It is a busy Saturday of Premier League action, with the end of the season just peeping over the horizon, and teams still have plenty of motivation to claim valuable points at both ends of the table.
Our five-fold includes the live TV matches between West Ham and Liverpool and Aston Villa’s home clash with Chelsea.
- West Ham v Liverpool draw
- Crystal Palace draw no bet at Fulham
- Manchester United to win & both teams to score v Burnley
- Over 3.5 goals in Wolves v Luton
- Aston Villa to win v Chelsea
West Ham vs Liverpool
It looks as if Liverpool’s race may be run in the Premier League title chase after Wednesday’s 2-0 defeat at Everton left the second-placed Reds three points behind leaders Arsenal, while Manchester City have two games in hand in third.
The loss at Goodison followed a home humbling from Atalanta in the Europa League and a shock Anfield defeat to Crystal Palace and it seems Jurgen Klopp’s side have run out of steam.
The same could probably be levelled at West Ham too, which means it would not be a huge surprise if they cancelled each other out.
David Moyes’s side have seen their Europa League hopes ended by Bayer Leverkusen - despite drawing the second leg of that tie on home soil - while they could not recover from a dreadful start at Crystal Palace last week and ended up losing 5-2.
They are capable of getting a point, but the fact stories have surfaced that the London Stadium hierarchy are already holding talks with Moyes’s potential replacement suggests there is a strange mood at the club.
The only issue is that Liverpool may not be in the frame of mind to take advantage, which means a point may have to do for both teams.
WEST HAM AND LIVERPOOL TO DRAW
Fulham vs Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace are definitely not a team who want the season to end as the Eagles have found some excellent form under new manager Oliver Glasner, who has fitted in well at Selhurst Park.
The Eagles made everyone sit up and listen when they posted a 1-0 win at Anfield recently and they have followed that with impressive home successes over West Ham and Newcastle, so a trip to Craven Cottage should hold no fears, particularly as they have guaranteed their safety.
Their win at Liverpool was their first in 10 away games, so it is difficult to put a great deal of trust in them, but that is why the draw-no-bet option appeals for this trip across the capital.
Fulham’s inconsistency goes a long way towards explaining their mid-table berth. They would have lost four of their last five games had it not been for the two late goals that earned them a 3-3 at basement boys Sheffield United, so they could be vulnerable with the Eagles flying high.
Manchester United vs Burnley
Burnley look to have given themselves a chance of avoiding relegation after a run that has seen them suffer just one defeat in their last seven league games, with that sole loss coming courtesy of a freak goal at Everton.
However, it gets tougher for the Clarets as three of their remaining four games of the season come against teams in the top seven, and they haven’t taken a point from the 11 other games that fall into that bracket.
That run starts at Manchester United and it would not be a surprise if we saw a similar scenario to the Red Devils’ 4-2 win over Sheffield United on Wednesday.
There is no doubt that United can be got at, as Championship Coventry proved in Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final, and Erik ten Hag’s team have kept just four clean sheets in 16 home league games this season.
United should claim a win eventually but there is a strong chance that both teams will score, particularly as Vincent Kompany’s side are so desperate for points.
MAN UNITED TO WIN AND BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
Wolves vs Luton
Luton have shown a lot of spirit in their fight against relegation this season, but a 5-1 home loss to Brentford last week is a lot from which to recover.
However, Rob Edwards and his team will be keen to draw a line through that disastrous day against the Bees and should still go on the front foot in their trip to Molineux.
Wolves’ season looks to be in danger of petering out and while they have beaten Manchester City and Tottenham on their own patch this season, they have lost their last four home games if you include their FA Cup quarter-final thriller with Coventry.
Their latest disappointment was a 1-0 loss to Bournemouth on Wednesday, but this clash should be a lot more open.
Seven of the Hatters’ last 10 league away games have featured at least four goals and they have conceded at least twice in 10 of their last 13 road matches, so take a chance that there will be more than three in Saturday’s clash in the Black Country.
Aston Villa vs Chelsea
Chelsea could not live with title-chasing Arsenal on Tuesday and a trip to Aston Villa could be equally as difficult for Mauricio Pochettino’s side in the last game of the day.
The Blues were without Cole Palmer at the Emirates, who had been in red-hot form, while it seems their FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester City had really taken its toll judging by their showing in the 5-0 loss to the Gunners.
Villa could open a nine-point gap on Tottenham in the race for fourth spot and while they will have played three more games than Ange Postecoglou’s side, it will put a lot of pressure on Spurs the day before the north London derby.
Unai Emery’s team have scored eight goals in their last three home league matches and should inflict more pain on Chelsea, who are enduring another disappointing campaign.
