Another big weekend of Premier League action ahead and all eyes will be on the top and the bottom of the table. Chelsea still have a pretty strong 4 point lead with 4 games remaining and a favourable draw over hopefuls Tottenham. It still looks unlikely that the gap will close further but all it takes is a lapse and then the pressure builds where anything can happen. At the other end of the table it seems like a battle between Hull & Swansea as to who will survive this season. Regardless of who survives and who wins the title, it should make for a tantalisingly close finish to the season.
**Odds from Sportsbet as at 4th May
West Ham vs Tottenham
A bit of a test here for Tottenham in the sense that this is another London derby but they really should have little trouble with whatever West Ham can throw at them. It’s also a great opportunity for Tottenham to put a little bit of pressure on Chelsea where the gap can temporarily be cut to 1 point before Chelsea host Middlesbrough early next week. Spurs have now won 9 straight in the league and there’s every chance that this will be 10 in a row.
Predicted score: Tottenham 3-1
Best Bet: Over 2.5 goals at $1.56 (90%)
Next Best: Tottenham to lead at half-time at $1.83
Manchester City vs Crystal Palace
City have a great opportunity here to sneak further ahead of Manchester United and Arsenal who are not far off a top 4 spot. City should be able to get through here against a Palace side that may be starting to lose some form having now lost their last 2 matches. They sit on 38 points which should see them safe and with 3 games to play they may not necessarily be banking on a win here to guarantee them safety given they have a 6 point gap on relegation threatened Swansea. Man City though will need to step things up after a pretty poor draw away at Middlesbrough last time out and especially so if they want to ensure a top 4 finish.
Predicted score: Manchester City 3-0
Best Bet: Manchester City to lead at half-time at $1.62 (80%)
Next Best: Manchester City to win to Nil at $2.5
Bournemouth vs Stoke
The Cherries have won their last two matches and will be keen to hold onto their top 10 spot by claiming the 3 points here. Stoke have turned the corner slightly in recent week’s but away from home they can’t buy a win at the moment. They haven’t won on the road in the league since Mid Jan when they beat Sunderland 3-1 and it doesn’t look like they’ll finish with many more points on the road this season.
Predicted score: Bournemouth 2-1
Best Bet: Bournemouth to win at $2.15 (80%)
Next Best: Bournemouth to win either half at $1.56
Burnley vs West Brom
Burnley’s home form has dropped in recent weeks with 2 losses in their last 3 home matches but the visit of West Brom could help them turn the corner to finish off the season strongly. The Baggies seem to have switched off lately having lost their last 4 matches and perhaps those thoughts of the beach and holidays are creeping into their performances. On form over the last 6 matches they are ranked in the bottom 3 in the league, just ahead of Stoke and Sunderland. Burnley have a terrific record at home and that should continue here.
Predicted score: Burnley 1-0
Best Bet: Under 2.5 goals at $1.53 (85%)
Next Best: Burnley to win at $2.2
Hull vs Sunderland
The Black Cats may officially be relegated but they can still have an impact on the rest of the league and where others finish. They head to Hull though who are fighting hard to keep out of the relegation zone and with just 2 points separating themselves and Swansea in 18th, a win here is vital. There’s an element of freedom here that may produce a more positive performance from Sunderland here now that the weight of relegation is confirmed but in the end the determination of Hull should see them through and it’s important to note that Hull have won 5 of their last 6 at home.
Predicted score: Hull 2-1
Best Bet: Over 2.5 goals at $1.84 (80%)
Next Best: Half-Time Draw at $2.2
Leicester vs Watford
Leicester are finishing off the season strongly having won their last 4 matches straight and a Watford visit here looks like a favourable match for the home side. Watford have lost their last 2 matches and perhaps some of that can be attributed to the fact that they have reached that 40 point barrier meaning they are safe from relegation. For Leicester, they’re playing some pretty good football at the moment and they’ll be keen to take that momentum into next season where perhaps they can push further up the table without the additional requirements of the Champions League.
