3-5th May English Premier League

[slick]

Barclays Premier League
03 May 12:45 Man Utd v West Ham 1.16 7.00 17.00
03 May 15:00 Aston Villa v Wigan 1.53 3.80 7.00
03 May 15:00 Blackburn v Derby 1.25 5.50 13.00
03 May 15:00 Fulham v Birmingham 2.20 3.40 3.25
03 May 15:00 Middlesbrough v Portsmouth 2.00 3.50 3.75
03 May 15:00 Reading v Tottenham 2.20 3.40 3.25
03 May 17:15 Bolton v Sunderland 1.57 4.00 6.00
04 May 13:30 Arsenal v Everton 1.66 3.60 5.50
04 May 16:00 Liverpool v Man City 1.72 3.60 5.00
05 May 16:00 Newcastle v Chelsea 6.00 4.20 1.53

Odds Bet365


Other Bookies

[mrmuzeman]

Ooh look at that Super Sunday televised double. Arsenal/Liverpool @ 15/8 (bet365), I can see a lot of people taking that on. Its not like youd be one bit surprised for both of the homes to come in and at near 2/1 that looks very tasty. Both Everton and Man City have awful records at the 2 grounds as well.

Bolton at 4/6 at home is a bit of a joke as well isnt it?

[bromsgrovegreen]

fulham look tasty at odds against, bham poor away and cant keep a clean sheet for love or money, massive game, whoever loses is down basically

[VacheronLim]

gotta agree with liverpool and arsenal, although both are destined to finished 4th and 3th respectively, playing at home should give them the advantage to get positive results to end the season, despite having no trophies to show for their efforts

everton struggling in their last 7-8 matches, winning ONLY 1 game that's the home 1-0 win over derby, this allow a resurgent aston villa to close in on them. gunners tend to play better without pressure, just like in the previous season when they started to play and win only after they're mathematically outta the title race, weird behaviour eh?

onto liverpool, their last two league matches were not accurate indication with quite a fair amount of starting players taken out, with no chance of silverware this season, they ought to play out the season with good form. man city picked up a bit of form lately, only to haf the spectacular fall-out against fulham in the previous match, not to mention they're not so great travellers, should be a home win.

finally, aston villa should win against wigan and continue their charge up the table, possibly overtaking everton, their slightly better goal difference will give them the advantage. and heading into the final round of fixture, they'll be visiting an "uninterested" westham while everton will hafta contend with newcastle, so they'll need to grab this chance to win. wigan are no mugs of course, though not mathematically safe from relegation, to haf four teams leapfrogging them is kinda hard to imagine, so it's pratically season over for them

will opt for this trio, decent prices as well, good luck!

[slick]

Sat Games
Man Utd v West Ham
Ehhm the price for Man U here is shorter than short allthough everything points to a home win but West Ham are one of those sides that have got results at Old Trafford in the recent past so I'm gonna leave well alone no matter how much Curbishley is in love with Fergie.

Rooney once more also looks unlikely to play and Man u never look the same without him, I don't expect a shock here but i do expect the Hammers to be professional and give United a game with some open football considering they have nothing to play for, hence the reason i'd rather go for the overs here.

Over 2.5 goals.

Aston Villa v Wigan
Massive game for Wigan this one against a Villa side that is pretty much on form at the moment, Wigan need to go all out for at least a point here as they cannot chance going into the last game of the season expecting anything from Man U as long as they are still in the hunt for the Premiership title.

This being the last home game for Villa won't help Wigans cause but if they can hold in tight like they did at Stamford Bridge the other week then they could be good for a point.

Draw or lay Villa.

Blackburn v Derby
Not much analysis needed here as it should be a straight Blackburn win as Derby are well just shite i suppose
Blackburn look far to strong and this should be just a matter of how many they win by.

Blackburn win, +2.5 goals with Santa Cruz filling his boots.

Fulham v Birmingham
Wouldent like to be in either sides boots here as this game means so much for both teams, I think I'm right in thinking a loss or draw here will not suit neither side as if other results go against them either side could be relegated here so a win for whoever is a must and the mindset must be as such.

Very tough game to call as theres so little to choose between them allthough Fulham do look to be at pretty much full strength and there come back last week may give them that extra bit of confidence and team bonding they need.

Flick of a coin job but I'm going to opt for Fulham as due to home advantage and a wee bit of momentum behind them as they looked doomed weeks ago but have somehow managed to keep up with the other relegation candidates.

