Premier League Tipsheet: Palmer to find the scoresheet and Nunez to be shown a card

It was the game week before Christmas in the Premier League and here at SBK we have five punts wrapped up in a Tipsheet. The majority of top flight clubs have three fixtures before the turn of the year so strap yourselves in for a hectic festive feast of football. 

Aston Villa vs Sheffield United 

Kick off: 20:00 Friday, Sky Sports

Villa Park is a fortress. Aston Villa have won 15 Premier League games in a row on their own patch and have not dropped a point this term. Next on the roster is a side which has only picked up a solitary point on their travels this campaign, Sheffield United. 

The point game at the Amex for the Blades in a game that was massively swung in their favour by a red card. Despite an uptick in performances under their new old boss Chris Wilder, the S2 outfit go off at bigger odds then what they recently were at Stamford Bridge. Given the current states of both Villa and Chelsea though, this is not too much of a surprise. 

Aston Villa to win to nil seems the most logical way in. 

Prediction: Aston Villa to win to nil @ 2.16

Tottenham vs Everton

Kick off: 15:00 Saturday

Goals should be plentiful as Tottenham host Everton on Saturday afternoon.

Ange Postecoglou will have to make do without one half of his dynamic centre back partnership. Christian Romero is back from suspension but Spurs will remain without the pacey Micky van de Ven. 

With the Dutchman in defence, Spurs kept clean sheets in a third of the 11 league fixtures, without him it is one in six. Whilst they haven’t been struggling at the other end, defensively, they are vulnerable without the former Wolfsburg man. 

Prediction: Over 2.5 goals & BTTS in Spurs vs Everton @ 1.70

Luton vs Newcastle 

Kick off: 15:00 Saturday

Despite spirited performances, Luton are still waiting for their first Premier League clean sheet of the campaign, in fact, the Hatters haven’t kept the opposition at bay in any of their 18 games. 

This may not come as a surprise to some given Rob Edwards sides ante-post relegation status. What will raise a few eyebrows is Luton’s exploits at the other end of the field. 

They have proved they can bloody the nose of most top flight clubs, especially at Kenilworth Road. Domestically they have scored in 75% of their games and all bar one of those at the Kenny. The only side to keep them out was the 10-men of Tottenham. 

Prediction: BTTS in Luton vs Newcastle @ 1.84

Liverpool vs Arsenal

Kick off: 17:30 Saturday, Sky Sports

Rumour has it some players deliberately get a card in the game week before Christmas so they get the festive period off. Obviously, said players would have to be on four cards going into the fixture but this whole theory is just conjecture, wink wink. 

Darwin Nunez does fit the bill though. He has six cards in total, four have come domestically, three of which have come in the last five games. 

Interestingly, 75% of those league bookings have come against top seven sides and only three of his seven cards for club and country have actually come for fouls. 

His poor disciplinary repetition also includes time wasting and arguments. In a top of the table clash, who knows what he may get up to. 

Prediction: Darwin Nunez to be shown a card @ 2.72

Wolves vs Chelsea

Kick off: 13:00 Sunday, Sky Sports

There were plenty of sceptics when Chelsea snapped up Cole Palmer from Manchester City for £45m. A player with bags of potential but with very little first team experience, a move to the capitol for the Wythenshawe lad seemed risky. 

Palmer has silenced any critics though in double quick time. Six goals and three assists, the youngster has grappled penalty duty away from Raheem Sterling and declared himself as the Blues creator in chief. 

Although the Molinux has proved to be a tricky place to go for other members of the ‘big six’ this season, Gary O’Niel’s side have only kept one clean sheet on their own patch and that game against Burnley. 

Prediction: Cole Palmer to score anytime @ 3.75

Recommended Bets 

Back Aston Villa to win to nil @ 2.16
Back Over 2.5 goals & BTTS in Spurs vs Everton @ 1.70
Back BTTS in Luton vs Newcastle @ 1.84
Back Darwin Nunez to be shown a card against Arsenal @ 2.72
Back Cole Palmer to score anytime against Wolves @ 3.75