Liverpool's title bid to stay on track and Coventry set for further festive misery plus more in this enhanced coupon...
Liverpool to beat Sunderland – {ODDS:128148809:4/11}
This is a banker and is worth backing even at such short odds.
Despite an upturn in form prior to Christmas, Sunderland have now lost four of their last five matches and remain stuck in the relegation zone.
Added to which, the Black Cats are yet to take a single point from any team in the top seven, while Liverpool have a 100 per cent record against the bottom six this season.
Jurgen Klopp’s side also boast the third-best away record in the league, winning five of their last seven on the road.
Expect that to be six in eight on 3 January.
Newcastle to beat Blackburn – {ODDS:128222760:7/10}
While Newcastle have suffered a slight loss of form – losing three of their last seven – they should still be trusted to overcome struggling Blackburn here.
That blip has seen Rafa Benitez’s side dethroned at the top of the Championship, yet their dominant away form has stayed largely intact.
With nine wins in their last 11 away from St James’ Park, they should be confident of another victory.
And that is especially true seeing as Blackburn are winless in six, losing four.
Sheffield Wednesday to beat Wolves – {ODDS:128233413:3/4}
With three wins from their last six, Wolves are not the pushovers you would expect to back against.
Sheffield Wednesday – who have won five of their last seven matches – will have enough quality to see them off, though.
The Owls have also won seven of their last nine games at Hillsborough and boast the Championship’s third-best home record.
That they have not failed to score in nine at home is not promising for Wolves, either, given that Paul Lambert’s side kept just one clean sheet in five.
Sheffield United to beat Bury – {ODDS:128246547:4/7}
Bury may have put an end to their club-record losing streak, which lasted 12 league games, but they are still without a win in 18 matches in all competitions.
That barren period started with a loss against table-toppers Scunthorpe on 1 October, a period in which Sheffield United have won 10 times and lost just once – against Walsall.
That defeat was the Blades’ only one in 20, a run that has taken them to the top of League One.
Expect that to be extended to one in 21 after this fixture.
Bolton to beat Coventry – {ODDS:128248327:17/20}
Second plays second-bottom in a match that will go as the table suggests.
Coventry have lost seven of their last nine league matches and have managed just one win in nine, conceding 16 goals in their last six.
That Bolton have the division’s best defence, which has conceded just 14 goals all season, is ominous.
Phil Parkinson’s side have also won seven of their last eight and are only a point behind Sheffield United, who top the division.
Bolton should be backed to keep the pressure on.
