Premier League Betting Tips: Can Bournemouth shock Man City in their relegation fight?
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Team news, odds and previews ahead of tonight’s matches
A second-half comeback against Champions League chasers Leicester City provided Bournemouth’s battle to beat the drop with new hope, but they’ll have to beat Manchester City to avoid falling further adrift.
Elsewhere, Wolves head to Burnley hoping to keep on the tails of those with European ambitions around them, while Newcastle United host Tottenham at St. James’ Park before Liverpool head to the Emirates Stadium to take on Arsenal on their quest for a record Premier League points tally.
Ahead of tonight’s action, we’ve had a look at the latest odds and what tonight’s games could mean at this late stage of the season.
Could Sean Dyche’s Burnley side spring a late challenge for a Europa League spot? They’re down in 10th, level on 50 points with Arsenal, but a win over Wolves would close the gap to sixth to two points ahead of Sheffield United’s match on Thursday.
Their good form may have come slightly too late to mount a serious challenge, but they’ll be happy with another season in the Premier League.
Wolves’ followed up their disappointing last gasp defeat against Sheffield United with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Everton to get a grip on their challenge. Only a few weeks ago, there was talk of Nuno Espirito Santo’s men finishing third.
It could all come down to the final game of the season for Wolves, so they’ll be looking to pick up as many points as possible to ensure they don’t need to win to secure their spot in Europe.
They’ve only got one injury doubt for the game, with Pedro Neto picking up a muscular injury in their 3-0 win last time out. There’s still a chance he could recover in time to play. As for Burnley, they could be missing up to five first choice players.
Ben Mee seems unlikely to play again this campaign, with Kevin Long expected to slot in for him. Jack Cork and Matthew Lowton are also expected to miss the rest of the season, while Ashley Barnes and Ben Gibson are still absent.
Burnley are 18/5 underdogs on home soil, while Wolves are 10/11 favourites to win and take a step closer to the Europa League next season.
Jay Rodriguez has hit a purple patch in recent weeks, and he’s 6/1 to score first for Burnley, or you can find 14/5 anytime. For Wolves, Raul Jimenez is the 3/1 favourite to open the scoring, with the Mexican 7/5 to score anytime.
With this season’s runners-up spot secured for Manchester City, and the positive news of their Champions League ban being overturned for next season too, there’s nothing to play for in the league for Pep Guardiola’s side.
Their main focus could already be on Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final clash with Arsenal at Wembley, so we could see some of Guardiola’s famous squad rotation.
Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth looked like they were down and out for much of their first half against Leicester, but that all changed in the second half, with a brace from Dominic Solanke helping to secure a much needed 4-1 win.
The way in which the Cherries’ secured that win may have given them the confidence boost they needed to pull off a great escape and remain a Premier League club. They’ll need three more points here to keep the momentum.
Manchester City are only without Sergio Aguero through injury, but the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez could sit this one out.
Howe’s Bournemouth will be missing Nathan Ake, who may have played his final game for the club after coming off injured against Leicester. Charlie Daniels is also expected to remain on the sidelines, while Simon Fancies, Chris Mepham, Adam Smith and Josh King are all touch and go.
Despite knowing what kind of side Guardiola will be putting out, they’re still 2/13 favourites to secure three points, while the Cherries are heavy 16/1 underdogs.
Gabriel Jesus and Sterling are joint favourites to break the deadlock at 7/2, or you can find 5/6 anytime. It’s Callum Wilson who’s the 11/1 favourite to score first for Bournemouth, or there’s 3/1 anytime.
It wasn’t a vintage performance by any means, but Jose Mourinho and his Spurs side will be buoyed by their win over Arsenal in the North London derby. Could that win provide a boost in their push for the final Europa League spot?
They’re just three points behind Wolves now in a three-horse race for sixth, with Sheffield United in between the pair. While a Champions League spot may be out of reach, could Mourinho’s men overcome the three-point deficit to have another European adventure?
They’re up against Steve Bruce’s Newcastle United side, who come into tonight’s match off the back of two disappointing defeats against Manchester City and Watford.
The Magpies never really got going in their 5-0 hammering at City, while they let a first half lead slip against Watford thanks to two Troy Deeney penalties.
Their Premier League status has been secured for a little while, so is Bruce just letting the season peter out? Injuries could have a role to play in their recent poor performances, as they’re likely to be without Ciaran Clark, Sean Longstaff, Isaac Hayden, Jamaal Lascelles and Andy Carroll again tonight.
Spurs will be without the suspended Eric Dier, while Serge Aurier may miss the game through compassionate leave. Juan Foyth is the only other notable absentee, while Dele Alli and Tanguy Ndombele are both doubts too.
Newcastle are 4/1 to clinch three points, while Spurs come in as the favourites at 7/10. Dwight Gayle opened the scoring in their defeat to Watford, and he’s 17/2 to score first here, or you can find 10/3 anytime. Harry Kane heads the betting for Spurs, and he’s 3/1 to break the deadlock, while there’s 21/20 on him finding the net anytime.
After Sunday’s defeat to Spurs in the North London derby, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta faces somewhat of a dilemma.
Sitting in ninth, a European qualification spot is seemingly out of reach in the league, with winning the FA Cup the most likely way to qualify this season. Does Arteta try and provoke a reaction against champions Liverpool, or rest his best players ahead of Saturday’s semi-final against Man City?
As for Liverpool, their season has been ‘completed’ for several weeks after securing their first top-flight title in 30 years. But with three matches to go, Jurgen Klopp’s side could still go on to finish the season with a Premier League record points haul.
Three wins from their remaining three games against Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle would see the Reds finish with 102 points, two more than City’s current record. They can only afford to drop two points if they have ambitions to at least match that total too.
Arsenal’s injury list is continually growing, with Bernd Leno, Calum Chambers, Pablo Mari and Gabriel Martinelli still unavailable to Arteta. He’s also without Eddie Nketiah, who’s serving the second match of his three-match ban, and Matteo Guendouzi who appears to have been banished from the squad after his antics in their defeat to Brighton.
Liverpool remain without captain Jordan Henderson and Joel Matip, with injury ruling them out for a return this season. James Milner is an injury doubt with a muscular injury.
Klopp’s champions are the 17/20 favourites to claim another three points, with Arteta’s side 29/10 to win at home. Golden Boot chasing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is 7/2 to score first, or 5/4 anytime. Mohamed Salah is still in the running too, and he’s 10/3 to score first, or 21/20 anytime.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication.
