The battle for a Premier League top-four finish continues on Wednesday evening as Manchester United and Chelsea both look to secure victories in their clashes against West Ham and Liverpool respectively.
After Tuesday’s action was focused more on the battle to avoid relegation, both of Wednesday’s encounters will have an impact on the Champions League places for the 2020/21 campaign.
United Hoping to Boost Top-Four Hopes
Manchester United start the day in fifth position, level on points with Leicester in fourth and just a point behind third-placed Chelsea, and the Red Devils will be hoping to climb into the top four with a win over West Ham.
The Hammers are already safe, so have little to play for, although David Moyes would like nothing else than to get one over on his former employers after being sacked at Old Trafford in 2014.
However, West Ham have only won two of their last 23 Premier League trips to the Theatre of Dreams and it is hard to feel confident in backing the visitors to come out on top at 11/1*.
At 4/17, a United win doesn’t present that much value but backing the hosts to win and over 2.5 goals, which is on over at 20/33, looks to be the better route to go down in this one.
Although the Red Devils have looked impressive in attack, scoring 63 times, they have been a little shaky in defence, conceding twice against both Southampton and Bournemouth in the league before losing 3-1 to Chelsea in the FA Cup last time out.
West Ham have scored seven goals from their last two outings, which has helped secure their top-flight status, and they should at least cause problems in the final third on Wednesday evening.
Blues Provide Value in Anfield Spectacle
The second game of the evening takes place at Anfield as champions Liverpool take on Chelsea, who could find themselves down in fourth if United pick up all three points in the earlier match.
With the Red Devils playing Leicester on the final day, the Blues know victory over the Reds would guarantee them a top-four finish and Champions League football for next season.
Frank Lampard’s men head into the game on the back of that FA Cup win, making it two wins on the bounce in all competitions, and they may just be worth a punt at 13/5 to extend that run to three.
Since being crowned as champions, Liverpool have, understandably, taken their foot off the gas and they can no longer equal Manchester City’s 100-point Premier League record.
The Reds drew 1-1 with Burnley before losing 2-1 to Arsenal last time although Jurgen Klopp’s men will welcome a return to Anfield, where they are unbeaten in their last 58 league games.
Egypt international Mohamed Salah is four goals behind Leicester’s Jamie Vardy in the Golden Boot race and the Liverpool ace looks a solid shout at 11/10 to net anytime against the Blues, while he is 4/1 to score first or last.
*All odds correct at time of writing.
