Premier League Matchday 18 Betting Favorites

Last Updated on December 22, 2025 12:01 pm by Erwin Noguera

Matchday 18 of the Premier League will feature an unusual “Boxing Day,” as only one match will be played on December 26, a date traditionally associated with one of soccer’s oldest traditions.

Due to television contracts, there will be just one game on Friday—Manchester United vs. Newcastle—while the rest of the fixtures will be played over the weekend, with most taking place on Saturday.

That day will feature several key matchups involving the top contenders, with league leaders Arsenal hosting Brighton and second-place Manchester City traveling to face Nottingham Forest. Aston Villa, third in the title race, will face a tough test when they visit Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea, who sit fourth in the table.

Finally, a gradually improving Liverpool side will host a Wolverhampton team that is still searching for its first win of the season.

At Gambyl Exchange, you can explore all the predictions for the Premier League, the final bets for this matchday, and the odds for each match.

Premier League Weekly Picks Betting Odds

Premier League Matchday 18: Forest vs. Manchester City

Nottingham Forest head into this match struggling near the bottom of the table. With 18 points, they sit 17th—the last position that ensures safety—and hold a five-point cushion over 18th place, meaning they will remain out of the relegation zone at least for this weekend, even with a loss. They have recorded five wins, three draws, and eight defeats, and with 17 goals scored, they boast the second-worst attack in the league, although conceding 25 goals is not a particularly poor defensive record.

Manchester City is second in the standings with 37 points, just two behind Arsenal. They have posted 12 wins, one draw, and four losses. Their 41 goals scored are the best in the league, while the 16 goals conceded make them the second-best defense.City are riding a seven-game winning streak across all competitions and have kept clean sheets in each of their last three matches. Erling Haaland leads the league’s scoring charts with 19 goals—eight more than the second-place scorer—and has tallied four goals and one assist over the last two league matches, in which his team scored six goals.

Forest vs. Manchester City Betting Pick: Manchester City

Premier League Matchday 18: Liverpool vs. Wolverhampton

Liverpool had a dreadful start to the season but has gradually managed to turn things around. They now sit fifth in the league with 29 points after nine wins, two draws, and six losses.Following a run of three straight defeats—including heavy home losses to Nottingham Forest (0–3) and PSV (1–4)—they are now unbeaten in six matches, winning four of them and arriving on a three-game winning streak. Arne Slot is dealing with several injuries, with notable absences including Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo, Joe Gomez, Conor Bradley, and Jeremie Frimpong, while Mohamed Salah is away at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Wolverhampton’s situation is dire. They are the only team across Europe’s top five leagues that have yet to record a single win. With just two draws and 15 losses, they sit firmly at the bottom of the table. They have scored only nine goals and conceded 37, making them both the worst attacking and defensive sides in the league. Wolves come in on an 11-game losing streak—including a defeat in the EFL Cup—and are coming off a 0-2 home loss to Brentford. Head coach Rob Edwards arrived in late November and, across six matches in charge, has seen his team manage just two goals.

Liverpool vs. Wolves Betting Pick: Liverpool

Premier League Matchday 18: Arsenal vs. Brighton

Arsenal is leading the league with 39 points, holding a two-point advantage over Manchester City. They have recorded 12 wins, three draws, and two losses, while boasting the second-best attack in the competition with 31 goals and the best defense, having conceded just 10. Despite those numbers, they have not been at their best lately. They are coming off a 0-1 win away at Everton thanks to a penalty, before that a 2–1 victory over Wolves aided by two own goals—one of them in the 90+4 minute—and prior to that a loss to Aston Villa (2–1). At home, they remain unbeaten, winning seven of their eight matches.

Brighton sits mid-table with 24 points after six wins, six draws, and five defeats.They are going through their worst stretch of the season, having gone four matches without a win, losing two of them.They most recently played out a scoreless draw at home against Sunderland and have scored just one goal in their last three games. Brighton has several players sidelined by injury, but they are at least set to welcome back Diego Gómez and Lewis Dunk, who had been out with suspensions.

Arsenal vs. Brighton Betting Pick: Arsenal

Premier League Matchday 18: Chelsea vs. Aston Villa

Chelsea sit fourth in the table with 29 points, 10 behind the leaders. They have recorded eight wins, five draws, and four losses, and are coming off a draw against Newcastle in a match where they did not look sharp. They have managed just one win in their last five games. Stamford Bridge has not been a fortress either, as they have collected only 14 of a possible 24 points at home.

Aston Villa, meanwhile, are third with 36 points, three behind the leaders and seven clear of fourth-place Chelsea. They have posted 11 wins, three draws, and three defeats, and are coming off a 2–1 victory over Manchester United. They are now on a 10-game winning streak across all competitions, including three in the Europa League, although only the first two matches of that run were won by a margin greater than one goal. Morgan Rogers has scored braces in back-to-back games.

Chelsea vs. Aston Villa Betting Pick: Chelsea