Leicester have finally clinched the Premier League title, and they will be lifting the trophy this weekend. Their story has made this season one to remember, but it’s not finished yet. While Leicester may have made history, there are other sides still desperately trying to achieve their goals. Time is running out for them to get over the line, as this is the penultimate weekend of the season.
Norwich are fighting to survive, while Manchester United are eying up a place in the top four. Those two go head to head on Saturday afternoon. Leicester’s party comes after they face Everton on Saturday evening. Tottenham will have to bounce back from their title disappointment against Southampton, and Arsenal head to Man City. Here we have previews of all those matches, plus a betting tip on each.
Saturday 7th May 2016
Norwich v Manchester United (12:45) – United to win to nil (21/10 with Bet365)
Norwich slipped down to 19th last weekend, and things could get even tougher for them here. Man United still have a chance to finish in the top four, so they can’t afford anymore slip ups. But, with Norwich facing the toughest game of the three relegated sides this weekend, they could be all but down by the time Saturday is finished. Can they find a way to halt United’s Champions League ambitions, or will this game push Norwich even closer to the drop?
The Canaries do seem low on Premier League quality, that’s a problem that has plagued them all season. Bridging the gap between themselves and United will be very tough. Louis van Gaal’s side won’t be saving themselves for the FA Cup final just yet, although we do expect his functional style to continue. Norwich looked rudderless away to Arsenal last time out, and we don’t see that changing against this defensive United side. We’re backing an away win to nil, which is priced at at very reasonable odds of 21/10 with Bet365.
Leicester v Everton (17:30) – Leicester to win (10/11 with Coral)
It’s a moment few saw coming yet it’s one we’ve all been waiting for. Finally Leicester City will lift the Premier League title, having clinched it on Monday night without even playing. That saw celebrations in the city, and those are likely to continue here. A first top division title for the club in this fashion has to be celebrated, or else football would have lost its appeal. Before all that happens, there’s a match to play. Can Leicester pick up another three points ahead of their title party, or will Everton come here and rain on the Foxes’ parade?
Everton are having far from the season that Leicester are. The Toffees have some great attacking talent, but they’re stuck in the bottom half of the table. Cries for Roberto Martinez to be sacked rang out around Goodison Park last weekend, and the away fans here probably won’t be joining in with the party atmosphere. They’re likely to repeat their protests, and they call for a change in direction for the club. Right now, there’s little about that Leicester should be afraid of. Their hangovers from Monday’s celebrations should be clear, and Claudio Ranieri will be sending them out to win. We’re going with Leicester here, who are 10/11 with Coral.
Sunday 8th May 2016
Tottenham v Southampton (13:30) – Draw (12/5 with Sky Bet)
On the other side of the title race coin, Tottenham aren’t going to be feeling so hot. They were a mess against Chelsea in the closing stages, which says little for their mentality. They committed some very stupid fouls, and could barely keep their emotions in check at times. Following that, they now need to pick themselves up for their final two games, starting with Southampton. Just how will they bounce back from Monday night? Their reaction here could tell us quite a bit about this team, and how they’ll fare next season.
The Saints come into this one on the back of a great win over Manchester City. Ronald Koeman said their display was the best they’d had under him, and he’s pushing his team to make it into Europe. They come here with something to play for, but can they get a result against Tottenham? After how Mauricio Pochettino’s side got on last time, we don’t see them getting back to winning ways that quickly. The blow of losing the title will stick with them a little while longer. That’s why we’re backing Saints to take a draw here, but they might even be worth backing on the double chance market.
Manchester City v Arsenal (16:00) – Under 2.5 goals (23/20 with Coral)
The final clash of the weekend is a huge one, with Manchester City needing a result. Should they fail to win here, then their hopes of making the Champions League next term are in serious trouble. A slip up would leave the door open for Manchester United or West Ham. City are also aiming to take third spot, which Arsenal currently hold, so a win would be huge for them for two reasons. But, can they get a victory after being torn apart at Southampton last weekend? Sure a result like that will have left a mark.
The Gunners will want to secure third, and they even have an outside chance of finishing second. The only problem for them is that recently results have been mixed to say the least. They really struggled to overcome Norwich last week, and they’ve been off form for a while now. Manchester City aren’t playing all that well either, and we think that will lead to a cagey game here. Both will be wary of what a defeat could mean for them, so we don’t see this being that open. We’re going with a low scoring affair, and we’re backing under 2.5 goals at 23/20 with Coral.
See also:
- BTTS tips (7th & 8th May)
- Acca tips (7th & 8th May)