The 2024-25 Premier League season kicks on into Matchday 24, and we’re here with five top-shelf EPL tips for the weekend ahead.
Nottingham Forest v Brighton & Hove Albion
As early adopters of Nottingham Forest’s rise into the Top 4 of the EPL ladder, the key now is to get an accurate read on their inevitable drop back down. They’re still a great chance of staying inside the Top 6 at $1.67, but it’s not going to be easy. There is regression on the way.
Still, nobody saw their 5-0 defeat at the hands of Bournemouth coming last week. It ended an eight-game unbeaten run, and in conceding five, Forest allowed more in that game than they had in their previous seven combined.
So, has the Forest decline started?
Perhaps it has, but they’re not 5-0 defeat levels of decline just yet. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side haven’t lost back-to-back games since November and are $2.40 to win and $1.35 to win or draw in this one. While Forest may not maintin a Top 4 pace, they’re still one of the more reliable teams in the EPL right now. Few strikers are more reliable than Chris Wood up front.
Nottingham Forest's all-time top scorer in the Premier League is here to stay until 2027! 🔝
Enjoy all 14 of Chris Wood's goals this season 🌳 pic.twitter.com/fi2YJ4zR7F
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 23, 2025
Brighton, on the other hand, have won only two of their last 11 matches.
They foundations of Forest’s rise remain. It will take more than one shocker for them to tumble. With Wood in fine form and the defence tough to break down, they should still get the job done here.
Bet Now Nottingham Forest to Win @ $2.40Wolverhampton Wanderers v Aston Villa
We’re backing Wolverhampton Wanderers in to secure a point at home against a flat Aston Villa here.
Having ridden the high of Champions League football six times this season, Villa has managed only three points in league games following. They’ve struggled to back up mid-week form in the EPL and it’s costing them at the moment. Unai Emry’s side haven’t performed particularly well away from home this season either. They’re in the bottom half of the table on away form. Meanwhile, Wolves, despite losing four on the trot, do look better with Vitor Pereira in charge.
📲🗣️ Vitor Pereira on Instagram:
“The work continues, day after day, with the same passion and dedication that drives us forward.
This Saturday, our home awaits. Molineux must come alive with the energy that only our incredible supporters can bring. Your support is fundamental… pic.twitter.com/Gvg4hQXTOS
— ຮς๏ŧŧ (@wwfcscott) January 29, 2025
Villa is the better team and deserving $2.05 favourites, but their form following the Champions League and on the road suggests Wolves are a good chance of taking at least a point out of this one. Considering they concede 2.26 goals per game – their worst average since 1932-33 – adding on both teams to score alongside the double result at $2.50 is also worth a look.
Bet Now Wolves to Win or Draw @ $1.62Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur
The goals are coming at Gtech Comminity Stadium.
Brentford’s 29 goals are the most in the EPL at home this season. They play an exciting brand from the opening whistle, and while they don’t always back it up on the defensive end, the Bees put themselves in positions to win by regularly finding the back of the net. Meanwhile, Tottenham are picking the ball up out of theirs far too often at the moment.
Ange Postecoglou is getting desperate for defenders now. He’s trying different combinations and approaches with Micky van de Ven and Christian Romero sidelined. Nothing is working, though.
Tottenham scored three mid-week as their youth produced a fine performance. However, that form is unlikely to translate here with all of the pressure on Postecoglou and Spurs.
Spurs needed a shot in the arm. It was given to them with a historic night for their academy, with three of its graduates scoring their first senior goals for the club, and you mustn't underestimate what this means to so many people.
Made in Tottenham. Trust in your own. pic.twitter.com/I6mJ9LWZB6
— SCOUTED (@scoutedftbl) January 30, 2025
Instead, we should expect more of the same. Brentford to score at home, Tottenham to throw everything they have at them in attack, and conceded a few through poor defensive errors along the way.
Bet Now Total Goals - Over 3.5 @ $1.90Arsenal v Manchester City
Manchester City have had their struggles this season. An uncharacteristic run of form all but ended their title campaign before Christmas. Still, there was never a sense of panic. While the midfield is an obvious issue, the expectation has always been for Pep Guardiola to figure things out and adjust.
As a result, City have won three of their last four games in all competitions and are unbeaten in the EPL since the middle of December.
Arsenal, on the other hand, can’t get out of their own way sometimes. The lack of accountability and self-awarness from the manager translates onto the field where Arsenal have become the most red-carded side in the Premier League. Miles Lewis-Skelly has had his red card rescinded, but not before the usual performance surrounding referee’s that transpires after an Arsenal match.
They’re two of the best teams in the Premier League and both will consider this must-win. After coming from behind to beat Chelsea on Matchday 23 and doing so again mid-week against Club Bruge, City look the more likely to deal with the inevitable adversity of a big game.
Bet Now Manchester City to Win @ $3.20Manchester United v Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace are finally starting to look like the Top Half EPL team we pegged them to be before the season kicked off.
They’ve lost only one of their last seven games, and that loss came in a close one against Bournemouth where Brian Mbuemo stuck one home from the penalty spot. Overall, Palace are in promising form and primed to take advantage of a stuttering Manchester United.
As much as Ruben Amorim looks like their manager of the future, it’s a slow burn to start. Coming into this one only three days after a European match doesn’t help either. He’s struggling to generate consistency in the side, and managing minutes doesn’t make it any easier.
United beat Fulham last week, but their expected goals is a massive cause for concern. Amorim’s side managed only four shots in the 1-0 win for 0.15 expected goals. They’d have not claimed even a point against most other teams in the EPL on the day.
With Palace improving and United still unable to put good games together, we’re backing the visitors in for a point.
Bet Now Crystal Palace to Win or Draw @ $1.67