We enter the penultimate round of the Premier League this weekend, with the European qualification places still up for grabs.
The action gets underway at Villa Park where the Spurs are likely to roll out their under 18s squad.
Elsewhere, The Blues host Man United, Newcastle set their sights on Arsenal, and Liverpool travels to Brighton.
The Offside Oracle has previewed all 10 Premier League Game Week 37 fixtures and provided his best bets below!
Villa look to push into the top five and UCL qualification with a victory over a Tottenham side who by all accounts have given up on the league.
Aston Villa enter this game level with Chelsea on points, but outside the top 5 on goal difference alone.
Alternatively, the Spurs are focusing all their energy towards their do-or-die Europa League Final against Man United next Thursday morning (AEST), with a chance to win their first trophy since 2008 and qualify for the Champions League despite finising in the bottom five of the PL.
The Villans have won eight of their last 10 league fixtures (2L), and are unbeaten at home in 20 games across all competitions (14W,6D).
I have Villa winning combined with under 4.5 total goals scored.
The Blues hold their UCL fate in their own hands, sitting 5th in the league with two games remaining.
They’ll be confident about collecting all three competition points against a Man United side who are without a league win since game week 29 (2D,5L), equalling an unwanted club record.
Like Tottenham, the Red Devils will be focusing on their mid-week Europa League finals, with their domestic season already in the bin.
I have the Blues to claim the win at home, but not without conceding.
The Toffees are out to secure back-to-back victories for the first time in 14 games, when they host the already relegated Saints.
Everton are one of only two sides who have lost to Southampton this season, a feat in itself considering how poor the newcomers have been.
The Saints managed to hold Man City to a 0-0 draw last time out, in a game that was awful to watch from a neutrals perspective.
That draw took them one point clear of the worst ever points return in a Premier League season, and boy did they celebrate it.
After getting that monkey off their back, I believe it will be business as usual for the Saints, and they’ll return to their losing ways.
Notts Forest’s Champions League ambitions took a huge hit last weekend, dropping points to Leicester at home, extending a their winless run in the league to three games (2D,1L).
Alternatively, the Hammers broke a spell of eight league fixtures without a win with a 2-0 victory over a 2nd string Man United outfit.
The Tricky Trees are starting to feel the pinch at the end of the season, with performances dipping on the pitch, while emotions overflowing off it, with team owner storming the field to confront Nuno in ugly scenes after the final whistle in GW36.
I want to believe in this Forest side, if for nothing but the storyline.
I’m taking Notts to bounce back to winning ways and push for a top 5 finish on the final day of the league.
The less said about this game, the better.
Two championship sides battle it out for the honour and privilege to be named the 18th best side in the top flight this season.
The Foxes are unbeaten in two (1W,1D), have home advantage, and are farewelling their favourite son, Jamie Vardy.
Leicester to win.
The Bees are Buzzing.
Brentford have won four league fixtures in a row and are unbeaten in six (2D), another win here will put them in prime position to secure 8th in the league and a possible European birth pending FA Cup results.
Meanwhile, the Cottagers are staring down the barrel of three straight defeats, and have lost four of their last five away fixtures (1W).
The Bees are unbeaten against Fulham at home across their pair’s last six meetings (4W,2L).
I’m taking the home side to prevail once again.
The Toon are looking to cap off a stellar year with a top four finish when they travel to the Emirates to take on a Gunners outfit who are playing for pride alone.
The Toon dispatched Top 4 rivals Chelsea last week, claiming a modest 2-0 victory in a game which they could’ve easily scored two or three more times.
Meanwhile, Arsenal put on a good showing against the new champions, despite recently getting bundled out of the UCL semi-finals, and waving goodbye to their last chance at silverware.
The Magpies are playing every game like its a cup final, and I think they might overwhelm the Gunners through the middle of the park and complete another upset.
The Seagulls eye off a top 8 finish when they play host to the 2024/25 Premier League Champions, Liverpool.
Brighton have gone three league fixtures without defeat (2W,1D), and have won four of their last seven PL home games (2D,1L).
Meanwhile, Liverpool have understandably stumbled since claiming the title, dropping points across their last two games (1D,1L), conceding five goals across the trip.
I don’t think the Reds are looked in defensively, and as a result this game should be wide open, with chances coming thick and fast at both ends of the park.
The Citizen’s look to bounce back from a poor result against the Saints when they play host to the Cherries on Wednesday morning.
This fixture has been pushed back to accomodate the FA Cup final on the weekend between Man City and Crystal Palace.
Scarred by their recent 0-0 draw against the Saints, I can see the Sky Blues playing a expansive end-to-end game against a Bournemouth side unafraid to press high up the pitch.
I’ve have City winning at home, combined with the Overs saluting.
Game Week 37 wraps up on Wednesday morning (AEST) when the Eagles play host to the Wolves.
Crystal Palace have gone four league fixtures without defeat (1W,3D), but will be channeling their focus and energy towards their FA Cup final match against Man City on the weekend.
Unlike City, Palace don’t have the squad depth to bounce back on the short turn around, and I dare say they’ll suffer the effects of a physically and emotionally draining final here.
I’m taking the Wolves on the road.