Sports news

Bournemouth are aiming to return to form when they welcome Watford to Vitality Stadium on Wednesday night.

The Cherries collected just six points from seven league matches in December and suffered a 4-1 defeat at Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday. Furthermore, Eddie Howe’s men have lost five of their last six matches in all competitions.

Watford were held at home by Newcastle United on Saturday and are looking to consolidate their place in the top half of the table as 2019 begins.

Editors’ Picks

• • ‘Happy New Year Everyone’ – Ronaldo, Mbappe, Neymar and Modric celebrate the start of 2019
  • Ozil, Isco and 10 players who need a January transfer
  • Morata, Hazard and the winners and losers of Sarri’s first six months at Chelsea
  • Resurgent Man City avert crisis but must do more in Liverpool title clash

Latest odds

Bournemouth can be backed at 7/5 (2.40) with SportPesa to return to winning ways when Watford provide the opposition.

Javi Gracia’s men are available at 39/20 (2.95) to come out on top, while the odds compilers offer 49/20 (3.45) that the match ends all square.

Team news

Simon Francis has joined Lewis Cook and Adam Smith on Bournemouth’s long-term injury list. Dan Gosling remains absent for the hosts too.

Christian Kabasele, Sebastian Prodl and Andre Gray are all out for the Hornets.

Tough to separate?

The Cherries thumped Watford 4-0 at Vicarage Road back in October – their first Premier League win against the Hornets.

Prior to that, five of the previous six matches between the teams had ended in a draw. SportPesa offer 6/5 (2.20) that this renewal is level at half-time.

Goals aplenty?

William Hill go that there are more than three goals – the 19/10 (2.90) quote would have landed in four of the last five meetings between these teams.

Prediction

The Hornets will be determined to offer up much greater resistance than they did when these teams met at Vicarage Road. Gracia’s men have lost just one of their last five fixtures and will travel to Vitality Stadium in confident mood.

For more predictions on football games be sure to check out Footyaccumulators as they provide daily insights. Posting football betting predictions daily, they remain one of the top websites to go to before you place a bet.

SportPesa’s Even money (2.0) quote for the Hornets to win in the “Draw No Bet” market could represent real value. This wager sees stakes returned if the match ends all square.

With Bournemouth struggling for form and dealing with some key defensive absentees, there appears to be plenty to like about keeping Watford on side in a clash that is usually well-matched.

Watford to win (Draw no Bet) at Evens (2.0) for a 1pt stake with SportPesa

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Algeria coach Djamel Belmadi says striker Baghdad Bounedjah’s place in the national team will not be affected by his decision to stay in Qatar.

The striker last week signed a new deal that will keep him with Al Sadd until 2024 amid reported interest from English Premier League teams.

He also beat Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronald to finish the calendar year 2018 as the world’s top scorer after netting 58 goals across all competitions.

Editors’ Picks

• ‘Happy New Year Everyone’ – Ronaldo, Mbappe, Neymar and Modric celebrate the start of 2019
• Ozil, Isco and 10 players who need a January transfer
• Morata, Hazard and the winners and losers of Sarri’s first six months at Chelsea
• Resurgent Man City avert crisis but must do more in Liverpool title clash

With his national team coach Belmadi acknowledging that a transfer to Europe was ideal, he also said it would have been badly timed move for the striker to switch clubs in January and try settling in ahead of June’s Africa Cup of Nations finals.

“I talked to him about it and he knows my position,” Belmadi was quoted as saying by Afrik Foot.

“He’s up and running with Al Sadd and the national team. It’s important for his career and his goals to play in Europe, but for me it’s not the right time to leave. There’s the Afcon at the end of the season and going to Europe now would need him to adapt. The game time will be one of the selection criteria so he must be careful. I do think it’s the right time to leave.”

Bounedjah’s 2018 goal scoring tally included 39 league goals, 13 in the Asian Champions League and six for the Algerian national team who have already qualified for Afcon.

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Kevin De Bruyne will undergo a late fitness test to see whether he can be fit to face Liverpool, says Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.

De Bruyne’s season has been wrecked by a pair of medial knee ligament injuries but on Boxing Day he made his first start of the 2018-19 Premier League campaign in a defeat to Leicester City.

The Belgium international subsequently missed City’s 3-1 win over Southampton that ensured they are now seven points behind the league leaders, who visit the Etihad Stadium on Thursday.

Editors’ Picks

• ‘Happy New Year Everyone’ – Ronaldo, Mbappe, Neymar and Modric celebrate the start of 2019
• Ozil, Isco and 10 players who need a January transfer
• Morata, Hazard and the winners and losers of Sarri’s first six months at Chelsea
• Resurgent Man City avert crisis but must do more in Liverpool title clash

City’s chances of chasing down Liverpool would be much improved were De Bruyne available, but Guardiola is unsure whether the midfielder will make his squad.

