Ian JohnAfter just over a month of action, the FIFA World Cup Finals of 2022 are now over. England’s hopes of a second World Cup ended at the quarter final stage and now the players will return to their clubs ready to restart their domestic season.
In England, unlike some other countries in Europe who have a mid-winter break around this time, the teams are straight back in action, first several teams will be in action in the Carabao Cup Round of 16 from Tuesday to Thursday this week.
Then all teams will be back in action when the Premier League returns from Boxing Day with a full set of games running from the 26th to the 28th December.
This is then followed by two more sets of games, the first running from the 30th December to the 1st January inclusive and the second following straight on from those games running from the 2nd January to the 5th January inclusive.
Of course, you will be able to enjoy a fantastic selection of betting on all these games and much more besides if you are a customer with bet365 Sport.
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Let’s now begin with a quick look at the Carabao Cup Fixtures coming up this week, followed by the return of the Premier League on Boxing Day.
Carabao Cup – Round of 16 – Fixtures & Best Bets
All games kick off at 7.45pm unless otherwise stated.
Tuesday 20th December
- Wolverhampton Wanderers v Gillingham
- Southampton v Lincoln City
- Newcastle United v Bournemouth
- MK Dons v Leicester City
Not much value to be had here as I think the three home teams in the first three fixtures, plus Leicester City in the final game on Tuesday will all win their games and all are pretty short priced favourites.
Wednesday 21st December
- Charlton Athletic v Brighton
- Blackburn Rovers v Nottingham Forest
- Manchester United v Burnley (8pm)
My one tip for Wednesday is the draw between Blackburn Rovers and Nottingham Forest which is a 12/5 shot as I can see that game going to extra time, however I think Brighton and Man Utd win their games pretty comfortably.
Thursday 22nd December
- Manchester City v Liverpool (8pm)
The biggest game is of course Thursday’s clash at the Etihad between Manchester City and Liverpool and it is going to be interesting to see what team each team puts out for this game as I have a feeling players that did not feature at the World Cup, such as Mo Salah for Liverpool and Erling Haaland of Manchester City, could well start.
That makes this game somewhat trickier to predict as Manchester City have had a lot more players away at the World Cup than Liverpool and I am doubtful that Pep Guardiola will play them in this game. Similarly, Liverpool may not elect to play the likes of Ibrahima Konate.
A tricky one to call this and as such I think the draw at 90 minutes at 13/5 is a good value bet here.
Premier League Fixtures & Best Bets – Matchday 17
All Boxing Day games kick off at 3pm unless otherwise stated. Other games kick off at 8pm on Tuesday 27th and Wednesday 28th December unless otherwise stated.
Monday 26th December
- Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur (12.30pm)
Tottenham had a number of stars involved in the World Cup Final and 3rd Place Match and it will be interesting to see whether these players play a part here. In what is a tricky London derby against a decent Brentford side, they are likely going to need their star players to get the result here that they need. Brentford will be fired up and well-rested for this one, so this could well be a tricky game to call, but I am backing Spurs to land the win here at odds of 10/11, but I think Spurs to win and both teams to score at 11/4 is the bet to make.
- Crystal Palace v Fulham
A second London derby of the day sees Palace and Fulham lock horns at Selhurst Part. Both teams have 19 points and lie in mid-table of the Premier League with Fulham just one goal better off than their opponents today in terms of goal difference (-2 to -3). As such, the data tends to show a game that will be closely fought. Palace don’t score many, or concede many which makes me think this is going to be a low scoring game and one where the points are shared. Back the draw here at 11/4.
- Everton v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolves did the double over Everton last season so they will come into this game with good memories of their 1-0 win at Goodison last year. Everton have lost all of their last three games, the last two heavily to Bournemouth and the pressure is on Frank Lampard to start picking up results. Wolves know this second half of the season is a chance for them to bounce back and I think they’ll start that here. I can’t see Wolves winning but I’d take them to claim a point with the draw at 23/10.
- Leicester City v Newcastle United
Prior to the World Cup break, Leicester City had found some form to move up into mid-table away from the relegation zone, while Newcastle’s incredible form of 2022 had continued to see them sit third in the Premier League table. It’s hard to back against either team here given their most recent form, but it will be interesting to see how the break has affected that. Leicester started slowly this season and I fear that may happen again here. Take Newcastle to win at 23/20.
- Southampton v Brighton
Both these teams have new managers in post that will have benefitted from the month or so to work with their team ahead of the restart. Southampton sit 19th in the table with just 3 wins from 15 games and have lost their last three. Brighton are 7th and have been one of the surprise packages of the season. It’s hard to see the Seagulls slipping up here in this surprisingly rare South Coast battle and I am going to back Brighton to land the win here at even money.
- Aston Villa v Liverpool (5.30pm)
Liverpool fans have not enjoyed their trips to Villa Park in recent times. There was a 5-0 cup defeat and a 7-2 Premier League thrashing but Jurgen Klopp will be hoping his team is now in a much better place ahead of this game. Villa though have beaten Man Utd and Chelsea since Unai Emery took over as manager and this will not be an easy start for Liverpool but I still feel that the visitors have enough quality to get the job done here. Take Liverpool to win and both teams to score at 21/10 for this game.
- Arsenal v West Ham United (8pm)
Struggling West Ham face the unenviable task of taking on the Premier League leaders in their first Premier League game back and that is going to be a tough test for David Moyes’ team. Arsenal know a win here would put them eight points ahead of Manchester City and pile the pressure on them ahead of their game on Wednesday and that is precisely what I can see happening here given the form of both teams ahead of the break. Back Arsenal to land a comfortable win and I’d back an Arsenal/Arsenal HT/FT bet here which is an 11/8 shot.
Tuesday 27th December
- Chelsea v Bournemouth (5.30pm)
I think it is fair to say that there are some issues at Chelsea and manager Graham Potter will have hoped to have resolved them in the month’s break ahead of this game with Bournemouth. The Cherries ended a run of four defeats with a big win over Everton in their last game before the break, but this is a very tough game for them and it is hard to see them having enough to pick up anything from this game. Take Chelsea to win to nil at 11/10.
- Manchester United v Nottingham Forest
The one big thing Erik Ten Hag will take from the World Cup break is that his issue with Cristiano Ronaldo is now resolved and United can now go forward as a much more focused and united team. They won’t fear a Forest team that has shipped a large number of goals this season and on paper, I would expect Manchester United to win this game very comfortably and without too much of a problem. I like the look of United to win and both teams to score here which is a 21/10 shot.
Wednesday 28th December
- Leeds United v Manchester City
Manchester City banged in 11 goals against Leeds last season, conceded none and won both games very comfortably (7-0 and 4-0). Leeds find themselves developing nicely under Jesse Marsch but they are still some way off being a top Premier League team and this is a hugely difficult game for them to kick off the second part of the season. Leeds will put up a fight and maybe grab a goal but I think this will be another solid victory for City here. Back City to win and both teams to score which is an 8/5 shot.
*All odds shown in this article were courtesy of bet365 Sport and were correct at the time of writing, but may have changed since.
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