A lively start to the new year and Premier League betting.
But did we really expect anything less from football games in the English top flight?
The race to survive is fascinating for sports betting fans.
Brighton & Hove Albion 2-2 Bournemouth
Anthony Knockaert had the honour of scoring the first Premier League goal of 2018.
Yet, the knockout moment came from Callum Wilson as Bournemouth twice fought back on the south coast.
In what was Chris Hughton’s 150th match in charge of Brighton, the equaliser was one of the messiest goals likely to be scored this calendar year – already!
Burnley 1-2 Liverpool
A defining moment in Liverpool’s season?
Who knows?
Certainly, Ragnar Klavan’s first league goal in a Liverpool shirt, moments after Burnley looked to have salvaged a draw, kept the Merseysiders in the box seat for a top-four finish.
They really have a stronger squad than they have had for some time.
Leicester City 3-0 Huddersfield Town
Quality shines through most of the time and, in this case, Riyad Mahrez provided it.
The 2016 player of the year opened the scoring seven minutes after the break and then set up the second for his Algerian counterpart Islam Slimani.
Marc Albrighton added the third in stoppage time to complete a routine home win.
Stoke City 0-1 Newcastle United
As the boos rang out around Staffordshire, it did seem the final chapter in Mark Hughes’ Stoke career could be being played out.
Of course, that was also the widely held opinion a fortnight ago before Stoke took four points from six.
Hughes could rightly feel aggrieved at the performance of some of his players – many rested 48 hours earlier to be fresh for this one – as they went down to Ayoze Perez’s 73rd-minute goal.
This was only Newcastle’s second victory in 13 Premier League matches.
Everton 0-2 Manchester United
After a dispiriting festive period of three straight draws, this was a convincing and much-needed victory for United.
Two fine goals from Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard pushed United back into the second spot.
This observer thinks Martial should start every match, such is his talent.
Southampton 1-2 Crystal Palace
Only goal difference now keeps Southampton out of the bottom three.
The £75 million they have received for Virgil van Dijk needs to be wisely invested immediately and I, for one, do not think Mauricio Pellegrino will be in charge for too long at the Saints.
Palace, in contrast, leapfrogged their opponents to move out of the bottom three and continue their fine progress under Roy Hodgson.
They have now lost just one out of their past 11 games.
Swansea City 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur
At a rain-drenched Liberty Stadium, it took only 12 minutes for Fernando Llorente to show Swansea what they have been missing all season.
That the goal should not have stood—Llorente was in an offside position—summed up the season so far for the luckless Swans, who have yet to invest the money they received from the sale of the Spanish frontman.
They remain bottom while Spurs are up to fifth.
West Ham United 2-1 West Bromwich Albion
Andy Carroll hasn’t had a productive season so far, but these goals could be worth their weight in gold.
Suddenly, the Hammers are out of the drop zone, courtesy of his dramatic late winner.
Meanwhile, West Brom suddenly have much to do and are starting to fall adrift.
Manchester City 3-1 Watford FC
Once Raheem Sterling scored inside 38 seconds, the writing was on the wall for Watford.
To their credit, the Hornets didn’t crumble but were well beaten.
City have a 15 point lead at the summit – the biggest margin in the history of the Premier League at this stage.
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