BETMGM GOLDEN GOALS MD31: SPOILS SHARED ON TYNESIDE & A HUGE WIN FOR SPURS
Wembley awaits for Arsenal and Manchester City, but not before the Premier League serves up a weekend of blockbuster games with plenty at stake at both ends of the table.
Sunderland make the trip to Tyneside to face arch-rivals Newcastle United in the highly anticipated Tyne-Wear Derby. The Magpies will be looking for revenge after suffering a 1-0 reverse at the Stadium of Light back in December.
Liverpool make the trip to the south coast to take on Brighton, faltering Chelsea travel to Everton, Leeds are at home to a Europe-chasing Brentford, while West Ham are in the Midlands to face Aston Villa.
There’s also a huge game for Tottenham against relegation rivals Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon, strengthened by a spirited Champions League performance in midweek.
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Here’s how we see things playing out on Matchday 31…
Brighton 2-1 Liverpool
Losing to Wolves and drawing with Tottenham in their last two top-flight games has put Liverpool’s hopes of Champions League football next season into serious doubt…
It’s a trip to the seaside next for Arne Slot’s Reds, against a Brighton side they’ve already beaten twice at Anfield this season – the same Brighton side celebrating three wins in their last four.
For as inconsistent as the Seagulls have been this season, they’ll feel the advantage nestles firmly with them, especially against another member of the big six.
Only Arsenal have bagged all three points at the Amex this season, which is more bad luck for Liverpool having lost three of their last five visits to the south coast in all competitions.
Fabian Hurzeler’s side will also take confidence from their ability to fight back even when chasing the game – something they showed last year when coming from behind twice to beat Liverpool 3-2.
Brighton to win, both teams to score and a goal in both halves comes in at a swooping 22/5 when combined in the same Bet Builder.
A decent shout considering all the above and the fact there’s been a goal either side of the 90 minutes in each of the last five meetings between these two.
But yeah… the international break can’t come soon enough for the defending Premier League champions.
Everton 2-1 Chelsea
Chelsea are reeling.
The defeat to Newcastle last week was disappointing, but the 8-2 aggregate loss to PSG in the Champions League was more than a little humbling.
After a positive start in the job, Liam Rosenior is up against it and facing a real test of his credentials to secure elite-level European qualification for the Blues.
They make the trip to Everton here – a side just five points behind them in the Premier League table, but also, a side with only five wins at Hill Dickinson Stadium this season.
Scoring goals has been their Achilles heel, just 35 to their name, but David Moyes’ men will be buoyed by Chelsea’s lack of a Premier League clean sheet since January 17th – before that, the Blues’ last shutout was in early December.
Head-to-head-wise, Everton haven’t scored in any of the last four meetings and have shipped nine goals, but we expect this one to be far tighter.
Chelsea’s recent defensive frailties will haunt them once more, as may their former player Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who has had 10 shots on target this season, including three in his last two matches.
He is an interesting 7/1 to have a shot on target here in a home win. Chelsea were excellent in their last Premier League away game – a 4-1 win at Aston Villa – but the disappointment of the last week will be tough to bounce back from.
A win for Moyes, and a real prospect of European football for the Toffees.
Leeds 1-1 Brentford
A battling draw at Crystal Palace last weekend saw Leeds grab a valuable point with 10 men – but it could have been so much more.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin put a penalty wide, and with things so tight at the bottom, just how costly will that miss be?
Daniel Farke’s men face Brentford at Elland Road here looking to move further clear of the drop zone than the three points they currently are.
The Bees are having an excellent season under Keith Andrews and are pushing for European football – especially impressive when you consider many had them primed for relegation before the season started.
A defeat at Chelsea is Brentford’s only reverse on the road since early December and they have won three of their last four away games. Two draws in their last two will be slightly disappointing though, especially letting a two-goal lead slip against bottom side Wolves.
A third draw on the bounce may well be on the cards here.
