With just two weekends left in the Premier League season, Saturday’s action could be pivotal at both the top and bottom of the table.
Manchester City, seeking a fourth consecutive Premier League title, open proceedings in the early kick-off and the Citizens will go two points clear at the top of the table if they beat Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Another seven Saturday Premier League fixtures follow the City game. Our fivefold includes a best bet from each of Saturday’s top-flight clashes.
- EVERTON HALF-TIME/FULL-TIME VS SHEFFIELD UNITED
- BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE - SPURS VS BURNLEY
- OVER 2.5 GOALS - WEST HAM VS LUTON
- MAN CITY -1 HANDICAP VS FULHAM
- UNDER 2.5 GOALS - NOTTINGHAM FOREST VS CHELSEA
Everton vs Sheffield United
This season has been a topsy-turvy one for Everton followers, with a ten-point deduction rocking them in November, followed by an appeal, then further punishment for alleged breaches of profit and sustainability rules.
Sean Dyche and his team should take great credit for keeping morale and form up sufficiently for Everton to retain their Premier League status. They go into the penultimate weekend of the season with 37 points and can end their Goodison Park campaign on a high.
Rumours have even surfaced about Dyche being offered the Manchester United job, such is the impressive way he has steered the Toffees to safety through these troubled times.
Whether that scenario will play out or not, expect Everton to play with freedom and on the front foot against Sheffield United in their final home game of the season.
United, relegated last month after a 5-1 thrashing at Newcastle, have lost their last five matches and are understandably lacking stomach for competition. It has been an embarrassing season for the Blades and they seem unlikely to offer much resistance at Goodison.
Everton to be leading at half-time and winning at full-time seems a strong basis of any Saturday Premier League accumulator.
EVERTON HALF-TIME AND FULL-TIME
Tottenham vs Burnley
Burnley need to win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to retain hopes of Premier League survival, so the Clarets should set up with a more offensive formation than normal.
Tottenham have been extremely vulnerable at the back in recent games, particularly from set-pieces, so Burnley will have high hopes of getting on the scoresheet.
Spurs are finishing their season with a hectic schedule, having lost to Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool in the last fortnight, so there could be some tired legs in the home camp.
Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou has an attacking instinct, so he seems certain to approach this game in typically gung-ho fashion. Both teams to score seems a solid way of enhancing a Saturday Premier League accumulator.
Both teams have scored in Tottenham's last 13 Premier League home games, so expect both onion bags to bulge in London on Saturday.
West Ham vs Luton Town
Luton Town's attacking instincts should help them going into their London derby against West Ham. A point is not really enough for Luton in this game - time is running out for the Hatters in their quest for survival - and anything less than three points from this trip would leave them staring relegation in the face.
Nottingham Forest are three points ahead of Luton - and the Tricky Trees have a superior goal difference - so Forest are in charge with just two games each for both teams left to play.
Luton must target six points from their final two matches and hope that is enough to leapfrog Forest out of the relegation zone.
The attacking intent of Luton on Saturday means over 2.5 goals looks a solid investment for the London Stadium showdown. Expect three or more goals, with mid-table West Ham happy to go on the offensive, too.
Fulham vs Manchester City
Manchester City appear on the brink of a fourth consecutive Premier League title and it is difficult to see them slipping up at Craven Cottage on Saturday.
Pep Guardiola's side have been able to focus on the Premier League ever since they exited the Champions League and it is a frightening prospect for their opponents in the closing weeks of the season that energy levels are high in the Citizens' camp.
City have not played since thrashing Wolves 5-1 at the Etihad Stadium last Saturday, so expect the champions to start in intense and ruthless fashion at Fulham.
Mid-table Fulham probably have more than one eye on their summer holidays - the Cottagers have no obvious motivation for resisting City other than professional pride.
Cynics might even suggest that Fulham would rather City win the Premier League than their London rivals Arsenal.
Whatever the issues over motivation, City are the best team in Britain, and the visitors can be expected to comfortably cover a minus-one-goal handicap at Fulham.
MANCHESTER CITY -1 ON HANDICAP
Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea
The 5.30pm teatime fixture is a fascinating one, as relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest host inconsistent Chelsea at the City Ground.
Forest will have a clearer picture of where they stand in the relegation battle come the start of this game. With Luton Town and Burnley both playing at 3pm, Forest will be able to see how their rivals have performed before taking on the Blues.
If Burnley fail to beat Tottenham, then Forest will be in a straight head-to-head contest with Luton Town for Premier League survival.
If Luton lose at West Ham, Forest will essentially be safe. Should Town draw at the London Stadium, Forest will need a point against Chelsea to all but guarantee survival.
If Luton beat West Ham, Forest's mission against Chelsea does not change too much. A draw against the Blues would still be a fantastic result, leaving Forest in charge of their own destiny heading into the final set of fixtures.
All things considered, with Forest knowing a draw against Chelsea will be golden whatever happens in the 3pm kick-offs, betting under 2.5 goals seems a smart move. If Forest set up defensively, the often lacklustre Chelsea can be repelled.