Predicted score: Leicester 2-0
Best Bet: Leicester to win at $1.57 (90%)
Next Best: Leicester -1 Handicap at $2.7
Swansea vs Everton
This is a really tough match for Swansea and one that they’ll need to be at their best to get a result here. They are coming off two pretty good results with a win over Stoke and a really good draw at Manchester United where they could have won as well. It’s difficult to gauge how well Everton will go here. They haven’t won on the road since late Jan and they really don’t have a lot to play for here. If anything, it will be focused on whether Lukaku can score given he’s not far off claiming the golden boot with a 3 goal lead over Harry Kane. Both sides will push forward strongly here and that should point to plenty of goals. Swansea have a lot more to play for though so a win won’t be beyond them as they look to chase down Hull.
Predicted score: Swansea 3-2
Best Bet: Both teams to score – Yes at $1.62 (90%)
Next Best: Over 2.5 goals at $1.83
Liverpool vs Southampton
This fixture hasn’t produced a lot of goals lately and neither has either of Liverpool or Southampton in recent matches. Liverpool have scored just 3 times in their last 3 whilst for Southampton they’ve scored just twice. The last 3 meetings between these two has also only produced two goals with 2 wins to Southampton as well as a nil all draw. There’s not a lot pointing to a lot of goals here and Liverpool will also be under a little more pressure to produce a result given they need to fend off Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal for top 4 places. One thing they do have going for them is they have a pretty strong home record having only lost twice in the league this season. It might not be the most entertaining fixture in the end, but Liverpool should get the job done.
Predicted score: Liverpool 1-0
Best Bet: Half-time Draw at $2.25 (75%)
Next Best: Liverpool to win at $1.57
Arsenal vs Manchester United
Perhaps the match of the week here with Arsenal hosting Manchester United in what is a must win for both sides if they are to have a chance of a top 4 finish. Arsenal though were outplayed by Tottenham last week and really could have lost by a lot more than 2-0. For Manchester United, they just don’t seem to have that killer instinct anymore and had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Swansea. Injuries though have cruelled United in patches this season but the welcome returns of the likes of Pogba, Jones & Smalling should boost them. Pogba in particular will be a welcome in and he’ll be keen to finish off the season strongly and in what is a pretty big fixture. It may however end up being one of those matches where neither side and neither manager is keen to give too much away on the pitch.
Predicted score: Draw 1-1
Best Bet: Under 2.5 goals at $1.95 (80%)
Next Best: Half-time Draw at $2.1
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
With Tottenham losing to West Ham, the title is there for the taking now for Chelsea. The League leaders simply need another 6 points to guarantee the title starting with a home game here against relegation battlers Middlesbrough. Sitting in 19th, Middlesbrough will have welcomed Hull’s loss to Sunderland over the weekend but the fact remains that even a win here will see them 4 points off safety with 2 games to go. With any sense of a chance though, Middlesbrough will surely be pushing hard here and much in the same way where they managed a draw at home to Manchester City last time out to give them some further hope. It does however seem a little bit of a stretch, particularly away from home and it would certainly be a massive upset to see anything other than a Chelsea win.
Predicted score: Chelsea 3-1
Best Bet: Chelsea Half-Time/Full-Time at $1.53 (85%)
Next Best: Both teams to score – Yes at $2.4
Southampton vs Arsenal
At the time of writing, Arsenal are yet to play Manchester United and are 9 points off 4th spot with 2 games in hand. A win against United and here on the road at Southampton would push them into 5th and a game outside of being in 4th spot. With 3 games to follow there’s a decent chance for them to finish in the top 4 but there’s quite a lot of pressure on them to do so and this won’t be an easy fixture. Arsenal have lost 5 of their last 6 on the road and there’s still a sense that they are lacking a togetherness about them right now. Southampton have little to play for apart from perhaps a top 10 finish but they’ll step up against a bigger club here and at home. It won’t be easy for Arsenal and the pressure on them may see them slip up once again.
Predicted score: Draw 1-1
Best Bet: Half-time Draw at $2.3 (80%)
Next Best: Both teams to score – Yes at $1.5
