We have several great fixtures to look forward to in an action-packed weekend in the Premier League, Emirates FA Cup and EFL Championship. We will be previewing Liverpool’s match with Watford in the Premier League, as well as all four FA Cup quarter final ties.
Things are starting to heat up in the race for the Championship title, hunt for the play-offs and the battle for survival in the second tier. This weekend, Fulham host Queens Park Rangers, Aston Villa make the trip to Bolton Wanderers, and Derby County square off against Cardiff City.
- Liverpool v Watford – Liverpool to Win Both Halves (13/10 at Betfair)
- Swansea City v Tottenham Hotspur – Tottenham Hotspur Win & BTTS (13/5 at Betfred)
- Manchester United v Brighton & Hove Albion – Manchester United to Win to Nil (19/20 at Coral)
- Wigan Athletic v Southampton – Wigan Athletic to Win 1-0 (17/2 at BetVictor)
- Leicester City v Chelsea – Chelsea Win (23/20 at Bet365)
- Fulham v Queens Park Rangers – Fulham to Win -1 (6/4 at Coral)
- Bolton Wanderers v Aston Villa – Aston Villa HT/FT (19/10 at BetVictor)
- Derby County v Cardiff City – Draw (23/10 at BetVictor)
Premier League
With FA Cup action taking place, there are only four Premier League games this weekend. Nevertheless, there are some tasty matches involving clubs in and around the bottom as West Bromwich Albion travel to Bournemouth, Huddersfield Town host Crystal Palace, and Stoke City welcome Everton. The late game on Saturday comes from Anfield as Liverpool entertain Watford on Merseyside.
Liverpool v Watford – 17th March
After losing at rivals Manchester United last weekend, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool will want to return to winning ways when they welcome Javier Gracia’s Watford to Anfield on Saturday.
Despite dominating possession at Old Trafford, the Reds failed to recover from Marcus Rashford’s first-half brace, eventually losing 2-1 at the home of the Red Devils. As for the Hornets, they crashed to a heavy 3-0 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium last Sunday.
Only Liverpool and champions elect Manchester City are unbeaten at home in the Premier League this term. The Merseyside outfit should have no problems in this one, so back the home team to win both halves at 13/10 with Betfair.
Liverpool to Win Both Halves – 13/10 at Betfair
FA Cup
There are just eight teams left battling it out for FA Cup glory. Seven of the eight are Premier League clubs, but Wigan Athletic are still flying the flag for EFL League One. The FA Cup weekend gets underway from South Wales as Swansea City host Tottenham Hotspur. Saving the best for last, Leicester City welcome Chelsea to the King Power Stadium for the standout tie of the round on Sunday afternoon.
Swansea City v Tottenham Hotspur – 17th March
After falling at the semi-final stage last season, Tottenham will want another crack at trying to reach the final, although they must navigate past Carlos Carvalhal’s Swansea at the Liberty Stadium in the quarter-final first.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men may have been knocked out of the UEFA Champions League recently, but Spurs will fancy their chances in the FA Cup, as well as reaching the Premier League’s top four. The Swans have bigger fish to fry as they aim to stay in the top flight, but the FA Cup is a nice distraction for the Welsh side.
We could be in for an entertaining game in South Wales, but we fancy the Lilywhites to nick it. Check out Betfred’s 13/5 for Tottenham to win and both teams to score at the Liberty.
Tottenham Hotspur Win & BTTS – 13/5 at Betfred
Manchester United v Brighton & Hove Albion – 17th March
Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United host Chris Hughton’s Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford in the last eight of the FA Cup on Saturday night. United are the strong favourites to progress to the last four.
The Red Devils, who have won this trophy on 12 occasions, are the outright favourites to lift the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium in May. Brighton will no doubt have a good go at Old Trafford, but Mourinho’s men should have too much quality for the Seagulls to handle in Manchester.
When these two went head-to-head in the Premier League back in November, a Lewis Dunk own goal gave United a 1-0 win. Putting some money on Coral’s 19/20 for Man United to win to nil again could well pay off.
