Premiership - 21st December 2013

Fast approaching Christmas and the one certain thing we can take about the Premiership title race is that it looks sure to be close. Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Man City currently occupy the first 4 positions in the table with nearly half the season gone, separated by just 3 points in total after nearly half the season gone.

There’s been a title shakeup nearly every week and with Arsenal and Chelsea meeting on Monday and Liverpool and Manchester City clashing on Boxing Day, the race seems sure to swing plenty before New Year’s Day once again. Both Arsenal and Chelsea can feel hopeful of striking a big blow for the other’s chances on Monday night, but it looks as if someone’s going to lose ground to Liverpool and Manchester City, both of whom can post comfortable successes on Saturday.

Luis Suarez has scored 8 in his last three games 

Liverpool have had some rough results on the road so far this year but they’ve taken 21 points at home and against a Cardiff side who have been the focus of media attention for Vincent Tan’s shameful treatment of Malky Mackay, can feel confident of making it four straight wins in a row with 14 wins scored in a remarkable period. While they were assisted in a 5-0 thrashing of Tottenham at White Hart Lane by a truly woeful Spurs performance the quality of the attacking play over the last month can’t be denied and Daniel Sturridge’s absence, while a crushing blow, has seen Luis Suarez perform at an even higher level than before with eight of Liverpool’s fourteen in their last 3. Cardiff were value for their hard fought win against West Brom but have scored four goals in their last eight and Liverpool, who have scored 3 or more in their last 5, can beat a 2 goal handicap.

Manchester City would usually be the last team that I’d trust with money away from home but there’s a sign that times may be changing on the road for the Citizens and while they’ve only won two of their eight away league games this season, Fulham have had their poorest first half season in recent memory and are in genuine danger of the drop unless Rene Mulensteen improves them sharply while in recent weeks City have won at West Brom, raken a point from Southampton, and famously beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League. They don’t have injured frontman Sergio Aguero but take a full compliment elsewhere and evens giving up a goal handicap is quite tempting for those willing to take the plunge.

Advice

3 pts Liverpool -2 (7/5 Paddy Power)