We have another big weekend of Premier League football to look forward to, with the action starting at Turf Moor on Saturday afternoon when Burnley take on Arsenal. By far the biggest clash of the weekend sees rivals Manchester City and Manchester United square off at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon, although we also have a cracker in store on Monday in this extended “weekend”.
Chelsea and Everton meet at Stamford Bridge on our third day of top flight entertainment and that is a real top four six-pointer. Ahead of the weekend’s games, Chelsea are a point ahead of the Toffees, who have a game in hand, the duo in fourth and fifth respectively. Also on Monday night, sixth placed West Ham play Leeds in what should be a cracking encounter, full of goals. We’re into the final third of the season now and things are getting close at both ends of the table – as usual, here are our Premier League betting tips.
Burnley v Arsenal
12:30, BT Sport, Turf Moor
Sean Dyche’s Burnley and Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal do battle at Turf Moor in Premier League action on Saturday afternoon. The Clarets have picked up just one win from their last eight league encounters and despite a good run prior to that, they are now once again in the relegation battle, albeit with a decent cushion for now.
Arsenal were excellent at the King Power Stadium last weekend, securing a deserved 3-1 away win. They will hope that has put some poor form to bed and will fancy their chances here. Burnley won at the Emirates Stadium earlier in the season, but we think the Gunners to get revenge this weekend. The Arsenal victory is priced at 3/5 and even at that price it looks solid with the north Londoners set to cement their place in the top half of the table.
Sheffield United v Southampton
15:00, Sky Sports, Bramall Lane
Sheffield United and Southampton lock horns at Bramall Lane on Saturday afternoon. The Blades are nine points adrift of safety, while the Saints have been dragged into the dogfight after a woeful run of results. The Saints remain in 14th but it is not all that long ago that they were top of the table. In contrast, the Blades rock bottom but have enjoyed some much improved results in 2021.
After four straight defeats (one in the cup), United beat Aston Villa 1-0 in midweek, which was just their fourth league win of the season. All four of those wins have come since mid-January though, so there is just the faintest glimmer of hope for United. In contrast Southampton are in freefall, drawing one and losing eight of their last nine in the league. This should be a tight contest so back Sheffield United to win by exactly one goal at very nice odds of 4/1.
Aston Villa v Wolverhampton Wanderers
17:30, Sky Sports, Villa Park
Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers meet in a local derby at Villa Park on Saturday evening. These two look well matched on paper, and this one could go either way in the West Midlands. The hosts will be the happier right now, up in ninth, five points and three places better off than their visitors who have also played two games more.
Aston Villa have had a fine season, but Dean Smith’s boys head into this one having lost two of their last three. Wolves were on a five-game unbeaten run before Tuesday’s heavy loss at the Etihad Stadium. There is no shame in that though and a point would be a decent result for both sides so back the draw here at 9/4.
Brighton & Hove Albion v Leicester City
20:00, Sky Sports, Amex Stadium
On Saturday night, Graham Potter’s Brighton & Hove Albion welcome Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City to the Amex Stadium. After no wins in three league and cup games, the Foxes could do with maximum points from this one and they will fancy their chances against the south coast club, who are languishing down in 16th place.
Brighton have been on a decent run since the turn of the year, but the Seagulls have lost their last two. Leicester are one of the best away teams in the league, and Rodgers’ boys have won without conceding on the road on four occasions this term. You can get 7/2 the visitors to win to nil on Saturday.
West Bromwich Albion v Newcastle United
12:00, Amazon Prime, The Hawthorns
West Bromwich Albion and Newcastle United meet at in a crucial fixture at The Hawthorns on Sunday afternoon. The Baggies start the weekend in 19th spot, nine points behind the Magpies but if they can win here they will really drag their opponents into the scrap at the bottom. In contrast, should Newcastle win, 12 points would seem too big a gap for WBA to overcome at this stage of the campaign.
