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GOLDEN GOALS MATCHDAY 37: CRUCIAL LUTON GAINS IN RELEGATION RACE
It’s the penultimate Saturday slate of the 2024 Premier League campaign with plenty still to be decided at both ends of the table.
Tottenham are limping towards Europa League football and could go one step closer to cementing continental action next season with a win over Burnley.
The Clarets are involved in a fight at the opposite end of the table, requiring a near-miracle to survive. Fellow promoted side Luton’s chances took a hit when Nottingham Forest earned a win over Sheffield United last weekend – but the Hatters could pile the pressure on Nuno Espirito Santo’s side with a victory over a stuttering West Ham.
You could end the 2024 season with up to £1 million if you correctly predict six scorelines from this weekend’s action with BetMGM Golden Goals. Find out more here.
Let’s take a closer look at all the action…
Bournemouth vs Brentford
Form (all competitions) Bournemouth: LWWLD Brentford: DLWWD
Questions were asked when Bournemouth parted ways with Gary O’Neil last summer after the now-Wolves boss led the Cherries to safety – but Andoni Iraola has answered them all.
After an unremarkable start to the season at the helm, which included a six-game winless run to start the campaign, the Spaniard has laid the groundwork for the South Coast side.
An integral piece of those foundations is Dominic Solanke. The former Liverpool forward has had a sensational season and is being mentioned as a possible candidate for England’s 26-man squad for the 2024 European Championships.
Solanke is enjoying his best goalscoring return in England’s top flight with 18 goals so far this campaign, fifth-best amongst all Premier League players and tied with Mohamed Salah.
He also netted in the reverse fixture against Brentford, so it would be no surprise if he has a part to play this weekend.
The consensus is that Solanke will be up against Ivan Toney for that third striking spot in Gareth Southgate’s squad behind Harry Kane and Ollie Watkins. However, Toney’s form has not been what fans expected since he returned in January.
After firing four goals in his first five games, Brentford’s number 17 has failed to find the net in 10 consecutive appearances. He is also averaging his lowest goals per 90 minutes in league matches (0.28) since his 2015-16 campaign with Barnsley (0.11).
Neither side has anything to play for but Bournemouth have proven to be the better team this season – plus Iraola’s men have quietly put together an unbeaten stretch at the Vitality that extends back to February 24th. It’s a home win here to extend that streak.
Prediction: Bournemouth 2-1 Brentford
Everton vs Sheffield United
Form (all competitions) Everton: DWWWL Sheffield United: LLLLL
Sean Dyche should be heralded for the job he has done at Everton this season. The Toffees would be sat comfortably in midtable if not for their eight-point deduction.
Since the start of April, only Manchester City and Arsenal (15) have tallied more points than Everton (14). Dyche’s success, as expected, is built on his formidable defensive record. Across six matches in April they have kept four clean sheets, including becoming only the third team to hold arch-rivals Liverpool to a blank this domestic campaign.
While Jordan Pickford’s 12 clean sheets will not be enough to win him the Premier League Golden Glove award, England’s number one will likely finish second amongst keepers behind title-chasing Arsenal’s David Raya.
Clean sheets are a foreign concept to Sheffield United. They are the first team to concede a century of goals since Swindon Town in 1993-94, who did so across a 42-game season. It took Chris Wilder’s side only 36 matches.
They are a historically porous defensive unit, averaging over 2.5 goals conceded per game and the worst goals-per-shots-against record in the league this season (0.14). Like Sheffield United’s backline, the positives are almost non-existent.
It’s five straight defeats for the Blades heading into this one and that record will extend to six once Everton are done with them.
Prediction: Everton 3-0 Sheffield United
Newcastle United vs Brighton
Form (all competitions) Newcastle United: WWLWW Brighton: WLLDL
Newcastle have turned their season around and have been on the march for European football since, ironically, March. Eddie Howe’s have lost just two league games in two months, picking up 20 points from a possible 27 in their last nine matches.
The Magpies' upturn in form has coincided with the emergence of Alexander Isak since his groin injury. Newcastle’s leading scorer is enjoying a consistent scoring spell, netting 10 goals across his last 10 games, doubling what he had achieved in the previous 17 matchdays.
He is not the only one who is in fine fettle in front of goal. Bruno Guimaraes has also been finding the net more frequently in recent weeks; Brazil’s commanding central midfielder has contributed to four goals in the last four matches.
Goalscoring was the prime issue for Brighton last month. April’s goal of the month competition would have been won by Burnley goalkeeper Arijanet Muric as his own goal was the only time they found the net in a difficult month for the Seagulls.
After a barren April Roberto De Zerbi’s side did return to winning ways on Matchday 36 – despite Robin Olsen’s best efforts. The Swedish shot-stopper saved Joao Pedro’s original penalty before the Brazilian nodded home the rebound for his ninth goal in the league.
