The English Premier League returns with eight fixtures taking place this weekend. |
The English Premier League returns with eight fixtures taking place this weekend with Man City and Arsenal not involved as their initial opponents Man United and Southampton clash in the EFL Cup Final on Sunday.
Saturday 25 February
1/4 Chelsea | Draw 5/1 | Swansea City 19/2 (17:00)
We get gameweek 26 underway with a tie between league leaders Chelsea and 15th-placed Swansea. Antonio Conte’s side will be looking to return to winning ways following their 1-1 draw at Burnley last time out. The Blues have been formidable at home, winning 11 matches on the spin, scoring 35 goals while conceding five – keeping seven clean sheets. Swansea have enjoyed a resurgence under Paul Clement, who previously worked as assistant manager at Chelsea under Guus Hiddink and Carlo Ancelotti. Clement is coaching his way out of an awful mess and doing it marvellously. These sides played to a 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture, but the Swans will struggle to cope at Stamford Bridge. Back the Blues to collect maximum points in their bid for a fifth Premier League title.
11/10 Crystal Palace | 21/10 | Middlesbrough 26/10 (17:00)
Crystal Palace face a potential season-defining clash against Middlesbrough at Selhurst Park. The Eagles are sitting second from bottom in the Premier League with 19 points from 25 games, two points from safety. A win could take Sam Allardyce’s men out of the bottom three, while defeat would leave them six points behind low-scoring Boro and deeper into the relegation mire. Palace have lost their last five home games in the league, which doesn’t bode well for their chances. Middlesbrough, without a league win since mid-December, are winless in their last 11 away matches. The teams are tipped to share the spoils at 21/10.
4/10 Everton | 15/4 | Sunderland 6/1 (17:00)
Everton welcome bottom side Sunderland to Goodison Park this Saturday. The Toffees are seventh in the Premier League table with 41 points from 25 matches. Ronald Koeman’s side are riding an eight-match unbeaten run, winning five in the process. They’ve lost just once – against Liverpool – in their last 15 home matches in the league with nine wins, including three on the trot. Sunderland will face a tough test but David Moyes will be hoping his side can cause an upset against the club he managed between 2002 and 2013. The Black Cats thrashed Crystal Palace 4-0 in their last away match and will need to put in a similar performance. However, their away form has been dreadful – losing nine of their 12 games played. The home win is tipped confidently.
11/10 Hull City | 22/10 | Burnley 26/10 (17:00)
Hull City will be looking to bounce back from their 2-0 defeat at Arsenal last time out in their bid to beat the drop. The promoted Tigers are 18th in the table – one point from safety – and have collected seven points from a possible 15 under Marco Silva’s reign, which included meetings with four of the current top six. Hull will be confident of bouncing back this weekend against a Burnley side who have been awful on the road. Sean Dyche’s men earned a well-deserved 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Turf Moor last time out. However, they’ve picked up just one away point this season in 12 matches. The Clarets will be looking to snap a seven-match road losing streak, but I don’t see that happening here. Hull are unbeaten in five matches at the KCOM Stadium, winning four on the spin. Back the home win at 11/10.
21/20 West Brom | 23/10 | Bournemouth 51/20 (17:00)
West Brom will be targeting a fourth consecutive home win for the first time since 2012 when they take on Bournemouth this Saturday. Tony Pulis’ men are eighth in the league with a four-game unbeaten run and will hope to avenge their early-season loss against the Cherries. Callum Wilson scored the game’s only goal in the reverse fixture. Eddie Howe’s side have slumped to 14th in the table and are winless in seven games, suffering five defeats – including three on the trot. They’ve shipped 28 goals on the road – the most conceded along with Hull City. The home win looks a top bet.
15/10 Watford | 22/10 | West Ham 18/10 (19:30)
Saturday closes out with a tie between 13th-placed Watford and 10th-placed West Ham. The hosts come into this one off the back of a 2-0 defeat away to Manchester United, while the visitors make the trip to Vicarage Road off a 2-2 draw at home to West Brom after giving up the lead twice. The reverse fixture saw West Ham throw away an early 2-0 lead to lose 4-2 at the London Stadium during the Hammers’ early season struggles. There should be chances galore at either end and their respective frontlines should take the opportunities with open arms, making Both Teams to Score a solid bet at 15/20.
Sunday 26 February
7/20 Tottenham | 39/10 | Stoke City 7/1 (15:30)
Tottenham will look to bounce back to winning ways when they host Stoke on Sunday. Spurs dropped to third in the Premier League after losing 2-0 at Liverpool. Mauricio Pochettino’s side are unbeaten at home this season, winning 10 of their 12 matches, scoring 26 goals while conceding just five. Stoke moved up two places into ninth after beating Crystal Palace 1-0 thanks to a strike from Joe Allen. Mark Hughes’ men were thrashed 4-0 by Spurs at the bet365 Stadium earlier in the season, but they’ll face an even tougher challenge at White Hart Lane. The Potters have lost four of their last five away matches. The home win is a banker at 7/20.
Monday 27 February
4/1 Leicester City | 28/10 | Liverpool 13/20 (22:00)
Leicester City and Liverpool go head to head at the King Power Stadium on Monday in a crucial encounter for both sides. Claudio Ranieri’s men come into this game off the back of a 2-0 defeat at Swansea, their fifth consecutive loss – shipping 12 goals without finding the net. That wretched run of form has seen them slump to 17th in the table, just one point above the drop zone. The Foxes have to improve quickly if they want to avoid becoming the first ever Premier League champions to get relegated. A positive result against Liverpool will give them a massive lift, but Jurgen Klopp’s side are looking deadly since Sadio Mane’s return to the side. The Reds, who beat Leicester 4-1 at Anfield earlier this season, boosted their top four hopes with an impressive 2-0 win over Spurs thanks to a brace from Mane. Liverpool are tipped to come away with maximum points.
TREBLE @ 3/1
Chelsea Win 1/4
West Brom Win 21/20
Liverpool Win 13/20
Written by Chadley Nagel