Top 10 Weekend Picks, 5th – 7th January 2024

The year is just kicking off, and sports betting fans in Kenya are already anticipating scoring some big wins. As usual, we bring you the best weekend picks to help you make better predictions. Our picks and tips cover all the top football leagues in Europe.

However, as mentioned, it’s the start of the year, so things are pretty slow. There’s no action in the English Premier League this weekend. The same is true for the Spanish La Liga, French Ligue 1, and German Bundesliga. Only the Italian Serie A promises some exciting matches between Friday and Sunday. Nevertheless, while matches are sparse on the league front, the Emirates FA Cup has some exciting fixtures to look out for. 

Consequently, the majority of our picks this weekend will be in the Serie A and FA Cup. Let’s find the top fixtures and their predictions.

Arsenal vs Liverpool: The Reds Looking to Advance

Without question, the biggest match in club football this weekend is Arsenal vs Liverpool. The Gunners will take on The Reds in the FA Cup on Sunday evening. Many fans expect Arsenal to emerge victorious and proceed to the next round, but current form heavily favors Liverpool.

Arsenal began the season in superb form, topping the league. Experts theorized that the club may finally be able to win the trophy this season, but things have changed recently. The Gunners have won just one out of their last five matches across all competitions. That sets their current form at 35%. They lost their previous two games against West Ham United and Fulham.

On the other hand, Liverpool boasts a dominant 73% current form over their last five games. The Reds are unbeaten, with three wins and two draws. They won against New Castle, Burnley, and West Ham United. Meanwhile, the draw came against Arsenal and Manchester United.

It’s easy to hand Liverpool the win, considering their current form. However, the last two games between both teams ended in a draw. Both were at Anfield, and they ended 1:1 and 2:2 respectively. Before then, Arsenal and Liverpool met in EPL Matchday 10, where Arsenal won by 3:2. That was the second meeting of the clubs last season. In the 21/22 season, Liverpool won Arsenal 2:0 across both legs. 

The FA match this Sunday will be played at the Emirates, which gives Arsenal a little edge as they’ll be with home fans. Indeed, on average, Kenyan bookmakers give Arsenal lower odds for a home win compared to a draw and away win. This is perhaps an advantage for bettors.

Given past statistics and current form, the prediction is for Liverpool to win or draw after 90 minutes. There’s less chance for Arsenal to win outright during normal time. It’s also likely that the team that advances to the next round of the FA Cup will be ultimately decided after penalties. For bettors interested in trying out a different market, betting on both teams to score is another probable prediction.

Roma vs Atalanta: A Battle in Rome

In Rome, Italy, Roma will host Atalanta on Sunday this weekend. The match promises to be a fierce battle, as both teams are in superb form. To understand just how tough a game it’ll be, Roma is currently in 7th position on the Serie A table, while Atalanta is in 6th. There’s only a point difference between both teams, so the outcome of the match will have a significant influence on their rankings.

Looking at their past five matches, Atalanta — which you’ll say is the weaker team — has a better current form. The team has won four games and lost only one against Bologna. It’s arguable that they didn’t play against a strong team during these matches. However, Atalanta did win against AC Milan at the start of December — Milan had a red card in that match.

While not as dominant as Atalanta, Roma has impressed in their previous five games with three wins. The other two games were losses against Bologna (who won against Atalanta, too) and Juventus. Hence, Roma’s current form is at around 60%. 

Atalanta and Roma last met in April 2023, and Atalanta won the game by 3:1. The previous match between both teams in September 2022 also saw Atalanta as 1:0 winners. Roma last won against Atalanta at the start of 2022.

Both teams have hot strikers mounting their number nine position. Going into the game, Romelu Lukaku has eight goals in Serie A and is tied for third position on the goals ranking. Nigerian striker Ademola Lookman is also hitting the net for Atalanta. He has seven goals this season, only one less than Lukaku.

Who will win when these two teams clash this weekend? Well, the odds on most Kenyan bookmaker websites favor Roma. The club in Rome is predicted to emerge victorious due to home advantage. Nevertheless, betting on Atalanta to win or draw is the best pick. Current form shows the away team will likely leave Rome with a point, at least.

Top 10 Weekend Picks, 5th – 7th January 2024