There are three rounds of matches remaining in the English Premier League and we look at selected games including Liverpool v Chelsea, Fulham v Bournemouth, Sunderland v Man United and Man City v Brentford on Saturday plus West Ham v Arsenal on Sunday.
Prices quoted are correct at the time of publication but subject to change.
Liverpool v Chelsea (Saturday)
Despite losing 3-2 to Man United at Old Trafford last week Liverpool remain in fourth place, ahead of Villa on goal difference and 6 points better off than Bournemouth who are sixth. Prior to that Liverpool had reeled off 3 straight wins, home games against Fulham (2-0) and Palace (3-1) either side of a 2-1 win at Everton.
After sacking Liam Rosernoir Chelsea made it to the FA Cup Final, beating Leeds in the semi’s but they returned to league action last Sunday and went down again, 3-1 at home to Forest. That was a sixth straight league defeat for Chelsea who have now dropped to ninth. Their goal against Forest was a late consolation and they had failed to find the net in the previous 5 league games.
I'm not overly excited by this game but will take my chances with under 2.5 goals.
Bet: Total goals under 2.5 at 33/20 with Sportingbet
Fulham v Bournemouth (Saturday)
Fulham went down 3-0 at Arsenal last weekend and slipped down to eleventh, the lowest of the 3 teams on 48 points but still in the mix to qualify for Europa or Conference League football next season. They have won their last 2 home games, against Burnley and Villa and they now take on a Bournemouth side who beat them 3-1 in the first league meeting this season in early October.
Bournemouth moved up to sixth place on the back of a 3-0 home win over Palace last weekend. That stretched their unbeaten run to 15 EPL matches (7 wins and 8 draws) and they have won their last 2 road trips to Newcastle and Arsenal (both 2-1). Bournemouth are 6 points behind Villa and Liverpool who occupy fourth and fifth so to bridge that gap with just 3 rounds of matches to go looks a tall order but they could still threaten a UCL spot for next season if things go their way.
This looks as tricky as any game on the weekend coupon to call in terms of the result but I do quite like the chances of both teams finding the net with either team to win.
Bet: Both teams to score and either team to win? yes at 11/10 with Sportingbet
Sunderland v Man United (Saturday)
An excellent season for Sunderland is in danger of ending rather tamely on the back of 2 defeats and 1 draw in their last 3 outings. A 4-3 loss at Villa was followed by a 5-0 hiding at home to Notts Forest and last weekend they were 1-0 up at Wolves when Dan Ballard was sent off and they ended up having to settle for a point from a 1-1 draw. They are now twelfth but a top half finish is still possible with the 3 clubs above them just 1 point better off.
United’s 3-2 home win over Liverpool last week secured UCL qualification for next season. United are currently third and they can finish no lower than fifth and they are looking for a fourth straight win having previously beaten Chelsea (1-0) at Stamford Bridge and Brentford (2-1) at Old Trafford before seeing off Liverpool.
I'm thinking Sunderland will give this a real go and be back to something like their best. I'm with the hosts to score 2 goals or more.
Bet: Sunderland total goals over 1.5 at 15/8 with Sportingbet
Man City v Brentford (Saturday)
City had to come from 3-1 down to snatch a 3-3 draw at Everton on Monday, conceding ground to Arsenal in the title race. City are now 5 points behind the Gunners with a game in hand which is at home to Palace in midweek. After the FA Cup final against Chelsea their final two league games are at Bournemouth and at home to Villa. It’s now 12 league games without defeat for City (8 wins and 4 draws) and their only home defeat in the EPL came against Spurs back in August.
Brentford snapped a run of 6 league games without a win when they saw off West Ham 3-0 in a home fixture last week. That winless run comprised of 5 draws followed by a 2-1 defeat to Man United at Old Trafford. Brentford come into this round in seventh with 51 points, 1 point shy of Bournemouth and 7 behind Vall and Liverpool who are fourth and fifth.
I think Man City will keep up the pressure in the title race with a victory but Brentford are capable of contributing to the scoring.
Bet: Man City to win and both teams to score? yes at 29/20 with Sportingbet
West Ham v Arsenal (Sunday)
West Ham’s 3-0 defeat at Brentford last week saw them drop into the bottom 3. A win for Spurs at Villa saw the London rivals “swap” places in the battle to avoid finishing in the last remaining relegation spot. West Ham are now 1 point behind Spurs, 6 shy of Forest and 7 behind Palace and Leeds. Their goal difference is also far inferior to the other sides who are still in trouble and after this they visit Newcastle and finish up at home to Leeds.
Arsenal have had a good week. Their 3-0 home win over Fulham last weekend coupled with Man City’s subsequent draw at Everton saw them get their noses in front in the title race with this game, a home fixture against already relegated Burnley and a visit to Palace still to come. In midweek they were 1-0 winners at home to Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their UCL semi final to go through 2-1 on aggregate and they will face either Bayern or PSG in the final Budapest.
West Ham need to tighten things up in defence after shipping 3 at Brentford whilst at the other end of the park I'm not overly convinced they will find the net so I'll take Arsenal in a multi scores play.
Bet: Multiple correct score, Arsenal to win, 0-1, 0-2 or 0-3 at 23/10 with Sportingbet
Prices quoted are correct at the time of publication but subject to change.