Man Utd to confirm Villa downfall among Premier League 3pm kick-offs

Lee Gormley | April 15, 2016

There are plenty of interesting 3pm kick-offs this Saturday in the Premier League, as Manchester United look to continue their search for a top four spot by securing victory over Aston Villa, which would confirm the rock-bottom club’s relegation.

Elsewhere, Everton tackle Southampton on Merseyside, while other relegation battlers Newcastle United contest Swansea City and West Bromwich Albion face Watford. So read on for Coral’s preview of each intriguing match-up…

Manchester United v Aston Villa

Red Devils can down Villa

Louis van Gaal’s Man Utd are still in the hunt for a Champions League position and will seek success over Aston Villa at Old Trafford, having not tasted defeat in this fixture since December 2009, with anything less than a win for the visitors set to confirm their relegation.

The Red Devils have prevailed in nine of the previous 10 meetings with their West Midlands opponents and are unbeaten on home soil in this clash in five outings, making them huge odds-on 1/1 favourites for three points.

Man Utd have scored three or more goals in at least one meeting for the past five successive seasons against the Villans and they are 5/4 with Coral to do so again here, while Villa are 16/1 to cause an upset on their travels.

Rampant Rashford to strike again

Young Old Trafford hitman Marcus Rashford has been a stunning surprise for Van Gaal in the latter stages of this campaign, having struck the derby winner over Manchester City and crucially netted during the FA Cup victory over West Ham United.

The Red Devils starlet is 3/1 to bag the game’s last goal on home soil, while Anthony Martial is 7/2 to open proceedings after racking up 13 goals in all competitions so far.

Skipper Wayne Rooney could be set for a return to action following injury and is 3/1 to strike two or more against a club he has scored more goals against than any other side in his career to date.

For the visitors, Rudy Gestede (4/1 anytime), Jordan Ayew (7/2) and Scott Sinclair (6/1) are potential threats for the Villans, who already look down and out.

Everton v Southampton

Toffees tackle Saints at Goodison

Southampton are still seeking a European place this term and will tackle Everton on Merseyside hoping for three points to keep the pace with West Ham, though they will need a change of fortunes after two successive fixture defeats.

Roberto Martinez’s Toffees are further down the table in 12th after a disappointing campaign so far, but they are 8/5 to clinch a third consecutive win over the Saints, while Ronald Koeman’s south coast club are 9/5 for victory.

Lukaku looks to be key

Belgian frontman Romelu Lukaku has been one of the Toffees’ stars this term and, having dispatched twice in the reverse clash last year, he is 5/1 for another two or more goals this time around.

Ross Barkley is the other who has impressed for the Merseysiders and the England international was also on target in that previous 3-0 fixture triumph, and he is 7/4 to strike on home turf.

For the visiting Saints, Graziano Pelle is a goal threat at 6/4 in the anytime market, having got the better of Everton last season, while clinical Irishman Shane Long is 13/2 to strike last.

Newcastle United v Swansea City

Toon aim for Swans success on home soil

Rafael Benitez’s Newcastle United face an uphill task of avoiding the drop and they next face Swansea City, with the Toon having failed to win this fixture since April 2012, stretching back seven Premier League meetings.

The Magpies are 11/8 to gain a vital victory on home soil, as they currently sit four points adrift of safety, though Swansea are 21/10 to further their opponents’ misery at the top-flight table’s basement.

Bafetimbi Gomis and Andre Ayew both struck in the reverse match-up to hand the Swans a comfortable 2-0 success, and the forward pair are 7/4 and 2/1 to net again anytime respectively.

Aleksandar Mitrovic could be key to the hosts here and is 6/1 to open proceedings, with his fellow attackers Papiss Cisse (2/1) and Andros Townsend (11/4) both needing big performances in order for Benitez to pull off a great escape.

West Bromwich Albion v Watford

Baggies battle Hornets in West Midlands

Only one spot and two points currently separate 14th placed West Brom and 15th positioned Watford ahead of their latest encounter, and the previous couple of meetings have ended level, as well as three of the last four.

With such close standings between the pair, another share of the spoils is 21/10 to occur at The Hawthorns, with West Brom entering at 27/20 for victory and the Hornets are 23/10 to sting their rivals.

The reverse match-up ended 0-0 last year but with the likes of Saido Berahino (6/4 anytime), Salomon Rondon (6/4) and Stephane Sessegnon (2/1) in his ranks, Tony Pulis will be hoping for three points in front of the home crowd.

Watford’s key attacking threats should be that of dangerous duo Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney, with the pair 6/4 and 7/4 respectively to dispatch anytime.

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Coral’s top tip: Back Anthony Martial to score first for Man Utd against Villa at 7/2.