Football Betting Tips

Bolton have won four of five matches since a dismal 5-0 loss at Stockport and their revival can continue with a victory over Wigan at the Toughsheet Community Stadium. Confidence is growing for the Trotters and that could be bad news for the Latics, who have lost three on the bounce.

Hull began life under Ruben Selles with a strong performance in a 1-1 draw at home to Watford and they can follow by avoiding defeat against Coventry at the CBS Arena. The Tigers’ sudden improvement is a warning to Coventry, who have won just one of their last seven fixtures.

Preston have avoided defeat in 11 of their last 13 league games, including seven of their last eight at Deepdale. Meanwhile, Leeds have failed to win five of their last six Championship away games.

Harrogate have had a week to ponder last Saturday’s 3-0 loss at home to AFC Wimbledon and they can come up with a better performance and result against fellow strugglers Tranmere at Prenton Park. Tranmere have gone five games without a victory and look well worth opposing.

Rasmus Hojlund scored a brace from the bench at Viktoria Plzen on Thursday but should be in line to start the Manchester derby on Sunday.

Ruben Amorim preferred the Dane to Joshua Zirkzee against Arsenal due to his ability to run in behind, and his approach is likely to be similar against the possession-oriented Citizens.

The hosts are in dreadful form, though, winning just one of their last ten competitive games and conceding 23 goals in that period. Hojlund has scored five and assisted one in his last four appearances for the Red Devils, averaging a goal contribution every 59 minutes, so he looks a good price to make in impact at the Etihad.

When Tottenham take on Liverpool it usually means only one thing, and that’s goals. There have been 32 strikes in the last eight matches between the attack-minded sides and that latest meeting between the teams ended in a 4-2 Liverpool victory.

It’s no surprise to see that seven of the last eight contests between Spurs and the Red have busted the 2.5-goal line and there have been matches which have finished 4-3, 4-2, and 3-1.

Liverpool have a whole host of quality players in attack with Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota in the Reds forward line, and while Spurs are a little behind that level, Ange Postecoglou is one of the most forward-thinking managers in the Premier League.

Last year’s finalists, Luke Littler and Luke Humphries, find themselves in the top half of the draw and could be set for a showdown in the semi-final, with the winner of that tie almost certainly a huge favourite for the final.

It could be that the teenage star can go one better than last year and takes adds the final gem to his crown in a glorious year. He has already won the Premier League, the World Series of Darts Finals, and the Grand Slam of Darts.

Littler has a more favourable path to the final stages of the competition and looks a good-value favourite to claim his maiden world title.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have lost six of their first nine clashes against sides with winning records this season. Their Christmas Day clash is another difficult one, as they head to a Dallas Mavericks side that eliminated them from the postseason last term.

Minnesota had a height advantage in that series but trading away Karl-Anthony Towns has evened the playing field there. Since his departure, the Timberwolves have seen their defensive rating side, while they rank 20th in terms of points per game.

Dallas boasts the NBA’s fourth-best offense and a fantastic home record, so take them to beat a Minnesota side that is struggling to get into gear.

Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury rematch on Saturday, December 21 and the undefeated Ukrainian looks set for a repeat victory.

The 37-year-old was awarded a split-decision victory over the Gypsy King in May, and while it was a fierce-contested clash, it was clear that Usyk had done enough to win the fight.

Fury is going to have to find improvement to turn the tables and it’s hard to see where that can come from at this stage of the 36-year-old’s career and it’s worth conserving that the British boxer hasn’t always lived the healthiest lifestyle outside of the ring.

Usyk is a brilliant, unbeaten, intelligent former undisputed cruiserweight champion and now the best heavyweight on the planet can put on another top-level performance.

Blackburn have pushed themselves into the playoffs with a five-match winning sequence and they should be too strong for Luton at Ewood Park. Rovers are winning a lot of tight games and they can find a way of taking three points against the Hatters, who have lost six successive away matches.

Wrexham have got the best home record across the EFL and they can make it even better by defeating Cambridge. The Red Dragons have dropped just two home points all season and they shouldn’t be fearful of Cambridge, who have lost seven of nine on their league travels.

Lille have won only one of their last 13 trips to Marseille, who can edge this clash 2-1. De Zerbi’s side have scored multiple goals in three of their six home games this term and exactly two in three of their last five overall. Marseille have kept only one home clean sheet all season while Lille have scored in five straight away games in all competitions.

At least three goals have been scored in six of Forest’s last seven Premier League games and six of Villa’s seven away league clashes this term. Both teams have in-form strikers and defences that have been prone to blunders so back goals at both ends and a minimum of three in the game.

