I have said this for about a month now. It's not the hottest take by any means, but it's a take I stand by. I believe that Spurs will be relegated, and will spend next season in Championship play. For this prediction to come true, I need Spurs to continue to do what they're doing , and that's lose games. It's not even entirely their fault. Spurs injury list is a CVS receipt at this point, and before the red card, Palace looked good against a strong United side. It'll be close, but Palace should get all three points.
Shoutout the the team working behind the scenes for getting a "Draw No Bet" line available for matches moving forward! This is the primetime example of a bet I want to take DNB on. We have a Newcastle club who is good at home, but struggling in recent form, taking on a United side who can struggle on the road, but is in fantastic form. I think United win this outright, but to get -105 with a safety net of a push is wonderful. United is third on the table, and are pushing to maintain a UCL spot. I don't see this strong side dropping all three points.
I know you all will get tired of me saying this, but I'll continue to say it every matchday. Arsenal Still. Cannot. Afford. To. Drop. Points. They are five points ahead of Manchester City, but the Citizens have a game in hand, meaning more realistically they are just two points ahead. Arsenal are finding good form right now, and can't slow down against a sloppy Brighton side. This should be an easy three points even on the road.
I want to start off very candidly and say this. If the line on this match was set to over/under 3.5 goals, I still would have taken the over. I'm expecting absolute fireworks at Craven Cottage even though this is a midweek fixture. We are on the precipice (big word) of seeing a massive club being relegated this season. It could be West Ham, it could be Tottenham, and it could be decided by how West Ham play their next few matches. They have to press. They have to score goals. They can't sit back for draws. This match is going to get ugly, with goals galore.
I don't know why the books do this. Frankly, I don't care what the reasoning is, because for us, it's just good value every week. The books hate giving credit for the success Fulham this season. This team is 9th on the table coming off big back to back wins, playing a West Ham side who is flopping around the relegation zone, and we're once again getting Fulham at plus numbers. We cashed on them twice against Fulham, no reason to change things up for once again, a good attacking host.
Manchester City won 1-0 against a strong Leeds team in the last matchday, but if they were a bit more clinical in front of goal, they should have had three or four goals. This side is on the prowl right now with a game in hand fighting to catch up to Arsenal. Both clubs are in a position where they have to keep winning, and one slip could be the difference between winning or losing the title. Nottingham Forest are going to fight hard here, fearing relegation, but I have City winning this by at least two goals, maybe more.
Burnley is feeling the terrifying breath of relegation breathing down their necks after losing once again to Brentford in brutal fashion. Burnley were able to score three goals at home in their last matchday, and still lost. Sitting 19th on the table, only ahead of Wolves, and eight points outside of relegation safety, they're in some serious trouble. They can't afford to let Everton freeze another game and sit back. They'll have to press to break, but to do will open them out to the counter attack. Looking at another ugly over for Burnley.
There's a whole lot of reasons I like goals in this game. You can check out my full article for this match on the SportsLine website, but the main point is this. Arsenal, if they want to win the league, can't afford to keep dropping points. They are now only two points ahead of Manchester City after dropping some easy points in the last month. The team seems to understand the pressure on their shoulders and are responding. Their attackers are finally starting to score again and beating Tottenham should have returned some confidence. I think Arsenal score 3+ here.
Let's start with the easy statistics. Fulham have now hit over 2.5 goals in their last six matches. They've also hit over 2.5 goals in nine of their last ten matches. Their matches have been so exciting because they have the perfect combination of a fantastic attack, finding goals against pretty much everyone besides Manchester City, and a poor defense that is leaking goals. Spurs are falling apart right now and will go all out for goals. I'm expecting goals from both ends of the pitch, and love the over.
Manchester United are the better side and are playing at home. While Crystal Palace have found a little bit of success in recent weeks, it hasn't been against strong opponents, and the exhaustion of a travel schedule will hurt them here. This team had to play three matches in the last nine days, which included playing against Zrinjski twice. They barely beat Wolves, drew Zrinjski on the road, and lost to Burnley all in February. This should be a routine win for the Red Devils.
Leeds have continued to do a fantastic job this season at being a nuisance to some of the top clubs in England. When they played Manchester City earlier this season, they gave them a serious run for their money and only barely lost 2-3 on the road. Now, this team that has done a fantastic job at home this season, has the chance to get points once again of a Manchester City team who is struggling defensively. I'm taking the over here, because I believe both teams not only score, but both teams might score more than once in this fixture.
Sunderland were everyone's favorite newly promoted side to start this season off, and hit incredibly above their weight class for the first two thirds of the season. This team that most people favored to be relegated, covered their team point line halfway through the season. As impressive as they have been, it looks like teams are finally figuring out how to beat them. Sunderland have lost their last three EPL matches, and without captain Granite Xhaka, this team just isn't the same.
Aston Villa have been struggling in recent weeks. the club that is third on the table has only won a single match in their last five, and have dropped points against teams like Leeds, Bournemouth and Brentford. While the team has been having a rough go of it, they won't get a better chance to return to their winning ways than by playing Wolves. Wolves still only have a single win over their 28 game season, and if Aston Villa wants to keep their UCL chances alive, expect them to grab all three points.
Liverpool started off the season slow, but are now sixth on the table, and have a real possibility of getting back into a Champions League spot if they continue the form they are in. I believe Liverpool score multiple goals with players like Hugo Ekitike, and Nottingham Forest won't win the to nil, so they'll have to press. I don't know why this is playable at 2.5 goals.
I know that Liverpool lost to City earlier this month, but one lost to a strong City club doesn't negate the good work this team is doing as they've moved back to sixth on the table. We're getting a soft line on this because Nottingham are normally good at home, and because they are desperate for points to avoid relegation. That doesn't matter to me. I have Liverpool not only winning this, but winning by multiple goals.
