Huddersfield are backed for a surprise win at home to Liverpool in our preview of Tuesday night's Premier League action.
Premier League recommended bets
1pt Huddersfield to beat Liverpool at 10/1
For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
Ben Coley previews Swansea v Arsenal and Huddersfield v Liverpool. Nick Hext gives his verdict on West Ham v Crystal Palace.
Swansea City v Arsenal (1945 GMT)
It took until January 20 for Arsenal to gain their first win of the year - the longest wait they've endured since beating Swansea in the FA Cup five years ago.
Not much has changed since, as the Gunners continue to stir debate with their relentless refusal to be either consistently brilliant or consistently rubbish, while Swansea maintain the right sort of ideas when it comes to aesthetics and, so far, their Premier League status.
The latter remains an issue at present but the decision to bring in Carlos Carvalhal is already looking inspired, the former Sheffield Wednesday boss adding a bit of steel to go with style and, by hook or by crook, securing seven points from 12 to give his new employers a fighting chance.
It's true that Tottenham made Swansea run around in hopeless pursuit of shadows for much of their 2-0 victory on the second day of the month but there have been incremental improvements since and the Gunners may not have things all their own way despite winning 4-0 here almost exactly a year ago.
Arsenal did really well to come from behind to beat Chelsea on Wednesday night and we've seen them draw confidence from such performances before, so with a North London derby on the horizon there are no excuses, particularly with the Alexis Sanchez saga now behind them.
But while Henrikh Mkhitaryan could make his debut, he hasn't completed a full Premier League game all season and the nagging concern here would be that without Sanchez and with various other options absent, Arsenal do look decidedly light in attack.
It took two deflections to get them level against Chelsea and they won't always be able to rely on Granit Xhaka not only ghosting into the box, but showing the clinical capabilities of a top-class striker as he lifted his side into the League Cup final.
Alexandre Lacazette is the obvious candidate to step up and I wrote last week that he does appeal as the type to seize the opportunity, but odds of around evens that he scores against opponents who are defending well make no kind of appeal. Likewise, the returning Olivier Giroud is skinny enough - particularly as he wouldn't be guaranteed a start.
One way or another, Arsenal should be able to put their freshness to use - Swansea were in action in a hard-fought FA Cup draw on Saturday while Tuesday's visitors prepared for this game - but they look far too short to do so. Even a one-goal win is on the skinny side at 13/5 given a decidedly poor away record this season.
If there is a bet, then, it may well be under 2.5 goals. With Arsenal needing to find a way to replace the contribution of Sanchez and Swansea having scored just seven goals at home all season, and arguably both sides having one eye on future engagements, one goal may do it and two almost certainly will.
Prediction: Swansea 0-1 Arsenal
Best bet: Under 2.5 goals at 6/5
Alternative: Arsenal to win by one at 13/5
West Ham United v Crystal Palace (1945)
There isn't much that makes appeal to me about West Ham's clash against Crystal Palace on Tuesday night.
Both teams sit close to the middle of the Premier League standings but the collection of mediocrity in the top-flight is so tightly congested that real relegation worries remain for the pair.
The two clubs have benefited from the appointment of new managers during the season, Roy Hodgson at Palace and David Moyes at West Ham, but the signs are that some of the early magic is disappearing.
West Ham exited the FA Cup at the weekend courtesy of a 2-0 defeat at Sky Bet League One leaders Wigan but the main concern for Moyes is a growing list of unavailable players.
Arthur Masuaku has been banned for six matches after receiving a red card for spitting at Wigan's Nick Powell. He joins key player Marko Arnautovic and Manuel Lanzini on the sidelines.
Palace didn't play at the weekend, they lost 2-1 at Brighton in the third round of the FA Cup, and the Eagles have been boosted during their break from action by positive news on the availability of Mamadou Sakho, Joel Ward and Yohan Cabaye.
Arsenal thrashed Palace 4-1 in their last game on January 20 and they have been inconsistent with two wins, two draws and two defeats in their previous six outings.
I wouldn't rule out the Eagles confirming their inconsistency and leaving with three points but the price isn't big enough and I'm more interested in the draw, especially in the half-time/full-time betting.
Both of West Ham's last two home games have finished level at half-time and the end of 90 minutes so that's worth an interest from a punting perspective.
However, it doesn't quite get over the line for me to get involved.
Prediction: West Ham 1-1 Crystal Palace
Best bet: Draw/Draw in HT/FT at 23/5
Alternative: Most goals in the second half at 6/5
Huddersfield Town v Liverpool (2000, live on BT Sport 1)
Jurgen Klopp expressed his frustration at Liverpool's performance at Swansea last Monday and will have expected much better than was offered as they crashed out of the FA Cup on Saturday night.
A game whose headlines were dominated by VAR was also notable for the absence of anything resembling Liverpool quality as they lost 3-2 to West Brom, despite Klopp naming an exceptionally strong side.
Liverpool lost three games on the bounce and five in seven at precisely this time last year and there has to be a concern, one expressed here prior to their earlier Manchester City win, that the manager's energetic demands catch up with players post-Christmas.
Klopp's Dortmund sides often began to run on empty just prior to their winter break, typically returning refreshed, and with Huddersfield as big as 10/1 in a place this is surely an angle worth pursuing again after colleague Nick Hext tipped the Baggies on Saturday.
David Wagner will be desperate to get one over his pal and Liverpool's away record (4-4-4) suggests that they're simply far too short here, even if there is of course every chance they click and run riot as they have at Bournemouth, Brighton and West Ham.
Huddersfield haven't won at home since early December but they were competitive against Manchester City prior to that and have beaten Manchester United, so despite their weekend failure to beat Birmingham there's some evidence that they can rise to this occasion.
At the price, taking into account the risk that one or all of Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino arrive here ready to wreak havoc, a small bet on the hosts makes sense.
Prediction: Huddersfield 2-1 Liverpool
Best bet: Huddersfield to win at 10/1
Alternative: Both teams to score at 11/10
Posted at 1500 GMT on 29/01/17.
