With only 12 games left, there’s still a lot to play for in the Premier League. Chelsea may still be 10 points clear at the top, but the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City won’t be shrugged off easily. In short: it’s not over yet!
The race for the title, play-offs and survival is also set to be fascinating battle in the Sky Bet Championship. With Brighton & Hove Albion and Newcastle United squaring off on Tuesday, it will be interesting to see what sort of impact that result has on the table before this weekend’s fixtures.
With things heating up in the race for the title in Serie A, we’ll be previewing Roma’s big clash with Napoli, as well as Juventus’ trip to Udinese.
- Manchester United v Bournemouth – Manchester United to Win -1 (3/4 at Coral)
- Liverpool v Arsenal – Draw and Both Teams to Score (18/5 at BetVictor)
- Tottenham Hotspur v Everton – Draw (3/1 at Betfred)
- Sunderland v Manchester City – Manchester City to Win to Nil (11/8 at BetVictor)
- Birmingham City v Leeds United – Leeds United to Win (11/8 at Bet365)
- Huddersfield Town v Newcastle United – Huddersfield Town to Win (19/10 at Betfred)
- Roma v Napoli – Both Teams to Score (8/15 at Coral)
- Udinese v Juventus – Juventus to Win -2 (17/4 at BetVictor)
Premier League
Although Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United did not feature in the Premier League last weekend, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur made no mistake of pulling even further away from their rivals. Chelsea beat Swansea City 3-1 at Stamford Bridge, whilst Spurs put four past sorry Stoke City without reply at White Hart Lane. This weekend, Tottenham host Everton, whilst the Blues travel to West Ham United on Monday.
Manchester United v Bournemouth – 4th March
We begin with the Premier League’s early kick off, as Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United welcome Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth to Old Trafford on Saturday. United, who are fresh off the back of winning the EFL Cup, will back themselves to put another three points on the board in this one.
Meanwhile, the Cherries, who have lost their last four Premier League matches on the bounce, are looking dangerously over their shoulders as the prospect of dropping into the relegation zone looms large. Since the turn of the year, Howe’s troops have taken just two points from a possible 21. In contrast, United are unbeaten in the league since October.
The Red Devils go into this clash in fine fettle, and should have enough within their locker to see Bournemouth off with ease on Saturday. We like the look of Coral’s top price of 3/4 for the home team to win -1.
Manchester United to Win -1 – 3/4 at Coral
Liverpool v Arsenal – 4th March
The game of the weekend comes from Anfield, as Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool host Arsenal on Saturday evening. With both teams battling for a top four spot, we should be in for a cracking contest between these two English heavyweights.
Despite winning only one of their last seven Premier League matches, the Reds head into this match as the bookies’ favourites. However, as always in fixtures between these two, this one could go either way. Arsenal are also in patchy form, having lost three of their last five in all competitions.
There’s not an awful lot to split these, in terms of the table and quality. Because of that, we believe backing the draw will be your safest option. However, we can also see both finding the back of the net at Anfield. The draw and both teams to score is available at 18/5 with BetVictor.
Draw and Both Teams to Score – 18/5 at BetVictor
Tottenham Hotspur v Everton – 5th March
Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur and Ronald Koeman’s Everton meet at White Hart Lane on Sunday for a tasty looking Premier League fixture. The Toffees may head to London in decent shape, but Spurs have looked unstoppable on home soil of late.
After losing to Liverpool and being dumped out of the UEFA Europa League, Tottenham hit back on Sunday with an excellent 4-0 win over Stoke. As for the Toffees, they are unbeaten in the league in 2017, winning five and drawing two of their seven top flight matches.
Spurs have yet to be beaten at home, but Everton have not lost on the road in the league since mid-December. Therefore, we fancy this one to end all square at the Lane, with Betfred offering the draw at the tempting price of 3/1.
Draw – 3/1 at Betfred
Sunderland v Manchester City – 5th March
When you are bottom of the league, the last team you want to face are an in-form Manchester City. However, that’s exactly who David Moyes and his struggling Sunderland go up against at the Stadium of Light on Sunday. As expected, Man City are the overwhelming favourites to claim the three points.