Fulham win

Middlesbrough v Portsmouth
Can't believe Boro are still in the relegation battle as they seemed to turn the corner after Christmas but obviously havent done enough allthough they have developed a habit of nicking points off the better sides.

Must win game for Boro and luckily for them they are facing a Portsmouth side that now have only eyes for the cup final and won't want to get into a battle.

If Middlesbrough take the game to Pompey and give em what for then I don't think they will get much in reply and should win this with ease so long as they don't become lapse as Portsmouth can hit hard on the break.

Middlesbrough win

Reading v Tottenham
Don't know what to make of Reading as Coppell seems to be losing the reins by banishing a couple more players from the club alongside those he has allready loaned out, for his sake I hope is strategy works but he does seem to be running out of quality players while trying to run the club with an Iron rod which just isnt him, still the proof will be in the pudding and we'll see what happens come the end of the season as it could back fire on him.

Tough game to call as allthough Spurs have nothing to play for as recent results show since the Carling Cup final, on paper they are head and shoulders above Reading who have everything to play for if they want to stay in the Premiership.

I'm going to go for the draw and wouldent be surprised to see another 1-1 which would be Spur's 5th one on the bounce.

Draw.

Bolton v Sunderland
Biggest game of the season for Bolton and what better time to play it than in your last home game and against a team who have just found safety in their last game which usually leads to any side taking their foot off the gas in subsequent games, And knowing your next game is away to Cheslea who will no doubt still be in the running for the prem title.

There cannot be a bigger initiative for Bolton to win here and they will more than welcome the return of Davies after suspension.

Nothing more than a win will do for Bolton and i expect them to get it.

Bolton win

[slick]

I'm not overly convinced of an Arsenal , Liverpool double so long as Everton have something to play for as Arsenal have slipped up more than once this season allthough once again Everton don't look the same side with the absence of Cahill.

Liverpool look a cracking price considering Citys record at Anfield but Wednesdays Champs league game at Chelsea will have took a lot out of them and they could be rather subdued for this one, Man City on the other hand may or may not want to go out with a bang for Sven and it all depends on the mindset of the players who turn out as City do have the talent to make this a decent game now they have learnt how to score again with Elano finding his form but at the opposite end Citys defence looks a bit at sixes and sevens at the moment and against players like Torres and Crouch who i expect to play in this one will struggle.

But those prices for Arsenal and Liverpool combined double are certainly tempting on past fixtures between the clubs as mentioned.

Newcastle v Chelsea will also be an interesting game allthough Chelsea look a bit short odds wise as Newcastle like they did against Arsenal will make this as uncomfortable as possible but a fully fit Chelsea outfit should be more than a match for them especially as they will be in a buoyant mood after two wins on the bounce against Man U and Liverpool, they will think they are invincible.

Chelsea for me and why not make it a BIG three treble for the fun of it.

[JimGalt]

Wigan +1 over Aston Villa

[Quandram]

I'm going against some here but I agree with Muse/

Bolton @ 1.67 What the hell is that about.

Fine they have to win and there are decent arguments for them doing so with Sunderland now safe… but 1.67

That just screams lay to me. And I think i’ll be taking it… unless i talk myself in to the following.

Relegation betting:
33pts -20 GD Bolton: vs Sunderland, @ Chelsea
33pts -28 GD Reading: vs Spurs, @ Derby
32pts -17 GD Brum: @ Fulham, vs Blackburn
30pts -25 GD Fulham: vs Brum, @ Pompey

For better or worse, I believe the following.

Bolton will not win today and get nothing from Chelsea.
Reading can get 4pts from those games, probably a minimum of 3pts.
Birmingham will lose to Fulham and then 1-3pts against Blackburn
Fulham will beat Birmingham and then 1-3pts vs Pompey

That would leave the following
Reading 36-7pts
Fulham 34-37pts
Birmingham 33-36pts
Bolton 33-34pts

This suggests I think Fulham will survive in the Prem. Curious. I think Birmingham are probably a better but I don’t see the same fight.

So lay Bolton today and/or back them for relegation (@ 2.75)
Back Fulham today @ 2.2 and/or lay them for relegation @ 1.22

Not decided yet totally but i can see me getting in to those bets.

[Kop66]

From LFC.TV

RAFA: LET'S PUT ON A SHOW
Jimmy Rice 03 May 2008


Rafa Benitez has told his players to put on a spectacle for the club's loyal fans when Manchester City visit Anfield on Sunday for the final home game of 2007-08. Though neither side has anything to play for in terms of league positions, the Liverpool boss wants his team to treat the fans to an entertaining display of football.

