This Boxing Day promises to bring exciting football action to the Premier League, with multiple key matches set to keep fans on the edge of their seats. All eyes will be on the City Ground, where Nottingham Forest is set to face Tottenham Hotspur, and at the Etihad Stadium, as Manchester City takes on Everton. Betfred Insights has rounded up some insights and predictions for these matches.
Nottingham Forest's recent form has been impressive, winning four of their last five matches. This success positions them well against Tottenham, who are struggling to find form after suffering a heavy 6-3 defeat to Liverpool. Under pressure, Spurs head coach Ange Postecoglou is searching for answers as his team lingers near the bottom half of the table.
For the Nottingham Forest vs. Tottenham Hotspur match, current odds place Forest as slight favorites at 13/10, with Spurs at 7/4 and the draw sitting at 13/5. Given Tottenham's leaky defense, heading to the City Ground may not be ideal for the visitors.
“While it’s easy to focus on Spurs’ latest defeat, Nottingham Forest’s form heading is worth noting,” Betfred Insights observed. “They have seven victories from their previous 10 top-flight fixtures and have picked maximum points in four of their last five outings at home.”
Tottenham is suffering from injuries, missing key defenders Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero. Their defense has struggled, and Forest's potent attacking line is well-positioned to exploit these weaknesses. A standout bet for the match is Nottingham Forest to win at 13/10, capitalizing on Spurs' vulnerability.
Another intriguing player to bet on is defender Nikola Milenkovic, who has impressed since joining Forest. He’s scored twice from set pieces this season, making him a good choice at 9/1 to score anytime against Tottenham. “Milenkovic has managed a shot in each of his last nine Premier League matches, recording an effort on target in his last three,” the report stated.
The Boxing Day action kicks off with Manchester City vs Everton at the Etihad, where the struggling Citizens are seeking to turn their season around. City, who have won only once in their last 12 matches, face off against Everton, who have not looked threatening offensively.
The odds favor City heavily, with bets on Manchester City -1 against Everton expected to pay off, especially considering Everton’s poor form. “There’s little festive joy for City fans, but the Toffees should help cheer them up,” the report quipped. City has dominated their recent encounters against Everton, and there is little expectation for the Toffees to turn the tide.
Other matches on the Boxing Day slate include Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace, where Bournemouth is predicted to continue their good run, having registered some impressive wins lately. The odds suggest Bournemouth holds the upper hand, particularly at home, after their recent victory at Old Trafford.
Then there’s Wolves vs Manchester United, which promises high-scoring action. Betfred advises betting on over 2.5 goals, considering the tendency for both teams to engage in goal-filled matches. “It is now 13 of 14 Premier League games involving Wolves have gone over 2.5 goals,” the preview indicated, signaling confidence for this bet type.
Finally, the evening game features Liverpool taking on Leicester at Anfield. Liverpool is riding high after their recent thrashing of Tottenham and sits at the top of the league table on Christmas Day. Though historically, being on top at this time often correlates with winning the league, Arne Slot's squad will take nothing for granted.
“Trent Alexander-Arnold already has two Premier League goals against Leicester, including one on Boxing Day during their title-winning season,” the article reminds. Given his form and history against Leicester, placing a wager on Alexander-Arnold to score anytime could yield fruitful returns.
This Boxing Day, punters have plenty to ponder as they ready their betting slips for these thrilling matchups. With high stakes, top form, and exciting encounters, the day promises to deliver moments of football drama.
