As the favorites for the title begin to take shape and the stars of the season take the reins, each new Premier League matchday brings a surge of betting opportunities.
We have seven games to target on Saturday's EPL schedule, and our staff has come up with picks for four of them. Continue reading for our Premier League best bets for Saturday, January 17.
English Premier League Best Bets
The club logos in the table below represent each match that our soccer betting staff is targeting from today's games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
| Match | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 7:30 a.m. | |
  | 10 a.m. | |
  | 10 a.m. | |
  | 12:30 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our soccer Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Manchester City vs. Manchester United
Following the departure of Ruben Amorim, all Darren Fletcher could muster was a league draw with Burnley and a loss against Brighton that saw them drop out of the FA Cup. The Red Devils are now winless in four of the last five domestically, and are looking to Michael Carrick to stop this winless streak on his debut.
Carrick is taking over during a tough period, with formidable opponents like City and Arsenal in his first two matches, and high expectations from both management and fans. Luckily, he should be aware of what awaits him, having previously worked at United as caretaker manager and assistant manager.
Meanwhile, City had the chance to close the gap at the top but ultimately failed, returning just 9 points from the last 5 games. In the three consecutive ties, the Citizens won the xG battle twice, failing only against Chelsea.
Still, City boasts the second-best defense in the Premier League, allowing a mere 0.9 goals per game. While it’ll be hard to completely lock down the hosts at Old Trafford, it should be enough.
Pick: Manchester City to Win
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Brentford vs. Chelsea
Despite falling to win any of the last five Premier League matches, Chelsea enters this duel heavily favored. The Blues went from one of the biggest title contenders to 8th place. The Blues have failed to win in their last five games, and with three draws, have returned just 0.6 PPG (points per game) over that period.
Brentford has climbed into fifth place on the back of an undefeated run in its last six domestic games, taking a two-point lead over Chelsea in eighth. The Bees have also found their way on the road, winning two consecutive away games, significantly improving their travel record.
Three of the last five H2H matches have ended in a draw, and with Chelsea’s struggles to secure wins, we find value in backing a tie here. Keith Andrews’s team won’t be thrilled to split points, but despite Chelsea’s recent troubles will find it hard to collect all three.
Pick: Draw
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West Ham United vs. Tottenham
Thomas Frank is under mounting pressure, with Tottenham struggling in the Premier League and out of the FA Cup. However, his team faces a relegation-endangered West Ham side here, so we are backing the home side to secure a much-needed win.
West Ham was knocked out of the FA Cup by QPR at the weekend, meaning it has failed to win any of its last 11 matches across all competitions. Moreover, the Hammers come into this game having lost five of their last six Premier League matches, with one draw. Over that period, Nuno’s team has conceded an average of 2.33 goals per game and scored just 0.83.
Despite its own struggles, Tottenham has fared significantly better than West Ham and sits 13 points above the visitors in the table. Bournemouth needed a 95th-minute goal to beat Frank’s team in its last league outing, and that was Spurs’ only defeat in its last four Premier League games.
The head-to-head sees just one win in the last nine matches against Tottenham for the Hammers, so another one looks likely.
Pick: Tottenham to Win
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Arsenal vs. Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest has endured one of the toughest festive periods in the Premier League, securing just three points from its last five matches and being eliminated from the FA Cup on penalties by Wrexham. Sean Dyche's side have been quite disappointing this season, having lost six of their 10 Premier League home games, yet it has a comfortable seven-point cushion above the relegation zone.
On the other hand, Arsenal enjoyed a superb Christmas and New Year period, with six wins and one draw, plus advancing in both the League Cup and FA Cup. Arsenal could have led Manchester City by eight points in the standings if not for a rare 0-0 draw with Liverpool.
According to our house model BETSiE, the expected goals total is 2.37, the lowest of the round, and Arsenal has a 60% chance of winning. Therefore, it is worth betting on the Gunners with a bet builder with the chance to almost double your stake.
Pick: Arsenal to Win & Under 3.5 Goals
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