EPL Soccer Picks, Predictions, Best Bets: Manchester City chasing Arsenal at the top of the table
Clubs prepare for another week of hectic Premier League football after the semifinal round of the EFL Cup concluded with Arsenal and Manchester City progressing to the final.
Matchday 25 features some big-time matchups, with Liverpool looking to desperately down the menaces at Manchester City, while United vies for their first top-four finish in the league since the 2022/23 season against a struggling Tottenham this weekend. Leeds’ Dominic Calvert-Lewin looks to reach double-digit goals this season, and he could be a crucial component for a victory over Nottingham Forest this Friday.
Get psyched for another weekend of EPL action, starting Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. ET with Leeds United opening matchweek 25 against Nottingham Forest at home.
EPL Liverpool vs. Manchester City best bet: Draw (+270)
Liverpool have been historically dominant over City with 92 wins to City’s 53. However, their last meeting earlier this season on November 9 concluded in a total 3-0 blowout victory for the Sky Blues, as the side dished out 18 shots – seven on target.
Man City’s last five games have been shockingly uncharacteristic with their current personnel, although a 2-0 win over Galatasaray on January 28 allowed the side to progress directly to the Champions League Round of 16. They are frantically chasing Arsenal for first place in the EPL, but have dropped five points in their last three matches.
Upon returning to the EPL last Sunday, City seemingly had Spurs on lock in the first half with a 2-0 lead, but momentum shifted to allow Tottenham to come back with a 2-2 draw. City secured a comfortable 3-1 win over Newcastle in their EFL Cup semifinal second leg on Wednesday, and come to Anfield for this match-up as +175 underdogs, with Erling Haaland (+110) and Antoine Semenyo (+270) priced as the team’s most likely anytime goalscorers.
Liverpool have been strong in the Champions League, sliding through to the Round of 16 with a third-place finish after crushing Qarabag FK 6-0, led by an Alexis Mac Allister brace. Spirits are high for the Reds, who returned to the Premier League (sixth place) to showcase a 4-1 victory over Newcastle and are now +135 home favourites against City. Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz (+500 to score, three goals in the last five games) and Hugo Ekitike (+140 to score, 10 goals this season) have turned up the pace with their goalscoring. However, even with higher self-confidence in this rematch, City will not go down easily and are bound to score (49 goals this season), which, if Liverpool can answer at Anfield, will likely cause the game to end in a classic draw (+270).
EPL Manchester United vs. Tottenham best bet: Man Utd ML (-150)
Tottenham slips down to 14th place after continuously drawing games and putting out subpar performances at home. They’ve only won one of their last nine EPL games, which came back in December, but surprisingly qualified for the Champions League Round of 16 after finishing in fourth. Still, they haven’t won a Premier League match since December 28, they haven’t scored more than two goals in a game since December 9, and they have allowed two goals per game in their last five PL matches. It makes sense that they head to Old Trafford this weekend as +350 underdogs. With United’s current run, it’s not looking great for Spurs, who will need to rely on Dominic Solanke (+275), the man who brought it level with City on Sunday with a brace, to lead the way in scoring once again.
United really turned the tables with back-to-back wins over City (2-0) and Arsenal (3-2) on the 17th and 25th of January. After kicking off a now three-game winning streak with their most recent 3-2 win over Fulham on Sunday, United are finally in fourth place with 41 points. Bryan Mbeumo (+140), Matheus Cunha (+205), and Benjamin Sesko have all been vital factors to the Red Devils’ recent success, netting two goals each in their last three games. They’ve found their mojo and haven’t lost an EPL home game since November 24, so with this one at Old Trafford, the Devils are likely to secure their 12th win of the season at -150 odds.
EPL best player prop bet: Dominic Calvert-Lewin Anytime Goalscorer (+135) in Leeds United vs. Nottingham Forest
The six-foot-two-inch English striker is one of the Premier League’s top scorers this season with nine goals under his belt and one goal in his last four games. This one’s a must-win for Leeds (16th place), who are in a battle with Nottingham Forest to stay above the relegation line. Expect Calvert-Lewin to be the hero of the day with at least one goal at +135 odds to put Leeds on the right foot with his 10th of the season.
