There are just 10 matches left in the Premier League season. With no Friday or Monday action or FA Cup matches, there’s a full schedule this weekend, including seven games on Saturday.
The two televised slots are filled with the north London derby and Newcastle’s trip to West Ham, leaving us with five 3pm kick-offs. Four of those matches are picked for our weekly non-televised accumulator here.
Manchester United and Manchester City are in action, while there are vital points available in the relegation battle for Burnley, Southampton, Crystal Palace and Cardiff. Below are a few thoughts and football betting tips on this weekend’s games...
AFC BOURNEMOUTH vs MANCHESTER CITY
Bournemouth have slumped recently, losing three of their last four and leaking goals. There’s not much to play for, and it’s showing in their performances.
Arsenal cruised to a 5-1 win against the Cherries in midweek, but they are a different proposition at home and are capable of causing an upset against the reigning champions at the weekend.
Manchester City needed a penalty to beat West Ham at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday after a disappointing display against Chelsea in the League Cup final.
Pep Guardiola’s side lifted the trophy after a shootout win, though, and are still hunting a quadruple. They can go top with a draw on the south coast with Liverpool not playing until Sunday afternoon.
Despite two underwhelming attacking performances from City, backing a high-scoring match is the best option here. Bournemouth’s defence will struggle to contain City.
TIP: Over 3.5 goals @ Evens
PREDICTED SCORE: Bournemouth 1-4 Manchester City (Priced at 12/1 with 888sport)
Burnley vs CRYSTAL PALACE
Burnley’s impressive unbeaten run came to an end with a defeat away to Newcastle in midweek. Sean Dyche’s side are five points clear of the Premier League bottom three, but still need six or seven points to be safe.
Performances have improved of late, with the Clarets looking like their 2017/18 selves. They will be full of confidence, having won four of their last six at home.
A midweek defeat to Manchester United was a setback after a good run for Crystal Palace. Palace were superb last weekend, beating Leicester 4-1 at the King Power Stadium.
Burnley’s defence has not been secure of late – it will be interesting to see how they deal with Palace’s front three.
Palace have a good away record. Turf Moor is a difficult place to visit, but Roy Hodgson’s side will fancy their chances of getting a positive result.
TIP: Crystal Palace to win OR draw @ 4/9
PREDICTED SCORE: Burnley 1-2 Crystal Palace (Priced at 17/2 with 888sport)
MANCHESTER UNITED vs Southampton
Even an injury crisis could not stop Manchester United from beating Crystal Palace in midweek as Romelu Lukaku started and delivered for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Marcus Rashford should return to the team for the visit of Southampton. United are unbeaten in 11 in the league and are full of confidence.
Southampton have been up and down of late. A limp performance against Arsenal was followed with an invaluable victory over Fulham.
Ralph Hasenhuttl has improved them significantly and it would be a surprise to see Saints relegated from this point.
United should win this one fairly comfortably. Southampton will not have an answer for Paul Pogba, who is playing as well as any non-Messi footballer in the world right now.
TIP: Manchester United to win @ 4/9
PREDICTED SCORE: Manchester United 3-0 Southampton (Priced at 9/1 with 888sport)
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS vs Cardiff City
Wolves are on a bad run. Draws with Newcastle and Bournemouth were followed by a barely believable defeat to Huddersfield.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side remain seventh, but that’s only on goal difference and they will be desperate to return to winning ways in this one. Their home record is okay, and they have picked up seven points from their last three Molineux encounters.
Cardiff’s form has flipped of late. A win in their last away match was huge, but the Welsh club have followed that with two home defeats, conceding eight goals in the process.
Neil Warnock’s side are the current favourites to join Fulham and Huddersfield in the Championship next season. They really need a result here, with four matches against the top four remaining.
It’s hard to see past a home win. Cardiff have been thoroughly outplayed in their last two and will struggle to live with Wolves’ quality.
TIP: Wolves to win @ 4/9
PREDICTED SCORE: Wolves 2-0 Cardiff (Priced at 5/1 with 888sport)
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
