Christmas football is here with the usual Boxing Day treat packed with a host of Premier League matches.
Man City will spend Christmas Day at the top of the table and will look to stay there for the New Year after Liverpool dropped points to Tottenham.
Mohamed Salah has either scored or assisted 25 times already this season and there’s only been 17 gamesgetty
Here’s our betting preview and top tips from the matches this weekend…
Liverpool v Leeds United
Liverpool have won their last three Premier League home games against Leeds, netting 10 goals in the process.
But the visitors are unbeaten in Boxing Day league games since 2014, winning three and drawing one since but will that run extend to the second-placed Reds.
Marcelo Bielsa has not had a good run into Christmas with thrashings from Manchester City and Arsenal, but now faces another top four side this weekend.
This will be Leeds’ fourth consecutive game against a top-four side – the joint-longest run in Premier League history.
To make matters potentially worse, Jurgen Klopp enjoys Boxing Day fixtures, he’s won all four of his league games played on the day for Liverpool.
The last three games between these two sides has seen a huge 12 goals and they will likely be flying in again with the form Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota are on.
The pair have scored 25 league goals between them, this season alone, which is seven more than the entire Leeds side have managed.
talkSPORT EDGE tip: Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota to score and over 3.5 goals at 33/20 (888Sport). Get £30 free bets + £10 casino bonus when you bet £10.
Luke Ayling will be after a better defensive display from his teammates this weekend
Norwich City v Arsenal
Norwich will go into Christmas bottom of the table and will be up against a side they’ve only beaten once in the last 14 attempts.
The Canaries also don’t like a Boxing Day fixture, they’ve lost six and drawn once which is the longest run in the Premier League without winning and they are fancied to extend that run against Mikel Arteta’s side.
Dean Smith’s men don’t have the stats behind them for this tough fixture having won just twice this season and are only a three game losing streak.
Arsenal’s former captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could be redeployed this weekend and has been involved in six goals in just three appearances against Norwich, scoring five.
Meanwhile, other Gunners have also been firing on all cylinders with Gabriel Martinelli also being involved in six league goals in his last six games.
The pair also compliment the fact that Emile Smith Rowe has scored three in just the last 105 minutes, twice coming off the bench to net.
talkSPORT EDGE tip: Martinelli and Smith Rowe to score at 6.51/1 (Betfair). Get up to £50 money back as cash with this bet when you sign up here.*
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Man City v Leicester City
Man City will be hosting Leicester on a fantastic run that has seen them climb to the top of the table with a three point advantage over Liverpool.
They’ve won eight of their last ten league games against the Foxes too which doesn’t bode well for Brendan Rodgers’ side.
But they did surprise in the reverse fixture last term with a 5-2 win as Jamie Vardy netted a hattrick.
However, they don’t perform well after Christmas, they’ve only won once on Boxing Day out of 11 league games… whereas City are unbeaten in eight!
Riyad Mahrez the former Leicester winger has played in five games on Boxing Day, losing them all and will be keen to be involved with the goals against his former side.
But playing for the Citizens on this day could bring him better fortunes as he’s scored twice in the last two league games.
Raheem Sterling is back in the goals this season with three in his last three league games for City and could be favoured this weekend.
talkSPORT EDGE tip: Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez to score at 2.64/1 (Paddy Power). Place this bet and get your money back as cash up to £20 when you sign up here.*
Pep Guardiola has got City firing on all cylinders
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Newcastle v Man United
The Magpies haven’t quite got to winning ways after appointing Eddie Howe but will need to ride the bad wave out as the January transfer window looms to bring in some reinforcements.
Man United will be out to spoil the Christmas party this weekend with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo loving a goal against them.
He scored twice at Old Trafford on his long-awaited return to the Premier League and is likely to be amongst the goals once more as Newcastle have been struggling.
They’ve also had a bad run in Decemeber facing the first and second in the league consecutively after coming up against a strong Leicester side.
But they also got their first win in December over Burnley at the start of the month and will be hoping to give a bit of Christmas cheer to their fans this weekend.
talkSPORT EDGE tip: Cristiano Ronaldo to score two or more at 7/2 (William Hill).
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Cristiano Ronaldo has scored some all-important goals for United already this seasonGetty
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