Games affecting both ends of the English Premier League standings take place on Saturday and Sunday including Brentford v West Ham, Arsenal v Fulham, Man United v Liverpool and Aston Villa v Spurs
Prices quoted are correct at the time of publication but subject to change.
Brentford v West Ham (Saturday)
Brentford are without a win in their last 6 league games, 5 consecutive draws followed by a 2-1 defeat away to Man United earlier this week. Their last win came at Burnley at the end of February and they haven’t won a home game since beating Sunderland 3-0 back on 7th January. Brentford have dropped to ninth but still very much in contention for Europa League or Conference League qualification.
West Haam continue to make progress in their battle against relegation and they found a late winner to see off Everton 2-1 in a home fixture last week. Prior to that they drew 0-0 at Palace and were 4-0 winners at home to Wolves. West Ham come into the weekend program fourth from bottom, 2 points ahead of Spurs (who visit Villa on Sunday) and 3 points behind Forest (who visit Chelsea on Monday).
Brentford need aa win to boost their hopes of European football and West Ham’s situation and need for points is crystal clear. It’s a tricky one but I see scope for goals and purely on gut feel I’ll settle for a nibble at both teams to score in both halves of football.
Bet: Both teams to score in both halves? Yes at 17/2 with Sportingbet
Arsenal v Fulham (Saturday)
Arsenal were in UCL action in midweek and they came away from Atletico Madrid with a decent 1-1 draw in the first leg of their semi final with the return to come in midweek. The Gunners reclaimed top spot from Manchester City in the EPL title race with a 1-0 home win over Newcastle last weekend They are 3 points clear of City but have played a game more and with goal difference and even goals scored between the two sides very close the destination of the title is on a knife edge. Arsenal have won just 2 of their last 8 across all competitions.
Fulham were 1-0 winners at home to Villa last weekend, they are in tenth spot and just 1 point off a Conference League qualification place (seventh) and 2 shy of the Europa League (sixth). Their last 3 road trips have seen them fail to score, 0-0 draws Notts Forest and then Brentford either side of a 2- defeat at Liverpool.
Gyokeres has been hard to catch right all season but he nailed his penalty in Madrid in midweek and with confidence up I like his price boost to register 2 or more shots on target.
Bet: Gyokeres 2+ shots on target boosted to 3/1 with Sportingbet
Man United v Liverpool (Sunday)
United kept their grip on third place with a 2-1 home win over Brentford on Monday night. With 4 roads of matches to go they are 3 points clear of their opponents here and Aston Villa and it looks highly unlikely they will finish in any other position then 3rd, 4th or 5th which will bring Champions League football back next season. United’s only home defeat under Carrick came against Leeds in their previous home match. They now go in search of a double over Liverpool whom they beat 2-1 at Anfield in the first league meeting back in October.
Liverpool have reeled off 3 straight wins to consolidate their place in the top 5 and UCL qualification. They were 3-1 winners at home to Palace last time out and prior to that they beat Everton 2-1 away from home and Fulham 2-0 at Anfield. Mo Salah picked up a knock in the in over Palace, watch the team news to monitor his well being.
Another really tricky game to call but I’m not convinced enough by either side to back them to win and hence the price for a draw does make reasonable appeal.
Bet: Match Result Draw at 29/10 with Sportingbet
Aston Villa v Spurs (Sunday)
Villa were in Europa League semi final action on Thursday and they lost the first leg of their clash with Forest 1-0 in Nottingham with the return to come at Villa Park in the coming week. In the EPL Villa are currently fifth, behind Liverpool on goal difference and after last week’ matches they had 8 points worth of daylight over sixth placed Brighton. They were beaten 1-0 at Fulahm in the EPL last weekend whilst their most recent home game saw them get the better of Sunderland (4-3) with an injury time winner.
Despite a 1-0 win at Wolves last weekend which ended a run of 15 without a win, Spurs remained in the drop, third bottom and 2 points shy of West Ham who are in action at Brentford a day before this game takes place. They will also be interested in how Forest (who are 5 points better off) get on at Chelsea on Sunday. After this they will host Leeds, visit Chelsea and they end up at home to Everton. The win at Wolves was Roberto de Zerbi’s first since he took on the coaching role and came on the back of a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland and 2-2 draw at home to Brighton. Xavi Simons was injured against Wolves and is out for the season, joining Romero on the sidelines.
Villa might well have had their minds on the UEL clash with Forest when they lost at Fulham and that could be the case again with the second leg imminent. If so it could open the door for Spurs to give themselves a lifeline and I give the visitors a shout of scoring 2 or more.
Bet: Spurs total goals over 1.5 at 15/10 with SuperSportBet
Prices quoted are correct at the time of publication but subject to change.
