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Our football betting expert Jones Knows is back to provide more Premier League insight as he hunts down the value in the markets.

Everton vs Chelsea, Sunday 2pm

The goal rush continues in the Premier League and, when the opportunity arises, backing goals at the right price is a sensible betting strategy. Over the past 49 games, the average goals per game has spiked significantly to 3.39 per game and over 2.5 goals bettors have successfully cashed in 70 per cent of games. Even the 1.5 goals line is being battered by goals, in that 44 of those 49 games have seen two or more goals scored. Even the three all-Premier League Carabao Cup ties on Wednesday night went over 2.5 goals.

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Chelsea's games are averaging 3.52 goals per game in the Premier League this season and the positivity at Goodison Park regarding the takeover of the club could lift the mood to help this game be played at a higher tempo.

Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals looks a tempting wager at Evens with Sky Bet.

SCORE PREDICTION: 2-2

Fulham vs Southampton, Sunday 2pm, live on Sky Sports

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Can you name me a better left-back in the Premier League than Antonee Robinson? Hard isn't it. The rampaging Fulham defender offers so much going forward but is also a fantastic one-on-one defender who has quickly become Fulham's most important and consistent player. No player has made more successful open-play crosses in the Premier League this season and he can also boast that no player has made more overlapping runs in the league.

This is leading to him creating a high volume of chances for his team-mates - he has six assists this season, including two at Anfield last weekend. He's 100/30 with Sky Bet for another.

SCORE PREDICTION: 3-1

Leicester vs Wolves, Sunday 2pm

Vitor Pereira could be an engaging watch if his Sky Sports News interview when gunning for the Everton job is anything to go by. The Portuguese boss has a history of making instant impacts at clubs, too. On all eight occasions he's taken over a top-flight club, he's won that first game in the dugout.

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That new manager bounce, added to Leicester's ropey underlying numbers that point to big overperformance with their results, makes me want to back Wolves here with the 10/11 on the draw no bet standing out with Sky Bet.

Even the 13/8 on the nose for the away win makes appeal, especially if Mads Hermansen, City's star man this season in goal, doesn't recover from his groin issue.

SCORE PREDICTION: 1-2 | JONES KNOWS' BEST BET: Wolves draw no bet (10/11 with Sky Bet)

Manchester United vs Bournemouth, Sunday 2pm

Bournemouth have posted the second highest number of shots in the Premier League this season (270) - and only Manchester City (282) have recorded more. This, along with their strong expected goals for numbers (32.96) which are the second highest in the league, shows Andoni Iraola's football is functioning very nicely from a chance creation point of view.

What is holding it back slightly is the quality of player in forward areas at his disposal, hence why the Cherries record such bulky shot numbers.

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A big underperformance in attack when assessing their actual goals return showcases them as a team that needs plenty of chances to find the net, so they are always interesting in the total shots market.

Bournemouth are averaging 16.5 shots per 90 this season and will hold no fear going to Old Trafford to play a team clearly still learning to tie their shoelaces under their manager. It's going to be a slow and long process for Ruben Amorim to get his philosophies across. Bournemouth to record 14 or more shots at 11/10 with Sky Bet is one of the best bets of the weekend.

SCORE PREDICTION: 2-2 | JONES KNOWS' BEST BET: Bournemouth 14+ total match shots (11/10 with Sky Bet)

Tottenham vs Liverpool, Sunday 4.30pm, live on Sky Sports

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It's hard to argue with Liverpool being as short as 7/10 with Sky Bet here. It's the right price and I'm expecting them to make this a calm rather than chaotic affair. Arne Slot won't allow chaos to form in matches, he wants control and we've seen so many times this season the Liverpool way of taking the sting out of games at just the right time then being clinical when their chances come. Spurs won't be allowed to be Spurs if Liverpool get their way.

It doesn't put me off Dejan Kulusevski to come to this party again though. What a machine he is.

Since playing his new central attacking midfield role that allows him to roam dangerously all over the pitch and lead the Spurs press, his attacking output has become much more consistent than previous seasons. He's landed for punters backing him for a shot on target in 17 of his last 19 games across club and country and has scored eight times in that run, including four on the spin. His 10/11 shot on target price and 100/30 anytime odds are both of interest with Sky Bet.

