Burnley battle Newcastle, QPR host Swansea in New Year’s Day clashes
Burnley (6/4 with Coral to avoid the drop) will be hoping to climb out of the relegation places with a victory over Newcastle, while Harry Redknapp’s QPR face a Swansea side who have struggled on their travels this season, in New Year’s Day’s round of Premier League fixtures.
Newcastle United v Burnley
Burnley have not beaten Newcastle on Tyneside in a league game since April 1976, but the only ever Premier League meeting ended in a 1-1 draw earlier this season.
George Boyd’s early opener was cancelled out by a second-half Papiss Cisse strike in the reverse clash at Turf Moor. The Senegalese striker is in good form and is 4/1 to bag the first goal at St James’ Park on New Year’s Day.
Sean Dyche’s struggling side have won only once in their last seven domestic league games, seeing them drop into the relegation zone on goal difference, currently only ahead of rock-bottom Leicester City.
The Clarets face a tough ask, having won only once on their travels in 11 games. They make the trip to Newcastle where the Magpies have strikingly secured five victories in their last six home games, including a recent 3-2 triumph over Everton.
New Geordie favourite, Ayoze Perez, was among the goals in the win and is 6/1 to net two or more against Burnley, to add to his five league strikes this season.
Dyche’s despairing side are in desperate need of points in their fight to stay in the top-flight and, with upcoming games against the other sides involved in a relegation battle, Tyneside is a great place to start. Burnley are 7/2 to come away from Tyneside with all three points.
QPR v Swansea City
Swansea have won the previous three Premier League meetings between these sides, scoring 11 goals and conceding only once in those victories over their London rivals.
Earlier this campaign, Swansea toppled the Hoops with a 2-0 victory at the Liberty Stadium, with Wayne Routledge sealing all three points in the second half, after Ki Sung-Yueng had opened the scoring. The pacey English winger is 10/3 to net again anytime in the reverse fixture.
Garry Monk’s side will be targeting a fourth consecutive domestic league triumph over the Hoops when they travel to Loftus Road on New Year’s Day, although they face a tough outfit at home.
Stuttering Swans face Redknapp’s Rangers, who have showed top form and plenty of maturity at home this term, after going unbeaten in their last six outings at Loftus Road.
The Hoops’ impressive home form also includes three victories in the last four fixtures against fellow bottom-half strugglers Burnley, Leicester City and West Bromwich Albion, proving Redknapp’s men are up for the relegation scrap.
QPR’s great home form completely contrasts with a poor Swansea record on the road. Monk’s men struggling on their travels this season and have won only a single game in their last eight away Premier League fixtures, but are 7/5 to do so again on New Year’s Day.
Despite dreadful form outside of Wales, the Swans find themselves in ninth spot in the league table, six places above their opponents, who float a worrying two points above the drop zone.
The hosts will be confident of bagging another victory on home soil, with top scorer Charlie Austin on a superb run of form in front of goal. Redknapp’s star man has netted 12 Premier League goals this campaign, including a hat-trick in side’s recent 3-2 win over West Brom.
Austin’s performances have warranted talk of a possible England call-up, and the Hoops hitman is 4/1 to open the scoring against Swansea.