Premier League: Southampton to be spurred on by Tottenham’s form

After an action-packed Christmas period of football, what better way to welcome in a new decade than a host of Premier League games? New Year’s Day football brings with it nine fixtures, including a potentially tricky trip to the south coast for Tottenham and a visit from in-form Everton for Manchester City.

Spurs to find little solace at Saints

There’s no doubting that Tottenham’s results have improved since the appointment of Jose Mourinho, but there is still much cause for concern. Their recent results suggest that inconsistency still poses a threat to the outcome of their season. An added-time Jan Vertonghen goal was needed to take the three points at Wolves in mid-December before losing 2-0 to Chelsea, while then having to come from behind against Brighton and then going on to draw at Norwich last time out.

Tottenham are on the road again here as they kick off 2020 with a trip to the seaside to face a Southampton outfit who are unbeaten in three and could prove another difficult one to navigate for the north Londoners. Southampton’s weakness has been their defence, keeping just one clean sheet in their last 15 in the league, which is only just worse than Spurs’ one in 12. That said, Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side’s recent outings have all been pretty low-scoring, with under 2.5 goals being scored in three of their last four.

Without Spurs’ star forward Son Heung-min, who is still serving his three-match ban, it could be another low-scoring affair at St Mary’s. Under 2.5 goals can be backed at 21/20.

Man City won’t come unstuck against Toffees

It has been a slightly turbulent festive period for Manchester City who, 48 hours before beating Sheffield United on Sunday, lost to 3-2 to Wolves at Molineux. Now they are back in action at home against a solid Everton side who are unbeaten in their last five in the Premier League.

The visitors now have two wins from two under Carlo Ancelotti, taking a 2-1 win at Newcastle on Saturday after a Boxing Day victory over Burnley. They have lost six and drawn two of their eight away games this season though, making this Ancelotti’s toughest test of his short reign so far.

The Citizens have managed just two clean sheets in their last ten league games but have also netted in all of their last six at home and, of their seven home wins so far, have won all but two by at least a two-goal margin. City have been leading at the break in five of their home fixtures, while they have had six different scorers across their last three games, and so it seems a no-brainer to turn to a goals market. Three total match goals is available at a potentially lucrative 29/10.

Man United to upset the odds at Arsenal

In the majority of cases, when a club appoints a new manager, they often experience some good opening results. New Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has taken just one point from his first two games in charge. The Gunners came back to earn a draw at Bournemouth on Boxing Day before losing a London derby to Chelsea last time out. They were both testing opponents for any team to navigate though, and despite squandering a lead, the 2-1 defeat to the Blues did come with some encouraging signs for Arsenal, who will need to be on top form for yet another tough game this time around.

Manchester United go into this game fifth in the league after putting two straight wins together, against Newcastle and Burnley, following their loss against Watford before Christmas. And they are favourites to take the three points here at 6/4, with Arsenal 17/10.

United have dropped points in seven of their past ten outings on the road but travelling to a hugely under-performing side with a new manager will be something they are more than capable of capitalising upon. They’ve stumbled just once in their previous nine league games so keep it simple and back the Red Devils for the win at 6/4.

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