Our football expert shares betting tips ahead of the penultimate matchday in the Premier League, with key games at both ends of the table. The league title and relegation battle could be won or lost this weekend with vital games for both ends of the table.
Nottingham Forest v Arsenal (Saturday 17:30 UTC+01:00)
With the league title all but wrapped up, Arsenal will look to end the season on a high and win (1.56) their penultimate game of the Premier League season.
Mikel Arteta’s side won the reverse fixture 5-0 earlier in the season, the same result is 51.00 this weekend. However, it’s likely to be that Nottingham Forest – who are three points clear of the relegation zone – will push Arsenal all the way with much more to play for in their final home game of the league campaign.
A win (5.57) will all but mathematically secure Forest’s place in the league, and with seven points from their last four games, Steve Cooper’s side have hit a purple patch at just the right time.
Looking at the form of both sides and what’s at stake, Forest +1 on the Asian Handicap (1.94) could be worth a closer look.
West Ham United v Leeds United (Sunday 13:30 UTC+01:00)
A European semi-final hangover for West Ham could serve as a last-chance saloon for Leeds United to climb out of the relegation zone.
Expect a raucous Elland Road next weekend, but all eyes for Sam Allardyce and his team will be upsetting the odds (3.49) in London. Spirited performances in consecutive games under their new manager’s stewardship has offered some hope, but they will need either Rodrigo Moreno (2.58) or Patrick Bamford (3.10) to get on the scoresheet.
David Moyes’ men are essentially safe, and it would take a series of extraordinary results to be relegated from their current position in the Premier League going into the weekend, six points above the drop. They are favoured at home to win (2.39), but it’s fair to say they will have one eye on the Europa Conference League final at the end of the month.
The reverse fixture ended in a 2-2 draw, a result which can’t be ruled out (3.49) with the correct score (13.25) a possibility if Leeds continue their form prior to the arrival of their current manager.
Manchester City v Chelsea (Sunday 16:00 UTC+01:00)
Five consecutive head-to-head wins (1.27 for a sixth) for the home side is a marker for the current gulf in class between these two teams. A win for Manchester City takes them within touching distance of winning their fifth Premier League title in six years – but a defeat for Arsenal on Saturday would also secure it.
Two years ago Chelsea rounded off an impressive season, winning their second Champions League final triumph – edging out Pep Guardiola’s side. Fast forward to today, and they sit 11th in the table and could finish as low as 14th. A win is improbable (10.03), but expect those odds to tumble if City are champions by Saturday evening.
Meanwhile, Manchester City are on course for a long-awaited chance at the European treble – with a final to come against city rivals Manchester United and a Champions League final one week later against Inter Milan.
Julian Alvarez should get some game time regardless of City’s position ahead of the game, and is good value to get on the scoresheet at 2.29.
**Odds are subject to change. Odds accurate as of 12:00 UTC+01:00 Friday 19th May**
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