The Premier League is bubbling up nicely after 14 matchdays with the action coming thick and fast as we lead into the busy festive period. After a hectic round of midweek games, we do it all again this weekend with plenty of big clashes to keep an eye on. Here’s a pick of the key battles in our week 15 preview:
West Ham United vs Chelsea
Saturday 4th December, 1:30pm
Matchday 15 begins with a bang as fourth place West Ham host leaders Chelsea in a hotly anticipated London derby. West Ham’s dream start to the season, which includes a spot in both the Europa League Last 16 and the League Cup quarter-finals, has tailed off slightly after beating Liverpool last month. Since then, it’s three without a win for David Moyes’ men, including being denied a home win over Brighton on Wednesday by Neil Maupay’s late equaliser. But with the sixth best home record in the Premier League this season they’ll still be a tough nut to crack some Saturday.
Thomas Tuchel admitted that his Chelsea side were “lucky” to beat Watford on Wednesday, with Hakim Ziyech’s strike within the last 20 minutes helping the Blues to a 2-1 away win. Those three points keeps Chelsea one point above Man City at the top of the 2021/22 Premier League table, and stretches their unbeaten run in all competitions to 12 matches. Winning without playing well is the sign of a champion side and the Champions League holders will have a now fully fit Romelu Lukaku to pick from, making Tuchel’s men even more dangerous.
Bet9ja prediction: Chelsea win
Newcastle United vs Burnley
Saturday 4th December, 4pm
The Magpies might have the richest owners in world football, but they are in real danger of having all that money to spend in the EFL Championship come next summer. New manager Eddie Howe has a real job on his hands, with Newcastle winless from 14 matches and six points off safety. Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at home to fellow strugglers Norwich City will be seen as a real missed opportunity to get a first win of the season, but at least they have Callum Wilson firing with five goals in 10 matches so far and keeping him fit will be key to Newcastle’s fortunes this season.
Burnley have been the draw specialists so far, drawing seven of their 13 matches including the last three. Before the goalless draw at Wolves midweek, Burnley’s previous away outing resulted in an impressive 1-1 draw at leaders Chelsea. You know what you’re going to get from Sean Dyche’s men; a physical, direct and hard to beat side but other than summer signing Maxwel Cornet netting five times, goals have been hard to come by and that’s a big reason why they are currently sitting in 18th.
Bet9ja prediction: Draw
BET NOW
Wolves vs Liverpool
Saturday 4th December 4pm
Liverpool have been turning on the style in recent weeks, brushing aside rivals Everton 4-1 at Goodison Park on Wednesday. Mohammed Salah continued his fine form netting twice to take his overall Premier League tally to 13 goals as Jurgen Klopp’s chargers recorded their biggest away Merseyside derby victory for 39 years. Throw in 4-0 victory’s over Southampton and Arsenal and the infamous 5-0 drubbing of Man Utd in the past six weeks, the Reds have been unstoppable at times.
But a 2-2 home draw to Brighton and that defeat to West Ham shows they aren’t unbeatable and face a Wolves team that are arguably over performing in eighth place.
While Wolves possess a strong defence having only conceded 12 times, on the flip side goals have been a struggle. Bruno Lage’s men have scored just one in their previous four outings, taking their overall tally to an underwhelming 12. Concede early, and it might be a long way back for the Molinuex outfit on Saturday, especially when you consider Liverpool have won the past nine league meetings between the two teams.
Bet9ja prediction: Liverpool win
BET NOW
Watford vs Man City
Saturday 4th December 6:30pm
Pep Guardiola’s Man City travel to arguably their favourite visiting stomping ground on Saturday. In three out of the last four visits to Vicarage Road City have won 5-0, 6-0 and 4-0. If that wasn’t bad enough, the current Premier League champions also destroyed the Hornets 8-0 at the Etihad in 2019 and 6-0 in the FA Cup final that same year. In fact, City have won the past 13 meetings between the two and haven’t lost to Watford since 1989.
It’ll be a tough ask for Claudio Ranieri’s men but at least they have showed signs of improvements since he took over. They ran Chelsea close in midweek and beat Man Utd 4-1 in Ole Gunnar last match in charge. Despite the good form of Nigeria international Emmanuel Dennis, who has an impressive six league goals this season, it’s hard to see how Watford can stop Man City’s surge to the Premier League summit and a fifth straight league win.
Bet9ja prediction: Man City win
BET NOW
Aston Villa vs Leicester City
Sunday 5th December 5:30pm
Before the narrow 2-1 home loss to Man City, Steven Gerrard was victorious in his first two matches in charge of Villa, beating Brighton 2-0 in his first game and then a decent 2-1 away win at Crystal Palace. Those wins have dragged the Villains away from any imminent danger and with the likes of John McGinn, Emiliano Buendia and Ollie Watkins, you’d expect them not to get dragged into any relegation threat.
Leicester’s 2-2 draw at Southampton backed up last weekend’s 4-2 win at home to Watford to lift the Foxes up to 10th in the Premier League table. After just missing out on UEFA Champions League qualification in the past two seasons, it’s been a tough campaign so far for Brendan Rodgers’ team with five defeats already. However, they’ve still got Jamie Vardy firing who now has nine league goals to his name and James Maddison has come into some good form, scoring three in his last three matches in all competitions. Leicester have won on their past two league meetings to Villa Park, but will they make it three from three?
Bet9ja predictions: Leicester win
BET NOW
With plenty of markets to choose from every Premier League match this week, head to Bet9ja to try and turn your predictions and football knowledge into some cold, hard cash!h
