NFL Week 16 PIcks 2024 (Thursday 19th December-Monday 23rd December)

Three weeks of the NFL regular season remain and the threads over this Christmas period will not be featuring much more than the selections.

We are at that time of the season when teams will begin to think ahead about what is to come and that could see players rested or focus lost if motivation is not as high as it could be.

It is something to consider when making your selections ahead of another very busy and crucial week of games.

Houston Texans @ Kansas City Chiefs Pick: Teams are securing their places in the post-season as we move into the final three weeks of the regular season and both the Houston Texans (9-5) and Kansas City Chiefs (13-1) are secured as Division Champions.

That means a top four Seeding is in the bag, but that does not mean that all ambitions for the regular season have been met.

For the Chiefs it is all about holding off the Buffalo Bills for the Number 1 Seed in the AFC, which could be huge as Kansas City look to win yet another Super Bowl. Earning the Bye through the Wild Card Round is a huge boost, as is having home field advantage right through to the Super Bowl, and Kansas City need two more wins to secure the top Seed.

Winning out is perhaps not so meaningful for the Houston Texans, although there is still an opportunity to move into the Number 3 Seed that should give the team something to play for. The Texans have won three of their last four games and they are looking for some momentum after an inconsistent season that has perhaps not lived up to the expectations that Houston were managing heading into the season.

Injuries have played a part in that, but the Texans do have an opportunity to produce a couple of big wins to give the team real belief entering the Playoffs.

This is going to be a test for CJ Stroud and the Houston Offensive unit, but there have been some signs that the Kansas City Chiefs are not playing as well on the Defensive side of the ball as they had been. A team that does want to establish the run, Houston have an opportunity to do that against this Chiefs Defensive Line which has just struggled a little bit in recent games.

With a player like Joe Mixon, the Texans can put CJ Stroud and the Offensive unit in a position to use their Wide Receivers to stretch the field. It will also be important to just offer the Quarter Back enough time to make those plays down the field and slow down this Kansas City pass rush and Houston can keep their hopes of finishing as the Number 3 Seed alive.

The Houston Texans know all about how a season can change thanks to injuries, and the Kansas City Chiefs must be extremely grateful that Patrick Mahomes has avoided a significant injury of his own. Things did not look that good in Week 15 when Mahomes was forced out of the game and he did not walk with his full weight on his ankle at the end of the win over the Cleveland Browns, but has been in practice this week.

Andy Reid will not take any chances with the health of his Quarter Back, but Mahomes is set to start and try and help Kansas City secure that top Seed. They do have a capable backup in Carson Wentz, but Patrick Mahomes is a different level of Quarter Back and the Chiefs will go as far as he can take them.

They will need Patrick Mahomes to be at his best with the Chiefs unlikely to have a lot of success running the ball against this Houston Defensive Line. And it is also very important for Mahomes to have his wits about him when dealing with the Houston pass rush, one that is likely to be very effective if they can keep the Chiefs behind the chains.

Throwing out of that pressure will be difficult, although Patrick Mahomes is set to have Marquise Brown available for the first time and that just gives the Chiefs another serious weapon.

Early chemistry issues may be expected, but the Chiefs will be able to have some success throwing into the Secondary, although it is perhaps going to lead to yet another close game involving Kansas City.

The Chiefs have dominated the recent head to head, but this game is expected to be close and competitive and Houston might just be getting enough points on the spread to make them the right team to back. For much of the season Kansas City have been playing close games, even if they win more often than not, and the slight concern about the full health of Patrick Mahomes makes it tough to believe that this one will not play out in a similar way.

Houston look to have turned a corner in recent weeks and have closed out the AFC South and they will be looking to just show what might be to come in January in the Playoff.

Cleveland Browns @ Cincinnati Bengals Pick: Two of the AFC North teams are heading to the Playoffs and it will be a big disappointment for fans of Cincinnati Bengals (6-8) and Cleveland Browns (3-11) that they have fallen way below the expectations of the teams back in September.

Injury has not helped, but the Browns are officially eliminated and the Cincinnati Bengals Playoff hopes are now on life support. With three games left, even winning out may not be enough for the Bengals with the maximum number of wins being nine and the three teams occupying the Wild Card spots already at that mark.

However, you have to credit the Bengals for still playing with focus and they are looking for a third win in a row. It is important for Head Coach Zac Taylor, whose own position has to be questioned, and winning out to finish with a winning record will at least give him something to counter with when the decision about his future is made.

The Bengals still have special talents on the Offensive side of the ball and Tee Higgins is still showing out to win a new contract, either here or with another team. Joe Burrow at Quarter Back has been well supported by Ja'Marr Chase, while Chase Brown has given the Bengals a real threat out of the backfield and it may be tough for the Cleveland Browns to find the motivation here.

Cleveland have lost three in a row and have struggled to contain the Offensive firepower that the likes of the Los Angeles Chargers, Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs have brought onto the field. It makes it even tougher to believe in them when thinking the Chiefs played with Carson Wentz for plenty of snaps last week and Joe Burrow and company could put the Browns in a tough spot.

To make it tougher for the road team, another Quarter Back change has been made with Jameis Winston replaced by Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

It is the kind of decision that may say to many inside and outside of the building that the Browns are perhaps positioning themselves for a top NFL Draft Pick next year. Dorian Thompson-Robinson will have something to say about that and the Quarter Back is facing a Cincinnati Defensive unit that have been destroyed by injury and with issues struggling any opponent that has faced them.

Teams have found a really good balance against Cincinnati and Thompson-Robinson is a dual-threat from the Quarter Back position and will not hesitate to tuck the ball and run down the field. He should have support from the Offensive Line against this Bengals team that have not played the run or pass very well and Dorian Thompson-Robinson can have success by operating in front of the chains.

However, the Bengals are a team that will bring some pressure up front if the Browns are ever behind the chains and needing to throw down the field. This is where things could potentially get away from Cleveland considering the turnovers that the Cincinnati Secondary have been able to create in recent games.

It has been a long time since the Bengals have beaten Cleveland twice in the same season, but the Offensive unit gives them a chance to do that. If they can move a couple of scores ahead and just force Cleveland to have to take to the air to keep up on the scoreboard, things could spiral out of control for the Browns and it could lead to a big enough win to cover this spread.

Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Commanders Pick: Sweeping a Divisional rival is never easy in the NFL, but that is what the Philadelphia Eagles (12-2) will be aiming to do when visiting the Washington Commanders (9-5).

We know the Philadelphia Eagles will be returning to the Playoffs in a season where Head Coach Nick Sirianni has been seemingly under pressure throughout. Last season was a disappointment for the Eagles when beaten early in the post-season, but we are not that far removed from Philadelphia making the Super Bowl and Sirianni has deserved his chance.

His team have had some tough moments, but are motoring now and look like they have the confidence to make a real impact in the post-season. The first ambition is to look after the NFC East with a win on Sunday, but the Detroit Lions were beaten by the Buffalo Bills last week which means the Number 1 Seed in the Conference is now in play for the Eagles.

The Eagles are finishing up with three Divisional games, but winning out will put them in a very strong position to secure the top Seed and that is going to be focus.

For the home team, you would think nine wins would put Washington in a really good place when it comes to earning a Wild Card spot, but that is not the case. The NFC North has been really strong and the Commanders are only 1 game ahead of the Seattle Seahawks and 2 games ahead of the Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals as far as the final Wild Card place goes.

Back to back wins have just calmed things down for Washington after previously losing three in a row, but there is work to do and this is a tough match up for them against a motivated rival.

Jayden Daniels has to be given respect for the level produced in his rookie season, but wins over Tennessee and New Orleans will not have prepared him fully for this rematch. There was not a lot happening for Washington in the defeat in Philadelphia and finding spaces to exploit against this Eagles Defensive unit is going to be tough.

The Commanders will hope to use the Offensive Line to get things going and they have been able to establish the run effectively in recent games, while the Quarter Back is capable of moving the chains with his legs. However, this is an Eagles Defensive Line that have clamped down on teams up front and they will certainly feel they can do enough to force Jayden Daniels to have to step back and throw into perhaps the best Secondary in the League.

Pressure can be generated up front to aid the Defensive Backs, while Daniels is just going to have to be careful with where he throws the ball having been guilty of a couple of turnovers of late. The Commanders will be well aware that they need to play a clean game if they are going to earn the upset, but it will be tough to move the ball with a lot of consistency when they have the ball in their hands.

A healthier looking Philadelphia team will certainly believe they can have another efficient showing against this Commanders team having piled up 434 yards in the first game and with an almost perfect split between passing and rushing.

Recent games have been better as far as the Washington Defensive Line are concerned, but they have not really gone up against an Offensive Line like the one that the Eagles have thrived behind. Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts can both combine for big yards on the ground, while the latter has shown off his ability when dropping back to throw as he helped Philadelphia keep their winning run going last week.

Despite their strong run, there were reports that Jalen Hurts and Wide Receiver AJ Brown were not on the same page, although that was anything but the case in their Week 15 win. They can combine to get Washington problems in the Secondary and the balance that Philadelphia have with their play-calling will make it tough for the Commanders to keep this much closer than when the teams met earlier in the season.

The money has piled in on the Eagles which has moved the spread past a key number, which has to be a disappointment, but they still look the right side to back in this NFC East Divisional contest. You have to expect Washington to have learned plenty from the first game against the Eagles, but they are not quite at that level and Philadelphia's momentum can take them to a win by around a Touchdown in Week 16.

Arizona Cardinals @ Carolina Panthers Pick: Time is getting very close to the end for the Arizona Cardinals (7-7) as they look to force their way into the NFC Playoffs and they need to build on their big Week 15 win over the New England Patriots. This is a chance to put some momentum behind themselves ahead of two Divisional games to conclude the season and the Cardinals cannot afford any more slips as they head into the Eastern Time Zone for this game.

Next up is the Carolina Panthers (3-11) who have lost four in a row after showing some positive signs in the middle of the season.

Bryce Young has shown enough to believe he deserves another year growing in the system with the Panthers and this is a Defensive unit that he can test.

It would be a positive if the Panthers Offensive Line can find a way to establish the run- the problem is not being able to do that against this Cardinals Defensive Line, but the season has been a long one and Carolina have struggled to really get things going on the ground in their recent outings.

The Quarter Back can use his legs to help, and keeping the team in front of the chains is going to be key. If that happens, Bryce Young should be able to have some success throwing against an Arizona Secondary, although being behind the chains would mean having to deal with pass rush pressure.

This is the pressure that can lead to mistakes, which have been an issue for Bryce Young, and the Carolina Panthers have to show there is still some fight left and they are not distracted by games coming up against Divisional rivals to close out the season.

We are seeing the final Carolina home game of the season so you have to believe that is a factor when it comes to motivation, but playing spoiler for Tampa Bay or Atlanta may bring more more than anything else.

The early kick off time is a concern, but the Cardinals should be pretty happy with what they need to do in this one- they are facing a Carolina Defensive Line that has been worn down and been allowing huge yards on the ground, so it is expected to be a game in which James Connor and Kyler Murray can have big numbers.

Arizona's Offensive Line have really powered the run game and they should be able to do the same here, and that is going to put the Cardinals in a strong position to win and cover.

Kyler Murray has been well protected when he has stepped back to throw, and there are some decent Receivers around him to make the plays down the field. With his ability to scramble and just create some panic, Murray should be able to put the Arizona Cardinals in a position to keep their Playoff hopes alive and they have the capabilities of covering this number.

Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears Pick: They kept fighting, but it was a damaging loss for the Detroit Lions (12-2) against the Buffalo Bills having lost some key players to injury. The last month has seen a number of players go down, which has just dented some of the enthusiasm of the Lions fans in booking trips to the Super Bowl, and there is work for Detroit to do if they are going to earn a Bye through to the Divisional Round.

They hold a narrow edge over the Philadelphia Eagles for the top Seed in the NFC, but the Lions are still not in control of the NFC North, which is a testament to the level being produced by the Minnesota Vikings.

Motivation is not going to be hard to find when facing a Divisional rival, and especially not after losing in Week 15. Great teams have shown a resiliency to overcome losses and bounce back immediately and this Detroit Lions team are still deserving a lot of respect, even with some important members of the team on the sidelines on both sides of the ball.

