Premier League Tips: 12th-14th January 2021

This game is the one that should have been played on the opening weekend of the season, and it has been rearranged for tonight. Both sides come into this game in very solid form, with Manchester United the form team in the Premier League while Burnley’s run of three wins and a draw in their last five has eased them away from the relegation zone.

In the last meeting between the two teams, Burnley were 2-0 winners at Old Trafford back in January 2020, but United won this meeting last season 2-0 at Turf Moor and since 1969, Burnley have only ever beaten Manchester United twice (the other occasion being a 1-0 win in August 2009).

In that same period, United have won 16 games with a surprising number of draws, 11, over that period too. If United were in relatively poor form, I’d give Burnley a chance of perhaps snatching a point here, but United’s away record in the Premier League this season is exceptional, picking up 19 of 21 points available on the road so far.

As such, I am backing Manchester United to claim another big win on the road but I don’t think it will be a big scoreline as it may just be the single goal that claims the victory for United here.

I think Nuno Santos has found a new style for his Wolves team in the absence of Raul Jimenez in attack. There’s no doubt they struggled without their lynchpin centre-forward in a few games but now with a new pacy counter-attacking style, Wolves look very dangerous again. A good win over Crystal Palace in the cup thanks to an Adama Traore screamer sets them up nicely for this game.

Everton come into this game in decent form but knowing that last week’s 1-0 home defeat to West Ham was a big blow. Last time Everton lost a game in the league, they went on a losing streak and manager Carlo Ancelotti will be keen for his team to claim something from this game to stop that happening again.

Going away to Wolves though is a tough ask (the Toffees lost 3-0 here last season) but I think this Wolves team does struggle to score goals and I can see Everton perhaps taking a first half lead here, only to be pegged back in the second as Wolves claim a late point.

Since August 2017, these teams have met seven times and Manchester City have won them all. In fact, Brighton have scored just two goals over that period, one at home and one on the road. Suffice to say then that the omens are not good for a third Seagulls victory in the EPL on the road this season.

Especially when you consider a week where Manchester City have beaten Manchester United to reach the Carabao Cup Final, beaten Chelsea 3-1 at Stamford Bridge in a sizzling display and then despatched Birmingham 3-0 with a weakened team to move into the FA Cup Fourth Round.

So for me, this isn’t a question of whether Manchester City will win, it is simply by how much and whether Brighton will score. History suggests not, but for me Brighton have been better on the road this season and Man City’s defence are due to concede a goal or two and they do tend to come in the games where you don’t expect it.

In addition, the odds on a Man City to win to nil were so poor, they weren’t worth a bet, so I am hedging my bets here and hoping for a Brighton consolation in a convincing win for City.

The first thing to note with this game is that both teams to score looks a solid bet as the last six games between the two has seen both teams find the net. Draws have been most prevalent in recent years when these two teams have met but I am confident the Gunners will land the win here.

The reason for that is their turnaround in form since the win over Chelsea. Since then they have won their next three games and moved up the table to 11th. Still pretty poor for Arsenal fans but much better than where they were. The team seems to have direction and belief once again.

Palace’s form this season, as it is most seasons, is up and down and while they have had some notable wins on the road this season, particularly at Old Trafford against Man Utd, I think they are going to struggle here to claim anything.

As such, I am backing Arsenal to claim a 2-1 victory here and continue their good run of recent form.