2023/2024 EPL Week 27 Preview

One fixture stands above them all this weekend as local bragging rights go on the line in Manchester as the rivalry adds another chapter with City and United facing off at the Etihad.

With the former in the midst of one of the tightest title races in recent memory and the latter desperately fighting to stay alive in the battle for fourth, the stakes are going to be incredibly high on Monday morning.

That is just one of ten fixtures this coming weekend and the other fixtures offer up plenty of drama with teams looking to make a move at the top and bottom of the Premier League table.

Read on for our Premier League previews and best bets for the upcoming weekend below.

A busy run of fixtures for Chelsea concludes at the Gtech Community Stadium as they try to capitalise on a struggling Bees outfit.

Brentford has lost five of its last six matches,but will take some confidence into this fixture holding a decent edge in the recent head to head meetings with Chelsea.

They have won three of the last four between the clubs although each of those wins has come at Stanford Bridge, with the only game at this venue ending in a 0-0 draw in October 2022.

On their day Chelsea should win this one, but on the back of a busy fortnight, including a draining Carabao Cup Final against Liverpool, they might struggle to get a foothold.

However Brentford haven’t exactly been setting the world alight either and I can’t back them to win this one either.

This has all the makings of a score draw with both teams unable find the critical breakthrough at the end of the match.

Draw and Both Teams to Score @ $4.20

It has certainly been a week for Everton with the club’s ten point deduction reduced to six ahead of their draw with Brighton over the weekend.

That made it the fourth time in five matches they have been forced to share the spoils with their opponents, but it has allowed them to move five points clear of the relegation zone for the time being.

West Ham enjoyed a dramatic 4-2 win at the London Stadium over a feisty Brentford outfit to break a three match losing streak.

The recent history between these clubs is all over the place with both teams tasting victory on multiple occasions and there is no clear advantage in the form lines either.

If West Ham show the same ruthless edge in front of goal that they did last week they should win this one comfortably, but it’s tough to back them with any confidence, especially making the trip to Goodison Park.

Instead the value in this market is backing both teams to score, even at its current price, that is where the value is in that market.

Both Teams to Score @ $1.70

Since Brighton’s ascension to the Premier League, the Seagulls have really struggled with Fulham, losing three and drawing four of their seven competitive meetings.

With Marco Silva’s side coming off a massive win over Manchester United last weekend, the Cottagers will be buzzing and desperate to keep that momentum going.

The shine has somewhat come off Brighton since their lively start to the season but they have managed to maintain seventh spot and should be quite competitive in the run home.

I really can’t split these teams and with the head to head prices so close at publish, it looks like the market can’t either so I’ll land on the draw.

Draw @ $3.50

One way or another in this fixture, we are going to get some goals with Newcastle’s porous defence set to be put to the test.

In their last four Premier League outings they have given up 12 goals and the big worry is that Eddie Howe’s tactics have been worked out.

Wolves might not have been scoring for fun in the last couple of weeks but we are not that far removed from them scoring three at home to Manchester United and four at Stamford Bridge.

There is a good case to be made for the upset here with Newcastle throwing away points for fun over the last few weeks but instead I’ll take the over because it seems like regardless of the result, the winner is going to have to score at least three.

Over 3.5 Goals @ $2.45

It is shaping up as a potential make or break week for Liverpool’s domestic hopes as the Reds back up from the Carabao Cup Final with an FA Cup tie against their one-time feeder club in Southampton on Thursday.

Then it’s another quick turnaround to take on relegation threatened Nottingham Forest and the way Jurgen Klopp manages his squad during this run could prove pivotal.

Given they need to win this match to ensure another week on top of the Premier League table, I’m expecting a squad that is as close to full strength as possible and they make sure that they take care of business by dispatching Forest.

Liverpool to Win and Over 2.5 Goals @ $2.05

For all of their ups and downs, Tottenham generally has had few problems with Crystal Palace, winning the last four meetings between the clubs and only losing once in the last 14 Premier League head to head matches.

While the shine has somewhat come off Ange Postecoglou’s team since the start of the season as teams begin to find ways to combat his style of football, they should be able to win this match.

After all, Palace have not exactly set the world alight of late, with their two wins coming over relegation battlers Sheffield and Burnley.

When they met back in October, Spurs won 2-1 and a similar outcome should be on the cards here.

Tottenham to Win and Both Teams to Score @ $2.75

You have to give Luton plenty of credit, they have given their maiden Premier League campaign a red hot go, but at the end of the day they really are just not up to scratch.

However travelling to Kenilworth Road has been a tough task for plenty of the big clubs and Aston Villa is the latest team to face this potential banana skin.

In a vacuum you would expect the Villains to cruise home however the Terriers have been able to put a scare into the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool at home and we could see something similar here.

For 60 or 70 minutes this could be a tight encounter but I’ll still back Aston Villa’s quality to shine through late on and give them the win.

Aston Villa to Win and Both Teams to Score @ $3.00

Bournemouth can earn themselves some breathing room from the relegation dogfight with a win over second-to-last Burnley here.

They will have to overcome a rough run of results in February with three draws and three defeats, the most recent of which came on Wednesday morning in the FA Cup against Leicester.

If losing that one wasn’t bad enough, they also had to play an extra time before being eliminated with the sides deadlocked at 0-0 after 90 minutes.

Their last Premier League win came on December 27, but the good news for them is Burnley’s form isn’t any better.

The Clarets have two draws and six defeats in the league since Christmas and are 11 points off safety with 12 matches to play.

It is almost impossible to make a case for either side so it’s time to use the old “two bad teams, let’s hope it’s entertaining” bet for this one.

Over 2.5 Goals @ $1.62

With City in the midst of a proper title race and United desperately trying to claw their way back into the top four, both clubs will be desperate for all three points for more reasons than just bragging rights.

However United faces a monumental task to spring a massive upset given they will be coming into this with 24 hours less rest than City after both sides were in FA Cup duty midweek.

If that wasn’t enough, Erling Haaland looks like he is back to his best, scoring five goals in 58 minutes against Luton on Wednesday morning.

This one could get out of hand if Haaland is able to pick up where he left off and I’ll be backing him to fire City to victory in the derby.

