After a hectic return to Premier League action, the FA Cup takes the spotlight this weekend with just two games set to be played in the English top-flight.
Wolves travel to Aston Villa in the only Premier League game scheduled for Saturday, kicking off at 12:30, while Watford play host to Southampton at 16:30 on Sunday.
Aston Villa v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolves are unsurprisingly the 10/13* favourites in the Saturday fixture, and on current form it is difficult to see Villa upsetting the apple cart.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have picked up back-to-back victories against West Ham and Bournemouth since returning to action on June 20.
They kept clean sheets in each of those matches and have massively boosted their chances of securing Champions League football for next season.
With Chelsea and Manchester United involved in FA Cup action, Wolves could move up to fifth and just two points shy of Chelsea with a win.
Villa’s season looks set for a tense finish with relegation still a major concern for the club that came up via the playoffs last term.
Dean Smith is yet to see his side pick up a win since the restart – drawing with Sheffield United and Newcastle and losing to Chelsea.
But Villa, who sit 19th, still have more than enough time to secure their top-flight status with just a one-point gap to Watford in 16th.
Wolves earned a 2-1 victory in the reverse fixture with Diogo Jota and Raul Jimenez getting on the scoresheet, and the Mexican is one to consider in the anytime goalscorer market.
Jimenez, 23/20 to score anytime, has set a new record for goals scored by a Wolves player in a single Premier League season, registering 15 times, and has already bagged twice since the restart.
Watford v Southampton
The only other Premier League game set to take place this weekend comes at 16:30 on Sunday when Watford host Southampton.
Southampton are priced at a generous 39/20 for the win, which looks like the best bet.
Watford, like Villa, have also stumbled back into competitive action and are without a win in two outings – drawing with Leicester and losing to Burnley.
Nigel Pearson has certainly improved their standard of performance but there is plenty of work to be done to ensure they avoid the drop.
Meanwhile, it has been a mixed month for Southampton with a win and a loss under their belt against Norwich and Arsenal respectively.
The Saints’ form through December and January appears to have done enough to keep them away from a relegation scrap but a couple more wins are needed to make sure.
Sunday’s games offers a fantastic chance for them to add three points to their tally and they have shown up better on the road this season.
Indeed, they have the sixth-best away record in the division and have earned 23 of their 37 points away from St Mary’s.
Southampton are unbeaten in their last six visits to Vicarage Road and look good to extend that record this weekend.
*All odds correct at time of writing.
