Our English Premier League focus on Saturday is very much on the title race as Manchester City host Newcastle and Arsenal are at home to Bournemouth
Before we take a look at Saturday's games a quick update on the betting to win the title with @Playabets which sees Arsenal favourites at 9/10 and Manchester City 1.13/1. Third placed Manchester United (11 points behind Arsenal with a game in hand) are a 13/1 shot.
Note, odds are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
Manchester City 9/20 Draw 3.82/1 Newcastle 5.84/1
The early kick off offers City the opportunity to reduce the gap to league leaders Arsenal from 5 points to 2. City's last 3 league games were all road trips which delivered a 3-1 win at Arsenal, 1-1 draw at Forest and most recently a 4-1 win at Bournemouth. Their most recent home game saw them ease past Villa 3-1.
City were 2-0 winners away to Bristol City in the FA Cup in midweek to set up a quarter final clash at home to Burnley. They also have the second leg of their Champions League Round of 16 match up with Leipzig (currently all square at 1-1) to come although that doesn't take place while the 14th March.
Newcastle lost the EFL Cup Final 2-0 to Manchester United last weekend and they return to league action in fifth spot, 4 points behind fourth placed but with 2 games in hand. They are without a win in their last 4 league games, 3 successive draws at Palace (0-0), at home to West Ham and away at Bournemouth (both 1-1) followed by a 2-0 home defeat to Liverpool where they had keeper Nick Pope sent off early doors when they were 1-0 down.
The first league meeting this season came back in August at St. James Park and it finished 3-3. City scored first in that game but had to come from 3-1 down to salvage a point.
The Verdict
City are playing catch up and Newcastle are tasked with bouncing back from a major disappointment in the cup last week.
I could be wide of the mark but I think there might be one or two cracks showing in Newcastle's very solid season to date and I'm with City to score 3 goals or more.
Bets: Home team total goals over 2.5 at 1.47/1
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Arsenal 0.23/1 Draw 5.44/1 Bournemouth 11.37/1
Arsenal made shot work of Everton on Wednesday with a 4-0 home win, scoring twice in each half. Since suffering their only home defeat of the season at home to City in mid February the Gunners have bounced back with earlier wins on the road at Villa (4-2) and (1-0). They now take aim at Bournemouth who they beat 3-0 away from home early in the season.
Bournemouth's sole priority is on staying up and they come into the weekend program second bottom with 21 points from 24 games. They are 3 points clear of Southampton, level on points with Everton (who have played 1 game more) and 1 point behind fourth bottom Leeds. Prior to last week's 4-1 home defeat to City Bournemouth were 1-0 winners at Wolves, their only victory in the last 9 league outings.
The Verdict
Arsenal should win comfortably and with Bournemouth generally finding goals hard to come by the Gunners are taken to score 3 goals or more.
Saka, who obliged in midweek, once again provides the additional interest in the anytime goalscorer market.
Bets: Home team total goals over 2.5 at even money with Playabets
Anytime goalscorer Bukayo Saka 15/10 Playabets
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Note, odds are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
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