The 2016/17 English Premier League season is drawing to a close in a somewhat anticlimactic way with Chelsea destined to be Champions. Add to this that 2 of the 3 relegated teams have been decided already and there’s really not as much to look forward to besides who may or may not finish in a top 4 spot. Regardless though, the show must go on and there should still be some pretty good games of football to be had.
**Odds from Sportsbet as at 11th May
Everton vs Watford
Everton will be keen to finish their final home game of the season on a high when they host Watford first up here. The home side has fallen out of form in recent matches with 2 losses and a draw. Despite that form though, expect a strong showing here from Everton. Watford have been pretty poor with 3 straight losses and without scoring a goal as they look ahead to the summer break. With Manchester City at home in their final game of the season, Watford may be just looking ahead to next season rather than go all out in this one.
Predicted score: Everton 2-0
Best Bet: Everton -1 Handicap at $2.2 (80%)
Next Best: Everton to win to Nil at $2.4
West Brom vs Chelsea
The only thing that will stop Chelsea here is Tony Pulis looking to spoil the party by making it frustrating for Chelsea to break through. The problem is though that even if Chelsea are frustrated into a draw, they would then need to lose both to Watford and Sunderland at home to lose the title from here. Given though that this is West Brom’s final home game of the season, we can likely expect a better than recent performance from the home side having lost 4 of their last 5 but it’s still difficult to see Chelsea not getting a likely win here to seal their title victory.
Predicted score: Chelsea 2-1
Best Bet: Over 2.5 goals at $1.77 (85%)
Next Best: Draw/Chelsea Half-time/Full-time at $3.75
Manchester City vs Leicester
A top 4 spot is almost theirs and Manchester City look likely to grab another 3 points here when they host Leicester. Although Leicester have won their last 2 matches, the fact remains that their away form has been horrible winning just twice on the road. They did of course win last time out, but that was at West Brom who have been in pretty poor form. A win here for Manchester City too pots them in with a great chance at finish in the top 3 as they are a point behind Liverpool in 3rd with a game in hand so there’s still plenty of motivation here for them to finish the season off strongly.
Predicted score: Manchester City 2-0
Best Bet: Manchester City Half-Time/Full-time at $1.8 (75%)
Next Best: -1 Handicap at $1.72
Middlesbrough vs Southampton
The season is over for Middlesbrough with their relegation confirmed but they may get up for this one when they host Southampton at home. The weight of pressure on trying to survive should actually see a better performance from Middlesbrough here as they look to try and salvage some pride and momentum into next season. Southampton will make for a difficult opponent but results haven’t gone their way with just 2 points in their last 5 matches and they like a number of sides may have one eye towards the beach at the moment.
Predicted score: Middlesbrough 2-1
Best Bet: Over 2.5 goals at $1.95 (80%)
Next Best: Middlesbrough to win at $3.8
Bournemouth vs Burnley
The Cherries have had a great season by their standards to sit in 11th currently and with a shot still at finishing in the top 10, they’ll have some motivation ahead of their meeting at home to Burnley here. Burnley did finally break through for an away win in their last away match but it seems a big ask to make that two straight in this one. There’s the added difficulty for Burnley with fitness concerns over Keane and Mee in the heart of their defence and any shuffle at the back there might unsettle things a little too much.
Predicted score: Bournemouth 2-1
Best Bet: Bournemouth to win at $1.95 (85%)
Next Best: Bournemouth to lead at Half-time at $2.4
Sunderland vs Swansea
This is a massive game for Swansea and a game of relative importance for Sunderland. Swansea need a win here to keep Hull at bay in their bid for survival whilst for Sunderland this will be their final home game of the season before heading into the Championship next season. A win here too would seal their survival for next season whilst if they only manage a draw and Hull win away at Crystal Palace, it’ll come down to the final day for as to who will survive. That’d make for something interesting at least on the final day of the season, but Swansea may seal their fate a little earlier with a narrow win here. The shackles were off for Sunderland in their last match when they beat Hull 2-0 and although the pressure is gone, they may find it difficult to match that performance in this one as Swansea simply have too much to play for.
Predicted score: Swansea 1-0
Best Bet: Swansea to win at $1.85 (75%)
Next Best: Half-time Draw at $2.1
Stoke vs Arsenal
The Gunners have found a little bit of form again and it should serve them well in their away trip to Stoke here. They’re still an outside chance of a top 4 finish but they really need to get the 3 points here or they may just miss out depending on other results. In their favour though is a Stoke side that on form has taken just 5 points in their last 6 matches. It might be a little bit of a grind like it was against Southampton until some Sanchez Magic on the hour, but Arsenal should make this 3 in a row.
Predicted score: Arsenal 2-0
Best Bet: Arsenal to win at $1.61 (90%)
Next Best: Arsenal to win to Nil at $3.2
Crystal Palace vs Hull
Palace have really fallen away in recent weeks and still need a point here to absolutely guarantee their survival. They’ve lost their last 3 though and there’s a good chance here that Hull will play with a lot more hunger. In saying that though, Hull have the worst away record in the league taking just 6 points in total and despite Palace’s recent poor run, Palace should be able to see this out for at least a draw.