SGM: Manchester City to Win, Over 2.5 Goals, Erling Haaland Anytime Goalscorer @ $2.18

Aren’t the Gunners in red hot form at the moment… domestically at least.

While the Champions League defeat against Porto could have halted their momentum, they responded as well as Mikel Arteta could have hoped for, belting Newcastle 4-1 last weekend.

Up next is a trip to last placed Sheffield United, who they have already defeated 5-0 at the Emirates this season and are at an incredibly short price to complete the double.

With not a lot of value around the Gunners winning and the over, this bet is going to be a bit more conservative, taking the Gunners to lead early and go on with the job.

Arsenal/Arsenal HT/FT @ $1.67

2022/2023

After last weekend’s drama, the upcoming slate of Premier League football has a lot to live up to.

However there are no shortage of storylines to dig into starting with Liverpool trying to back up their remarkable 7-0 win over Manchester United with a trip to Bournemouth.

The relegation battle continues with Leeds, Everton and Southampton all facing tough tasks while Leicester takes on a Chelsea side fresh off Champions League progression.

We’ve got our Premier League previews and best bets below so read on and see who we are backing.

Both of these sides were involved in memorable clashes last weekend, although for very different reasons.

Bournemouth went deep into the bag of tricks to try and upset Arsenal, only to go down on a 97^th minute winner for the Gunners to keep them stuck on the foot of the table.

As for Liverpool, you can come up with whatever “seven” related puns you want, but it was a flashback to past seasons with an absolutely ruthless display in their resounding win.

When these sides met earlier in the season, the Reds recorded another historic win, belting Bournemouth 9-0 at Anfield.

Over 2.5 Goals has hit in the last 10 head to head meetings between these sides, with Liverpool recording a win in nine of those matches so we’re going to back that trend to continue.

Back Liverpool to Win and Over 2.5 Goals @ $2.05

Considering the contrasting fortunes of these sides, it’s a bit of a surprise to see the market having their win odds at the same price in the head to head market.

Everton continues to improve under Sean Dyche, however Brentford are one of the form teams in the Premier League and head into the weekend only three points out of sixth spot.

Their away form has been very impressive all season as well, going unbeaten in their last five road games, winning at Manchester City and West Ham while also drawing at Forest, Leeds and Arsenal.

This price seems off for the Bees and it’s one well worth taking a punt on, even against a desperate Toffees team battling relegation.

Back Brentford to Win @ $2.70

New manager, same old Leeds as the results have not changed since the appointment of Javi Gracia.

What was once one of the most entertaining attacks in football has managed a single goal in their last five matches.

It is not a great setup for their clash with Brighton, who have won back to back matches and still have one of the competition’s most resolute defences.

The Seagulls have kept three clean sheets from their last five and should have no problems keeping Leeds at bay.

Back Brighton to Win @ $1.95

Things just go from bad to worse for Leicester who have now lost four in a row and are only two points off the relegation zone heading into this weekend.

Admittedly losing to Manchester United and Arsenal should not be seen as a red flag, but their two most recent defeats to Blackburn and Southampton have to be seen as massive warning sign.

Those are far more worrying than Chelsea’s struggles all season, especially with the Blues getting some ugly but necessary wins to boost their confidence.

In both victories, the Blues looked good but well below the level many expected them to play at but against Leicester, they should find a way to take care of business.

Back Chelsea to Win @ $2.00

The good news for Tottenham is that with their midweek Champions League elimination confirmed, they can now turn all of their attention towards fighting for fourth spot.

However this is a club in all sorts with a manager headed for the exit door and lacking motivation.

The bottom line however is even in spit of all of those problems, they simply have to beat a Forest side in even worse disarray.

Just four points above the drop zone and with two draws from their last four outings, Forest’s big spending spree to ensure safety has not worked so far.

Goals might be at a premium at this rate with each of Spurs last six matches in all competitions going under 2.5 goals and both teams to score failing to hit.

It’s going to be ugly and the first goal either way is probably going to get all three points.

Back Both Teams to Score (No) @ $1.75

City’s last trip to Selhurst Park 12 months ago produced a shock scoreless draw, however we will not be backing a similar outcome here.

Plenty has been written about the fact Palace has not won a match in 2023 and against a City side that is fighting to keep its treble hopes alive and will be expecting nothing less than perfection from here on out.

City has won its last three matches all by multiple goal margins and should have no problems taking care of a stumbling opponent here.

Back Manchester City to Win -1 Goal @ $2.00

Thanks to the Gunners’ Europa League tie on Friday morning (AEDT), they will have the opportunity to see what City will serve up in the title race before they kick off.

Best case scenario they will have a chance to extend their lead to eight points but more realistically, they can restore a five point gap as they begin the toughest part of their schedule.

At the time of writing, it’s fair to assume based on Mikel Arteta’s comments on squad rotation that he will be rotating for the trip to Portugal and putting out a full strength side here.

Defensively the Gunners have had their struggles from time to time and Fulham have the attack to turn this game into a shootout if Arsenal are a bit slow out of the blocks.

However with the recent mental fortitude demonstrated by Arteta’s side, you might just have to start believing they are going to go on with the job.

Back Arsenal to Win and Over 2.5 Goals @ $2.40

United are not as bad as they looked in their capitulation at Anfield, granted, few teams are actually that poor.

On the balance of the season, Southampton has been an incredibly disappointing and it would be a big shock if they were to turn things around and survive relegation.

United has not had a problem beating bad teams and as they return to Old Trafford, they should be able to give their fans something to cheer for.

Back Manchester United to Win -1 Goal @ $1.95

This version of the Premier League’s claret and blue rivalry has been one way traffic for the last eight years with West Ham dominating the head to head record.

Since Villa’s last win in May 2015, we have seen three draws and six victories for the Irons including five on the trot dating back to December 2020.

However on recent form, there is not a lot between these teams with both sides winning two and losing three of their last five matches in all competitions.

Just one point above Everton heading into the weekend, West Ham will be the far more desperate side but there’s not a lot of reason to hope either side has the nous to find the breakthrough.

Both teams to score looks like the way to go for this match with both sides having some questionable defensive performances in recent games.

Back Both Teams to Score $1.75

Newcastle’s bubble might have burst in the last few weeks when taking on some of the Premier League’s traditional powers of the last decade.

