Premier League weekend preview: Newcastle vie to defend Champions League spot

The Premier League is back in action this weekend as the battle intensifies at both ends of the table, with time running out to avoid relegation and secure Champions League places.

We preview three of this weekend’s fixtures below.

Crystal Palace vs Everton – Saturday 15:00

Most Crystal Palace fans would have ripped your arm off to have three victories on the bounce after Patrick Viera’s untimely sacking, but Roy Hodgson has had a dream homecoming since his appointment and the Eagles appear to be in flying form.

Palace are the 11/10 favourites for this one, and they come into this match off the back of a 2-0 victory over Southampton and a 5-1 bruising of Leeds United. They now sit comfortably in 12th place and their remaining fixtures look very manageable, so Hodgson’s men may even dream of a top-half finish. Three points this weekend would certainly take them closer to that milestone.

Everton face an uphill battle in avoiding relegation this season having only won one of their last five. They now sit in 17th place, tied for points with Nottingham Forrest but ahead on goal difference, and are an unlikely 11/4 to secure victory on the road this weekend. Luckily for Sean Dyche’s side, Forest look unlikely to take any points away from their trip to Anfield this weekend.

This fixture is crucial for Everton and a draw can’t be ruled out at 11/5. As far as anytime goal scorers go, Eberechi Eze has been integral to Palace’s success in recent fixtures, and he is 11/4 to make it three goals from three games.

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Brentford vs Aston Villa – Saturday 15:00

This is a toss-up match between sixth and ninth place in the table. Aston Villa head to the Brentford Community Stadium in a superb run of form, having won all of their last five fixtures, including a 3-0 thrashing over fourth-placed Newcastle United.

The Villans can smell blood and a hotly contested Champions League spot is within reach for Unai Emery’s squad. Emery has done a fantastic job since assuming the role earlier in the season, but Brentford will pose stiff opposition, with Villa 9/5 underdogs in this matchup.

The Bees lost the reverse fixture 4-0 but are fancied at 6/4 to secure victory in front of home supporters. Brentford come into this game off the back of a 2-0 loss to Wolves, making them winless in their last five games. However, they can take confidence in that they have won their last four home games against Villa, and on paper arguably possess the superior side.

Ollie Watkins was directly involved in all of Villa’s goals last weekend and after a shaky start to the season he looks to be improving beyond what was thought possible as the weeks go by. Watkins is 19/10 to score anytime, and from Brentford’s side, you can’t go wrong with their star man Ivan Toney to score anytime at 17/10 in what would be an addition to his 18 goals this season.

Newcastle vs Tottenham – Sunday 14:00

We’re in for a treat with this one as two heavyweights clash over an illusive top four finish. Newcastle currently make the cut in fourth, although Tottenham are breathing down their neck with just three points separating the sides.

Thanks to Newcastle’s fortress-like defence, defeat here would see them cling onto their fourth-place spot on goal difference. According to the odds, Eddie Howe’s squad won’t need to worry about that anyway as they are the 17/20 favourites here. Despite last week’s loss to Villa, they are in prime form and will be the ones to beat this weekend.

Tottenham will be all-in this weekend, with time to secure a Champions League spot running away from Cristian Stellini’s team. Spurs are 3/1 for a surprise upset but given their recent performances it seems unlikely, having lost 3-2 to Bournemouth last time out. The rest of Spurs fixtures also look challenging, and a top-four finish may just be slipping away from them.

Alexander Isak has been delightful to watch, with the number 14 favoured to net another this weekend at 19/20. Heung-min Son looks a decent punt at 4/1 too, especially given he has notched goals in both of Spurs last games.

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