Leeds have scored just one goal in their last four, and haven’t won since early February but they aren’t exactly leaking goals either.
Brentford’s Igor Thiago has 19 Premier League goals so far and is always a strong shout to notch.
It’s 7/1 for the Brazilian to score in a draw – a decent result on a ground where only five visiting teams have left with all three points, and all but one of them by a single goal.
Newcastle 1-1 Sunderland
The return of the Tyne-Wear Derby was one of the most hotly anticipated fixtures of this season’s Premier League, and Sunday sees newly-promoted Sunderland looking to complete a famous double over their fierce rivals.
The Black Cats, though, are struggling, losing four of their last six Premier League matches, and to League One’s bottom side, Port Vale, in the FA Cup no less.
A recent win at Leeds has just about secured top-flight football for next season as they hit 40 points, but their form on the road has been largely dire.
The reverse fixture at the Stadium of Light was settled by an own goal from record-signing Nick Woltemade – a game where Eddie Howe’s men failed to do themselves justice with only two shots on target.
The Toon have also won just one of their last four league home games, and could well be frustrated by a Sunderland defensive performance here.
Both Sunderland keepers, Melker Ellborg and Robin Roefs, have averaged over three saves per 90 minutes in the league this season. With the home side going all-out for victory, they will be in for a busy Sunday lunchtime.
Our Bet Builder, the match to be drawn, Sunderland’s goalkeeper to make over 3.5 saves and over 6.5 Newcastle corners is certainly worthy of consideration at 19/2.
The Magpies average just over that threshold of corners per game, and have taken 196 overall – 12 more than anyone else.
A dramatic Sunday could be in store, but the visitors would be by far the happier with this outcome.
Aston Villa 0-0 West Ham
Just when you thought West Ham were dead and buried they go and nab nine points in six – now a single win has the chance to drag them out of the abyss completely.
It’s a massive credit to Nuno Espirito Santo who, after quite a rocky start, finally has his team ticking in the most important part of the season – if only the same could be said for Unai Emery’s Aston Villa…
The Villans have lost three consecutive Premier League matches for the first time since February 2023, causing irreparable damage to their once realistic title tilt.
That said, they will take solace in knowing they are unbeaten in their last seven against their storied claret and blue counterparts.
Four of those occasions have ended in wins, but we’re leaning more towards a hard-fought 0-0 here – one with plenty of moments for the camera courtesy of one Ollie Watkins.
The England international has the most shots on target per match for Villa but has struggled in recent weeks to fully convert those chances, which you’d expect will get better with the World Cup right around the corner.
With all that in mind, what do you make of our 18/1 Bet Builder: a draw, under 0.5 goals and Watkins to have a shot on target.
That’s quite a price in what is sure to be one of the more sluggish games of the season.
Tottenham 1-0 Nottingham Forest
That’s right, we’re backing Tottenham to pick up their first win of 2026 in arguably the biggest game of the weekend.
For all their fight in recent weeks, Forest are still winless in seven Premier League matches; form that has allowed the Lilywhites to stay at arm’s length from the bottom three going into this relegation six-pointer.
The Tricky Trees have also failed to score in 14 of 30 league games despite creating more than enough chances to put the ball in the back of the net – most notably the Wolves game and the 35 shots it took to score 0 goals.
Much has been said about Spurs’ inability to show some fight given the situation they find themselves in, but we’re looking at last week’s performance at Anfield as a paradigm shift.
One that couldn’t have arrived at a better time.
Expect this to be a tetchy contest regardless, with Forest testing the keeper a few times (currently averaging 3.9 shots on target per game), only for Spurs to score from a low xG chance and shut up shop akin to last year’s Europa League final.
Also backing them to edge it at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium? Then check out this 17/1 Bet Builder: Spurs to win, under 1.5 goals and Forest to have over 3.5 shots on target.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change. Please note: This week's Golden Goals deadline is Saturday 21st March 2026 15:00. Opt-in is required and you can find out more here.
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