The 2021-22 English Premier League season is inching closer to its conclusion, and with it, the race for the top-four and to avoid relegation.
Best Premier League Bookmakers
Manchester City made an example of Manchester United last weekend, securing a dominant 4-1 win in the derby; elsewhere in the country, Arsenal grabbed sole control of the fourth spot in the table, and Newcastle snagged a much-needed three points against Brighton to move out of the drop — for now.
Here are the best bets for another loaded weekend in the most competitive division of football in the world, the English Premier League.
Top Match Winner: Liverpool (-195)
Liverpool has won 12 straight matches since drawing with Arsenal in the first leg of a Carabao Cup tie during the second week of January. New signing Luis Diaz has been a revelation and kept Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino out of the starting XI, and The Reds once again look like a consensus top-two team in the world.
Even more importantly, Liverpool needs a win to close the gap on league-leading Manchester City to three points and remain in contact with the title race.
Liverpool’s opponent, Brighton & Hove Albion, has plummeted down the league table after enjoying a rewarding start and hovering around the top four; now, in 13th place and with the fourth-fewest goals scored, the Seagulls are completely out of form and stand little chance finding themselves against a red-hot opponent.
Top Match Total: Tottenham / Man Utd Over 3.5 Goals
Tottenham vs. Manchester United Prediction
More conservative bettors can find a line of over 2.5 goals for still decent, albeit negative odds, though the line of 3.5 feels safe.
Both Manchester United and Tottenham have had their struggles at the back this season, and both leave lots of gaps in counterattacks, which is the preferred method of attack for both squads. This match is set up to go flying over the total of practically any realistic line.
Tottenham scored five goals in its last outing against Everton, while Man U conceded four to Man City. Man U has also scored the fifth-most goals in the Premier League, and Tottenham the seventh-most, giving more credence to the notion that this is going to be an end-to-end match with lots of chances, especially since both are viciously competing for a spot in the top four.
Top Asian Handicap: Chelsea -1.25 (-120)
After worrying supporters and bettors with a lethargic first-half performance against Burnley last weekend, Chelsea reminded the world as to why it is the defending Club World Cup and Champions League winner, scoring three goals in the first 10 minutes after the restart and ultimately securing a 4-0 win before the night was over.
Chelsea’s wing-backs will trouble Newcastle’s structure because of their presence on the flanks and attacking intuition, seen by Reece James’ wonderful goal that broke the deadlock at Burnley.
Newcastle has claimed 13 points from a possible 15 in its last five matches, but they only faced one opponent in the top half of the Premier League table during that stretch: that team was West Ham, with whom they ultimately drew 1-1.
Parlay: Brentford (+115) / Arsenal (-200)
Leicester City vs. Arsenal Prediction
Brentford is inconsistent but has size from Ivan Toney that could cause problems for a vulnerable Burnley backline. They also have momentum from last weekend’s 3-1 win over Norwich and need to continue their winning ways to escape the drop.
Arsenal, similarly to Liverpool, has been gaining points, points, and more points as of late, climbing to fourth in the table with three games in hand on the league leaders.
Leicester City packs a knockout punch but has not been itself this season, with injuries and inconsistency on the pitch limiting them to mid-table after they finished fifth the past couple of years.
