Even though Sunday’s north London derby between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal has been postponed, there are still two games on the agenda in the Premier League.
Both matches kick off at 14:00, with West Ham looking to put the pressure on the likes of second-placed Chelsea and third-placed Liverpool as they face Leeds United for the second weekend in a row.
Liverpool themselves are in action, with Jurgen Klopp’s troops hoping to pick up all three points at Anfield against Brentford.
Irons Firing on All Cylinders at the Right Time
West Ham enjoyed a solid first half of the season, with David Moyes’ men competing for a top-four spot, while they also progressed into the knockout stages of the Europa League.
Everything looked rosy until the start of December, when Moyes’ troops lost their way, with the Hammers going five matches without a victory – a run which included a 2-1 defeat to Tottenham in the EFL Cup.
That run of poor results allowed the likes of Arsenal and Spurs to close the gap, but West Ham seem to have found their groove around the turn of the year.
Premier League victories over Watford, Crystal Palace and Norwich City have given them a two-point cushion over fifth-placed Arsenal, while they reached the fourth round of the FA Cup by beating Sunday’s opponents.
Last weekend’s 2-0 success at the London Stadium was West Ham’s fourth in a row against the Whites, and injuries to Marcelo Bielsa’s squad continue to derail their progress.
A home win at 10/17 looks a solid bet, while Jarrod Bowen is in red-hot form of late and should be considered in the anytime goalscorer market at 5/2.
Reds to Battle on Without Missing Trio
Liverpool’s title chances were always going to be determined by this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, with strike duo Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane key to their chances of silverware.
Thankfully for Liverpool, Egypt international Salah has been in the form of his life before the tournament, but the club has to prove they can survive without them for the next few weeks.
Midfielder Naby Keita is also away on international duty, and Liverpool showed signs of vulnerability on Thursday. Without their usual spark in the final third, Liverpool were held to a 0-0 draw by 10-man Arsenal in the semi-final of the EFL Cup.
Brentford are likely to pose less of a threat than the Gunners, but they have won two of their previous three in all competitions.
When the sides first met in September, Brentford recorded a famous 3-3 draw against Jurgen Klopp’s side and a home win with both teams to score is priced at 33/20.
Diogo Jota’s form at home is also something that punters should be aware of, with the former Wolves man scoring four goals in his last four home games in the Premier League.
The Portugal international is 21/20 to score at anytime, while he can be backed at 23/4 to score two or more on Sunday afternoon.
*All odds correct at time of writing
