English Premier League action returns this weekend and we take a look at selected matches on Saturday and Sunday including Arsenal v Everton, Chelsea v Newcastle, West Ham v Manchester City, Manchester United v Aston Villa and Liverpool v Spurs
Prices quoted are correct at the time of publication but subject to change.
Arsenal v Everton (Saturday)
Arsenal stretched their lead over Man City in the title race to 7 points least week although City do have a game in hand. They have done just enough in their last 2 league games to edge out Chelsea (2-1) in a home fixture and Brighton (1-0) on the road but in midweek they needed a late equalizer to salvage a 1-1 draw from their Round of 16 1st Leg visit to Bayer Leverkusen
Everton are looking for a third straight win after coming away from Newcastle with maximum points (3-2) and following up at home to Burnley (2-0). That puts them in eighth position with 43 points and very much in contention for Europa or Conference League qualification next season.
Everton’s away record is not far off the best in the league and they could give Arsenal a few problems here. Both teams to score is my play.
Bet: Both teams to score? Yes at 5/4 with Sportingbet
Chelsea v Newcastle (Saturday)
Both these sides were in UCL Round of 16 action in midweek. Chelsea lost the first leg of their clash with PSG in Paris 5-2, collapsing late in the game in conceding 3 goals on after being competitive for the bulk of the match. Newcastle performed with great credit a home to Barcelona and were only denied a win by a very late penalty.
Chelsea’s 4-1 win away to Villa (Joao Pedrro hat trick) last week moved them back up to fifth spot, ahead of Liverpool on goal difference and 3 points behind Man United and Villa who are third and fourth respectively. Those teams look likely to battle out Champions League qualification for next season and it’s likely one will miss out.
Newcastle’s 2-1 home win over Man United last weekend keeps them in the mid table scrum where 4 points covers 9th to 14th. It’s now 14 games across all competitions since they last kept a clean sheet.
Chelsea need a minor miracle in the UCL this coming week whilst Newcastle are still in their tie ahead of their trip to Barcelona. Whether the visitors, who also look out of the race to finish in the top 5 will prioritize the UCL game is open to debate but it sways me towards this one not being as keenly contested as it might have been and I’m low on cards.
Bet: Total cards under 3.5 at 17/10 with Sportingbet
West Ham v Man City (Saturday)
With 28 points West Ham remain third from bottom but with Forest only ahead of them on goal difference, Spurs just 1 point better off and Leeds, 3 points better off but also in range, belief they can avoid the drop is growing. Last week’s 1-0 win at Fulham was a fourth victory in their last 8 league games, they are also still in the FA Cup but staying up is the name of the game.
City were the bookmakers favourites for their midweek UCL Ro16 1st leg visit to Real Madrid but it all went wrong and after a 3-0 defeat they will need something pretty special in the second leg next week to avoid an exit. They remain in the FA Cup but cutting back on Arsenal’s 7 point lead in the EPL title race will be the main focus and they did themselves few favours last week when a 2-2 draw at home to Notts Forest ended a sequence of 4 straight league wins.
City need a reaction after what happened in Madrid and I’m prepared to wager they will be additionally keen to make amends and lead at half time and full time.
Bet: HT / FT Man City / Man City boosted to 17/10 with Sportingbet
Man United v Aston Villa (Sunday)
United’s 2-1 defeat at Newcastle was their first loss since Carrick took over as interim coach. They remain in third place, 9 points behind second placed City and with Villa, Chelsea, Liverpool and possibly others looking to enter the UCL qualification argument. United have won all 4 home games under Carrick.
Villa are look to avoid a third successive damaging defeat in the EPL after losing 2-0 at Wolves and 4-1 at home to Chelsea. They have won just 1 of their last 6 league games, 1-0 at home to Brighton but they did pick up a useful win away from home in the Europa League on Thursday.
I’m back to the cards markets and with some likely contenders on both sides I’m with both sides to see at least 2.
Bet: Both sides to get 2 or more cards? Yes at 12/10 with Sportingbet
Liverpool v Spurs (Sunday)
Liverpool were another English club to find it tough going in the UCL in midweek after third 1-0 loss away to Galatasaray leave things in the balance ahead of the return at Anfield. Prior to that a run of 3 straight league wins was halted with a 2-0 defat at Wolves whom Liverpool then took revenge on with an FA Cup win.
Spurs crashed 5-2 away to Atletico in their UCL Ro16 clash and they continue to move from one deck of the titanic to another. They now have just 1 point of daylight over third bottom West Ham, interim coach Tudor has lost all 4 games he has table charge of, they have lost 5 EPL matches in a row and it’s 11 games since their last league win.
I find what’s happening at Spurs jaw dropping and it could well get worse here although I do think they will find the net.
Bet: Liverpool to win and both teams to score? Yes at 33/20 with Sportingbet