Predicted score: Draw 1-1
Best Bet: Under 2.5 goals at $1.8 (75%)
Next Best: Crystal Palace to win either half at $1.52
West Ham vs Liverpool
The Hammer’s have some momentum heading into another big game here against Liverpool. Their strong performance that saw them beat London rivals Tottenham 1-0 last time out also extended their unbeaten streak to 5 matches. Liverpool on the other hand are stumbling at the final hurdle in their quest for a top 4 spot. A loss and a draw in their last 3 matches leaves them a strong chance to drop further depending on how other results go by the end of the season. It’ll be a big ask to back that up again but they might just have enough motivation to spoil Liverpool’s party as well. Liverpool just look a little short of quality, particularly without the blistering pace and threat of Mane whilst defensively they can be suspect. There’ll be fight from both sides here but right now it looks like it’ll be an exciting draw.
Predicted score: Draw 2-2
Best Bet: Both teams to score – yes at $1.72 (90%)
Next Best: Over 2.5 goals at $1.76
Tottenham vs Manchester United
The final game at White Hart Lane before it gets demolished promises to be a big one for Tottenham here. A big match-up with a big club too will add to the atmosphere and despite Tottenham falling to West Ham last weekend and their title chances pretty much shot, expect them to bounce back here for a strong performance. At home, Tottenham have been unbelievable this season and it’s where they have played their best football. 16 wins, 2 draws, 45 goals scored and just 8 goals conceded makes for a tough ask for United to get a win here. United also have the added difficulty of a Europa League fixture this week which is where they’ll likely be putting more focus on given a top 4 finish looks unlikely at the moment. Should be a good contest but Tottenham look likely to keep their impeccable home record here as they play at White Hart Lane for the final time.
Predicted score: Tottenham 2-0
Best Bet: Tottenham to win at $1.7 (85%)
Next Best: Tottenham to lead at Half-time at $2.2
Chelsea vs Watford
The title is won now so there’s little pressure if any at all on Chelsea to perform here but in front of their home crowd they’ll surely be eager to put on a show given they sealed the title away at West Brom last time out. For Watford, they’re safe but there’s little reason or chance here that they can perform to a level to upset the Chelsea party, their last 4 games have resulted in 4 straight losses. Chelsea to win here in what should be a pretty fun game for the Chelsea fans.
Predicted score: Chelsea 3-0
Best Bet: Chelsea to win to Nil at $2.2 (85%)
Next Best: Both teams to score – No at $2
Arsenal vs Sunderland
With Tottenham beating Manchester United at the weekend, there’s only 2 spots left up for grabs in the top 4 and it’s coming down to Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City. The equation is simple for Arsenal though, they must win and winning comfortably wouldn’t do their goal difference any harm either. For Sunderland, they played with a sense of relief after their relegation was confirmed to capture an away win at Hull but they then succumbed to Swansea at the weekend. They will no doubt play with little fear here as they clearly have nothing to lose, but Arsenal will win this as they push to make the top 4 and make it 4 wins on the trot ahead of the final day.
Predicted score: Arsenal 3-1
Best Bet: Arsenal to win both halves at $1.83 (80%)
Next Best: Over 3.5 goals at $1.74
Manchester City vs West Brom
Manchester City are in some decent enough form to seal a win here and keep Arsenal at bay ahead of the final day’s action this weekend. They did have to work hard for it though against Leicester at the weekend but West Brom don’t pose the same sort of threat right at the moment. City led by Pep Guardiola won’t be letting much through here as they push for 3rd place currently occupied by Liverpool who are just 1 point ahead but have played an extra game. The Baggies may keep this tight early but expect Manchester City to come out on top.
Predicted score: Manchester City 2-0
Best Bet: Manchester City to win to Nil at $1.91 (85%)
Next Best: Manchester City to win both halves at $2.1
Southampton vs Manchester United
It’s clear that Manchester United are intently focused on the Europa League final and Mourinho will continue to rotate his team ahead of the final next Thursday morning. Against Tottenham at the weekend they were never really in it, even if they managed to keep some pressure on by scoring in the 71st minute. The rotations that are expected to continue on here will open up the door for Southampton whilst the reality that United can no longer finish in the top 4 will go in Southampton’s favour. The Saints haven’t been playing all that bad with just the 1 loss in their last 4 and they shouldn’t be expected to lose this one either. The question will centre on whether they can win which is perhaps more of a stretch but Southampton certainly have enough here to secure a draw.
Predicted score: Draw 1-1
Best Bet: Half-time Draw at $2 (80%)
Next Best: Under 2.5 goals at $1.77
Leicester vs Tottenham
With 2nd place now secured, Tottenham will have a sense of relief but will also remember vividly their end to last season when having fallen out of the race for the title against Leicester, lost on the final day 5-1 to already relegated Newcastle. This also presents an opportunity to get something back on Leicester with a win here while also proving to themselves that although they’ve finished 2nd, they can keep up their mental strength to finish the season off strongly. The flipside though is that Leicester have won their last 5 at home so won’t be easy to beat. The added worry for Spurs as well is that their 2nd last home game ever at White Hart Lane where they beat Arsenal pretty convincingly, saw them then lose pretty shockingly 1-0 away at West Ham. It begs the question then on how much emotionally the final game ever at White Hart Lane against Manchester United may have taken out of them. It may produce another poor result, perhaps not a loss but a win might be hard to come by as well.
Predicted score: Draw 1-1
Best Bet: Both teams to score – Yes at $1.62 (85%)
Next Best: Half-Time Draw at $2.2
