As the Premier League end-of-season run-in begins, Gameweek 31 arrives with both Manchester City and Liverpool poised to face-off for an epic league and Emirates FA Cup showdown in just over a week’s time. First, however, Liverpool host Watford whilst City travel across Lancashire to face a Burnley side scrapping to avoid relegation.
For the Reds, facing Watford at Anfield does not appear the tallest of tasks, but if we look at the stats – with a trip to Benfica in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals to come in midweek also – the Hornets might yet prove a tricky customer.
In the last four away games, Watford have taken seven points including highly creditable wins last time out at Southampton and in GW25 at Villa Park. Liverpool sit handsome favourites, but the value here looks to be with the Hertfordshire side finding the net. Unibet’s 6/5 both teams to score price looks worth a ponder, however, the real eye-catcher is the in-form Cucho Hernandez available at 6/1 to score anytime. Liverpool may not have conceded in the last five across the board, but the pacy and elusive Colombian forward can cause problems in attack.
At Turf Moor meanwhile, City’s clash could be awkward. Burnley have lost the last three without scoring, but at home are always a tricky opponent. Pep Guardiola’s men will have enough to take the win here, but Wout Weghorst is another scorer worth exploring at a boosted 5/1 with William Hill.
Saturday’s west London derby between Chelsea and Brentford looks intriguing. Like Liverpool and City, the Blues have an impending date in Europe to come but still have Arsenal snapping at their heels for third spot in the table. All this, with home fans barred from attending due to Chelsea’s ongoing issues off the pitch. That could play a key factor here. The Bees, meanwhile, could yet be sucked into the bottom three battle despite the scintillating form of Ivan Toney. Like Cucho at Anfield, Toney may be the man to watch here, having scored five in the last three. The subject of some interesting price boosts available, for the Brentford man to have +1 shots on target in each half, 6/1 is your price with PaddyPower and Betfair, whilst for Toney to score first, 9/1 odds will fetch a pretty penny.
Another narrative that might suit, Christian Eriksen scored two goals for Denmark during the break – just nine months on from collapsing at last summer’s Euros. The number 10 is likely to feature at Stamford Bridge where he has a very decent scoring record, with two goals to his name in Spurs colours. A third Eriksen goal in a week would be some story, and for the Dane to score anytime is 10/1 with Betfred or VBet, or for a stonking 28/1 with SkyBet to score from outside the area.
In North London, Tottenham Hotspur will hope to keep pace with rivals Arsenal in the race for the top-four, but Newcastle United will be stern opposition. Having gone unbeaten in the league for close to three months before GW29 though, Eddie Howe’s Magpies have lost the last two games and with no other distraction for the Lilywhites but their final nine league outings, that could be the base for a crucial win here, with a Harry Kane and Son Heung-min double at 4/1 with SkyBet again appealing.
Finally, to close out weekend’s action, Spurs will have a keen eye on Crystal Palace’s home London derby versus Arsenal and their former boss Patrick Vieira. Unbeaten at Selhurst Park in the last four trips, the Eagles held Man City to a goalless draw only weeks ago. Desperate to keep their advantage over the chasing pack, an away win for Arsenal looks a good horse to back at evens with Coral, Ladbrokes and Betway.
