Premier League Preview

The final Premier League weekend is finally here and all ten Premier League sides feature on Sunday. Admittedly there isn’t a lot to play for apart from one spot in the relegation zone. Hull City are the 1.17 favourites to claim that unwanted spot with Newcastle the only other candidate. As I’ve done all season, I have previewed two Premier League games and recommended a couple of bets below.

Hull City v Manchester United

The most important Premier League match this weekend takes place at the KC Stadium as Hull City face Manchester United. Steve Bruce’s side are 18^th in the table and are two points behind Newcastle, it is worth noting that Hull have a better goal difference than John Carver’s side. Therefore a Hull City victory and a Newcastle draw would see the Tigers survive the drop, however it is a big ask.

Manchester United are fourth in the Premier League table after a relatively successful campaign but you can question their motivation for this match, they have nothing to play for. Hull on the other hand should be the most motivated side in the league and I’d be surprised if they got turned over on Sunday. However since Hull City’s first promotion to the Premier League in 2008, they have played United on seven occasions and have lost on each occasion, conceding 21 goals in the process! Admittedly this is a different scenario this time around, Hull must win and Manchester United will finish in fourth spot regardless of the result. It should also be noted that United are without the influential Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney and David De Gea are 50/50.

On this basis I’m going to back Hull City and 12/5 seems more than a fair price given both sides’ motivation levels.

Recommended Bet: Hull City to beat Manchester United – BetVictor @ 12/5

 

Newcastle v West Ham United

As I have mentioned above, if Hull City are to survive Newcastle must fail to win at home against West Ham which is a big ask. Admittedly Newcastle are in very poor form, they’ve lost nine of their last ten matches but motivation levels are crucial at this stage of the season as West Ham have proved. West Ham are sitting comfortably in eleventh position but that doesn’t reflect how poorly they’ve played since January. They have won just two of their last 16 matches in all competitions.

Newcastle they still have their fate in their own hands and a victory on Sunday would seal top flight football next season. I hate backing teams in very poor form but Newcastle have to win this game and they’ll have 60,000 fans cheering them on. As I’ve mentioned in the Hull City tip, motivation is such an important factor at this stage of the season therefore I’m happy to side with Newcastle on this occasion at 4/5 which is a very fair price.

Recommended Bet: Newcastle to beat West Ham United – Coral @ 4/5

Premier League Preview

There are only two Premier League gameweeks remaining and as I mentioned last weekend Chelsea have already secured the title and the Champions League spots have all but been secured. At the bottom of the table it is getting exciting. Queens Park Rangers and Burnley have been relegated but any of five teams could finish in the final relegation spot. As usual, below I have previewed two Premier League fixtures and recommended a couple of bets which stand a great chance of winning in my opinion. 

Tottenham v Hull City

Tottenham host Hull City at White Hart Lane on Saturday and it is a crucial game for Hull. The away side are 18^th in the Premier League table and are the 1.4 favourites to finish in that final relegation spot. A win on Saturday is imperative in my opinion as Steve Bruce’s side face Manchester United at the KC Stadium on the final day of the season.

Tottenham come into this fixture in poor form, they’re sixth in the Premier League table and have only won one of their last six matches. The Tottenham squad are seemingly thinking about their holidays and maybe they don’t fancy the Europa League next season, this showed last weekend as Stoke City beat Mauricio Pochettino’s side 3-0. Admittedly Hull City aren’t in great form either, they lost 1-0 at home against Burnley last weekend however they did beat Liverpool and Crystal Palace towards the end of April.

This is an absolute must win game for Hull City and they should have all the motivation in the world to win this match and the same cannot be said about their opponents. Hull City are generously priced at 4/1 in my opinion but I’m going to back them to win via the draw no bet market at 5/2.

Recommended Bet: Hull City Draw No Bet – Bet365 @ 5/2

 

Manchester United v Arsenal

The fixture of the weekend takes place at Old Trafford as Manchester United face Arsenal on Sunday afternoon. This is a pretty meaningful match as neither side wants to finish in fourth position as this means they’ll have to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League. The hosts are the favourites to win this encounter due to their home advantage however it should be a close and competitive match between two very good sides.

Arsenal are third in the Premier League table and two points above Manchester United who are fourth. Personally I think Arsenal have played some of the best football in the league this season and they will inevitably contend for the title next campaign. Manchester United on the other hand have done ok but they are still lacking in some areas and aren’t the full package like Arsenal in my opinion.

This weekend Manchester United will be without Michael Carrick who has been so important to the Red Devils this season. Carrick has missed United’s last four matches and they have lost three of these and the other they were fortunate to get three points. I’m very keen to back Arsenal to beat a weak Manchester United side this weekend at 2/1 which is a super price in my opinion.

