MY ACCOUNT
– Recommended bets:
– Back a drawn first half between Everton and Aston Villa
– Back Southampton or Tie Double Chance at Leeds
– Back Leicester or draw double chance against Arsenal
– Back the draw in West Ham vs Nottingham Forest
– Back Under 2.5 Man City goals at Bournemouth
– Back Crystal Palace or Tie Double Chance against Liverpool
There is sure to be plenty of drama in the Premier League on Saturday, with six games coming up with potential ramifications at both ends of the table.
Arsenal will be looking to increase their advantage at the top of the table when they take on Leicester at the King Power Stadium in one of four games taking place at 3pm.
At the same time, the bottom two in the Premier League, Leeds and Southampton, go head to head at Elland Road, Everton host Aston Villa and West Ham entertain Nottingham Forest.
Manchester City will then look to respond to the Gunners’ result with a positive outcome from a trip to Bournemouth at 5.30pm, potentially with a chance to go top, before Crystal Palace host a Liverpool side fresh from a mauling at the hands of Real Madrid at 7.45pm.
Here are our expert writers’ top selections for each of those fixtures.
Everton vs Aston Villa (Saturday, 3pm)
Everton restricted Leeds to zero shots on target last Saturday, and it cannot be a coincidence that two of the team’s three lowest shots on target against counts this term have been under new manager Sean Dyche.
The Toffees still lack potency up front and may again have to be patient for their openings against Aston Villa, who have regressed as both an attacking force and a defensive unit since the start of February.
Unai Emery will surely try to arrest his side’s slide with a defensive focus that could, like in three of Villa’s last four away matches, lead to the game being still deadlocked at the break.
Back a drawn first half at 19/20 with LiveScore Bet.
Leeds vs Southampton (Saturday, 3pm)
Southampton really rolled their sleeves up as a collective unit and fought for every second of their win at Chelsea.
Saints have won two of their last three away Premier League games, finding a way to beat Everton when Leeds could not, so there is good reason to cover two results here by taking Ruben Selles’ men to avoid defeat, in a match in which neither side can afford to lose.
Back Double Chance Tie or Southampton at 5/6 with LiveScore Bet.
Leicester vs Arsenal (Saturday, 3pm)
While it is premature to suggest Arsenal are running out of steam, they are struggling to maintain their electric form of 2022, with a mixture of fatigue and expectation no doubt playing a part.
But their newfound defensive struggles are also clearly a factor, with Arsenal conceding nine goals in their last five games, as many as they had shipped in their previous 13 league games combined.
Leicester have not had the breaks in most of their meetings with the big six this term. Still, narrow 1-0 home defeats to both Manchester clubs, with the Foxes particularly unfortunate against City, suggest the hosts could nick a result against a slightly off-colour Arsenal side.
Back Leicester or draw double chance, available at 6/5 with LiveScore Bet.
West Ham vs Nottingham Forest (Saturday, 3pm)
While their league position remains precarious, West Ham’s form since the turn of the year has been solid enough for them to expect a result against a Forest side who struggle for goals away from home.
Given Forest’s record of just three goals scored in 11 league away games allied to West Ham’s own struggles in the final third, netting less than a goal per game in 2022-23, adding under 2.5 goals to Bet Builders looks a sensible approach.
But the draw looks like a value bet, with neither team doing enough to demand support and both managers arguably content with a point from a game they dare not lose.
Back the draw, available at 27/10 with LiveScore Bet.
Bournemouth vs Manchester City (Saturday, 5.30pm)
Manchester City have failed to win three of their last four away league games and this latest one comes with the added complication of following an away Champions League midweek match, with the Citizens having failed to win half of their last 10 domestic matches that followed on from big European away ties.
Bournemouth’s improving defensive work does indicate that this game could be low on goals, particularly as they are likely to sit deep while City have only managed multiple strikes in two of their last eight away Premier League trips.
Back Under 2.5 Man City goals at 7/10 with LiveScore Bet.
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool (Saturday, 7.45pm)
In Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze, Crystal Palace will have two of the most creative midfielders on the pitch and they should generate openings while also looking to exploit set-piece situations.
Liverpool’s recent away record is ropey as even the 2-0 win at Newcastle last weekend that ended a three-game losing sequence was not particularly convincing against 10 men.
The Eagles have avoided defeat in six of their last eight home Premier League games, so remain hard to beat despite their goalscoring struggles.
Back Double Chance Crystal Palace or Tie at 23/20 with LiveScore Bet.
