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Premier League predictions, football betting tips and free bets for Boxing Day's 3pm kick-offs
Best bets for all the 3pm action from the Premier League on Thursday, December 26
Betano are offering 30-1 on Aston Villa to beat Newcastle in the Premier League on Boxing Day.
Click here to claim that offer with Betano or read on for our predictions for Thursday's Premier League matches.
When to bet
All matches kick-off at 3pm on Thursday
Best bets
Over 2.5 goals & both teams to score in Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
1pt 21-20 Hills
Over 3.5 goals in Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham
2pts 5-4 Hills
Newcastle
2pts 10-11 general
Draw in Southampton vs West Ham
1pt 13-5 Coral, Ladbrokes
Thursday's Premier League 3pm predictions
Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace predictions
A run of four wins and a draw from their last five Premier League matches has catapulted Bournemouth up to fifth, but their visitors Crystal Palace should contribute to an entertaining clash at the Vitality Stadium.
The Cherries have already seen off Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham on their own patch and will fancy their chances of scoring against anyone after a commanding 3-0 victory at Manchester United on Sunday.
Palace are licking their wounds after conceding eight goals in two games against Arsenal last week, which included a 5-1 humbling at Selhurst Park in the league on Saturday, but the Eagles have been showing their mettle on the road and can threaten.
Oliver Glasner's team are unbeaten in four on their league travels and impressed when outplaying Brighton at the Amex in a 3-1 win in their last away game.
While Bournemouth's progress under Andoni Iraola has been excellent this season, it is worth noting that they have kept just four clean sheets in their last 18 home matches and goals can be expected. Both teams have scored in seven of the Cherries' last nine outings.
Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace team news
Bournemouth: Adam Smith hopes to shake off a knock but Marcus Tavernier, Luis Sinisterra, Alex Scott, Julian Araujo and Marcos Senesi are all out.
Crystal Palace: Daniel Munoz is available after suspension and Eberechi Eze hopes to return after an ankle injury. Chadi Riad lacks match fitness while Franco Umeh, Adam Wharton and Matheus Franca are all out.
Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace predicted line-ups
Bournemouth (4-2-3-1): Arrizabalaga; Smith, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Adams, Christie; Semenyo, Kluivert, Ouattara; Evanilson
Crystal Palace (3-4-3): Henderson; Chalobah, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Hughes, Lerma, Mitchell; Sarr, Mateta, Eze.
Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace key stat
Palace have failed to score in just two of their last 16 Premier League away games
Best bet for Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
Over 2.5 goals & both teams to score in Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
1pt 21-20 Hills
Verdict by Ian Wilkerson
Newcastle vs Aston Villa predictions
Newcastle should be full of beans for Aston Villa's visit to St James' Park and there looks a good chance they will build on their successive 4-0 victories over Ipswich and Leicester.
Villa can provide a tougher test than those two, who look set to be embroiled in a relegation battle in the new year, and after struggling with inconsistency for much of the campaign, Unai Emery's side are up to sixth.
They became the latest team to contribute to Manchester City's misery last week when they sealed a 2-1 win over the champions, but while that was their third victory in four league games, those successes have all come at Villa Park.
Although the Midlands outfit took ten points from their first four away games of the season, they have suffered four consecutive defeats on the road, conceding 11 goals against Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham and Nottingham Forest, which makes them vulnerable on Tyneside.
Couple that with facing Newcastle's Alexander Isak, who has scored six goals in his last five league games, including a hat-trick against the Tractor Boys on Saturday, and the value appears to lie in backing a home win.
Newcastle vs Aston Villa team news
Newcastle: Joe Willock has recovered from a head injury and Joelinton could return. Sven Botman, Emil Krafth, Nick Pope, Jamaal Lascelles and Callum Wilson remain sidelined.
Aston Villa: Jacob Ramsey is expected to return from a thigh injury in January.
