Free football preview and betting tips: Saturday's eight Premier League games
There are 13/5, 11/5 and 13/2 tips in the betting preview for Saturday's eight-match Premier League programme, which concludes with the blockbuster Manchester derby.
Premier League recommended bets
1pt Brighton to beat Huddersfield under 2.5 goals at 13/5
2pts Tottenham to beat Stoke and over 3.5 goals at 11/5
2pts Swansea to beat West Brom and both teams to score at 13/2
For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record.
Everton v Liverpool (1230 BST, Sky Sports Main Event)
Everton haven’t beaten their fierce rivals Liverpool for a record 16 games, but they’ll never have a better chance as they welcome the Reds to Goodison for Saturday’s early kick-off.
Jurgen Klopp’s side will make the short trip across Stanley Park on an all-time high after their huge Champions League win over Manchester City, but the manager is far from happy with the timing of the 231st Merseyside derby.
Liverpool enjoyed that fantastic win over City, but it will have taken its toll on Klopp’s side both physically and emotionally – and with the second leg coming quickly on Tuesday, Klopp would ideally like to shuffle his pack, but his pack has been badly depleted.
They’re still not totally assured of a top four finish and the derby is still a huge game so Klopp no faces a huge dilemma in terms of selection against an Everton team who will be bang up for the contest and sensing they can take advantage of any European hangover or distraction.
There’s a huge question mark over Mohamed Salah after he limped out of the City game, while Virgil van Dijk and Dejan Lovren are Liverpool’s only fit centre backs as 19-year-old Conor Masterson made Wednesday night’s bench as the only cover.
Nathaniel Clyne and Alberto Moreno could be optional replacements at full back after Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold produced lung-busting efforts on Wednesday.
Emre Can is still struggling with a back injury and may be held back for Tuesday but captain Jordan Henderson will play as he’s suspended for the second leg – up front Danny Ings and Dominic Solanke are options.
Everton’s recent form has been mixed, but their record against Liverpool is poor, with just one win in their last 22 league derbies, but Sam Allardyce will sense the time is right to end that run.
The Toffees have injury problems of their own with Idrissa Gueye still a doubt while Gylfi Sigurdsson, Eliaquim Mangala, Gylfi Sigurdsson, James McCarthy and Mason Holgate are all out.
Cenk Tosun has four goals in his last four and carries the biggest threat for the Toffees, but with four draws in the last five meetings that could be the way forward in this one.
Score prediction: Everton 1-1 Liverpool (Sky Bet odds: 11/2) (Paul Higham)
Best bet: Under 2.5 goals at 10/11
Alternative bet: Cenk Tosun to score in 90 minutes 2/1
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (1500 BST)
Crystal Palace might just sense that there’s some light at the end of the tunnel as they travel south to face Bournemouth, who are just outside the relegation zone after a nightmare run of fixtures.
Roy Hodgson’s side may have lost five of their last six but four of those games came against ‘top six’ sides and three of them only ended in defeat thanks to goals in the last six minutes of the game.
Performances in those big games have given Palace great hope of completing their escape from relegation, but now they have to show that in what is a tough assignment at the Vitality Stadium.
It is Bournemouth’s home form of late that has kept them away from danger – winning four of their last six at home to put them in 10th place, albeit just nine points above the drop zone.
Having Wilfried Zaha back is a huge bonus for Palace, he showed against Liverpool why he is such a big miss for the Eagles when not playing.
Christian Benteke looked woefully short of confidence though when missing a couple of golden chances against Liverpool, and against decent home a side like Bournemouth it could be a struggle to get maximum points.
Score prediction: Bournemouth 2-1 Crystal Palace (Sky Bet odds: 17/2) (Paul Higham)
Best bet: Bournemouth to beat Crystal Palace at 7/5
Alternative bet: Bournemouth win and both teams to score at 10/3
Brighton v Huddersfield (1500 BST)
Brighton are being dragged back into the relegation scrap but Huddersfield are bang in the thick of it after a poor recent run when they’ve lost to Palace and Newcastle and drawn against ten-man Swansea at home.
It’s definitely crunch time for the Seagulls as although they sit six points above the drop zone they have a dastardly difficult run of fixtures to end the season – they face another relegation scrap with derby rivals Crystal Palace travelling to Burnley and facing all of the top four sides in the league.
Huddersfield have the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City to face themselves in the run-in so that makes Saturday’s game even more vital, although it may be a case of a must-not-lose game rather than a must-win.
Albion may well settle for a point to remain three points ahead of the Terriers with a game in hand, but maximum points on Saturday may just be enough for Brighton to secure their Premier League survival.
Goals have been of short supply for both sides, Brighton have gone three games without a goal, even having a penalty saved in their last game, while Huddersfield have gone one better and gone four games without finding the back of the net.
