After a packed midweek of domestic English action, plus the Champions and Europa Leagues, the Premier League weekend gets underway on Friday night when Leeds United travel to Wolverhampton Wanderers. Leeds are back in action on Tuesday, as they entertain Southampton at Elland Road to complete a five-day EPL sandwich made on Leeds bread!
Before that though Liverpool and Everton meet in a Merseyside derby this week, with neither side exactly bang in form right now. We see more top-four contenders battle it out in another derby clash, with West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur squaring off at the London Stadium. Arguably, the standout fixture is Sunday’s tasty clash between Arsenal and Manchester City, with Mikel Arteta going up against his former boss.
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Leeds United
20:00, BT Sport, Molineux
Nuno Espirito Santo’s Wolves and Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds meet at Molineux on Friday night. There is little between these sides on paper or in terms of their current standings in the table. The hosts are 12th, with Leeds two points and one place ahead (although Leeds do have a game in hand). Both teams will fancy their chances and Wanderers have finally found some form, winning two and drawing one of their last three.
Leeds are also in decent shape, winning two of their past three away from home. Bielsa’s side are a joy to watch and despite a number of defensive injuries they are not as bad at the back as some make out. However, with Nuno’s troops finally getting back to their best, we fancy Wolves to edge a tight contest at Molineux. Back the hosts to win by one at 10/3.
Southampton v Chelsea
12:30, BT Sport, St Mary’s
Thomas Tuchel has made a fast start at Stamford Bridge, drawing one and winning five of six league and cup games. What’s more, the German boss has even managed to get his countryman Timo Werner back among the goals! On Saturday afternoon, Tuchel takes his Blues to St Mary’s to face Southampton and Chelsea fans will be expecting all three points.
Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Saints are in dreadful form, losing each of their last six in the Premier League, including, of course, that horrible 9-0 drubbing against Man Utd. In contrast, Chelsea have won four in a row in league action, keeping clean sheets in three of those. Take a punt on the visitors to win to nil on Saturday at the very fair price of 15/8.
Burnley v West Bromwich Albion
15:00, Sky Sports, Turf Moor
On Saturday afternoon, Burnley and West Bromwich Albion square off at Turf Moor. The Baggies are 12 points off safety, while the Clarets are in 15th place on 27 points. Sam Allardyce has failed to make much difference to West Brom’s results and a game like this is one they simply have to win if they are to extend their stay in the top flight.
Time is running out for West Brom, who have picked up just two Premier League victories all season and have a goal difference of -36, largely thanks to their terrible goals against record. Burnley have recovered well from a poor start, and Sean Dyche’s men are unbeaten in their last three league games. They should win this one on home turf and you can get 11/4 for the home team to win -1.
Liverpool v Everton
17:30, Sky Sports, Anfield
The biggest clash of the day sees Merseyside rivals Liverpool and Everton go head-to-head at Anfield on Saturday evening. The Toffees have a retched recent record against their bitter rivals, but the Reds have lost three home league games in a row. What’s more, the Toffees have been excellent on the road this term, picking up 23 points on their travels compared to just 14 at home. Carlo Ancelotti will hope to have top scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin and midfield dynamo Allan back for this one and if they both play Everton could finally end their Anfield hoodoo.
Of course, with no fans, Anfield is not quite Anfield at the moment and the Premier League champions have struggled lately, losing five of their last eight in the league. Liverpool did get a very good win in the Champions League in midweek but travelling back from Budapest will not have helped their preparation for this clash. As for Everton, they have fallen to back-to-back defeats and have taken just one point from the last nine on offer. That said, they put up a brave fight in midweek before losing to City 3-1 and have generally performed well against the sides at the top end of the table. These two drew 2-2 at Goodison Park back in October and we think this could go a similar sort of way. Back the draw and both teams to score here at big odds of 9/2.
Fulham v Sheffield United
20:00, Sky Sports, Craven Cottage
Fulham and Sheffield United meet at Craven Cottage on Saturday night. This is likely to be an EFL Championship fixture next season, as both teams are in the relegation zone with just 14 games to go. The Blades certainly look doomed given they are a massive 14 points from safety and they will probably need to win eight of their remaining games to give themselves a shot at survival.
Fulham are “just” the six points from safety and have shown plenty of fighting spirit in recent months, but Scott Parker’s men have picked up just one league win since November. The Blades are bottom, though Chris Wilder’s side have won three Premier League games in 2021. This is a trough one to call but at the prices we fancy the visitors to nick the points at the Cottage (11/4).