A pair of 2-0 Premier League defeats against Liverpool and Manchester City bookended a Carabao Cup loss to Manchester United by the same scoreline.

Realisitically they should be able to bounce back against a Wolves side that has been the dictionary definition of inconsistency of late,

Neither team has been lighting up the scoreboard and in an arm wrestle where goals are at a premium, anything is possible.

Backing the under has hit in 16 of Wolves 26 Premier League matches this season as well as 10 of Newcastle’s last 12 fixtures in all competitions.

Back Under 2.5 Goals @ $1.70

2021/2022

Another busy week of Premier League action awaits us with 13 matches on the cards over the next seven days.

It all kicks off with a trio of catch ups on Thursday morning before a very busy Saturday night of action.

We’ve got our match previews and predictions below so read on and see who we are backing.

*RESCHEDULED MATCHWEEK 13 FIXTURE*

The first fixture to get postponed this season will finally be played almost two months after its original date after snow caused the original cancellation.

Coming off their biggest win of the season, 3-2 away to Manchester City, the big question around Spurs here is how quickly can Antonio Conte refocus his squad ahead of a match that just doesn’t have the same buzz.

Historically, Turf Moor is a place where Tottenham has been caught napping in the past with just one win from their last three league visits.

However Sean Dyche’s side has some horrible form at home, winning just once this season and I’ll back Spurs to pick up another three points as they push for the top four.

Back Tottenham to Win @ $1.80

*RESCHEDULED MATCHWEEK 18 FIXTURE*

Should Watford find a way to pull off an upset against an out of form Crystal Palace, it will blow the relegation race wide open heading into the weekend.

Currently four points off the drop zone and coming off a much needed victory over Aston Villa, a win here would make half a dozen teams very nervous.

However on recent form, it’s tough to feel overly confident in either side, with Watford following every victory in both the league and cups this season with a defeat.

While three points for the home side would make things more interesting, I’ll take Palace to buy themselves some breathing space.

Back Crystal Palace to Win @ $2.40

*RESCHEDULED MATCHWEEK 19 FIXTURE*

If anyone is going to run down Manchester City in the race for the Premier League title, it is going to be Liverpool.

With the reigning champions dropping points on the weekend, Liverpool can close the gap to three points with a win over a Leeds side that has lost three of its last four in the league.

Jurgen Klopp may opt for some rotation with a cup final on the very near horizon, however he will still have the firepower to score for fun against a porous Leeds defence.

Having given up 13 goals in their last five games, it could be a long evening for Marcelo Bielsa’s squad.

There is a case to be made for staying away from this one but I’ve found a bit of value with this Same Game Multi.

SGM: Liverpool Halftime/Fulltime and Over 3.5 Goals @ $2.22

*RESCHEDULED MATCHWEEK 20 FIXTURE*

For the second time in 14 days, Arsenal will take on Wolves after the former’s scrappy 1-0 victory at Molineux.

It is a huge clash for both sides as they pursue a top four spot and all signs are pointing towards a similarly cagey affair.

Wolves have won both of their fixtures since that game including an impressive 2-0 victory over Tottenham, and will be motivated to make amends for what they feel were three points dropped.

However I really liked the way Arsenal managed the game against Brentford on the weekend and their young brigade is driving their success at the moment.

Look for another tight battle that will go down to the wire and if the Gunners can keep all 11 men on the pitch, they should find a way to see them off.

Back Arsenal to Win and Under 3.5 Goals @ $2.10

Few sides have had a better February than Southampton, with the Saints slowly climbing up the standings.

Norwich meanwhile are coming off a pair of rough defeats at the hands of the title contenders Manchester City and Liverpool.

While this might not be total one way traffic, Southampton should get the job done.

Back Southampton Halftime/Fulltime @ $2.45

At the rate Leeds is conceding goals, the over is an automatic selection for this match, then it just comes down to how much confidence you have in Antonio Conte engineering a rebound.

Spurs have experienced both extremes of football in the last seven days, knocking off City before losing to Burnley.

One look at the Leeds injury list and you have to back Spurs to get the job done, even if it might be a bit more nervous than one would hope.

Back Tottenham to Win and Over 2.5 Goals @ $2.65

Both clubs are firmly entrenched in the Premier League relegation battle, and a lengthy injury list threatens to derail Newcastle’s climb out of the Premier League’s cellar.

However there is no good reason why a Brentford side that has not won a competitive match since January 9 should be favoured in this market.

With six defeats and a draw from their last seven league matches, I’m eager to take on the Bees here.

Back Newcastle to Win @ $3.00

Few people saw Brighton’s defeat at home to Burnley coming as their normally stout backline was torn apart by one of the weakest attacks in the competition.

Villa is not exactly setting the world alight after back to back defeats at the hands of Newcastle and Watford.

This has all the makings of a scrappy draw where both clubs are happy to leave with a point.

Back the Draw @ $3.25

It has been a dream run in the last seven days for Burnley with back to back wins over Brighton and Tottenham.

Palace bounced back from a defeat against Chelsea with a 4-1 belting of Watford and the head to head prices here look about right.

Both clubs have looked quite strong in attack and the price on both teams to score looks way too high if Wout Weghorst is actually the player he has threatened to be since his arrival in England.

Back Both Teams to Score @ $2.00

If you are just going off the most recent meeting between these teams, Watford looks well over the odds at $9.75 considering they blasted Untied 4-1 at Vicarage Road at Old Trafford.

Quite a bit has changed since then and United is doing just enough to continually pick up points and keep itself in the top four race.

Backing up from a draining Champions League encounter, it’s tough to see this game getting played at a high tempo.

It might be a case of first goal wins and the unders looks like the way to go.

Back Under 2.5 Goals @ $2.25

It’s the perfect bounce back opportunity for Manchester City this week, taking on a struggling Everton side they have a dominating record against.

They have won the last nine matches in all competition with eight of those coming by at least a two goal margin.

Back that to continue as City responds to its sloppy defeat against Tottenham.

Back Manchester City to Win -1 Goal @ $1.75

The two sides looking to break into the top four party will face off with plenty on the line here.

