Week 35 of the English Premier League brings some huge matches that will have a big impact on who wins the title this season. Chelsea maintained their 4 point lead over Tottenham with a 4-2 win over Southampton during the week but face a tricky away fixture at Everton. If they can get past Everton this weekend then it’s going to be difficult to see Tottenham closing that gap unless there are some upset results in the final weeks. For Tottenham, they have a much more difficult task in what will be their last ever home game against arch rivals Arsenal at White Hart Lane. Anything other than a win will make it very difficult for them to chase down Chelsea with 4 games to follow. The rest of the weekend’s matches will focus heavily on the likes of Hull and Swansea in their survival bids. Just 2 points separates the sides with Hull on the road to Southampton and Swansea on the road to Manchester United. Both difficult fixtures but any upset results will go a long way to both sides survival bids. It then puts the pressure on the likes of Burnley and Leicester to get positive results in the coming weeks to ensure their own survival. Either way, there’s bound to be a few more twists and turns this season.
**Odds from Sportsbet as at 29th April
Southampton vs Hull
The Saints had a difficult match at Chelsea during the week and although they fought well in the first half to equal things at 1-1, Chelsea took the ascendancy just before half-time to make it 2-1. From there it was all over but they can redeem themselves with a home game against Hull this week. Hull have been fighting hard for survival but their positive results have come at home where they have won 5 of their last 6 but on the road they have lost their last. They’ll fight here but ultimately being away from home they’ll fall short.
Predicted score: Southampton 2-1
Best Bet: Southampton to win at $1.61 (85%)
Next Best: Southampton to lead at Half-time at $2.1
Stoke vs West Ham
On form, Stoke have been really poor lately with just the one win in their last 6 which came against Hull at home. It’s been a similar case for West Ham who’ve won just once as well in their last 6. It’s overall been a pretty poor season from Stoke where they just don’t seem to have ever got going with any sort of momentum. Perhaps recently they’ve had a decent run at home where they’ve captured 3 wins in their last 5 to move up to 7 home wins for the season. That should give them some confidence into this fixture as they look to try and finish the season with a positive run of form. The Hammers are just a little bit lacking in what they can produce right now and on the road it makes it that little bit more difficult.
Predicted score: Stoke 2-1
Best Bet: Over 2.5 goals at $1.87 (85%)
Next Best: Stoke to win either half at $1.53
Sunderland vs Bournemouth
The Black Cats still have a mathematical chance of survival but realistically they have little to no chance of winning all of their remaining 5 games. Bournemouth won’t make it easy for them either having produced 3 away draws in their last 4 road trips. Those results included draws at Manchester United and Liverpool and although Sunderland may step up at home, they surely know their time is done and a claiming a win here looks too difficult right now. They aren’t without a chance of claiming a draw here but they just don’t look like adding to their 3 home wins this season.
Predicted score: Draw 1-1
Best Bet: Under 2.5 goals at $2.1 (75%)
Next Best: Half-Time Draw at $2.2
West Brom vs Leicester
The Baggies have really fallen off the pace as the season comes to a close which is really disappointing because they were right up there in the fight for a top 7 finish earlier this season. They sit now in 8th, 14 points behind Everton in 7th and face a difficult task in Leicester this week. Leicester themselves have had a pretty poor season in the league to sit currently in 15th and their away form is still horrible with just 7 points captured from 17 games. Whether they can push for a positive result here remains to be seen but based on their away record it’s difficult to see them getting anything better than a draw despite West Brom’s recent poor form. With just 5 games to play for the season, West Brom will surely pick up the pace to finish on a high and they have enough quality to keep Leicester at bay here. It just might be that they will have to settle for a draw this weekend as they build up some momentum again.
Predicted score: Draw 1-1
Best Bet: Under 2.5 goals at $1.75 (80%)
Next Best: Half-Time Draw at $2
Crystal Palace vs Burnley
Palace are still in great form despite narrowly losing to Tottenham last time out at home. They do however head into this one without the injured Sakho who has been a huge asset whilst on loan from Liverpool. Despite his absence though, Palace should still have enough to get through Burnley here. Their front 3 of Benteke, Zaha and Townsend should cause enough problems for this Burnley side that still is yet to win away from home this season.
