Weekend Football Betting Tips – 12th, 13th & 14th May 2017

Antonio Conte’s Chelsea need just one more victory to claim the Premier League title. The Blues travel to West Bromwich Albion on Friday evening looking to get the job done. Despite a valiant effort, it looks as though Tottenham Hotspur are going to come up short once again.

This weekend also marks the start of the Sky Bet Championship play-offs. On Saturday, Fulham entertain Reading at Craven Cottage. The following day, Sheffield Wednesday make the short trip to the John Smith’s Stadium to face off against Huddersfield Town.

We’ll be previewing both play-off semi-final first legs, as well as six big games from the Premier League.

  • West Bromwich Albion v Chelsea – Chelsea to Win -1 (Evens at BetVictor)
  • Manchester City v Leicester City – Manchester City to Win to Nil (11/8 at BetVictor)
  • Stoke City v Arsenal – Draw (16/5 at Sky Bet)
  • Crystal Palace v Hull City – Hull City to Win (3/1 at BetVictor)
  • West Ham United v Liverpool – Liverpool to Win and Both Teams to Score (12/5 at Betfred)
  • Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United – Tottenham Hotspur to Win 2-1 (8/1 at Bet365)
  • Fulham v Reading – Draw and Both Teams to Score (17/4 at BetVictor)
  • Huddersfield Town v Sheffield Wednesday – Sheffield Wednesday to Win (11/5 at Sky Bet)

Premier League

After easing past Middlesbrough on Monday night, Chelsea can taste the Premier League champions’ champagne. One more win from their last three games will seal the deal. There’s still a fascinating battle for a top four spot, with Manchester City capitalising last week on dropped points by Liverpool and Manchester United. Meanwhile, it’s advantage Swansea City in the battle for survival, as they beat Everton last weekend, whilst Hull City lost at home to already relegated Sunderland.

West Bromwich Albion v Chelsea – 12th May

We start with Friday night’s match between Tony Pulis’ West Bromwich Albion and Antonio Conte’s Chelsea at the Hawthorns. The Blues will be fully aware that three points will be enough for them to claim a fifth Premier League title.

Despite losing their last three at the Hawthorns, Albion have had a pretty decent season on home soil. The Baggies have won nine of their 18 league fixtures on their own patch. Meanwhile, Chelsea have the best away record in the league, having taken an outstanding 39 points from a possible 54.

We’re backing Conte’s boys to get the Premier League title all sewn up in style on Friday. The standout bet is the away side to win -1, which you can get at evens with BetVictor.

Chelsea to Win -1 – Evens at BetVictor

Manchester City v Leicester City – 13th May

Saturday’s early kick off comes from the Etihad Stadium, as Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City host Craig Shakespeare’s Leicester City. Man City, who are in pole position to claim a top four spot, will be looking for their first win over the Foxes in four attempts.

It’s been a real testing first season for Pep in England, but securing a UEFA Champions League spot is a must for the Spanish boss. As for the Premier League champions, after being in the drop zone in February, Shakespeare has guided the Foxes to the top half.

In the last two fixtures between the pair, Leicester have been far too good for the Citizens. However, we’re predicting things to be a little different on Saturday. Man City to win to nil, which is available at 11/8 (BetVictor), caught our eye in this one.

Manchester City to Win to Nil – 11/8 at BetVictor

Stoke City v Arsenal – 13th May

Whenever Arsenal travel to Stoke City, Arsene Wenger’s men know they will be in for a game. This Saturday evening, Mark Hughes’ men welcome the Gunners to the Bet365 Stadium.

Arsenal, who beat Manchester United last Sunday, still have slim aspirations of reaching the top four. The Gunners are six points adrift of Man City, although they do have a game in hand, which comes against Southampton at St Mary’s on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Stoke have a battle for a top half finish, as they lie in 13th place.

Arsenal seem to always struggle at the home of the Potters. In fact, they have not won there since February 2010. Because of that, we feel there’s value in Sky Bet’s 16/5 for the draw.

Draw – 16/5 at Sky Bet

Crystal Palace v Hull City – 14th May

On Sunday, Marco Silva’s Hull City will be desperate for maximum points when they make the trip to Selhurst Park to play Sam Allardyce’s Crystal Palace. The Eagles, who have lost their last three, are certainly there for the taking for the Tigers.

