Back young king Cole to spread a bit of festive cheer our way today.
Chelsea fans are on the naughty list and getting the Premier League equivalent of a lump of coal and a thick ear: Christmas Eve in Wolverhampton.
Judging by some bleak midwinter forecasts for road and rail travel, second prize is: Christmas Day in Wolverhampton.
I don’t much fancy punting a Blues WIN at Wolves (1pm) at a slimline 10/11.
At one point it seemed Chelsea had all the players, now they’ve hardly got any. Down to bare bones before the turkey’s even defrosted, with 10 major absentees.
That 25-goal striker they forgot to buy is also a no-show, and the brilliant Enzo Fernandez was subbed off ‘poorly’ in midweek, so will probably start in a 3-5-2 at home in his onesie, with some eggy soldiers.
The Blues squad still looks different gravy here man for man.
Cole Palmer, 21, has hit a 6/4 ‘anytime scorer’ return all told this season, and is odds-on ‘score or assist’ when starting. The lad’s on pens, a serious bonus today. Going into this Prem round, Chelsea topped the table for earning penalties and Wolves for conceding them.
Get on Palmer at 13/5 ‘anytime scorer’ and 6/4 (both Paddy) ‘score or assist’.
Chelsea are the unluckiest side in the Premier League – or at least the most out-of-whack when you compare ‘expected’ returns to reality.
Expected-goals data varies on a boffin-by-boffin basis, of course. But most agree Chelsea are about eight points down on where they deserve to be for Mauricio Pochettino.
They are top-six on expected points – and 5/2 (Betway, Paddy) for a ‘top-six finish’ in the real world has legs.
Europe has got Christmas off, but Jude Bellingham’s Real Madrid could be the Champions League outright value at 6/1 (Betway), after getting a soft last-16 draw.
It’s not Christmas without the Betting Spy ‘never work again’ Boxing Day Acca. Ignore the obvious implied flaw that it’s never won.
Take ‘Newcastle win to nil’ (12.30pm); OVER 3.5 goals at Bournemouth; Carlton Morris ‘scores a header’ at Sheffield United; Dominik Szoboszlai ‘scores from outside box’ at Burnley; and Scott McTominay ‘scores a header’ at Old Trafford. The roll-up pays 12,182/1 (Bet365) in theory. Merry Christmas!
Last week: Winners at 11/10 and 6/5