There are six Premier League games on a busy Saturday of football in the top flight, starting with a clash between Europe chasing Newcastle and Tottenham at St James’ Park.
Two teams battling the drop meet in one of four 3pm kick-offs as Brentford host rock-bottom Sheffield United. Fellow strugglers Burnley, Luton and Nottingham Forest are also involved in the afternoon against Brighton, title contenders Manchester City and Wolves respectively.
Manchester United head to Bournemouth in the late kick-off to complete this sextet of fixtures from England’s top flight.
- Tottenham to win at Newcastle and BTTS
- Over 3.5 goals in Brentford vs Sheffield United
- Burnley to win v Brighton
- Kevin De Bruyne to score for Manchester City v Luton
- BTTS in Nottingham Forest v Wolves
- Manchester United to win at Bournemouth
Newcastle vs Tottenham
Newcastle sit in eighth place in the table but as it stands the top six will qualify for European competition next season, so the Magpies are still very much in the hunt.
Spurs hold the coveted fourth spot after moving ahead of Aston Villa last weekend and they come into the game in fine form, with four wins and just one defeat in their last six games.
Newcastle lost the reverse fixture 4-1 and have a host of injury issues for Saturday’s clash with Callum Wilson, Valentino Livramento and Joelinton among their absentees, and Spurs should be able to take advantage of their weakened hosts.
The Magpies haven’t failed to score in a home game since October - a run stretching 12 games in all competitions - and Spurs have gone four games without a clean sheet, so backing the visitors to win in a game with goals at both ends appeals here.
TOTTENHAM TO WIN AND BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
Brentford vs Sheffield United
Going for goals could be the best approach in the key clash at the bottom between Brentford and Sheffield United.
The Bees are four points clear of the bottom three and still have some work to do to avoid the drop. The Blades look doomed as they are nine points adrift of safety but they haven’t given up just yet and last week they fought back twice to snatch a point at Chelsea.
Both of these teams have adopted a bit of a gung-ho approach in their respective survival bids and that suggests goals could be on the cards.
Over 3.5 goals has been a winning bet in each of the Blades’ last five games and they have scored eight themselves across their last four, while Brentford played out a thrilling 3-3 draw with Aston Villa last weekend and have only failed to score in one of their last 10 at home.
Burnley vs Brighton
Burnley slipped to a damaging defeat at relegation rivals Everton last time out but can bounce back against Brighton on Saturday.
Albion look to be meandering towards a mid-table finish and they’ve now failed to score in back-to-back games after offering little in a 3-0 loss to Arsenal at home last time out.
The Clarets were unbeaten in four prior to their defeat at Goodison and they have picked up four points from the last six available at home.
Burnley are big price underdogs here and they look backable as they attempt to pull off a great escape that seemed an impossible task just a few weeks ago.
Manchester City vs Luton
Manchester City take on Luton on Saturday and the games are coming thick and fast for the defending champions as next week they entertain Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final, with the tie finely poised at 3-3.
Kevin De Bruyne was a notable absentee from the City side at the Bernabeu as he was left on the bench in that pulsating stalemate but he should return to the starting side on Saturday.
The Belgian scored twice and registered an assist in the win over Crystal Palace in the last round of league games and will be desperate to make an impact against the Hatters in a bid to force his way into contention for a start when Los Blancos visit Manchester.
KEVIN DE BRUYNE TO SCORE ANYTIME
Nottingham Forest vs Wolves
Nottingham Forest are scrapping for survival and a four-point deduction has put them in real danger of dropping out of the division.
Forest come up against a Wolves side with little left to play for this weekend but the visitors have still been putting in some solid performances and were perhaps unlucky not to claim at least a point in a 2-1 defeat to West Ham last weekend.
Both teams have scored in four of the visitors’ last five games and they have gone six without a clean sheet across all competitions.
Forest have conceded in each of their last nine games and they have seen both teams score in each of their last four. They have managed a respectable 23 goals in 16 home games this term so both teams should be capable of getting on the scoresheet at the City Ground.
Bournemouth vs Manchester United
It has been a disappointing season for Manchester United as they failed to mount any kind of title challenge and they may miss out on a place in Europe altogether for next season.
United did manage to hold Liverpool to a draw last weekend, putting a dent in their fierce rivals’ title bid, and can use that performance as a springboard for a strong finish to the campaign - starting with three points at Bournemouth on Saturday.
The Cherries won 3-0 at Old Trafford in December and this is a chance for Erik Ten Hag’s side to take a bit of revenge.
United have won six of their last nine on the road and Bournemouth offered very little at Luton last weekend, so take the visitors to grind out a win at the Vitality Stadium.
