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There are several mouth-watering matches to look forward to in the Premier League this weekend. First up, Leicester City and Liverpool lock horns at the King Power Stadium, a game that the Reds simply have to win if they are to have any hope of staying in the title race, although even the top four may prove a stretch. The other really big clash sees the side we can almost call champions-elect, Manchester City, host Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday evening.
On Sunday, Arsenal and Leeds United clash at the Emirates Stadium, a game that could prove to be a real thriller. The bottom three are beginning to look doomed and there is every chance that will worsen this weekend with all three facing really tough games. We’ve got tips for all 10 games over three great days of football and this is where our money will be going!
Leicester City v Liverpool
12:30, BT Sport, King Power Stadium
The Premier League round kicks off with the tasty game between Leicester and Liverpool at the King Power Stadium. The Foxes start the weekend three points above the Reds in the Premier League table, the duo currently third and fourth respectively. The current champions are a whopping 10 points off the pace of City whilst beneath them there are five sides eyeing up the last Champions league place. Jurgen Klopp is under pressure and his side simply cannot afford another defeat here.
They will face a really tough test though, because Brendan Rodgers’ men are in good form, losing only one of their last 10 in the league. In contrast, champions Liverpool have picked up just two wins from their previous nine Premier League matches. For a side that won 84% of their league games last term that is staggering, and in that run alone they have dropped 18 points, three more than they dropped in the entirety of their title campaign. The hosts have Jamie Vardy back as well and with the away side struggling at both ends of the pitch it is clear where the value lies here. Back the Leicester victory here at very solid odds of 13/5.
Crystal Palace v Burnley
15:00, Sky Sports, Selhurst Park
Crystal Palace and Burnley meet in an intriguing Premier League fixture at Selhurst Park on Saturday. The Clarets edged the reverse match at Turf Moor back in November, with Chris Wood scoring the only goal of the game. In another season these two would be looking over their shoulders but with the bottom three so poor they should both be fine. None the less, the sooner they get to 37 points or so, the happier their fans will be.
On paper, there is not a lot to split these two evenly matched teams. Palace may be six points above Burnley, but we fancy Sean Dyche’s troops to battle to a draw in south London. Take a punt on the draw and both teams to score at big odds of 7/2, with 1-1 our correct score prediction.
Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur
17:30, Sky Sports, Etihad Stadium
Arguably, the standout Premier League fixture of the weekend sees heavyweights Man City and Tottenham square off at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening. Pep Guardiola’s men will be gunning for an 11th successive Premier League win and will fancy their chances having hammered Liverpool at Anfield last time out. Pep’s men are incredibly hard to score against at the moment and have conceded just 14 goals all season – a huge nine fewer than their nearest rival.
Spurs will be quietly confident though and have Harry Kane back. The England striker helped his side stop a run of three straight defeats with an important 2-0 home victory over West Bromwich Albion last weekend, but in-form Man City should ease past Jose Mourinho’s men at the Etihad. There is a degree of unpredictability given both play in the FA Cup in midweek prior to this but that should favour the hosts who have the easier tie and the deeper squad. Back the Manchester outfit to win -1 at 5/6.
Brighton & Hove Albion v Aston Villa
20:00, Sky Sports, Amex Stadium
On Saturday night, Graham Potter’s Brighton & Hove and Dean Smith’s Aston Villa meet at the Amex Stadium. The Seagulls will be hoping to stretch their unbeaten league run to six and will be confident and relaxed now they have pulled 10 points clear of the relegation zone.
Brighton have really turned their form around in 2021, winning three and drawing two of their last five in the Premier League. All three of those victories were by a goal to nil, and Albion beat Villa 2-1 at Villa Park back in November. Put some money on Brighton to win by exactly one this weekend at the very nice price of 15/4.
Southampton v Wolverhampton Wanderers
12:00, Amazon Prime, St Mary’s
Sunday’s early kick off sees Southampton and Wolverhampton Wanderers meet at St Mary’s. These two clubs also squared off in the Emirates FA Cup in midweek. The Saints are the slight favourites in this one and despite a shocking recent run of form they remain two points and two places above their guests despite having played a game fewer.
