The Premier League fixtures are coming thick and fast right now but not thick enough or fast enough to stop Aston Villa, Mohammed Kudus or Bournemouth. The trio comprise our selections to get you off to a festive flyer in the last round of top-flight fixtures before Christmas.
Premier League pre-Christmas predictions
Aston Villa to win to nil @ 1/1
Mohamed Kudus to score vs Man Utd @ 13/5
Bournemouth to beat Nottingham Forest @ 29/20
Bet on the latest Premier League odds at Betzone
Villa can blank Blades after shutting out City and Arsenal
Aston Villa are 1/5 favourites to record a club-record extending 16th straight home win against rock-bottom Sheffield United. Those looking to side with the Villans at more attractive odds are advised to trust in the hosts’ defence rather than their attacking flair.
Chris Wilder has tightened up United defensively since replacing Paul Heckingbottom in the wake of the Blades’ 5-0 hammering away to Burnley but getting them firing in attack will be tougher.
The Bramall Lane club are the lowest scorers in the Premier League, notching just 12 goals in 17 games and they’ve bagged just once in three outings since Wilder returned for his second managerial stint at Bramall Lane.
Villa have recorded shut out wins over Manchester City and Arsenal in their last two home games and should have every confidence of doing the same to the Blades at odds of even money.
Tip: Aston Villa to win to nil @ 1/1
Irons’ Ghanaian livewire bound to bamboozle United defence
West Ham are 29/20 to beat Manchester United at the London Stadium and they’re certainly in the form to do it having collected five wins and a draw from their last six home games in all competitions.
However, while United have failed to score in their last three games in all competitions they’ve also conceded the joint-fewest away goals in the Premier League this season.
As a result David Moyes men may well need something special to convert their expected superiority into points and former Ajax wizard Mohammed Kudus is just the man for the job.
The 23-year-old is 13/5 to bag anytime and has scored four times in his last three West Ham home games.
Tip: Mohamed Kudus to score vs Man Utd @ 13/5
Nicking away win far from beyond bouncing Bournemouth
In September it would have raised a few eyebrows if Bournemouth had been priced up as 29/20 favourites to beat Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. Come the season of good will to all men however, it makes perfect sense and they’re fancied to make good on the bookies’ assessment.
Andoni Iraola’s men have won four and drawn one of their last five league outings in a run that includes three away wins by a margin of two goals or more. It would’ve been a perfect five from five but for a 90th minute Aston Villa equaliser at the Vitality Stadium.
Forest are a side in turmoil having sacked boss Steve Cooper following a run of five losses and one draw in their last six games. Even if they are to confirm a new manager before the Cherries come to town it’s unlikely they will have had enough time to galvanise their struggling squad.
