Premier League: Match Day 20 Treble

This weekend sees the first Premier League fixtures of the new year as the 2024/25 campaign moves into its second half. Liverpool clear at the top, City struggling in sixth, and Nottingham Forest flying in third…the English top flight hasn’t been entirely easy to predict.

With all 20 sides in action over the weekend, we pick out our best betting options in the final three televised games, including the huge Liverpool vs Manchester United clash at Anfield.

Fulham vs Ipswich Town: Sunday 2:00 pm

Our first port of call takes us to Craven Cottage for a relatively gentle Super Sunday first course. Currently sitting eighth and only three points off the European positions, Fulham have arguably exceeded expectations across their first 19 games. For Ipswich, the season has gone as many predicted, with the Tractor Boys in the relegation zone at the halfway mark. That said, Kieran McKenna’s men are only a point adrift of safety and will boost their survival chances if they pick up three points from this trip to the capital.

Fulham arrive on a solid run of form, having avoided defeat in their past seven Premier League fixtures – a sequence including a win at Stamford Bridge and a draw at Anfield. However, they have drawn five of those games, including each of their last three at home. A point against the Gunners was a commendable effort, but the home fans may have expected more from clashes with Southampton and Bournemouth. Both teams have scored in nine of Fulham’s 10 previous home games.

Having won only one of their first 15 in the league, Ipswich have hit a purple patch with two victories in their last four, including a shock 2-0 home verdict over Chelsea. That effort should inspire confidence, whilst they have performed well on their two most recent trips to London – losing narrowly at Arsenal and beating Spurs in their own backyard. Both teams have scored in six of Ipswich’s nine away games.

A look at the xG figures reveals that Fulham are averaging an xG of 1.59 xG for and 1.17 against at home. Ipswich’s respective numbers on the roads are 1.13 for and 2.57 against.

The stats suggest there will be goals in this one, with those worrying defensive numbers for the visitors likely to tilt the game in favour of Marco Silva’s men.

• Recommended Bet - Fulham to Win and Both Teams to Score @ 9/4 with bet365

Liverpool vs Manchester United: Sunday 4:30 pm

In many seasons, the clash between the red halves of Liverpool and Manchester United would see a battle between two sides vying for the title, or at least the European positions. Not so in 2024/25.

Whilst Liverpool continues to sweep all before them with an exhilarating brand of football, Manchester United are somehow managing to perform below the already low expectations. Talk of a relegation battle is taking things a bit far, but any hope that Ruben Amorim could turn things around in double quick time is evaporating with each passing disaster.

Liverpool won the reverse fixture when battering United 3-0 at Old Trafford. However, the Red Devils may take heart from the game here last season, which ended in a goalless draw.

Any thoughts that Arne Slot may take a while to acclimatise have been dismissed in spectacular style. The Reds have won 23 of 27 in all competitions this season, losing only once, and arrive on the back of a 5-0 hammering of West Ham at the London Stadium. They have won seven of nine at home in the league, scoring two or more in eight of nine, keeping four clean sheets, and conceding more than once only once.

As for United, the permanently beleaguered outfit are bidding to end a four-game losing streak, with the latest flop seeing them blown off the pitch by a 30-minute Newcastle United whirlwind at Old Trafford – Amorim’s decision to play veterans Casemiro and Christian Eriksen looked a bad idea in advance, and even worse when the game kicked off. Star summer signing Joshua Zirkzee fled down the tunnel in tears, the fans stared into space…it’s all gone horribly/wonderfully wrong.

On the plus side, if there is ever a game to motivate United, it is surely this clash with their fierce rivals. After all, it was only five games ago that United picked up all three points at the Etihad. Never say never, but we don’t see a similar scenario unfolding here.

Whereas City were experiencing a severe dip in form at the time of that defeat, Liverpool are a side firmly on the up, brimming with confidence, and fully motivated to humiliate the enemy. We don’t see this one being close.

• Recommended Bet - Handicap Betting: Liverpool -2 @ 15/8 with bet365

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Nottingham Forest: Monday 8:00 pm

Friday Night Football and Monday Night Football see the live action extend to four days. Bringing up the rear is this clash from Molineux, as Nuno Espirito Santo returns to his old stamping ground. Many pundits had these two sides finishing in a similar position at the start of the season, but such predictions look set to be wide of the mark. To see Wolves sitting 17th and only a point above the relegation zone isn’t too surprising, but no one saw Forest as high as third at the halfway point.

The past five meetings between these sides have ended all square, including 1-1 draws in the clash at the City Ground earlier in the season and the game here last year.

A run of four league defeats, culminating in a home loss to Ipswich, spelt the end for Gary O’Neill. However, Wolves has shown improvement since the appointment of Vitor Pereira – beating Leicester 3-0 on the road, Manchester United 2-0 at Molineux, and battling to a point at Spurs. Those defensive efforts are encouraging for a side who have conceded two or more in seven of nine home games.

Forest have been excellent on their travels, winning six of ten, with the only defeats coming at Arsenal and Manchester City. In away games at the bottom six clubs, their record stands at played 3, won 3, scored 6, conceded 2.

At full strength, we would fancy Wolves to take something from this game. However, the absence of 10-goal hitman Matheus Cunha to suspension is a significant blow. The hosts can continue their progress at the back, but we still see efficient Forest doing enough.

• Recommended Bet - Nottingham Forest to win and Under 2.5 goals @ 15/4 with bet365

A £10 bet on the above treble returns £443.83 with bet365.