Premier League
PL preview: Liverpool to pile misery on Spurs?
It’s full steam ahead in the Premier League this weekend after some dramatic midweek action at both ends of the table.
We preview three games across the weekend below as the season approaches its final month of fixtures.
Crystal Palace vs West Ham – Saturday 12:30
Having won their opening three games upon former manager Roy Hodgson’s spectacular return to the club in March, Crystal Palace have hit a bit of a wall in their last couple of fixtures, taking one point from two games against struggling Everton and Wolves. Whilst the Eagles should now be safe from relegation this season in their bid to secure an 11th straight Premier League campaign next year, Hodgson will be wanting his young squad to finish as strongly as possible to craft some much-needed momentum after a largely underwhelming season. They will start Saturday lunchtime’s clash with rivals West Ham as marginal 13/8 underdogs for victory.
West Ham also experienced a mini-revival before Wednesday’s 2-1 loss at home to Liverpool, with away wins at Fulham and Bournemouth sandwiching a point against league leaders Arsenal. The Hammers can be placed in the bracket of teams that have probably done enough in recent fixtures to avoid the drop this season, and David Moyes’ side can even leapfrog their hosts on Saturday with a win, which they are priced at 17/10 to do. A draw is 9/4 between the two sides, which looked the likely result in the reverse fixture at the London Stadium before Michael Olise’s 94th minute winner.
Both sides seem to have discovered their scoring touch in recent games, with Palace putting five past Leeds at Elland Road and West Ham netting four away to Bournemouth on Sunday, so over 2.5 goals at 5/4 looks an appealing punt. Two in-form players for each side are Jarrod Bowen and Eberechi Eze, with the former to score and the latter to register an assist priced at 14/1.
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Manchester United v Aston Villa – Sunday 14:00
Having won their last three Premier League games and reaching the final of the FA Cup final at the expense of an excellent Brighton team, Manchester United have somewhat arrested their March wobble, with all four of those fixtures including clean sheets despite an injury-hit back line. Nothing is a formality in this league, but even the most sceptical of United fans will be confident of securing a top four place with so few games to play in the season, though they will have their work cut out against an Aston Villa side who have won the third most points in the division since Unai Emery’s appointment in November.
United will start as 8/11 favourites on Sunday afternoon against Villa, who are 10/3 for victory and look good value in the double chance market at 21/20, whilst the draw is priced at 3/1.
Emery began life at the Midlands side solidly if unspectacularly, but the last couple of months has seen them really kick on. Since February’s 4-2 loss to Arsenal, the Villains have won eight of their last 10 games and have shot up to fifth in the Premier League, whilst Emery became the first manager in Premier League history to see his team score in all of his opening 20 fixtures. Both teams to score on Sunday is accordingly priced at 8/13, with Villa to net two or more 7/4.
Liverpool vs Tottenham – Sunday 16:30
It seems bizarre that Liverpool and Tottenham find themselves level on points with eachother having played the same number of games. It is a testament to the importance of developing momentum for the end of season push, something Jurgen Klopp’s men have in abundance and Ryan Mason’s side do not.
What may have been billed as a top-four showdown a couple of months ago looks something of a procession for Liverpool this Sunday, who start as comfortable 8/15 favourites after stringing together three successive victories, scoring 11 goals in the process. Whilst there have been a few false dawns for the Reds in recent months, they have certainly been boosted by the return of Diogo Jota, and apart from anything there frankly isn’t enough time left in the season for another mini-crisis on Merseyside.
It’s difficult where to start with Tottenham, other than that last weekend’s 6-1 humiliation against Newcastle likely spells the end of their top four aspirations. Their third manager of the season will be given a baptism of fire in front of an Anfield crowd that will be clinging onto hope of an unlikely top four finish, and the north London side are 9/2 to secure an unlikely victory. You’d suspect Spurs would take a draw given everything that’s happened over the past month, which is priced at 7/2.
