SUNDERLAND v STOKE: JERMAIN DEFOE
Despite desperate bids to try and lure him away, Jermain Defoe is, at times, single-handedly helping Sunderland in their bid to stay up. He has scored a total of 11 goals and created 12 chances in 20 matches so far this campaign.
BURNLEY v SOUTHAMPTON: ANDRE GRAY
He recently returned to Sean Dyche’s Burnley side, and on New Year’s Eve scored his first ever Premier League hat-trick. At home, Burnley’s record has been impressive this season, and I think Gray could bag one on home turf and help us on our way to £250,000.
HULL v BOURNEMOUTH: JOSH KING
Things are looking grim for Hull. They’ve got a whole host of injuries and sit rock bottom of the Premier League table, with just 13 points from 20 games. Despite a poor result against Millwall, The Cherries led Arsenal for much of their last league game, and eventually held them to a 3-3 draw. Josh King has scored three goals this campaign and bagged an assist. Most recently against Swansea a couple of weeks ago.
WATFORD v MIDDLESBROUGH: MARTEN DE ROON
Trying to predict a Middlesbrough goalscorer is never easy. Dutchman Marten de Roon has already matched his highest goalscoring tally this season, and scored in ‘Boro’s FA Cup win over Sheffield Wednesday last week. He seems to be getting into some threatening positions, and may be worth a look-in here.
WEST HAM v CRYSTAL PALACE: ANDY CARROLL
It’s difficult to say which club are having more issues at the moment. Between Palace and their poor results and West Ham and the Dimitri Payet saga, it’s a tough one to call. Carroll, aka the poor man’s Zlatan, has made a return to the first team and found the net against Swansea in the dying moments of the game. It’s a tough one to call, but I’m going with him.
LEICESTER v CHELSEA: DIEGO COSTA
I think every time I’ve put Costa in my selections he has bagged a goal, and I need that sort of banker in my life. He’s scored the most goals of any Premier League player this season (14) and despite The Blues’ loss to Spurs last time out in the league, they can get back on a winning streak at the King Power Stadium.
EVERTON v MANCHESTER CITY: SERGIO AGUERO
Sergio recently moved into third place in Manchester City’s top all-time scorers, and with 18 goals in 12 games in all competitions this season, he’s impossible to ignore here. That’s even after missing seven goals through suspension. Everton crashed out of the FA Cup last weekend and shouldn’t pose too much of a threat to Guardiola’s City, who seem to have found their stride again.
MANCHESTER UNITED v LIVERPOOL: ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC
With 12 victories over Liverpool in their last 15 meetings at Old Trafford, I’m finding it tough not to go with the home side here. The last meeting between these two back in October was a bigger flop than John Stones at City, but I’m confident of more drama up the M62 this time around. In his last 11 appearances for United he has scored or assisted 16 goals and is in frightening form. Juan Mata also has a decent record against The Reds, and could be a good outsider shout.