A huge weekend in the Premier League begins on Saturday when half of the division are in action on a day which could be massive at both ends of the table as we head towards the final quarter of the top flight campaign.
There might only be five matches on the card on Saturday but we do have the usual schedule of a TV game to start proceedings and another to round everything up. In between those there are three matches where updates will come along in the usual places.
Early Kick Off
We begin the Premier League weekend at Old Trafford where Manchester United will go in search of a win which will silence some of the critics for a week or so when they entertain an Everton side whose need for the three points is far greater long-term than that of their hosts. Everton are just five points above the drop and a win here will give them some comfort ahead of a possible points deduction to come but they could be bang in trouble should they lose so this looks a decent starter to the afternoon.
3pm Matches
There are three matches in the traditional 3pm with five of the six teams in action sitting in the bottom half of the table. The anomaly to that are Wolverhampton Wanderers and they welcome Fulham to Molineux. All eyes will be on the home side here given that they have what is probably a much more important match for them in the FA Cup quarter final next weekend. Fulham will hope that offers up a chance for them to pick up three points on the road.
The other two matches will have a significant impact on the bottom end of the table as AFC Bournemouth can pretty much ensure they will be a Premier League side next term when they welcome an abject Sheffield United who will be looking to respond to that battering they took at the hands of Arsenal on Monday night. The other match comes from Selhurst Park where Crystal Palace will look to ease the threat of relegation when they host a Luton Town side who are a win away from making things very interesting at the bottom of the table.
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Late Game
The last match of the day comes from the Emirates Stadium where Arsenal will be looking to move to the top of the table ahead of the huge clash on Sunday when they host a Brentford side who need some points sometime soon else the bottom three could really close in on them. An Arsenal win would move them to the top of the table where they would stay until after the international break should the big match on Sunday be a draw. Brentford could be just three points from the drop were Luton to win earlier in the day so this is another one where both teams want the win.
Betting
I’m not usually one to bet on the early kick off but I just can’t ignore Manchester United at 17/20. In an ideal world United would have Rasmus Hojlund fit for this fixture but that doesn’t sound like it is going to happen but even in his absence they led the probable champions of the country for the best part of 45 minutes last week and I don’t think things are as bad at Old Trafford as they are being made out to be. I do think things are worse for Everton than people make out. I think they’re a poor side. They have hardly anything from open play in an attacking sense and if United can make sure they don’t give too many stupid free kicks away I think the pace and quality they have in the forward areas will get the job done here. United went to Goodison Park earlier in the season in a weekend where it was expected to be ferocious because of the point deduction the Toffees suffered and they won easily. I expect a similar outcome here too.
The other bet that I like is for both teams to score in the match between Crystal Palace and Luton Town at Selhurst Park. Given that Luton have scored in their last 14 matches in the Premier League and 16 against teams in the Premier League if you include their FA Cup exploits against Everton and Manchester City, you could argue that this bet is 4/5 on Crystal Palace to score. I think that happens because Luton are heavily hampered injuries defensively and have lost Amari’i Bell now to go with the absences of Mads Andersen and Tom Lockyer. I don’t think Palace are the best side in the world but with Eberechi Eze pulling their strings you would expect them to have a goal in them. I expect plenty of goals in this game and one to go in each net before the full time whistle blows.
Tips
Back Manchester United to beat Everton for a 3/10 stake at 1.85 with William Hill
Back them here:
Back Crystal Palace vs Luton Town – Both teams to score for a 3/10 stake at 1.80 with Bet365