Wolves will be on short rest after a draining late collapse at the Emirates on Friday morning and it’s tough to see them backing up and firing on all cylinders here.

West Ham has been held to back to back draws as they hit a bit of a bump in the road.

However at over even money, that’s the play I’m landing on.

Back West Ham to Win @ $2.05

*RESCHEDULED MATCHWEEK 22 FIXTURE*

The action wraps up with Burnley hosting Leicester with the Foxes desperate to arrest an alarming slide in form in the Premier League.

In their last five games they have taken just two points and while it hasn’t exactly been the easiest run of opponents, the warning signs are all there.

Conversely, Burnley is doing its utmost to pull itself out of the relegation battle with seven points from its last three.

Both clubs have plenty going for them in attack and outside of a game against Liverpool, both have done a good job avoiding being kept scoreless in recent fixtures.

With that in mind, both teams to score looks like the way to go for this contest.

Back Both Teams to Score @ $1.70

2020/2021

11 matchweeks remain in the 2020/2021 English Premier League season and it is Manchester City’s title to lose.

While we may know that the trophy is heading to the Etihad Stadium eventualy, cross town rivals Manchester United can still claim some form of local pride by ending their ridiculous winning streak.

City also pull double duty in Matchweek 27 as they have a catch up fixture with Southampton to be played next Thursday morning as well.

Find out who we are backing in every match below.

A lot has changed in the Premier League since these sides met in mid-December but somehow, Arsenal is still mired in mid-table mediocrity while Burnley is flirting with a relegation battle.

Arsenal is still plagued by inconsistency, but they will come into this match with plenty of confidence having defeated Benfica in the Europa League and comfortably winning away to Leicester in their last three matches.

Their last two matches against Burnley have not gone well with a draw last season before a home defeat in December.

Those dropped points ended a run of 11 consecutive wins against Burnley for Arsenal but I’ll take the Gunners to get back on track after having a full week off between matches.

Back Arsenal to Win & Over 1.5 Goals @ $2.05

It’s not the job of the Ladbrokes Blog to oversell things and frankly, calling this anything other than a horrendously painful clash to have to sit through would be giving it more credit than it deserves.

Despite being anchored to the bottom of the Premier League table, Sheffield might actually be the more confident team of the two.

They just defeated Aston Villa 1-0 during the week, for their fourth victory of the season while Southampton, one time Premier League leaders, have not won a league match since January 5.

Neither side offers a whole lot in attack, so this match has the makings of a “first team to score wins” contest.

If either side actually manage to score.

Back Under 1.5 Goals @ $2.70

This could be one of the best matches of the season, or a complete and utter snoozefest, it all comes down to the availability of one player, Jack Grealish.

Having missed his side’s defeat to Sheffield United during the week, it seems like Grealish will be back for this fixture which swings the odds in favour of the home side.

Wolves remain well off the pace and rather blunt in front of goal, which will not help them against a stingy Villa defence.

I’ll back Villa on the assumption Grealish will return to action.

Back Aston Villa to Win @ $2.35

The warning signs are there for Leicester, with the side looking like it might be starting to fade away.

At one point they looked like the only side that could even get within touching distance of Manchester City, however just eight points from their last five Premier League matches (combined with a Europa League exit) has them dropping down to third place.

A lengthy injury list has not helped them out at all but this is a side that has been punching above its weight class for most of the season, so the inevitable regression is not surprising.

Brighton has gone five matches without a win including an FA Cup defeat against Leicester just under a month ago although that fixture was hardly memorable until Ihenacho’s 94^th minute winner.

Even in spite of their struggles, the Foxes have not lost a league match against Brighton since the Championship in 2014.

I’ll back that trend to continue at the price on offer for the visitors.

Back Leicester to Win @ $2.80

West Brom have not been given any favours by the fixture list here, playing on Thursday night UK time before having to turn it around for a Sunday lunchtime kickoff against Newcastle.

Making things even tougher is the face the visitors will come into this fixture on a full week of rest after drawing with Wolves 1-1 last weekend.

Both of these sides are more than happy to play things close to the vest and goals will be at a premium here.

There’s value to be had on a Newcastle upset just because of West Brom’s short turnaround but there is no way I can talk myself into actually putting real money on them at the moment.

Instead I’ll take a match were one (or both) sides are held scoreless.

Back Both Teams to Score (No) @ $1.87

In a vacuum there’s plenty of intrigue about this contest, with Liverpool still trying to regain its form while Fulham is battling to escape the relegation zone.

Both teams are backing up from matches Friday morning (AEDT) with the Cottagers facing Spurs while Liverpool hosts Chelsea.

Fulham took a point from their home clash with the defending champions in December and on normal rest I would probably talk myself into them getting something from this clash.

Liverpool would also normally have the depth to cope with the quick turnaround with ease but their injury list has forced Jurgen Klopp into playing whoever is available with two functioning legs.

I’m not expecting a lot from this fixture, especially in terms of goals and there’s value on offer in taking a low scoring affair, whether it’s a 1-1 draw or a 1-0 or 2-0 Liverpool win.

Back Under 2.5 Goals @ $2.35

First takes on second, one incredible run is going to come to an end in the Manchester Derby early Monday morning.

Manchester City’s streak sits at 21 consecutive wins in all competitions, or Manchester United’s incredible domestic away run of 21 Premier League matches without defeat.

It is the first time in a while a punter would have to consider anything less than a Manchester City win but United have shown remarkable defensive resolve (and attacking ineptitude) to record three consecutive scoreless draws in their last three matches.

While they are already well on their way to claiming the Premier League title, a win could put them as many as 17 points clear of second place.

It’s rare to see City’s head to head price over $1.30 so while this is not the most ambitious play, it’s worth a shot as they have not shown any signs of slowing down.

If you want to push for some value, back a scoreless draw at $15 but I’ll take the champions-elect.

Back Manchester City to Win @ $1.55

There is a chance that Spurs might be back on track, having recorded back to back wins by a combined margin of 8-0 (fixture with Fulham to be played at the time of writing).

Palace would not have expended too much energy in their 0-0 midweek draw with Manchester United so fatigue should not be an issue.

The last two meetings between these teams have finished as 1-1 draws but as long as nothing major changes between now and kickoff time, Spurs should have the personnel to get them home here.