He said: "We have two games now. The first is important because it is at Anfield, where we want to win, play well and score goals.

"There are still small things that we can achieve this year. We can still be the team that's scored the most goals in England, we can still keep more clean sheets and we have six players on double figures. These are important things, so we'll try to do the right things in these games.

"It is not easy to keep the players focused and say 'we need to win this game'. But we must try to play good football. It will be the same for City, because they too are not under pressure. But sometimes when you are not under pressure you play better football.

"I cannot lie. We are thinking about next season too. We will look at the young players (for Sunday) but also the big names as well because it is a special day."

Meanwhile, Benitez has spoken of his surprise that Sven Goran Eriksson finds himself under pressure after just one season in charge at the City of Manchester.

He said: "They were having a really good season but lost a few games and cannot get into Europe.

"It is a surprise but we don't know everything. The only thing I can say is that they are doing a good job."

Asked about his own future and whether he'd like to match Alex Ferguson by staying at Liverpool for 21 years, Benitez added: "Yes, why not. I would be very pleased."

[El NihiL]

Originally Posted by slick

Sat Games
Man Utd v West Ham

Over 2.5 goals.

Aston Villa v Wigan
Draw or lay Villa.

Blackburn v Derby

Blackburn win, +2.5 goals with Santa Cruz filling his boots.

Fulham v Birmingham
Fulham win

Middlesbrough v Portsmouth
Middlesbrough win

Reading v Tottenham
Draw.

Bolton v Sunderland

Bolton win

Impressive; Only Reading v Tothenha draw prediction failed which is reasonable..

Congs mate

[slick]

Cheers El N, In future when i suspect a draw I'm just gonna lay the side with the shortest odds for a safer bet.

Only one more week to go now then we can put our lucky pins away for another season.

[kompressaur]

The general consensus seems to be that the Premier League title race is going down to the final day.

Manchester United have already done the business this weekend and now it's down to Chelsea to see off Newcastle and the pressure is really on. If they lose the title race is over; a draw isn't much use either.

If the Chelsea players and officials are truly honest, I suspect they'd have picked virtually any other fixture than a trip to Newcastle for their must-win penultimate game.

Not only are Newcastle in their best form of the season - they are now unbeaten in seven - but Chelsea have a shockingly-bad record here.

The Blues' modern history can easily by divided into pre- and post-Roman Abramovich periods and in the latter they have remarkably yet to win at St James' Park in a league fixture (and have also lost there in an FA Cup tie).

In fact they have only won two out of a possible 15 points on Tyneside since the Russian oligarch took over at Stamford Bridge.

By Chelsea's standards, that's awful.

The Blues have won at Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool during this period, so not to have triumphed at St James' is something of a surprise.

Historical records are often under-estimated by punters - their argument goes how does what happened years ago effect the current day.

However, these records get bought up in press conferences, radio interviews and the players will know of their unhappy memories at the ground - just like they remember those impressive wins at Old Trafford and Anfield.

History shows there are plenty of odd head-to-heads down the years.

Two that have been broken in recent seasons include Everton breaking a 50-year winless run at Elland Road and Manchester City finally winning at Old Trafford after 34 years.

Having made at least some sort of case for a slip-up, we're still not hugely convinced about Kevin Keegan's men, whose recent victories have all come against sides in the bottom half.

When they did come up against a solid defensive outfit (such as the one they'll face here) they failed to break down Portsmouth.

However, they have kept things unusually tight at the back and four clean sheets in the last six games suggest progress is being made in that department. Another shut-out can be backed at 5/1 with Stan James and Betdirect.

While that's tempting, the 10/1 chalked up about a goalless draw - back no goalscorer and insure yourself against own goals - also looks a tad big and that's our headline selection.

Going back to our original point, there looks real potential for this to prove a banana skin for the visitors for whom the pressure is now sky high.

They can be oppsoed at 7/5 in the 'double chance' market. This gets a home win and the draw on our side and looks worth a small play.

If you disagree with our analysis, you may be tempted by Michael Owen's price to score at any time.

There's no doubt the England striker is back in form - he has six goals in the Magpies' seven-match unbeaten run - so William Hill's 11/4 about a finisher of his quality is unlikely to be seen too often, especially for a home fixture.

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