Man United vs Aston Villa, Chelsea vs Man City & Southampton vs Liverpool

Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, left, celebrates with Paul Pogba after scoring the opening purpose through the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester Utd and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Outdated Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Tuesday,Dec. 29, 2020. (Michael Regan, Pool through AP)

• The busy festive schedule continues this weekend because the Premier League strikes on with its seventeenth matchday of the brand new marketing campaign
• Some fixtures are up within the air over surging COVID-19 numbers throughout the UK, as two video games have been postponed in matchday 16
• The sport of the weekend is between Chelsea and Manchester Metropolis on Sunday with the Residents the favorites with a moneyline of +123

With one other weekend, comes one other very busy slate of Premier League matches, regardless of a slight disruption from the worldwide pandemic. Each Manchester Metropolis vs Everton and Tottenham vs Fulham have been canceled within the midweek on account of unfold inside the camps. Nonetheless, the Premier League marches on some with excessive stakes matchups. As defending champions Liverpool proceed to drop factors to low rating sides, this 12 months seems to be like it will likely be extra open than ever for a brand new champion to step ahead.

Not solely does Manchester Metropolis play a struggling Chelsea workforce who’ve Frank Lampard on the recent seat, however we even have Manchester United going through Jack Grealish and Aston Villa. If the Crimson Devils win that match, they might draw degree with Liverpool, solely separated by purpose distinction. Arsenal look to construct a powerful run of type, and might Liverpool snap out of it in opposition to Southampton? We must wait and discover out.

Premier League Matchday 17 Odds

All odds taken Dec 30 at DraftKings

Premier League Choose 1: Manchester United vs Aston Villa

The primary Premier League match to check out this weekend is in Northwest England between Man United and Aston Villa. Each of those sides haven’t misplaced a match of their final 5 video games and appear like critical contenders for the highest 4. Regardless of falling out of the Champions League within the group stage, Manchester United have discovered themselves in second place because of Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford who’ve been completely sensible.

This cross was a 𝗝𝗢𝗞𝗘. 😍@JackGrealish 🎯 pic.twitter.com/WvmNCOkKTm

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) December 27, 2020

Nonetheless, they’re going up in opposition to a aspect that’s greater than able to producing their very own offense. We noticed in opposition to Leicester Metropolis, Sheffield and Leeds, the United backline remains to be as slippery as Bambi on ice skates. The mixture of Grealish, Ollie Watkins, and Anwar El Ghazi might overwhelm United’s protection and trigger a Premier League barnburner. I count on this one to be one of many extra thrilling video games of the weekend which is why I favor the ‘Over’ on 3.5 whole objectives.

My Choose: Over 3.5 Complete Targets (+150)

Premier League Choose 2: Chelsea vs Manchester Metropolis

Essentially the most anticipated match of the Premier League weekend is between Chelsea and Man Metropolis. Lampard is on the recent seat and has strain to get a end result in opposition to Guardiola’s males with Thomas Tuchel lined up as a potential substitute. Chelsea has solely gained as soon as of their final six matches, a 3-0 win in opposition to West Ham. That win is Chelsea’s solely win in opposition to groups within the prime half of the Premier League desk, an abysmal statistic.

The late volley from @BenChilwell that so almost gave us all 3 factors in opposition to Villa. #CFC #Chelsea pic.twitter.com/9fJaLTPH8Y

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 30, 2020

After a tough begin, Manchester Metropolis have appeared like they’re figuring themselves again out. They’ve solely conceded twice in 5 video games, however nonetheless look a bit of sluggish on offense. Nonetheless, Metropolis has beat Chelsea 5 out of their final seven possibilities which leads me to imagine historical past will repeat itself.

My Choose: Manchester Metropolis moneyline (+123)

Premier League Choose 3: Southampton vs Liverpool

The final Premier League match to stay up for this weekend is on the south coast between Southampton and Liverpool. Liverpool have appeared sluggish these days and regardless of not amassing losses, have managed to chop their lead on prime of the desk to simply two factors. They’ve dropped factors in three matches in opposition to backside 4 sides within the Premier League, however have appeared to tug it collectively when it issues. Traditionally they haven’t misplaced to the Saints since 2017 and gained their two video games final 12 months by a mixed rating of 6-1.

396 – James Ward-Prowse lined essentially the most distance of any participant within the Premier League in 2020, with the Southampton midfielder averaging 11.6 kilometres per 90 minutes performed through the 12 months. Engine. #OptaReview2020 pic.twitter.com/RlYDkBFBaz

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 31, 2020

Southampton have had a constructive begin to their Premier League marketing campaign, however have solely mustered three factors from their final 4 video games. Their final two wins have been in opposition to Sheffield and Brighton which can make some marvel if their begin was a fluke. Nonetheless, Mo Salah has scored seven objectives in opposition to the Saints and I imagine he’ll add to his tally at St. Mary’s on Monday.

My Choose: Mo Salah to attain (-103)

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