“He trained today but we need to check in the morning,” Guardiola said. “He is much better.”

Finally. pic.twitter.com/18TucrDrgE
— Kevin De Bruyne (@DeBruyneKev) December 15, 2018

Thursday’s match is likely to be pivotal in the title race with Liverpool having the chance to stretch their advantage over City to a double-digit lead.

City can narrow the gap to a more manageable four points with a victory, though, and Guardiola is determined to stay positive despite Liverpool’s form.

“Our reality is clear, we have seven points down, so it will be the second game of the second leg [of the season], a lot of points to play [for],” he told a press conference on Wednesday. 

“It’s a big opportunity for us to reduce the gap but our focus is the same. Everyone is asking if we lose – if we lose, we lose. But we are going to try to make our game, win it and fight as far as possible for our chance to win the Premier League.

“Listen, I cannot figure out or imagine what happened in the past will happen in the future. Winning games in the past doesn’t mean it will happen in the future. I have the feeling we can beat everybody, but everybody can beat us. We beat them 5-0 here, but last season.

“It’s Liverpool, my friends, along with [Manchester] United the best team in England in history. Of course, they can beat us but, of course, we can beat them. It is what it is. They’re in top form. They are in that moment the best team in Europe with consistency and controlling details but it is a chance for us to reduce the gap.

“Focus on what we can do to win the game. People keep asking what happens if we lose, but what happens if we win? After, we analyse, and three days later the FA Cup, then EFL Cup, then Wolves, and at the end of the season we’ll see.”

Despite City lagging behind Liverpool due to back-to-back losses against Crystal Palace and Leicester, Guardiola insists he is happy with his side’s title defence so far.

“I am so glad, I am delighted, we have a lot of points,” he continued. “We dropped some at home we didn’t expect against Crystal Palace but they were so precise, three shots on target and three goals.

“But one team has been better, we have to congratulate them. I know what happens when you win with 100 points, nice words from everybody, but how hard it is to come back [and do it again]. But we did it. And I’m delighted with the players, staff, everybody.”

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Manchester United’s revival under the guidance of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer goes on, with the Norwegian seeking to make it a perfect 12 points from 12 when the Red Devils face Newcastle on Wednesday.

Under Solskjaer, United have claimed easy wins over Cardiff, Huddersfield and Bournemouth, scoring 12 goals and conceding only three.

Newcastle, meanwhile, are in the midst of a mediocre campaign that is threatening to end in a relegation battle, with only 18 points and four victories from 20 league outings.  

Editors’ Picks

• ‘Happy New Year Everyone’ – Ronaldo, Mbappe, Neymar and Modric celebrate the start of 2019
• Ozil, Isco and 10 players who need a January transfer
• Morata, Hazard and the winners and losers of Sarri’s first six months at Chelsea
• Resurgent Man City avert crisis but must do more in Liverpool title clash

Anything other than defeat would surely be a welcome New Year bonus for Rafael Benitez’s side.

Game	Newcastle vs Manchester United
Date	Wednesday, January 2
Time	8pm GMT / 3pm ET
Stream (US)	fubo TV (7-day free trial)

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TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch

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In the United States (US), the game can be watched live and on-demand with fuboTV (7-day free trial) .

New users can sign up for a free seven-day trial of the live sports streaming service, which can be accessed via iOS, Android, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV as well as on a web browser.

US TV channel	Online stream
NBC Sports Gold	fubo TV (7-day free trial)

In the United Kingdom (UK), the game can be watched live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League and streamed on Sky Go.

UK TV channel	Online stream
Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Premier League	Sky Go

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Squads & Team News

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Position	Newcastle players
Goalkeepers	Dubravka, Woodman
Defenders	Yedlin, Lascelles, Fernandez, Dummett, Ritchie, Schar, Manquillo, Lejeune
Midfielders	Diame, Atsu, Perez, Kenedy, Hayden, Murphy, Longstaff, Shelvey
Forwards	Rondon, Muto, Joselu

Newcastle are still without Karl Darlow and Ciaran Clark but Jonjo Shelvey could start for the first time since early November.

Florian Lejeune is a doubt along with Federico Fernandez.

Ki Sung-Yueng is missing due to international commitments as he joins up with the South Korea squad in preparation for the Asian Cup.

Possible Newcastle starting XI: Dubravka; Yedlin, Fernandez, Lascelles, Dummett; Ritchie, Shelvey, Diame, Kenedy; Perez, Rondon.

