and best bets for Matchday 23 in the EPL below!
EPL 2023-24: Matchday 23 Preview & Betting Tips
Everton vs Tottenham
Goodison Park, Saturday 3rd February, 11:30pm AEDT
After Aston Villa’s loss to Newcastle, Tottenham have regained their spot in the top four and have a chance to cement their position when they take on eighteenth placed Everton. The Toffees are once again in a relegation battle, and are winless from their last five games, with three losses and two draws. The first game in that run was a 2-1 defeat against Tottenham back in December and Spurs will be looking to complete the league double over Everton.
Although the scores appeared close in Tottenham’s 3-2 victory over Brentford during the week, Spurs dominated general play and should have won by a greater margin. Tottenham led the shot count 19-9, and recorded 69% possession, with three goals in the space of eight minutes after half time securing the victory. Tottenham’s ability to dominate possession has been their biggest strength this season, and it looms as a major advantage in this clash. Spurs have averaged 60.2% possession this season which ranks fourth in the league, Everton ranks eighteenth with 38.1%.
Tottenham have gotten the better of Everton over recent seasons, having not lost to the Toffees in their last six Premier League matchups. Everton have scored only 24 goals this season which is the third fewest of any side in the league, which simply won’t cut it against a Tottenham outfit that has scored the third most goals in the Premier League. Tottenham will be able to control the tempo of the game through the middle of the ground, and with that control they’ll be able to dominate the territory battle. Everton don’t have enough attacking firepower to compete with limited opportunities, and won’t be able to match it with Spurs.
Tottenham
$2.10 (2 Units)
Manchester United vs West Ham
Old Trafford, Monday 5th February, 1:00am AEDT
It’s a battle of sixth versus seventh as Manchester United searches for back to back wins when they host West Ham at Old Trafford. The Red Devils picked up a dramatic 4-3 victory over Wolverhampton on Friday morning, with a 97th minute winner from Kobe Mainoo securing the three points for United. The Red Devils were dominant for the majority of the fixture as they led 3-1 past the 80th minute, however after conceding goals in the 85th and 95th minute scores were level. It was a desperately needed win for Erik ten Hag’s side, who had failed to pick up a win in the previous two games.
West Ham’s season has stalled since the turn of the calendar year, with three consecutive draws seeing the Hammers now seven points behind fifth placed Aston Villa. After defeating Arsenal and Manchester United, West Ham have drawn with 9th placed Brighton, 20th placed Sheffield United and twelfth placed Bournemouth. It’s been a major missed opportunity for the Hammers who were pushing for a top four place. The Hammers defeated United back in December, and will be confident of producing a similar performance on Monday morning.
Despite only having 34% possession in the fixture on the 23rd of December, the Hammers produced more shots on goal and on target in the 2-0 victory. The Hammers start as big outsiders in this clash given their current form, however United’s current form isn’t anything to write home about either. West Ham have won their last two games against the Red Devils, who have only one win from seven games against top six opponents this season. There’s plenty of value in the handicap markets for the Hammers against an inconsistent Manchester United.
West Ham +1
$2.05 (1.5 Units)
Arsenal vs Liverpool
Emirates Stadium, Monday 5th February, 3:30am AEDT
Emirates Stadium plays host to one of the most important games of the season as Arsenal and Liverpool go head to head on Monday morning. The Gunners sit in third place, five points behind the league leading Reds and must win this game if they’re to remain in the title race. After finishing 2023 with back to back losses, Arsenal have won their first two games of the calendar year after beating Nottingham Forest 2-1 on Tuesday.
Liverpool continued their dominant form with a 4-1 victory over Chelsea during the week, with four individual goal scorers. It was an absolute procession for the Reds who recorded 28 shots on goal to Chelsea’s 4, and it was their third consecutive game scoring four goals. The Reds have scored at least two goals in seven of their last nine games, with their firepower in the front third the major factor to their current unbeaten streak. Liverpool have scored 51 goals tied for the most in the league, and their attacking game will only improve with Mo Salah expected to return next week after Egypt were eliminated from AFCON.
These two sides played out a 1-1 draw on the 23rd of December, however since then Arsenal have won only two of their following four games, while Liverpool have won four straight. The Reds are unbeaten in their last fifteen games with a 10-5-0 record, and have had the better of Arsenal across the last four years with a 4-2-1 record from their last seven Premier League fixtures against the Gunners. The Reds have got it done in big games this season, and it will be no different on Monday morning, as they create more breathing space in the title race.