Ralph Hasenhuttl’s troops have lost five in a row in the league, including a heavy 9-0 defeat at Old Trafford. However, last time they lost 9-0, to Leicester in 2019, it spurred them on and although they were narrowly beaten last time out, we think they have the fortitude to bounce back here. Wolves are not the side they were last term and lack attacking fluidity so we are backing Southampton to stop the rot on Sunday. Our money is going on the hosts at 6/4.
West Bromwich Albion v Manchester United
14:00, Sky Sports, The Hawthorns
After letting two points drop to Everton last weekend, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United will want to get back to winning ways in the league this Sunday. They conceded with the last kick of the game to draw 3-3 but should find their opponents here offer rather less resistance. The Red Devils travel to the Midlands to take on Sam Allardyce’s struggling West Brom and nothing less than three points will do.
United have been excellent away from home this season, winning eight and drawing three of 11 away games in the Premier League. Solskjaer’s side have the pace and attacking potency to make light work of the Baggies in this one. West Brom are 19th, with just 12 points to their name and have conceded a league high 54 goals. They have managed the odd decent result here and there, drawing 1-1 with both Man City and Liverpool in December, but those results are outweighed by heavy, heavy defeats to the likes of Leeds, Arsenal and in the reverse game with City. Take a punt on Man Utd to be winning at half time and full time which we feel is really good value at odds of 10/11.
Arsenal v Leeds United
16:30, Sky Sports, Emirates Stadium
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal and Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds meet at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon. After back-to-back away defeats, can the Gunners get back to winning ways on home soil? Things will not be easy against an increasingly impressive Leeds, who recfently moved above the Gunners in the table and into the top half.
Before losing to Wolves and Aston Villa last week, Arsenal had gone seven Premier League matches without defeat, winning five and drawing two. Leeds have won three of their last four but there really is not much between the sides. Indeed, in the first game between them this season, Leeds drew 0-0 with the Gunners. However, on balance we fancy Arsenal in this one. We think this game will be more open than the reverse so check out the home win and both teams to score at 9/4.
Everton v Fulham
19:00, BT Sport, Goodison Park
Everton welcome Fulham to Goodison Park in Premier League action on Sunday night. The Toffees, who are sitting pretty in seventh, are the clear favourites on home turf. They are enjoying a fine season and although they face a tricky FA Cup tie with Spurs before this, they should have a couple of key players back from injury to bolster their ranks. In truth though, against a side as poor as Fulham, it may not matter which XI Everton players take to the pitch.
The Cottagers are struggling and have not won in the league since beating Leicester 2-1 at the King Power, though eight of their following 12 have ended in draws. They just do not have the cutting edge needed at this level and are also a bit naïve at the back as well, a terrible combination. As for Everton, they have won six of their previous 10 league games. They are currently seventh with two games in hand on many of the sides above them and they will be boosted by their late equaliser against Man United last time out. That one ended 3-3 and given the Toffees edged a five-goal thriller at Craven Cottage earlier in the season we think it is worth backing the Everton win and over 4.5 goals on Sunday at the very tempting price of 8/1.
West Ham United v Sheffield United
18:00, BT Sport, London Stadium
West Ham United and Sheffield United do battle at the London Stadium on Monday evening. The Hammers, who are riding high in sixth, will be looking to keep up their superb form with another home win and they will fancy their chances against the side plum bottom of the Premier League.
David Moyes’ Irons are in terrific form, winning five of their last seven in the top flight. The Blades have improved of late, but West Ham should come out on top in this one. The home victory is available at 4/6 and looks solid.
Chelsea v Newcastle United
20:00, Sky Sports, Stamford Bridge
Chelsea and Newcastle United face off at Stamford Bridge on Monday night in the final Premier League fixture of the round. Thomas Tuchel has made a strong start to life in London, and the Blues will be targeting a comfortable home victory against a team that has issues on and off the pitch. Newcastle have not enjoyed their trips to London in recent years and this one looks very much like a home banker to us.
Since a 0-0 home draw with Wolves in Tuchel’s first game in charge, Chelsea have won three on the bounce in the league, seeing off Burnley, Tottenham and Sheffield United. They will be full of confidence for this one and Tuchel’s troops should secure a routine home triumph on Monday. We like the look of Chelsea to win both halves at 6/4.