It may be holiday season for most of us, but there will be no break for the Premier League's well-paid superstars. England's top division has its traditional busy schedule of fixtures over the festive period, starting with a full slate of games on Boxing Day.
After five winners from selections last weekend, handicapper James Eastham has the best picks on the latest round of matches.
[h=3]Chelsea (home) vs. West Ham United[/h]
Asian handicap: Chelsea 1.5 (+101) vs. West Ham +1.5 (-107)
3-way line: Chelsea -298 / West Ham +945 / Draw +470
PickCenter public consensus moneyline pick: 90 percent Chelsea
Total: 2.75 (over -127, under +115)
Chelsea are short-priced favorites to win, but goals looks to be the bet. It's hard to see why either of these two sides would sit back and defend when a more positive approach is likely to bear fruit. Chelsea set out to dominate at home no matter who they're facing, while West Ham have entertained, excelled and surprised this season with an attacking brand of football that is in stark contrast to what they produced during most of 2013-14, when manager Sam Allardyce's job was under threat.{C}{C}{C}{C}{C}{C}<!--fold--> The stats suggest it will be a high-scoring encounter: Nine of Chelsea's 17 EPL games and 11 of West Ham's EPL games (that's 59 percent in total) have featured three goals or more. With our pick you'll make a profit if there are three goals or more.
The pick: over 2.75 goals (-127)
[h=3]Manchester United (home) vs. Newcastle United[/h]
Asian handicap: Man Utd -1.25 (-117) vs. Newcastle +1.25 (+109)
3-way line: Man Utd -254 / Newcastle +784 / Draw +428
PickCenter public consensus moneyline pick: 92 percent Manchester United
Total: 3 (over -103, under -105)
Every week we ask the same question about Manchester United: How good is this team? Louis van Gaal's side are third in the table and go into this game in excellent form (5-0-1) but have not actually played as well as those results would suggest. A couple of times recently they have been lucky to win games, and last weekend they failed to outplay midtable Aston Villa (1-1).
Newcastle have hit problems recently, but the gulf in class between these two sides is smaller than the odds imply. Newcastle have avoided defeat in five of nine away games this season and Manchester United have won by two goals or more in only three of nine home games. With our pick you'll make money as long as Newcastle avoid defeat by two or more goals.
The pick: Newcastle United +1.25 Asian handicap (+109)
[h=3]Burnley (home) vs. Liverpool[/h]
Asian handicap: Burnley +0.5 (+116) vs. Liverpool -0.5 (-125)
3-way line: Burnley +381 / Liverpool -125 / Draw +290
PickCenter public consensus moneyline pick: 86 percent Liverpool
Total: 2.5 (over -122, under +111)
After struggling to score in the opening two months of the season, Burnley have improved in front of goal in recent weeks, which points towards a high-scoring encounter when they host Liverpool on Boxing Day. The Clarets have scored in nine of their last 11 matches, and in each of their last six fixtures at Turf Moor. The visitors have gained momentum of sorts (2-1-2) to move on from a run of three straight defeats and will play to win against hosts that are among the EPL's weaker sides. Liverpool's 2-2 draw at home to Arsenal last weekend showcased the good and bad of the Reds' recent revival: A never-say-die attitude earned them a deserved late equalizer, but some of their defending was so shoddy, it's hard to see how they can keep a clean sheet this weekend.
The pick: over 2.5 goals (-122)
[h=3]West Bromwich Albion (home) vs. Manchester City[/h]
Asian handicap: West Brom +1 (-103) vs. Man City -1 (-103)
3-way line: West Brom +567 / Man City -183 / Draw +348
PickCenter public consensus moneyline pick: 72 percent Manchester City
Total: 2.5 (over -120, under +109)
Manchester City have the EPL's best away record (6-1-2) and should be too strong for West Brom. What makes City attractive on the Asian handicap is their ability to win games comfortably away from home: They have a plus-12 goal difference from their nine away matches, and the winning margin in five of those six away victories has been two goals or more.
There is little evidence West Brom can halve City's progress: The Baggies have won only four home games all year and lost five of their last seven matches. Recent home defeats for West Brom against Arsenal (0-1) and West Ham (1-2) suggest the hosts will pick up zero points.
The pick: Manchester City -1 Asian handicap (-103)
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