Full disclosure, I would be absolutely shocked if Liverpool didn't win this game. The Reds are the best team in the league, by a way according to the data, and Spurs are, well, Spurs.
Joe Townsend made the case that the 3/4 available for the Reds to win looked too short, I'd have to disagree. His case was that Arsenal were 6/4 at Spurs and Chelsea were evens. I'd argue that the Gunners were that big because they were without Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard while Spurs had a full-strength team.
Chelsea's price looked fair given Spurs' injuries, which makes Liverpool's price look right too, as let's not forget, the Reds are the best team in the league and will be playing a Tottenham team with Fraser Forster in the goal and a centre-back pairing of Archie Gray and Radu Dragusin, and a team that played Thursday and looks more tired as the weeks progress.
Unlike Postecoglou, Arne Slot rested his stars in the Carabao Cup in midweek, winning 2-1 at Southampton, so the Reds will be fully rested heading to London. Liverpool have enjoyed travelling this season too, winning five of seven, drawing at only Arsenal and Newcastle.
They have been relentless in attack away from home too, scoring more goals per game on the road (2.28) than at Anfield (1.88), while their xGF per game away from home is second (2.05) only to a Chelsea (2.22) side who recently scored four at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Reds do have the best overall process when travelling though, boasting a near 1.0 goal supremacy on average.
Against this Spurs defence, Liverpool could have a field day, and I did consider them to score 3+ goals but that looked short at 6/5.
We know all about his passing ability, and when watching the ball be dropped into those spaces for the not so mobile Bruno Fernandes to run onto, I immediately thought of Trent pinging a fairly direct ball which would see a forward burst into a one-on-one.
The Englishman has only three league assists to his name this season, but is averaging 0.30 xA and 2.4 chances created per 90, and with Liverpool's goal expectancy so high for this match, I think 10/3 is a little insulting.
It may seem farfetched, but with Spurs refusing to learn their lessons and change, we know they will play in the same manner no matter the gamestate or opponent, so it wouldn't be surprising to see Trent rack up two assists with similar long through balls in the same game.
There are two other reasons I'm happy to take the big swing; firstly, Trent register two assists in the same game away at Newcastle recently, and that was in a 24 minute substitute cameo, and secondly, he takes set-pieces, which is another glaring weakness of this Spurs team. Jonny Evans was the latest man to punish them from a corner in midweek, so there is every chance Trent gets an assist via that route on Sunday too.
Score prediction: Tottenham 2-4 Liverpool ()
Weekend acca
0.5pt Aston Villa, Bournemouth and Liverpool to win at 24/1 (Unibet)
Saturday 12:30
1.5pts Aston Villa to beat Manchester City at 12/5 (Betfred)
Saturday 15:00
1.5pts Nottingham Forest to win (Draw no Bet) vs Brentford at 13/10 (William Hill)
1.5pts Mohammed Kudus 1+ shot on target in West Ham vs Brighton at 49/50 (Unibet)
Saturday 17:30
1.5pts Martin Odegaard to score or assist in Palace vs Arsenal at 6/4 (Betfair, Paddy Power, William Hill)
Another mixed bag last weekend, but it was one that ended in a loss. Chelsea's shot total against Brentford - finishing with 26 - salvaged things somewhat, but it ultimately wasn't enough.
We've one more weekend before Christmas, so as well as the usual shorter-priced plays, I've put together a weekend-long acca as I think some of the underdogs are too big of a price, so let's hope they turn up and land us some big profit to help pay for all the food, drinks and presents.
'Tis also the time of year for those on four yellow cards, with a booking meaning suspension for such players and a well timed week off, missing the Boxing Day fixtures; that features in this weekend's column.
How are we getting ASTON VILLA TO WIN at 12/5? It could be bet of the week territory.
Villa have really struggled this season following a midweek game, losing four and winning just two of nine, likely due to lack of preparation time for a genius tactician to get a game plan in place. If you give Unai Emery a free week to get his side ready, it's fair to say he cooks.
They have played seven league games following a free midweek and have won five, losing just once against Arsenal in a game they created more than enough to deserve at least a point from.
At home they have won only four of eight, but their results really haven't reflected performances, with only Arsenal racking up more expected points (xP) than Emery's men, and only the Gunners having a better process (+1.19 xGD per game).
Brentford have won seven of an unbeaten eight home games in the league this season, but I have to take them on here. After being 19/10 against mid-table Newcastle, they are much shorter against fourth-placed Nottingham Forest who have the third best away record in the division.
That simply looks wrong, so I'll happily back NOTTINGHAM FOREST DRAW NO BET at 13/10.
The Bees only real test at the Gtech this season in my opinion has been Bournemouth - they are the only current top half team Thomas Frank's side have hosted - and the Cherries were unfortunate to lose (xG: BRE 1.48 - 2.61 BOU). Other than that game and poor travellers Newcastle, Brentford have welcomed six of the bottom half.
Newcastle simply aren't to be trusted away from home. In their last 29 away league games, the Magpies have won just eight times, losing 14. Factor in they will be without Joelinton due to suspension, and it's easy to swerve them at the prices.
Likewise with Ipswich though, who, despite winning against Wolves last time out, rank as the second worst team in the league on underlying data. Plus, Kieran McKenna will be missing Liam Delap through suspension.
It's a no bet here, but keep an eye on team news, as whoever is opposing Anthony Gordon - be it Ipswich's left-back if Harvey Barnes starts with Gordon pushed to right wing, or Ipswich's right back if Josh Murphy starts meaning Gordon plays in his usual left-wing spot - will be a good bet for a card.
Score prediction: Ipswich 1-1 Newcastle ()
I think this could be another potential upset on Saturday, with West Ham looking a large price to get the win.
