ALEX CROOK PREVIEW: Premier League Weekend

Star Sports ambassador ALEX CROOK casts his eye over the pick of the weekend Premier League fixtures, and puts up another ALEX ACCA...

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ASTON VILLA v ARSENAL
Saturday, 12.30pm

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The weekend starts with what should be an absolute cracker as the league leaders travel to the most in-form team.

Villa made it six wins on the spin in all competitions by beating Brighton 4-3 in one of the games of the season on Wednesday night, a game in which Unai Emery also clocked a new record for the most Premier League wins of any manager in the club’s history.

To think there were some fans calling for Emery’s head after they got off to a bad start to the campaign!

Arsenal meanwhile were able to rest the likes of Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze to the bench and still had too much for Brentford in their 2-0 London derby win.

The Gunners have still only lost one game in any competition this season, but they have drawn each of their last two Premier League away games at Sunderland and Chelsea.

While Mikel Arteta knows his side have to keep winning with Manchester City now firmly in their slip stream, Villa’s run of 12 wins from their past 14 games makes this a really tricky test for his team and they have also won their last eight at home. Arsenal have defensive injury issues and I fancy the draw at 5/2 with starsports.bet.

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LEEDS v LIVERPOOL
Saturday, 5.30pm

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Just when you thought Liverpool had turned a corner they drop two more points in a nerve-laden display at home to Sunderland.

And, just when you thought Daniel Farke was on his last legs at Leeds they pull off a shock victory over Chelsea.

In many ways those two mid-week results epitomise why this season’s Premier League is one of the most unpredictable ever and why it is so engrossing.

The mood noise coming out of Elland Road is that had Farke lost against Chelsea and followed it up with defeat here then he could well become the latest managerial casualty of the season.

That 3-1 triumph over the in-form Blues should buy the German some breathing space and makes this a tricky game for a Liverpool still looking a shadow of the team that cruised to the title last season.

You now have to ask yourselves if last weekend’s 2-0 win at West Ham was more about the Hammers’ shortcomings than a sign the champions are truly on their way back.

What is for certain is that if Arne Slot’s men lose on Saturday teatime then his future will be under fresh scrutiny.

While Leeds’ away form is poor they are rarely brushed aside easily in front of their own supporters and it would not surprise me if we see Liverpool drop yet more points so I will be backing the draw and both teams to score at 7/2 with starsports.bet.

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BRIGHTON v WEST HAM
Sunday, 2pm

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Brighton missed the chance to move up to third as they threw away a 2-0 lead in losing 4-3 at home to in-form Villa.

However, Fabian Hurzeler and his charges have no time to feel sorry for themselves ahead of Sunday’s visit of West Ham.

After losing their unbeaten home record for the season, Hurzeler has to see this as a golden opportunity to get back to winning ways and there were still plenty of positives in the performance, if not the result, on Wednesday.

The Hammers have a poor head-to-head record with Brighton in the Premier League, but while I think the Seagulls can take all three points I am not overly convinced with their ability to keep a clean sheet as shutouts have been rare over the course of the campaign.

My build-a-bet is Brighton to win and both Danny Welbeck and Jarrod Bowen to score at 10/1 with starsports.bet.

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WOLVES v MANCHESTER UNITED
Monday, 8pm

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Any hopes Wolves fans had that returning hero Rob Edwards would be able to mastermind the greatest of relegation Great Escapes have very quickly evaporated.

Wednesday’s limp 1-0 reverse at home to Nottingham Forest means the basement dwellers have lost all three games under Edwards without scoring a single goal.

While performances have improved slightly it is clear the squad Edwards has inherited lacks the quality to stage any kind of recovery mission.

In fact, there is now a genuine case to be made for the Midlanders breaking Derby’s unwanted record for the fewest points accumulated in a single season of 11.

Wolves have had some good days against Monday’s visitors Manchester United in the recent past but surely this won’t be another one, even if I still don’t fully trust Ruben Amorim’s side.

One of the biggest factors in Wolves’ struggles has been Matheus Cunha’s move from Molineux to Old Trafford and it is not hard to see him celebrating his return to the Black Country with a goal.

When he does find the net it tends to be in spectacular fashion and Cunha to score from outside the box at 7/1 with starsports.bet catches the eye.

I also would not put you off backing United to win 3 / 4 with starsports.bet.

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2️⃣ NEXT BEST: Leeds v Liverpool draw and both teams to score 1pt at 7/2 (⭐️ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

📊 BUILD-A-BET: Brighton to win and Danny Welbeck and Jarrod Bowen both to score 1pt at 10/1 with starsports.bet

🎲 LONG SHOT: Matheus Cunha to score from outside the box 1pt at 7/1 (⭐️ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

❓ OTHER: Manchester United to win at 1pt at 3/4 (⭐️ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

🚀 ALEX ACCA: Derby, Newcastle, Brighton, Manchester United 1pt at 10/1 (⭐️ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

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ALEX CROOK P&L (DEC 2025): .5.50 points

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