The penultimate weekend of the Premier League begins with seven matches on Saturday and it is a day where the champions Leicester will get the trophy in a historic day for the club.
It isn’t just the champions under the microscope on Saturday. All three sides fighting to avoid the drop are in action while the two sides still pushing for Champions League football next season also feature.
Early kick off
The lunchtime game is a big game for both Norwich and Man Utd. United need to win if they are to have a realistic chance of being in the Champions League again next season while Norwich have to win to maintain a genuine chance of staying up so the stakes are high.
United go into the match as the odds on favourites and while I expect them to win I’m not sure I can be taking them at that price. Norwich look a big price on paper but they’ve fallen out of form at just the wrong time.
Time will tell whether they have another big effort in them but I can’t really be betting on them in the hope they do. With United being too short I’ll move to the later games.
3pm matches
There are five matches that begin in the traditional slot and all eyes will be on Newcastle to see if they can convert what looks to be a penalty kick when they head to Villa Park to take on a rancid Villa side.
You would think they will come through that but at 4/6 they certainly aren’t a betting proposition with all the pressure that is on them to win. We saw last week how they had to go through the mill to secure three points and it could be similar today. I can’t be backing sides at 4/6 in that situation.
Bournemouth host West Brom in a match between two sides who look like their seasons are done and they are enjoying themselves having secured their goals in the campaign. That is an easy swerve.
Crystal Palace host Stoke in another match I can’t find an interest in. You would think Palace eyes are on two weeks time while Stoke seem to have packed up for the season so that one can play itself out.
The bigger matches in this kick off band come at the Stadium of Light and Upton Park. Sunderland have to beat Chelsea to keep their quest for survival realistic while West Ham need to see off Swansea in order for their hopes of European football next season to remain in tact.
Sunderland are probably shorter than they should be due to Chelsea having little to play for and that isn’t ideal while West Ham are very short considering they miss some players so I don’t see too much in the way of betting potential there.
Late game
The action ends at the King Power where there will be the mother of all parties going on as Leicester are crowned champions of the Premier League in what is an amazing story. Everton will aim to play the role of the party spoilers, if this party can be spoiled that is.
Usually given Everton’s position in the table I would say this is a nothing game for them but Roberto Martinez is under enough pressure now that he can’t afford for his side to take their foot off the gas and if they are on it they have the potential to make this a tricky afternoon for the champions.
Leicester will be without Danny Drinkwater and Robert Huth who are both suspended so that is clearly a blow and Everton have the personnel to take advantage of that. Whether the home side really care about the result remains to be seen but Everton’s away record this season merits enough respect to suggest they can get a result of some kind out of this one.
Tips
Back Everton (+0.5AH) to beat Leicester for a 4/10 stake at 1.98 with 188bet
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