Player to score – Cody Gakpo (Bournemouth v Liverpool) 21/10
Liverpool return to Premier League action for the first time since their 4-2 victory over Newcastle United on 1st January, although the Reds will be without Mohamed Salah who is on duty with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations. This place the goalscoring onus on other attackers for Liverpool away to Bournemouth.
Cody Gakpo is expected to start at Vitality Stadium this weekend and has scored three goals in his last six appearances in all competitions. Alongside Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez, the Netherlands international is Liverpool’s most reliable finisher with Salah unavailable for the time being.
Over 3.5 total goals – Bayern Munich v Werder Bremen (4/7)
Bayern Munich are scoring goals for fun this season. Indeed, the Bavarians have netted an incredible 52 times in just 16 Bundesliga fixtures with Harry Kane contributing 22 of those goals. At this rate, Bayern Munich and their new England centre forward are on course for a record-breaking campaign in front of goal.
There have been over 2.5 goals in 19 of Bayern Munich’s last 20 Bundesliga matches while the reigning German champions have scored two or more goals themselves in 15 of their last 17 games in the division. Werder Bremen’s defensive record is a poor one at present and so Bayern are expected to rack up the goals, as they tend to do.
Match to be a draw – Real Betis v Barcelona (14/5)
Xavi Hernandez is under pressure to prove he is still the right man to lead Barcelona after last week’s 4-1 humbling at the hands of Real Madrid. The Catalans have struggled for consistent form in La Liga this season and have won just two of their last seven away matches in all competitions.
Real Betis similarly aren’t in the best of form right now (one win in their last seven matches in all competitions), but they have drawn more league games at home than any other La Liga side this season. Barcelona could find that the Benito Villamarin is another difficult away venue for them this weekend.
Both teams to score – Brentford v Nottingham Forest (3/4)
Ivan Toney will make his long-awaited return for Brentford on Saturday as the Bees host Nottingham Forest in the Premier League. Brentford are without a win in their last seven matches and so Toney’s return comes at a good time for Thomas Frank whose team have been sucked into relegation trouble.
Despite this, Brentford have scored in each of their last five games in all competitions. They have also failed to keep a clean sheet in a match since the 2-0 victory over Chelsea in October. This, coupled with the fact that Forest have scored two or more goals in each of their last five games in all competitions, suggest Saturday’s match could produce goals.
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Arsenal have had two weeks to pick themselves up after three consecutive defeats before the mini winter break. Mikel Arteta’s team are under pressure to get their Premier League title challenge back on track and a home match against Crystal Palace on Saturday gives them a good opportunity to do that.
The Eagles have struggled for firepower recently, drawing a blank in their last two matches. Arsenal have won the second half in each of their last three matches against Crystal Palace, although their recent scoring record doesn’t make for fantastic reading either – they have scored under 2.5 goals in seven of their last eight matches.
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