West Brom picked up a rare victory last Saturday, beating Brighton at home. However, they lost 1-0 to Everton in midweek, although they will feel they deserved a draw and perhaps more. Newcastle have been in poor form of late, but we fancy Steve Bruce’s men to nick an important point in this one. The draw is available at 23/10.
Liverpool v Fulham
14:00, Sky Sports, Anfield
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool will be desperate to avoid a sixth home league defeat in a row when Scott Parker’s Fulham visit Anfield on Sunday. The Reds are in woeful form, but Klopp’s boys are the big favourites in this fixture. They are yet to score from open play at Anfield this term though and their expected goals against Chelsea last time out was a paltry 0.25 according to some sites. What has happened to the “Fab Three” and the Reds in general?
Defeat to Chelsea in midweek was Liverpool’s fifth home league reverse in a row, the worst run the club has ever recorded and not one they will want to extend. Fulham have been very competitive lately, but remain mired in the relegation zone. The champions are under the cosh right now but we expect a response here and they will surely be too strong for Parker’s boys on Sunday. Liverpool are priced at 21/20 to win -1 and that’s our betting tip for this one.
Manchester City v Manchester United
16:30, Sky Sports, Etihad Stadium
The standout fixture of the round is Sunday’s Manchester derby at the Etihad between rivals City and United. The in-form Citizens will be gunning for a staggering 22nd league and cup win in a row. They are virtually impossible to score against right now and have an incredible depth of goalscorers. Who needs an out and out striker when you have six players with eight or more goals to their name?
Man City have moved a staggering 14 points clear at the top after 15 Premier League wins on the spin. Man United have been tough to beat in recent months, but Pep Guardiola’s boys should be too strong for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s troops. The Red Devils have let their standards slip a little over the last few weeks and anything less than their very best just won’t be good enough here. In truth, even their A-game would probably fail to stop City so we have to tip another routine win for Pep and co. We like the look of 13/10 for the home team to be winning at half time and full time.
Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace
19:15, Sky Sports, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
London sides Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace go head-to-head at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday night. Spurs are back in form after wins over Burnley and Fulham. Will Jose Mourinho’s men make it three victories on the trot this weekend and can Gareth Bale continue to bang in the goals and lay on the assists?
After a poor run, two wins in the space of a few days was just what the doctor ordered for the Lilywhites. Palace are an unpredictable outfit but the one reliable thing is that they tend to struggle for goals. They have managed just 29 this term and Jose will not give them the space they like to counter into. Spurs should get the points on home soil. Back Tottenham to win to nil again at 11/8.
Chelsea v Everton
18:00, BT Sport, Stamford Bridge
Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea host Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton at Stamford Bridge on Monday evening. The Blues are unbeaten in all competitions under their new German boss but can former Chelsea manager Ancelotti stop that run and see his side move into the top four?
Since taking over in west London, Tuchel has guided Chelsea to seven wins from 10, with five of those victories coming in the Premier League. The Blues have won 1-0 four times with Tuchel at the helm, and a 1-0 home win on Monday is nicely priced at 6/1. Everton do not create a lot of chances and whilst they tend to be clinical it is hard to see them having much of a sniff against this very well organised Chelsea outfit. There won’t be a lot in this game so the 1-0 home win is the shout.
West Ham United v Leeds United
20:00, Sky Sports, London Stadium
On Monday night, David Moyes’ West Ham United and Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United clash in an intriguing Premier League fixture at the London Stadium. The in-form Hammers are the favourites in this one and they will still be dreaming about a top four finish although there is still a long way to go.
Both teams have had excellent seasons so far, with West Ham sitting in sixth with 45 points to their name, while Leeds are in 11th on 35 points. What’s more, both are entertaining and attacking sides that have featured in a number of high scoring games during this campaign. This could be a really great game for the neutrals and we fancy goals aplenty. The Irons edged the reverse game at Elland Road in December, winning 2-1, and there is good value in 11/4 for the West Ham win and both teams to score again.