With their recent improved fortunes in front of goal, I’ll also back three or more goals in this one as well as Tottenham continues its revival.

Back Tottenham to Win and Over 2.5 Goals @ $2.25

In the early part of the season, this early Tuesday morning time slot is where goals and attacking football came to die.

While both of these teams possess a bevy of attacking talent between them, this has all the makings of another low scoring arm wrestle.

Their defensive performances have been mostly stingy over the last month and both teams will be looking to win this match with a clean sheet.

At most this one is probably going to finish as a 1-1 draw.

Back Under 2.5 Goals @ $1.91

It’s fair to say that West Ham and Leeds were probably expected to finish in the same area of the table but the Irons’ resurgence has them in the mix for a top four spot.

Depending on Chelsea and Liverpool’s results, they could need maximum points from this fixture to get back into the top four and I’m not going to back against them here.

Since Christmas, their only Premier League defeats have come against Liverpool (understandable) and Manchester City (everyone loses to City).

West Ham at over even money?

Sounds good to me.

Back West Ham to Win @ $2.05

It’s time to return to the tried and true formula of backing City to win and keep a clean sheet.

Even with the potential hangover of an empty stands Manchester Derby and potentially taking another step towards the Premier League title, City should have no problem outclassing a Southampton side that is just not that good.

Back Manchester City to Win to Nil @ $2.00

2019/2020

It’s a huge Saturday night of Premier League action bookended by two potentially season-defining contests.

First up Chelsea takes on Tottenham, with the Blues looking to hold on to fourth place while City continues a busy stretch, backing up from their rescheduled Week 26 clash with West Ham.

Sunday’s matches feature three games that will have a huge impact on both ends of the table with teams involved in the Champions League race and relegation battles facing off.

We’ve got previews and best bets for all ten English Premier League matches this weekend,  so read on to see who we are backing!

It’s not the easiest draw for Spurs, with the shortest possible turnaround from their Champions League tie against RB Leipzig Thursday morning (AEDT).

After getting outclassed by Manchester United at home on Tuesday morning, Chelsea will be desperate for a bounce-back performance as they look for their first Premier League win in a month and a half.

To be totally honest, there is aren’t a lot of reasons to back either of these teams to win, so I’ll stay out of the head-to-head market since both sides will probably play below par.

With both sides also likely to adopt a damage limitation approach in this fixture, it could be a case of first goal wins, so I’ll back a low scoring affair.

Back Under 2.5 Goals @ $2.00

There are two really good reasons to back Burnley to win this match at home, the first of which is the fact they are unbeaten in their last four Premier League matches.

In that run they have defeated Leicester, Manchester United and Southampton while taking a point off Arsenal.

The second reason is the fact they have won their last three against Bournemouth, including a 1-0 victory just before Christmas.

Considering the form line for the home side, they look to be at a generous price here so take the value of Burnley to win outright.

Back Burnley to Win @ $2.15

Crystal Palace’s recent form line is nothing short of atrocious and Newcastle’s is in the same ballpark.

After getting as high as sixth place, Palace have won just three Premier League games since the October international break and have fallen into the danger zone.

Newcastle has won a grand total of one of their last eight games and just managed to hand Arsenal a rare win thanks to a second half implosion.

With goals coming at a premium for both teams, this has the look of a game where under 2.5 goals is the likely outcome – even though the market is on top of that with such a short price on offer.

Instead, I’ll back Newcastle to get something out of this game with a double chance considering they have taken a point in four of the last five meetings and have looked a bit better than Palace in recent weeks.

Back Newcastle Win/Draw Double Chance @ $1.83

All of a sudden, the Champions League is a distinct possibility for Sheffield United, so while it’s still probably a bit of a long shot, how can you not be invested in the story?

Just before Christmas they went to Brighton and took all three points back home before hosting one of the worst away sides in the entire Premier League this weekend.

Brighton has taken just nine points away from home and it’s hard to see them getting anything from this game in their current form.

At that price, you have to jump on Sheffield to come away with all three points as they are awfully short considering the apparent mismatch between these teams.

Back Sheffield United to Win @ $1.91

Unfortunately, you can’t back both of these sides to lose, however tempting it may be.

Villa is in a worse run of form compared to Southampton which explains why the Saints are such a short favourite. This is a tough side to back considering they are the worst home team in the Premier League, though.

With eight losses at St Mary’s already, you never know when they will pull out their next poor effort.

Unfortunately, you can’t back Villa with any confidence either, but considering the Both Teams to Score market has hit in Villa’s last six matches, that’s the play to run with for this one.

Back Both Teams to Score @ $1.62

In a vacuum, I would be backing City to win this game pretty comfortably, but this is one of those games that screams “bad spot” for Pep Guardiola’s side.

With a clash against West Ham finishing less than 72 hours before this game kicks off, and a Champions League tie against Real Madrid next week, this could be a game where City plays a bit below par for.

Leicester has been quite strong at home this season with just two losses from 13 home matches in the Premier League.

While their recent form line has not been all that strong, I like their chances of getting up for this game and continuing their push for second place.

Back Leicester/Draw Double Chance @ $2.05

There aren’t a whole lot of teams you would feel good backing Manchester United against, but Watford is definitely one of them.

Sitting in 19^th place and winless in their last four, Watford has seen their brief rally to escape the relegation zone end. Now, they are once again behind the eight ball looking for some sort of miracle run to just get to 17^th and out of the drop zone.

Watford stunned United in their first meeting winning 2-0, but I can’t see them completing the league double, especially with this United side well and truly in the mix for a Champions League berth if they can finish the season on a good run.

Back Manchester United to Win @ $1.60

Despite having to back up from a Europa League clash with Espanyol, I still like Wolves to come away with a win over a struggling Norwich side.

The Canaries have picked up a grand total of six points on the road all season and just two since the start of December.

Because the home side will be on short rest here, and possibly having one eye on the return leg next week, I’m not expecting a whole lot of goals, especially since Wolves have been held scoreless in their last two Premier League matches.

SGM: Wolves to Win & Under 3.5 Goals @ $2.21

Only three sides can claim they are on a five-game unbeaten run, one of which is Liverpool (whose run is a LOT longer than five) and the other two will face off here.