Manchester United to Win to Nil – 19/20 at Coral
Wigan Athletic v Southampton – 18th March
Paul Cook’s Wigan, who currently sit third in League One, welcome managerless Southampton to the DW Stadium this Saturday. With the Saints in a bad place at the moment, the Latics will back themselves to cause another FA Cup upset this Sunday.
Will Grigg’s goal was enough to seal a memorable 1-0 win over the mighty Man City in the previous round. Wigan have been excellent in this competition in recent years, can they reach the last four in 2018?
Out-of-sorts Southampton are certainly there for the taking for Wigan, and we’re backing Cook’s boys to seal a narrow win this Sunday. BetVictor are offering the big price of 17/2 for the hosts to win 1-0.
Wigan Athletic to Win 1-0 – 17/2 at BetVictor
Leicester City v Chelsea – 18th March
The final FA Cup quarter-final fixture is the all-Premier League tie between Leicester and Chelsea at the King Power Stadium. The bookies are having a very tough time splitting these two in this one.
After being beaten by Arsenal in the final last year, Antonio Conte has unfinished business with the FA Cup. The Foxes, meanwhile, have enjoyed an excellent campaign under Claude Puel and will want to go as far as possibly in this season’s FA Cup.
This promises to be a cracking match, but Chelsea should just edge it. The away win is available at decent odds of 23/20 with Bet365.
Chelsea Win – 23/20 at Bet365
Championship
There are not many games left in this gruelling Championship season and we have another exciting second-tier fixture list to get stuck into this weekend. High-flying Fulham get this round of Championship matches underway with a mouth-watering London derby with QPR. Later in the day, Aston Villa make the trip to Bolton, while Cardiff travel to Derby on Sunday.
Fulham v Queens Park Rangers – 17th March
A run of 12 wins and three draws from their last 15 games has fired Fulham into promotion contention. Slavisa Jokanovic’s side will be looking for their fifth win on the bounce when they entertain rivals QPR at Craven Cottage on Saturday.
Since falling to a shock 1-0 defeat at the Stadium of Light in December, the Cottagers have been the in-form side in the Championship. As for Ian Holloway’s QPR, they have spent the majority of their season in the bottom half of the table.
Fulham will be wanting to keep the pressure on the likes of Cardiff and Aston Villa with another win, and the Whites should have no problems here. Check out Coral’s 6/4 for Fulham to win with a -1 goal handicap this Saturday.
Fulham to Win -1 – 6/4 at Coral
Bolton Wanderers v Aston Villa – 17th March
On Saturday evening, Steve Bruce’s Aston Villa make the trip to the Macron Stadium to play Phil Parkinson’s Bolton. With both teams looking for the points for different reasons, this should be an entertaining fixture at the Macron.
The Trotters have plenty of work to do in the race for survival, but they have certainly recovered superbly well after a shocking start to their season. Villa, who also made a poor beginning to their campaign, are not giving up on the top two.
Bruce’s troops have been in terrific form since the turn of the year, so back them to take all three points at Bolton on Saturday. Take advantage of BetVictor’s top price of 19/10 for the Villans to be winning at half time and full time.
Aston Villa HT/FT – 19/10 at BetVictor
Derby County v Cardiff City – 18th March
The final Championship game of the weekend is a cracker as Gary Rowett’s Derby entertain Neil Warnock’s Cardiff at Pride Park on Sunday afternoon. Despite winning only one of their last 10 in the league, the Rams are the slight favourites.
Derby look to be faltering at the end yet again as they have picked up just two Championship wins in 2018. Cardiff, meanwhile, have recovered incredibly well after losing four games in a row over the festive period, and the Bluebirds will be hoping to cling on to second spot until the end.
This will no doubt be an intriguing fixture at Pride Park, but Warnock’s men will be happy to leave with a point. With that in mind, take a punt on the draw at 23/20 with BetVictor.
Draw – 23/20 at BetVictor