BETMGM GOLDEN GOALS MD36: BACK WATKINS & IWOBI TO FUEL EUROPEAN BIDS
Newly crowned champions Liverpool host Arsenal in the headline act of Golden Goals Matchday 36 but, while the title might be wrapped up, the European race is only heightening.
Manchester City are eyeing second spot and won’t expect much resistance from already-relegated Southampton. Elsewhere, Aston Villa travel to Bournemouth needing all three points to keep their Champions League hopes alive – though the Cherries have Europa League ambitions of their own.
Fulham are in that mix too and welcome Everton, while Brighton face a tough test away at in-form Wolves as they chase a return to European nights at the Amex.
It’s all a bit less glamorous at Old Trafford, where Manchester United take on West Ham in a bottom-half meeting with more questions than answers.
Successfully predicting the results of all six games will net you up to £1 million! Get the full Golden Goals breakdown, prize info and T&Cs here.
Southampton 0-4 Manchester City
Relegated weeks ago and still needing a point to leave Derby County’s 2007/08 side as the Premier League’s outright worst-ever, Southampton blew their chance to pick up something at fellow crisis club Leicester on Matchday 35.
And now Pep Guardiola’s men come to town.
It’s been a season to forget for City but, with an FA Cup final to look forward to and potentially a second-place finish, they can certainly end on a high.
City won the reverse fixture 1-0 despite having 22 shots on goal. With Saints shipping a league-worst 82 goals, they’ll be targeting more than one here.
They will likely get it, too. They’ve scored two or more in five of their last seven, and only champions Liverpool have scored more than City’s 67.
Erling Haaland netted the only goal at the Etihad and recently returned to the matchday squad after injury. The 21-goal striker features in our Bet Builder: Haaland to score two or more, over 3.5 goals in the game and both teams not to score is 11/1.
This might not be pretty. If City score early, added embarrassment could work its way into what has been a dismal season on the south coast.
They’ve lost just one of their last 15 league clashes, so an away win seems assured. By how many is up to City.
Wolves 2-2 Brighton
Wolves’ six-game winning run came to a halt against Manchester City on Matchday 35 – but not for lack of opportunity or effort given they hit the woodwork twice.
Indeed, it was decidedly unlike the Old Gold not to find the net. They have scored 51 goals in this campaign, equalling their record for a Premier League season from 2019/20.
Brighton, on the other hand, might feel frustrated with how their season has petered out.
They lie 10th, nine points behind Nottingham Forest in sixth and with just one win in their last seven league matches.
A defeat here would make it three defeats in a row on the road. Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler could do with a strong end to the campaign.
Part of Wolves’ scoring success is down to the form of Rayan Ait-Nouri. The left-back has more goal contributions – 11, with four goals and seven assists – than any other defender in the division this season.
With that in mind a 9/2 Bet Builder over 1.5 Wolves goals and Ait-Nouri to score or assist makes sense.
Wolves are overperforming in attack and at the back while Brighton, even in a rough patch, still carry a threat. A high-scoring draw beckons in the Molineux sunshine.
Fulham 2-1 Everton
Who had Fulham down as one of Everton’s toughest Premier League matchups?
The Cottagers are unbeaten in their last six top-flight games against the Toffees – as many as their previous 20 beforehand.
While some might see Saturday’s game as a draw waiting to happen, none of Fulham’s last 15 league games have ended level. They have won seven and lost eight while another victory for the Cottagers ensures they set a new club record points total for a Premier League season of 54.
We see them doing it this weekend – and their internal race for the club’s golden boot could play a key part.
Raul Jimenez is Fulham’s top scorer in the Premier League this season with 10 goals, trailed closely by Alex Iwobi on nine. The former hasn't scored since March while the latter has four goal contributions in his last five, heaping the pressure on his team-mate to find his touch again.
Everton have their own top scorer race to ponder. Beto and Iliman Ndiaye are tied with seven each so far, with the former heading one of the goals in last week's 2-2 draw against Ipswich.
Both Iwobi and Beto also scored in the reverse fixture back in October. A repeat of their exploits in a Fulham win comes in at an intriguing 33/1.
Bournemouth 1-2 Aston Villa
Aston Villa still have eyes on the Champions League.
They sit three points behind the coveted fifth spot but their inferior goal difference means three wins from their final three games, starting here at the Vitality Stadium, are likely needed.
Bournemouth have actually picked up more points on the road than at home this season. With six defeats here, including four in their last six, Villa will sense an opportunity.
These two sit seventh and eighth in the Premier League but expect the seven-point gap, plus the recent form of Unai Emery’s men, to prevail. Just.
Ollie Watkins is expected to start given Marcus Rashford's injury. He has 15 goals in the Premier League and has been directly involved in five goals in his last four league starts against Bournemouth, while his four assists against the Cherries are also more than he has managed against any other opponent.
With both teams scoring in each of the last four meetings, including a 1–1 draw earlier this season, a Bet Builder of Villa to win, both teams to score and Watkins to score or assist at 13/2 feels like a good value play.
Manchester United 2-2 West Ham
There’s been no end-of-season league surge at Old Trafford – just a fresh layer of disarray.
Manchester United have lost four of their last six Premier League games, including a wild 4–3 collapse at Brentford on Matchday 35 that typified their defensive disorder.
Ruben Amorim’s side have now shipped 51 goals in 35 league matches and have kept just two clean sheets in their last 10.
Their Europa League semi-final second leg against Athletic Club will likely prompt some rotation – and West Ham have the tools to capitalise.
Well, to a certain extent. The Hammers are two places below United in 17th but have scored in nine of their last 10 away games and Jarrod Bowen – with nine goal contributions on the road this term – remains a potent threat.
Neither side inspires much defensive confidence. United have conceded 10 in their last four and, with both teams to score landing in six of West Ham’s last seven and a combined 30 woodwork hits between them this term, a 6/1 Bet Builder of both teams to score, over 2.5 goals, the woodwork to be hit and Bowen to score or assist reflects the likely rhythm here.
Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal
The penultimate home game of Liverpool’s title-winning season is likely to be more about farewells than fireworks.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has, rather belatedly, confirmed he is leaving his boyhood club after more than 350 appearances, 23 goals and 86 assists.
You wouldn’t bet against him making an impact against Arsenal – he has an impressive nine assists in 17 appearances against the Gunners.
However, judging by their meek performance against Chelsea, there is now a hint of after the Lord Mayor’s show to the Reds’ season-enders.
And that could suit Arsenal just fine. Mikel Arteta’s men are still chasing a top-four finish and won’t want to leave the door open with the chasing pack closing in.
The Gunners have had their lapses – no team has dropped more points from winning positions this season than their 21 – but they should have the motivation edge here with Champions League football still on the line.
Bukayo Saka has a solid record in this fixture with goals in four of his last five against Liverpool – a 7/1 Bet Builder of Saka to score and Arsenal to win offers some sensible, player-led value.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change. Please note: This week's Golden Goals deadline is Saturday 10th May, 15:00. Opt-in is required and you can find out more here.
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