Back in December new managers Carlo Ancelotti and Mikel Arteta saw their sides play out a goalless draw before commencing their respective rebuilding projects.

Thus far Ancelotti has enjoyed greater success taking his side up from 16^th to ninth place and actually ahead of their opponent here.

Things looked like they were starting to click for the Gunners in the second half of their 4-0 win over Newcastle, but I’m not quite convinced they are at a point where they can win games like this.

Instead I’ll back a match with a few goals considering Everton has shown some good attacking play while also leaving the back door open.

Back Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 Goals @ $1.95

Get ready for a Liverpool response here, after going down in Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League tie, they can resume their push for the Premier League title.

By the time this kicks off, they will also know if they can extend their lead at the top of the table or just return it to its original state with City and Leicester trying to take points off one another.

West Ham will be lucky to even muster a shot on target in this fixture and I like Liverpool to put together a performance that leads to a comfortable win.

To get the Liverpool to Nil payout over even money, I’ll back Over 1.5 goals as well since that has hit in four of their last five in the Premier League.

SGM: Liverpool to Win to Nil & Over 1.5 Goals @ $2.20

2018/2019

MATCH PREVIEWED IN WEEK 26 

Watford is through to the last eight in the FA Cup and is in eighth place in the Premier League as the club prepares for its… second game against Cardiff City this season.

Attempted numerology aside, one team is battling to keep its head above water while the other is trying to finish the season on a high note.

Watford beat Cardiff 3-2 at home in December and would love to pick up its third straight win over the Welsh side.

Prior to Watford’s current run, this was a fixture dominated by Cardiff however the tide seems to have swung back towards the Hornets.

Watford are the better side and are worth backing at over even money even on the road.

For a bit of added value though, Under 3.5 Goals is worth throwing in as an extra play in the doubles market.

Both of these sides have been involved in some very low scoring clashes as of late with each of Watford’s last five in the Premier League (and the FA Cup Fifth Round) having three or fewer goals and Cardiff’s last five in the league also having three or fewer.

Back Watford to Win & Under 3.5 Goals @ $3.10

Watford to Win, Under 3.5 Goals, Troy Deeney First Goalscorer

A big start to the weekend for these two London clubs in very different situations.

Fulham sit eight points off Premier League safety, while West Ham are the exact definition of mid-table sitting in tenth place and looking to hold their position.

Neither side is bringing a great deal of form to this clash however both probably enjoyed their weekend off having already been eliminated from the FA Cup.

Before the break, Fulham had lost its last two and four of its last five while West Ham had two draws and two losses from its last four.

West Ham won the first meeting between these teams back in December at Craven Cottage 2-0 and another win for the Irons here is a good value play.

Back West Ham to Win @ $1.83

SGM: West Ham to Win, Both Teams to Score, Chicharito Anytime Goalscorer

Four straight Premier League wins and a convincing first leg victory in the Champions League, Tottenham is in great form right now.

Even without Dele Alli and Harry Kane, Spurs are grinding their way through a tough part of the schedule and getting the important results.

Up next is a Burnley side they have not lost to since January 2009 and have beaten four of the last five times they have met.

In three of those games Burnley have been held scoreless and with 29 goals from 26 League games, another win to nil is certainly on the cards.

Back Tottenham to Win to Nil @ $2.88

SGM: Tottenham to Win to Nil, Son Heung-Min First Goalscorer

Wolves are another side coming off a successful FA Cup weekend while Bournemouth must have enjoyed a weekend off.

Games involving the Cherries seem to go one way or another with a win to nil or a loss to nil in each of their last five league matches.

Wolves on the other hand have built up a good run with three wins and a draw from their last four to help solidify themselves as the “best of the rest” in seventh place.

The first meeting this season went the way of Wolverhampton but Bournemouth have been strong at home picking up seven of their ten wins at the Vitality Stadium this season.

Coming off a full week of rest should have Bournemouth fresh and ready to go and I’ll be backing them to win in an upset.

Back Bournemouth to Win @ $2.80

SGM: Bournemouth to Win, Over 2.5 Goals

Huddersfield needs to close a 14 point gap over its final 12 games or face relegation in its second Premier League season.

Having Aaron Mooy back from the Asian Cup has not helped out with four straight Premier League losses and just one goal in that time.

Newcastle is perhaps the easiest opponent they have faced in that run that included Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal.

In each of the last two seasons the league meetings between these sides have been split with a win apiece however given their current state, you have to back against Huddersfield here.

Back Newcastle to Win @ $1.80

SGM: Newcastle to Win, Joselu First Goalscorer

Leicester’s last Premier League win came on New Years Day and that run of one point from five has seen the Foxes drop from seventh all the way down to twelfth.

That run of form will need to come to an end at some point but they will have their work cut out for them with a Crystal Palace side that has gone three games without a loss which is equal to their best run of the season.

There’s value on offer in the head to head market if you feel strongly about one particular outcome but otherwise you can back Both Teams to Score or Over 2.5 Goals at a decent price.

Even during their struggles Leicester has been able to find a way to score in four of the five games while Palace has scored in its last six.

Back Both Teams to Score @ $1.91

SGM: Crystal Palace to Win, Over 2.5 Goals, Michy Batshuayi Anytime Goalscorer

Another weekend where Arsenal headlines are dominated by the curious case of Mesut Ozil.

The German playmaker made headlines after missing the Gunners Premier League win over Huddersfield and away defeat to BATE Borisov in the Europa League.

With or without their highest paid player, Arsenal will have to take on a Southampton side here a win has been anything but automatic.

Since 2004, Arsenal has won back to back games against Southampton just one time in 2017.

That might be the only positive from December’s 3-2 loss at St Mary’s and the knowledge that in that same time span, Southampton has only beaten them on back to back occasions once as well.

32 of Arsenal’s 50 Premier League points have come at the Emirates but keeping a clean sheet has been a real issue with just four all season.

Back Arsenal to Win and Both Teams to Score @ $2.90

SGM: Arsenal to Win, Over 2.5 Goals, Alexandre Lacazette Anytime Goalscorer

What a way to close out the Premier League weekend with Manchester United hosting Liverpool.

