Week 12 was another good one for Liverpool, who opened up a massive eight-point advantage at the top of the Premier League.
Is it Liverpool’s title to lose? It might be if they beat Manchester City next Sunday. This was another fine weekend for Arne Slot’s Reds, even if their win at Southampton was unconvincing.
At the wrong end, Wolves were the only team in the bottom half to win (unless West Ham pull off an upset at Newcastle on Monday night). Despite most things going to plan, there was still plenty for us to learn.
Here’s five things we learned about the 2024/25 Premier League this week from our football tipster and statto Andrew Beasley.
Ange ball is bananas
Which is the only team to win by four goals twice? Name a club that has lost after being 2-0 up at half time. Which side has beaten Manchester City twice in all competitions? Who is the only team to lose to Crystal Palace? Or Ipswich?
The answer to all these questions, as you’ve no doubt guessed, is Tottenham. They make for great fun to watch but they are a bettor’s nightmare. Spurs have won six league games, none of them by a one-goal margin. They are utterly bananas, mate.
Samba Wolves
The player performance of the weekend was by Matheus Cunha. Fulham were expected to beat Wolves easily, but the Brazilian delivered two goals and an assist to carry Gary O’Neil’s side to a 4-1 victory at Craven Cottage.
Cunha has made more goal contributions on the road (six) than at Molineux (four) in the Premier League this season. The record for non-penalty goals and assists away from home in a 38-game campaign is 20, jointly held by Luis Suarez in 2013/14 and Alexis Sanchez three years later.
It will be tough for a man playing for a relegation struggler to match that. But Cunha’s rate per 90 minutes is matching Sanchez. It must be a South American thing.
Wolves’ next away game is at Everton, so I would be looking at Cunha in the goal or assist markets if I were you.
Sticky Toffee times coming
Speaking of the Toffees, they stumbled to a goalless draw with Brentford on Saturday. It was a tough game to predict, as Everton’s matches are dour whereas the Bees bring chaos. Across Brentford’s first 11 matches, there had only been one clean sheet, either for or against them.
When Christian Norgaard was sent off in the first half, the Goodison Park faithful would’ve been expecting a win. Sorry, folks, Thomas Frank’s side is too well-drilled for that. They restricted Everton to 0.77 expected goals in the second half.
Based on opposition points-per-game, the Toffees have had the easiest start of any team. They have yet to play any of the top four and have 11 away games remaining against the current top 13 sides. Everton’s price to be relegated looks mighty enticing.
Jackson’s a thriller
Chelsea’s 2-1 win at Leicester was far closer than it had any right to be. Prior to Jordan Ayew’s 95th minute penalty, the expected goal totals were 2.7 to 0.3 in the visitors’ favour. Enzo Maresca’s boys were set on their way by a Nicolas Jackson strike in the 15th minute. He now has six goals and two assists in his last 10 games, a very tidy total.
At Leicester, he became the ninth player to have at least three shots and put them all on target in a Premier League game this season. While that was extreme, Jackson is the only man to have at least one effort on target in every match week in 2024/25.
He’s getting more efficient in front of goal, but if you want a player for a shot or shots on target bet, Jackson is looking unstoppable.
Goal shy Red Devils
Ruben Amorim wasn’t going to solve Manchester United’s problems immediately. Rome wasn’t built in a day and nor was it built on over a decade of chronic mismanagement and dreadful transfers.
Perhaps a 1-1 draw at Ipswich was inevitable. The Tractor Boys are joint-fourth in the Premier League for matches in which both teams scored, but joint-bottom for games featuring at least three goals. Cue 1-1s galore.
And United’s biggest problem played into this. Only three teams have conceded fewer goals than United this season, but only three have scored fewer.
Despite what they often showed under Erik ten Hag, a solid foundation is there. But until Amorim wakes the attack up, United’s games will be goal shy so bet accordingly. They’ve got Everton at home next week, that should liven them up a bit, right?
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