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur
12:00, Sky Sports, London Stadium
West Ham and Tottenham meet in a London derby at the London Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The Hammers are four points above their rivals and are the slight favourites with the bookies to win this one. West Ham are having a fine season under David Moyes, winning half of their 24 matches. United are currently in fifth place on 42 points and if they keep their key players fit they could push for a top four finish.
Tottenham, one of their rivals for the European places, make the short trip to the London Stadium having lost four of their last five in the Premier League. Spurs have really struggled without Harry Kane and Jose Mourinho clearly feels Gareth Bale has little to offer. Kane should start here but even so, we fancy the West Ham win at decent odds of 8/5.
Aston Villa v Leicester City
14:00, Sky Sports, Villa Park
Midlands duo Aston Villa and Leicester City lock horns at Villa Park on Sunday. Only Manchester United have picked up more away points than Brendan Rodgers’ Foxes and with Jamie Vardy back fit their potency on the break is no secret. Leicester will surely be unable to catch Man City but could they cause a surprise and pip the likes of the Red Devils and Liverpool to second?
This game will be a challenge as Villa have been one of the surprise packages in the Premier League this term, spending all season in the top half of the table. Villa are eighth but have two games in hand on most of the sides above them and could yet push for a top four finish themselves. However, we think Leicester’s class and pace will tell here and we are backing Rodgers’ troops to pick up a comfortable away victory on Sunday. Check out the solid odds of 3/1 for City to be winning at half time and full time.
Arsenal v Manchester City
16:30, Sky Sports, Emirates Stadium
Man City’s win at Everton in midweek was their 12th Premier League victory in a row and their 17th in all competitions. They became the first side in English top flight history to win the first 10 games of a calendar year and they look unstoppable, unplayable and unbeatable right now. Pep Guardiola’s Citizens will be looking for 18 on the bounce when they travel to the Emirates Stadium to face Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal on Sunday and it would take a brave punter to oppose them.
Since a 2-0 league defeat to Tottenham in north London back in November, Man City are unbeaten in 24 league and cup fixtures, winning 21 and drawing three. Arsenal have improved in recent months and impressed when beating Leeds last time out but our money is going on a comfortable away win here. Back City to win both halves at 11/4.
Manchester United v Newcastle United
19:00, BT Sport, Old Trafford
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Man United welcome Steve Bruce’s Newcastle United to Old Trafford this Sunday evening. The Red Devils will be targeting a routine home win in this one against opponents beginning to look over their shoulder at the relegation scrap.
Man United have suffered just one league defeat since losing to Arsenal on 1st November. In contrast Newcastle have lost seven of their previous nine in league action and are down in 17th. Ole’s boys thumped Southampton 9-0 in their last home win, and we fancy the hosts to secure another big victory at Old Trafford this weekend. Man United to win -2 at 15/8 has caught the eye.
Brighton & Hove Albion v Crystal Palace
20:00, Sky Sports, Amex Stadium
On Monday night at the Amex Stadium, rivals Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace go head-to-head in Premier League action. When the pair met at Selhurst Park earlier in the season, they played out a tense 1-1 draw. Neither of these sides are safe yet and both will be desperate to get to 37 points or so as soon as possible. Will we see a winner this Monday?
Brighton’s results have really picked up of late, with Graham Potter’s men winning three and drawing three of their last six in the Premier League. Palace have lost their last two after two good wins, so this is not an easy one to predict. We can see the Seagulls nicking a home win here though, and there is good value in the hosts to prevail and both teams to score at 7/2.
Leeds United v Southampton
18:00, Sky Sports, Elland Road
Leeds started this round of games and they close it too, with Southampton also back in Premier League action on Tuesday night, as the pair lock horns at Elland Road. The home team are the favourites with the bookies and ahead of both teams’ games prior to this, we have to say that seems fair. At the time of writing Leeds are three points better off than their opponents and have form on their side as well.
That said, Leeds are unpredictable at home, winning three and losing three of their last six at Elland Road. Like many teams this year, they have collected more points on the road than at home but this game gives them a great chance to improve that record. Southampton have lost three away league games in a row and have not won away from home since early December. They have lost their last five in the league by an aggregate of 18-4 and so our money is on the Leeds win here at 5/4.