The problem is, I don't trust them, and as odd as it may sound, I'd be even more confident with a David Moyes-led West Ham heading into this game.
Brighton ship an average of 4.7 shots on target per game when travelling, and Kudus is taking 3.4 shots per 90 with 1.3 of those hitting the target.
He looks to be the Hammers' main threat, and I suspect we'll start to see him show it over the festive period.
Score prediction: West Ham 1-1 Brighton ()
These two played out a thriller in the Carabao Cup, with a second-half Gabriel Jesus hat-trick sealing the comeback for Arsenal.
The Gunners rested key starters but did call upon them in the second half, and it was MARTIN ODEGAARD who kicked them into life.
The Norwegian provided two assists in his 45-minute cameo to help turn the game on its head, and I think his price TO SCORE OR ASSIST looks large at 6/4.
Since the November international break, Odegaard has been in excellent form, and could have more than the one goal and three assists to his name.
In that time he's averaged 0.32 xG and 0.31 xA per 90, combining for 0.63 xGI per 90.
Sunday 14:00
2pts BTTS and over 2.5 goals in Leicester vs Wolves at 10/11 (bet365)
1pt Mario Lemina to be carded in Leicester vs Wolves at 3/1 (Sky Bet)
1pt Jamie Vardy to be carded in Leicester vs Wolves at 9/2 (Betfair)
0.5pt Lemina and Vardy to be carded at 20/1 (Boylesports)
1pt Sasa Lukic to be carded in Fulham vs Southampton at 18/5 (Unibet)
1pt Bournemouth to beat Man Utd at 16/5 (bet365, Betfair)
There are three teams I really like the look of this week, two of them big-priced outsiders. I'll be putting a bit of change on ASTON VILLA, BOURNEMOUTH AND LIVERPOOL ALL TO WIN at a price of 24/1.
The reasonings can be found further down, but all should be shorter, and the two outsiders should be vying for favouritism.
Fingers crossed.
This one looks an awkward betting heat. Chelsea are flying at the moment, second in the league and just two points off top, but Everton continue to be a difficult team to play against. Since losing their first four games, the Toffees have won three, drawn six and lost just two in the league - with both defeats coming away from home.
At Goodison Park they are unbeaten in five, though it's fair to say they haven't faced a side of Chelsea's calibre in that time. All in all it's very difficult to fancy anything from the 1X2 market.
I was close to putting up Ashley Young to be carded, him being another of those players a card away from a long Christmas, but the price has contracted and with Jadon Sancho not the best foul-drawer down the left, and no Marc Cucurella over-lapping (suspended), I was happy to leave this game from a betting standpoint.
Score prediction: Everton 0-2 Chelsea ()
It's all change at Southampton. No more tippy-tappy Russell Martin football. They look close to appointing his replacement, but it shouldn't matter here.
Fulham are a good mid-table side, with Southampton firmly the worst side in the division, so a home win looks highly likely.
The fact we are getting that price about a midfielder who has been booked six times already this season seems wrong in itself, but looks even more off when factoring in he'll be up against Tyler Dibling (3.19 fouls won per 90) and Mateus Fernandes.
With referee Tim Robinson overseeing proceedings (5.67 cards per game), this looks a cracker of a bet.
Score prediction: Fulham 2-1 Southampton ()
This game could be really entertaining, from both a goals and a cards perspective. Leicester have been incredibly easy to create against all season, but especially since Ruud van Nistelrooy took charge.
The Foxes have conceded 24.7 shots per game in his three outings, and 2.81 xGA.
Wolves, under new management, will fancy their chances of getting a desperately needed win. The Old Gold are five points behind Sunday's fourth-bottom opponents and simply have to go for the jugular with their situation dire and their upcoming schedule simply horrendous.
Tempers could boil over with so much at stake even at this early stage, and we have a couple of candidates one yellow away from a Christmas suspension.
MARIO LEMINA is one of those and looks a cracking price at 3/1 TO BE CARDED. The Wolves midfielder has had a really tough few weeks, losing his head after the full-time whistle against West Ham which resulted in him losing the captaincy.
This week he'll be in the midst of a midfield battle, and tasked with keeping tabs on the tricky Facundo Buonanotte, who has won 1.77 fouls per 90 this season. The Argentine has started 11 games this season, and eight of his opposing players have been booked.
He doesn't commit many fouls, but if the Foxes are leading he'll be pulling out all the time wasting tricks. There's also the chance he scores and whips his top off too, and at 9/2 he looks too big of a price in such a big game.
We'll also do smaller stakes on the double, which is available at 20/1 with Boylesports, just in case.
The referee is Anthony Taylor, who has some real highs along with real lows with cards this season. Overall he's averaged 4.0 cards per game in the Premier League, but along with some zero, one and two card games, he's had a 14-card game, a nine-card game which featured Leicester, and plenty of fives.
Score prediction: Leicester 2-2 Wolves ()
This looks another game where the underdog is underestimated. BOURNEMOUTH are one of the six best teams in the league in my opinion, a better side than this current Manchester United team, yet are priced at above 3/1 TO WIN at Old Trafford.
It is early in Ruben Amorim's reign, but while there are signs of improvement, they still look severely lacking. They have won four of his eight games in charge, but the schedule has been kind and especially in the last two games, the opposition has helped them into the game.
The Red Devils had hardly threatened at the Etihad last weekend before Matheus Nunes gifted them a penalty, while they were 3-0 down in midweek until Fraser Forster gifted them two goals.
That midweek match gives Bournemouth a slight rest advantage, only slight as Amorim rotated quite a bit.
All Saturday bets - odds correct at 0920 (20/12/24)
2pm Sunday bets - odds correct at 1230 (20/12/24)
Spurs vs Liverpool bets - odds correct at 1615 (20/12/24)
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