EPL Matchday 16 Odds & Picks: Crystal Palace in Mood for Win at Bottom Club Watford

• Hodgson’s surprise package Eagles boast impressive away form
• West Ham and Arsenal meet in a desperate fight for recovery
• Everton change at top could bring boost against Chelsea

England’s Premier League is heading into deep mid-winter with unbeaten Liverpool the runaway leaders at the top and Leicester City their closest rivals but eight points behind. There have been three recent managerial changes as the season takes firm shape with Tottenham replacing Mauricio Pochettino with Jose Mourinho and Arsenal firing Unai Emery before Everton axed Marco Silva.

Premier League Matchday 16 Odds

All odds taken Dec. 6

EPL Pick 1: Watford vs Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace have surprised many with their performance in the English Premier League this season and are currently in seventh place.

With some of the best away form in the division, they will be hopeful of a second successive victory on the road when they travel to face bottom club Watford on Saturday, December 7, Vicarage Road, Watford, at 10:00 am EST.

Watford have already dumped two managers this season and have secured only one win in 15 fixtures. They are currently under the temporary managership of coach Hayden Mullins.

Sportsbooks make Palace a good value +195 for a victory, with Watford surprisingly priced as favorites at +142. The draw is also an interesting offer at +215.

Roy Hodgson’s Palace side have the sixth-best away record in the EPL with three wins and one draw from their seven road trips so far.

Nigel Pearson is in talks to become the new Watford manager, with a deal close to being agreed, Sky Sports News understands.

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 6, 2019

They are currently on a two-match winning streak. After winning their most recent away game 2-0 at Burnley, the Eagles followed up with a 1-0 success at home against Bournemouth on Tuesday.

Watford are enduring a torrid season – after being tipped before the season to finish in the top half of the table.

They sacked manager Javi Gracia in September in attempt to lift their performances. But after recalling former coach Quique Sanchez Flores, he too was fired after two-and-a-half months.

Watford’s only win was away from at home when they beat Norwich City 2-0 on November 8.

They have since lost three successive times; 3-0 at home against Burnley, 2-1 at Southampton and 2-0 at Leicester City.

They have suffered four defeats at home this season while drawing three times.

Pick: Crystal Palace (+195)

EPL Pick 2: West Ham United vs Arsenal

West Ham United and Arsenal are both enduring poor spells and look good value for a draw at +260  on Monday, December 9, at London Stadium, Stratford, at 3:00 pm EST.

The Gunners are currently under the interim command of former player-turned coach Freddie Ljunbgerg after axeing boss Unai Emery.

But they were beaten 2-1 at home by Brighton and Hove Albion in Ljungberg’s first game in charge on Thursday.

It condemned the team to its worst sequence of form in 42 years after nine games without a win.

They have slipped to 10^th place in the EPL table after four wins, seven draws and four defeats.

West Ham are having a troubled time, too, so the desperation of both clubs for any kind of tangible reward makes a draw likely on Monday – although a home win at +245 also commands attention with talismanic forward Michail Antonio set to return to action for West Ham.

Arsenal, surprisingly, are favored to win at -106.

Hammers’ coach Manuel Pellegrini has come under pressure after a run of just one win in nine league games.

#afc Spoke to Lewis Dunk after Arsenal’s defeat to Brighton last night. Admits he and team-mates knew home crowd would turn on team given miserable run of form at the moment. https://t.co/1JwDJzk8KE

— Simon Collings (@sr_collings) December 6, 2019

After an impressive 1-0 win away at Chelsea gave Pellegrini some breathing space last weekend, West Ham reverted to type with a meek 2-0 defeat away at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday.

One significant fact is that West Ham have been better on the road than at home in east London.

At the London Stadium, they have lost four times this season while drawing once and winning only twice.

However, Arsenal have won away just once in the EPL while drawing three and losing three.

Pick: Draw (+260)

EPL Pick 3: Everton vs Chelsea

Another team to have sacked its manager is Everton. They fired Marco Silva on Thursday.

With former-player-turned coach Duncan Ferguson in charge for now, the club hopes the change at the top will see a quick up-turn in form.

This makes the price of +250 for a draw when stuttering Chelsea visit on Saturday an intriguing one.

Chelsea are favored to win at -101 with Everton at +245.

The Merseyside outfit are currently on a run of three straight defeats – culminating in the 5-2 derby reverse against Liverpool on Wednesday which cost Portuguese Silva his job.

Their home record has been dreadful with just one win, one draw and six defeats.

Telegraph | Frank Lampard has £150m to spend in January after #Chelsea transfer ban is overturned. #CFC pic.twitter.com/HIez6fscrm

— The Blues (@TheBlues___) December 6, 2019

But Chelsea have had a recent wobble, too. Their home 2-1 win against Aston Villa on Wednesday followed consecutive defeats by Manchester City and West Ham.

Those two setbacks ended a run of six straight wins for Frank Lampard’s team.

Now Everton will be hoping that the idea of the “dead cat bounce” which sometimes follows a change of managership will work for them this weekend.

Pick: Draw (+250)