David Montgomery has been ruled out, although Jahmyr Gibbs is more than a capable replacement and the Lions should still enjoy plenty of success on the Offensive side of the ball. Things have been tough Defensively for the Chicago Bears over the last few weeks and Gibbs has shown the kind of burst to really rip out some big gains on the ground to put the Lions in a strong position.

It will all be good for Jared Goff at Quarter Back who is playing a Bears Secondary that has struggled to make the plays needed to stall drives in recent games. There are plenty of talented playmakers for Goff to target and the Lions should be able to keep things moving, even if they are not as strong outdoors as they are inside of a Dome.

Since pushing Detroit on Thanksgiving Day, Chicago have struggled Offensively and there were one or two concerns about Caleb Williams at the end of the latest loss to the Minnesota Vikings. It is a short week, but the rookie Quarter Back is expected to suit up and may enjoy a bit more success against an injury hit Detroit Defensive unit.

He might be aided by a stronger running game than has been evident in recent games and that will give the Chicago Bears a chance to control the clock and allow the Lions Offense to stay cooling off on the sidelines. Being in front of the chains is important for Caleb Williams so he is not being pressurised into forcing throws into tight spots, while it will just ease any pressure around him thanks to this banged up Offensive Line.

Any mistakes and being behind the down and distance will put Caleb Williams under pressure, but there are holes to exploit in this Detroit Secondary. It is a long season for any player coming out of College Football and that has perhaps contributed to Williams' recent performances with the physical wear and tear building up, but he should be able to make some plays much as he did on the road against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day.

Being on the short week is going to be tough and it should be noted that Detroit had over 100 yards more than Chicago in the first meeting and just lost their focus.

That is unlikely to happen again and especially not after losing in Week 15, and the Lions can take advantage of the fact that the Bears are playing on a short week by coming through with a win that sees them cover this mark too.

MY PICKS: Houston Texans + 3.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Cincinnati Bengals - 8.5 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Philadelphia Eagles - 3.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Arizona Cardinals - 4.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Detroit Lions - 6.5 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Week 15: 6-2, + 3.37 Units (8 Units Staked, + 42.13% Yield)

Week 14: 2-4, - 2.23 Units (6 Units Staked, - 37.17% Yield)

Week 13: 1-3, - 2.17 Units (4 Units Staked, - 54.25% Yield)

Week 12: 2-4, - 2.17 Units (6 Units Staked, - 36.17% Yield)

Week 11: 2-3, - 1.23 Units (5 Units Staked, - 24.60% Yield)

Week 10: 1-6, - 5.05 Units (7 Units Staked, - 72.14% Yield)

Week 9: 3-2, + 0.73 Units (5 Units Staked, + 14.60% Yield)

Week 8: 4-2, + 1.72 Units (6 Units Staked, + 28.67% Yield)

Week 7: 4-3, + 0.73 Units (7 Units Staked, + 10.43% Yield)

Week 6: 4-2, + 1.67 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27.83% Yield)

Week 5: 4-2, + 1.64 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27.33% Yield)

Week 4: 6-2, + 3.45 Units (8 Units Staked, + 43.13% Yield)

Week 3: 3-3, - 0.23 Units (6 Units Staked, - 3.83% Yield)

Week 2: 4-2, + 1.62 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27% Yield)

Week 1: 5-2, + 2.67 Units (7 Units Staked, + 38.14% Yield)

Weekend Football Picks and Fantasy Football 2019 (December 21-22)

Most Premier League clubs are set to play four games in the space of thirteen days which is a pivotal time of the season for the teams, while also being a source of frustration for the FPL managers.

The FPL game has been kicking my backside anyway of late and I have activated my Wild Card this week which I will write about at the bottom of this thread.

First we get to the nine Premier League games being played on Saturday and Sunday, the final games to be played this side of Christmas Day. We then have a loaded Boxing Day schedule for Thursday and another full round of Premier League games to come next weekend so this is going to be a busy time for players and fans.

I am unlikely to have a very long thread for the Boxing Day games, but may have one or two thoughts about the Fantasy Football GW20 fixtures which begin next Saturday.

And the last thing to say is Merry Christmas to everyone celebrating and hope you get to enjoy time with families over the next few days.


Everton v Arsenal Pick: The opening Premier League game of the weekend involves two clubs who will likely be managed by a caretaker for the last time.

Big Duncan Ferguson has really inspired Everton in the three games he has taken charge even though all have been against clubs currently in the top six of the Premier League table. The fact that Everton went unbeaten in normal time shows the players have bought into what Ferguson has wanted from them and he is likely to be kept on as a member of the new staff taking over the club.

Everything is pointing to Carlo Ancelotti being the new manager at Goodison Park and that is going to raise expectations of the fanbase. He is expected to have some funds to spend in the January transfer window and Everton can sign off under Big Dunc with a strong performance here.

They host an Arsenal team who were hoping replacing Unai Emery with Freddie Ljungberg would inspire an immediate bounce back like Manchester United experienced under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at this time last year. Instead the former player has struggled to deal with the negative vibe around the club and the 0-3 loss to Manchester City last Sunday has seen Arsenal double down on finding a replacement.

For all intents and purposes it looks like Mikel Arteta is going to be the new manager of the club and it is something ironic that he will be appointed just before a meeting between two clubs he represented as a player.

I am not sure whether Arteta is going to be the right man for Arsenal or not, but he has been learning under Pep Guardiola and that has to be an encouragement for the fans. It will take time to fix the glaring problems at the Emirates Stadium and this is not really the time of the season to get that done, so I am not sure Arsenal are going to suddenly start churning out big results.

This is already a difficult venue to play at and I think Everton can avoid a loss in this one. Backing them to do that in a game that features at least two goals is a decent enough price and I will look for Ferguson to beat out Ljungberg in the battle of the caretakers that are both going to be in more familiar roles by Monday if all the rumours are to be believed.


Aston Villa v Southampton Pick: I was quite impressed by what I heard from Dean Smith ahead of this Premier League fixture and I think it is important that his team look to take their chances with a good portion of their fixture list to negotiate over the festive period.

However it can be difficult to trust Aston Villa when you think of the defensive issues they have had all season and they are facing a dangerous Southampton team, despite what the League position may say.

Like Aston Villa, Southampton have looked better going forward than defensively and they are a team that creates chances. They could easily have won at Arsenal recently and led at Newcastle United so I would not rule out an upset here which makes it hard to pick a winner at the prices involved.

