FEBRUARY –  The Texans’ suffocating defence has been the key to their eight-game winning run and with the AFC looking the less competitive conference this season after the demise of the Kansas City Chiefs, they have the talent to go a long way. Quarterback CJ Stroud is fully fit again and can look for an elite wide receiver in Nico Collins while former first-round picks Will Anderson Jr. and Derek Stingley Jr. are just two of their many defensive stars.

JULY – Elena Rybakina looks a bet in her bid to repeat her 2022 triumph at the All England Club. The Kazakhstani has had a tough couple of years, due in the main to off-court issues, but she finished last year on a high with victory at the WTA Finals. She’s a superb grass-court player who is as good as Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek when she’s on her game.

JULY – Alex Noren enjoyed a resurgence in his career in 2025, winning twice on the DP World Tour, and 2026 could finally be the year he ends his long wait for a maiden Major. The Swede has an affinity for links golf, evidenced by his victory at the 2016 Scottish Open and his two top-10 Open finishes, he could go all the way and land the Claret Jug in 2026.

DECEMBER – Mercedes may have botched the ground-effect era, but the Silver Arrows have a strong record of responding well to rule changes, and the sweeping regulation shift coming in 2026 should bring the title back into play. Their power unit has already come under, and been cleared, of scrutiny, suggesting it is likely to be among the strongest engines on the grid, and they have the driver lineup to win the consistent points necessary to land the constructor crown.

Melbourne Victory lag two points behind Adelaide United and they have dropped points in two of their last three home games, while Adelaide United are unbeaten in their last four on the road, taking ten points from a possible 12.

Both teams have scored in Telstar’s last five competitive games and they are without a clean sheet in nine games, while NAC Breda have scored in five of their last six matches, conceding in four of them.

Five defeats from their last six games has shunted Clermont towards the relegation zone, and another loss could be handed to them by a Dunkerque side that have excelled on the road this season, winning five of their last seven Ligue 2 trips.

It’s only a matter of time before Wolves’ relegation from the Premier League is confirmed as they sit 17 points adrift of safety with ten games left to play. Their plight could become even more terminal following this visit from Aston Villa but a cagey contest looks likely. Villa are way off the side who won 11 straight matches between the start of November and the end of December, and injuries are taking their toll on a side who have won just one of their last five. They should still have too much for their beleaguered hosts.

Strasbourg’s last eight games have all gone over 2.5 goals and they face a Lens side that have seen 20 goals scored in their last four games, with all of those featuring three or more goals.

Road wins have been hard to come by for Alaves this season but they look capable of taking maximum points at Levante on Friday. The Granotes have been woeful at home with just seven points to show from 12 games, losing seven, and they come into this clash after four successive defeats overall. Alaves have eight points from their last five games and four from their last two away from home, the visitors also won the reverse fixture 2-1 earlier in the season.

Five defeats from their last six games has shunted Clermont towards the relegation zone, and another loss could be handed to them by a Dunkerque side that have excelled on the road this season, winning five of their last seven Ligue 2 trips.

Bristol City fought back from a goal down to win at Blackburn in midweek and can follow that up by beating poor travellers Watford, who they thumped 5-1 in the FA Cup at Ashton Gate last month. The Robins have won four of their last seven at home across all comps, losing just once, while Watford are winless in five on their travels.

Harrogate have boosted their survival hopes with a four-game unbeaten streak, including a home win over promotion-chasing Cambridge United. They face a Cheltenham that have taken just two points from their last five away games.

It’s only a matter of time before Wolves’ relegation from the Premier League is confirmed as they sit 17 points adrift of safety with ten games left to play. Their plight could become even more terminal following this visit from Aston Villa but a cagey contest looks likely. Villa are way off the side who won 11 straight matches between the start of November and the end of December, and injuries are taking their toll on a side who have won just one of their last five. They should still have too much for their beleaguered hosts.

Parma have hit some form and they could be coming up against Cagliari at the right time, as the visitors are winless in three and have failed to score in all of those games. Parma are on a three-game winning streak and after beating Bologna and Milan they look capable of overcoming Cagliari.

Road wins have been hard to come by for Alaves this season but they look capable of taking maximum points at Levante on Friday. The Granotes have been woeful at home with just seven points to show from 12 games, losing seven, and they come into this clash after four successive defeats overall. Alaves have eight points from their last five games and four from their last two away from home, the visitors also won the reverse fixture 2-1 earlier in the season.

Bastia are winless in their last five games and have only taken two points from their last five at home. Annecy are 18 points better off than the relegation-threatened hosts and have taken 14 points from the last 18 available.

Laval are rock bottom of the Ligue 2 table and have taken just one point from their last four home games, while Nancy have won one and drawn one of their last three league away games.