Score prediction: Brighton 2-0 Huddersfield (Sky Bet odds: 13/2) (Paul Higham)
Best bet: Brighton to beat Huddersfield and under 2.5 goals at 13/5
Alternative bet: Glenn Murray to score in 90 minutes at 11/8
Leicester v Newcastle (1500 BST)
Leicester welcome Newcastle to the King Power Stadium on Saturday with both sides sitting in mid-table.
Rafa Benitez's Newcastle side find themselves seven points clear of relegation with seven games remaining and we'd expect to see them back in the Premier League this season.
For Leicester, they should achieve a top-ten finish under Claude Puel. The Foxes are eight points behind Arsenal in sixth, but could potentially capitalise if Arsene Wenger's side elect to prioritise the Europa League in order to secure Champions League qualification.
Both sides have been in decent form in recent weeks and both have won their last two league outings. Newcastle emerged victorious against Huddersfield whilst Leicester earned three points an away trip at Brighton last time out.
The hosts will be eager for a win in front of their crowd given the fact they've drawn their last three home games 1-1.
Newcastle are without a win in their last four away games, but did pick up points in draws with Bournemouth and Crystal Palace back in February.
Despite the recent form, the Magpies have secured points on the road this season, sitting mid-table in the Premier League's away standings.
It was Leicester chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha's 60th birthday on Wednesday, and he's celebrating with the fans by offering them a free beer for those in attendance.
He'll be hopeful of a win to top the celebrations, and Leicester can be found at even money to do just that.
Jamie Vardy is enjoying another good season with the East Midlands outfit having struck the net on 18 occasions. The England international is hitting more good form having scored twice in his last two outings.
The 31-year-old can be found at 5/4 to score anytime on Saturday, and you'd imagine he'd be amongst the goals if Leicester are to strike.
Score prediction: Leicester City 2-0 Newcastle United (Sky Bet odds: 15/2) (Tom Carnduff)
Best bet: Leicester to beat Newcastle and over 1.5 goals at 6/4
Alternative bet: Jamie Vardy to score anytime at 5/4
Stoke v Tottenham (1500 BST)
Stoke are facing the real prospect of lining up in the Sky Bet Championship next season and they'll be expecting little when they welcome Tottenham to the bet365 Stadium this weekend.
The Potter are three points adrift of safety with the games counting down and have lost their last three games in the league.
For Spurs, an impressive victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last weekend moved them eight points clear in the top-four, and they should be in the Champions League against during 2018/19.
Mauricio Pochettino's men have won their last five Premier League games, and are unbeaten in their last 13 in the league which sees them in the strong position that they are.
Stoke meanwhile, haven't won in their last eight and have picked up just four points in that period. That's why they find themselves as 2/7 second-favourites for relegation this season.
Unsurprisingly, Tottenham are 1/3 favourites here but there may be more value in backing Spurs to win and goals in the match.
Both of their last two away games have finished in their favour with four or more goals, those being the 3-1 win over Chelsea and the 4-1 victory at Bournemouth.
Tottenham to win and over 3.5 goals in the match is available at 11/5, which seems decent value given their recent results on the road.
Another market to explore would be corners. Stoke find themselves as the team who concede the most corners per game with an average of 11.28 against.
Whereas Tottenham sit in fourth in the corner standings, with an average of 11.06 every game (for/against). Their last five away games have seen an average of 11.8 corners, with Stoke conceding a total of 19 corners in their last two home games.
Over 11.5 corners can be found at 6/4, with over 9.5 Tottenham corners available at odds-against at 5/4.
Score prediction: Stoke 1-4 Tottenham (Sky Bet odds: 18/1) (Tom Carnduff)
Best bet: Tottenham to beat Stoke and over 3.5 goals at 11/5
Alternative bet: Over 11.5 corners at 6/4
Watford v Burnley (1500 BST)
A meeting between two sides both vying for a top-half finish.
Watford are 11th, behind Bournemouth only on goal difference. Their nine-point gap over the bottom three should be enough to see them safe, while they are eight points from matching their best ever points total (45 in 2015/16).
The Hornets are winless in their last three and it is fair to say Javi Gracia has gone under the radar since arriving in January, with managerial focus elsewhere helping him adjust quietly to life in Hertfordshire.
The 47-year-old has won three out of nine games, including a thrilling 4-1 victory over Chelsea, but he has had a number of first-team injuries to contend with and the good news is that a number of players are returning.
Will Hughes is one of those back to fitness, with many tipping the former Derby man for a surprise call up to England’s World Cup squad after his man-of-the-match performance v Bournemouth last weekend.
The 22-year-old midfielder, who has two goals and three assists in nine league appearances this term, offers Watford something different, with an eye for a pass and the ability to quickly turn defence into attack.
He will have to be sharp when he comes up against Burnley, the best league side in England so far this season - outside the ‘big six’.
