The Premier League title race is going down to the wire. Liverpool and Manchester City have produced two of the all-time great Premier League campaigns, which has secured the 2018/19 campaign’s place in English football history.
Manchester City travel to Brighton knowing a win will see them retain the Premier League crown. Liverpool host Wolves needing a victory to take advantage of any potential slip up from Pep Guardiola’s men.
With relegation and top four Champions League positions sorted, all eyes will be on the Amex Stadium and Anfield on Sunday afternoon.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs MANCHESTER CITY
Vincent Kompany’s screamer against Leicester might be the moment Manchester City won the title. It was a strike from another planet from a Manchester City icon and rescued a night when it looked like the Premier League trophy was slipping through City’s fingers.
City have won 13 Premier League matches on the bounce. There has never been a late-season push for the title quite like this.
Pep Guardiola was awarded Manager of the Month earlier this week – his side are 2/13 to make it 14 straight victories in 888sport’s Premier League odds.
Brighton saw Cardiff lose to Crystal Palace last Saturday to guarantee their Premier League status for the 2019/20 campaign.
Chris Hughton’s side played with a sense of freedom away to Arsenal on Sunday as a result, ending the Gunners’ hopes of a top four finish with a spirited defensive performance.
The south coast team can be a challenging opponent at the Amex, but they have lost three of their last four at home.
Few will expect Brighton to upset the odds here, but the 19/4 on the hosts to avoid defeat will undoubtedly get some backing (particularly from Merseyside).
Manchester City, for all the admiration of their possession-based football, have been rock-solid at the back in the latter part of this season.
They have conceded a solitary goal in their last six away Premier League matches, putting Brighton at 22/25 to fail to score on Sunday afternoon. Pace is the biggest threat to City, which is not something Brighton have an abundance of.
Despite being nullified by Leicester on Monday, Sergio Aguero is 11/20 to score anytime. The Argentinian has 20 Premier League goals this season and could yet snatch the Golden Boot from Mohamed Salah’s grasp.
Aguero is no stranger to final day drama – he’s 4/1 to win the Premier League Golden Boot for the second time in his decorated Manchester City career.
It felt like Leicester were Liverpool’s final chance. Brighton will make it difficult, but their recent home form and the fact they have nothing to play for makes it hard to see past a comfortable away victory.
Once they take the lead, this could become a party match for City. The Evens price on City to win on the -2 handicap is one of the best bets ahead of the final day of the Premier League season.
TIP: Manchester City to win by three or more (Evens with 888sport)
PREDICTED SCORE: Brighton 0-3 Manchester City (13/2 with 888sport)
LIVERPOOL vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
On Monday night, Liverpool looked set for a cruel end to the campaign. Despite a record-breaking points haul, second place is probable, and they were staring down the barrel of Champions League elimination.
Then, Anfield witnessed one of the all-time great European comebacks as braces from Divock Origi and Georginio Wijnaldum knocked Barcelona out of the Champions League.
Liverpool are 6/1 to win the title, but Tuesday night’s thriller will have some believing it really is their year.
Kompany’s goal was a heartbreaker for the red half of Merseyside when former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers looked like he was about to change the course of the title race, but Origi, Wijnaldum and co. altered the whole feeling around the club on Tuesday.
Liverpool have won all but two of their home Premier League matches this season. The 8/25 price on a home victory is decent value despite Wolves’ success away to top six sides this term.
Nuno Espirito Santo joined Jurgen Klopp on the Premier League Manager of the Season shortlist on Tuesday. Santo has worked wonders with Wolves, and a run of three straight victories has helped the Midlands club confirm seventh spot.
The combination of an organised defence, gifted midfielders and clinical finishing has seen Wolves upset the odds on several occasions this season. The 5/2 on the visitors to avoid defeat will attract plenty of interest.
Wolves last away match saw a crucial 2-1 win against Watford. In Diogo Jota and Raul Jimenez, they pose a threat on the counter-attack and will fancy their chances of scoring at Anfield on Sunday.
Jimenez has arguably been the signing of the season – the Mexican is 17/5 to score anytime and a very good price at 10/1 to open the scoring.
Roberto Firmino and Salah missed out on the victory against Barcelona, and it remains to be seen if they return for the visit of Wolves.
Sadio Mane is in the form of his life right now, however, and was a constant problem for Barcelona. The former Southampton man is 3/1 to score the first goal.
Barring a five-day hangover from Tuesday’s win, Liverpool are the team to back in this one. Avoiding slip ups in matches like these is what has kept Liverpool and Manchester City so far ahead of the rest. The 2/1 on Liverpool to win and both teams to score is the best option.
TIP: Liverpool to win and both teams to score (2/1 with 888sport)
PREDICTED SCORE: Liverpool 3-1 Wolves (13/2 with 888sport)
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
