Are you ready for the remainder of my Premier League Matchweek 21 picks? The current round of fixtures kicked off last Friday, January 12, but we still have five games to look forward to this weekend.
Following Manchester City’s comeback victory over Newcastle United last weekend, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Tottenham Hotspur will be eager to strengthen their respective title bids. Believe it or not, the top five teams are now separated by just five points.
Below, I share my Premier League Matchweek 21 picks and predictions. You will be pleased to learn that I have scoured the bookies’ odds to find the best EPL bets for this weekend.
What’s Happened Already During Matchweek 21?
Due to the nature of January’s Premier League schedule, half of the Matchweek 21 fixtures took place last weekend. Before we dive into the rest of my Matchweek 21 picks, let’s refamiliarize ourselves with last weekend’s results.
MATCHWEEK 21 PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS SO FAR
- Burnley 1-1 Luton Town
- Chelsea 1-0 Fulham
- Newcastle United 2-3 Manchester City
- Everton 0-0 Aston Villa
- Manchester United 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur
Luton Town snatched a controversial late draw against Burnley after a VAR check in second-half stoppage time. Chelsea edged past Fulham, while a Kevin De Bruyne-inspired Man City came from 2-1 down to beat Newcastle.
Elsewhere, Everton managed to hold high-flying Aston Villa to a goalless draw. The final clash of the weekend saw Tottenham come from behind on two occasions to pick up a point against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Keeping your eyes on the ball is overrated 😅 @emimartinezz1 pic.twitter.com/v3Z3XmM1Dq
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 17, 2024
Matchweek 21 Premier League Odds & Fixtures
The bookies have altered their Matchweek 21 odds since their initial release. With that in mind, we need to assess the updated prices before we lock in our Matchweek 21 picks and predictions.
PREMIER LEAGUE ODDS FOR MATCHWEEK 21
- Arsenal (-334) vs. Crystal Palace (+900)
- Brentford (-110) vs. Nottingham Forest (+280)
- Sheffield United (+230) vs. West Ham United (+115)
- Bournemouth (+320) vs. Liverpool (-143)
- Brighton & Hove Albion (-154) vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers (+350)
As you can see, Arsenal, Brentford, and Brighton are the minus-money favorites this weekend. The Gunners possess the smallest moneyline price, meaning Crystal Palace has the biggest price.
Liverpool and West Ham are both favored to win on the road, although the Reds possess a far smaller price than the Hammers. It is worth remembering that West Ham was knocked out of the FA Cup by second-tier side Bristol City on Tuesday.
🙌 @Wolves are through to the next round of the FA Cup after a five-goal thriller at Molineux! pic.twitter.com/jN4WILt52B
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 16, 2024
Premier League Matchweek 21 Picks & Predictions
The Premier League action resumes this Saturday, January 20, with Arsenal hosting Crystal Palace in the early kick-off. Later that day, Brentford and Nottingham Forest meet for a battle at the bottom end of the table.
On Sunday, January 21, Sheffield United hosts West Ham before Liverpool travels to Bournemouth. The final clash of the round takes place on Monday, January 22, with Brighton entertaining Wolves.
Without further ado, it’s time for me to reveal my Matchweek 21 picks and predictions. I have featured one game from Saturday, Sunday, and Monday to keep you engaged throughout the EPL weekend.
Brentford vs. Nottingham Forest Prediction
Brentford heads into Saturday’s showdown on a five-game losing streak in the Premier League. When you look at the bigger picture, the Bees have lost seven of their last eight league outings, conceding 17 goals in the process (2.1 goals per game).
By contrast, Nottingham Forest enters Matchweek 21 after successive victories over Newcastle and Man Utd. As a result, 15th-placed Forest leads 16th-placed Brentford by a solitary point in the standings.
Having scored seven goals in three EPL encounters under new manager Nuno Espirito Santo (2.3 goals per game), the Tricky Trees look destined to score at least one goal against Brentford’s leaky defense.
Best Bet: Nottingham Forest Over 0.5 Goals (-200)
Bournemouth vs. Liverpool Prediction
Thanks to a 3-2 victory over Queens Park Rangers in the FA Cup during the last time out, the Cherries have won five of their last six games. Bournemouth has suffered a solitary defeat in nine matches across all competitions, notching seven wins for good measure.
Like Bournemouth, Liverpool is enjoying an impressive run of form right now. Jurgen Klopp’s men have not only won each of their last four games but also won nine of their previous 12.
It is also worth noting that the league leaders have lost just one of their 20 EPL encounters this season. Andoni Iraola’s men will back themselves to frustrate Liverpool, but the Reds could be too strong for the Cherries.
Best Bet: SIGN IN TO ACCESS PICK
Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers Prediction
This matchup screams goals. Brighton and Wolves’ managers are known for their attacking approach to the game, but their styles of play invariably leave their teams exposed at the back.
The Seagulls (90%) possess the highest BTTS ratio in the division, having seen both teams score in 18 of their 20 matches this season. As for the Wanderers (75%), only Brighton and Tottenham have a higher BTTS ratio in 2023-24.
On top of that, 14 of Wolves’ 20 games have produced over 2.5 goals, while Brighton has seen at least three goals on 13 occasions this term. All the signs point towards a high-scoring clash on the south coast.
Best Bet: SIGN IN TO ACCESS PICK
It’s Time to Finalize Your Matchweek 21 Picks
It feels like the Premier League standings will shift drastically in the coming weeks. The top five teams are separated by five points, and there are just six points between sixth and 11th.
At the opposite end of the table, potential points deductions for Everton and Nottingham Forest could change the course of the relegation battle. As it stands, Sheff Utd, Burnley, and Luton find themselves in the drop zone, but that could change pretty quickly.
The Premier League always dishes up excitement, so lock in your Matchweek 21 picks and join the fun. I will return with a Matchweek 21 review next week, discussing all the key talking points and betting trends. Stay tuned!
