After a week of cup competitions, the English Premier League is back with Liverpool still in control of top spot, sitting six points clear with a game in hand on Arsenal. The Reds take on third place Nottingham Forest, while Arsenal take on Tottenham setting up a blockbuster weekend of action. Check out our three best bets for Matchday 21 below!
EPL 2024-25: Matchday 21 Preview & Betting Tips
Brentford vs Manchester City
Gtech Community Stadium, Wednesday 15th January, 6:30am AEDT
Manchester City will be looking to remain in the top four race when they travel to West London to take on eleventh placed Brentford. The defending champions are on a two-game winning streak for the first time since October, after their 4-1 victory over West Ham in their last game. Brentford ended a four-game winless run with a 5-0 hiding of bottom of the league Southampton, in a game they dominated from start to finish, scoring in the sixth minute and twice in stoppage time.
Manchester City’s return to form has unsurprisingly coincided with Erling Haaland’s return to form. After scoring just one goal in their seven games prior to Matchday 19, Haaland has scored three goals from his last two games, including his first brace since Matchday 4. After scoring ten goals in the first five games of the season, Haaland has scored only six goals in the following 15 games. Although it was unsustainable to keep up his form from the beginning of the season, City cannot afford to have Haaland have another lengthy cold streak again.
Although they got on the winners list last week, Brentford have been in horrible form over the last month. Since the beginning of December, the Bees have had a 2-1-4 record, and only scored two goals in their four games prior to Matchday 20. Brentford’s recent record against Manchester City doesn’t make for pretty reading, losing five of their seven games against City since being promoted in 2021. The defending champions have won three straight Premier League matches against Brentford, and will keep their good record intact on Wednesday.
Manchester City -1
$2.45 (1 Unit)
Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool
City Ground, Wednesday 15th January, 7:00am AEDT
Nottingham Forest’s dream season continues to deliver, after they picked up their sixth consecutive win which sees them in third place on the table, four points clear of fourth placed Chelsea. Forest, who are the only team to beat Liverpool this season, host the league leading Reds on Wednesday morning. Arne Slot’s side were held to a 2-2 draw against Manchester United in their last outing, but still sit comfortably at the top of the table with a 14-4-1 record.
Forest’s six game winning streak has been built on consistency at both ends of the pitch, producing an aggregate score of 13-3 across those six games. Nuno Espírito Santo’s side have recorded four straight clean sheets, and rank as the equal second-best defence in the league alongside Liverpool, with sides only conceding 19 goals this season. Forest will need their defence to be at its best, given there is a significant gap between the two teams in the front third.
Liverpool are the highest scoring team in the league with 47 goals this season, led by Mo Salah’s 18 goals (league best) and 13 assists (league best). In comparison, Forest are ranked 13th with just 29 goals, with nearly half that total being scored in their last six games. Given their current form, Nottingham Forest are in as good of a shape as they ever will be to beat Liverpool, however given the Reds lost to them early in the season, it’s hard to see Liverpool being complacent. A fired up Liverpool outfit will be looking for redemption, and will put an end to Forest’s winning streak.
Liverpool -1
$2.60 (1 Unit)
Arsenal vs Tottenham
Emirates Stadium, Thursday 16th January, 7:00am AEDT
Arsenal enjoyed a fruitful run of form over the festive period with three wins and a draw from their four games between the 21st of December and 4th of January. That draw in their last outing has proven costly though, with Liverpool sitting six points ahead of the Gunners, with still a game in hand on Mikel Arteta’s side. Unlike their rivals, Tottenham have been in a horror run of form with three losses and a draw from their last four games. Spurs have only won one of their last eight games in the Premier League, which has them in twelfth position on the table.
After being one of the best defences in the league earlier in the season, Tottenham have conceded 17 goals across their last 8 games. They are now the 13th ranked defence after being ranked 6th best on Matchday 12. It looms as a massive area of vulnerability for Spurs, coming up against an Arsenal side that is the third highest scoring side in the league with 39 goals. Tottenham have conceded two or more goals in four of their last six league games, and they won’t win against a side like Arsenal if that trend continues.
Another factor that isn’t in Tottenham’s favour is their record in the North London Derby over the last four years. Since 2021 Tottenham has a 1-1-6 record in Premier League fixtures against Arsenal, including a 1-0 loss at home earlier this season. The Emirates hasn’t been a happy hunting ground, with Spurs last win at the venue coming in 2010. Tottenham looked shaky in the FA Cup, hardly inspiring any hope of turning around their form. The Gunners will be far too strong for their arch-rivals, and will once again win the North London Derby.
Arsenal -1
$2.00 (1.5 Units)
