THE madness of Christmas over, we move into the New Year period and another packed schedule of fixtures.
Pep Guardiola might not be a fan, but we love the relentless holiday period – and going into another Premier League weekend, we’ve got betting tips from three top-flight matches for you.
Burnley vs Man Utd
IS it another false dawn for Manchester United?
You could hear a collective pin drop when Matty Longstaff smashed Newcastle ahead at Old Trafford on Boxing Day – bar the 4000 fanatical Geordies losing it in the corner.
But by half-time, a rampant Utd had swept the Toon aside in devastating fashion.
Ole trusted Mason Greenwood and the teenager responded with a stunning goal, surely earning himself another start here.
Burnley followed up two good wins with a defeat at Everton, falling to a late Dominic Calvert-Lewin goal at Goodison.
Sean Dyche will try lift his side for this one, despite the Clarets dismal record against United on this ground.
They’ve lost the last three meetings here without conceding a goal, with that 1-0 victory in 2009 on their return to the big-time a long, long time ago.
Despite their excellent home form, United are not the same team on the road.
That defeat against Watford summed up their season away from the home comforts of Old Trafford.
We’re not expecting many goals in this one, with none of the five Premier League meetings at Turf Moor featuring three goals or more.
Under 2.5 goals is a tempting 4/5, whilst both teams NOT to score is a very generous evens.
Despite the Newcastle thumping we’re not convinced that this United side have the grit needed to stroll into Burnley and take all three points at a canter.
United have drawn three of their nine games on the road this season and we like the 5/2 on a stalemate over the measly 10/11 on the away win.
If you have to go for a goalscorer, back the youngster Greenwood to come good again.
He’s got that knack for finding the net and is the value pick – you can get 13/18 on him scoring at any time.
SunSport’s best bets
Under 2.5 goals at Turf Moor: 4/5
Match to end a draw: 5/2
Mason Greenwood to score anytime: 13/8
Arsenal vs Chelsea
HOLD onto your hats because literally anything could happen here.
Mikel Arteta‘s first home game and you’d expect the Emirates to be bouncing for his return.
Not that they’ve had much to shout about this season – but at least they fought back from a goal down at Bournemouth to take a point.
Chelsea were dismal in the 2-0 loss to Southampton, falling to another defeat on home soil and it could prompt a change of approach from Frank Lampard.
If his team play like they did in the win over Spurs, they win this game too.
But there’s absolutely no way we’re backing either of these sides in the result market – just as we refused to do on Boxing Day.
That worked out well and we’re happy to go for goals again.
Chelsea score plenty on the road and the Gunners are leaky as a sieve.
Arsenal are winless in six here at the Emirates, losing the last three in a row and conceding seven in the process.
Both teams to score is our banker of the weekend at 4/9.
If that’s too short, have a play on the over 3.5 goals market which is a much tastier 6/5.
That takes away the result – you just want defensive mistakes aplenty and some decent finishing – and is a bet which has won in 13 games featuring these sides this term.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was the man to save Arteta’s skin against Bournemouth and with 12 goals already in the Premier League this term, is the man to be to net.
He’s 21/20 anytime and really should be odds on. Take that and cash in.
SunSport’s best bets
Both teams to score at Emirates: 4/9
Over 3.5 goals: 6/5
Aubameyang to continue scoring streak: EVENS
Liverpool vs Wolves
WE’RE not in the New Year yet, but we have our champions.
Liverpool have gained a reputation for choking since the turn of the Millennium, but this team will not blow a 13-point lead come the end of the campaign.
Their performance at Leicester – the team closest to them in the table remember – was as ruthless as it was entertaining.
Jurgen Klopp‘s side are a joy to watch and could conceivably be the first since Arsenal’s Invincibles to go through a Premier League season unbeaten.
If they are to slip up, it’s likely to be a game like this, against a Wolves side who constantly punch above their weight and love playing the Big Six.
Nuno Santo’s side continue to excel after a slow start and showed impressive resilience against Norwich last time out.
Is there anyone seriously backing Liverpool to lose though, even with Wolves at 10/1? Of course not.
When you’re putting down your hard-earned, you of course want the bet to come off and don’t want to just throw cash at a blind punt.
That’s why we’re going to go a little bit clever here and look for the value – although we don’t mind any of you topping up your acca with the 2/7 on Liverpool.
Before the 2-0 win over Watford, Liverpool hadn’t kept a clean sheet at home since MAY – when Wolves came here last and lost by the same scoreline.
So why – against a Wolves team who are superb on the road – is both teams to score priced up at 10/11? Dive on that.
We fancy Nuno’s side to dig in at Anfield and there’s value to be had in the first half markets.
Liverpool aren’t always the fastest starters and might have to be patient.
So the 20/23 on Wolves double chance at half-time looks a steal.
Roberto Firmino has looked lethal in recent weeks, starring in the Club World Cup and again in the Foxes demolition.
He’s 6/4 at score at anytime, whilst Mo Salah and Sadio Mane are both odds-on.
For us, he’s the man to be on.
SunSport’s best bets
Both teams to score: 10/11
Wolves double chance at half-time (winning or a draw): 20/23
Roberto Firmino to score again: 6/4
*All odds correct at time of publication