I mentioned last weekend that the layers might be getting on top of the fact that Southampton have been involved in a lot of games in which both teams have scored and at least three goals being shared out. Both markets were massively shortened last weekend and I skipped past the game, but those taking short prices were punished as Southampton went down to West Ham United without scoring.

This week my major lean is that both teams will score and there will be at least three goals shared out, but once again a short price means I will look at better options that are out there.


Bournemouth v Burnley Pick: Both Burnley and Bournemouth had lost at least 3 Premier League games in a row before their 1-0 victories over Newcastle United and Chelsea respectively last weekend.

Those wins will have given both clubs a huge boost ahead of the run of four games in thirteen days, while also arresting the slump towards the bottom three that both Bournemouth and Burnley were experiencing.

I think Eddie Howe and Sean Dyche will be targeting maximum points in this fixture and I do think it is a close one that is hard to call. With that in mind I was surprised to see Bournemouth as such a strong favourite to win the game considering they have won 1 of their last 5 at home against Burnley and lost the last 2 Premier League games to them at the Vitality Stadium.

Both League games were dominated by Burnley last season and I also think this is a team who are playing the better football of the two teams.

Bournemouth had a very good win over Chelsea last weekend, but I think that may have them overrated for this fixture. They were far from dominant and it would have been a different story if Chelsea had taken their chances, while Burnley have been a team who have been creating chances and been unlucky in a couple of recent defeats.

Injuries are hurting Bournemouth and the problems in defensive areas should be exposed by Burnley here. With Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes causing problems, I think Burnley look underrated and I will back the visitors with the start on the Asian Handicap to at least avoid a defeat.


Brighton v Sheffield United Pick: These two might not be the most fashionable clubs in England, but being managed by Graham Potter and Chris Wilder has made Brighton and Sheffield United both attractive to watch.

So far the better balance has been provided by Sheffield United who have largely defended very well but also created enough chances to win games. They are perhaps lacking a truly clinical striker that would love to get on the end of the build up play that Sheffield United have produced, but if Wilder can get that player in the January transfer window I have no doubt that they will finish in the top half of the table.

That would be a big achievement for Sheffield United who were considered a favourite for relegation.

Brighton were another highly tipped up for relegation after deciding to sack Chris Hughton and bring in a manager in Graham Potter who would change the tactics and playing style. Instead the side have prospered under Potter and they have been very good going forward, although the balance with the defensive side of the field has not been to the same level as what Sheffield United have been able to produce.

I do think Brighton will cause problems for Sheffield United and they have been a little more clinical than their visitors. However I would be surprised if Sheffield United did not create chances too having scored in 4 straight away games in the Premier League and Brighton having just 2 home clean sheets in all competitions.

The Seagulls have scored plenty of home goals though and Sheffield United have conceded in 4 away games in a row.

Backing both teams to hit the net looks a very appealing price with all things considered and that will be my play.


Newcastle United v Crystal Palace Pick: Injuries and mixed form makes this the hardest League game to call in the English top flight this weekend.

Flip a coin and I think you won't go far wrong whichever way the coin lands and it could come down a moment of magic or a mistake.

Wilfried Zaha is in fine form and could be the player to shine the brightest, but Newcastle United have been strong at home under Steve Bruce and I would not be surprised if they found a way to win this fixture.

Unsurprisingly I am skipping past this game and just looking to add the numbers from the game for future references.


Norwich City v Wolves Pick: Throughout this season there have been some big results produced by Norwich City and they had another upset last weekend when earning a draw at Leicester City. You can put that result alongside the win over Manchester City and the draw with Arsenal as unexpected ones for Norwich City, but Daniel Farke's men have struggled to back that up with another big performance next time out.

They will be looking to do that against Wolves this weekend in what is a very important fixture for Norwich City. They have got into a position where they are 3 points behind the two clubs immediately above them, but Aston Villa host Southampton this weekend so it is important for Norwich City to try and stay in touch.

It puts some pressure on a team that are conceding far too many goals.

Norwich City have conceded at least two goals in 7 straight home Premier League games and I don't think it is a big surprise to read they have lost 4 of their last 5 here.

Things won't be easier against Wolves who largely dominated Tottenham Hotspur last weekend and deserved much more than a 1-2 home defeat. That ends a run of 9 games unbeaten for the visitors, but they have not lost any of their last 4 away from home and Wolves should still be confident they have enough to secure a win here.

In recent away games Wolves have created chances and been finding a consistent avenue to goals, but they have not been defending as well as they would have liked. Those defensive issues will give Norwich City some opportunities here, but I am still not convinced The Canaries have enough to survive at this level.

Wolves do have two huge Premier League games to come in the next week against Manchester City and Liverpool, but I think the loss last weekend will focus them here. I have not really backed Wolves too many times this season as I feel they don't score enough goals, but they have been creating enough in recent games to believe they can edge out Norwich City.

The home team will have their moments too, but backing Wolves to win here is the call.


Manchester City v Leicester City Pick: The final Premier League game to be played on Saturday comes from the Etihad Stadium and both Manchester City and Leicester City will be looking to take advantage of Liverpool's World Club Cup commitments.

For Liverpool fans anything other than a Leicester City win would likely be seen as a positive as that would mean going into Christmas Day with at least a 9 point lead at the top of the Division and with a game in hand.

Neither Manchester City or Leicester City will be worrying about anything but themselves in this League game and I really think it could be a very good one to watch.

Pep Guardiola and Brendan Rodgers are managers who like their teams to get forward and score goals and I think they are going to mesh very well. Leicester City are very dangerous on the counter attack and they will have seen the success that Manchester United had here in the derby and look to follow that same kind of tactical plan.

With that in mind I do find it very difficult to see how Manchester City will keep a clean sheet- they have simply not been defending well enough to believe they can keep Leicester City out here and the tactics always leave them vulnerable at the back.

On the other hand very few teams have been able to keep Manchester City out and I think Guardiola's men will be looking to keep the recent momentum behind them. They have quality in the final third of the pitch that will be able to create chances against a Leicester City team that are far less watertight than their recent run of clean sheets might have suggested.

The game here last season ended 1-0 to Manchester City, but it came at the end of the season when tensions were very high. While this is an important game, it should also be one where both teams are able to play with a touch more freedom and before that result at the Etihad Stadium 7 of the previous 8 games between these clubs had ended with both teams scoring.