Recommended Bet: Arsenal to beat Manchester United – bet365 @ 2/1

The Premier League season is nearly over, there are three gameweeks left and Chelsea have already sealed the Premier League title. At the other end of the table it is getting very exciting, five sides are separated by two points and any of them could be relegated. Below I have previewed two of the more meaningful games this weekend and recommended a couple of bets which I perceive to be excellent value.

Everton v Sunderland

The opening game of the weekend takes place at Goodison Park as Everton face Sunderland. After a poor start to the season Everton’s form has improved lately and they’re now 11^th in the table with nothing to play for. On the other hand Sunderland still have everything to play for, they’re 18^th in the Premier League table and are 4/5 to be relegated. A Sunderland victory on Saturday would be priceless however it’s easier said than done.

Last weekend Sunderland recorded their first victory in nearly a month against Southampton which has given them a lifeline and some much needed confidence. Jordi Gomez was the star of the show scoring both of Sunderland’s goals. Everton lost their first Premier League game in nearly two months last weekend and this is possibly a sign of their players focusing on their holidays now they have secured top flight football next season.

My recommended bet for this fixture is Sunderland double chance which can be backed at 21/20 with Bet365. Opposing sides with nothing to play for tends to be a profitable strategy towards the end of the season and I’m happy to back Sunderland who need a result this weekend.

Recommended Bet: Sunderland double chance – Bet365 @ 21/20

 

Newcastle v West Brom

The dullest game of the weekend takes place at St. James’s Park as Newcastle United host West Bromwich Albion. Newcastle come into this fixture in woeful form, they’ve lost eight consecutive Premier League matches and a result on Saturday is crucial. On the other hand West Brom are now safe from relegation after an excellent victory at Old Trafford last weekend. Tony Pulis’s side sit in 13^th position in the league table on 40 points.

William Hill are offering money back as a free bet if you place a first goalscorer bet on this match and it finishes 0-0 or your first goalscorer scores second. Newcastle have failed to score in five of their last eight matches and West Brom have only scored 33 goals this campaign. This match has 0-0 written all over it therefore this is a good opportunity to take advantage of William Hill’s promotion in my opinion.

Papiss Cisse returns this weekend after a seven game ban and is still comfortably Newcastle’s top goalscorer with eleven goals, despite only starting ten Premier League matches. 11/2 is an excellent price in my opinion considering the promotion and Cisse’s goal scoring ability.

Recommended Bet: First goalscorer: Papiss Cisse – William Hill @ 11/2

Premier League Preview

After another excellent weekend of Premier League football, we’re nearing the end of the season, however there are still plenty of meaningful games to come, particularly involving sides at the bottom of the table. Below I have previewed a couple of this weekend’s matches and added two bets which I perceived to be great value as usual.

Leicester City v Newcastle

Leicester City versus Newcastle may not be the most appealing game this weekend but I expect it to be an exciting one. Leicester are on a fine run of form, they’ve won four consecutive Premier League matches and they’re now outside of the relegation zone for the first time this year. A victory this weekend and the Foxes would be a huge step closer to playing Premier League football next season.

Leicester City’s opponents Newcastle are certainly not guaranteed to be playing Premier League football next season just yet after a horrendous run of form. They’re 14^th in the table and are just five points clear of the relegation zone after losing seven consecutive matches. John Carver’s side are short of confidence and a victory on Saturday would be invaluable.

My recommended bet for this fixture is over 2.5 goals which can be backed at 1.95. Normally I’d try and avoid backing over 2.5 goals in any game Newcastle are involved in but Leicester City are playing some very attacking football at the moment which leaves them exposed at the back.

Recommended Bet: Over 2.5 Goals – Bet365 @ 1.95

 

Tottenham v Manchester City

The fixture of the weekend takes place at White Hart Lane as Tottenham face Manchester City on Sunday afternoon. The hosts are sixth in the Premier League table and the Champions League places are no out of reach in my opinion, therefore a Europa League spot is the best Tottenham can hope for. On the other hand Manchester City are second in the League table despite not performing to the best of their abilities in recent weeks. Last weekend they faced Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium and were very fortunate to get a result, never mind the victory. Neither sides have much to play for therefore I expect this to be a pretty dull match and I’m not interested in getting involved in the match odds market for this reason.

Two players who do have something to play for are Harry Kane and Sergio Aguero. The Argentine has scored 21 Premier League goals this season, whilst Kane has scored 20. They’re both battling it out for the golden boot award and you’d expect both players to be eager to win it. Sergio Aguero can be backed to score anytime in this match at odds of evens which appears to be a skinny price. Harry can be backed to score anytime at odds of 2.62 which is a generous price if you ask me, particularly against a leaky City defence without Vincent Kompany.

Recommended Bet: Harry Kane to score anytime – Coral @ 2.62