It still wasn’t the free-flowing attacking Brighton that we have been accustomed to and with their lorryload of injured players – including Evan Ferguson, Kaoru Mitoma and Jan Paul Van Hecke – they would have to be at their best to get a result at St James’ Park.
In short? Newcastle’s march toward Europe will continue unabated.
Prediction: Newcastle United 4-0 Brighton
Spurs vs Burnley
Form (all competitions) Spurs: LLLLW Burnley: LDWDL
What is happening at Tottenham Hotspur? Ange Postecoglou’s side were going blow-for-blow with Aston Villa earlier in the season for a space in the top four – now they are fending off Newcastle, Chelsea and Manchester United for a spot in the Europa League.
It’s not mathematically impossible for Spurs to be hearing the Champions League anthem next year but four consecutive defeats have left them with a mammoth task, so they are firmly in must-win territory against Burnley.
Fortunately, the North London side have a good record against Vincent Kompany’s men. They have won six of the last seven matches against Burnley, including a 5-2 victory earlier in the campaign where Son Heung-min scored a hat-trick.
Son’s trio of goals in September took his tally to six against the Clarets – the joint sixth-most he’s scored against an opposition.
It seemed like Burnley had turned a corner when they lost one of their five games in April but it all came crumbling down against Newcastle last weekend.
They were four goals down inside the hour and their defensive woes reared their ugly head once again. It is now 74 goals conceded across 36 games for Kompany’s side, which is the third-most in the division behind fellow promoted sides Sheffield United and Luton.
Win or go down. The task is simple for Burnley, however, it’s one they won’t achieve here. Spurs should run out with all three points and end their dismal run of form.
Prediction: Spurs 1-1 Burnley
West Ham vs Luton
Form (all competitions) West Ham: LDLLW Luton: DLLLW
The winds of change are blowing around the London Stadium. David Moyes’ departure has been announced after his second stint in charge of the Hammers. He’ll end his tenure with a 37.9% win percentage and producing West Ham’s first European trophy.
However, for all the good that Moyes has done, recent results have been polarising. Promising results against both Liverpool and Tottenham have been sandwiched between conceding five to both Crystal Palace and Chelsea.
Amongst all the inconsistency, Jarrod Bowen has remained a reliable force spearheading West Ham’s attack. He has 16 goals so far this campaign and one more would take him above the legendary Paolo Di Canio for the most goals by a Hammers forward in a Premier League campaign.
Luton kept themselves within touching distance of Nottingham Forest with a vital point at home to Everton on Matchday 36. That draw was the Hatters first positive result since beating Bournemouth 2-1 at Kennilworth Road on the first weekend in April.
To get another positive result on Saturday, Luton would have to alter their abhorrent away record. Rob Edwards’ side are the second-worst team on their travels this campaign, ahead of bottom-placed Sheffield United.
Ten points on the road isn’t exactly the form required to stay in the Premier League but, when it becomes a case of ‘needs-must’, will Luton pull a surprise to hang on to their survival hopes?
We think they will. West Ham have nothing to play for besides pride – it will end with a point apiece.
Prediction: West Ham 1-1 Luton
Wolves vs Crystal Palace
Form (all competitions) Wolves: WWDLW Crystal Palace: LLWDW
Wolverhampton Wanderers and Crystal Palace – two established Premier League sides that have put on some incredible performances this season, one more recently than the other.
The Eagles are now flying under Oliver Glasner, picking up four wins in their last five – an unbeaten streak that kicked off with a season-defining win over Liverpool at Anfield. This is a far cry from where they were a few months ago, with many predicting their downfall.
Palace have spent an entire decade in the Premier League and have the chance to set a new personal best should they continue making headwinds. They finished the 2014/15 season with 48 points on the board and are currently sitting on 43 with two games to go.
Wolves have struggled to leave their mark in recent weeks, losing 5-1 on Matchday 36 against a dominant Manchester City – despite being one of only three teams to beat them this season in the reverse fixture.
Wolves’ woes cover both their ability to score goals and keep them from the door. They have conceded 60 in 36 games, 27 of which were at home which is fifth-worst in the division. The Palace trio of Jean-Philippe Mateta, Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise have the ability and the momentum to only make matters worse at Molineux.
Mateta has scored in five in the last five, which includes a goal in Monday’s 4-0 hammering of Manchester United. The pairing of Eze and Olise has been just as impressive – since they both returned from injury they have shared the pitch together in four games and won all of them while combining to assist twice and put five goals in the back of the net.
Both teams have already secured another year in the top flight and more than know how to put on a show but the form Crystal Palace are in looks likely to keep them soaring.
Prediction: Wolves 1-3 Crystal Palace
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