With the Premier League season close to ending, we’ve still got a number of teams fighting the drop and a battle for fourth to keep us interested.
Our Grosvenorsport.com tipster gives us his thoughts ahead of the weekend.
Stoke v Crystal Palace
It’s quite simply make or break for Stoke on Saturday as defeat will all-but see them drop into the Championship and end their 10-year stay in the top flight.
For a side boasting top-class players such as Xherdan Shaqiri, Badou N’Diaye and Joe Allen, it’s a surprise to see the Potters languishing in the bottom three.
Things could have been so much different if Ryan Shawcross hadn’t missed a late sitter against Liverpool to clinch an unlikely three points last Saturday.
For Crystal Palace, they have one man to thank for confirming their Premier League status.
After the Eagles lost seven-in-a-row without scoring a goal in their opening games, everyone had them down-and-out but step forward Wilfried Zaha.
The winger missed those seven games due to injury but his return has heralded a miraculous recovery and has been involved in 11 goals (8 scored, 3 assisted), including a brilliant double against rivals Brighton.
It’s hard to back Stoke on Saturday, given their poor form but I fancy plenty of goals and will be backing over 2.5 goals at Evens.
Everton v Southampton
Southampton’s win over south-coast rivals Bournemouth has given them a fighting chance of staying up this season.
A brilliant Dusan Tadic double was much-needed and leaves them just a point off Swansea and three away from Huddersfield and West Ham with three to play.
Although Mark Hughes hasn’t had the effect expected, he’s made the Saints much tougher to beat unlike his predecessor Mauricio Pellegrino.
I’m sure, however, that Saints’ fans wouldn’t hesitate to swap positions with Saturday’s opponents.
Everton have a billionaire owner, sit eighth in the Premier League and have won two on the bounce but Toffees supporters are still unhappy.
During last weekend’s win over Huddersfield, fans chanted for current boss Sam Allardyce to ‘get out of our club’ as the relationship begins to turn sour.
Although his style of football leaves much to be desired, he’s done a solid job of steadying the ship and Everton have become a tough side to beat.
For this reason, I’ll be backing an Everton win at 15/8 and also fancy Cenk Tosun to score at 2/1.
Chelsea v Liverpool
It’s clear to see Liverpool have been prioritising their Champions League campaign in recent months, and I’m expecting to see a slightly weakened side on Sunday when they travel to Stamford Bridge.
The Reds have drawn three of their last four league games and only need one point this weekend to all but guarantee Champions League football for next season – even without winning the competition.
Meanwhile, Chelsea have found some form after winning their last three, but with two of these against bottom-four sides and they’ve won just twice in their last six at Stamford.
Both teams have found the net in each of Liverpool’s last six encounters with their fellow top-six sides, while against similar opposition that’s been the case in four of the Blues’ last five.
Three of the last four of these head to heads finished 1-1, while Antonio Conte’s men have failed to score more than a single strike in any of their four matches when hosting the top six this season.
For these reasons, I’ll be having a play on the draw at 5/2.
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