Half the matches in Week 31 of the Premier League have been postponed and we’re faced with the footballing equivalent of Hahn Premium Light.
Monday morning’s Everton vs Chelsea game is probably the highlight, but there’s value to be found in all five matches this weekend and I think I’ve struck a few winners.
Not exactly an inspiring start to the matchday, but we’re probably set for a competitive meeting between Burnley and Leicester? The Foxes recorded a much-needed win last weekend, but I hardly think that beating Fulham is the sort of form that stands up. In saying that, Burnley have fallen less than a win above the drop zone and are faced with the prospect of four-consecutive losses. Anything above even money for Leicester looks a nice little momentum builder.
Typically, West Ham could not be trusted when they travelled to Cardiff last week and that puts a massive question mark over their ability to beat another cellar dweller this week. Huddersfield Town’s 1-0 win for the ages over Wolves is now a distant memory and foam domes of Carling are surely the only thing that they are thinking about. They’ve got a Championship side to build and a win over West Ham could secure contracts! They will not be winning.
The Cherries snapped a worrying losing streak against the 20th-placed Huddersfield last week and are offered a great opportunity to go on with the job when they host Newcastle. Having lost to West Ham, Newcastle did what they do best and beat a team that is better than them (Everton) last weekend. I obviously do not like Newcastle, but I do not understand the pricing of either team in the head-to-head market and on that alone I’m happy to take the draw.
Liverpool’s choke continues early on Monday morning when they travel to London to take on Fulham. Jokes aside, imagine if this match was where the nail was actually drilled into their coffin? The scenes on both sides would be so good. Fulham have struggled to convert their chances all season and it’s tough imaging them worrying the league’s sturdiest defence.
This is set to be the match of the half-strength round and there is plenty of value around both clubs in the market. They scraped past Fulham and drew with Wolves and that would tend to suggest that Chelsea would need to improve noticeably to see off Everton at Goodison Park, but the Toffees’ job is pretty much done after holding Liverpool to a draw and robbing them of top spot.