With just four games to go for most Premier League sides in this fantastic season, there is still plenty of time for twists and turns galore. At the top we have a three-horse race for the title between Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City; below them Everton and Arsenal are embroiled in their own scrap for that all-important fourth place and a ticket to Europe’s elite footballing party, the Champions League; and at the bottom there are still eight sides who are feasibly at risk of the drop, or indeed in with a chance of securing their top flight survival.
With so much going on it’s not been hard to pick five cracking matches to preview, and we’ve got some great betting tips that should help line your pockets this Easter weekend.
Saturday 19th April 2014
Chelsea v Sunderland (17:30) – Chelsea to win to nil (Evens with Sky Bet)
Rock bottom Sunderland visit title-chasing Chelsea on Saturday in the vain hope of becoming the first side to win there in the league all season. Neither we nor the bookies can see that happening, of course, given the Black Cats have lost seven and drawn one of their last eight league matches. There is a tiny glimmer of hope in that Gus Poyet’s men are the only side to have won at Everton in the league this term, but that was a freakish (and undeserved) result and we can’t see Jose Mourinho allowing his team to take their foot off the gas at this stage of proceedings.
The best Sunderland can realistically hope for is to grind out a 0-0 draw (as West Ham did at Stamford Bridge in January), but we think they are far too defensively frail to achieve a shutout and, given they are hardly blessed with oodles of attacking prowess, we think backing the home side to win to nil looks the most sensible bet.
Sunday 20th April 2014
Norwich City v Liverpool (12:00) – Liverpool to win both halves (2/1 with Coral)
Norwich sacked manager Chris Hughton with just five games of the season remaining, and what looked to have been a massive gamble might have backfired badly as the Canaries went down 1-0 against fellow strugglers Fulham at Craven Cottage at the weekend. Given their last four games are against Liverpool, Man United, Arsenal and Chelsea, things are looking decidedly uneasy for new boss Neil Adams, and if he manages to get his side to safety he will probably deserve an OBE let alone a permanent job.
Liverpool, meanwhile are rampant having won their last 10 league matches. They put five goals past Norwich in each of their last three matches against them and won the one before that 3-0. Luis Suarez scored four against them in December and has mustered a magnificent total of 11 in his last four against the Canaries. In short, the home side could be in a spot of bother here. Brendan Rodgers’ men clearly have the bit between their teeth after their 3-2 victory over Man City at the weekend and we fancy they’ll get into Norwich from the off here, racing to a lead early in the game and rubbing the home side’s noses in it in the second period. Backing the visitors to win comfortably certainly looks like bringing home a tidy profit from this match.
Everton v Manchester United (13:30) – Everton to win by a one goal margin (10/3 with Sky Bet)
David Moyes’ return to Goodison could be a tough one as he is sure to take a bit of flak from the crowd and his side are liable to take a beating on the pitch. Everton are flying high and look favourites to land fourth spot (or even third if things go their way!) after posting seven consecutive victories in the league (ahead of the midweek visit of Crystal Palace).
United, though, have the best away record in the top flight – a surprising fact given their poor season – and they could give the Toffees a tough game. But with the visitors likely to be without their best two players, Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie, we think the home side will edge this one and maintain their push for a Champions League place.
Hull City v Arsenal (14:05) – Hull to win (4/1 with BetVictor)
Hull and Arsenal will meet at Wembley in the FA Cup final on 17th May, but this match in the Premier League between them could be almost as significant. Hull are currently on 36 points and are not yet assured of survival, while Arsenal have been leapfrogged into fourth by an Everton side who just can’t stop winning of late.
Both Steve Bruce and Arsene Wenger will be desperate for the win here (not least to strike an early psychological blow against their cup final rivals) and we predict it will be a relatively open game with plenty of chances and goalmouth action. The Gunners have been somewhat off colour in the league of late and have lost three and won just one of their last six. As such we are not convinced they will have what it takes to overcome a Hull side who are full of confidence and belief. The bookies make the visitors the odds-on favourites for the three points, but we beg to differ and will be grabbing the excellent value available for the home win.
Monday 21st April 2014
Manchester City v West Brom (13:30) – Man City to win by three or more goals (11/8 with Sky Bet)
The Monday night game sees Man City attempting to put in a big win to get back into the title race. Defeat to Liverpool at the weekend was a huge blow but this match (and the midweek game at home to Sunderland) gives them a chance to increase the points total and the goal difference.
The Baggies showed good desire and invention when they went 3-0 up against Spurs in their last match, but they let it slip to 3-3 and that result could be the one that sends them to the Championship. We can’t see them getting anything out of this one and if they managed to avoid an absolute drubbing they’ll be doing well… but unfortunately for West Brom, we fancy the home side to run riot in this one.