Premier League Matchweek 30 preview: Who will slip up first on the final straight?

We are into the final eight matchweeks of the season and with points running out, results become more and more vital.

We preview the highlights of the weekend matches below.

Manchester United v Everton, Saturday – 12:30

Manchester United will be thankful for Marcus Rashford and the fact that they managed to hold on against Brentford in mid-week as this will be a tougher fixture than it says on the tin. With the top four race looking much different to how it did two weeks ago, those three points could be invaluable.

The opposition, Everton, are a changed team under Sean Dyche with their defence looking much more robust and difficult to break down. The newly appointed manager has introduced a discipline and determination that has seen the Toffees climb out of the bottom three and looking much more like a Premier League worthy team.

The home side are favoured here at 1/2 with Everton coming in at 11/2, and while it appears from the odds that the relegation side could be in for a battering, it is likely to be much different game – these are both Premier League teams with everything to play for.

Rashford will likely be the difference again and we are backing him to get another as he chases down his Premier League season record goal tally of 17 (currently on 15 at time of writing). Rashford to score and United to win to nil is 7/2 with enhanced odds, and United’s number 10 to score with a Bruno Fernandes assist in the game is 12/1 – two bets we will keep an eye on in this important tie.

Brentford v Newcastle, Saturday – 15:00

This is a colossal match for Newcastle as they close in on a finish in the top four one season after narrowly avoiding relegation.

Whilst there has been a massive influx of cash and higher quality players into the side, the stature of the club allowed for such a development to occur and now the results are very much mirroring the fanbase and history of the club.

Brentford, on the other hand, gained promotion into the Premier League for the first time in their history two seasons ago but are playing like they’ve been here for decades. Thomas Frank has a good thing going at the west London club and they now look to be in the running for a European place alongside Brighton and Aston Villa, two well established clubs.

The odds favour third in the league Newcastle at 21/10, but Brentford are likewise in with a good chance of victory at 13/5. It will likely be a close game and with the home crowd behind them, Brentford could be a real challenge for Eddie Howe’s side.

We are backing a draw here at 12/5 but not a high scorer. Unlike Newcastle’s midweek game against West Ham that saw them score five goals, this will be a tough battle and we like the odds of a 1-1 draw at 11/2.

Liverpool v Arsenal, Sunday – 16:30

Nobody can safely say they know how this game will pan out. When Liverpool are at their best they can beat any side in the world, but this season they have been far from their best and currently sit eighth in the Premier League on 43 points.

They are the underdogs here at 17/10, with Arsenal coming in at 7/5, and based on the way the season has gone, the result should follow. However, Liverpool tend to pop up randomly and play like the team that won the Champions League not so long ago – the question is which Liverpool turns up.

If it’s the Liverpool of this season, an Arsenal win of 2-1 at 17/2 looks quite likely and with Bukayo Saka in the form he is, odds of 13/5 that he will score at anytime are quite inviting. Equally though, Liverpool might switch it on out of nowhere and the main man Mohamed Salah could find the net like he always seems to against the top sides. He is 5/1 to be the first goalscorer.

Truthfully, as previously mentioned, it’s a very hard fixture to predict and could go either way. We are backing a hardly fought battle and an Arsenal win. Over two goals, over three cards, and over ten corners can be backed at 9/2.