Football Betting Tips – 31st March, 1st & 2nd April 2017

After the international break, Premier League and Sky Bet Championship football is back with a bang this weekend. With a number of big games in England’s top two tiers, we’ve got plenty to get through in this preview.

We’ll also be taking a look at the mouth-watering match from Serie A, as leaders Juventus make the trip to Naples to take on Napoli.

As always, we’ve got betting tips, the best prices and more from the pick of the action from this weekend’s fixtures, which includes Saturday’s Merseyside derby clash between Liverpool and Everton!

  • Liverpool v Everton – Draw (31/10 at BetVictor)
  • Southampton v Bournemouth – Southampton to Win 3-1 (12/1 at Bet365)
  • Swansea City v Middlesbrough – Swansea City to Win -1 (14/5 at Coral)
  • Arsenal v Manchester City – Manchester City to Win (11/8 at BetVictor)
  • Derby County v Queens Park Rangers – Draw and Both Teams to Score (4/1 at Betfair)
  • Reading v Leeds United – Reading to Win (8/5 at Betfair)
  • Napoli v Juventus – Juventus to Win (2/1 at Betfred)

Premier League

With just 10 games remaining, Antonio Conte’s Chelsea, who are 10 points clear at the top of the Premier League table, look destined to lift the title. However, the race for a UEFA Champions League spot, as well as the battle for survival is certainly not done and dusted yet. We’ve got several tasty Premier League fixtures to get stuck into, with the Merseyside derby and Arsenal v Manchester City standing out.

Liverpool v Everton – 1st April

The weekend’s top flight action gets underway with a huge Merseyside derby at Anfield, as Ronald Koeman’s in-form Everton face Jurgen Klopp’s unpredictable Liverpool. After a terrific run, the Toffees go into this one just six points behind the Reds in the Premier League table.

Despite a couple of mishaps along the way, Everton have had a fine season under Koeman. Victory on Saturday would take them to within three points of their rivals, it could also take them above Arsenal and Manchester United. Liverpool, meanwhile, will be looking for a win that would put real daylight between themselves and their rivals.

Back in December, an injury-time Sadio Mane strike was the only goal in a tight and tense game between the pair at Goodison Park. We’re predicting another close match this Saturday. The standout bet is the draw, which you can get at the tempting price of 31/10 with BetVictor.

Draw – 31/10 at BetVictor

Southampton v Bournemouth – 1st April

Saturday evening sees an intriguing south coast derby between Southampton and Bournemouth. With the Saints wanting the points to move up the table, whilst the Cherries are also looking to move up after appearing to be pulling clear of the battle for survival, so we should be in for a fascinating derby match at St Mary’s.

Southampton have had an up and down season under Claude Puel, but a strong finish to their Premier League campaign would make it a successful one. As for Eddie Howe’s men, top flight survival was and remains the number one priority for the Cherries. Bournemouth are currently 11th, level on points with Southampton in the table.

They may be level on 33 points, but we believe Southampton will be too strong for their opponents on Saturday. When the pair met at Dean Court, Puel’s troops ran out 3-1 winners back in December, and we like the look of Bet365’s 12/1 for another 3-1 Saints victory in this one.

Southampton to Win 3-1 – 12/1 at Bet365

Swansea City v Middlesbrough – 2nd April

On Sunday, Paul Clement’s Swansea City welcome managerless Middlesbrough to the Liberty Stadium for a vital clash at the foot of the table. Boro, who recently parted company with Aitor Karanka, have dropped to 19th in the Premier League, with the Swans five points above in 17th.

This really is a relegation six-pointer, as Swansea could go eight points above their visitors, or see the gap cut to a mere two points. Both have had a season to forget, but victory on Sunday could hold the key to survival.

Being at home, the South Wales team are the bookies favourites, and with Boro in turmoil, we can’t see anything other than a routine home win. In fact, this could be a stroll for the Swans, so we believe there’s good value in Coral’s 14/5 for the home side to win with a -1 goal handicap.

