after the last international break of the season, it’s back to premier league action this weekend. while man city are running away with the title, there are still things to be decided before the season concludes. namely which sides will land the champions league places, and which will be condemned to the championship!
check out our tips, predictions and odds comparison for the weekend’s biggest premier league games as we edge ever closer to the end of the 2017-18 season.
such is the reward of qualifying for the champions league in terms of both finance and prestige, to finish in the top four in the premier league is the primary goal for many clubs. chelsea and tottenham are two such clubs, and with the title essentially long gone, both will be more than eager to ensure they’ll be in europe’s elite competition next season.
mauricio pochettino’s men have been on great form of late, and despite losing harry kane to injury, spurs will go into this match high on confidence after four straight wins in the league. the visitors are priced at best betting odds of 12/5 with betfair to get the three points.
chelsea have not been quite so impressive in recent weeks and with only two wins from their last five in the top flight, the pressure is mounting on antonio conte. they have a decent record against spurs though with only two defeats against them in the last 18 meetings, and the blues have also won three of the last four.
we’re predicting a high-scoring game so back over 2.5 goals to be scored at odds of 11/10 with bet365. if you think it will be a real goalfest between the sides, you could even opt for over 3.5 goals at 5/2 with betfair. either way we expect an entertaining encounter at the bridge.
arsenal v stoke: potters could crumble in north london
arsene wenger’s arsenal are now 13 points below near neighbours tottenham (who occupy that crucial fourth place in the table) and their prospects of champions league football next season look to rely on them winning the europa league.
that said, the gunners have been fairly solid on home soil all season, while this sunday’s visitors stoke have been rather pitiful on the whole. it is no surprise to see the home side priced as the 1/3 favourites for the win with william hill and others, and we think they will live up to that price.
stoke are back in 19th place in the table and they really need the win here, but in pushing for the three points we can see them being exposed at the back. as such we’re backing arsenal to win by a decent margin and our betting tip is to back the home side with a -1 goal handicap at odds of 10/11 with coral.
of course, wenger might make a few changes with thursday’s europa league clash against cska in mind, but even so, we think the north londoners will have enough ammunition to get the job done.
here we have another relegation-threatened side trying to amass enough points to secure premier league safety as crystal palace host liverpool. jurgen klopp’s side have loftier ambitions and are currently in third place in the table. the reds will be seeking the points they need to secure a top four – and ideally top three – finish and hence champions league football next term.
our odds comparison shows the best betting odds on a liverpool win are 4/9 with ladbrokes, but we would be slightly wary of a price so short. while palace have had a few bad results recently, they performed well last time out, winning 2-0 at huddersfield, and we fancy they’ll have a real go here. as such we think backing both teams to score could be a decent bet at odds of 8/11 with william hill.
one crucial factor ahead of this match is that liverpool will have an eye on their champions league quarter final on the wednesday against man city. this will inevitably mean that klopp will rest some of his key personnel, and this could open the door for palace to spring a shock.
the odds on a crystal palace win start to look rather attractive in that light and taking the 13/2 on the home win with bet365 might well pay dividends. if you want to play it just a little safer, how about considering crystal palace in the +0.5 goal asian handicap market at betting odds of 37/19 with 888sport?
just as liverpool are likely to rest players, so surely are their champions league opponents manchester city. pep guardiola’s men have all but sewn up the title and they will be focussing on wednesday’s all-english battle in europe.
as such there will be an opportunity for everton – who are currently ninth in the tableto inflict a rare defeat on city. if you think the toffees can get the three points, the odds comparison shows you can claim odds of 8/1 with bet365. we are not sure they can quite manage that however.
given the strength in depth at guardiola’s disposal, and the possibility that some players could play themselves into the team for the champions league clash, we think city will have enough to avoid defeat. we are not convinced they should be as short as 1/3 for the win though and the odds of 4/1 with betfair and others for the draw look more appealing to us.
overall though, we are opting for the odds of 10/11 with bet365 for both teams to score in the game. if you are feeling braver, you could improve the odds and go for a draw with both teams scoring at a tasty 11/2 with the same bookie.