Our soccer expert shares betting tips and previews some of the key games in matchday 23 including Arsenal welcoming Liverpool as the Premier League title race heats up.

 

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Everton vs Tottenham Hotspur (Saturday 12.30 UTC)

A bit of a lacklustre game against Fulham earlier in the week won’t help Everton’s cause for this season as they slip back into the bottom three with Luton climbing out with a game in hand and one point ahead. Not for trying against Fulham lots of chances created just not converted.

Players like Jordan Pickford, Jarrad Branthwaite and Amadou Onana should be playing at a higher level. The fact is Sean Dyche has got the defence playing well, but just can't score. Everton can't stay up with no goals and no money to sign players. I feel It’s going to be another difficult season.

I suspect most Everton fans didn’t expect Luton and Forest to be above them at this stage. With Spurs and Manchester City on the horizon, The Toffees do need a sympathetic review of the 10-point deduction. I think that will now be crucial to their survival. The club's appeal for breaching financial rules will begin on Wednesday and earlier this month they were charged for a second time, here’s hoping for Everton fans.

It was a somewhat typical Spurs performance, on Wednesday against Brentford, under Ange Postecoglou and three more crucial points were gained. There was some brilliant attacking play, extremely sloppy defending and questionable decision-making. However, having watched years of uninspiring football, with poor results, it is now a joy to watch Spurs and the wins that are now coming for their fans.

Still not firing fully as a team, with a dominant performance in possession with 72%, but still let two goals in. Ange may finally get his man in Conor Gallagher this time around as well as getting Son back soon this may come at a great time for Spurs. Top four league finish isn’t unrealistic but they do need to push on for sure.

Spurs favourites not what the odds are saying for the win they’re at 2.32 but The Toffees are surprisingly close in the price at 2.91 with a draw at 3.73. Maybe worth a shot at a home win after all.

 

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Arsenal vs Liverpool (Sunday 16:30 UTC)

Arsenal has had a few wobbles recently but back to winning ways the last two matches and a scoreline against Nottingham Forest they should’ve scored a lot more with a dominating display.

A routine win for the title challengers but, with all due respect, Forest didn't have the means to trouble Arsenal. Yet for all the flair and artistry, that was at times spellbinding, the players took one touch too many before shooting or clearing, which led to Forest's goal. Liverpool this Sunday will punish Mikel Arteta’s men for that, more than Forest did.

Saka back on the scoresheet will be a relief for Arsenal fans as well but I think they still need that out-and-out striker that will give them the 25 goal+ a season forward. There is just something missing with that squad and team to make them title contenders

Arteta "loved" seeing defenders Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko having a heated discussion following Tuesday's 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday.

The Gunners were in a comfortable 2-0 lead before letting in a late goal at the City Ground.

Arteta spoke with Zinchenko after he and White had gone their separate ways on the field at full-time. Asked about the incident, Arteta said: "I love it, they demand more from each other and they are not happy with the way they concede that and they are trying to resolve it.

"It was a bit heated, but that means it is not enough playing the way we played, the result has to be bigger. That's pushing each other and being not happy conceding and I have to encourage that and promote it in the right way and a respectful way.”

Liverpool demolished Chelsea midweek and are now five points clear at the top of the league matching City’s recent performances of four wins in their last 5 games. A new star and legend to the Kop has arisen in Conor Bradley but not only him the whole team played with such energy and passion of wanting to win and dominate the game.

Some fans are still commenting on the chances of shots on target converting to goals hopefully the four goals they put past Chelsea will quieten them down a little more. One of the most complete performances of the season. Konate was calm and controlled at the back with great distribution. The midfield was electric with real fight. The attack was mesmerising. Luis Diaz and his runs… just a huge win for The Reds.

A shocker in the odds here and worth a go at a Liverpool win being priced at 3.04 and Arsenal are at 2.26 with a draw priced at 3.70 potentially worth a go. However, I would say it’s a Klopp away win.

 

Brentford vs Manchester City (Monday 20:00 UTC)

Brentford's 3-2 defeat at Tottenham on Wednesday left Thomas Frank's side four points above the Premier League relegation zone.

The Bees have a game in hand on many of the teams around them, although that comes during a tough-looking run of fixtures in February. They will take on Manchester City twice, host leaders Liverpool and face difficult trips to West Ham United and Wolves.

It doesn't look good on paper but, with Brentford, they'll have a go. Getting Ivan Toney back is a big plus, they've got goals in him. They've got tough games coming up, but if they can get through that period with a couple of points, then they go into the final stretch with games they might look at and think they can pick points up.

Come the end of the season, I think Brentford will be ok. I think Nottingham Forest will be the one that will have a problem, I do worry about them. Luton, if they get a bit of momentum, they might pick some points up and gain confidence. 

It's finally great to see Pep has a very nearly fully fit squad which is a positive for him but such an ominous sign for the rest of the league. Even without Haaland, Alvarez has been tormenting defences and scoring goals. Nunes is another that’s been hitting the headlines recently as well with his performances with Grealish, Doku and Gvardiol hardly been in sparkling form, such as City’s strength and depth of squad they can call very easily on others step in.

Not to mention Kevin de Bruyne is back to his quite sheer brilliance he controls the flow of the game in the middle of the field so this Guardiola team is a scary prospect for the league and the rest of Europe.

No movement by City in the January transfer window despite the calls for a left-back and right-back but Pep didn’t dip into the coffers and I doubt the players they have in those positions at the moment are failing the team at all. Business as usual for the Citizens.

City are clearly the ones out front in the markets here at 1.42 to win with Frank’s team at 7.11 and a draw at a potential at 4.92. Never really been a high-scoring game when these sides meet but can be a bit of a bogey team for City so who knows but with the current form I'm going for a 2-0 away win priced at 8.06 as a big chance.

 

Full list of Premier League fixtures - Matchday 23

Saturday 3rd February

Everton vs Tottenham Hotspur

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Crystal Palace

Burnley vs Fulham

Newcastle United vs Luton Town

Sheffield United vs Aston Villa

 

Sunday 4th February

AFC Bournemouth vs Nottingham Forest

Chelsea vs Wolverhampton Wanderers

Manchester United vs West Ham United

Arsenal vs Liverpool

 

Monday 5th February

Brentford vs Manchester City

 

**Odds are subject to change. Odds accurate as of 10:00 UTC Friday 2nd February**

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