It may be a new year, but the stars of the English Premier League have been given no rest, as a full program of matches takes place over the next few days.
Here are our favorite props for Monday's matches as the EPL charges into 2018.
Bournemouth the pick in a low-scorer
Bournemouth lost to Brighton in their last eight meetings in all competitions, but the two sides are having comparable seasons in the EPL. They’re separated by just two points and two places and have both won just once in their last five games, meaning this match really is a coin flip.
Goals from Andrew Surman and Jermain Defoe gave Bournemouth a come-from-behind win in their first EPL meeting in September, and Bournemouth doubled the pain over their South Coast rivals by knocking them out of the EFL Cup four days later with a Josh King strike in extra time sinking the Seagulls.
Brighton has been goal-shy at home of late, having managed just two goals in their last four games at the Amex Stadium, while Bournemouth is in decent goal-scoring form, netting five times in their last two outings.
Bournemouth’s form in front of goal means we’re leaning toward an away win, with the best value prop we’ve seen the +400 available on Bournemouth winning the game with under 2.5 overall goals.
PROP PICK: BOURNEMOUTH + UNDER 2.5 GOALS @ +400 (WILLIAM HILL)
In-form Mo’s the way to go
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side may be too far adrift of Manchester City to challenge for the title this season, but make no mistake, they’re moving in the right direction for next season.
They’re second in the EPL in scoring behind City, with 48 goals in their 21 games to date, and they’ve found the net in 16 of their last 17 games in all competitions.
In a stout Burnley side, Liverpool will face a stern defense that has allowed just six goals at Turf Moor this season — making them the third-best home defense in the EPL. However, they don’t score many, either, and have the second WORST home attack in the league, with just seven goals in their 10 home games to date.
The man to watch in this game is undoubtedly Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian has been a revelation for the Reds this season; he netted twice on Saturday to give Liverpool a 2-1 win over Leicester at Anfield.
A look at Salah’s goal-scoring record shows that he scores his goals in bunches. He’s scored in back-to-back games on no less than NINE occasions so far this season, and he can extend that record to 10 with a goal at Turf Moor on New Year’s Day.
With Liverpool — and Salah — in superb form in front of goal, that’s a bet worth considering.
PROP PICK: MO SALAH TO SCORE AT ANY TIME +110
Vardy to set up Foxes
Leicester hitman Jamie Vardy has hit his stride during the festive period, hitting the back of the net in three of the last four EPL games for the Foxes as they’ve looked to keep pace with the top six.
Vardy struck against Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool over a testing period of games for Leicester, and he'll be confident about the chances of adding to his tally of nine EPL goals when Huddersfield arrives at the King Power Stadium for their New Year’s Day clash.
He’s a +300 shot with William Hill to open the scoring. Not bad odds at all for a man in form.
PROP PICK: JAMIE VARDY TO SCORE FIRST @ +300 (WILLIAM HILL)
Rash to settle Toffees clash?
Manchester United has been hit hard with injuries. The side recently suffered a double injury blow with strikers Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku both ruled out for the away trip to Goodison Park to face Everton.
It means Jose Mourinho will likely turn to young gun Marcus Rashford to fill the void, and the young striker’s mentality is such that the pressure will be no concern for him whatsoever.
United hasn't lost to Everton since the back end of the 2014-15 season, and they should have enough in their locker to prevail with a changed side at Goodison Park.
Rashford is +400 to open the scoring and +140 to score at any time.
It’s also worth noting that Wayne Rooney could well face his old club, and it would be no surprise that — if Everton scored — Rooney would be the man on the scoresheet. He’s +275 to score at any time.
PROP PICKS: MARCUS RASHFORD TO SCORE FIRST @ +400 WAYNE ROONEY TO SCORE AT ANY TIME @ +275
[Main image credit: kstuttard, Pixabay (Creative Commons)]
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