Dave1962

The last five times Nottingham Forest have welcomed Brighton the game has finished with at least three goals. Forest's last three home games in the Premiership have finished with at least three goals.

Both players have lost four of their last nine matches. Xiao Guodong comes into this game having lost his last two matches. With Pang beating Saengkham by four frames, he could well play good enough to beat a player ranked eighteen places higher than him.

Having won his last three races, Tap Into This appears to be in a rich vein of form. He won his last race by over two lengths. He has gone up six pounds in the ratings but could complete the four-timer.

Second in the table, LA Lakers take on bottom of the table NO Pelicans. Their most recent meeting was in mid-November, and the LA Lakers won by fourteen points. Now playing at home, where they have won their last five games, another LA Lakers win can be expected.

Ding Junhui is ranked thirty-one places higher than his opponent. Although Xu Si won their last meeting, over this longer format I expect Ding Junhui to get the win.

In winning in Riyadh, Zhao Xintong beat Murphy, Trump, and Robertson. All those players are ranked far higher than Long Zehuang. He also won their only previous meeting.

Bologna are six places and ten points higher in the table than Cremonese after both teams have played twelve games. Cremonese have lost two of their last three away games. Taking thirteen points from a possible fifteen in their last five home league games, I expect Bologna to collect all three points.

This season Birmingham have played eight Championship games at home. Those eight games have produced five wins, two draws, and one defeat. They come into this game having won their last three home games, with two of them finishing with at least three goals. Watford have collected five points from their last five Championship away games, three of which finished with at least three goals.

Rayo Vallecano are three places and three points ahead of Valencia after each team has played thirteen games. They have taken four points from their last two home games, one of which was a goalless draw against Real Madrid. If they put in another solid defensive effort against Valencia, they have every chance of taking all three points.

Mr Nugget is only one pound higher than when scoring over course and distance two runs ago. That run was in the early part of November with the same jockey on board. Since that race, he has run one more time when upped in distance with a different jockey and finished third. With Rowan Scott back in the saddle and down in trip, Mr Nugget should run well.

Having gone two up away at Sunderland, Bournemouth conceded three times to go home empty-handed. At home against Everton, who themselves lost at home to Newcastle, Bournemouth will be looking to bounce back. This season they have played six home Premiership games, winning four and drawing two. They won this fixture last season, and I'm taking them to do so again.

This season Fulham have played six home games, winning four, losing one by a single goal against Arsenal, and drawing the other game with Manchester City. They have kept a clean sheet in their last two home matches. With Manchester City losing their last two away Premiership games and Fulham's fine home record, I expect Fulham to get the win.

A win for Ipswich would move them into the top six, and a defeat for Blackburn would keep them three points clear of the relegation zone. Ipswich won this fixture last season. After winning three consecutive away games, Ipswich slumped to a surprise away defeat at Oxford in their last match. However, with Blackburn losing three of their last four home games, take Ipswich to bounce back and get the win.

This season at home, Newcastle have been a strong team with eight wins and only three defeats. Those defeats came against Arsenal and Liverpool in the Premiership and Barcelona in the Champions League. They welcome a Tottenham team who have lost their last three away games, one of which was an EFL Cup game at Newcastle.

Having dropped points away at Chelsea, top-of-the-table Arsenal look to have every chance of returning to winning ways now playing at home, where they have collected sixteen points from a possible eighteen. The only points dropped were in a draw against Manchester City. Tenth-placed Brentford have lost their last two away games.

Aston Villa have won three of their last four visits to Brighton. They have taken six points from their last three away games. Brighton have yet to taste defeat at home this season, but with Villa one place and two points higher in the table, that could all change.

Wolves are bottom of the table on two points, whilst Nottingham Forest are in sixteenth place, one point above the relegation zone. Wolves continue to let in goals when playing at home. In their last two home games they have conceded five times. Nottingham Forest won their last away game, which was at Liverpool, by three goals while keeping a clean sheet. That was the same scoreline that happened in this fixture last season.

For a team that are ten points clear at the top of the table and have scored fifty goals in their eighteen Championship games, this looks a generous price for a Coventry win. Ipswich have played one game less than Coventry and are sixteen points behind them. With Coventry winning five of their last six away Championship games, I’m backing them to get the win.

Judd Trump has reached the final of this tournament four times in the last fourteen years. He is the defending champion and also won it back in 2011. These longer matches usually bring out the best in Judd Trump. The last person to successfully defend their crown was Ronnie O'Sullivan back in 2018. I'm taking Trump to do the same as 'The Rocket' and win this tournament again.