The battle at the bottom of the Premier League couldn’t be closer heading into the penultimate Sunday of the season, with West Ham relegated if they lose to Wigan in the game of the day. Elsewhere, Birmingham could make sure of another campaign in the top flight if they beat Fulham, while Liverpool and Tottenham battle it out for fifth. Plenty to look forward to and we pick out the best bets for each game……
Wigan v West Ham (4pm)
You don’t have to be a genius to work out where the most bitten fingernails will be on Sunday. The DW Stadium plays host to bottom club West Ham and one-from-bottom Wigan in a six-pointer.
Defeat for West Ham will send them down and even a win might not be enough to keep them up if results go against them. The Latics need three points to keep alive their hopes of survival and anything other than a win could end their hopes of beating the drop. While the Latics form has picked up recently they have still only managed one win in the last six matches. How West Ham long for a win – their last victory came back at the start of March.
The Hammers will have looked at Saturday’s results and realise the fat lady is warming up when it comes to their hopes of beating the drop. The Latics should have enough to take advantage but you get the sense that both of these teams are doomed.
Match bet – Wigan to win @ 21/20
Birmingham v Fulham (4pm)
Blues wouldn’t have been too impressed with results on Saturday as Wolves and Blackpool won, while Blackburn picked up a point against champions Manchester United.
That leaves Birmingham outside the relegation zone, but only on goal difference. A heavy defeat to Fulham at St Andrew’s while see them swap places with Blackpool and start the last week of the season in the drop zone.
However, they’ll have taken heart by the way Liverpool ran rings around the Cottagers on Monday night. The west London outfit had been making steady progress under Mark Hughes and the Welshmen will probably send his charges out with a flea in their ear after the defeat earlier in the week.
Match bet – Birmingham HT/Draw FT @ 14/1
Liverpool v Tottenham (4pm)
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp looks like a man under pressure at the moment after Tottenham’s capitulation this season. The north London club were being mentioned in the same breath as title challengers in the first half of the season.
However, since the turn of the year, Spurs have won just 7 out of their last 23 games in all competitions. That has seen Redknapp’s men tumble down the table and out of the Champions League qualification spots.
Contrast that with Liverpool’s resurgence and you get two teams going in different directions. The Reds have won six of the last eight in the league and victory for them on Sunday will see them confirm a place in next season’s Europa League.
While the end of the season can’t come soon enough for Tottenham, Liverpool will be keen for it to continue. Luis Suarez, Dirk Kuyt and Maxi Rodriquez have all been lethal in front of goal recently and they should have too much for Spurs’ shaky backline.
Match bet – Dirk Kuyt to score anytime @15/8
Arsenal v Aston Villa (4pm)
The Gunners title challenge finally fizzled out at Stoke last week but there is still something to play for in their final two matches. With Manchester City just two points behind in fourth Arsenal could find themselves having to qualify for next season’s Champions League if they don’t pick up another win.
Arsenal are very strong at home and with the pressure off you might see a bit more free-flowing football from Arsene Wenger’s men. For Villa, they are all but safe and that will be a relief for their fans when you consider they face Liverpool on the last day of the season. A 1-1 draw with Wigan last week won’t fill Villa supporters with confidence they will get anything out of their trip to north London.
Match bet – Both teams to score @ 5/6
Chelsea v Newcastle (1:30pm)
The first match of the day comes last on our Premier League preview due to the dead rubber nature of the game. Neither Chelsea or Newcastle have much to play for other than pride and places, with the title race and relegation battle over for both clubs.
Carlo Ancelotti will have a tough job on his hands to pick up his players after their defeat at Old Trafford, especially in what is likely to be a sombre attitude at Stamford Bridge. However, Newcastle’s awful away form should play into the Blues’ hands – the Toon having picked up maximum points on the road just twice in the last 12 matches. The two clubs drew in this season’s clash at St James’ Park, but Chelsea should end their home campaign on a high.
Match bet – Chelsea to win 2-1 @ 22/1
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