There’s a real dilemma on the cards for United as this game could have massive implications on the Premier League title race.

A loss here and Liverpool take control of the title race once more with a vital three points in what is essentially a game in hand.

Picking up a draw or even better a win gives their noisy neighbours a leg up with 11 games remaining.

Of course United are probably also focused on their own fortunes in the midst of a tight race for fourth spot and in all honesty, your average United fan would probably prefer to mess up Liverpool.

A defeat at Anfield ended the Jose Mourinho era sparking the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer revolution and that should continue here.

Back Manchester United @ $3.10

SGM: United to Win and Over 3.5 Goals

2017/2018

Round 27 of the Premier League kicks off with its biggest game in the form of a North London Derby between Arsenal and Tottenham at Wembley.

Manchester City are looking to bounce back from just their fourth set of dropped points this season while their nearest contenders in the Premier League race United are just trying to keep up.

Read our previews of each game here as well as our recommended plays for each contest.

The biggest game of the weekend to kick off the round as Tottenham and Arsenal face off for the 195^th time.

This will be the first league meeting between the two sides at Wembley however when they met at the raucous White Heart Lane, it was favourable for Tottenham with Arsenal’s last League win there coming in 2014.

It will be the fifth match in the space of two weeks for Tottenham but they have come through with some excellent league results there winning 2-0 against Manchester United and drawing away to Liverpool.

Arsenal arrested a form slump with a belting of Liverpool last weekend but are a totally different team playing away from home, even if it is just a few minutes down the road at a venue they are very familiar with.

These games are always very entertaining fixtures and this should be no different with the home side enjoying the final score.

Back Tottenham to Win $2.00

Everton’s form against clubs near to them on the table has been quite encouraging with just one loss in the last two months when facing a side not in the top six.

Palace come in to this game with back to back draws against West Ham and Newcastle to help solidify their position on the ladder.

Looking back at the history between these two sides suggests that a draw is coming with five of the nine meetings ending in a draw including four of the last five.

Earlier this season the sides played out a 2-2 draw and the recent form suggests that a similar result will play out here.

Back the Draw @ $3.10

Watford enter this game about as confident as possible with three late goals securing a convincing win over Chelsea.

West Ham’s last five games have yielded three draws, a big win and a big loss so it is going to be tough to get a proper read on either side right now.

Watford have good history here wining three of the five meetings since both re-entered the Premier League in 2015.

Under their previous manager, Watford were quite formidable on the road and come into this game as underdogs but it is too hard to get a clear read on this game and instead I would advise to stay away.

NO BET

18 of Stoke’s 24 points this season have come at home including five wins however their last three games have produced a win, draw and loss.

Brighton on the other hand have picked up just nine points on the road with two draws and two losses in the league as of late.

They did get a big win at home against West Ham last weekend however this is still a tough place for visitors when they are not entirely familiar with the setting.

It is hard to see this game producing a whole lot of goals and a solitary one should be enough here and Stoke are the more likely outcome.

Back Stoke to Win @ $2.15

Burnley managed to get their first Premier League win over Swansea when they met in November.

They managed to hold Manchester City to a draw last weekend and appear to have levelled out after their January losing streak.

Swansea won the other hand drew with Leicester at the weekend and have gone four matches in a row without a loss.

Taking into account the recent form of both clubs Swansea at home should be the smart play here.

Back Swansea to Win @ $2.45

Even with Leicester’s recent resurgence, this game is only really going to go one way.

12 wins from 13 home games with an average winning margin of 3 goals at the Etihad Stadium it simply comes down to how much City will win by when looking for value plays.

City have been held to two goals in the last two Premier League meetings but it is a whole new story here.

Expect City to get a few goals here as they tune up for the Champions League Knockout Phase and Leicester to get one for consolation.

Back Manchester City to Win & Over 3.5 Goals @ $2.25

Bournemouth crushed Huddersfield almost three months ago with a resounding 4-0 win in a fixture that has a history of one sided affairs.

During their two seasons together in the Championship, Huddersfield managed to record a 5-1 win at home before Bournemouth returned the favour less than a year later winning 4-0.

This is going to be a real test for Huddersfield as they are coming off a midweek 120 minutes in their FA Cup replay but it does suggest they may struggle to get up for this one.

They desperately need points having lost their last five matches and are now firmly in a relegation battle.

Bouremouth meanwhile are cruising and should find a way to get by even when away from home.

Back Bournemouth to Win @ $2.25

Three out of the last four matches have finished as 1-1 draws for Newcastle, two of which came at home to Swansea and Burnley.

Their last home loss was to Manchester City whose neighbours come into this game winners in four of their last five league games.

Their recent record against the Magpies is equally impressive winning four of the last six and seven of the last ten in the Premier League.

This has the feel of a game where Romelu Lukaku steps up and scores a goal or two in a United canter.

Back Lukaku to Score and Manchester United to Win @ $2.63

Safe to say there will be plenty of close ups of Virgil Van Dijk as he makes his return to St Mary’s Stadium following his January move to Liverpool.

Signing the defender has not completely solved Liverpool’s defensive woes as evidenced by their 2-2 draw with Tottenham at the weekend.

The home side come into this game undefeated in four and would love to get one over a side that has signed away a few players over the years too.

Liverpool has struggled against Southampton with November’s win ending a five match winless run in all competitions.

That being said play the odds here and look for Liverpool to win a high scoring contest.

Back Liverpool to Win and Both Teams to Score $3.40

Chelsea are a club in crisis if recent media reports are to be believed and the capitulation at the hands of Watford will not help Antonio Conte’s position.

Two straight losses and they will hope to arrest that slide with a big win over bottom placed West Brom, who have lost two in a row.

With just one win away from the Hawthorns and seven points all up, Chelsea will be feeling pretty good about this, especially considering they have picked up 26 points at the Bridge.

Do not expect a whole lot of goals here but Chelsea do enough to get into the winners circle.

Back Chelsea to Win & Under 3.5 Goals @ $2.10

MATCH POSTPONED TO WEEK 32

It is another huge week in the English Premier League and every single game is set to be a very interesting contest from a betting perspective.

Liverpool and Arsenal face off in what is arguably the best game of the weekend, but the most hotly-contested game could take place at the Olympic Stadium when West Ham host Chelsea.

