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FA CUP Match Preview : Liverpool vs Plymouth

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Liverpool are unbeaten in their last seven FA Cup third round fixtures and have beaten lower league opposition in four of those years, although they did require a replay to overcome Exeter at this stage of the competition last season.

Plymouth are second in League Two and have won 10 of their 16 away matches in all competitions this season, losing the other six. With Liverpool set to play their youngsters, they have a chance to cause an upset but they will still need to have the game of their lives at Anfield on Sunday. Naijabet.com

Jurgen Klopp are unbeaten at home this season and have won nine of those 11 matches. That record should be safe against Plymouth at the weekend.

Team News

Liverpool – Liverpool have plenty of injury concerns ahead of the reception of Plymouth in the FA Cup third round on Sunday but Jurgen Klopp is expected to field a side mainly consisting of kids.

FA CUP Match Preview : Preston vs Arsenal

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Arsenal came from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 for the first time in their Premier League history on Tuesday but it was further points lost to their rivals. Attentions now turn to the FA Cup, a competition they’ve won in two of the last three years.

Preston have only lost four of their last 19 matches in all competitions but too many of those results have been draws. In fact, they’ve drawn three of their last five at home and were recently thrashed 4-1 by Leeds.

Simon Grayson has history in giant killing at this stage of the FA Cup after knocking Manchester United out of the competition with Leeds in 2010. This would arguably be a greater achievement given Preston’s status compared to Leeds. Place your bet on Naijabet.com

This will be the first meeting between the teams since 1999, when goals from Nwankwo Kanu and Stefan Malz gave Arsenal a 2-1 win in the League Cup. Preston have a chance here, albeit a slim one.

Team News

Preston – Jermaine Beckford serves the third of a four-match ban here.

FA CUP Match Preview : Manchester United vs Reading

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Manchester United have won seven games in a row and are in great form as everything finally looks to be coming together under Jose Mourinho.

Reading have arguably been the surprise package of the Championship this season and should not be taken lightly by the home side.

Jaap Stam’s side have won eight of their last 10 matches and will be well rested having only completed two games since Christmas.

United are underwhelming favourites to win but Stam will want to enjoy a sensational return to Old Trafford. Naijabet.com

Reading’s only win against United came in 1927. Since then they have lost 10 of 14 meetings against the Premier League giants.

Team News

Manchester United – Changes are expected to be made to the side that beat West Ham 2-0 on Monday as Jose Mourinho admitted his players were drained from the Christmas period.

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has returned to training, which means Eric Bailly, who is away on international duty, is the only player unavailable for Mourinho this weekend.

naijabet.comLuke Shaw is available and could make his first appearance since the end of November here. The likes of Daley Blind, Chris Smalling and Tim Fosu-Mensah could also get some game time here.

With Michael Carrick expected to be rested ahead of their clash with Liverpool the following weekend, Bastian Schweinsteiger could even find a place in the starting XI. Ander Herrera and Paul Pogba are two others who may be rested this weekend, although only one is expected to drop out.

Juan Mata, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial will be looking to start, though the former two are favourites following their contributions in the last two matches.

Reading – Stephen Quinn and Deniss Rakels are expected to be the only players unavailable to manager Jaap Stam, who is gearing up for his first return to Old Trafford since leaving as a player in 2001.

The Dutchman is expected to play his strongest team as he eyes a fairytale return to his former club. Tyler Blackett and Paul McShane are also former Manchester United players returning to their former club this weekend.

Reading are poised to sign Liverpool defender Tiago Ilori, but he isn’t expected to be in contention to play on Saturday.

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Match Facts

Man Utd have won their last 4 matches against Reading in all competitions.

Man Utd are undefeated in their last 7 matches (FA Cup).

NaijaBet Odds

As at this post Manchester United has 1.17 odd to win the match on NaijaBet  while Manchester City has 14.88 odd to win the match also, while the odd to draw the match is 6.72.

 

Match Preview : Tottenham vs Chelsea

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Tottenham have won their last two league games 4-1 and have secured victory in their last four. Spurs are also unbeaten in their last three home league meetings with Chelsea, including a memorable 5-3 win this time two years ago.

Chelsea’s 4-2 win over Stoke saw them match Arsenal’s 13-match Premier League winning run and victory against Spurs would see them set a new record. They have conceded just one goal in their last six away league games – a Gary Cahill own goal against Manchester City – and remain tough to break down.

Spurs have hit form at just the right time, though, and could end Chelsea’s winning run in front of their own fans on Wednesday night. Naijabet.com

Team News

Tottenham – Kyle Walker and Jan Vertonghen both return from suspension after missing the 4-1 win at Watford on Sunday and should come into the starting XI.

Match Preview : Stoke vs Watford

Stoke came close to ending Chelsea’s stunning winning run but ended up losing 4-2. Mark Hughes will expect nothing other than three points against an injury hit Watford side on Tuesday night to end their run of five games without a win.

Watford were humilated 4-1 by Tottenham last time out and are struggling to cope with a number of key absences. With fixtures coming thick and fast their poor run of form should really continue here. The Hornets have lost three of their last four. Naijabet.com

There have been under 2.5 goals in five of the last six meetings between these teams and that could continue here. Stoke haven’t even scored in the last four matches they’ve hosted against Watford but that should end here.

Team News

Stoke – Marko Arnautovic is free to return to the team after serving a three-match ban. His return could mean Stoke revert back to their usual back four.

Match Preview : Bournemouth vs Arsenal

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Bournemouth bounced back from back-to-back defeats with a resounding 3-0 win at Swansea at New Year’s Eve and will hope to take advantage of the extra day’s rest ahead of the welcome of Arsenal.

The Cherries, however, have lost their three Premier League meetings with the north London outfit, conceding seven in the process.