They were the Premier League’s second-worst team away from home last season, but an improvement this time around has seen them go to sixth-best.
Two of their six wins on the road have come in their last two fixtures, at West Ham and West Brom, and I fancy them to make it three in a row here.
Sean Dyche’s side had a mid-season blip, yet their barnstorming first half of the campaign meant they only dropped to seventh. They have picked it up again as they find themselves on the back of a four-match unbeaten run and Ashley Barnes is a man in form. He has netted in four successive games – with last week’s strike similar to Cristiano Ronaldo’s Champions League volley – and you can back him to score anytime at 11/4 or in a score-and-win double at 4s.
At odds of 5/2, you cannot go wrong with an away win, or if you want more value Burnley to win and both teams to score at 13/2 could be a good shout.
Score prediction: Watford 1-2 Burnley (Sky Bet odds: 10/1) (George Pitts)
Best bet: Burnley to beat Watford at 5/2
Alternative bet: Score-and-win double – Ashley Barnes/Burnley at 4/1
West Brom v Swansea (1500 BST)
They may have changed managed managers, but it is hard to see West Brom getting something from any game at the minute.
Baggies coach Darren Moore was placed in temporary charge after Alan Pardew became the next Premier League boss to leave his job this term, with the club 10 points from safety with just 18 to play for.
They had won just one league match under Pardew in 18 games and he had a number of difficult situations to deal with both on and off the pitch.
While the West Brom hierarchy will have accepted the fact they probably will be a Sky Bet Championship club next season, a change was needed for both parties and it was better coming sooner rather than later.
Despite their run of nine successive defeats in all competitions, they can still be backed at around 15/10 for the victory at Hawthorns, while the Swans are 23/10.
Carlos Carvalhal’s men will be no pushovers though, with Premier League survival very much still to play for.
The Portuguese boss, in talks about extending his stay at the Liberty Stadium, took over the club when they were five points adrift of safety with 18 games remaining.
Fast forward ten games and City are three points clear of 18th-placed Southampton and have a game in-hand over a couple of teams around them.
They are winless in their last three – albeit two of their opponents being Tottenham and Manchester United – and this is a perfect chance for them to bounce back and kick-start their form going into the closing stages of the season.
As mentioned, they look a good price for a straight victory and there is even more value elsewhere.
Jordan Ayew serves the final match of his suspension, so Tammy Abraham to score any time at 28/13 could be tempting, but Swansea to win and both teams to score at 6s looks excellent as Albion have scored in four of their last five outings. Swansea to win and over 1.5 goals at just over 10/3 is also appealing.
Score prediction: West Brom 1-2 Swansea (Sky Bet odds: 10/1) (George Pitts)
Best bet: Swansea to win and both teams to score at 13/2
Alternative bet: Swansea to win at 23/10
Manchester City v Manchester United (1730 BST, Sky Sports Main Event)
The match where Manchester City can finally seal the Premier League title.
Despite it being at the Etihad, off the back of five straight wins in the league and the fact City have only lost to Liverpool in the top flight this term, it could be a lot tougher than it sounds.
Pep Guardiola’s men will be keen to secure their champion status as soon as possible, as well as claiming bragging derby rights, but their focus could be on Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final second leg.
To the surprise of most, City were beaten 3-0 by Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday and they must go all out if they want to book a semi-final place for a second year in a row.
In the rare occasions City have lost this season, they have bounced back and I am backing them to do so again this time around.
Jose Mourinho’s United will need no extra motivation, with the ex-Real Madrid manager’s rivalry with ex-Barca boss Guardiola, as well as stopping them being declared champions on derby day.
The Red Devils are in the hunt for a runners-up finish and by kick-off they will know the result of Liverpool’s Merseyside derby with Everton – if Jurgen Klopp’s side are victorious then it is a must-win for Mourinho’s men.
You can back United to win at just over 3s, with City odds-on with most outlets.
Man United have won eight of their last 10 Premier League outings, slipping up at Tottenham and Newcastle, but I can see them coming unstuck at the Etihad.
Just because Guardiola is expected to rotate does not mean they will field a weakened team. Their strength in depth is an understatement, with £40m-£50m players waiting in the wings for their opportunity.
It will not be easy but Guardiola should make sure his side are ready to bounce back and confirm their status as 2017/18 Premier League champions.
A full-time result and BTTS in their favour is 11/4, while they missed Sergio Aguero in midweek and in his absence Gabriel Jesus in a score-and-win double at 2/1 is also eye-catching, as is Raheem Sterling to score anytime at just over 2/1.
Score Prediction: Manchester City 3-2 Manchester United (Sky Bet odds: 25/1) (George Pitts)
Best bet: Manchester City to win and both teams to score at 11/4
Alternative bet: Raheem Sterling to score anytime at 2/1
Posted at 1645 BST (05/04/18)
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