Sunday brings another exciting round of Premier League action, with three intriguing matchups that caught my attention. Here are my thoughts along with a few betting angles you might want to explore.
Before doing so, let’s take a quick look at the outright markets. Liverpool have virtually wrapped up the title, sitting 13 points clear of Arsenal. At odds of 1/1000, there’s no value left in backing them — so your attention might be better placed on alternative markets. Feel free to explore some of the more appealing options through the link below.
.Click here for English Premier League Outright Betting
FULHAM v CHELSEA – Click here to bet
Fulham return to Craven Cottage this weekend as they host London neighbours Chelsea following Monday’s disappointing 1-0 defeat away to Bournemouth. Struggling for consistency, the Cottagers have now suffered three defeats in their last five league outings, placing them 9th with 48 points from 32 matches—six points adrift of European contention.
Despite their patchy form overall, Fulham have looked much stronger at home. Marco Silva’s side have won their last two league matches at Craven Cottage, bringing their home tally to 26 points from 16 games (W7, D5, L4).
In a fixture that has historically favoured Chelsea, Fulham will view this as an opportunity to reverse that trend. Given Chelsea’s ongoing struggles and Fulham’s improved home form, the Cottagers will be optimistic about their chances this time around.
While Chelsea showed resilience to come back from two goals down against Ipswich last weekend, Enzo Maresca’s side could only manage a draw at Stamford Bridge—more a case of dropped points than a comeback to celebrate. With Champions League qualification on the line, Chelsea find themselves in a tight top-five battle with six matches remaining. They currently sit 6th with 54 points, just one behind 5th-placed Manchester City.
This Sunday, the Blues make the short trip across London hoping for a much-improved showing on the road. Chelsea were involved midweek in Europe in the Conference League, leaving just three days to prepare for Sunday’s clash against Fulham. The Blues are winless in their last eight Premier League away games, collecting just three points from a possible 24 during that run (D3, L5).
Despite their current away form, Chelsea may take some comfort from their recent visits to Craven Cottage—winning five of their last six trips there.
Head-to-Head
Chelsea have dominated this London derby in recent years, winning five of their last six visits to Craven Cottage. Interestingly it was Fulham that secured all three points in the reverse encounter earlier this season at Stamford Bridge, winning 2-1 on the day.
Betting
Fulham 37/20
Draw 5/2
Chelsea 29/20
Verdict
Despite Fulham’s steady form at home and Chelsea’s away-day woes, history heavily favours the Blues. Chelsea’s superior depth in squad and pressures of the top-five race should drive them to raise their game but I’m not convinced. With their defensive lapses, Fulham should be good for a goal in what should be an entertaining affair.
Suggested Bet: Totals and Both Teams to Score – Over 2.5 and Yes at 21/20
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MANCHESTER UNITED v WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS – Click here to bet
After their midweek European clash against Lyon, Manchester United return to Premier League action at Old Trafford on Sunday, aiming to break a domestic winless streak that now stands at three matches (D1, L2). Last weekend’s 4-1 defeat away to Newcastle marked their 14th league loss this season, leaving them 14th in the table with 38 points from 32 matches.
Despite their struggles, the Red Devils have been somewhat more stable at home lately. They are unbeaten in their last three EPL fixtures at Old Trafford, having recorded two consecutive draws and a win. Their most recent home game—a 0-0 draw against Manchester City—showed marked improvement, and many felt they were unlucky not to walk away with all three points.
Wolverhampton Wanderers, on the other hand, are flying high after a historic 4-2 victory over Tottenham last weekend—their fourth straight league win. That run marks the first time Wolves have won four Premier League games in a row, and it lifted them out of the bottom four for the first time this season. Vítor Pereira’s men now sit 16th with 35 points from 32 matches.
With a fifth straight win in sight, Wolves head to Manchester full of confidence. They’ve already beaten United once this season and will be eyeing a rare league double. On the road, Wolves have turned a corner—winning their last three away league matches, a major improvement after collecting just nine points from their first 13 away games.
Head-to-Head
Manchester United have won four of their last five Premier League meetings against Wolverhampton Wanderers. However, the reverse fixture earlier this season ended in a 2-0 win for Wolves.
Betting
Manchester United 21/20
Draw 26/10
Wolverhampton Wanderers 27/10
Verdict
United have been shaky, but recent home form offers a glimmer of hope. Wolves are in high spirits after four wins on the bounce and have been effective on the road of late. Expect contributions in the goal scoring department from both sides in this one.
Suggested Bet: Both Teams to Score – Yes at 8/10
IPSWICH v ARSENAL – Click here to bet
Ipswich Town may have raced into a 2-0 lead against Chelsea last weekend, but they ultimately had to settle for a 2-2 draw—another reminder of how fragile their Premier League survival hopes are. With just six matches remaining and a 14-point bridge from safety, Kieran McKenna’s men sit 18th with 21 points from 32 matches and appear destined for relegation.
Sunday’s clash against Arsenal is a must-win, but the challenge is daunting. Ipswich have the second-worst home record in the league, with just one win all season at Portman Road. That lone victory came back in December—ironically, also against Chelsea. Since then, the Tractor Boys have lost six consecutive home matches, conceding 20 goals in the process.
Fresh off securing a place in the Champions League semi-finals with a comprehensive 5-1 aggregate win over Real Madrid, Arsenal return to domestic duty looking to hold on to second place. Mikel Arteta’s side have taken 63 points from 32 games and remain unbeaten in their last six league matches, most recently drawing 1-1 at home to Brentford.
However, Arsenal have struggled to turn draws into wins recently, with four draws and just two victories during that unbeaten run. On the road, though, the Gunners have been formidable—unbeaten in their last 11 away league matches. They also boast the second-best away record in the division, with 28 points from a possible 48.
Top of Form
Bottom of Form
Head-to-Head
Arsenal have won nine of their last ten league matches against Ipswich, though this will be their first top-flight meeting at Portman Road since 2001. The Gunners won 1-0 earlier this season at the Emirates Stadium in the reverse encounter.
Betting
Ipswich 13/2
Draw 4/1
Arsenal 4/10
Verdict
Ipswich have the second worst home form in the league and face an Arsenal side fresh off a Champions League high. With a solid away record and momentum on their side, the Gunners should have little trouble getting past a leaky Ipswich defence
Suggested Bet: Result and Totals – Arsenal and Over 1.5 at 5/8
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Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