After losing at home to Sunderland last weekend, Hull have put themselves in real trouble. To make matters worse, Swansea City sealed an excellent 1-0 win over Everton at the Liberty Stadium. Meanwhile, Palace still have work to do, as defeat on Sunday will see Hull close the gap to a single point.

After the disappointment of last week, Hull must now do it the hard way. Still, Silva has proven he’s more than capable of inspiring his side to big results, and we fancy his Hull side to pick one of those up on Sunday. BetVictor are offering 3/1 for a vital away triumph.

Hull City to Win – 3/1 at BetVictor

West Ham United v Liverpool – 14th May

Liverpool make their first trip to the London Stadium this Sunday to face a West Ham United side who are fresh off the back of beating rivals Tottenham Hotspur. The Reds still have work to do to make a Champions League spot their own.

Despite dropping points at home to Southampton last Sunday, Man Utd’s loss at Arsenal means a top four place is still in Liverpool’s hands. Two more wins from their final two fixtures will see the Merseyside outfit back in Europe’s elite competition. As for West Ham, they are safe for another season in the Premier League.

With that said, Liverpool need the points more than their hosts on Sunday. Therefore, we like the look of the away victory and both teams to score, which is priced at 12/5 with Betfred.

Liverpool to Win and Both Teams to Score – 12/5 at Betfred

Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United – 14th May

The standout fixture of the weekend comes from White Hart Lane, as Tottenham Hotspur entertain Manchester United on Sunday afternoon. United won’t give up on a Champions League place until it’s mathematically impossible, despite what Jose Mourinho may say. As for Spurs, the title may be decided by the time they kick off on Sunday, but that won’t change the fact they will want to say goodbye to the Lane with a win.

Regardless of what happens between West Brom and Chelsea on Friday, it’s been another remarkable season for Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs. For the second season in a row, the Lilywhites have had a real go at the Premier League title.

After losing at Arsenal last Sunday, the Red Devils’ best chance for a Champions League spot is now winning the UEFA Europa League. Tottenham, meanwhile, already have one of the four CL places. We’re backing Spurs to sign off in style, with Bet365’s 8/1 for the hosts to win 2-1 looking a tasty bet.

Tottenham Hotspur to Win 2-1 – 8/1 at Bet365

Championship Play-offs

The Sky Bet Championship play-offs are here, and we have two mouth-watering semi-finals to look forward to. Fulham, who are without doubt the in-form side going into the end of season lottery, host Reading on Saturday. The other semi between Huddersfield Town and Sheffield Wednesday is a Yorkshire derby and also set to be a blockbuster affair. Before a ball has been kicked, the in-form Cottagers are the favourites to land the last spot in the Premier League. However, there’s plenty of football to be played first and all four clubs will fancy their chances.

Fulham v Reading – 13th May

Jaap Stam takes his Reading side to Craven Cottage on Saturday to face Slavisa Jokanovic’s Fulham for a Championship play-off semi-final first leg. Despite finishing third, the Royals head into this one as second favourites.

In the regular league fixture at the Cottage, Fulham thumped Reading 5-0. A couple of months later, though, the Royals won the reverse game 1-0 at the Madejski. To be honest, form usually goes out of the window in these type of games, but both sides head into the play-offs in good shape.

We’re predicting a tight and tense affair to unfold on Saturday, with neither side wanting to fall behind. Because of that, we believe backing the draw and both teams to score (17/4 at BetVictor) is the way to go in this one.

Draw and Both Teams to Score – 17/4 at BetVictor

Huddersfield Town v Sheffield Wednesday – 14th May

The second semi takes place at the John Smith’s Stadium on Sunday, as Huddersfield Town and Sheffield Wednesday square off in a tasty West v South Yorkshire derby. The Terriers are the slight favourites, but there’s not a lot in it.

The Owls won both league meetings between the two this term. After winning 1-0 at the John Smith’s Stadium in October, Wednesday followed that up with a 2-0 win at Hillsborough in January. Town have not beaten Sheffield Wednesday since a 2-1 away win back in November 2013.

Like the other semi, we can see this one being tight and cagey. However, Huddersfield have had a poor record on their own patch in recent weeks, which could give Carlos Carvalhal’s men the edge. We think Wednesday will nick this one, with Sky Bet’s 11/5 for an away win worth having a punt on given the superior form of the visitors right now.

Sheffield Wednesday to Win – 11/5 at Sky Bet