Swansea City to Win -1 – 14/5 at Coral

Arsenal v Manchester City – 2nd April

One of the standout games of the weekend is the blockbuster affair between Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. Both have somewhat underachieved this season, but both will be aiming for a strong finish to their campaign.

The Gunners have plenty of work to do if they want to keep up the tradition of finishing in the Champions League places. Meanwhile, City, who are 12 points off the top, will be hunting down Tottenham Hotspur in second. When these two met at the Etihad Stadium back in December, the Citizens sealed a narrow 2-1 win.

With so much pressure on Wenger and his underperforming stars, we believe that could play into City’s hands on Sunday. With that said, BetVictor are offering 11/8 for Man City to prevail, a price we believe is worth taking advantage of.

Manchester City to Win – 11/8 at BetVictor

Championship

The race for promotion is gathering pace in the Sky Bet Championship. It looks a two-horse race between Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion for the second tier title, but there’s still plenty to play for in terms of the play-off places. Sheffield Wednesday’s sixth spot looks vulnerable, with Fulham breathing down the Owls’ neck. There’s also an intriguing fight for survival, as the likes of Blackburn Rovers, Burton Albion, Nottingham Forest and Bristol City – among others – are all fighting to avoid the drop.

Derby County v Queens Park Rangers – 31st March

On Friday evening, Gary Rowett’s Derby County host Ian Holloway’s Queens Park Rangers in a Championship match that could be interesting. There’s nothing to play for but pride, but both of these famous clubs will be going all out to seal a win in this one.

Rowett, who guided his new club to an entertaining 2-2 draw with rivals Nottingham Forest in his first match in charge, is getting ready for his first home game as Derby manager. The former Birmingham City boss will be eager to get off to a winning start against QPR on Friday.

However, despite a sticky start, Holloway has done an excellent job steadying Rangers’ sinking ship, as his side have moved up to 15th in the Championship table. We’re predicting goals on Friday, but we’re having a tough time splitting the pair. Therefore, check out at Betfair’s 4/1 for the draw and both teams to score.

Draw and Both Teams to Score – 4/1 at Betfair

Reading v Leeds United – 1st April

The standout clash in the Championship this weekend is the fixture between fifth placed Reading and fourth placed Leeds United, which takes place at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday.

With both having their eyes firmly set on promotion to the Premier League, this is a fixture that neither side will want to lose. The Whites are the team in form, having won four and drawn three of their last seven Championship fixtures. Meanwhile, the Royals go into this one fresh off the back of a stunning 2-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday.

Jaap Stam’s Reading are strong at home – in fact, no side have lost fewer (two) than them on their own patch this season. Because of that, we’re predicting a narrow home victory in this one, which Betfair has priced at 8/5.

Reading to Win – 8/5 at Betfair

Serie A

Juventus are once again top dogs in Italy, having taken a whopping 73 points from 29 games. However, second spot is up for grabs, as Roma and Napoli are only separated by two points. This weekend, Napoli welcome Juve to the Stadio San Paolo for what promises to be an enthralling match.

Napoli v Juventus – 2nd April

Massimiliano Allegri’s Juventus look to be steamrolling towards yet another Serie A title, but there are still a few tests standing in their way yet. On Sunday, the Old Lady make the trip to Naples to take on Maurizio Sarri’s Napoli at the Stadio San Paolo.

Juve sit pretty at the top of Italy’s top table, eight points clear of second placed Roma. Meanwhile, Napoli lie third, 10 points adrift of Sunday’s visitors. Nonetheless, victory for the Light Blues in this one could make things interesting, especially if Roma see off Empoli.

Unfortunately for the Napoli faithful, we can see Allegri’s boys taking a giant leap to the title with a priceless win this weekend. Therefore, we believe Betfred’s generous 2/1 for an away triumph is the way to go in this one.

Juventus to Win – 2/1 at Betfred