Matchweek 16 of the 2023/24 EPL season saw Villa complete a perfect week, Man United hammered at home, and big Ange breathe a sigh of relief.
Emery’s men shine as Villa further impact title race
After knocking off the reigning champions and main EPL title challengers inside four days, it’s fair to say Aston Villa completed the perfect week.
A shock defeat of Manchester City midweek was followed up by another win at home as outsiders on the weekend, this time at $3.25 against (then) league leaders Arsenal. Fittingly, it was John McGinn who scored the game’s only goal to secure a 1-0 win ($13 correct score with Palmerbet), with the Villa skipper also a $13 pre-game shout to be first goalscorer. The victory cements an incredible start to the 2023-24 EPL season for Villa.
After 16 games Unai Emery’s men are just two points from league leaders Liverpool (who leapfrogged the Gunners courtesy of this result). In fact, Villa have not taken this many points (35) from the opening 16 games of a campaign since their title-winning season of 1980-81. McGinn said post-match he was “banning the T-word” — and fair enough. But Top 4 is now a genuine prospect. Starting the season as a $5.50 chance of taking a Champions League place, Villa are now into $1.72 to finish inside the Top 4.
What a week. Proud of the boys. 💜💜 #UTV pic.twitter.com/FtallH643H
— John McGinn (@jmcginn7) December 9, 2023
United hammered at home
Of Manchester United’s horror defeats in recent years, a 3-0 humbling at home to Bournemouth has to be up there with one of the worst. Forget the thumping from crosstown foes City or arch rivals Liverpool, this defeat may be even more galling.
The Cherries travelled to Old Trafford as $5.00 outsiders as United ($1.52) were expected to build on their buoyant midweek win over Chelsea to relaunch their Top 4 bid this EPL season. It was the away side who took shock lead inside five minutes, with Dominic Solanke $7.75 first goalscorer) putting Bournemouth 1-0 up. That goal laid the foundation as second-half strikes to Philip Billing ($4.75 anytime goalscorer) and Marcos Senesi ($16 anytime) sealed a huge win. To put the result into perspective, Bournemouth were a whopping $27 pre-match at -2.0 in handicap markets, and the 3-0 result was paying $81 in Palmerbet’s correct score market.
It wasn’t as if Bournemouth had huge luck on their side in the result, either, as United simply struggled for any potency and the ability to create chances. In fact, VAR overturned a late goal that would’ve sealed a 4-0 win for the Cherries. For United manager Erik ten Hag, this is another nail in his coffin. If the Dutch manager is to survive in the role, which is looking increasingly unlikely, he needs to turn things around quick smart. Except he’ll get little respite. His next two opponents? Bayern Munich and Liverpool.
Man Utd’s next two games:
➖ Bayern at home in the Champions League
➖ Liverpool at Anfield in the Premier League— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 9, 2023
Ange breathes sigh of relief
Aussie manager Ange Postecoglou, and the Spurs faithful, can breathe a big sigh of relief.
There was palpable tension around Tottenham’s plush stadium on Sunday as the $2.10 favourites hosted Newcastle United ($2.95) in a highly anticipated clash. The early-season buzz of being top of the table and stunning sides into submission had faded in recent weeks as Spurs had grabbed just one point in their last five EPL outings. Nevermind the entertaining, attacking football — a simple result was needed here. And they did exactly that. Spurs blew away the Magpies 4-1 to get their season back on track. Fans got the best of both worlds, both walking away happy that they’d bagged three points but seeing an attacking masterclass as a Richarlison brace highlighted the big win. Spurs were $7.80 pre-match at -2.0 and Over 4.5 goals was paying $4.15.
For Newcastle, though, the result is damning. It’s the first time since November 2017 that they’ve lost back-to-back EPL games by three or more goals. Already seven points adrift of Top 4, they’ve now lost more league matches this season (six) than the entire 2022-23 campaign (five).
Bet Now ON ALL EPL MARKETSA serenade by Spurs fans. A hug with Mile Jedinak 🤍
Tottenham have their first win in six and it’s all love from Ange Postecoglou.
Free to watch highlights | https://t.co/AVyJnMAlmf#OptusSport pic.twitter.com/E2Um4vaFV4
— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) December 10, 2023