That includes the previous 3 at the Etihad Stadium between these clubs and I think that is the most likely outcome of this one too. Picking a winner is not easy with the belief that Leicester City are going to be very dangerous on the counter attack throughout this one, while Manchester City are a team who can blow anybody away when at their best.

Both teams are creating enough chances to think both teams will hit the net at least once and I will back that to be the outcome of the fixture.


Watford v Manchester United Pick: Both Watford and Manchester United may feel their performances warranted better results than they achieved last time out in the Premier League. The Hornets were beaten at Anfield despite creating some huge chances when the game was goalless and 1-0 to Liverpool, while Manchester United felt hard done by in the 1-1 home draw with Everton.

Games like this one have proven to be difficult for Manchester United all season and throughout the tenure of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as manager. Some of that is down to the tactics of the manager who is heavily reliant on counter attack, spaces that teams lower down the League table simply don't offer up against the big clubs.

Manchester United did deservedly win at Norwich City, but over the last nine months they have failed to win at Huddersfield Town, Southampton, West Ham United, Newcastle United and Bournemouth and all of those clubs have been struggling in the bottom half of the Premier League table.

Watford are the latest club Manchester United will face in that situation and I do think Nigel Pearson's team will believe they can cause problems for their visitors. If they play anything like the level they did against Liverpool I do think Watford can create chances against a Manchester United defence that can't help but make one or two mistakes during games.

However I also can't ignore how poorly Watford have defended and injuries are hurting them at the back. Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial both scored during the week and Manchester United have found goals against Watford in recent fixtures between these clubs.

My lean is that Manchester United will do enough to win here, but it is hard to back them considering the poor away record which has stretched a number of months now. Watford haven't won at Vicarage Road yet, but they have been creating chances and I am looking for at least three goals to be shared out in this one.

The last 7 times Watford have hosted Manchester United there have been at least three goals shared out on each occasion. Days before Christmas I think this could be an enjoyable game for the neutrals with both clubs likely to find the net in a competitive fixture.


Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea Pick: For the second time in December Jose Mourinho is going to be leading his new Tottenham Hotspur team into a fixture against a former club he has managed in England. While the Manchester United fans gave Mourinho a good reception, he can't really expect the same from the Chelsea fans travelling to North London who despite Tottenham Hotspur more than United.

Even in his time at Old Trafford the Chelsea fans were not too far away from giving Mourinho stick so I imagine he is prepared to hear some more from those fans this weekend.

All Jose Mourinho will be looking for is a big performance from his Tottenham Hotspur players that can inspire the home crowd to drown out the visitors and he will feel he can get one. They might not have been at their best last weekend, but Tottenham Hotspur won and they have also won 3 in a row at home under Mourinho while scoring three or more goals each time.

They will feel they can expose a Chelsea team who have not won any of their last 3 away games in all competitions and The Blues have conceded at least twice in each of those fixtures.

While Chelsea have still looked threatening going forward, a young team have just hit the wall of late with 4 losses in 7 games in all competitions. Young players will sometimes just lack the consistency teams are looking for and Frank Lampard has recognised Chelsea need to bring in some experience in the January transfer window to really push on.

Earlier in the season they were playing very well away from home, but Chelsea have lost back to back Premier League games on their travels. Chelsea have also struggled against the top teams in the Division with losses to Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City and draws at home with Leicester City and Sheffield United.

With that in mind I do think backing Tottenham Hotspur on the Asian Handicap is the right play here. I am still not convinced by the defending Spurs have produced, but they have been scoring enough goals to make up for that and I just think the experience factor is with the home team which can make the difference in games like this one.

Tottenham Hotspur don't have the best record against the top clubs they have faced, but the win over Wolves will give them a boost and I would be surprised if the home team were to lose this fixture.

MY PICKS: Everton Double Chance (Draw or Win) & Over 1.5 Goals @ 1.65 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Burnley + 0.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.81 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Brighton-Sheffield United Both Teams to Score @ 1.86 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Wolves @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Manchester City-Leicester City Both Teams to Score @ 1.61 Coral (2 Units)
Watford-Manchester United Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.91 Bet365 (2 Units)
Tottenham Hotspur 0 Asian Handicap @ 1.72 Bet Victor (2 Units)

December 2019/20: 9-6, + 4.56 Units (30 Units Staked, + 15.20% Yield)
November 2019/20: 9-16, - 12.66 Units (50 Units Staked, - 25.32% Yield)
October 2019/20: 16-14-2, + 6.14 Units (62 Units Staked, + 9.90% Yield)
September 2019/20: 13-9-1, + 8.82 Units (46 Units Staked, + 19.17% Yield)
August 2019/20: 14-17-2, - 8.78 Units (64 Units Staked, - 13.72% Yield)

Fantasy Football GameWeek 18

I have had four of the most miserable weeks in the Fantasy Football game as I have had in a long time and coming in consecutive weeks it has seen my overall ranking dip badly.

You can't ignore the process, but all that has happened is I have decided to play my Wild Card a week earlier than I thought I would.

With three Liverpool players in the squad I have not had much luck with rotation considering the two defenders have been in and out of the starting team at a time when Liverpool have begun picking up the clean sheets I have expected all season. A tough set of fixtures are coming up for Liverpool and I think it is reasonable that both Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson are dropped for now, leaving Sadio Mane as the only Liverpool player I am going to have in the squad for the next couple of GameWeeks.

At the prices I think it was time to switch where the majority of the money is being spent on my squad while also making sure I felt much happier all around with the team in place.

I don't think I will be surprising anyone when I say I am likely going to be making changes to my squad right up until the time of the deadline on Saturday morning so I can't really place a squad down here. What I am going to do is identify some teams who I believe can provide good returns in the next couple of weeks when I will be using the transfers to just reshape things around the edges.

Tottenham Hotspur- games against Chelsea, Brighton, Norwich City and Southampton before FA Cup Third Round weekend looks a very good time to get behind Jose Mourinho's new team.

They have been scoring plenty of goals under the manager, but you have to be wary of some squad rotation at this time of the season. I think the goalkeeper, Toby Alderweireld, Dele Alli, Heung-Min Son and Harry Kane are arguably the 'undroppables' that Mourinho loves identifying at clubs.