Newcastle vs Aston Villa predicted line-ups
Newcastle (4-3-3): Dubravka; Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall; Tonali, Guimaraes, Willock; Murphy, Isak, Gordon
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Kamara, Onana; McGinn, Tielemans, Rogers; Duran
Newcastle vs Aston Villa key stat
There have been 20 goals in Newcastle's last four matches
Best bet for Newcastle vs Aston Villa
Newcastle
2pts 10-11 general
Verdict by Ian Wilkerson
Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham predictions
"Are you not entertained?" was the rallying cry of Tottenham’s Ange Postecoglou after their 4-3 win over Manchester United in the EFL Cup quarter-finals last week but their relentless attacking style was exposed by Liverpool on Sunday as they fell to a 6-3 defeat.
Spurs’ injury issues are a big factor in their recent struggles. Missing their two first choice centre backs and goalkeeper is a major handicap but even more so in Postecoglou’s system that places such an emphasis on the one-on-one defending abilities of his back line.
They face another tough task as they visit Nottingham Forest, who have been the surprise package in the Premier League this season.
The Tricky Trees are in the top four after winning nine of their 17 league games and their style is perfectly suited to facing this Spurs team as they are comfortable sitting back and soaking up pressure before striking on the break.
Eight of Tottenham’s last 12 games have gone over 3.5 goals and a repeat of that looks likely at the City Ground.
Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham team news
Nottingham Forest: Nicolas Dominguez is suspended and long-term absentees Ibrahim Sangare and Danilo remain out.
Tottenham: Rodrigo Bentancur returns from suspension but they are still without Guglielmo Vicario, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Wilson Odobert, Richarlison and Ben Davies.
Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham predicted line-ups
Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1): Selz; Aina, Milenkovic, Murilo, Moreno; Yates, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Forster; Porro, Gray, Dragusin, Udogie; Bentancur, Bissouma; Kulusevski, Maddison, Son; Solanke
Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham key stat
Tottenham's last five games have produced 30 goals
Best bet for Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham
Over 3.5 goals
2pts 5-4 Hills
Verdict by Joe Casey
Southampton vs West Ham predictions
Ivan Juric has taken over as Southampton manager and his team face the mammoth task of staying up after a nightmare start to the campaign under former boss Russell Martin.
The Saints host West Ham in his first game in charge and the ex-Roma manager will have been given confidence from his team’s 0-0 draw against Fulham last time out in which they looked much more solid at the back.
West Ham have also had a disappointing campaign and sit 14th. They have gone three games unbeaten but the pressure remains on Julen Lopetegui, who is favourite to be the next Premier League manager to leave.
The visitors clearly have the more talented squad but there are issues in their build-up play, particularly in midfield, and the Saints have looked much more solid recently.
Juric could build on the work of Simon Rusk, who also led the team in their narrow 2-1 defeat to Liverpool in the EFL Cup, and the spoils may be shared at St Mary’s.
Southampton vs West Ham team news
Southampton: Gavin Bazunu, Will Smallbone and Ross Stewart are long-term absentees while Maxwel Cornet is unable to face his parent club. Jack Stephens returns from suspension.
West Ham: Carlos Soler returns from suspension but Lucas Paqueta has picked up his fifth yellow card and misses out. Michail Antonio is absent and Konstantinos Mavropanos is a doubt.
Southampton vs West Ham predicted line-ups
Southampton (3-4-1-2): Ramsdale; Wood, Harwood-Bellis, Stephens; Sugawara, Ugochukwu, Downes, Walker-Peters; Fernandes; Onuachu, Dibling
West Ham (4-2-3-1): Fabianski; Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson; Alvarez, Soucek; Bowen, Soler, Kudus; Fullkrug
Southampton vs West Ham key stat
The last three league meetings between these teams at Southampton have ended as a draw
Best bet for Southampton vs West Ham
Draw
1pt 13-5 Coral, Ladbrokes
Verdict by Joe Casey
Click here for our preview of Thursday's other 3pm Premier League match – Chelsea vs Fulham
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