Daily Tipster Picks - 03.01.2026
This post features today’s soccer tipster selections for 03 January 2026, focusing on matches where form, data, and situational factors align. All predictions are valid for today’s games only. You can find more insights on our daily soccer predictions page.
Odds may change before kickoff.
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England: Premier League
Aston Villa vs Nottingham
Aston Villa is currently in third place on the table with 39 points, and after losing to Arsenal in the last round, they are 6 points behind the leader. After playing 19 matches, the team has a record of 12 wins, 3 draws, and 4 losses, with a goal difference of 30:23, which clearly shows their strong offensive potential and high intensity in play. Villa's form is at a high level, with a series of positive results in recent rounds, although they sometimes struggle against the toughest opponents. They play offensively fast and direct, with a lot of movement and effective finishing, while their defense is solid but can leave space when playing high up the pitch.
Watkins is the main threat in attack, with Rogers and Buendia providing important creative support. At home, they have 7 wins in 9 matches with a goal difference of 15:7. In this match, besides the injured players, they will also be without Guessand due to AFCON.
Nottingham Forest is currently in 17th place on the table with 18 points after playing 19 matches, just above the relegation zone. The team has recorded five wins, three draws, and a whopping 11 losses, with a goal difference of 18:30, which clearly shows serious issues in defense and a lack of consistent results. Their form is worrying, with a string of negative results in recent matches and a noticeable drop in the players' confidence. In attack, Forest often relies on individual efforts and quick transitions, but they create very few clear goal-scoring opportunities, while the defense frequently struggles under continuous pressure from opponents.
Gibbs-White and Hudson-Odoi are the main playmakers, but their impact is limited. On away turf, they have only two wins out of nine matches with a goal difference of 6:13. An additional problem for today's match is the absence of Sangare and Willy Boly due to their participation in AFCON, along with other injured players.
Aston Villa will control the game with possession and pressure, while Nottingham will defend deep and wait for counterattacks. The difference in form, quality, and the advantage of playing at home is in favor of Aston Villa.
1 (Aston Villa to Win)
Odds: 1.80
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England: National League
Scunthorpe vs Sutton
After playing 24 matches this season, the Scunthorpe team has earned 49 points and is currently in 6th place on the table, making them a strong contender for the top spots. The upcoming match is a great chance for the team to improve their position and get closer to the top three teams, which guarantee direct promotion to English League Two next season.
So far, Scunthorpe has achieved 14 wins, 7 draws, and only 3 losses, with a goal difference of 41 scored and 25 conceded, showing a balanced and stable performance. The team's form is consistently improving, with four consecutive wins in their last four matches. Their home performances are particularly impressive, as they have recorded 9 wins and 1 draw in their last 10 home games, making them a serious favorite on their own turf.
Sutton has played 24 rounds this season and is currently in 21st place in the danger zone with 23 points. In their previous matches, they achieved 5 wins, had 8 draws, and lost 11 times, scoring 34 goals, while their defense struggled in many games this season, allowing a total of 44 goals. Every point they earn is important for their fight to stay in the league since several teams have a similar number of points.
Even though they showed excellent performance in November, winning 6 out of 7 matches and drawing once, their form dropped in December, where they played 5 matches, losing 4 and drawing 1. In their first home match against Scunthorpe, they lost with a score of 2-3.
Scunthorpe has a clear advantage in form, quality, and home performance, while Sutton will defend and look for chances from set pieces and quick transitions. We expect a match where the home team will secure a victory.
1 (Scunthorpe to Win)
Odds: 1.67
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Scotland: Championship
Ayr vs Queen's Park
Ayr is currently in 4th place on the table with a total of 28 points after playing 20 matches. The team has a record of 6 wins, 10 draws, and 4 losses, with a goal difference of 26:23, showing that their season is stable but not completely dominant. Ayr's form is inconsistent, with alternating good and weaker performances.
In the last few rounds, they achieved important victories against Peterhead with a score of 2:1 and a convincing win over Turriff United at 3:0, but they also suffered a tough loss to St Johnstone with a score of 2:4, along with several draws that prevented them from climbing higher on the table. The team often appears strong and organized, but they tend to lose leads at crucial moments. In their recent head-to-head matches, Ayr has a slight advantage, and the games are usually close with few goals, indicating balanced encounters with a slight edge for the home team.
On the other hand, Queen's Park is currently in 8th place on the table with 18 points after playing 19 matches. The team has only managed to win 3 times, with 9 draws and 7 losses, resulting in a negative goal difference of 20:29, which clearly shows serious issues in their defense.
Queen's Park's performance is below expectations, with several losses in recent games and rarely earning full points. This inconsistency in results directly affects their position on the table. Their away games are particularly concerning, as the team struggles to achieve positive results and often ends up losing or drawing. The defense frequently breaks under pressure, and the lack of consistency in their play prevents them from building a stable form. Overall, Queen's Park heads into the upcoming matches with obvious weaknesses, especially in defense and in away games.
Based on the current position, shape, and stats, Ayr is coming in as the favorite, especially because they are playing at home and have a better balance in both offense and defense. Queen’s Park will try to get a good result, but they really need to improve their defense to stay competitive. We expect both teams to score in this match.
GG (BTTS-Yes)
Odds: 1.90
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Israel: Ligat ha'Al
Hapoel Petah Tikva vs Maccabi Bnei Raina
Hapoel Petah Tikva has 20 points and is currently in 8th place on the table after playing 16 matches this season. They have achieved 4 wins, drawn 4 matches, and lost 4, scoring a total of 25 goals while conceding 26, which shows their current form this season.
After winning their last two matches, they are now only 3 points behind the playoff spot, so this match is a great chance for them to earn three points since they are up against the weakest team in the league this season. Although most of the team consists of local players, the Nigerian international James Adeniyi stands out, especially after his goal and assist in the recent victory against Netanya.
Maccabi Bnei Raina is currently in last place, 14th on the table, with only 7 points after playing 16 matches this season. They have only won two games so far, drawn one, and lost 13 matches this season. Both of their wins happened last month in December, which gives a little hope for improvement in their performance, but considering they lost 13 matches at the start, staying in the league will be tough for them. In attack, they are one of the two worst teams, scoring only 14 goals in 16 matches, while their defense is the worst in the league, allowing 40 goals.
In their past meetings over the previous seasons, the results have favored the home team in this matchup, as in their last 9 encounters, Maccabi Bnei Raina has lost 6 times, drawn twice, and only won once against Hapoel Petah Tikva.
All the signs show that the Hapoel Petah Tikva team is a big favorite in this match, so we expect them to take advantage of playing at home and the opponent's poor form to win this game.
1 (Hapoel Petah Tikva to Win)
Odds: 1.70
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