Manchester United- you can't argue against the fixtures, but Manchester United haven't always been at their best in games they should win.

Even then I do think goals are being scored and again this may be a team worth picking from, although more likely to be hit by some rotation. Jesse Lingard has had big December months before, maybe it is time for him to shine if he gets a run in the team like I think he may as long as Paul Pogba is missing.

Aston Villa- Southampton, Norwich City, Watford and Burnley and with Dean Smith suggesting he needs to take the hand-break off his team when it comes to fulfilling their attacking potential, I do think Aston Villa could have some strong returns.

Wesley snapped his run without a goal on Tuesday and it may spark something out of a player who has had some big opportunities in recent weeks but just lacked the confidence to make full use of them.

Crystal Palace- the fixtures look good, but Crystal Palace are not the most adventurous team which makes them hard to trust. If you are looking for a midfielder that could be in the middle of a nice streak it could be Wilfried Zaha who has been amongst the goals including last Monday evening.

West Ham United- they are not playing in GameWeek 18, but West Ham United have some very good looking games out of their mini break. The last three weeks have seen some better performances so maybe West Ham United are about to hit some positive form.

Weekend Football Picks 2018 (December 21-23)

The final round of Premier League fixtures prior to Christmas are played over a three day period this weekend and there are some big matches to come.

My personal focus over the last week was concluding up at work until the New Year, but more importantly was the big news coming out of Old Trafford. I am going to write my latest 'United Corner' about the events at Manchester United over the last couple of days and I want that posted either Saturday morning or Sunday morning which is looking more likely.

I've just needed a few days to digest the way things have gone for my club and what lies ahead after the draw for the Champions League Last 16 was made earlier this week- honestly that feels like it was made months ago because of the Tuesday morning breaking news and even the football this weekend is taking second spot to everything happening at Manchester United.


I didn't post a thread for the Weekend Football games last week as I had a very busy final full week at work. In this thread I will have also have a look at the Fantasy players who could be making an impact over the three days this weekend and remember that is an early deadline this week.


Wolves v Liverpool Pick: In the last few weeks there have been a number of times that Liverpool have had to play catch up to Manchester City, but the players have been able to deal with the pressure and the wins have kept coming. This time Liverpool have a chance to get on the field first and create a gap between themselves and the defending Champions, but it won't be a walkover when they visit Wolves in the live Friday night offering from the Premier League.

A couple of weeks ago Wolves fans may have approached the fixture with some trepidation as their team had seemingly lost form and were struggling for results. Things look much better off the back of 3 straight Premier League wins though and Wolves will know they have pushed some of the best teams in the Premier League already this season.

In fact Liverpool will be the last of the six clubs ahead of Wolves in the League table that Nuno Espirito Santo's men will face in the 2018/19 season. So far Wolves have drawn with both Manchester clubs and Arsenal, while beating Chelsea and giving Tottenham Hotspur a torrid time in a narrow defeat to them here.

They have shown they can clearly step up their level when playing the better teams in the Premier League and most importantly Wolves are not afraid to take them on. Against Manchester City they were willing to press the ball and Wolves will likely look to do the same against Liverpool and try and expose what could be a soft underbelly considering the injuries Jurgen Klopp's team have at the back.

Both teams have been able to score in every Wolves game against the other top six clubs this season and I expect that could happen here too. Wolves will give it a go against Liverpool and have quality players in the final third who can make key passes and show composure in front of goal.

It is also hard to see how Wolves keep Liverpool out considering the latter have scored ten goals in their last 3 away Premier League games and Wolves have only kept one clean sheet against teams in the current top ten with Liverpool the one they have yet to play.

The last couple of Wolves games here against Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea have both seen at least three goals shared out and I think that will be the case on Friday night too. Only a deluge prevented more goals being scored when Wolves hosted Bournemouth last Saturday, but it should be better conditions for this fixture and I will back at least three goals to be shared out.

Fantasy Star: Mohamed Salah- I hate being boring with some of these choices, but the Liverpool front three are led by the Egyptian and Salah did score three times in his last away game.

Alternative: Raul Jimenez- this player has been a favourite of mine all season. He is a cheap striker in the official FPL game and has scored in home games against Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea. Main Wolves danger man.


Arsenal v Burnley Pick: Back to back losses have been a setback for Arsenal but they have every chance of bouncing back here even if they have not been at their most convincing in recent weeks.

Defensive injuries have not really cleared up as Unai Emery would have liked, but Arsenal are going to be allowed to get on the front foot by a Burnley team who are expected to play similarly to how they did against Tottenham Hotspur last week.

It was a battling display that brought back memories of the successes they had last season, but the underlying stats suggest Burnley were fortunate. Better finishing from Tottenham Hotspur would have made it a much more comfortable day and this Arsenal team have shown they know where to find the back of the net.

Some will point to the close win over Huddersfield Town as the blueprint for Burnley to follow. I agree they will likely try to replicate that, but Arsenal created a lot of chances that day and I think Emery is going to pick an attacking line up that can continue their dominance over Burnley.

Defensively there are some real problems for Arsenal to resolve, but I am not sure Burnley will show enough intensity going forward to expose those. If they do take chances, that should only work in the favour of Arsenal who can counter very quickly and I think the home team can be backed to win and cover the Handicap in this one.

Fantasy Star: Alexandre Lacazette- Arsenal will get chances against Burnley and it may be the Frenchman's time to start having seen Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang lead the line in the last two games without scoring.

Alternative: Mesut Ozil- the German playmaker looks to be leaving in six months time, but injuries should mean he gets the start here in a game where Arsenal are expected to dominate the ball.


Bournemouth v Brighton Pick: There is no doubt that some of the confidence and swagger that Bournemouth had been playing with has disappeared in recent games as they have been on a prolonged run of losing games. 7 losses from 8 games in all competitions will hurt any team, but Eddie Howe may well be reminding his players of the difficulty of the schedule that has been negotiated.

It doesn't get much easier for them over the festive period with visits to Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United to come over the next eight days, but this game on Saturday has to be seen as one Bournemouth can win.

They may have lost 3 of their last 4 games here, but those have come against Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool and Bournemouth were competitive in the first two of those games. Now they face a Brighton team who are not the best travellers in the Premier League and a team who have lost 3 of their last 4 away games.

