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Premier League Matchday 21 Odds, Picks & Predictions (2024)

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The Premier League returns this weekend after a short hiatus. There are a few excellent matches on the horizon, as Newcastle hosts Manchester City while Tottenham squares off against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Below, I’ll dive into three contests from the upcoming slate from a betting angle and let you know where I’m placing my money on the pitch for Matchday 21. 

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Premier League Matchday 21 Preview & Best Bets

.Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.

Newcastle United (+400) vs. Manchester City (-160), DRAW (+330) | 2.5 (-155/+125)

The Magpies are an excellent example showing just how hard it is to stay dominant in the top flights of European soccer. They were bounced in the group stage of the Champions League and they’re now ninth in the PL table (29 points). As for City, they’re still in contention for a fourth straight domestic title, sitting in third place (40 points). This clash is scheduled for Saturday the 13th at 12:30 p.m. ET from St. James’ Park in Newcastle. 

The offense hasn’t really been the issue for Newcastle this season, although it has gone missing occasionally. They come into this contest ranked fifth in scoring (39 goals) and third in expected goals (xG), with 39.2. Considering Eddie Howe’s bunch is back at home, where they’re averaging 2.3 goals per match this year, I think they’ll be able to find the back of the net at least once. 

That should be all we need to help push City’s dynamic offense into action. Occasionally they can get comfortable and try to win games 1-0 or 2-0. However, Pep Guardiola knows his squad needs the three points against this slumping Newcastle squad. The champs will likely need at least two goals to prevail here. Luckily, they bring in the fourth-best xG mark (36.8) while boasting the league’s best overall offense (45 goals). To avoid some of the juice at 2.5 goals, I’ll bump this one up to 2.75 goals on the Asian handicap. Let’s sit back and enjoy these two elite offenses – give me the over. 

Bet: Over 2.75 (-130) 

Manchester United (+115) vs. Tottenham (+205), DRAW (+300) | 3.5 (+105/-125)

This campaign has been a rollercoaster ride for both Manchester United and Tottenham. After sitting atop the table for a while, Spurs have dropped to fifth with 39 points. United is currently eighth after a 1-1-3 stretch, where they have just 31 points. Kickoff is slated for Sunday the 14th at 11:30 a.m. ET from Old Trafford, Manchester. 

As you noticed above, the recent run for United has left little to be desired. Honestly, there’s nobody with a hotter seat than Erik ten Hag, whose name has constantly come up as a candidate to get sacked. With that being said, I’m going to fade the Red Devils again in this spot. 

While United hasn’t been playing well recently, Spurs are trending up again, going 4-0-1 in their last five domestic matches. They’ve played extremely well on the road this season, going 5-3-2 while averaging 2.2 goals per match. If they can score a pair of goals in this game, I’ll feel extremely confident that we cover this +0.5-goal spread. They’ll have a favorable matchup against a Manchester United side that’s just 12th in expected goals against (xGA), sitting at 32.5. I like Tottenham to win this game outright, or at least settle for a point on the road. 

Bet: Tottenham +0.5 (-145)

Sheffield United (+230) vs. West Ham United (+115), DRAW (+235) | 2.5 (-105/-130)

With the way the matchday is set up, the schedule is stretched out over a couple of weeks. That means this showdown between Sheffield United (20th, 9 points) and West Ham (6th, 34 points) is scheduled for Sunday, January 21st. It gets underway at 9:00 a.m. ET from Bramall Lane in Sheffield. 

Things have not gone well for the Blades this season as they’re currently the relegation favorite at DraftKings, sitting at -2500 to get bounced to the depths of English soccer. They have picked up at least one point in three of their 10 home matches (2-1-7) this year. However, that’s still a 70% rate where opponents have earned a full three points against them. Sheffield’s defense has been atrocious at home, allowing 2.4 goals per match. They’re also dead last in overall xGA at 39.9. 

I think the Hammers avoid a letdown in this spot and secure three points. They haven’t surrendered a goal in their last four matches (3-1-0), out-scoring their opposition 7-0. West Ham brings in the ninth-best offense, where they’ve managed to score 33 times. If these guys are serious about breaking into the top five, there’s no way they can leave these easy points on the table. Let’s ride with David Moyes and his Irons on the road. 

Bet: West Ham Moneyline (+115)

Make sure to check out our other best bets for Saturday:

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