Throw in interesting games involving Leicester City, Manchester United and Stoke City and there is plenty of money to be made this weekend!

Manchester United return to English Premier League action after winning the League Cup last weekend.

Manchester United are really starting to play some quality football and Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been in simply sparkling form.

It is no surprise that Manchester United will go into this clash as clear favourites and they remain a losing betting proposition as home favourites – they have won only 10 of their past 18 games in this scenario.

Bournemouth have fallen in a hole in the second half of the season and they have now lost four games on the trot.

They have won only three of their past 15 games as away underdogs and are impossible to trust from a betting standpoint, while they continue to leak goals on a regular basis.

It has been all about Ibrahimovic for Manchester United in 2017 and he should lead his team to victory, but there is no value in the current betting market.

No Bet

Leicester City made an impressive start to their new life without Claudio Ranieri with a victory over Liverpool and they will go into this clash with Hull City as clear favourites.

The Foxes ended a five-game losing streak in the English Premier League to beat Liverpool and they have now won eight of their past 13 games as home favourites for a narrow profit.

Hull City started the English Premier League season with a win over Leicester City and they have played some decent football in the past month.

The problem for Hull City has been winning away from home and they have won just one of their 13 games on the road this season.

It really would not surprise if the victory over Liverpool was the start of a winning run for Leicester City and they should be able to make it two wins on the trot.

Back Leicester City To Win @ $1.83

Stoke City were handed a football lesson by Tottenham last weekend, but they will still go into this clash with Middlesbrough as clear favourites.

Stoke City are always tough to break down in front of their home fans and they have won five of their nine games as home favourites this season for a narrow profit.

Middlesbrough have one of the best defences in the English Premier League, but scoring goals has turned into a real problem and they have scored only three goals in their past eight EPL games.

They have won only one of their 12 games as away underdogs this season, but they have been able to take a point from six of these games.

This is a game that Stoke City really should be able to win and they are genuine value at their current price of $1.95.

Back Stoke City To Win @ $1.95

This is a crucial game for Swansea City as three points will help them stay out of the relegation zone for another week.

Swansea were beaten by Chelsea last weekend, but there was still plenty to like about their performance and they have been excellent under Paul Clement.

Liberty Stadium has been a happy hunting ground for Swansea City this season and they have won five of their past nine games as home favourites for a clear profit.

Burnley took a point from their clash with Hull City last weekend, but they are still yet to win a game away from home this season.

They have taken just two points from their 12 games away from home this season and it is tough to see that changing this weekend.

Swansea City are another favourite that should be able to get the job done.

Back Swansea City To Win @ $1.91

Southampton missed out on their chance to claim silverware when they went down to Manchester United in the League Cup Final, but they will still go into this clash with Watford as clear favourites.

The Saints’ English Premier League form has not been anything to write home about in 2017 and their record as away favourites is not impressive – they have won just four of their past ten games in this scenario.

Watford have struggled for consistency in the EPL this season, but they have claimed seven points from their past four games in the competition and they secured a point against West Ham last weekend.

The Hornets have won three of their past eight games as home underdogs for a clear profit and they are a side that is tough to beat in front of their home fans.

Watford are capable of recording an upset victory over Southampton and they are genuine value at the current price of $3.60.

Back Watford To Win @ $3.60

West Bromwich Albion have been in excellent form in the English Premier League in recent weeks and they go into this clash with Crystal Palace as clear favourites.

The Baggies have been very tough to beat at The Hawthorns this season and they have won seven of their past 11 games as home favourites for a clear profit.

Crystal Palace secured a crucial three points with a win over Middlesbrough, but they have still won just two of their past eight games in the EPL.

Their record away from home is not particularly strong and they have won just three of their past 16 games as away underdogs for a clear loss.

West Bromwich Albion should be able to win again and they are one of the best value betting plays of the weekend.

Back West Bromwich Albion To Win @ $2.10

This is the match of the weekend in the English Premier League and is a crucial clash for both sides.

Liverpool suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Leicester City earlier this week, but they will still go into this clash with Arsenal as clear favourites.

Anfield has delivered Liverpool some positive results this season, but they have still not been a profitable betting play as home favourites and they have drawn six of their games in this scenario.

Arsenal have not played in the English Premier League for almost three weeks and have not been in action since their win over Sutton United in the FA Cup.

The Gunners are yet to win a game as away underdogs this season, but they have drawn two of their past four games in this scenario.

There really isn’t a great deal between these two teams and the $3.50 on offer for the stalemate is genuine value.

Back The Draw @ $3.50

This is another interesting fixture between two teams that are in excellent form.

Tottenham dismantled Stoke City last weekend and they will go into this clash with Everton as clear favourites.

Winning at White Hart Lane has not been an issue for Tottenham this season and they have won 12 of their past 16 games as home favourites this season.

Everton have not lost a game in the English Premier League in 2017 and they are one of the form teams in the competition.

One metric in which they have struggled is as away underdogs – they have won just one of their past nine games in this scenario for a clear loss.

The past three games between these teams have been drawn, but Tottenham can beat their rivals this weekend.

Back Tottenham To Win @ $1.65

Manchester City are one of the shortest-priced favourites in the English Premier League this season and really should be too good for a struggling Sunderland.

Manchester City have won nine of their past 15 games as away favourites, but they have still not been a winning betting proposition in this scenario.

Sunderland have won just one of their past eight games and Jermaine Defoe remains the only bright spot in what is a very poor team.

They have won just two of their past 11 games as home underdogs and they are impossible to trust from a betting standpoint.

This is a clash that the market looks to have got just about right and I am more than happy to stay out.

No Bet

There is no love between the West Ham United and Chelsea.

Chelsea continued their path to the English Premier League title with a win over Swansea City and they will go into this clash as dominant favourites.

They have won nine of their past 13 games as away favourites for a clear profit and they continue to be a positive betting play this season.

West Ham have played some decent football in 2017, but this is one of their toughest tests in recent months and they have generally struggled against the biggest teams in the competition this season.

They have won just one of their past six games as home underdogs and it is tough to see them beating Chelsea.

Chelsea should be able to record another comfortable victory.

Back Chelsea To Win To Nil @ $2.75