Matchweek 17 of the 2023/24 EPL season saw Man City concede yet more ground, Liverpool fail to convert dominance, and Everton’s amazing run continue.
City rut continues
After snapping a four-game winless run away against Luton last week, reigning champions Manchester City returned home this week huge $1.16 favourites against Crystal Palace to make it two-from-two and get their title push back on track. And, at 2-0 up after 75 minutes against the lowly Eagles — through goals to Jack Grealish ($7.50 first goalscorer) and Rico Lewis ($6.25 anytime goalscorer) — it appeared a fait accompli. Twenty minutes later, though, an incensed Pep Guardiola headed for the tunnel with his side inexplicably giving up two points. Palace pegged one back through Jean-Philippe Mateta ($4.70 anytime) in the 76th minute, before City’s Phil Foden caught Mateta in the box in the 95th minute to give away a penalty, as Michael Olise ($8.00) gave Roy Hodgson’s men the unlikeliest of draws.
The question now is obvious. With just one win in six EPL games and five points behind league leaders Arsenal, are City’s hopes for a record-breaking fourth straight title on wobbly ground? Each time they drop points, the more Guardiola can’t merely shake off the result. At one stage $1.36 to win the title, City are now out to $2.25 with Palmerbet, with the Gunners ($3.50) closing in.
Roy Hogdson’s reaction to Guardiola after Palace grabbed a 95th-minute equalizer 🤣 pic.twitter.com/TmVkyJk1nA
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 16, 2023
Liverpool dominate everywhere but scoreboard
There hadn’t been a 0-0 result in the EPL since October, and few expected it to occur in the biggest encounter of Matchweek 17. And when you consider it is just nine months since Liverpool hammered Manchester United 7-0, a repeat of that performance was even being floated by some. But it didn’t eventuate, as the Reds ($1.32 pre-match) dominate everywhere at Anfield except where it mattered most — on the scoreboard. It was all there in the stats; Jurgen Klopp’s men had 69 per cent possession, and a whopping 34 shots. But they couldn’t convert. And by the time referee Michael Oliver blew the whistle for full-time, the 0-0 result that was paying $26 pre-match with Palmerbet came to fruition.
The result sees Liverpool spurn a huge chance to go top of the EPL table. They’re now one point behind leaders Arsenal, who defeated Brighton 2-0 earlier on Sunday.
🔴 Jurgen Klopp: “I can’t remember such a dominant performance against Man United”, told BBC. pic.twitter.com/lcrsE45toq
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 17, 2023
Toffees’ turnaround continues
When Everton were deducted 10 points on November 17, only to be smashed 3-0 at home to Manchester United in their very next EPL clash, there were huge concerns around Goodison Park about how the historic punishment was set to impact the club. However since then, their response couldn’t be more emphatic. On Saturday Sean Dyche’s men ($2.05) won their fourth straight league game, against Burnley ($3.30) at Turf Moor). $4.40 pre-match in the -1.0 handicap market, the Toffees were ruthless in a result that incredibly sees them move seven points clear of the relegation zone. Four wins from four has them as the league’s most in-form team.
Everton defender James Tarkowski said after the victory over Burnley that the 10-point deduction had galvanised the side. “I think it’s definitely unified everyone at the club – the players, the staff, the fans, but before the deduction we were playing well and winning games and we wanted to keep building on that and getting wins,” he said. Dyche’s men are already out to $9.50 in Palmerbet’s relegation market.
Bet Now ON ALL EPL MARKETSEverton since the 10 point deduction:
❌ Everton 0-3 Garnacho
✅ Nottm Forest 0-1 Everton
✅ Everton 3-0 Newcastle
✅ Everton 2-0 Chelsea
✅ Burnley 0-2 EvertonFour wins in a row. 12/15 points. pic.twitter.com/G6fe85BDG6
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) December 16, 2023