
A busy weekend of domestic Premier League and EFL footy action gets underway tonight with a live Premier League game and it involves title chasing Liverpool at home against already relegated Huddersfield, which should go the way of the Reds with Huddersfield nothing left to play for except pride and it could add a bit more pressure for reigning champions and current leaders by one point City who face a potentially tough test at in-form Burnley on Sunday.
Moving on to Saturday and the live lunchtime kick-off is a potentially exciting London derby encounter between third place Spurs and eleventh place West Ham at the Spurs Stadium. Spurs are on a nine-match unbeaten run at home winning eight and drawing one and they have the upper hand in terms of previous corresponding fixtures having won nine of the last seventeen while West Ham have only won twice during this period. Spurs should win this one if their attacking players are on fire, especially Min, and they can contain Hammers dangerman Anderson.
There’s a few massive games in terms of the relegation battle from the 3pm kick-offs and the biggest ones are third from bottom Cardiff away at already relegated Fulham and many will expect Cardiff to lift their level enough to nick this one but it may not be the best time to be facing the Cottagers at home as they’ve shown improvement and more fight under caretaker manager Scott Parker. If the Bluebirds do win they will draw level with Brighton who play now safe Newcastle in the later tea-time kick-off, which could add more pressure on the Seagulls if Cardiff beat Fulham earlier but they could also get an easy ride and three points if Newcastle don’t give 100% now their safe from relegation.
Down in the Championship leaders Norwich and second place Sheffield Utd will continue their battle for the title and the gap between the two is three points. Both are playing at home and on paper Sheffield Utd have the easier chance of winning as they face already relegated Ipswich while Norwich face mid-table Blackburn who have nothing left to play for except pride.
In terms of the play off places fourth place West Brom and fifth place Aston Villa, who play third place Leeds on Sunday, have already qualified for the play offs and its looking like there’s three teams in the race for the final spot, sixth place Derby, seventh place Middlesbrough and eighth place Bristol City, who face Derby at Ashton Gate which gives City the advantage and Derby and Boro are level on 67 points and Bristol City one back on 66 points. Boro potentially have the best chance of collecting all three points at home against fifth from bottom Reading who are not safe from relegation but have a good chance of survival as they’re six points clear of third from bottom Rotherham.
From a betting perspective on Saturday Crystal Palace are worth opposing on the exchanges or backing Everton on the Handicap given Palace’s shaky home form. Many matches involving teams in the relegation battle are usually closely fought affairs and with three draws in their last six corresponding fixtures in all competitions producing three draws, including the last two, and I think tomorrow’s encounter could end in a low scoring stalemate as well so you can consider backing or trading the draw or if you’re looking for a higher return backing either BTTS and the Draw match double or Draw and Under 3.5 Goals.
There’s a south coast Derby involving Southampton who are still in the relegation battle against fourteenth place Bournemouth and a win for the Saints will secure their safety and based on past corresponding fixtures in all competitions I think the Saints will nick this one 2-1 or 2-0 as they’ve won four of the last five against Bournemouth at St Mary’s.
Selections:
None.