Premier League Boxing Day Treble

The festive season is the gift that keeps on giving for sports fans, with Boxing Day, in particular, seeing racing and football devotees booking the sofa for the day. As ever we have a full Premier League fixture list in the aftermath of the seasonal celebrations, with eight of those games taking place on Boxing Day. Here we pick out our three best bets from those games in an effort to keep the party going with a post-Christmas treble.

Everton vs Wolves

The time is now for Frank Lampard if he wants to remain in the Everton hot seat. The Toffees start favourites as rock-bottom Wolverhampton Wanderers come calling to Goodison Park. However, as much as they need to win, we simply can’t trust a side that has failed to score in three of their seven home fixtures and netted more than once in only one of those games. Despite the extended break, there is no real reason to believe that anything will change for the better.

Wolves’ fans however do have a logical reason to expect an upturn in fortunes, with the excellent Julen Lopetegui now in post. To land a man who has previously managed Real Madrid and the Spanish national side was some coup for the Molineux hierarchy. Having been granted the extended international break to mould the squad to his successful style of play, we are expecting a different Wolves side in the second half of the campaign. At 11/4, the visitors simply look too big here.

• Betting Tip - Wolves to win at 11/4

Southampton vs Brighton & Hove Albion

Whilst Julen Lopetegui looks a definite upgrade at Wolves, we aren’t so convinced that Southampton have taken a step forward in replacing Ralph Hasenhüttl with Nathan Jones. Sitting second bottom of the table, Jones is going to need the new manager effect to kick in quickly if he is to galvanise a squad badly short on experience. A loss at Liverpool in his first game in charge hardly came as a surprise, but fans will be hoping he can at least get something from this home clash with Brighton.

However, that won’t be easy facing a side sitting pretty up in seventh. Siding with Brighton to win is tempting, but Southampton have shown definite glimpses in attack of late and may find some success against the Seagulls, who have conceded two or more in five of their seven fixtures on the road. With the hosts unlikely to keep things tight at the other end, we like over 2.5 goals in this one.

• Betting Tip - Over 2.5 goals at 10/11

Southampton vs Brighton & Hove Albion

London derby action rounds off the Boxing Day entertainment, as David Moyes takes his West Ham outfit to the Emirates to face league leaders Arsenal. A perfect seven from seven at home, and scoring two or more in all seven of those games, Arsenal are unsurprisingly clear favourites. However, if there is a time to take them on, this may well be it.

Given how well the Gunners were going before the break, fans of the North London club could likely have done without the World Cup interruption, and worse was to follow, with the serious injury to Gabriel Jesus – one of the key reasons for their improvement this year. Looking a little closer at that home form, Arsenal have kept a clean sheet in only one of those games, with three wins coming by a single-goal margin.

West Ham meanwhile look to be in a false position down in 16th, with their underlying numbers being more befitting of a top-half side. What stands out here is that the Hammers have conceded more than once in only one of their seven games on the road. If able to repeat the trick facing an Arsenal side shorn of the focal point of their attack, they may have enough to avoid defeat. The 8/5 on West Ham in the double chance market looks decent value.

• Betting Tip - Draw/Away in Double Chance market at 8/5

A £10 treble on the above three selections returns £158.84 with William Hill.