Position	Manchester United players
Goalkeepers	De Gea, Grant, Romero
Defenders	Jones, Dalot, Shaw, Young, Valencia, Darmian
Midfielders	Pogba, Mata, Matic, McTominay, Herrera, Lingard, Pereira, Fred, Fellaini, Gomes, Hamilton
Forwards	Lukaku, Rashford, Martial, Chong, Bohui

Alexis Sanchez is set to return to the squad after injury, but there are fresh worries over Marcus Rashford and Antonio Valencia, who both may not be fit enough to play.

There are some headaches in the heart of the defence, meanwhile, where Eric Bailly is banned and Chris Smalling and Marcos Rojo are both injured.

Possible Man Utd starting XI: De Gea; Young, Jones, Lindelof, Shaw; Herrera, Matic; Mata, Pogba, Martial; Lukaku.

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Betting & Match Odds

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Cardiff are priced at odds of 19/4 to win, according to bet 365, while a draw is available at 31/10. A win for the Red Devils is priced at 13/20.

Click here to see all of bet 365’s offers for the game, including goalscoring markets, correct score predictions and more.

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Match Preview

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Manchester United may not have been properly tested under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but as the old adage goes: you can only beat what’s in front of you.

United have been doing just that – and in some style, too.

Victories over Cardiff, Huddersfield and Bournemouth have come in blistering style, with the resurgence of the team coinciding with a dramatic upswing in the form of World Cup-winning midfielder Paul Pogba.

“I can definitely, definitely, see the Paul I used to know,” Jesse Lingard said . “He has the freedom to make things happen. He has always got forward in that position and scored goals.

“Ole has helped him 100%. He has given him the confidence and licence to be free, to play his game and do what we know he can.”

Meanwhile, Pogba told Sky Sports: “Everyone is enjoying themselves. We are coming back, and there is still a long way to go, but to finish the year like that is beautiful.

“We are Manchester United and we need to be at the top of the league.”

But there is an obligation at Old Trafford to play beautiful football as well as winning, according to Solskjaer.

“We have been at home two games now and the crowd, we have to entertain them,” he explained.

Newcastle, though, represent dangerous opponents, having beaten United 1-0 at St James’ Park last season.

Rafael Benitez’s side have lost only one of their last four Premier League matches, though that was a heavy 4-0 loss at Liverpool on Boxing Day. 

With United in rampant form, they will be concerned about slipping to another such loss.

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A Premier League title showdown will take place at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday, when Manchester City will be desperate for victory over leaders Liverpool.

Pep Guardiola’s men have slipped to seven points adrift of first place after a run of three defeats in five league matches, casting doubt on their ability to retain the title they won with such ease last campaign.

Latest odds

However, having run out emphatic 5-0 winners in last season’s league meeting at this ground, they are 21/20 (2.05) favourites with bet365 to take back some initiative with a crucial victory here.

Editors’ Picks

• ‘Happy New Year Everyone’ – Ronaldo, Mbappe, Neymar and Modric celebrate the start of 2019
• Ozil, Isco and 10 players who need a January transfer
• Morata, Hazard and the winners and losers of Sarri’s first six months at Chelsea
• Resurgent Man City avert crisis but must do more in Liverpool title clash

The Reds are yet to suffer a single defeat after 20 league games, and are available at 5/2 (3.50) to stretch their lead over the champions to 10 points by coming out on top in their own back yard.

These sides shared a 0-0 draw when they met at Anfield back in October, and there are odds of 29/10 (3.90) on offer on this one also finishing up all square.

Team news

Fabian Delph will serve the second match of his three-game suspension, while Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan are both doubtful due to injury.

James Milner could be in contention after returning to training, although Joel Matip, Joe Gomez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain remain long-term absentees.

End-to-end clash

Having shared 18 goals in four frantic meetings last season, both teams seemed determined not to give anything away when they met in that goalless stalemate earlier this campaign.

However, the Citizens will need to show more ambition as they look to make up the ground they have lost in recent weeks, making another cagey affair seem unlikely.

Looking back to their most lethal attacking form after scoring 21 goals in the last five league games, Jurgen Klopp’s men will certainly back themselves to take advantage of any opportunities on the counter attack.

Predictions

With City having scored 35 goals in 10 league games at home but gone 10 fixtures without a clean sheet, odds of 10/11 (1.91) appear generous on both them and Liverpool finding the net in an exciting clash that produces at least three goals.

Odds correct at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.

Over 2.5 goals and both teams to score for a 2pt stake at 10/11 (1.91) with bet365

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