Predicted score: Crystal Palace 2-0
Best Bet: Crystal Palace to win at $1.8 (90%)
Next Best: Crystal Palace -1 Handicap at $3.1
Manchester United vs Swansea
Having managed to survive for a draw against Manchester City, Manchester United will be looking to rescue the remainder of their season with plenty of injury issues ahead of their match here with Swansea. With Fellaini suspended for a silly headbutt of Aguero, United will also miss the likes of Jones, Smalling, Mata, Rojo, Ibrahimovic and potentially also Paul Pogba as he recovers from injury. They’ll still be able to put out a decent side, but Swansea have a huge amount to play for here and will also be banking on recent performances against United to get the job done. United have won the last two meetings but prior to that, Swansea had 4 of the last 5. United of course have a lot to play for themselves with a top 4 spot in the offering but the injuries are building up and there’s still plenty of problems that Swansea are capable of causing through the likes of Llorente and Sigurdsson. This could just be one of those upset type results in the closing stages of the season.
Predicted score: Swansea 2-1
Best Bet: Both teams to score – Yes at $1.8 (75%)
Next Best: Double Chance Swansea at $2.88
Everton vs Chelsea
This is a massive game not just for Chelsea’s title push but also for Tottenham’s own push for the title. As good as Everton have been this, particularly at home where they have lost just once conceding just 13 times, Chelsea look to have just too much quality and form in that quality to see them through. Costa and Hazard just seem to be getting the job done. Even when Southampton fought back to make it 1-1 during the week, Chelsea were able to get the job done with relative ease with Costa putting in two 2nd half goals. Interestingly, Everton have won the last two meetings at Goodison park in all competitions but despite those results, Chelsea should find a way to get this one done.
Predicted score: Chelsea 2-1
Best Bet: Chelsea to win either half at $1.5 (90%)
Next Best: Chelsea to win at $2
Middlesbrough vs Manchester City
Much like Sunderland, Middlesbrough look down and out even though they beat Sunderland in their last match. Manchester City presents a much more difficult opponent and one that is chasing a top 4 spot. City also have the handy weapon returning from injury up front in the form of Gabriel Jesus. His short cameo against Manchester United during the week showed how dangerous he was and he’ll be a huge asset to finish off the season. Unfortunately for Middlesbrough here, Jesus will likely cause too many issues with his pace to cause too many problems. And that in the end will end any chance Middlesbrough have of surviving this season.
Predicted score: Manchester City 3-0
Best Bet: Manchester City Half-Time/Full-Time at $1.8 (85%)
Next Best: Manchester City to win to Nil at $2.1
Tottenham vs Arsenal
The big North London derby this weekend between Tottenham and Arsenal looks like it will be a massive one. Both sides have a lot to play for with Tottenham trying to close the 4 point gap on Chelsea in the title race whilst Arsenal are looking to bounce back to form in an effort to finish in the top 4. There are a few issues for Arsenal that may make it a little difficult to get a result here this weekend even if anything can happen in a derby as they say. Injury clouds over Koscielny and Mustafi leaves them a little short at the back and although Koscielny may play a part, not being a full fitness is a worry. Secondly, Tottenham are still yet to lose at home this season in what has been an incredible run and with this the 2nd last game ever to be played at White Hart Lane, the thought of them losing would be unthinkable. Regardless of being in the title race, a win here for the last time they ever play Arsenal at White Hart Lane is in some ways just as important as the title race. Spurs of course have some of their own injury worries but they have been in such good form at home this season it’s difficult to see anyone beating them.
Predicted score: Tottenham 2-1
Best Bet: Tottenham to win at $1.83 (75%)
Next Best: Half-Time Draw at $2.3
Watford vs Liverpool
Liverpool have reason to be worried in the run home and the fight for top 4 positions. The draw between Manchester United and Manchester City of course helps their cause, but they have been so inconsistent at times this season that they can’t be worrying about other results and instead they just need to knuckle down. An away trip to Watford doesn’t look all that straight forward either. They do have a decent away record but it is a record that has seen losses to Hull, Leicester, Burnley and Bournemouth. Not exactly top opposition which doesn’t bode well ahead of a trip to Watford. Watford have been decent enough at home this season with just the 5 losses and have won their last 3 at home. This will be a close match and one that Liverpool should be winning with the talent that they do have but their untrustworthy defence makes them susceptible to letting you down so this might just end in a draw.
Predicted score: Draw 2-2
Best Bet: Both teams to score – Yes at $1.72 (80%)
Next Best: Over 2.5 goals at $1.65
