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Match Preview : Fiorentina vs Napoli

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After losing both two trips to Genova and Rome, Fiorentina are now 7 points away from 5th position. A bad finish to 2016 could put Paulo Sousa’s job at serious risk as they are now a long way from their pre-season target.

Napoli should have humilated Torino when they entered half-time 3-0 up on Sunday. However, while defeat was never in question, they did allow Torino back in the game and they will need to cut out those defensive mistakes to maintain their pursuit of Juventus at the top of the league.

The visitors are favourite here since they are in better form and have better morale, but Fiorentina gave a good reaction in the last minutes against Lazio and Paulo Sousa could try to use it as a lesson for his players. You can now credit your Naijabet.com account with *737*50*Amount*46# direct from your Gtbank account

Team News

Fiorentina – Paulo Sousa should have most of his roster available since Carlos Salcedo served his suspension on Sunday.

Match Preview : Manchester City vs Arsenal

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Manchester City recorded their first win in four matches with a comfortable 2-0 win against Watford in midweek. They now have the chance to close some ground on a title rival when they welcome Arsenal to the Etihad on Sunday.

They are only one point behind second place Arsenal ahead of the last round of matches before Christmas.

Arsenal slipped to a surprise 2-1 defeat away to Everton on Tuesday, but they haven’t lost consecutive away matches in the Premier League since April 2014.

They are also unbeaten in their last six matches against City, which should give Arsene Wenger’s side a huge amount of confidence. Naijabet.com

Team News

Manchester City – Ilkay Gündogan suffered knee ligament damage in Manchester City’s 2-0 win over Watford in midweek and is expected to be sidelined for a few months. With Fernandinho also suspended, it leaves Pep Guardiola short of genuine central midfielders, with Fernando and Yaya Toure expected to fill in.

Match Preview : Tottenham vs Burnley

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Tottenham bounced back from the 1-0 loss at Manchester United with a routine home win over Hull and will look to make it back-to-back league wins for first time since October.

They have a strong home record against Burnley, however, having won their last four home meetings with the Clarets, scoring 15 in the process.

Burnley have picked up just one point from their seven away games in the Premier League this season and have netted just once on their travels this term. 16 goals conceded on the road is a poor return for Sean Dyche’s side and the trip to Tottenham could see their away day woes continue.

Spurs should secure another comfortable home win here.

Team News

Tottenham – Mousa Dembele missed the 3-0 midweek loss against Burnley with a foot problem and is a doubt here. He will be assessed closer to Sunday. Naijabet.com

Match Preview : Bournemouth vs Southampton

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Bournemouth have only lost one of their last seven home matches, while Southampton have only won one away league matche in the Premier League all season.

Goals have proved a problem for Southampton this season – only Middlesbrough have scored fewer in the Premier League this season – and they are now without their main striker, Charlie Austin, for the next three months.

The Cherries beat Southampton 2-0 at home last season and they should be confident of consolidating their place in the top 10 before Christmas with another win here. Place your bet on Naijabet.com

Team News

Bournemouth – Eddie Howe may see no reason to change the team after they secured a 1-0 win over Leicester on Tuesday, although the fitness of his players may change that. He is expected to be without Lewis Cook, Andrew Surman and Junior Stanislas here, however.

Callum Wilson was forced off in stoppage time in their win over the reigning Premier League champions after suffering a head injury but has been cleared of concussion since. He is available, although Benik Afobe may continue up front.

Marc Pugh scored the winner and finished as the WhoScored man of the match against Leicester, which may have earned him a second start in under a week here.

Ryan Fraser had a scan on an ankle injury and Bournemouth are waiting on the results.

Southampton – Charlie Austin is sidelined for the next three months, at the very least, due to a shoulder injury sustained in the Europa League last week.

Oriol Romeu is a suspended after picking up his fifth booking of the season, which leaves Southampton with a big hole to fill when they face Bournemouth this weekend.

Cedric Soares missed the 0-0 draw with Stoke through illness and may not recover in time to face the Cherries.

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Match Facts

Bournemouth have seen under 2.5 goals in 5 of their last 6 matches against Southampton in all competitions.

Southampton have failed to win their last 5 away matches in Premier League.

NaijaBet Odds

As at this post Bournemouth has 2.90 odd to win the match on NaijaBet  while Southamptom has 2.64 odd to win the match also, while the odd to draw the match is 3.17.

Match Preview : West Bromwich Albion vs Manchester United

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West Brom’s 3-1 win over Swansea on Wednesday has lifted them up to seventh in the league and just four points behind Saturday’s opponents Manchester United.

