Tottenham Hotspur and Everton both face tricky away games on Thursday evening, while Chelsea’s trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool caps off an exciting night of Premier League action.
Four of the six teams in action are in the hunt for a Champions League finish while the other two in question – Fulham and West Brom – are fighting to retain their top-flight status.
Tight Affair Expected at Craven Cottage
In one of two 18:00 matches, Spurs make the short trip to Craven Cottage to take on Fulham and this derby could be a really close encounter between the pair.
Although occupying 18th position, the Cottagers are on a five-game unbeaten streak, a run of results that has seen them move to three points of safety, and they have been particularly hard to breach during this purple patch.
Scott Parker’s men have kept clean sheets in four of their last five and they will need to be at their defensive best for the visit of Spurs, who head into the contest on the back of two successive 4-0 victories.
Tottenham have struggled away from home recently, losing four of their last five engagements across all competitions, and it could be a real battle for Jose Mourinho’s side, who are eighth in the table and six points off West Ham in fourth.
Picking a winner looks difficult in this one, so backing under 2.5 goals at 4/5 appears the smart play, given the fact this should be tight.
Toffees to Dent Baggies’ Survival Hopes
Also at 18:00 is the clash between West Bromwich Albion and Everton at The Hawthorns, a venue the Toffees are unbeaten at in their last five visits – the last defeat coming in September 2012.
The Baggies are still fighting for their top-flight status and a three-game unbeaten run (two draws and one victory) has reduced the gap to Sunday’s opponents, 17th-place Newcastle to nine points, although survival still looks a big ask.
Everton are seventh in the table and there is a massive incentive on offer for the visitors, who would leapfrog Liverpool, Chelsea and West Brom into fourth place if they get a victory in the West Midlands.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men have won their last two matches to nil and they look good value at 41/20 repeat that trick, given the fact West Brom are the third-lowest scorers in the division with just 20 goals.
Blues Can Land Big Victory
The feature match of the evening (20:00 KO) comes from Anfield as Liverpool, soon to be dethroned as Premier League champions, take on Chelsea in a crucial clash in the battle for a top-four finish.
Jurgen Klopp’s men did pick up a 2-0 win over rock-bottom Sheffield United last time out, but the Reds are still not at the same level they were last season and could be in for more home misery on Thursday.
Having enjoyed a sensational unbeaten record at Anfield, Liverpool have lost their last four home engagements, scoring in just one of those, while they haven’t tasted success on Merseyside in six games now.
As for Chelsea, they are enjoying life under Thomas Tuchel and the Blues are unbeaten since the German took charge, winning six and drawing three of his nine games at the helm.
The Stamford Bridge outfit are also unbeaten in their last five away matches across all competitions, winning four and drawing one, and they can pick up all three points at odds of 9/4 this evening.
A victory for Tuchel’s side would take them into fourth position and reduce the gap to third-place Leicester to just three points, while Manchester United in second would be a further point adrift.
*All odds correct at time of writing.
