If someone told you before the EPL season began in August that the only side that would be unbeaten at home into February would be promoted Sunderland, you'd have been laughed out of the room. Especially noting how many players the Black Cats would be without during AFCON. Yet here we are and Sunderland is still unbeaten at the Stadium of Light. Still, it's just one win in seven and midfield pilot Granit Xhaka is iffy with an ankle injury for Monday. Meanwhile, promoted Burnley is in danger of a quick return to the Championship, but Scott Parker's side has grinded out a couple of results lately and won the reverse fixture 2-0 at Turf Moor in August. Play Burnley on Spread

So far so good for at Man U for Michael Carrick, who couldn't have done much better in his first two in his second stint as interim, beating Man City and Arsenal. Man U's recent pattern under all managers, however, has been to rise up vs. the better clubs but struggle with sides beneath it in the table. Fulham qualifies if just barely on the last front, currently sitting seventh, but Marco Silva is more apt to use a low-block and play United on the counter, something that has given Man U fits lately. There's enough sharp edge at Fulham with Harry Wilson scoring in four of the last five to suggest Silva can get a result at Old Trafford. Play Fulham on Asian Line

This looks another potential "David Moyes Special" which has Fabian Hurzeler justifiably concerned for his Brighton. After all, Everton has won the last two matchups, including August 24 at the Hill Dickinson, with Jordan Pickford keeping clean sheets in each. Pickford's presence is often a plus for Everton but a new positive development is the notoriously-profligate Thierno Barry scoring cultured goals in back-to-back games, as Everton backers are beginning to dream that Barry and Beto might finally be starting to latch onto the many crosses from Jack Grealish and others and start doing something with those chances. Play Everton on Spread

You could make a decent case for Leeds being the better team since the beginning of December, as the All-Whites have lost just 1 of 11 since, a better mark than EPL-topping Arsenal. Daniel Farke got his side playing on the front foot, which among other things unleashed striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin (now on nine goals) and has pulled Leeds clear of the drop zone. Meanwhile, Arsenal has looked a bit nervous lately and a long way from the side that beat Leeds 5-0 in August, while several big guns have gone quiet (note Bukayo Saka hasn't scored since December 3). Elland Road will be rocking as usual! Play Leeds on Spread

Every once in a while David Moyes reminds of his considerable managerial nous and Everton pulls off a result like last week's 1-0 win at Villa Park. Also, sometimes (though not often) we get a hint of scoring genius from Moyes' strikers Thierno Barry and Beto, the former netting a very cheeky strike to beat Villa last week. We do know that the Everton frontline gets proper service from Jack Grealish and others from the wings, and as visiting Leeds has been very comfy playing a more wide-open game in their extended uptick, and with results in eight of nine since the start of December, it would be no surprise to see this scoreline clear 2.5 at the Hill Dickinson. Play Everton-Leeds Over

"Dr. Tottenham, at your service." The curious pattern of Spurs continues, succeeding in Europe as they did again at midweek vs. Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, but continuing struggles in the EPL, where Tottenham's presence has recently cured the ills of its opponents. Spurs are winless in four and eleven of thirteen in the Prem since the start of November as Thomas Frank continues to feel the heat. Meanwhile, Burnley won't go down without a fight, as Scott Parker has instilled a never-say-die in his troops, with consecutive draws vs. Man U and Liverpool. Co-top scorer Zian Flemming might return on Saturday at Turf Moor. Play Burnley on Asian Line

We find it easy to imagine this matchup clearing 2.5 goals. Leeds of course have been a revelation since the start of December as Daniel Farke has his troops playing a higher line and forcing the action, often isolating hot striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin (recently a six-match scoring stretch) to do his damage. Meanwhile Fulham has its own hot striker in Harry Wilson (goals in three straight) as the Cottagers have also found a bag-load of goals since early December. Play Leeds-Fulham Over

In past regimes, Man United has usually been good for a positive result vs. top contenders, and did beat City last term across town at the Etihad. It's a different season now, however, and Michael Carrick's second term as an interim at Old Trafford couldn't have had a more difficult opener than potent City. Pep Guardiola has added Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo in the window and also has Rodri back in the squad, and Erling Haaland is due for a breakout after scoring just once in the last four. Play Man City on ML

