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It’s time for the EPL Matchday 23 Top Picks! It’s nothing but misery at Old Trafford this season, as Manchester United are in 13th in the English Premier League table after 22 matches.
They took an ugly 3-1 home loss against Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday, and manager Ruben Anorim says that this team might be the worst in the storied history of the club.
They sit 10 points clear of relegation at this point, but Anorim’s remarks might still be accurate. They’ve lost six of their first 12 home matches in EPL play, the most in the first 12 home dates since 1893-1894.
In 22 total EPL matches, they have 10 losses. The last time they only needed 22 matches to reach 10 losses was 1989-90. The side finished eighth in the EPL table last year, the worst finish ever – and now they’re stuck in 13th.
Anorim has said that he doesn’t plan to change his approach, but it seems clear that his approach and strategy are not working with the players on the field.
No player has scored more Premier League goals than Phil Foden in 2025 ✨ pic.twitter.com/vVNfU3kf8U
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 19, 2025
Soccer Betting: EPL Matchday 23 Top Picks, Futures and Props
Bournemouth +105 vs Nottingham Forest +250 (Draw +275)
EPL Prediction: Bournemouth to win
When: Saturday, January 25, 10:00 am ET
Bournemouth
Bournemouth will bring their high-powered offense back home after an away 4-1 shellacking of Newcastle United on Saturday. Justin Kluivert only needed six minutes to score for the visitors. Bruno Gulmaraes drew Newcastle level in the 25th minute, but Kluivert got the visitors back in front just before halftime. In injury time at the end of the second half, Bournemouth turned insult into injury as Kluivert completed his hat trick and Milos Kerkez slotted a ball home four minutes later. Nottingham Forest only possessed for 44% of the match but outshot the hosts, 19-13 (10-5 on target). The visitors were whistled for 18 fouls and shown six yellow cards in a show of physicality.
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest continue their winning ways, still in third place in the table. They hosted Southampton last week and won in an unnecessary nailbiter, 3-2. The hosts saw goals from Elliot Anderson, Callum Hudson-Odol and Chris Wood in the first half and went into the intermission with that comfortable 3-0 goal. Southampton came out after the break and got a goal from Jan Bednarek, but that 3-1 margin looked solid until Paul Onuachu scored in injury time, making the last few minutes fraught with worry. Nottingham Forest held on for the win.
Manchester City -110 vs Chelsea +290 (Draw +300)
EPL Prediction: City to win
When: Saturday, January 25, 12:30 pm ET
Man City
City are right on the edge of Champions League qualification for next year, tied with Newcastle United for fourth but holding the edge in goal differential by three. They made a big statement in goal differential last week as they went to Ipswich Town and dealt out a 6-0 lesson. Goals came from Mateo Kovacic, Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland (the man with the 9 ½-year contract extension), James McAtee, and Phil Foden, who had a brace in the first half. City possessed for 68% of the match and outshot the hosts, 17-8 (9-4 on target).
Chelsea
Next up for City is a much tougher test, as sixth-place Chelsea come calling. Chelsea host Wolves on Monday before this Sunday fixture; their last action was a 2-2 home draw with Bournemouth on January 14. Chelsea opened the scoring with a 13th-minute tally from Cole Palmer. Bournemouth drew level in the 50th minute as Justin Kluivert converted from the spot and then moved ahead 18 minutes later with a goal from Antoine Semenyo. It looked like Chelsea might leave the pitch without a single point, but then Reece James scored in injury time to salvage the draw. The Blues are winless in their last five, and City are finally showing signs of waking up to their championship form.
Fulham +130 vs Manchester United +205 (Draw +245)
EPL Prediction: Fulham to win
When: Sunday, January 26, 2:00 pm ET
Fulham
They went to Leicester City and beat the Foxes, 2-0. The first half was scoreless, but then Emile Smith Rowe broke through for Fulham in the 48th minute. Twenty minutes later, Adama Traore provided the insurance goal as Fulham out shot the hosts, 17-8, but made both of their on-target shots count. Fulham possessed for 61% of the match and completed 85% of their passes, but a lot of their shots were from distance or simply went wide before the simple edge in possession forced things in the visitors’ direction.
Brighton
The Seagulls only needed five minutes to find the back of the Manchester United net in Sunday’s matchup. The hosts got a goal from the spot courtesy of Bruno Fernandes, and matters went into halftime deadlocked at a goal apiece. Kaoru Mitoma scored in the 60th minute, and then Georginio Rutter salted away the win 16 minutes later. Man U outshot the visitors, 10-6, but Brighton got all three of their on-target shots home, while the hosts only managed one whot on frame despite possessing for 52% of the match. Given the doldrums in which Manchester United find themselves – and given their manager’s public willingness to acknowledge the size of the disconnect between his approach and his players – I don’t see this going well.
EPL Matchday 23 Top Picks, Best Futures and Props for the Week
Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest OVER 3.5 goals
In Bournemouth’s last five matches, the teams have combined to beat this total four times. This has only happened once in Nottingham Forest’s last five games, but that occurrence came this past weekend. Bournemouth had a high-flying offense, and when problems occur, they come from holes opening in the back line because of that aggressive attack. Nottingham Forest have shown they can clamp down on opponents and win grinders, but I think Bournemouth can drive the rhythm here.
Fulham vs Manchester United – Raul Jimenez anytime goalscorer
In 10 of Fulham’s last 11 home EPL matches, both teams have scored. The same has been true for four of Man U’s last six away EPL matches. So expect there to be room for offense, and for Fulham, few scorers have been as hot at home as Jimenez, who has four goals combined over Fulham’s last three home EPL matches.
Which teams will round out the top four in the final table?
Even with a match in hand, Liverpool are six points clear of Arsenal and Nottingham Forest in the English Premier League table. After Arsenal and Nottingham Forest come Manchester City and Newcastle, level with 38 points each, and then come Chelsea and Bournemouth (37), Aston Villa (36) and Brighton (34). There’s still plenty of time for movement, with 16 matches left on the calendar. So which teams represent the best value for a futures wager?
Nottingham Forest (+175)
The Forest offers some intriguing value here. Relative newcomers to the top of the table, they have not yet earned the same betting respect that has seen Manchester City show up with a -225 moneyline on the same prop. Nottingham Forest have shown they can win tight defensive battles, but they have also shown they can win when the game speeds up.
Will the bright lights of EPL pressure start to wear on this team? Maybe, but they have shown confidence week after week and are starting to win the reverse fixtures with teams that historically have towered above them in English soccer. Bournemouth (+800) is another team that looks fascinating because of their ability to pour in the goals. If they can shore up some of their back-line issues, they won’t have to win as many barnburners, but the hope is that those adjustments won’t eat away at their attack.
Eight matches unbeaten in a row, and now level on points with Arsenal in second-place!
Nuno Espirito Santo is masterminding an incredible season at @NFFC 👏 pic.twitter.com/Y6rHtrI8Pu
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 19, 2025
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EPL Matchday 23 Top Picks, 2025 Season
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