For the most part Brighton have offered an attacking threat though which will make them dangerous, but Bournemouth will look at the defensive issues Brighton have had and look to expose those. With Shane Duffy suspended, Brighton might be a little weaker at the back than they have been and I can see the home team being in a position to create chances and score goals.

Brighton can also play their part and both League games between these clubs ended with three or more goals shared out last season. With both teams likely to have some opportunities to score goals, I think that could be the case here again with the confidence of the players likely to mean more mistakes and I will back at least three goals to be shared out.

Fantasy Star: Joshua King- has not been in the best of form, but due a turnaround and could be the main threat if Callum Wilson still a little tender from an injury he has been dealing with.

Alternative: Glenn Murray- been scoring plenty of goals for Brighton and should have chances to score against his former team.


Chelsea v Leicester City Pick: The win over Manchester City will have given the Chelsea players a real belief in the system that Maurizio Sarri is trying to instil in the club and they have not taken a backwards step since that win.

There had been some blips going into the fixture which had seen Chelsea lose at Tottenham Hotspur and Wolves, but the win over Manchester City shows they can compete with the very best in the Premier League. It also has helped strengthen the chances of finishing in the top four and Chelsea have to take advantage of what looks to be a favourable stretch of their schedule.

Beating Leicester City at home won't be easy as Chelsea have found with 2 draws from the last 3 League games against them at Stamford Bridge. However Chelsea have won 4 in a row at home in all competitions and are unbeaten in 18 in front of their own fans which means they are rightly fairly strong favourites to win this fixture.

It is entirely possible they are facing Leicester City at the right time considering they have lost back to back Premier League games without scoring. Jamie Vardy is back, but the players have never really been fully behind Claude Puel and there is pressure on the manager to get the results turned around.

Leicester City can be a tough team to break down when they are really at it and I think that makes them a dangerous prospect for the home team, but Chelsea are playing well of late. The Blues have been creating plenty of chances in recent games and I think they may have enough in the final third with Eden Hazard back amongst the goals.

I will look for Chelsea to get the better of a team who may be focusing on the next home game where they can play for revenge against Manchester City who knocked them out of the League Cup on Tuesday. The first goal will be crucial, but if Chelsea can move ahead in the first half I think they win this comfortably enough on the day.

Fantasy Star: Eden Hazard- scored in back to back games and a midfielder who will likely be leading the line in a 'false nine' position.

Alternative: Pedro- the Spaniard has been in decent form and always gets a couple of half decent chances per game. Cheaper option compared with Hazard.


Huddersfield Town v Southampton Pick: There should be plenty of tension around the John Smith's Stadium as they watch their home team Huddersfield Town take on a relegation rival Southampton.

Neither team will want to give the other too much Christmas cheer in what could be a vital game- Huddersfield Town have lost all momentum with 4 straight losses sending them hurtling towards the bottom of the table, while Southampton are chasing back to back Premier League wins for the first time since April 2017.

There is not much time to recover from results during the hectic festive period and that only increases the pressure on the two teams to deliver a result that can move them out of the bottom three in time for Christmas dinner to taste all the better.

Picking a winner is difficult- Huddersfield Town have struggled for goals throughout the season, but they are facing a Southampton team who have been defensively shocking. On the other hand The Saints have really found it tough to find away results, while Huddersfield Town have not exactly pulled up trees at home.

Something has to give in this one, but what that is is difficult to predict.

Last weekend Newcastle United showed a slightly more clinical display in front of goal which allowed them to beat Huddersfield Town here. With Danny Ings and Charlie Austin amongst the goals last week Southampton may feel they have enough firepower to do the same so I will look to back the visitors on the Asian Handicap to at least avoid defeat and potentially nick the three points here.

Fantasy Star: Danny Ings- scored twice last week and likely the biggest threat for either team in this game.

Alternative: Any Defender- I really don't know how to separate the defenders but picking one from either team must have a high chance of securing a clean sheet.


Manchester City v Crystal Palace Pick: Winning a game without Wilfried Zaha has been impossible for Crystal Palace in recent seasons and in fact they had lost 14 straight before managing to earn the three points against Leicester City last time out.

However winning with Zaha may be an even bigger ask this weekend as The Eagles fly to the Etihad Stadium.

Manchester City have been in rampant form at home since their defeat to Lyon and they have been scoring plenty of goals. That doesn't bode well for a Crystal Palace team who have conceded at least three goals at Chelsea, Brighton and West Ham United in their last 4 away games and the exception against Manchester United won't inspire enough confidence to take on the defending Champions.

It has been a match up that has really worked for Manchester City and they have now scored 22 goals in their last 5 home games against Crystal Palace with at least three scored in each of those games. Under Pep Guardiola Manchester City have beaten Crystal Palace 5-0 in back to back games here and the squad looks healthier this weekend compared with last.

Both Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero were back in League Cup duty during the week while the likes of Leroy Sane and Bernardo Silva are well rested. It all adds up to what is expected to be a comfortable win for the home team and I am not sure Crystal Palace can offer enough resistance to prevent that happening.

In a week where cross town rivals Manchester United are searching for yet another new manager, Manchester City can keep their high standards up and I will look for them to record a comfortable win over a defensively suspect opponent.

Fantasy Star: Raheem Sterling- Crystal Palace have taken a couple of maulings from Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium and Sterling should be well rested.

Alternative: Leroy Sane- same principle applies to Sane as it does to Sterling and also well rested.


Newcastle United v Fulham Pick: This is a huge game for both Newcastle United and Fulham ahead of the start of a difficult festive period and both managers have to be targeting the three points here.

You have to think Aleksandr Mitrovic is going to be fired up for this fixture having been sold by Newcastle United to Fulham, but the in-form striker looks to be Solomon Rondon who was the main replacement for him.

That could prove to be the difference on the day with Newcastle United playing with a little more confidence after winning at Huddersfield Town last week. They also have found goals a little easier to come by in recent weeks and now they face a Fulham team who have to be feeling really low even under a new manager.

Fulham just don't look good enough at either end of the pitch and the lack of intensity in the second half of their 0-2 defeat to West Ham United last weekend would have hurt Claudio Ranieri. The Italian needs to find answers very quickly as Fulham are in what looked to be a decent portion of their schedule, but results have not been there and it is hard to see that changing at St James' Park.

