England’s top tier returns with another ten-game fixture slate for Premier League week 25, starting with a rare Friday Night Football entry from Elland Road, where relegation rivals Leeds and Nottingham Forest collide.
On Saturday, we have a lunchtime booking from Old Trafford to kick things off, where Manchester United will be aiming to win for the fourth time on the spin when they host Tottenham.
Among the five 3pm starts are Arsenal’s encounter with Sunderland and Chelsea’s visit to Wolves, before Newcastle entertain high-flying Brentford in the teatime slot.
Two more matches follow on Super Sunday, though Liverpool’s clash with Manchester City at Anfield is the main attraction in a fixture that could have major ramifications for the top four and title races.
Premier League Week 25 Friday Night Football Game
Leeds vs Nottingham Forest
Leeds suffered their second-heaviest defeat since their return to the Premier League when they were outclassed by title favourites Arsenal (0-4) last weekend. Daniel Farke’s side should be more competitive against Nottingham Forest, however.
The Whites can usually be relied upon to find a route to goal at Elland Road. In fact, their blank against the Gunners was their first on home turf since their 0-0 draw with Newcastle in Yorkshire back in late August.
Before they failed to unlock the Arsenal defence, Leeds had scored in nine successive home assignments in the league, while BTTS landed in eight of those contests. The same market appeals for Friday evening’s clash with Forest.
Sean Dyche’s visitors have found form again and are unbeaten in four matches. The Reds notched twice in each of their last two away games at West Ham (2-1) and Brentford (2-0), so they can trade blows with Leeds in this one.
Prediction: Both Teams to Score – 3/4 (1.75)
Premier League Week 25 Saturday Games
Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur
Man Utd made it three wins from three under interim boss Michael Carrick on Sunday, though they needed a 94th-minute intervention from substitute Benjamin Sesko to see off Fulham in a five-goal thriller.
United had blown a two-goal lead against the Cottagers before that and looked vulnerable in general when Fulham counterattacked at Old Trafford. Their lunchtime date with Spurs in Manchester could be similarly awkward.
Tottenham are unbeaten in their last six meetings with United in the league and in the eight meetings with their opponents in all competitions (W5 D3). Buoyed by last week’s late rally against City (2-2), they can make a nuisance of themselves again.
United won ding-dong battles against Arsenal (3-2) and Fulham (3-2) in their last two fixtures, and Saturday’s tussle has the potential to be just as chaotic.
Three of Tottenham’s last four league matches have featured at least four goals, while nine of their last 11 away tests in the division have vaulted a target of over 2.5 goals. Goal bettors should start their engines here.
Tip: Over 2.5 Goals & Both Teams to Score – 8/11 (1.73)
Arsenal vs Sunderland
Arsenal are as short as 1/5 to claim maximum points at Sunderland’s expense here. The Gunners, who have won three games on the bounce in all competitions since losing to Man Utd, are likely to deliver.
However, there is much better value on offer in the corners markets, where Mikel Arteta’s set-piece specialists appeal to beat a -4.0 corner handicap at 10/11 with with football betting sites in the UK.
Arsenal have been winning an average of 6.15 corners this season going into Premier League week 25 with only Newcastle (6.54) faring better.
Sunderland, meanwhile, don’t tend to earn many at all. Indeed, only Everton (3.25) have been winning fewer corners per game on the road than the Black Cats (3.50).
The Gunners won nine corners to Man Utd’s two in their last league outing at the Emirates Stadium, so they can dominate that metric in similar style against a Sunderland side likely to defend in a low block.
Tip: Arsenal -4.0 corner handicap – 10/11 (1.91)
Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
Bournemouth have won three of their last four Premier League games, taking the scalps of Liverpool and Tottenham along the way, so they should be a tricky prospect for a Villa side wobbling because of injuries to key midfielders.
However, it might make more sense to bank on the hosts’ aggression here with a bet on the Cherries to collect more cards than their opponents at the Vitality Stadium.
Andoni Iraola’s outfit have been one of the division’s hardest hitters this term, with only Tottenham (63) collecting more cards than Bournemouth (59) since August.
The Cherries also rank second in the top flight for average fouls committed per 90 minutes (12.4), which suggests their lofty card tally has been well-earned.
Villa, meanwhile, have been operating at the other end of the spectrum, picking up just 36 cards in total since the start of the campaign, while only four teams have committed fewer fouls than them.
Tip: Bournemouth to get the most cards – 10/11 (1.91)
Burnley vs West Ham
Burnley’s showing against fellow promoted side Sunderland (0-3) on Monday evening was alarmingly limp, leaving the Clarets winless in their last 15 Premier League fixtures (D5 L10).
Scott Parker’s strugglers have faced more shots (407), more shots on target (145) and have a higher xG against (48.4) than any other side in the division, so it makes sense to look to West Ham for something positive on Saturday.
The Hammers relinquished a two-goal lead to lose at London rivals Chelsea last week, though they are an improving force. West Ham were ahead after just seven minutes at Stamford Bridge and they have developed a habit of starting quickly.
