We’re getting to crunch point in the English Premier League 2022/23 season. After 25 matches played, Arsenal sit five points clear of Manchester City and 11 ahead of Manchester United.
Liverpool are now just six points off the top four and hope to close the gap further this weekend. The two stand out matches from this weekend are Manchester City vs Newcastle United and Liverpool against Manchester United.
We caught up with Bet9ja Ambassador Victor Ikpeba, to get his views on another big weekend of action, and his predictions for the two key matches.
Liverpool vs Manchester United:
VI: It’s been a long time since Manchester United won at Anfield against Liverpool, 2016 to be precise. This is a very special fixture in England. We have seen before that form doesn’t matter in these types of fixtures. Liverpool went into the Merseyside derby against Everton in poor form but ran out comfortable winners. A similar thing can happen on Sunday too, I certainly don’t think Man Utd will get carried away despite their great recent form of 11 matches unbeaten.
But Liverpool are back in good form and with the quality players they have, such as Mo Salah, they can punish any defence on any day. If you look at the head-to-head statistics, it’s usually been very hard for Man Utd to win at Anfield.
Liverpool are desperate for three points to get closer to the UEFA Champions League positions and this is an avenue for them to crush their rivals. This is a match for Liverpool to win and I think they certainly have what it takes to beat Man Utd.
The fans will push the players to make sure Liverpool pick up three points. I think the value would be to bet on Liverpool on Sunday. They are so desperate for Champions League football they simply have to win.
Prediction: Liverpool win. Bet9ja odds (at time of writing): 2.43
Manchester City vs Newcastle United:
I have my worries about Manchester City this season. They haven’t really been as consistent as in recent seasons. For example, City haven’t won more than three games in a row in the Premier League so far this season. Bear in mind City won 18 matches in a row in the 2017/18 season and 15 in 2020/21. Putting more emphasis on the Champions League might be the reason but the consistency hasn’t been there. They have the quality to win 10 or more matches in a row. They aren’t there right now, you just have to look at the recent draw with Nottingham Forest, a shocking result that they somehow didn’t win.
While I worry about City’s form, Newcastle have capitulated in recent games, particularly in the 2-0 defeat to Man Utd in the EFL Cup Final. Newcastle’s form has been really poor with just one win in six. City have the ability to score goals easily. If they score one, they score two and more. Erling Haaland already has 27 league goals, the most by a City player in a single Premier League season, and he is far from done. If Newcastle can hang on in there, that’s their only hope but I think it’s the wrong time to play City. I’m going for a Man City win here.
Prediction: Manchester City win. Bet9ja odds (at time of writing): 1.48
Bet on Man City against Newcastle
