EPL Best Bets and Predictions December 30-January 1
Here are this week’s EPL best bets:
Arsenal vs. Aston Villa
Tuesday, 3:15 p.m. ET
The fixtures continue to come thick and fast with game week 19 split across the last days of 2025 and the first day of the New Year. The highlight will be at the Emirates Stadium in North London, with a clash between two of the top three.
Aston Villa travel to the leaders in third place off the back of eight consecutive Premier League wins, but because of their data, they are priced at +600! Arsenal have generally been winning too, but it’s been nervy winning by single-goal margins since a defeat in the reverse fixture earlier in the month.
Both sides have defensive issues through injury and suspension, but this is a real test for Arsenal and their title credentials. They may well come through it, but it won’t be easy against a side they often struggle against and a former manager with a point to prove against them.
However, the angle for me must be goals, and it is for both teams to score at a surprising plus money. Villa’s last six games across all competitions have seen Over 2.5 goals and both teams to score cash. While something which is very unlike them, the Gunners have conceded in five of their last six home games.
That defensive aura Mikel Arteta’s side had built at the start of the season has slipped a little, and Villa can take advantage. They have one of the best players in the league in Morgan Rogers, while striker Ollie Watkins is in his best form of the campaign.
Over 2.5 goals is -104, but both teams to score is +104, which means that has to be the way to go.
EPL Best Bet: Arsenal vs Aston Villa – Both teams to score at +104.
Nottingham Forest vs. Everton
Tuesday, 2:30 p.m. ET
Everton has really suffered from missing most of their attacking talent. Iliman Ndiaye is on international duty, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is out until the New Year with a thigh strain, and although Jack Grealish missed the trip to Burnley with illness so he could be back here, it is unlikely he will be 100%.
Those absentees change the way David Moyes sets up his side, and as a result, they have failed to score in any of their last three league games. That has seen Under 2.5 goals priced at -150 while both teams to score “no” is a much more attractive -113.
The pricing was very similar in the reverse fixture earlier in the month, and I played it the same way. That game ended 3-0 to Everton so a loss on under 2.5 but a win on the “Both Teams to Score: No” market, and I am taking the same approach again.
In the last 12 head-to-head meetings, this bet has cashed in 10 of them, including the last five. No more than one side has scored in nine of the last 11 Everton fixtures, while it is seven of the 10 league games Sean Dyche has been in charge at the City Ground.
EPL Best Bet: Nottingham Forest vs Everton – Both Teams to Score: No at -113.
Sunderland vs. Manchester City
Thursday, 3:00 p.m. ET
Sunderland have done so well this season, but will need a New Year’s miracle if they are to get something out of this game. I can see this being the starting point of a turn in fortunes for the Black Cats, who are a very hard-working outfit missing several key players.
They fell short in their clash with Brighton, who were poor on the day, and at the weekend, Leeds should have left the Stadium of Light as the first team to win there this season. That honor can fall to Manchester City, who will take the chances that were offered up to Leeds but spurned.
Pep’s men are in formidable form, winning their last eight games across all competitions. Part of that run was the reverse fixture, which they cruised to a 3-0 win at the Etihad. City have scored at least two goals in all those victories and crucially aren’t relying solely on Erling Haaland.
That makes the -1.25 handicap appealing with their price just to win an understandable -245. I don’t see this being a narrow victory in a tight contest. I can see the visitors scoring three or four goals, especially if they get an early one.
This isn’t an attack on Sunderland, as I feel Haaland and company can take most of the league apart on any given day. It just feels like a good time to play the home side whose bubble looks set to burst.
History shows this is when City tend to slip into top gear, especially in their title-winning seasons, and can make a real statement in this one. A Manchester City win by a single goal means we only lose half our stake, but any bigger margin and we get the full win at a value price.
EPL Best Bet: Sunderland vs Manchester City – Manchester City -1.25 Asian Handicap at -110.
Crystal Palace vs. Fulham
Thursday, 12:30 p.m. ET
It’s no win in five for Crystal Palace after a disappointing 1-0 defeat at home to Tottenham on Sunday. No surprise for the team that has used the fewest players across the season to date, with fatigue kicking in as expected with games coming thick and fast.
Palace built their success on a watertight defense, but recently, they have looked like a pale imitation of what we are used to. Conceding far too many goals from set pieces, in fact, eight of the last nine goals allowed in all competitions have come from such situations (corners, throws, penalty, free-kick), including each of the last seven.
They are desperate for additions to the squad, but that can’t happen until at least January, and so they still look a great fade in the meantime. Much of the season talk was of the Eagles pushing for a European spot in the top six while Fulham could be dragged into a relegation battle, but now there is only one point separating them.
Marco Silva has seen his side win their last three league games to climb to 10th in the table, just one place below the hosts here. The recent trend in this fixture suggests they can extend that run further.
Over the last 10 meetings, whoever has been the home side has failed to win any, with just one success in the last 14 head-to-heads for the home side. Last season, the Cottagers visited Selhurst Park and left with a 2-0 win.
Fulham have also won their last three on the road and tend to score goals, which will give them a chance here. They have scored in 19 of their 22 games this season, only failing to hit the back of the net against Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea, who are all in the top five.
I feel the +260 on offer for a win is a little short and want to keep the tie onside, so I am playing the +0.25 Asian Handicap. That gets us a half stake profit should the match end all square, but still a full return at plus money for any Fulham win.
EPL Best Bet: Crystal Palace vs Fulham – Fulham +0.25 Asian Handicap at +104.