Only Wolves (67%) have scored a higher share of their Premier League goals in the first half of games than the Hammers this term (59% – 17/29). They have also notched more goals in the opening 15 minutes than any other side (8).
That’s what we’re backing West Ham to open the scoring at Turf Moor with best online bookmakers at 8/11.
Prediction: West Ham to score first – 8/11 (1.73)
Fulham vs Everton
Fulham gave Manchester United (2-3) a real run for their money at Old Trafford last weekend before succumbing to a late defeat. Their Premier League week 25 clash with Everton on Saturday might not set pulses racing in the same way, though.
David Moyes sets his Toffees team up to frustrate on the road. Many of Everton’s away fixtures have been low on action this season as a result.
They have conceded just 11 goals in 12 away Premier League games this season, with only Arsenal shipping fewer when travelling (9). Although, Everton have notched just 11 times themselves.
Overall, the Toffees’ away fixtures have been averaging just 1.88 goals per 90 minutes, which is the division’s lowest figure, while 100% of their last nine skirmishes on the road have seen under 2.5 goals. Expect similar when this risk-averse Everton side lands at Craven Cottage.
Tip: Under 2.5 goals – 6/10 (1.60)
Wolves vs Chelsea
Wolves’ mini-resurgence seems to be over, with their recent four-game unbeaten run firmly ended by successive 2-0 defeats to Man City and Bournemouth.
Chelsea are odds-on favourites with top betting apps to topple Wanderers at Molineux here, though there is enough value in the match result markets at 8/13 to back the Londoners outright.
The Blues have beaten Wolves twice (4-3 (EFL Cup) and 3-0 (Premier League)) already this season, so they should be able to complete a hat-trick of victories over the league’s bottom club.
Chelsea’s low-energy approach in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final second-leg loss at Arsenal was strange, however. At least fatigue shouldn’t be an issue on Saturday for them.
Liam Rosenior has overseen wins in each of his first three Premier League fixtures at the helm and a fourth should follow here against a dismal Wolves side that has failed to win 23 of their 24 league games since August.
Tip: Chelsea to win – 8/13 (1.62)
Newcastle vs Brentford
Newcastle put lots of running into their failed Carabao Cup semi-final second-leg loss at Man City on Wednesday evening, so the drained Magpies could be vulnerable against Brentford on Saturday evening as a result.
With injuries to key performers hitting them hard, Newcastle have failed to win six of their last seven matches in all competitions and each of their last three in the Premier League.
Skipper Bruno Guimaraes has a change of returning to the fold on Saturday, however, while Anthony Gordon came off with a hamstring injury in midweek and burly Brazilian Joelinton remains sidelined.
Brentford have chance to capitalise on their hosts’ woes. They showed incredible resolve to eke out a 1-0 win at Aston Villa last weekend, despite playing the entire second-half with ten men. That was the Bees’ third victory in four on the road, so they should be dangerous again at St. James’ Park.
Tip: Brentford/draw double chance – 8/11 (1.73)
Premier League Week 25 Super Sunday games
Brighton vs Crystal Palace
The latest edition of the M23 Derby will be contested by out-of-form Brighton and Crystal Palace sides on Sunday in a clash that looks likely to bamboozle bettors.
Albion have failed to win ten of their last 11 league assignments, while the Eagles have gone nine fixtures in the division without a victory, so siding with either here in the match result stakes makes little sense.
It might be a better idea to lean on the bad blood between these antagonists by looking towards the over 4.5 total cards market, which is available at Evens (1/1).
When the teams last met in November, they chipped in for 22 fouls combined, which drew six cards from the referee, while their encounter before that featured seven cards, including three reds, in an afternoon of bad tempers.
Both of those battles took place at Selhurst Park, but the story was similar when Brighton and Palace last met at the Amex Stadium in December 2024. Back then, there were 26 fouls and five cards to count, so this is an established pattern of ill-discipline we can trust.
Tip: Over 4.5 total cards – Evs (2.00)
Liverpool vs Manchester City
The primetime slot on Sunday and feature match of Premier League week 25 is Liverpool’s showpiece showdown with Manchester City in a fixture that harks back to the titanic title tussles of the recent past.
However, the clubs’ levels have dropped this season and, with defensive vulnerabilities on both sides of the dividing line, there is a good chance that those in attendance at Anfield will see goals.
Liverpool’s last six matches in all competitions averaged 4.33 goals and, though they showcased their cutting edge against Newcastle (4-1) last time out, Arne Slot’s Reds didn’t defend with any authority.
They’ve now kept only three clean sheets in their last 13 league fixtures, so punters should expect City to get behind the Liverpool backline on Merseyside.
Pep Guardiola’s side are similarly flaky at the back, however, as evidenced in their 2-2 throwaway at Tottenham last week. City’s defence was all too easily bypassed in the Manchester Derby (0-2) in their last away fixture before that too.
This has the makings of a “basketball-style” end-to-ender, so combine over 2.5 goals with BTTS for better value.
Tip: Over 2.5 goals and Both Teams to Score – 8/11 (1.73)