They are flying at the moment and have scored 10 goals in their last three home games. In fact, since the start of November only Chelsea (18) have won more points than the Baggies (13).

Manchester United secured back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time since August with a dramatic 2-1 win over Crystal Palace on Wednesday night and they must now turn their attentions to recording their win in three away to West Brom. Place your bet on Naijabet.com

Jose Mourinho’s side are better equipped to deal with the festive period and the quick run of games could work in their favour ahead of this very tough match.

West Bromwich Albion – Jonny Evans missed their 3-1 win over Swansea in midweek through injury and he is a doubt to face off against his former side here. Craig Dawson has served his one-match ban but may not get back into the side with Nyom and Chris Brunt options at full-back.

Match Preview : Sunderland vs Watford

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After a good run of form, Sunderland have lost back-to-back Premier League games and foot the table once more. They are currently four points behind 17th-placed Middlesbrough and need a win here to improve their chances of pulling away from the bottom three.

Watford have now won only two of their last six Premier League matches and have failed to win in four on the road.

They secured a win at Sunderland in this fixture last season, though had lost their three previous league visits to the Stadium of Light.

Both teams will look to return to winning ways in what could be a cagey affair that may result in a draw. Place your bet on Naijabet.com

Team News

Sunderland – David Moyes is once more without Paddy McNair, Lee Cattermole, Lynden Gooch, Jack Rodwell and Duncan Watmore here.

Match Preview : Middlesbrough vs Swansea

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Middlesbrough are usually hard to break down but they lost 3-0 to Liverpool in midweek, which was only the second time one of their matches has been decided by more than a one-goal margin.

Swansea were thrashed 3-1 by West Brom in midweek as their woes continue. Bob Bradley continues to change the team and a lack of continuity in team selection is surely hindering them in their objective of moving out of the bottom three.

The bottom three are locked in for Christmas so even if Swansea win here they cannot overtake Boro, unless there is an incredible swing in goal difference.

Team News

Middlesbrough – Gaston Ramirez has missed each of Middlesbrough’s last two matches and may not recover from injury in time to face Swansea at home on Saturday. Naijabet.com

George Friend is back in training but hasn’t featured in each of their last five matches and may not feature until after Christmas.

Match Preview : Crystal Palace vs Chelsea

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Crystal Palace have now lost four of their last five home league matches and it doesn’t get any easier as they welcome Chelsea on Saturday. The Eagles are only three points above the bottom three and have lost three of their last four at home to Chelsea.

Chelsea have won 10 league games in a row and have already secured more victories this season than they managed in the whole of last season. They are the team to beat in the Premier League and it’s hard to see where they will next drop points. Naijabet.com

They have only managed 1-0 wins in each of their last two matches, which may be a concern for Antonio Conte, but the run shouldn’t stop here.

Team News

Crystal Palace – Jason Puncheon missed Crystal Palace’s 2-1 win over Manchester United on Wednesday through suspension and should return to the side here. His return may see Alan Pardew revert to his more usual XI.James Tomkins, Bakary Sako, Pape Soaure, Connor Wickham, Jonathan Benteke and Steve Mandanda are all long-term absentees, while Loic Remy lacks match fitness.

Match Preview : Crystal Palace vs Manchester United

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Manchester United secured back-to-back wins in all competitions for the first time since September when they beat Tottenham 1-0 on Sunday. With other results going in their favour, they are now only six points adrift of fourth place ahead of the midweek fixtures.

Crystal Palace are unbeaten in two matches after their 3-3 draw with Hull on Saturday but are still a long way from securing their Premier League safety. Naijabet.com

Their defending has been abysmal this season and they are only three points above the bottom three. Their last seven league games have seen a staggering five goals a game!

Alan Pardew is potentially now on a defining run in his tenure as Palace boss with matches against United, Chelsea and Arsenal to come in their next four matches. The Eagles have the chance to get some revenge here following their FA Cup final defeat to United in May.

Match Preview : Sunderland vs Chelsea

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Chelsea have won nine league games in a row during a single season for the first time since Jose Mourinho’s first stint as manager at Stamford Bridge.

They were perhaps fortunate to come away with a 1-0 win over West Brom at the weekend but they are still three points clear at the top of the league nonetheless.

Sunderland looked to be on the right track before being thrashed 3-0 away to relegation rivals Swansea on Saturday. David Moyes’ side have still won three of their last five league games but that wasn’t an ideal result ahead of a tough run of fixtures. Naijabet.com

The Black Cats have won each of their last two at home and Moyes will be hoping to draw confidence from the fact they return to home soil for this midweek fixture.

Sunderland are unbeaten in their last two league games against Chelsea but aren’t expected to get anything from this fixture.