Premier League Weekend Betting Preview
The curtain draws on the 2017-18 Premier League season this weekend, with not much left to be decided. Something that is still up for grabs is the final spot in the top four, with Chelsea still in with a shot of taking the final Champions League place.
The Blues travel to Newcastle for their final fixture, with The Magpies only playing for pride. Rafa Benitez’s side have had a strong campaign in their return to England’s top tier, despite flirting briefly with relegation earlier in the season.
They’ve also had some strong results at home in recent months, losing just one of their last seven matches at St James’ Park and beating Manchester United and Arsenal there. They haven’t been in overly inspiring form since they were guaranteed Premier League safety, however, losing their last four matches.
Antonio Conte’s side meanwhile are unbeaten in their last seven games in all competitions, winning four of their last five league matches. Their home victory over Liverpool last weekend was a measured performance, and highlights their improvement and determination to get that final Champions League spot, but drawing midweek to Huddersfield was a disappointment.
Back the away side to win this one, however – their dogged determination and improvement in form, combined with The Magpies in a bit of a rut, means it’s a likely event. You can find odds of a Chelsea win at 8/15 with Betfred.
A better shout is to go for goals – The Blues have averaged three goals a game in their last five encounters with the Tyneside club, so back an away win and over 2.5 goals at 6/4 with Boyle Sports.
Another interesting, but not quite so important clash, at the top of the table is Tottenham’s home match with Leicester. Mauricio Pochettino’s side had been doing their best to give away their Champions League spot – they lost to West Brom last weekend, struggled past Watford and drew with Brighton, before sealing their place in the tournament with a sluggish win over Newcastle midweek.
They come up against one of the other Premier League sides who had been in rotten form recently, Leicester. The Foxes had lost their last five league matches and hadn’t scored since mid-April before beating Arsenal. There are rumours that manager Claude Puel has lost the dressing room, and history suggests that it may not bode well for the Italian if that is the case.
Whatever happens at the weekend, his job may not be safe, and this may actually be the perfect match for Tottenham to end the season with three points. You can back it to happen at 1/5 with Betfred.
That isn’t a particularly tempting offer however, so perhaps something else to note is that Spurs’ last two final-day matches have contained at least six goals. It seems the shackles come off for the London club on the final game day, so back a home win and over 3.5 goals at 11/8 with Betfred.
Another side that are still in danger of losing their Champions League spot is Liverpool. Of course, even if they finish fifth they’ll still be able to obtain qualification for next season’s tournament by beating Real Madrid later this month. Nevertheless, don’t expect them to need to.
The Reds take on Brighton in their season finale. This match pits one of the league’s best home records against one of the worst away. Liverpool remain the only unbeaten side at home this season, something they’d love to take into the new season. The Seagulls meanwhile have won just two games on their travels all season, scoring just nine goals in the process.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have been in poor league form since making the Champions League final, but they’re desperate to end the season in style and to boost morale ahead of their clash with Madrid in Kyiv. For that reason, back the home side to win big.
Liverpool to win to nil is a likely occurrence, and can be found at 5/6 with Boyle Sports. Another tempting bet is for Klopp’s side to win and for over 3.5 goals at 11/9 with 188Bet.
At the bottom of the table, Huddersfield sealed their place in the Premier League next season thanks to a hard-fought away draw with Chelsea on Wednesday. The Terriers take on Arsenal in Arsene Wenger’s final game in charge of The Gunners at the weekend.
Arsenal’s away form has been atrocious in 2018, but you sense that the players are going to up their game due to the occasion – like they did for Wenger’s last game at the Emirates. If they do, then Huddersfield may struggle, as was the case in their 5-0 loss to The Gunners back in November.
Indeed, the Yorkshire club did fight to a point against Manchester City last weekend, but they’re so short of goals at home. They’ve managed to hit the net just 16 times in 18 home league games this season – a league low. For that reason, back Arsenal’s shaky defence to keep a rare clean sheet – you can back the away side to win to nil at 15/8 with William Hill.
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