Following back-to-back losses, Arsenal have secured back-to-back wins following victories over West Brom and Crystal Palace. That being said, they have won just one of their last four away Premier League games, with the two defeats coming at Everton and Manchester City.

Bournemouth will be confident on home turf, but Arsenal could make it three successive league wins when they make the trip to the Vitality Stadium on Tuesday night. Place your bet on Naijabet.com

Team News

Bournemouth – Eddie Howe is again unable to call on Marc Pugh and Lewis Cook through injury.

Match Preview : Liverpool vs Manchester City

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Liverpool overcame a slight scare at home to Stoke to run out comfortable 4-1 winners in the end on Tuesday night.

They have the current longest unbeaten streak of any Premier League side in all competitions (16 matches) and should be high on confidence when they welcome Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City on Saturday evening.

City are only one point behind Liverpool in the league but Guardiola’s side aren’t in the best of shape at the moment.

They are still trying to rediscover the type of performances they started the season with and this would be the perfect opportunity to make a statement against one of their direct title rivals. Naija and Bet

Saturday’s encounter marks the first time Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp have faced off since both arrived in England, renewing their rivalry from the Bundesliga when both managers where in charge of Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund respectively.

Klopp is one of just two managers that have beaten a Guardiola managed side on more than two occasions and the Liverpool boss may get the edge in their head-to-head record with another win here.

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Team News

Liverpool – Philippe Coutinho has lost his race to be fit in time to face Manchester City on New Year’s Eve, which is a real blow for the home side.

Joel Matip is also ruled out after failing to shake off an ankle injury that has kept the defender out of their last three matches.

Emre Can and Daniel Sturridge are vying for recalls to the starting XI and may be selected ahead of Georginio Wijnaldum and Divock Origi, respectively.

Manchester City – Sergio Aguero has served his four-match ban and is available for Manchester City’s must win encounter with Liverpool on New Year’s Day. He should slot straight back into the starting XI here.

John Stones was forced off after 18 minutes of City’s win over Hull on Boxing Day with a knee injury and will certainly miss the trip to Merseyside on Saturday. This should mean Aleksandar Kolarov plays at centre-back alongside Nicolas Otamendi, while Gael Clichy keeps his place at left-back.

Yaya Toure may drop to the bench in favour of Fernando, who would bring more energy to their midfield against Liverpool’s dynamic midfield three.

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Match Facts

Liverpool have seen over 2.5 goals in 10 of their last 11 matches against Man City in all competitions.

Liverpool are undefeated in their last 16 home matches in Premier League.

Liverpool are undefeated in their last 15 home matches against Man City in all competitions.

There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 8 of Man City’s last 9 away Premier League games.

Man City have scored at least 2 goals in 8 of their last 9 away matches in Premier League.

Liverpool have scored at least 2 goals in their last 5 home matches (Premier League).

Man City have won their last 3 matches (Premier League).

Liverpool have scored at least 2 goals in 5 of their last 6 home matches against Man City in all competitions.

NaijaBet Odds

As at this post Liverpool has 2.35 odd to win the match on NaijaBet while Manchester City has 3.03 odd to win the match also, while the odd to draw the match is 3.52.

Match Preview : Manchester United vs Middlesbrough

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Aitor Karanka faces off against Jose Mourinho for the first time as a manager, having served under the Manchester United boss during their stint at Real Madrid.

United finally look to be clicking after winning four straight league games in a single season for the first time since April 2015 – where they won six games in a row – and will be looking to extend that run when they welcome Middlesbrough on Saturday.

Middlesbrough have lost three of their last four in the league and are winless away from home in the each of their last eight, although five of those matches have ended in a draw.

Only five teams have conceded fewer goals in the Premier League this season than Boro, so United cannot afford to be wasteful, as they have throughout the season, on Saturday. Naijabet.com

Team News

Manchester United – Wayne Rooney has a thigh injury and will miss United’s game here, as he did on Boxing Day.

Match Preview : Chelsea vs Stoke

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Chelsea made it 12 league wins in a row with a comfortable 3-0 win over Bournemouth on Boxing Day and they will equal the record for the most amount of consecutive wins in a single campaign if they beat Stoke on New Year’s Eve.

Stoke made a bright start against Liverpool but crumbled to a heavy 4-1 defeat. Things don’t get much easier as they travel to Premier League leaders Chelsea next to cap a gruelling run of fixtures on the road, which also saw them lose to Arsenal before Tuesday’s match.

The Potters are actually unbeaten in their last three meetings with Chelsea and the Blues have only managed to score a single goal in four of the last six meetings between the sides at Stamford Bridge. However, it’s hard to see Stoke stopping the Chelsea juggernaut, who could extend their lead to nine points at the top of the table by the end of the weekend. Naijabet.com

Team News

Chelsea – Chelsea are boosted by the return of Diego Costa and N’Golo Kante, who both missed their 3-0 win over Bournemouth through suspension. Pedro, however, is ruled out due to an accumulation of yellow cards.

Match Preview : Southampton vs Tottenham

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A win over Bournemouth at the weekend means Southampton have lost only one of their last six Premier League games. Claude Puel’s side have lost just once on home turf in England’s top tier this term as they look to haul themselves closer to Manchester United.

Victory at Burnley’s expense means Tottenham have won three of their last four as they look to get back on track in the race to secure a top-4 finish.

Spurs have lost just one of their last six league meetings with Saints and haven’t lost at St. Mary’s since the south coast side’s return to the Premier League.

While Spurs’ good record in Southampton is likely to continue, a draw is on the cards. Naijabet.com

Team News

Southampton – Jeremy Pied, Matt Targett, Jake Hesketh and Charlie Austin are all ruled out for Southampton.