Like I said, perhaps Mitrovic fires Fulham up and they can surprise, but Newcastle United look to be playing with enough belief to win this one. Fulham's away record is pretty atrocious and they concede far too many goals so I will back the home team on the Asian Handicap which will return half the stake in the event of a draw.

Fantasy Star: Solomon Rondon- has provided a spark in front of goal for Newcastle United and surely has one or two great chances against this poor Fulham defence.

Alternative: Aleksandr Mitrovic- would anyone be surprised if the former Newcastle United striker hurts his former team?


West Ham United v Watford Pick: The weather looks to be decent enough in London this Saturday to allow West Ham United and Watford to produce a good game for those heading to the London Stadium.

Both are coming in off positive results and the good feelings extend to how well they have been playing in front of goal in recent games. Watford have scored at least twice in back to back games, but defensively they will have to be a lot better when facing a West Ham United team who have scored 11 goals in their last 4 League games overall and who have hit at least three goals in 3 of their last 4 at the London Stadium.

I am expecting to see goals on Saturday when these teams meet in East London, and my slight lean goes towards a West Ham United win. Outside of the very best teams in the Premier League it can be very difficult to put wins together as West Ham United have, but they have played well and they have been clinical in front of goal to do that.

You have to respect Watford because of the performance they produced in the 2-2 draw at Everton, but they have not quite been the same in recent weeks and that result was something of an outlier. Defeats at Newcastle United and Leicester City sandwiched a controversial draw at Southampton and I think West Ham United may have too much for them.

However this is a fixture with two attacking teams and the best selection may simply backing at least three goals to be shared out with both teams likely to hit the net at least once.

Fantasy Star: Felipe Anderson- been a part of everything good happening at West Ham United during their strong winning run.

Alternative: Javier Hernandez- another cheap striking option in the official FPL game and someone looking to hold onto his starting place in the home line up.


Cardiff City v Manchester United Pick: There was definitely and inevitability about the way Jose Mourinho's reign would end at Manchester United and the manager didn't help himself with negative tactics coupled with fallen out with some of the big name players in the squad.

Player power is a fear for any top club and now the excuses are out of the way it is time for the players to show they have enough gumption to dare to wear the Manchester United shirt.

They owe it to the fans who have been divided by the decision to bring in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as interim manager for six months- no one will deny he has a place in Manchester United folklore, but one poor stint in the Premier League can't be forgotten and his Molde team concede plenty of goals which won't be music to the ears of those who worry about Manchester United's defence.

Solskjaer's previous time in England management came with, ironically, Cardiff City and he is sure to receive a 'warm' welcome from the locals. His time at Cardiff City was baffling to say the least and the fans were never convinced with someone whose tactics and starting elevens could never be predicted and resulted in relegation from the top flight and struggles in the Championship.

Manchester United just need Solskjaer to allow the players to produce with freedom but this is a tough ground to visit when you consider how well Cardiff City have been playing at home. Neil Warnock will have his players organised and he will look to exploit Manchester United defensively from set pieces as they look for the upset.

Cardiff City have won 4 of their last 5 games here, but the only team from the top half they have beaten is Wolves. An early sending off allowed Cardiff City to edge out Brighton and the other wins have come against Fulham and Southampton so there is a feeling that the home team have not really been able to cope with the better teams in the Premier League.

They have suffered heavy losses to Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea, while Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal have also beaten them this season. Defensively there are weaknesses in the home team and Manchester United have enough about them to think they can create chances and score goals, especially with the suggestion the new manager will take the handbrake off a team who had been scoring plenty of away goals under Jose Mourinho.

I am not sure there will be enough time to work on the defensive side of things at Old Trafford and Cardiff City have scored against Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool with the last two of those games being away from home. Manchester United away games and Cardiff City home games have featured plenty of goals throughout the 2018/19 season and I will back at least three goals to be shared out here.

Fantasy Star: Paul Pogba- a chance to prove his worth with Jose Mourinho gone, this should be an ideal spot for the Frenchman to produce a big game.

Alternative: Calum Paterson- a defender/midfielder in a number of fantasy games, Calum Paterson will play up front for Cardiff City. Are Manchester United's defensive issues going to clear up days after Mourinho leaves? I am not sure and Paterson has been amongst the goals for The Bluebirds.


Everton v Tottenham Hotspur Pick: The final Premier League game to be played before Christmas Day comes from Goodison Park and there is every reason to believe it could be a cracker.

Both Everton and Tottenham Hotspur are managed by attack minded coaches and they could really gel to produce a very good game of football.

I certainly expect Everton to be a lot more competitive than they were when they played Spurs last season having been beaten by at least three goal margins in both games. The recent home record against Tottenham Hotspur is disappointing and Everton have not been in the best of form when it comes to the results produced, but Marco Silva has to believe they will begin to convert some of the quality chances that have come their way.

They will certainly take the game to their visitors, but I think that will benefit Tottenham Hotspur too who have been very good away from home this season. Harry Kane has been needed to score goals in the last few games, yet the wins continue to be produced and the likes of Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen have been pulling the strings for the team.

They have scored two or more goals in 5 of their last 7 away games and Everton have looked a little vulnerable defensively in their last couple of games here.

However I do really respect the way Silva has Everton attacking and they should be able to fashion some quality chances of their own in this fixture. With the two managers unlikely to settle for a point until the latter stages of the game, I can see these teams combining for an entertaining festive fixture and I will back at least three goals to be shared out.

Fantasy Star: Dele Alli- been in fine form for Tottenham Hotspur and scored a fabulous goal in the North London derby on Wednesday. Playing deeper than previous years, but always there or thereabouts in the opposition penalty box.

Alternative: Harry Kane- it's a mini-drought for the English striker, but hit four goals against Everton last season and his droughts never last too long.

MY PICKS: Wolves-Liverpool Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.00 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Arsenal - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.72 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Bournemouth-Brighton Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.00 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Chelsea - 1.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.80 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Southampton 0 Asian Handicap @ 1.83 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Manchester City - 2.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.90 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Newcastle United - 0.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.75 Bet Victor (2 Units)
West Ham United-Watford Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.80 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Cardiff City-Manchester United Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.83 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Everton-Tottenham Hotspur Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.80 Bet Victor (2 Units)