SCORE PREDICTION: 1-2

Jones Knows' best bets...

Ange Postecoglou channelled the spirit of Monty Python to play down talk that he is inspiring fellow Premier League managers with his attacking style, following Liverpool boss Arne Slot's glowing praise of his methods.

On Friday, Slot said he hoped Postecoglou wins a trophy at Tottenham after the two sides were drawn together in the Carabao Cup semi-finals - meaning they will meet three times in the next two months starting with Sunday's Premier League clash live on Sky Sports.

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Asked for his response to Slot's comments, Postecoglou jokingly quoted from The Life of Brian, the 1979 Monty Python film, to initially brush off the kind words from his opposite number.

He laughed: "I'm not an evangelist. To quote Monty Python, I'm just a naughty little boy!

"[Slot's opinion] is what I love about football. There's got to be differences, people who are prepared to do things a little bit differently.

"There's that variety, that opinion and that allows emotion to come into it. I hate to think people think I'm just some kind of showman or something. I want to win.

"That's still the core of my being, I hate losing, I want to win and I want to be successful.

"I'm so driven by that on a daily basis and have been my whole career, but I feel if I can play in this manner and win, it makes an impact.

"We all want a little bit of a footprint and I want that to be mine. We were successful and won, but maybe in a little bit of a different way. I think that stays in people's consciousness a little bit longer.

"Will we ever get there? Some people will say we're a long way off it. Who knows, but I'm determined to bring success to this football club and do it in a manner which hopefully makes an impact."

The film references kept coming after Postecoglou was compared to Maximus from Gladiator, to which he replied: "Love the movie. Love Russell Crowe! Haven't seen the new one yet, but it's a great story. That's all I'll say about it, I've already got myself into trouble with Monty Python."

Slot: Spurs fans tell me they want us to play this way

Postecoglou has faced criticism from some Tottenham fans - some which he has admitted has been painful to here - at times for his refusal to change his tactics, with the club on a run of two wins from nine before seeing off Man Utd on Thursday night.

He has more widely hit out at "offensive" criticism of his methods and questioned whether his "silly accent" has played a part in some of that.

But ahead of Sunday's game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium he remained unapologetic for his style, having championed his philosophy long before Spurs picked him as the permanent successor to Antonio Conte in the summer of 2023.

"When I came in, I made it clear and I think the club knew what I was about," he said. "I wasn't coming in and doing anything I haven't done before.

"My impression is it's what the club wanted. Of course, they want to win things - everyone does. But they wanted to do it a certain way, and I was excited by that.

"Whether the supporters understand or appreciate that as a whole, I'm not sure but I get a sense from the Tottenham supporters I have contact with out and about, this is what they want.

"They want to win, but they want the team to be playing with this kind of intent.

"It's human nature these days - we get something, we want something more, that doesn't satisfy us. I just think whatever makes you happy, hold onto it and cherish it, embrace it.

"It doesn't have to be more. Appreciate something for what it is - but we've all got people like that in our lives. We've also got that uncle who says it's raining outside, even if you've just won the lottery. It's about your outlook on life."

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Ahead of the final Carabao Cup quarter-final between Tottenham and Manchester United, Sky Sports' writers compile the reasons why each need a victory to continue their hopes of silverware.

Quarter-final draw and results

Wednesday December 18

Arsenal 3-2 Crystal Palace

Newcastle 3-1 Brentford

Southampton 1-2 Liverpool

Thursday December 19

Tottenham vs Manchester United - 8pm kick-off - live on Sky Sports Football and the Sky Sports app

Amorim can walk in the footsteps of his predecessors with Carabao Cup victory

Ruben Amorim has constantly reiterated the need for time and patience but like all fanbases, onlookers will start to grow restless in their desire to see their team lift silverware. It would be harsh to judge Amorim on his early trophy prospects having been named the United boss in November, however, it feels like a pressure that Amorim will want to embrace.

Erik ten Hag claimed the Carabao Cup at the first time of asking but was constantly questioned about the identity of his side, failing to instil a discernible style over his years at the club. Hoping to steer United into a new era, Amorim will perhaps be judged more on how quickly his team can adapt to his philosophy in the short to medium term rather than silverware but that does not mean the Carabao Cup presents an opportunity to begin his reign in the best way possible.

