Swansea’s chances of Premier League survival took a crushing blow and Southampton’s a massive boost as they held on for a 1-0 win at the Liberty Stadium last night. I think Swansea’s only hope of survival now is if they win by enough goals at home to already relegated Stoke at home om Sunday and Huddersfield lose by enough goals at home to Arsenal as if Swansea win and Huddersfield lose they’ll both be on thirty-six points with very little between them in terms of goal difference.
There are four Premier League matches tonight and one tomorrow, which is to catch-up with the slight fixture congestion due to domestic and European Cup commitments. There are four games tonight and Premier League champions Manchester City will play in front of their home fans for the last time this season and there are sure to be celebrations after the match, regardless of the result.
City face fourteenth place Brighton at the Etihad tonight and the visitors have the second worse league away from this season and they’ve only won one of their last ten away in all competitions, which was against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup back in January. City have not been dominant at home of late, and their one win was a 5-0 thrashing of relegation threatened Swansea in the league a few weeks ago. Brighton are pretty much safe from relegation with Swansea’s survival chances not looking great.
The result of this game depends on how seriously Manchester City take it, but with it being a championship winning season and last game at home I expect them to go out in style with Brighton putting up a good solid show and City winning by two or three goals.
Spurs are back in action at Wembley against Newcastle tonight for another big game for the Lilywhites, as their still locked in a battle for third place with Champions League finalists Liverpool, who they are one point behind with a game in hand, and if Spurs win tonight it will all come down to the last game of the season Sunday. Spurs won eleven and drew four, losing twice at home in the league this season and they’ve wo eight of their last ten in all competitions. However, Spurs don’t have a great recent record of late at home against Newcastle, only winning one of the last four and losing the other three between 2013 and 2015.
Newcastle’s league away form this season has been average winning four and drawing four and they’ve only won one of their last eight away in all competitions, which came away at Leicester at the beginning of April. Newcastle have been playing better since the turn of the year, which saved from the relegation battle. Neither team has been playing that well of late with the end of the season drawing closer and Spurs won one of their last five overall and Newcastle lost their last three overall.
Sixth-place Arsenal, who are nine points behind fifth place Chelsea, will attempt to repeat their impressive 5-0 win at home against Burnley on Saturday. The manner of the win was somewhat of a surprise given how good Burnley have been this season, and it was a bit of an anti-climax after being knocked out of the Europa league semi-finals against Atletico on Thursday.
However, it was still a time of remembrance and celebration as was long-term manager Arsene Wenger’s last home game in charge after announcing his retirement at the end of the season. Since manager Claude Pule took over and initially made a strong start steering the club to ninth place, their form has tailed off recently not winning any of their last five, losing four, and they’ve failed to win at the King Power since the 16thFebruary when they knocked Sheffield United in the FA Cup.
Arsenal’s away form has been their issue their weakness this season and fifteenth place in the league away from table tells its own story. They’ve only won two of their last then away games overall against Osterunds and Brighton, losing eight of these matches. Leicester don’t have a bad record at home losing only three of the last nine in all competitions, and the other six were drawn. The Gunners can take heart from Leicester’s average home form this season. If Arsenal’s talented players turn out and play with pride and respect for club and manager today they could rack up another high winning score with Leicester not being at their best.
The other game is a massive relegation battle for Huddersfield who don’t have an enviable task of knowing if they don’t win tonight they have to win at home to Arsenal on Sunday, or of course hope the teams beneath them lose or draw as they still have a valuable two-point advantage and their game in hand tonight. Stamford Bridge hasn’t been the fortress of old this season and they have the sixth best league home form this season, winning eleven, drawing three and losing four.
Huddersfield have only won three times away in the league this season, drawing four, and their chances of getting anything out of tonight’s game doesn’t look good if recent overall form is a good guide as Chelsea won their last five in all competitions, while Huddersfield have only won one of their last eight overall, which was against at home against Watford in the league back in mid-April.
From a betting perspective there’s nothing that stands out from a match betting perspective, but I think there will be goals in the Spurs and Newcastle game based on past recent corresponding fixtures and backing Over 2.5 Goals or at a better price BTTS ‘Yes’ and Over 2.5 Goals will hopefully land a profit.
