Only six EPL fixtures are set to be played out this weekend, with the league’s top three sides plus Crystal Palace set to clash in the FA Cup Semi-finals!
Though the title chase may be placed on pause we’re still set for a few crucial clashes, with Tottenham, Arsenal, and to a lesser extent Man U, and West Ham still gunning for that final UCL position!
We’ve previewed every Premier League fixture over the weekend and provided our best bets below!
Four convincing wins on the trot has the Hotspurs poised to claim the highly contested fourth and final Champions League qualification spot for 2022/23.
The North London outfit has claimed the third-highest league points since the arrival of Antonio Conte, only bettered by Liverpool and City.
Tottenham’s destructive run of form has seen them score 2+ goals in each of their last eight games, outscoring their opponents 28-7 across the trip!
Alternatively, the Seagulls have won just once across their last seven league fixtures (1D,5L), kept scoreless during five of those games, which included a 2-0 defeat to the Spurs.
The Spurs have got the bit firmly between their teeth right now and I can’t see Brighton representing much of a speedhump on their road to a top-four finish.
The Gunners are out to get their top-four bid back on track following a succession of disappointing defeats to mid-table outfits.
They’ll face another mid-table side in the form of Southampton here, who are coming in off the back of a 6-0 drumming against Chelsea last weekend.
The Saints haven’t won a PL fixture since February, plummeting from 9th to 14th in the league.
Arsenal accounted for Southampton 3-0 earlier in the season, and with far more left to play for they should complete the double without much resistance.
Two sides looking to avoid hitting rock bottom are set to meet at the theatre of dreams this weekend.
Manchester United have claimed just one win across their last seven competitive fixtures (3D,3L), most recently bettered by relegation-threatened Everton.
Meanwhile, Norwich enters this fixture dead last in the league and seven points from safety, despite claiming three points in their last fixture against Burnley.
The Red Devils have recently dropped points to Everton, Watford, Southampton, and Burnley, with Ralf Rangnick beginning to make Ole Gunnar Solskjær look like a tactical genius!
I can’t justify placing a single cent on this United outfit, instead, I’ll be embracing their downfall with a very small wager on Norwich to instigate a rage-fueled riot in Greater Manchester!
There’s not much Buzz around this fixture, despite the Hornets welcoming the Bees to Vicarage Road.
Watford look destined for the drop this season, losing their last nine home fixtures, leaving themselves six points from safety!
Alternatively, Brentford are in the midst of a purple patch, winning four of their last five league games (1L), coinciding with the emergence of Christian Eriksen in their starting 11.
I’m tipping Ivan Toney to be the difference-maker in this fixture, the Bees striker has scored six goals across his last five starts and will be eyeing off a couple more here.
Next up, Leicester looks to build on their promising form when they travel to Saint James’ Park.
Following a dry spell, the Foxes have gone on to win four of their last six league fixtures (1D,1L), successfully navigating a tricking run of games, picking up points against Brentford, United, and Crystal Palace.
Alternatively, the Toons have won one of their last four fixtures (3L), seeing Eddie Howe’s honeymoon period finally come to an end.
The Foxes have won four of their last five fixture against the Toons, last losing at St. James’ Park in 2014!
Leicester has been criminally undervalued in the H2H market here, and I am more than happy to back them at the current price.
The weekend’s action comes to a close on Sunday night (AEST) when the Hammers play host to the Clarets.
Both sides enter this contest with plenty to play for, West Ham are eyeing off a top-six finish, while Burnely are doing everything in their power to remain in the top-flight.
Scoring has been the Clarets’ Achilles heel this season, the relegation-threatened side has failed to trouble the scorekeeper in seven of the last nine league fixture.
Unsurprisingly, five of the last six meetings between this pair have failed to see both teams score, a trend I’m backing to continue here.