This is your opportunity for considering the EPL Top Bets! Next Monday, the January transfer window closes, and there are still quite a few English Premier League teams looking for that special striker who can turn their season around.
According to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, more goals would propel the Gunners to a league title. Manchester United are still laboring in the bottom half of the table – with a negative goal differential – because of a collection of forwards who simply cannot find the back of the net.
The fact that Manchester City would ink Erling Haaland to an eye-popping 9 ½-year contract indicates how valuable proven scorers at the European first-division level are – and how rare they can be.
One possible player is Victor Osimhen, currently on loan from Serie A side Napoli to Galatasaray until the end of 2024-25.
He can finish from a variety of distances, positions, and angles, and he stretches opposing defenses with his runs.
Manchester United might go after him if Napoli would allow the loan to transfer during the January window, but Napoli would only likely allow that if the transfer were permanent.
Given Osimhen’s current deal with Napoli, that’s unlikely. Arsenal and Chelsea both thought about going after Osimhen in the summer window, but getting around that contract was just too much.
Heading into Matchday 24, let’s look at the top sports betting options for EPL wagers.
Soccer Betting: EPL Top Bets for the Matchday 24
Nottingham Forest +137 vs Brighton Hove & Albion +170 (Draw +246)
EPL Prediction: Forest to win
When: Saturday, February 1, 7:30 am ET
Nottingham Forest may be showing some signs of fading under the pressure of staying near the top of the EPL table. They went to Bournemouth last week and took a 5-0 tattooing. When Forest have done well, they’ve played lockdown defense and gotten just enough offense to get the win. Last week, they were not able to do either. When they played at Brighton earlier this season, matters ended in a 2-2 draw.
At home, the Tricky Trees have been particularly solid, with six wins, three draws and two losses at City Ground. Even with that ugly loss last week, Forest still have a +11 goal differential, showing a balanced approach. They normally play with tough and disciplined defense and will look to reestablish that at home.
Brighton also took one on the chin last week, falling at home to Everton, 1-0, as the Toffees are fighting to avoid relegation. The Seagulls have five wins, four draws and three losses on the road as their away performances have actually been more successful than their play at home. They have scored 35 goals in 23 matches – but they’ve conceded 30, which shows possible problems on the back line. That is a natural result due to their high-pressing offense.
^Everton -146 vs Leicester City +360 (Draw +270)
EPL Prediction: Everton to win
When: Saturday, February 1, 10:00 am ET
Everton sit in 16th place in the table at this writing, two places above relegation. They’ve only gotten 23 points out of their 22 matches so far, and they have a -9 goal differential. They have three wins, four draws and four losses in front of their fans at Goodison Park. That 1-0 win last week at Brighton was a lifesaver – potentially – although that makes just three wins and two losses over their last five matches. Manager David Moyes is making his second run with the Toffees and has a defense-first philosophy, especially given the limitations that Everton have in terms of attacking resources.
Leicester City sit in 19th place, nine points behind Everton. They have an unsightly -25 goal differential, which is also reflected by their record – three wins, five draws, and 14 losses. Away from home, they have only one win to go along with a pair of draws and seven losses. They did pull off a massive upset in their last match, beating Tottenham away, 2-1.
Ruud van Nistelrooy is making his first run as an EPL manager, and finding that balance between scoring and defense has been a challenge. He’s gotten a reputation for giving younger players opportunities, but his roster simply doesn’t have the talent to win, week in and week out. These two teams played to a 1-1 draw at Leicester City.
^Wolves +234 vs Aston Villa +107 (Draw +234)
EPL Prediction: Aston Villa to win.
When: Saturday, February 1, 12:30 pm ET
Aston Villa had a strong 2023-24, and the payoff is a Champions League schedule to go along with their usual EPL duties. The fatigue may have caught up with them a few weeks ago, as they had a five-game winless streak that included three setbacks. Since then, they have played nine matches, winning five with two draws and two losses. They have a four-match unbeaten streak (two wins and two draws).
Wolves got back-to-back wins against Leicester City and Manchester United to end a four-match losing streak. However, since then they have taken 3-0 losses in each of their last two matches, falling to Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United. Aston Villa, have won two in a row over Wolves in EPL play, and if they can make it three in a row, that would be their best run against Wolves since March 1982 as they completed a four-match winning streak in the rivalry.
^EPL Top Bets provided by Xbet
Best Futures and Props for the Week
Nottingham Forest and Brighton Hove & Albion OVER 1.5 goals
Forest have seen their last five matches end over 1.5 goals combined, while Brighton have only failed to get over that total once – in their last outing, that 1-0 loss to Everton. Brighton play with a high-flying attacking style, looking to leverage pressure and transitions into goals. Forest like to clamp down the opposition, but in the last month or so, they’ve been scoring more – and giving up more goals as well.
^Everton vs Leicester City – Toffees to win to nil (post a clean sheet)
Leicester City have only managed two goals in their last seven EPL contests. Everton just beat Brighton, 1-0, on the road, so their defense looks like it’s in top form – and not a minute too late, as Everton have flirted with relegation all season long.
^Everton vs Leicester City – UNDER 1.5 goals
Yes, Everton did beat Tottenham, 3-2. But that was definitely an outlier. For the most part, the Toffees have not taken part in high-scoring affairs. Since October 1, eight of Everton’s 15 EPL matches have either been scoreless draws or seen a 1-0 result.
^Wolves vs Aston Villa – OVER 2.5 goals
Wolves and their EPL opponents have totaled three or more goals in 12 straight home league fixtures in Wolverhampton. Aston Villa has seen the total hit three or higher in 10 of their last 12 away EPL matches.
^Wolves vs Aston Villa
EPL Top Bets: Matheus Cunha anytime goalscorer
Matheus Cunha has goals in three straight home EPL matches for Wolves.
^Arsenal vs Manchester City
Moneyline up to 30th minute – Arsenal +225
Arsenal are at home in this showdown. They also have a high-flying offense. It can get them in some trouble on the back end, but this isn’t your usual Manchester City team, turning every opportunity into a goal.
Yes, Erling Haaland might be the best striker in the world right now, but Arsenal actually has more productive weapons at this point in the season. I like to see Arsenal jump out to the early lead as they look to press Liverpool at the top of the table.
^Arsenal vs Manchester City
EPL Top Bets: Total Corners OVER 11.5
Both teams will look to bring pressure, and pressure results in corners. I don’t know if this will translate into a high goal total, especially since City players not named Erling Haaland have struggled to finish this season. However, the corners should stack up here.
^Are you happy with where your team currently sits in the table? pic.twitter.com/Zi0JL7QMvY
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 27, 2025
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