English Premier League action continues in midweek and we take a look at Monday’s clash between Crystal Palace and West Ham, Tuesday game between Brighton and Chelsea and Wednesday’s matches which see Bournemouth host Leeds and Manchester City’s visit to Burnley.
Prices quoted are correct at the time of publication but subject to change.
Crystal Palace v West Ham (Monday)
Palace are thirteenth in the standings and a win here would take them up just the 1 place but into the mix for European qualification next season in a congested mid table. Two recent home games saw them draw 0-0 with Leeds and come from behind to beat Newcastle 2-1. Palace have also made it through to the semi finals of the Europa Conference League.
After the weekend results West Ham remain fourth from bottom, 1 point and 1 place better off than Spurs. Looking up they are now 4 points shy of Forest and 7 behind Leeds and they have this game in hand on their rivals to beat the drop. They were 4-0 winners at home to Wolves last week whilst recent road trips delivered a 1-0 win at Fulham and 2-0 defeat at Villa.
With Forest and Leeds winning at the weekend this is huge for West Ham. I’m open minded about the outcome but think the visitors have a goal in them and Bowen is my go to man.
Bet: Anytime goalscorer Jarrod Bowen boosted to 16/5 with Sportingbet
Brighton v Chelsea (Tuesday)
Brighton are ninth and well and truly in the scrum of clubs looking to qualify for European football next season. Only 6points span sixth place Chelsea down to Newcastle in fourteenth. Victory here will see them move above Chelsea into sixth place. A 2-2 draw at Spurs at the weekend means Brighton have taken 10 points from the last 12 available and in recent home games they have lost to Arsenal (1-0) and beaten Liverpool (2-1).
Chelsea’s 1-0 home defeat to Man United at the weekend means they have lost 5 of their last 6 league games and they have just 1 win to show from their last 8. They have now failed to score in their last 4 including home defeats to Newcastle and Man City either side of a 3-0 loss at Everton. Despite the slump in form Chelsea remain in sixth place but now 7 points behind fifth placed Liverpool (top 5 qualify for UCL next season) and with a host of teams on their heels. At the weekend Chelsea will take on Leeds in the FA Cup semi final.
Chelsea have not been in good shape and I’m looking for 2-3 Brighton goals here.
Bet: Brighton total goals bands 2 or 3 at 13/10 with Pokerbet
Bournemouth v Leeds (Wednesday)
Bournemouth’s 2-1 win at Newcastle at the weekend stretched their unbeaten EPL run to 13 games. Of those matches 7 have been drawn including each of their last 4 home games against Villa, Sunderland, Brentford and Man United. They finished the previous round in eighth place, level on 48 points with Brentford and Chelsea.
A 2-1 win away to Man United last Monday night was a huge result for Leeds and they followed up at the weekend with a 3-0 home win over Wolves. They now have 39 points 8 clear of third bottom Spurs, closing in on safety and they also have a home game against Burnley to come. Before that Leeds have an FA Cup semi final date with Chelsea to look forward to at the weekend.
That cup semi final might be a distraction for Leeds and I think we have 2-3 goals in this one for the home side.
Bet: Bournemouth total goals bands at 12/10 with Pokerbet
Burnley v Man City (Wednesday)
Burnley’s relegation back to the Championship is all but confirmed after their 4-1 defeat away to Forest on Sunday left them on 20 points. Since a win at Palace on the 11th Feb they have taken just 2 points from their subsequent 7 matches, a draw at Chelsea and another at home to Bournemouth.
City’s title race showdown with arsenal on Sunday saw them come out on top 2-1 and the gap to the Gunners is now just 3 points and City have this game in hand. Goal difference has Arsenal on +37 and City on +36 and City have scored 65 goals to Arsenal’s 63. City have an FA Cup semi final date with Southampton coming up at the weekend, they have already banked the EFL Cup and all of a sudden a treble haul of trophy’s looks very possible.
I don’t see City slipping up and will take them to win both halves of football.
Bet: Man City to win both halves boosted to 12/10 with Sportingbet
