Welcome to English Premier League Best Bets, a Bettor in Green Article Series where we break down the latest action in the English Premier League (EPL) and my favorite bets for the upcoming matchweek.
For an overview of what to expect in this Series, check out my 2025/26 EPL Season Preview and Futures article here.
Recap:
The Festive Fixtures kept rolling on this weekend with Manchester United getting a 1-0 win over Newcastle United on Boxing Day.
Saturday began with Manchester City beating Nottingham Forest on the road. Arsenal then kept pace with City by beating Brighton, while Liverpool jumped into the top 4 with their win against Wolves.
In the afternoon match, Aston Villa came from behind to beat Chelsea and continue to remain in the title conversation in 3rd place.
On Sunday, Sunderland and Leeds played to a 1-1 draw, then Tottenham beat Crystal Palace in a London Derby.
We hit 2-1 for Best Bets. We were close to going 3-0, though Liverpool allowed a goal from Wolves on their way to a 2-1 victory, so our “to win to nil” bet lost.
Across the Globe we went 3-2, losing on Torino and on Senegal.
Upcoming Matches:
Happy New Year! We’re almost halfway through the EPL season with one final match in the first half.
However, instead of playing the only team they’ve yet to play this season, each club is playing the return fixture from matchweek 15, just a few weeks ago in early December.
This week we have midweek matches, taking place on Tuesday and Thursday, skipping New Year’s Eve.
On Tuesday, we have 6 matches, with the marquee match being Arsenal hosting Aston Villa.
On Thursday, New Year’s Day, we have 4 matches, including two London Derbies, one between Crystal Palace and Fulham, and another between Brentford and Tottenham Hotspur, as Tottenham manager Thomas Frank returns to the Gtech Community Stadium.
Let’s get to the bets:
Best Bets:
Pick #1: Matheus Cunha (Manchester United) to Score or Assist -150 (Dec. 30, 2025; 3:15 p.m. EST):
For my first Best Bet, I’m looking at Manchester United’s Matheus Cunha to get a goal or assist against his old club, Wolves.
There are many factors I like about this bet. One factor is that Wolves have been extremely poor this season, allowing 39 goals, the most in the league.
Another factor is that Cunha is a former Wolves player and may have a little extra motivation to score against his old club, as well as some possible knowledge and familiarity with the opposing players.
Further, Manchester United are without Bruno Fernandes due to injury and Bryan Mbuemo and Amad Diallo, who are playing in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Cunha will be an important piece for United in this match. He looked like one of the most dangerous players on the pitch against Newcastle and got an assist against Wolves in their last meeting in early December.
The best line I’ve found for this is at Fanatics at -150, with other books placing it closer to -210. If you can’t find a playable line, I also like Cunha to Score Anytime +105.
Pick #2: Crystal Palace Moneyline +125 (Jan. 1, 2026; 12:30 p.m. EST):
Next, I’m taking Crystal Palace in the London Derby, expecting them to turn around their recent run of poor form against Fulham.
Crystal Palace have had a relatively rough stretch of 5 matches, with 2 draws and 3 losses in that time, with one of the draws coming in the Carabao Cup Quarter-Final, where they lost on penalties to Arsenal.
They are coming off a loss at home to Spurs, despite having the greater number of shots and greater expected goals (xG).
Despite likely being without Chris Richards, I still like Palace to get the win here at home. I think they have more overall quality than Fulham and recently beat them 1-2 on the road in early December.
Fulham are on a 2-match win streak, though those results were at home to Nottingham Forest and then at West Ham. The match at Palace should prove a tougher test.
While Fulham are a decent side, they’ve conceded more than Palace this season and have a lower xG, with Palace sitting 5th in the League for xG.
Pick #3: Tottenham Hotspur to Win Either Half +105 (Jan. 1, 2026; 3:00 p.m. EST):
For our final Best Bet, I’m looking at the other London Derby, as Brentford host Spurs.
These sides played one another in early December at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Spurs getting the 2-0 win at home.
Spurs’ manager, Thomas Frank, was working for Brentford in some capacity since late 2016, taking over as first-team manager in 2018. He helped them secure promotion and retain their place in the top flight.
While this was a big storyline when these clubs played in early December, it now has the added element of playing at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium and Frank’s homecoming.
Like the last match between these clubs, I expect Spurs to get the win.
Brentford are doing great this season, currently in 8th with the 4th best home record. However, Spurs have the strongest away record in the league this season.
This should mean an enticing matchup between the two, and with the injuries and suspensions plaguing Spurs, I expect goals from both sides in this match.
However, with some mounting pressure on Thomas Frank (as there was before the Brentford match earlier this year), I expect this to be a great opportunity for him and the club to dispel some of those concerns with a solid win.
Across the Globe:
- Nigeria Moneyline +115 (International; African Cup of Nations)
- Brisbane Roar Moneyline +105 (Australia; A-League)
- Algeria Moneyline -140 (International; African Cup of Nations)
- Auckland FC Moneyline -145 (Australia; A-League)
- Macarthur FC to Win or Draw -110 (Australia; A-League)
Season Record:
Best Bets: 29-25
Across the Globe: 42-49
