The Premier League will ring in the New Year with four more festive fixtures, headlined by Sunderland vs Manchester City at 3:00 pm EST. After these Premier League New Year’s Day matches, we’ll officially be at the midway point of the season.
Arsenal enter 2026 at the top of the Premier League table, but Man City would close the gap to two points with a victory at the Stadium of Light. In a London Derby, at 12:30 pm EST, Crystal Palace face Fulham at Selhurst Park.
Liverpool, seeking more consistency as they enter 2026, also host Leeds United at 12:30 pm EST. Both teams are on unbeaten streaks in the Premier League. The Reds have won three straight and haven’t lost any of their last six. Meanwhile, Leeds are on a surprising five-game unbeaten run of their own.
In another London Derby, Brentford take on Tottenham at 3:00 pm EST. Notably, 17 of Tottenham’s 25 points this season have come in away matches.
With a nice slate of games today, we’ll preview each match and share our best bet for each one.
Premier League New Year’s Day: Crystal Palace vs Fulham – Selhurst Park – 12:30 pm EST
Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace enter 2026 on a five-match winless run in all competitions. Palace have a thin squad which desperately needs reinforcing in the January transfer window. Crystal Palace (+115) take on a Fulham (+230) side today, who have won each of their previous three EPL matches.
Fulham’s Raul Jimenez (+320 anytime goalscorer) has found the net in back-to-back games. Meanwhile, Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta (+150) has failed to score in each of his last seven appearances.
Palace are dealing with injuries to Chris Richards, Daichi Kamada, Daniel Muñoz, Chadi Riad, and Cheick Doucoure. The lack of defensive cover should leave them vulnerable today.
Fulham’s Harry Wilson (+290 to score, +400 to assist) scored in the 2-1 loss to Palace last month. He has registered an impressive seven goal contributions in the preceding six Premier League matches.
It’s going to be tough for Palace to stop Fulham from scoring here, and the visitors have kept clean sheets in back-to-back games for the first time all season. With the gap in form between the two sides, I think there’s value in betting on Fulham to come away with all three points in this Premier League New Year’s Day match.
Best Bet: Fulham (+230)
Liverpool vs Leeds United – Anfield – 12:30 pm EST
Liverpool (-190) striker Hugo Ekitike has outperformed big-money signing Alexander Isak so far this season. Ekitike (-145 to score) is set for another start today against Leeds United (+450), as Isak is out with an ankle injury.
The French international striker has scored five goals in his previous four Premier League games. When Liverpool drew 3-3 against Leeds on December 6th, Ekitike was on the scoresheet twice.
Leeds have managed to string together five games without a loss, but haven’t kept a clean sheet since the end of August. In fact, both teams have scored in Leeds’ preceding eight games. The Whites have averaged 2.4 goals over their previous five games, which includes three against both Liverpool and Chelsea and four against Crystal Palace.
Liverpool certainly aren’t infallible at the back, as they’ve conceded in back-to-back games as well. They’ve been prone to defensive lapses this season, especially on set pieces.
Also, Leeds United striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin has quite incredibly scored in six straight Premier League appearances. Today, you can bet on Calvert-Lewin to extend his streak, at +200 odds.
Liverpool haven’t lost on New Year’s Day since 2005, and I expect them to kick 2026 off with a win. However, I don’t think it’ll be that comfortable. Bet on Liverpool to win and both teams to score, at +190 Same Game Parlay odds with BetMGM.
Best Bet: Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 Goals (+120)
Brentford vs Tottenham – Gtech Community Stadium – 3:00 pm EST
So far, Brentford (+110) have been one of the best teams in the Premier League when playing at home this season. The Bees are 6-2-1 at the Gtech Community Stadium in the 2025-26 campaign. However, they haven’t managed to keep a clean sheet there since August 23rd.
With injuries and suspensions ravaging Tottenham’s squad, Spurs haven’t been consistent recently. They did, however, manage a 1-0 road victory over Crystal Palace to close out 2025. Tottenham enter this London Derby as +230 underdogs but have managed back-to-back wins against Brentford.
Cristian Romero is set to return from a suspension to slot into the heart of Tottenham’s defense for this Premier League New Year’s Day fixture. Meanwhile, Brentford forward Kevin Schade scored a hat trick in a 4-1 win over Bournemouth to close out 2025. The German sits at +210 odds to find the net again today.
Neither team has exactly been solid defensively, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see a few goals today. After all, Brentford have scored three goals in four of their previous five home fixtures.
Best Bet: Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 Goals (+120)
Premier League New Year’s Day: Sunderland vs Manchester City – Stadium of Light – 3:00 pm EST
In the Premier League New Year’s Day headliner, Sunderland (+625) will be without no fewer than seven players when they host Manchester City (-250) at the Stadium of Light. The Black Cats are the Premier League team most affected by the Africa Cup of Nations.
Six Sunderland players are away at the tournament, including Reinildo Mandava, Noah Sadiki, and Chemsdine Talbi. Notably, Sunderland are unbeaten at home in the Premier League this season, but facing Manchester City shorthanded is going to be a massive test.
City have won eight games in a row, in all competitions, while scoring two or more goals in each match. Erling Haaland (-190 to score) has found the net four times in his previous three games for City. Meanwhile, Rayan Cherki (+290 to score, +180 to assist) has registered four goal contributions in the last four games.
Man City need to win to keep pace with Arsenal and they’ll be licking their chops at facing a Sunderland squad with so many absences. City should win and score quite a few goals in the process today.
Best Bet: Manchester City to Win and Over 2.5 Goals (+100)
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