Premier League Betting Preview: Best Bets for the Weekend Action
The hectic festive period continues into 2026, with the busiest Premier League sides facing nine games in January. Hot on the heels of the New Year’s Day fixtures, the first weekend of the new year sees all twenty sides in action as we move into the second half of the season.
Arsenal remain top, but the gap will be down to two points if Manchester City pick up three points at Sunderland on Thursday evening. The top two are involved in two of the weekend’s more eye-catching games, as the Gunners travel to Bournemouth and City host a Chelsea side reeling following the departure of Enzo Maresca. Elsewhere, we have a cracking match-up at Elland Road as the Uniteds of Leeds and Manchester lock horns.
Here we pick out our best bets from the three standout televised games.
Bournemouth vs Arsenal: Saturday 5:30 pm
Following a 4-1 battering of Aston Villa, league leaders Arsenal travel to the south coast for their first fixture of the new year. Lying in wait are a Bournemouth side who have slumped to fifteenth in the table following a ten-match winless run.
The identical H/A BTTS and H/A over 2.5 goals percentage suggest we could be in for a low-scoring encounter here. In what may be a tight game, Arsenal are the more likely side to find the breakthrough. Following a positive start, Bournemouth have struggled in attack in recent home games – their past three fixtures against Everton, Chelsea, and Burnley yielding just one goal.
Arsenal were excellent going forward against Villa but have yet to cut loose on their travels – scoring more than once in only three of their nine away fixtures. Arsenal to win and under 2.5 goals is tempting at around 10/3, but we prefer to back the Gunners to ride the league’s best defence to another professional win on the road.
- Correct Score Prediction - Bournemouth 0 – 2 Arsenal @ 15/2 with bet365
- Recommended Bet - Arsenal to win to nil @ 17/10 with BetVictor
Leeds United vs Manchester United: Sunday 12:30 pm
Following last season’s calamitous campaign, things are finally looking up at Old Trafford. A midweek home draw with winless Wolves was a blip, but the Red Devils still find themselves only just outside the Champions League positions at the halfway stage. Next up for Rubem Amorim’s men is the short trip to Elland Road to face a Leeds outfit who are on course to survive.
Leeds head into this one on their best run of the season as they bid to extend their unbeaten run in the league to seven games. Daniel Farke’s men were excellent in their last home game when thrashing Crystal Palace 4-1 and will look to keep the good times rolling in what is sure to be a fiery atmosphere.
Manchester United played well in defeat in their most recent away game at Villa but have been below those levels since. Slightly fortunate to beat Newcastle 1-0, they didn’t get away with a subpar display in that 1-1 draw with Wolves. With Fernandes out and Mbeumo away at the African Cup of Nations, United are missing two of their key attacking outlets, and it shows.
The bookmakers make this a coin toss, but we favour a Leeds side at the top of their game and home advantage on their side. At odds against, we will keep this simple and back the hosts to pick up all three points.
- Correct Score Prediction - Leeds United 2 – 1 Manchester United @ 10/1 with bet365
- Recommended Bet - Leeds United to win @ 8/5 with BetVictor
Manchester City vs Chelsea: Sunday 5:30 pm
Second plays fifth in the last of the weekend games as Chelsea head north to take on Pep Guardiola and Manchester City. Who will be in the Chelsea dugout remains to be seen following the New Year's Day departure of Enzo Maresca. Liam Rosenior leads the race to replace the Italian, but events would have to move very quickly if he is to be in the dugout on Sunday.
Regardless of the managerial situation, Chelsea look up against it, facing a Manchester City outfit in a rich vein of form. With Haaland almost unstoppable and Rayan Cherki adapting to the league in double quick time, City are the most potent attacking force in the country. Critics point to defensive weaknesses, but only Arsenal have conceded fewer goals this season. Improving by the week, City look set to make a bold bid to reclaim the title.
Chelsea possess one of the deepest and most talented squads in the league. However, the Blues are yet to turn that individual class into a cohesive unit on a consistent basis. Conceding three at Leeds, they were lucky to be only two down at the break to Newcastle in their most recent away game. Following a disrupted preparation, they may struggle to contain a City side who have scored three times in each of their last five Premier League home games.
- Correct Score Prediction - Manchester City 3 – 1 Chelsea @ 12/1 with bet365
- Recommended Bet - Handicap Betting: Manchester City -1 @ 6/4 with BetVictor
A £1 Patent containing our three recommended bets returns £45.62 with BetVictor if all three win.
A £1 Patent containing our three correct score predictions returns £1,595 with bet365 if all three are correct.
Lee Sharpe: Arsenal will make changes if Arteta does not deliver the league this season
Lee Sharpe: Manchester United are capable of top-four finish
Jermaine Pennant: Liverpool have turned a corner and can still challenge for silverware
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