The Premier League title may have been decided last weekend, but there’s still lots to play for throughout the table as we reach the last three games of the season. While the Chelsea players are celebrating their success, many of the other sides are still sweating over relegation, gunning for Europe or aiming for a top half finish. This weekend, all four of the live games feature a team who are fighting for something.
While the focus will be on Chelsea lifting the title after their meeting with Liverpool, the Reds will be looking for a win to keep their slim Champions League hopes alive. Elsewhere, United could possibly end those hopes altogether with a win at Crystal Palace. Sunderland and QPR are also in action in the fight for survival, with the R’s knowing that they will be relegated if they lose at the Etihad. Here we have previews of all of those games and a betting tip for each.
Saturday 9th May 2015
Everton v Sunderland (12:45) – Both teams to score (evens with Coral)
The first game of the weekend is a crucial one for 18th placed Sunderland, as they look to build on their win over Southampton last week and climb out of the bottom three. After their great escape last season, they know how to pull away from danger. A win at Goodison last season was just one of the shocks that the Black Cats pulled off on their way to survival, but can they manage it again?
Given Everton’s form, it looks unlikely. The Toffees beat Manchester United 3-0 in their last game at Goodison, and they’re having a late turnaround in form. Their six game unbeaten run was brought to an end at Villa Park last week, and they’ll be hoping to get back to winning ways here. The result here is a hard one to call, but both sides should come here looking to attack. Sunderland need to push forward if they’re to survive, while Everton are a naturally attacking side. They’ve both had their defensive problems this season, so back both teams to score, which is currently priced out at evens.
Crystal Palace v Manchester United (17:30) – United to win (5/6 with Coral)
Saturday’s late game is another tough one for Crystal Palace, who are fresh off a 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge last week. They couldn’t stop Chelsea’s title party, but they could still put a halt to United’s Champions League ambitions. The Red Devils lead Liverpool by four points with three games to go, so this is a make or break weekend for them. Beat Palace and they could potentially secure their top four spot. Lose, and they could be under quite a bit of pressure going in to the last two games.
Palace’s chances of finishing in the top half now look gone, but they’ll want to push up higher than 12th place, given that gaining a place in the table earns the club over £1m. The Eagles are having a bit of a poor run, having lost back to back games at home. United have now lost a couple in a row, too, and they’ll be hoping to get back on track with a win at Selhurst Park. With the visitors close to evens here, they are well priced to get back to winning ways against a club with very little to really play for.
Sunday 10th May 2015
Manchester City v QPR (13:30) – Both teams to score (20/21 with Ladbrokes)
Sunday starts with the recently dethroned champions, as they play relegation threatened QPR at the Etihad. The visitors could already be relegated by this point, although that would require four of the five sides above them to all win on Saturday. They will almost certainly be relegated if they don’t beat City here, which is a tall task for anyone, never mind a side with QPR’s away record. City look to have found motivation to go after second place, so this is no easy game for Rangers.
The one thing QPR do have is an impressive goalscoring record away from home. They can’t defend and rarely win points on the road, but they do manage to score goals away from Loftus Road. They’ve scored in each of their last 10 away games, and you can get excellent value on that happening again here. Both teams to score comes in at just under evens, and it’s the only real bit of value that you can get on this one. The hosts are heavy favourites and they’re expected to score for fun, but we know they’re vulnerable at the back, and surely QPR must put up some kind of fight?
Chelsea v Liverpool (16:00) – Chelsea to win (11/10 with BetVictor)
Sunday’s action switches from Man City to Chelsea, just like the Premier League title did last week. Liverpool come here hoping to take advantage of some metaphorical, (or literal) hangover from the Blues’ title win. The Reds have a slight chance of making the top four at Man United’s expense, but to do that they’ll need to become the first team to win at Stamford Bridge this season. If they’re going to make the top four, they will probably need maximum points from here on in.
Jose Mourinho was quick to say after the title win that his side would remain focused for the rest of the campaign, which will surely be a relief to United fans. It’s not in Mourinho’s nature to throw in a bunch of kids, although there may be some slight rotation. Either way, there’s an unbeaten home record to protect, an unbeaten run to continue and a rivalry with Liverpool to motivate them. Tensions will still be high after those League Cup semi finals, and the Blues will want to keep their impressive 13 point lead at the top. At 11/10, the champions are great value here.