The Premier League rolls into Game Week 33, with things beginning to heat up in the race for European qualifications.
Match of the round sees Villa put their impeccable home record on the line against the red hot Magpies, elsewhere, Man United host the Wolves, Fulham and Chelsea meet in a London Derby, and Ange takes on the Tricky Trees.
The Offside Oracle has previewed all 10 Premier League fixtures this weekend and has provided his best bets below.
Manchester City paying $1.94 against Everton is a reflection of the state of affairs in the defending Champions’ camp.
The Sky Blues have dropped points in 14 of their last 19 away fixtures across all competitions, and have failed to score in each of their last two EPL road games.
Meanwhile, the Toffees have drawn their last four league home games, with both sides scoring in each of those fixtures.
Man City have won eight straight games at Goodison Park, with their last defeat there coming back in January 2017!
Getting just under evens for a Pep side to defeat a Moyes team in any arena in the world seems too good to be true, I’m going to go out on a limb here and back City to win.
Crystal Palace look to make it five home wins on the trot across all comps, when they welcome Bournemouth to Selhurst Park.
Alternatively, the Cherries are winless on the road since February (2D,1L), and are beginning to lose touch with the top seven.
Both teams to score and over 2.5 total goals has saluted in each of the Cherries last seven PL away games, while the same can be said for seven of the Eagles last nine home league fixtures.
I’m backing another high scoring affair, with both teams filling the onion bag.
10th plays 11th, as the Bees welcome the Seagulls to Amex Stadium.
We have to look back to Dec 8th last year find Brentford’s last home win across all competitions (3D,6L), while two recent draws against London rivals Chelsea and Arsenal may give them the belief to kick on.
Meanwhile, Brighton are without a win in five games across all competitions (2D,3L), most recently dropping points to Leicester City.
This pairs’ previous two meeting have resulted in goalless draws, and I’m happy to take the value on offer for the Unders to salute again.
Without a win in five games, West Ham will be delighted to see the Saints come marching into the London Stadium this weekend.
Despite sitting just one position above the drop zone, the Hammers have accrued 3.5x the competition points of cellar dwellers Southampton, such is the disparity between PL and Championship calibre sides.
The Irons have won their previous two matches against the Saints 1-0, and I’m backing them to claim all three points in another low scoring fixture.
Two teams fighting for European football take to Villa Park in what should be match of the round.
Newcastle currently occupy fourth place on the table, one point ahead of Man City in fifth and two points above Chelsea and Aston Villa, with a game in hand (At Publish 16/4).
Meanwhile, Villa are within a game of the top four, sitting in seventh.
The Villans were bundled out of the UCL quarterfinals mid-week, going down 5-4 on aggregate to PSG despite winning 3-2 at home.
Alternatively, the Toon has already lifted silverware this season, claiming the EFL Cup, on the way to five straight wins across all competitions.
Over 2.5 goals has saluted in each of Villa’s last eight games in all comps, a market I’m backing to hit again with both teams contributing to the tally.
Wolverhampton Wanderers are out to complete their first league double over Manchester United since doing so in the 1979/80 League Division One season.
The Wolves head into this fixture off the back of four straight league wins, dragging themself clear of any relegation discussions.
Meanwhile, the Red Devils are winless in four games across all comps (2D,2L), most recently copping a 4-1 belting on the road to the Toon.
There’s something therapeutic about backing against Man United, and I think they’ll botch another winnable fixture at home.
The Tractor Boys farewell tour rolls on as they prepare to host the Gunners this weekend.
The ‘both teams to score’ markets has saluted in each of Ipswich’s last four games (1W,1D,2L), while the same can be said for Arsenal’s last three PL fixtures.
The Gunners focus and energy will be poured into their mid-week UCL fixture against Real Madrid, leaving them somewhat vulnerable in the weekend’s league game.
I’m taking both teams to score and Arsenal to win.
The Cottagers and the Blues meet in a high stakes London Derby.
Fulham have already claimed three points against Chelsea this season, in a 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge back in December.
Another win for the Cottagers here will likely see them jump up to eighth in the league, within touching distance of Europa and Conference League qualification.
Alternatively, consecutive draws for the Blues has seen them drop from fourth to sixth on the league standings.
I’m on a roll with backing the roughies this round and I’ll continuing that vane of thinking here.
This fixture is set to be grim viewing for Foxes fans.
All the Reds’ energy is now focussed on securing the 2024/25 Premier League title as soon as possible.
Alternatively, Leicester could mathematically secure their relegation with another defeat this weekend, currently 17 points adrift from safety with six games to play.
I’m backing this game to be as one sided as they get, with Liverpool scoring at least three goals, Leicester scoring at the most one, and Salah breaking his dry spell.
Game Week 33 wraps up on Tuesday morning (AEST) when the Spurs host the Tricky Trees.
I think I am officially out of excuses to defend Ange Postecoglou, with one win in six PL starts (1D,4L) and a home draw in the first leg of their Europa League quarterfinal, the writing is on the wall.
Meanwhile, back-to-back league defeats has put a dent in Nottingham’s top four aspirations, fortunately for them, the chasing sides have also been dropping points all over the place.
I think Ange has squeezed all the juice out of this thin, injury ravaged Spurs outfit, they look both mentally and physically spent.
Let’s continue to back the roughies.