After a break for the internationals and the FA Cup, the Premier League is back this midweek.
All 20 teams are scheduled to play. Three games take place on Tuesday and six on Wednesday before the fascinating Chelsea – Tottenham clash on Thursday night.
Despite a couple of recent high-profile defeats, it seems Liverpool have got the title in the bag. The more fascinating race is that for the European places, especially the Champions League.
There are currently only seven points between Nottingham Forest in third place and Brighton in seventh. More to the point right now, Chelsea are on 49 points in fourth place, one ahead of Man City and only two ahead of Newcastle who have a game in hand.
It seems the bottom three of Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton are all doomed, meaning some pressure is off Wolves and West Ham.
Wolves the Tuesday Value
West Ham’s last four away games have seen them play Aston Villa, Arsenal who had a man sent off, Chelsea and Everton. From those games, their aggregate score was 4-4.
Wolves’ last four at home have seen them also play Arsenal (both sides received red cards), Villa, Fulham and Everton. They too finished those games with a total score of 4-4.
That’s very similar recent form. We can’t blame those wanting to back the draw, but most recently Wolves were seen winning 2-1 at Southampton while West Ham have lost at home recently to Newcastle. The home side may just about have the advantage and just under 6/4 is a value price for them.
We’ll leave if there for Tuesday. Forest v Man United is a terrific one to keep an eye on, but they may yet run out of steam while Man United continue to experiment. It’s not a betting fixture for us.
Bournemouth and Newcastle to Seal the Deal
Onto Wednesday. Man City and Liverpool are at very restrictive odds, similarly Palace away at Southampton. There are still a couple of betting opportunities, however.
Bournemouth are well fancied this week at home to Ipswich, another doomed team. The Cherries are genuinely smart but haven’t won over 90 minutes in their last six outings. Could you take 1/3 about such a team? We will.
In those six games they lost 1-0 to Wolves after a sending off and 2-1 at Brighton. They also beat Wolves on penalties, drew 2-2 at Tottenham, lost 2-1 at home to Brentford and went down in the FA Cup by the same score against Man City. That’s hardly devastating stuff and they face much weaker opposition now.
Up to St James’ Park now, and have Newcastle done too much partying after their Carabao Cup win? Some will think that Eddie Howe and co will take their foot off the gas now, but that’s highly doubtful.
Europe is now guaranteed for the Toon Army, but they are close to Champions League qualification once again and are fully up for the challenge.
Even if they’d won the league this year, it wouldn’t stop some outlets trying to sell Alexander Isak on their behalf, but getting into the top 4 could at least alleviate some fears about holding onto their better players.
Brentford at home is a potentially tricky one for them. That being said, they are simply a better team than the Bees and the home side can ride the current good feeling all the way to another three points. Odds of 7/10 is about the best price on the market.
The Bet
Back Wolves, Bournemouth and Newcastle at around 9/2.