The Premier League hangs under a cloud of Covid19 doubt, with only five of the ten Game Week 18 fixtures set to be played this weekend.
Fortunately, we will still be treated to a few exciting fixtures, with Arsenal taking on the corpse of Leeds United, Chelsea looking to bounce back against the Wolves, and City hoping to pile on seven more goals against the Toons!
We’ve previewed what’s left of the Premier League Game Week 18 fixtures and provided our best betting plays below!
The action gets underway at Old Trafford, as Manchester United looks to claim four league wins on the bounce.
Standing in their way is a Brighton side whose last PL victory came back in September, drawing eight fixtures and losing three across the trip.
Brighton’s inability to find the back of the net is a major concern, producing just seven goals across their last 11 league fixtures.
Man U will be looking to take full advantage of the opponent’s impotence to claim their third successive clean sheet in the league.
Just two of Brighton’s 16 PL fixtures this season have seen over 3.5 goals scored, a trend I’m backing to continue alongside a United victory.
Following a host of postponements, Aston Villa vs Burnley will be the first game of the weekend.
This game is pretty straightforward, Burnley is winless in five (4D,1L), while the Villans look like a breath of fresh air under league legend Stevie G!
Villa has won four of its six league games under their new manager, falling to just City and Liverpool across the trip.
Five of the home side’s last six games have seen more than 1.5 goals scored, I’ll be backing that trend to continue, along with Villa claiming all three competition points!
The Gunners are in the top four for the first time since Wenger led the club with a comfortable level of job security!
They’ll be taking on a side coming off their largest defeat in 80+ years, following a 7-0 drumming to the Citizens in GW17.
Leeds have lost their last two outings against the Gunners by 2+ goals, and while they did show promise against the Blues two weeks back, I can’t see them turning around what was a disgraceful showing last time out.
The Gunners’ squad seems to be relatively untouched by the latest Covid breakout, with a deep lineup to choose from, I believe Arteta should lead his side to another comfortable victory here.
The Wolves are out to claim back-to-back victories for the first time since game week 8 when they welcome the Blues to Molineux Stadium.
Chelsea has huge concerns over the health of their squad at the moment, with several players missing through injury and illness.
The Blues were embarrassingly held to a 1-1 draw against what looked to be Everton’s youth squad mid-week, putting their title aspirations on hold.
With uncertainly swirling around player availability, the smart move here is to steer clear of the H2H market.
Instead, I’ll be backing the Unders to hit for the 8th Wolves game on the trot and the 15th time across their season!
Newcastle faces the daunting task of hosting a City side that comes steaming in off the back of a 7-0 demolition of Leeds United.
The Toons are buckley’s to none here and the bookies know it ($1.17)!
Three of the last four league games between this pair have seen over 3.5 goals scored, while Newcastle has conceded 3+ over their last two matches.
City’s squad runs deeper than the Mariana trench, with the fixtures coming in thick and thin, the visitors should claim all three points at a canter.
Tottenham has had their last two fixtured postponed due to health protocols, while Liverpool has claimed six competition points from their two fixtures, keeping them within touching distance of City.
In fact, the Reds have won their last six league games, outscoring their opponents 17 goals to two!
Mo Salah continued his offensive dominance, netting against the Toons to take his season tally to 15, six better than teammate and second highers PL scorer, Jota.
With no action in two weeks, I’m expecting Tottenham to be a yard behind the pace here.
On current form, Liverpool should take this match with relative ease.