Arsenal have won five of their last six games, scoring 19 goals along the way. They look set for another comfortable win over a poor Everton side who have conceded three or more in visits to Aston Villa, Tottenham and Manchester United this term.

This is a trickier game than it perhaps looks for Liverpool, who have not covered a -1 handicap in any of their last four home games against Fulham. The Reds have not covered a -1 handicap in three of their last six home Premier League matches, so backing Fulham +2 makes sense. The Cottagers have not been beaten by more than a goal in any of their seven away league games this term.

Newcastle have beaten Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea at St James’ Park this season, as well as holding Liverpool and Manchester City to draws. The Magpies should be able to see off a Leicester side who have just five points from seven Premier League trips, but the Foxes have only failed to score in one league game so far and can strike in defeat.

At least three goals have been scored in three of Ipswich’s last four away games and also in 11 of Wolves’ last 12 in the Premier League. These two clubs have conceded 65 goals between them this season and over 2.5 in this one should be no problem.

At least three goals have been scored in six of Forest’s last seven Premier League games and six of Villa’s seven away league clashes this term. Both teams have in-form strikers and defences that have been prone to blunders so back goals at both ends and a minimum of three in the game.

Kai Havertz returned to the scoresheet in midweek and the German leads the way for the Gunners in terms of Premier League xG. The forward has scored in three of his last five appearances for Arsenal, averaging a goal every 120 minutes in that stretch. He scored the winner when these two met in May and he’s well-placed to trouble a poor Everton side.

Harry Wilson scored in that seven-goal Anfield thriller last season and will relish another chance to impress against his boyhood club. The Welsh winger has scored three goals in his last six Premier League appearances, despite only starting one of them.

Newcastle forward Alexander Isak has six goals in 13 Premier League appearances this season and has scored in back-to-back games ahead of Leicester’s visit, so the Swedish striker looks a strong contender for an anytime goal on Saturday.

Sammie Smodzics has proven capable of getting a goal in Town’s road games, having scored all three of his Premier League goals this season away from Portman Road.

Duran, who is scoring at a rate of a goal every 79 minutes for Villa this season, is currently a better option for Emery than Ollie Watkins and may get his second Premier League start here. It certainly would be harsh to drop the Colombian after he scored the winner against Southampton last weekend and popped up with a world-class effort six minutes after coming on against RB Leipzig.

Doncaster exited the EFL Trophy on Tuesday with a 1-0 loss at home to Port Vale, but they are unbeaten in six league games and look the likelier winners against AFC Wimbledon at Plough Lane. Grant McCann’s side excel on their travels and can topple the Wombles, who are winless in six home games.

Over 2.5 goals have been scored in six of Marseille’s last seven Ligue 1 matches and also three of Lille’s last four league games while three of the last four head-to-head meetings have featured three goals or more.

At least three goals have been scored in five of Celta Vigo’s last seven La Liga matches. Meanwhile, an average of three goals per game have been scored across Sevilla’s last seven league fixtures.

Real Madrid have won three of their last four away La Liga contests with at least three goals in each while Rayo Vallecano have lost their last two home league matches with at least three goals in each.

Real Madrid have won three of their last four away La Liga contests with at least three goals in each while Rayo Vallecano have lost their last two home league matches with at least three goals in each, but Los Blancos only have two clean sheets in their last eight away days.

Birmingham are on a five-game winning run and should have no problems picking up maximum points at home to Bristol Rovers. The Blues should register a victory and a clean sheet against out-of-sorts Rovers, who have suffered back-to-back league losses and are only two points above the drop zone.

James: Blackburn have won their last five matches following their 1-0 victory over Leeds, so back them to stop a Luton side who have lost their last six away games.

Henry: Hibs beat Motherwell 3-0 in their last home game and they can record another big win against a Ross County side who haven’t won their travels all season, scoring just once across their seven games on the road.

Joe: Newcastle are stronger at home than on the road and they should see off a Leicester side who have lost four of their last seven trips. Both teams have scored in all but one of the Foxes’ 15 league games, so expect a high-scoring home win. 

Jamie: Sevilla look better of late and they pushed Atletico Madrid to the wire last weekend. They’ve won four of their last six at home, so take them to see off a Celta side who have lost five of seven away trips.

Simon: Real Madrid have won three of their last four away games in La Liga, with at least three goals scored in each. Rayo have lost 3-1 to Las Palmas and 2-1 to Athletic Bilbao in their last two home league games.

Aaron: Boavista meet Sporting at the right time, with the champions losing each of their last four. The hosts have conceded in five of their last six, but Boavista have kept only one clean sheet on their travels.