Another bumper weekend of Premier League actions is ahead of us and there is still plenty to be decided with some critical fixtures at both the top and bottom of the table. The highlight of the latest round of matches sees Arsenal travel to north London rivals Tottenham, where defeat for either side could end their ambitions of European qualification.
West Ham to Drop the Hammer on Norwich
The weekend’s action starts at Carrow Road on Saturday lunchtime where Norwich face a must-win clash if they are to stay alive in the fight for survival for another week. The Canaries are 10 points from safety with four games to play having failed to pick up a point in five matches since the season resumed, while they have only managed one goal in that time.
Visiting Norfolk are a West Ham side also battling to avoid the drop, sitting four points above the bottom three, and David Moyes’ men have hardly been in sparkling form themselves. Aside from an impressive 3-2 victory over Chelsea, it is three defeats in five matches for the east London outfit and they’ll need to pick themselves up after a frustrating 1-0 home loss to Burnley in midweek.
There have been signs of fight from West Ham though and the same can’t be said for Norwich, who appear to have thrown in the towel. The Hammers are 1/1* to pick up a rare and much-needed away win, and the added talent the likes of Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio bring to the party should see them over the line.
Blades to Cut Through Fragile Blues
The 17:30 kick-off on Saturday throws together two European hopefuls as Sheffield United play host to Chelsea. The Blades’ aspirations of Europa League football looked to have evaporated following a poor restart but seven points from the last three matches has reinvigorated Chris Wilder’s men.
Chelsea have been equally impressive of late, Tuesday’s 3-2 win at Crystal Palace making it seven victories in the last eight matches in all competitions. Frank Lampard’s side can’t afford to ease off in their quest for Champions League qualification and attack has been the best form of defence for the west London outfit recently, netting the fourth-highest number of goals this season.
Defensively, no side in the top-10 has conceded more than Chelsea and Sheffield United should get on the scoresheet. Both teams to score has landed in over 60 per cent of Chelsea’s matches this season, including in the reverse fixture – a 2-2 draw – and it is 1/1 for both teams to be on target again.
Arsenal Can Claim Derby Spoils
How time flies in football with Unai Emery and Mauricio Pochettino having been in the dugouts of Arsenal and Tottenham respectively in the reverse fixture back in September. While that match was a back-and-forth 2-2 draw, the latest edition of the north London derby on Sunday promises to be a much tighter affair.
New Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has made his side more resolute, keeping eight clean sheets in their last 13 matches in all competitions, while Jose Mourinho’s Spurs have shut out the opposition in three of their last four games.
This fixture usually throws up goals but under 2.5 goals at 6/4 might appeal, while those feeling brave could be tempted to back Arsenal for the win at 9/5. The Gunners produced a perfect away performance to beat Wolves last weekend and with two days extra to prepare than Tottenham, they could have that bit extra to snatch all three points.
Foxes Foiled In Bournemouth Raid
Leicester’s trip to Bournemouth brings down the curtain on Sunday’s action and it is a must-win clash for both sides. The Foxes threaten to be overtaken by Manchester United in the race for fourth, while the Cherries are clinging on in the fight to avoid relegation.
Bournemouth stopped their losing run with a battling point against Tottenham on Thursday but it was a game of little quality and Brendan Rodgers’ men should cause them a few more problems.
However, with Leicester winless in six on their travels and there having never been an away win in this fixture in Premier League history, predicting the outcome of this game is not straightforward.
Going goals might be a safer choice with Jamie Vardy netting three in two matches for Leicester and Callum Wilson available for Bournemouth. Over 2.5 goals is available at 20/23.