With Man City and Aston Villa dropping points this week, here's a chance for Arsenal to regain real control of the EPL race and pull seven points clear at the top into FA Cup 3rd Round weekend. It's a bit different Liverpool, too, certainly from last season and the title and the first meeting at Anfield back in August that Arne Slot's holders won 1-0 before the Reds hit an extended dry patch in the autumn. For the rematch, Liverpool confronts an in-form Declan Rice, whose brace just helped see of Bournemouth as he builds an EPL MVP case. Mikel Arteta's offense is firing, scoring nine times in the last three (all wins), while Liverpool continues to drop points. Play Arsenal on Asian Line

We know that Liverpool has gone eight straight in the Prem without suffering defeat, but recent form hasn't been especially good, either, even against mid-to-lower table sides like Wolves, Leeds, and Fulham, the latter two having held out for draws as Arne Slot's offense remains prone to misfiring. Getting blanked three straight in November isn't out of the memory, either, and now Slot's troops have to go to the Emirates and try to solve the EPL"s best defense (Arsenal) and goalie (David Raya, who has allowed only 14 goals in 20 matches). The first clash back on August 31 ended 1-0 Liverpool before Slot's team began to seriously wobble in autumn, and hardly sure Liverpool gets on the scoreboard in London. Play Arsenal-Liverpool Under

The rumor mill is churning in South London, where Palace manager Oliver Glasner is on what seems a short list at Man United to replace Ruben Amorim. Stay tuned. In the meantime, then, perhaps unneeded distractions related to Glasner and his role with the team, which has been dropping in the EPL table the past month, and now seven straight without a win dating to Dec. 7 at Fulham. Palace's high-water mark for the season, and corresponding low-mark for Villa, might have been the 3-0 win for Glasner's crew at Villa Park back on August 31, just before Villa ignited. So, this is payback for Unai Emery's bunch, which has seen Ollie Watkins score four times in three games. Play Aston Villa on ML

Ironies upon ironies, as Nuno manages against the team (Forest) that forced him to walk the plank earlier this season...before Forest fired Nuno's successor less than two months later. Now Nuno is at West Ham and perhaps at risk of getting pink-slipped again after the weekend loss at Wolves. Only two wins for the Hammers since Nuno arrived, but not sure we can trust Forest to come into London and get three points, given that Sean Dyche's squad has lost four straight of its own. West Ham is at least active in the January window, and just added in-form striker Pablo Felipe (10 goals this term) from Gil Vicente in Portugal, who along with Jarrod Bowen could provide some bite. Play West Ham ML

Leeds have bid adieu to the EPL drop zone with a six-match unbeaten run that does include four draws, with two of those vs. Liverpool, and also a win over Chelsea, reminders that Daniel Farke's men can play with the big boys, too. Farke's tactics have been spot-on, encouraging a higher-press and aggressive counter-attack to get Leeds moving in December but displaying real nous when opting for a more-controlled pace at Anfield last week, reflected in keeping red-hot striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin on the bench until the final 20 minutes. Calvert-Lewin should be involved from the off on Sunday and Man United enters having won just one of four. Absent a draw price, a Leeds win is the next-best option. Play Leeds on ML

Wasn't Villa just on an 11-match win streak in all competition? Hasn't Nottingham Forest already changed managers twice this season and is bobbing just above the drop zone at New Year's? And we're getting a near even-money price on the Villans for a win? This looks to have many possibilities for Villa, looking to bounce back from getting whipped at Arsenal on Tuesday. On the plus side from the Emirates, Ollie Watkins netted again, his third goal in two matches, suggesting he's shaken his goal slump. At the City Ground, Sean Dyche has seemed to stabilize things, but Forest has nonetheless been blanked six times in its last twelve outings, and a potential clean sheet for any opposing goalkeeper. Play Aston Villa on Money Line

We hate to seem like we're picking on Sunderland, but it's hard to look at the current situation any other way. AFCON has stripped away more players (six) from Sunderland than any other EPL side, and Regis Le Bris had been having trouble finding goals anyway in recent weeks (across the past four games, Newcastle's Nick Woltemade--for his own goal in the Tyneside Derby--is tied with Simon Adingra for the Black Cats goal lead on one). As for Man City, it once again is moving like a tremendous machine as it gives chase to Arsenal at the top of the table, and the reverse fixture just four weeks ago at the Etihad was all City in a 3-0 cruise. Play Man City on Spread