After falling to their fourth Premier League defeat in six matches at the weekend, the Black Cats remain at the foot of the table. City did not play, but Liverpool’s defeat at Leicester City meant the Citizens held onto third position. When these two met on the opening day of the season, Pep Guardiola won his first competitive match as City boss by a narrow 2-1 scoreline.
The Citizens have won the last six meetings between these two, and we can see them making it seven out of seven on Sunday. The standout bet in this fixture is for the away side to win to nil, which is available at 11/8 with BetVictor.
Manchester City to Win to Nil – 11/8 at BetVictor
Championship
Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion have spent the majority of the season trading places at the top of the Sky Bet Championship table. Last weekend, Brighton beat Reading 3-0 to return to the summit. Newcastle, meanwhile, could only manage a 2-2 home draw with lowly Bristol City, although they did come back from two goals down. The top two go head-to-head at the Amex Stadium on Tuesday. We’ll be focussing on the weekend’s match between Birmingham City and Leeds United, and Huddersfield Town’s home game with the Magpies.
Birmingham City v Leeds United – 3rd March
On Friday night, Gianfranco Zola’s Birmingham City welcome Garry Monk’s Leeds United to St Andrews for a tasty looking Championship clash. Despite their contrasting positions in the table, both will be looking for the points in this one.
Although it’s been a disastrous start for Zola at Birmingham, he will be hoping last weekend’s 2-1 win at Molineux will give them a boost going into the latter stages of the campaign. As for Leeds, seven points from a possible nine has put them right back on track in the promotion race.
Even though they are away from home, we believe United will leave the Midlands with all three points on Friday. Bet365 have the away win priced at decent odds of 11/8.
Leeds United to Win – 11/8 at Bet365
Huddersfield Town v Newcastle United – 4th March
With Huddersfield Town to come at the weekend after playing Brighton & Hove Albion on Tuesday (both away from home), this could be a pivotal week in Newcastle United’s season. Two positive results will set them up nicely for the run in, but two defeats could be catastrophic.
Unfortunately for the Magpies, they are coming up against the league’s in-form side in Huddersfield. David Wagner’s men have been outstanding over the past few months, winning 13 of 17 games in all competitions. They also earned a 2-1 win at St James’ Park back in August.
The way Rafael Benitez’s men approach this will have a lot to do with how they get on in midweek. Nevertheless, the Terriers have the second-best home record in the league, and we fancy them to continue their excellent run with another victory in this one. Betfred are offering 19/10 for a home triumph.
Huddersfield Town to Win – 19/10 at Betfred
Serie A
Juventus sit pretty at the top of the Serie A table, but Roma are not too far away, and look ready to pounce on any Juve slip ups. On Saturday, second placed Roma welcome third placed Napoli to the Stadio Olimpico. Whereas, the Old Lady face a tough trip to the Dacia Arena to take on Luigi Delneri’s Udinese.
Roma v Napoli – 4th March
The standout fixture in Serie A this weekend is Saturday’s clash between Roma and Napoli. With only five points separating these two Italian giants in the table, this could go either way. Being at home and second in the league, Luciano Spalletti’s men are the bookies’ favourites, though.
However, Maurizio Sarri’s Light Blues have the best away record in the league, having taken 24 points from 12 matches. And after losing at home to Atalanta last time out, the team from Naples will be eager to get back to winning ways this weekend.
We’re having a tough tome splitting these two, but we can foresee goals. Whenever the pair cross the white line, they usually find the net. Because of that, we believe it’s worth taking advantage of Coral’s 8/15 for both teams to score in this one.
Both Teams to Score – 8/15 at Coral
Udinese v Juventus – 5th March
With Massimiliano Allegri’s Juventus currently seven points clear at the summit, they will be looking to add another three points to their tally when they travel to Udine to take on Luigi Delneri’s Udinese this Sunday.
Despite one or two mishaps, Juve look destined to pick up yet another Serie A title. They head to the Dacia Arena in superb form, having won their last eight successive matches in all competitions. The Old Lady have only lost four games in the league so far, all away from home, winning the other 22.
Udinese, who sit 14th, have only won five of their 13 home matches this term. Unfortunately for Delneri and co. we can’t see anything other than a routine away victory for the Italian champions. BetVictor are offering 17/4 for Allegri’s boys to win -2, a price we feel is worth having a punt on.
Juventus to Win -2 – 17/4 at BetVictor