Our soccer expert shares betting tips and previews some of the key games in matchday 22 including Liverpool against Chelsea and Aston Villa hosting Newcastle. Following the FA Cup fourth round, the Premier League returns with some cracking games.

 

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Aston Villa v Newcastle United (Tuesday 20:15 UTC)

The impact of injuries has shown with both these teams Newcastle in recent weeks. Eddie Howe’s men slipped out of the top four and down to 10th with four losses in a row (even Chelsea have leapfrogged them) and yet Unai Emery’s team are holding their own in fourth spot with sporadic form but still 14 points ahead of The Toon.

All the talk has been about off-field financials with Newcastle and the Premier League profit and sustainability. Calls for it being unfair and to be scrapped is only a gauge of the rich clubs. It’s like they have won the lottery but unable to spend it because of all the rules. Their key player this season Kieran Trippier has been touted as leaving the club with Bayern Munich leading the way but that’s now died off. Joelinton has revealed he’s out for four months, so the injury list still not easing for Newcastle.

Joe Willock is due back soon and Harvey Barnes too so the injury worries may ease up, but may not help them in this game unless Alexander Isak can start smashing the goals in again.

With Aston Villa’s winter break coming to an end, they sit in fourth place in the Premier League, knowing the battle to maintain their position in the Champions League places is about to intensify.

Supporter expectations before the season started certainly were to have a stab at the top six and a serious crack at the Europa Conference League trophy, which they started the tournament as favourites for.

If Villa finished outside the top four this season, winning the Europa Conference League would certainly offer a silver lining to the season, but it may also potentially help England’s co-efficient rating to snag a fifth Champions League spot and upgrade Villa’s own European involvement, if they finished a place shy of the top four.

I believe Aston Villa need to spend some money in this transfer window with a quality striker to offer a challenge to Ollie Watkins and a solid right-back to even attempt to hold that league position

Emery’s team are favourites in the match at 1.85 and Howe’s team at 3.97 but I really think the way to go is a straight draw at 4.00 on this and potentially a 1-1 scoreline with odds at 8.47 one to keep an eye on.

 

Manchester City v Burnley (Wednesday 19:30 UTC)

City are a game and five points behind league leaders Liverpool but it's all sounding very familiar to last season. City seem to stutter for a couple of games but even without Erling Haaland upfront they have such quality and depth in their squad that sometimes fans can be excused for forgetting the big Norwegian is out injured.

Vincent Kompany being back at the Etihad always has great emotion for the former City captain but that will only be a bit part in this encounter with him wanting his team to get something, anything, from this fixture to even attempt to clamber out of the bottom three where they have been cemented in all season.

In their last match against Luton, they needed to excel but Luton were bullish in their performance only spoilt by a dubious VAR decision (yes another one!) to award Luton a goal which judging by Burnley’s performance. Luton were disappointed to only get the draw as they bossed the game. If Burnley think they can play like this I can see it being a walk in the park for Guardiola and his team.

Can’t see this going any other way than a Man City win which is priced at 1.10 and Burnley out there at 18.50. 

Maybe a repeat of August 2023 with a 3-0 for City at 6.39 or matching the 6-0 scoreline in March last year is more your style which has odds of 21.70 is worth a go.

 

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Liverpool v Chelsea (Wednesday 20:15 UTC)

A preview to next month's League Cup Final between these two sides is Jurgen Klopp’s chance of his final silverware outside of the Premier League with the news of his departure at the end of the season sending shockwaves through the world of football. 

Chelsea now with less of a worrying injury list are kicking into gear a bit more now and the team are starting to gel together with Cole Palmer being the surprise midfield maestro for Poch and strangely top scorer. 

Only one loss in the last five league games for the Blues as well, showing definite signs of an improving team. Think all Chelsea fans though are correct in thinking they need a 20/25+ goals per season goalscorer. The only real one they’ve had recently is Romelu Lukaku, but enough said about that situation.

Liverpool will be concerned with the news about Mo Salah’s injury in the AFCON Cup seems a month or so layoff is on the cards and will have a big impact for the Reds. Klopp will look to use his squad well to get through this period of the season and keep themselves ahead of the chasing pack, or at least within touching distance. 

Think this will be a close game with too much of a similarity in the team's performances but in my mind, Liverpool will edge this being priced at 1.57 and Chelsea at 5.25.

The draw looks good at 4.57 but I think with the emotion of this game Klopp’s team will win here and at home, and the atmosphere will be so special.

 

Full list of Premier League fixtures - Matchday 22

Tuesday 30th January

Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal

Fulham vs Everton

Luton Town vs Brighton & Hove Albion

Crystal Palace vs Sheffield United

Aston Villa vs Newcastle United

 

Wednesday 31st January

Manchester City vs Burnley

Tottenham Hotspur vs Brentford

Liverpool vs Chelsea

 

Thursday 1st February

West Ham vs Bournemouth

Wolves vs Manchester United

 

**Odds are subject to change. Odds accurate as of 07:30 UTC Tuesday 30th January**

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