Betting verdicts and free tips for the Premier League 3pm kick-offs

Free Premier League football tips for Saturday's 3pm matches: Arsenal v Wolves, Aston Villa v Liverpool, Brighton v Norwich City, Manchester City v Southampton, Sheffield United v Burnley & West Ham v Newcastle United.

Best bets

Arsenal
1pt 4-5 Betfred, RedZone
Back this tip with William Hill
Liverpool-Liverpool double result
1pt Evs Betfair, Coral, Ladbrokes
Back this tip with CoralBrighton to win & both teams to score
1pt 23-10BoyleSports
Back this tip with bet365
R Sterling first goalscorer
1pt each-way 10-3bet365
Back this tip with bet365
Sheffield United v Burnley draw
1pt 23-10Betfred, BoyleSports
Back this tip with William Hill
West Ham v Newcastle United draw
1pt 29-10Betfair, Betfred
Back this tip with bet365

Arsenal v Wolves

Team news

Arsenal
Granit Xhaka has been left out of the squad but Mesut Ozil is pushing for a start after impressing against Liverpool on Wednesday.

Wolves
Willy Boly (calf) is ruled out but no fresh injuries are reported.

Verdict

Poor defending cost Arsenal a place in EFL Cup quarter-finals but a first-choice Gunners side look worthy favourites to defeat Wolves.

There has been intense criticism of Arsenal, who could miss out on a top-four finish for a fourth successive season.

However, the Gunners have not finished outside the top six since 1995 and remain a force at the Emirates where they are unbeaten in eight games this season.

Wolves will be stronger than they were when losing 2-1 at Aston Villa in the EFL Cup on Wednesday but they face a tough task.

Key stat

Arsenal are unbeaten in their last ten home matches.

Aston Villa v Liverpool

Team news

Aston Villa
Jack Grealish (calf) should return but Keinan Davis (hamstring) misses out.

Liverpool
Naby Keita (calf) is a doubt and Joel Matip (knee) faces several weeks on the sidelines.

Verdict

Liverpool's youthful second string showed off their strengths and weaknesses on Wednesday but their first-choice side have been virtually faultless and can maintain a firm grip on the title race by winning at Villa Park.

The challenge of facing the European champions is unlikely to faze Aston Villa, who played some enterprising football when sliding to a 3-0 defeat at Manchester City last weekend.

But Villa did not have the necessary quality to compete with City in the key moments and a similar experience is in store against Liverpool, who should win comfortably.

Key stat

Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 30 domestic fixtures.

Brighton v Norwich

Team news

Brighton
Leandro Trossard has recovered from a groin strain and Aaron Mooy returns from a one-match ban.

Norwich
Jamaal Lewis has recovered from illness and Tim Krul and Ralf Fahrmann are free from injuries. Ibrahim Amadou and Todd Cantwell are injury doubts and Onel Hernandez is awaiting the birth of his child.

Verdict

Norwich have picked up just one point in five games since stunning Manchester City 3-2 in September and their troubles could increase with a defeat at Brighton.

The Canaries' injury woes have eased in the last few weeks but they look much too easy to play against and were lucky to get away with a 3-1 loss to Manchester United last weekend.

Brighton will be looking forward to playing against the second-worst defence in the division but may need to score at least twice because Norwich have shown they can find the net.

Key stat

Norwich have conceded at least two goals in seven of their last eight league fixtures.

Manchester City v Southampton

Team news

Manchester City
Oleksandr Zinchenko and Rodrigo remain sidelined but no fresh injuries are reported.

Southampton
Nathan Redmond and Sofiane Boufal have recovered from knocks but Moussa Djenepo is injured and Ryan Bertrand suspended.

Verdict

Southampton are still trying to recover from the mental scarring of last Friday's 9-0 defeat at home to Leicester and fresh wounds could be opened by Manchester City at the Etihad.

The teams contested a low-key EFL Cup fourth-round clash on Tuesday which City won 3-1 but there is likely to be a greater intensity to this weekend's match.

Pep Guardiola is likely to select his strongest side and one of the main threats will be Raheem Sterling, who has netted 13 goals this season.

Key stat

Manchester City have scored at least two goals in 14 of their last 15 matches.

Sheffield United v Burnley

Team news

Sheffield United
Callum Robinson faces a late fitness test. If he misses out Lys Mousset is set to make his second league start of the season.

Burnley
Ashley Barnes has overcome a minor injury but Chris Wood and Danny Drinkwater are doubts and Johann Berg Gudmunsson is sidelined.

Verdict

Sheffield United are prepared to scrap for every point during their quest for Premier League survival and may settle for a share of the spoils against Burnley at Bramall Lane.

The Blades do not possess as much offensive quality as the majority of Premier League teams and are the lowest scorers among the top 16 with nine goals in ten games.

However, Chris Wilder's side are tough to play against and may not give up many chances to the Clarets, who will be eager to tighten up after last Saturday's 4-2 loss to Chelsea.

Key stat

Sheffield United's last seven games have all featured fewer than three goals.

West Ham v Newcastle

Team news

West Ham
Jack Wilshere (groin), Lukasz Fabianski (hip), Winston Reid (knee) and Michail Antonio (hamstring) are ruled out.

Newcastle
Andy Carroll has shaken off a groin strain but Matt Ritchie, Fabian Schar and Florian Lejeune are injured and Sean Longstaff starts a three-game ban.

Verdict

West Ham looked primed for top-six push after beating Manchester United 2-0 in September but they have failed to take advantage of a run of easier games and the trend may continue when they face fourth-bottom Newcastle at the London Stadium.

The Irons squandered leads at home to Crystal Palace (losing 2-1) and Sheffield United (drawing 1-1) and their supporters are starting to run out of patience.

Newcastle will be looking to prey on the anxiousness in the crowd and can show enough resilience to emerge with a point.

Key stat

West Ham have not won any of their last five games.

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