The Premier League rolls into Game Week 29 with Liverpool 15 points clear on top of the table.
The Reds won’t be in action this weekend, but there is plenty to play for below them, with just seven competition points separating Chelsea in fourth from Fulham in 10th.
The Offside Oracle has previewed all eight EPL fixtures scheduled for the weekend, providing his best betting plays along the way.
Notts Forest continue their charge towards a return to European football when they travel to Portman Road.
The Tricky Trees are floating on cloud nine after upsetting top four rivals Man City last weekend, holding the reigning champions to nil, while extending their buffer on fifth to four points.
They’ll be taking on an Ipswich side who have failed to win across their last eight Premier League fixtures (1D,7L), and have only managed one league win at home on the season (4D,9L).
Although, it hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows for Forest recently, they’ve lost their last three league away fixtures, conceding 11 times across the trip.
The Bookies are still resisting the Trees fanfare, offering over $2 for the third placed outfit to claim victory over the 18th placed Tractor Boys, a steal.
Everton look to break a spell of three straight stalemates when they welcome the Hammers to Goodison Park.
The Toffees have now gone eight league fixtures without suffering defeat (4W,4D), a testament to the work done by returning manager David Moyes.
Moyes will face his former side here, a side he won the European Cup with, but have failed to impress since.
The Hammers lost 1-0 at home to Newcastle last time out, ending a two game winning streak that was their longest of the season.
This pair played out a stale 0-0 draw earlier this season, and I don’t think much will seperate them again here.
The Saints need to secure three more competition points across their final 10 league games to ensure they don’t finish with the worst points tally in Premier League history (Derby County’s 11 in 2007/08).
They’re half a chance against a inconsistent Wolverhampton outfit, who are only six points clear of the drop zone themselves.
The Wolves have dominated this fixture in recent history, winning six games on the trot against the Saints, and claiming three competition points in each of their last four trips to St. Mary’s Stadium.
There’s no way I can back a historically poor side, as such let’s get on the Wolves to continue their dominance in this fixture.
Brighton are aiming for their seventh straight victory across all competitions when they travel to face Man City this weekend.
A victory for the Seagulls here will see them complete their first ever Premier League double over the Citizens, while also leapfrogging them in the standings.
Alternatively, the L’s keep stacking up for the reigning champs, who have lost five of their last nine games across all competitions (4W).
We’re witnessing two sides on two separate trajectories here, City are devoid of confidence, while the Seagulls are begging to soar.
I think it’s well worth a punt on the underdog.
The Cherries hope to break a spell of poor form when they welcome the Bees to Vitality Stadium.
Only the three relegation bound outfits have picked up fewer than Bournemouths four points across the last five league fixtures, as the Cherries slipped from fifth to ninth in the standings.
The Bees have picked up seven competition points across the same trip, but more importantly have won their last four away league fixtures, while keeping a clean sheet in three of those games.
Brentford have already bettered the Cherries earlier this season, and I’m backing them to complete the double over them on the road.
Fulham and Tottenham are set to trade blows in a mid-table London Derby.
The Spurs are looking to secure their third away league win on the trot, after seeing off both Brentford and Ipswich, and will feel confident in getting a result at Craven Cottage, where they have won seven of their last eight league outings (1L).
Meanwhile, Fulham are hoping to reestablish themselves as a top 8 contender following a spell of two defeats in three starts (1W).
I’m sticking fat with Ange here, with first team players returning from injury, I believe Spurs are set for a strong run home.
We stay in London for a higher profile Derby between the Gunners and the Blues.
Despite Arteta’s reluctance to throw in the towel, the 2024/25 Premier League title looks to be beyond their reach after dropping points in each of their last three games (2D,1L), allowing the gap to league leaders Liverpool to swell to 15 points.
Regardless of Arsenal being out of the title race, there is still plenty left to play for, with Notts Forest breathing down their neck in third, a defeat in this match would see them dragged to within three points of Chelsea in fourth!
Fortunately for them, Chelsea’s away form is the worst in the league, picking up one competition point across their last five road trips.
The Gunners have put eight goals past the Blues in the pair’s last two games at the Emirates, and I’m backing them to secure another W here.
Gameweek 29 comes to a close on Monday morning (AEST), when the Foxes play the Red Devils for the fourth time this seasons.
Man United have bettered Leicester three times across three competitions this season, knocking them out of both the EFL and FA Cups.
Funnily enough, the Foxes are the only side Man United seem capable of bullying, with Ruud van Nistelrooy continuing to serve his former club.
I’m backing the Red Devils to complete a sixth straight victory of Leicester combined with over 1.5 total goals.