Expert Premier League predictions from Mark Langdon: Villa for top-half finish

It's billed as the most wonderful time of the year, but it's also the most expensive so there's nothing like landing a coup on the final Saturday before Christmas to pay for the presents.

Unfortunately those who like a punt on the Premier League will not have much to go at this weekend, while the EFL coupon could also easily become more decimated.

There has been some confusion as to why some teams have been able to postpone matches and others play on through positive Covid tests, but it would help for transparency if Premier League managers didn't lump in their injured or suspended players when discussing the crisis facing their clubs.

Aston Villa have been one of the few teams with a clear run and they are looking good under new boss Steven Gerrard to the extent it could be worth taking the 8-11 about them claiming a top-half finish.

It won't pay for Christmas but Villa are up to tenth following a strong start for Gerrard, who has won four of his six Premier League matches and dropped points only in matches against Manchester City and Liverpool.

Both were one-goal margins of defeat and it's worth keeping in mind that Villa have already been to Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham this term, with five of the current bottom six still to come at home.

Gerrard was noted for sorting Rangers' defence and Villa have shipped just four times in those six games - an impressive statistic given Liverpool and City are capable of taking teams to the cleaners

City were kept to just 0.9 on expected goals and Liverpool's xG figure of 2.5 owed much to the Mohamed Salah penalty which decided the game

It's early days but young midfielder Jacob Ramsey looks a decent player, while we are starting to see expensive summer signing Emi Buendia grow into his new surroundings and there doesn't appear to be massive improvement to come from many of the teams currently below Villa.

Crystal Palace are probably the most likely to turn their positive performance into points and therefore potentially the biggest dangers at 9-4 given they too have got most of the tough away trips out of the way.

Torino boss Ivan Juric faces his former club on Sunday when Verona make the trek to Turin and it seems wise to expect the Serie A goal glut to continue.

The league is averaging more than three goals per game and Verona are doing their bit - their 17 matches have featured a total of 63 goals.

Verona's gung-ho attitude is not just limited to the league. The Gialloblu lost 4-3 to Empoli when Igor Tudor decided to rest star striker Giovanni Simeone, son of Diego, so he should be fresh to take on a Torino side with only two clean sheets this season.

Local rivals Juventus are the only side to have stopped Torino from notching at home this season and both teams to score has cashed in 14 of Verona's 17 league fixtures.

Best bets

Both teams to score in Torino v Verona 5pm Sunday
1pt 8-11 Betfair

Aston Villa top-half finish
1pt 8-11 general

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