Premier League Gameweek 38 Tips: Cagey Game At The City Ground?
We’ve reached the end of another thrilling Premier League season and, despite the title and relegation places already being sealed, there is still plenty to play for on the final day.
Five teams are battling it out for the remaining three Champions League places while Brentford and Brighton, who can both still finish eighth, will be eager to seal that spot as it could provide a route into Europe.
We have come up with a four-fold accumulator to consider on the final day, which could return at around 35/1.
Tip 1 - Under 2.5 goals in Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea @ 5/4
The biggest game on the Premier League’s final day comes from the City Ground, where seventh-placed Nottingham Forest host fifth-placed Chelsea.
A win for the Reds would see them leapfrog the Blues - although that is not guaranteed to secure them a Champions League spot - while Enzo Maresca’s side know three points would earn them a seat at Europe’s top table.
With so much riding on the fixture, a cagey affair could unfold at the City Ground. Nuno Espirito Santo’s tactics often see Forest sit in and defend deep, so they very rarely blow sides away, while Chelsea have been struggling in front of goal lately, too.
The Blues have scored just 11 goals in their last nine Premier League games while Forest have blanked in three of their last four home matches - the exception being a 2-2 draw with relegated Leicester.
Under 2.5 goals has been a winning bet in seven of the Reds’ last eight home matches, four of Chelsea’s last six games and three of the past five meetings between this pair, suggesting a low-scoring affair is likely on Sunday.
Tip 2 - Newcastle to beat Everton and both teams to score @ 33/20
Newcastle blew their chance to finish second when losing 1-0 at Arsenal last weekend but the EFL Cup winners can cap off a brilliant campaign by beating Everton on Sunday to seal their Champions League return.
Eddie Howe’s side have won five straight home matches, scoring 16 goals in the process, and should have too much firepower for Everton, who put the ball past basement boys Southampton only twice in their last game at Goodison Park.
The Toffees have, however, scored seven goals in three games, putting three past Fulham in their last away match, and are likely to get on the scoresheet at St James’ Park for the 13th time in 14 visits.
Tip 3 - Aston Villa to beat Manchester United @ 7/10
Aston Villa require a win and a favour from either Nottingham Forest, Everton or Fulham - the Cottagers face third-placed Manchester City on the final day - to land Champions League football for the second season running.
While the potential favours are out of their control, the Villans can at least keep their side of the bargain at Old Trafford, where Manchester United look set to finish a dreadful Premier League season in typical fashion.
The Red Devils have already lost 18 league matches this term and are guaranteed to record their lowest-ever Premier League finish regardless of Sunday’s result. Wednesday’s Europa League final defeat is likely to have left Ruben Amorim’s side dejected and short of ideas, leaving Villa an easy route to three important points.
Unai Emery’s men have beaten Fulham, Bournemouth and Tottenham to nil in their last three games and, led by Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins, can inflict a 19th league defeat on United.
Tip 4 - Liverpool vs Crystal Palace - Eberechi Eze anytime goalscorer @ 27/10
Of course, not all of Sunday’s games have things riding on them and a relaxed atmosphere can be expected at Anfield, where the Premier League champions and FA Cup winners will put on a dress rehearsal for August’s Community Shield.
Liverpool’s victory lap has seen them draw with Arsenal and lose at Chelsea and Brighton. They conceded eight goals across those matches, suggesting that their minds have been on their summer holidays for a while now.
Crystal Palace, meanwhile, followed up their stunning FA Cup triumph by beating Wolves 4-2 on Tuesday night, and they will look to keep the mood high by going on the front foot on Merseyside.
Despite starting on the bench, FA Cup final hero Eberechi Eze still found the net on Tuesday and the in-form Eagles superstar can make it eight goals in seven games by netting at Anfield for the second season running.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change