Augsburg are unbeaten in seven home games and have won four of those. They can get the better of a Cologne side that have lost six times away from home this term but, with both teams to score landing in the last six meetings between these sides, expect the visitors to grab a consolation.

Strasbourg have won five of their last six home games and ended Lyon’s 13-game winning run last weekend. Meanwhile, Lens threw away a two-goal lead in losing to Monaco last Saturday. The hosts have conceded in their last seven, though, while Lens have scored 14 times in their last four fixtures.

Both teams have scored in Telstar’s last five competitive games and they are without a clean sheet in nine games, while NAC Breda have scored in five of their last six matches, conceding in four of them.

Augsburg are unbeaten in seven home games and have won four of those. They can get the better of a Cologne side that have lost six times away from home this term but, with both teams to score landing in the last six meetings between these sides, expect the visitors to grab a consolation.

Strasbourg have won five of their last six home games and ended Lyon’s 13-game winning run last weekend. Meanwhile, Lens threw away a two-goal lead in losing to Monaco last Saturday. The hosts have conceded in their last seven, though, while Lens have scored 14 times in their last four fixtures.

Six of Wolves’ last eight games have produced fewer than three goals, and they face an Aston Villa side that have found goals hard to come by recently, with under 2.5 goals landing in four of their last five.

Strasbourg’s last eight games have all gone over 2.5 goals and they face a Lens side that have seen 20 goals scored in their last four games, with all of those featuring three or more goals.

Goals have been hard to find for Aston Villa recently, and despite being third in the Premier League, they have managed just 18 goals in 13 matches on the road this term. One shining light recently, though, has been the form of Tammy Abraham who has hit the ground running since his return to the club in January. The 28-year-old bagged 12 times for former club Besiktas this term and has scored in each of his last two outings for Villa. Back him to extend his scoring streak on Friday.

Joaquin Panichelli has scored 13 goals in Ligue 1 2025-26, second only to Mason Greenwood (14). The Strasbourg striker has scored in four of his last seven league appearances.

Goals have been hard to find for Aston Villa recently, and despite being third in the Premier League, they have managed just 18 goals in 13 matches on the road this term. One shining light recently, though, has been the form of Tammy Abraham who has hit the ground running since his return to the club in January. The 28-year-old bagged 12 times for former club Besiktas this term and has scored in each of his last two outings for Villa. Back him to extend his scoring streak on Friday.

Joaquin Panichelli has scored 13 goals in Ligue 1 2025-26, second only to Mason Greenwood (14). The Strasbourg striker has scored in four of his last seven league appearances.

Scott Twine scored what proved to be City’s winner at Blackburn on Tuesday and he can follow that up with another strike against Watford. Twine has nine goals in 33 league games this season, two of which have come in his last five games, and he laid on an assist in the FA Cup meeting between these sides after entering the action in the second half.

Mateo Pellegrino is Parma’s top scorer with seven Serie A strikes to his name. The Argentine forward hit a late winner against Verona in Parma’s last home game and is a candidate for an anytime effort here.

It’s only a matter of time before Wolves’ relegation from the Premier League is confirmed as they sit 17 points adrift of safety with ten games left to play. Their plight could become even more terminal following this visit from Aston Villa but a cagey contest looks likely.

Villa haven’t scored more than one goal in any of their last five fixtures so a 1-0 scoreline looks the best outcome for correct-score punters. That was the result when the Villans edged out Wanderers at Villa Park and six of the last seven meetings have featured no more than two goals. Wolves have failed to score in five of their last eight outings and may not bring much to the party in terms of goalmouth action on Friday.

Three of the City’s last four home wins have been accompanied by clean sheets and Watford have drawn blanks in four of their last six games. The Hornets haven’t conceded more than twice in any of their nine games since being humbled at this ground in the cup, so a 2-0 home win has a chance.

Liverpool look like the best value pick, with the Reds putting their struggles behind them with an eight-game unbeaten run. The Reds have the fourth-best Expected Goals record across the first six Champions League gameweeks, while they’ve recorded back-to-back 1-0 wins over Real Madrid and Inter Milan in Europe. Arne Slot’s side have a kind double-header in January, leaving them primed for a top-eight finish. With the Premier League coasting towards a fifth Champions League berth, the Reds should be in a good position to focus on European success in the spring.

Spain have some incredibly talented individuals, Lamine Yamal being the prime example, but are strong in all areas and don’t have any particular weaknesses. They won Euro 2024 with relative ease and they should be too good for their continental rivals at the World Cup. They also look a level above South American heavyweights Argentina and Brazil, suggesting they will be the team to beat at the World Cup this summer.