EPL Matchday 24 Predictions, Picks, Odds
Toby Maxtone-Smith is back for best bets, predictions and picks for EPL Matchday 24 fixtures that begin on Tuesday, February 8 and conclude on Thursday, February 10.
NEWCASTLE VS. EVERTON
- Date: Tuesday, Feb. 8
- Time: 2:45 p.m. ET
- Venue: St. James' Park
- Location: Newcastle, England
Score Prediction: Everton 2, Newcastle 1
Best Bet: Everton ML (8/5)
Frank Lampard made a great start to his tenure as Everton manager with a 4-1 win over Brentford in the FA Cup at the weekend, and he can move the Toffees away from danger with a win at Newcastle. The win over Brentford will have really lifted spirits at Goodison Park. They looked far more purposeful in possession than under Rafael Benitez and were helped by the return of key players in Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Yerry Mina.
Newcastle picked up only their second win of the season last time out over Leeds. It has been 17 days since that game, which could be a bonus for Eddie Howe’s men, but sometimes these long breaks can be detrimental. They are still struggling in front of goal, and in what bookies rate as a 50/50 match, Everton could be too strong for the Magpies.
WEST HAM UNITED VS. WATFORD
- Date: Tuesday, Feb. 8
- Time: 2:45 p.m. ET
- Venue: London Stadium
- Location: London, England
Score Prediction: West Ham 1, Watford 1
Best Bet: Under 2.5 (6/5)
Watford started life under Roy Hodgson in predictable manner, drawing 0-0 against fellow relegation candidates Burnley. The experienced former England manager is a shrewd appointment by the Hornets and looked instantly to have tightened up their porous defense.
They can make life difficult for a West Ham side that only just squeezed past sixth tier Kidderminster Harriers 2-1 in the FA Cup on Saturday. West Ham are a side that thrive out of possession against technical opponents. Watford most definitely will not play that way. The Irons have been good in front of goal this year but, given how Watford are likely to approach this game, odds against on under 2.5 goals looks a really good bet.
NORWICH VS. CRYSTAL PALACE
- Date: Wednesday, Feb. 9
- Time: 2:45 p.m. ET
- Venue: Carrow Road
- Location: Norwich, England
Score Prediction: Crystal Palace 2, Norwich 0
Best Bet: Crystal Palace win to Nil (5/2)
Norwich have improbably moved out of the relegation zone after back-to-back wins over Everton and Watford, so on the face of it they look an attractive price at 5/2 to beat Crystal Palace at Carrow Road. However those clubs were both in disarray and have now sacked the manager that coached them for those defeats.
Norwich still look a very weak side despite those wins, and Crystal Palace demolished them 3-0 in the reverse fixture under six weeks ago. Norwich have hugely outperformed their expected goals in recent games and Palace are a much stronger side. At 5/2 they can win to nil.
ASTON VILLA VS. LEEDS
- Date: Wednesday, Feb. 9
- Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Villa Park
- Location: Birmingham, England
Score Prediction: Aston Villa 2, Leeds 0
Best Bet: Aston Villa ML (4/5)
Aston Villa have taken a very decent 16 points from Steven Gerrard’s first ten league games, which have included fixtures against Man Utd, Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea. They are, at present, a much stronger team than Leeds United and make a lot of appeal at odds of 4/5 to win this game.
Leeds have pulled slightly clear of the relegation zone in recent weeks, and the two week break will certainly have done them a lot of good during an injury-ravaged season. But Villa’s numbers under Gerrard have been excellent and their record against teams around and below them is good. They look good value to get the points here.
LIVERPOOL VS. LEICESTER
- Date: Thursday, Feb. 10
- Time: 2:45 p.m. ET
- Venue: Anfield
- Location: Liverpool, England
Score Prediction: Liverpool 3, Leicester 1
Best Bet: Liverpool ML & BTS - Yes (11/8)
Leicester’s disappointing season hit a new low as they were embarrassed 4-1 by local rivals Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup. It was another dismal defensive performance from the Foxes and they are as big as 9/1 to win at Anfield on Thursday night. The Reds are still likely to be without Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah, however, after both contested the AFCON final on Sunday night.
But even in their absence goals have not been hard to come by for Liverpool. They scored three at Crystal Palace in their last league game, and put three past Brentford and Cardiff in their last two home games. Leicester always carry a threat, however. Only five teams have scored more goals than them in the league, and they can hit the net in what is likely to be a home win.
WOLVES VS. ARSENAL
- Date: Thursday, Feb. 10
- Time: 2:45 p.m. ET
- Venue: Molineux Stadium
- Location: Wolverhampton, England
Score Prediction: Wolves 1, Arsenal 0
Best Bet: Wolves DNB (6/4)
Wolves play Arsenal in an intriguing-looking match that could have a lot of significance for the European places this season. Arsenal’s form since September has generally been good, although they had a really poor January and definitely look too short for this game.
There are only two points and five GD separating these sides, who have finished in more or less similar positions over the last three years, so it is surprising to see Wolves as big as 5/2 to win the game. A draw is very possible, of course. There have only been 35 goals in Wolves’s 21 league games all season. But given their general long-term records the prices seem far too skewed towards Arsenal.
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