Jose Mourinho, a mentor for Amorim, also claimed the Carabao Cup in his first season at Old Trafford. A four-time winner of the competition, Mourinho recognised the importance of the first trophy win to set the tone for the season going forward. A win at Tottenham will give Amorim the chance to follow the tried and tested example of his predecessor.

William Bitibiri

Spurs must set up successful season with Man Utd win

Ange Postecoglou always wins silverware in his second season. How Tottenham fans would love that streak to continue and see their long wait for a trophy finally come to an end this term.

The Europa League and FA Cup are possibilities but this opportunity, to reach the Carabao Cup semi-finals with victory against a beatable Manchester United at home, cannot be passed up.

Spurs' thrashing of Southampton was timely, busting a five-game winless run. But a statement win at home - where they have gone four frustrating fixtures in a row without success - could shift the mood significantly back onto a more positive footing.

Of course, defeat could swing it the other way - and with Liverpool coming to town on Sunday, this is looking like it could be a defining week in terms of where Spurs' season is going.

Peter Smith

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Rodrigo Bentancur's appeal in relation to his seven-match suspension for a racist remark about team-mate Heung-Min Son in a TV interview has been dismissed.

The Uruguay midfielder was given the suspension by an independent commission on November 18 and two days later, Spurs indicated they would appeal.

Spurs said in a statement they accepted the guilty finding against Bentancur but believed the subsequent sanction was severe. The 27-year-old was also fined £100,000 by the Football Association as part of the punishment.

However, his domestic suspension will remain in place after the appeal decision, and he will miss Spurs' upcoming games against Manchester United in the quarter finals of the Carabao Cup and the Premier League clash with Liverpool on Sunday.

Bentancur, who has still been able to play in the Europa League, has missed games against Manchester City, Fulham, Bournemouth, Chelsea and Southampton. He will be available to play again for Spurs in the Premier League at Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day.

A statement from the FA said: "An independent appeal board has dismissed an appeal by Rodrigo Bentancur in relation to his recent suspension.

"An independent regulatory commission imposed a seven-match suspension on the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder for an aggravated breach of FA Rule E3 in relation to a media interview.

"This appeal was dismissed following a hearing and the seven-match suspension remains as ordered by the regulatory commission."

Tottenham do not wish to comment on their appeal being dismissed.

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou will be facing the media tomorrow ahead of their Carabao Cup quarter-final against Manchester United on Thursday.

Bentancur was sanctioned over comments he made in an interview aired on Uruguayan TV in June.

The former Juventus midfielder was asked to show the shirt of a Spurs player and replied: "Sonny's? It could be Sonny's cousin too as they all look the same."

While an apology from Bentancur was swiftly forthcoming due to it being an "aggravated breach", an independent regulatory commission panel were required to either uphold the FA charge or dismiss the case.

Son said he and Bentancur remained "brothers" and "nothing had changed" after the Uruguayan immediately apologised to him, admitting he had "made a mistake".

"I've spoken with Lolo (Bentancur). He made a mistake, he knows this and has apologised," the South Korea captain said.

"Lolo would not mean to ever intentionally say something offensive. We are brothers and nothing has changed at all.

"We're past this, we're united and we will be back together in pre-season to fight for our club as one."

Kick It Out/Frank Soo Foundation: Spurs' appeal 'extended the pain'

Anti-discrimination campaign Kick It Out released a joint statement with the Frank Soo Foundation following the FA Independent Appeal Board's decision to dismiss the appeal against Bentancur's seven-match suspension.

"Kick It Out received more reports about Tottenham's decision to appeal against the discrimination sanction for Rodrigo Bentancur than the original incident itself, the statement read.

"Many of the reports from the East and Southeast Asian community and beyond told us how angry and disappointed they were with the club's actions and how it extended the pain for those who were affected by the original incident.

"We know this has been an upsetting episode for many fans and hope the club will now reflect on its decision and how it might seek to engage with the community.

"The number of reports to Kick It Out over recent seasons shows that more education is needed to highlight East and Southeast Asian racism in football, and we would urge clubs to tackle this in the same manner as other forms of discrimination.

"We await the written reasons for the dismissal of the appeal with keen interest."