Although there isn’t a full card of EPL action this weekend thanks to the FA Cup semi finals playing at Wembley, there are still seven matches from the top flight being played around the UK this Saturday, Sunday and Monday. There are some big names in Saturday’s four games, with Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool all taking to the field of play, and we preview all of these Premier League matches with online sportsbook Unibet.com to provide our best EPL picks.
Man City v Stoke: 1.30 – 5.90 – 11.50
The Potters face a tough weekend as they open the EPL card by travelling to The Etihad Stadium to face the second highest scorers in the league having conceded four goals in both of their two matches since losing number one goalkeeper Jack Butland to an injury sustained on England duty. With Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne leading for the home side in this lunchtime kick off on the blue half of Manchester Stoke will surely be worried about their defensive capabilities once again, even with their 2-0 home win this season and 1-0 triumph on this ground last season.
Adding to the poor form of the away side in this match is the loss of winger Xherdan Shaqiri after he suffered injury in the 4-0 home defeat to Tottenham on Monday night. Conversely for City, they welcome back key playmaker David Silva and he will boost a midfield already overflowing with talent. The returning Spaniard will be a key creative outlet for the home side while the slick and flowing football from Manuel Pellegrini’s men will prove too much for a Stoke side that is limping towards the end of the season.
Our top tip in this Man City v Stoke match is back the home side to win by at least two goals (Man City -1) at odds of 1.72 at Unibet.
Bournemouth v Chelsea: 3.05 – 3.60 – 2.40
The first ever meeting of these two sides in the top flight earlier this season saw a surprise result as an 82nd minute Glenn Murray winner saw Bournemouth claim a 1-0 victory at Stamford Bridge. Although since getting rid of Jose Mourinho and installing Guus Hiddink as interim Chelsea have flown up from the table from just outside the bottom three to tenth another victory for Bournemouth will see them level on points with the outgoing champions. They will be boosted by the return of Callum Wilson who scored five in nine at the start of the season before suffering a knee ligament injury in September, and while Wilson is not likely to start as he is eased back into the team he will bring a goal threat against a side that has not beaten anyone outside of the bottom four since February.
As well as their poor form Chelsea are missing goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois after his red card in the 3-0 defeat by Man City last weekend. However, with just three goals conceded away in eight away league games since Hiddink took charge of the squad they will be confident of keeping the home side out this time around. The Cherries have had a tough end to the season so far with three of their last four matches seeing losses to Tottenham, Man City and Liverpool, and this match will be just as tough too. However, wins against Southampton and Swansea at this ground recently will give them confidence that they can compete with the Londoners.
We feel that this match will have an end of season feel to it with slow and cagey football that will likely be decided by a single goal. As a result of this, we feel that the value on this match comes from few goals to be scored at The Vitality Stadium this Saturday afternoon.
We are backing Under 2.5 goals in this Bournemouth v Chelsea game @ 2.05 with Unibet.com.
Liverpool v Newcastle: 1.57 – 4.55 – 6.00
It may be late on in the season but the giant that is Newcastle Football Club is waking up as they have finally found some backbone with a 3-0 win over Swansea and a 1-1 draw with Manchester City over the last week seeing them now within two points of safety at the foot of the EPL table. As they play before their relegation rivals of Norwich and Sunderland they have the chance to move out of the drop zone with all three points at Anfield this Saturday. However, with Liverpool unbeaten in six, including winning all of their last four, this match for Newcastle could also see them in trouble of being cast adrift if they don’t win.
Liverpool have the form right now, but with Divock Origi and Christian Benteke out with ankle and knee injuries respectively they will find themselves short of striking options for this clash. However, with Daniel Sturridge, Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino all finding the net recently there is plenty of firepower left in the team. With former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez returning to Anfield the atmosphere at this match is sure to electric and this promises plenty of action and excitement, which will further boost the recent good form of the home side and leads us to believe that the away side’s upturn in fortunes will be ended at Anfield this Saturday. We also expect the in-form Daniel Sturridge to score at least one in this victory too.
Our best Liverpool v Newcastle bet is back the home win with Sturridge to score anytime at odds of 2.60 in the Unibet Sportsbook!
Aston Villa v Southampton: 6.75 – 4.20 – 1.57
Although they have already been relegated, the humiliation does not end for Aston Villa as David Bernstein and Lord Mervyn King have resigned from the Villa board citing owner Randy Lerner making their positions untenable while caretaker manager has dropped Jores Okore after he refused to play for the club. The fact that Southampton, who have lost just one of six matches before this weekend’s clash in the Midlands, are available at odds of 1.57 to beat an Aston Villa side that is a shambles and has lost nine successive games is an amazing price.
The Saints have more than enough skill and firepower to rip Villa apart so we are backing the awya win and goals in this game.
Our money is on Southampton to beat Aston Villa by at least two goals (Southampton -1) at Villa Park @ 2.55.
Bonus Pick:
Everton v Man United: 4.00 – 3.45 – 2.00
The first FA Cup finalist will be decided at Wembley Stadium this Saturday evening as two sides in very different places descend upon the English capital. Everton come into this match with a talented squad that is unable to win matches as two of their three wins since the start of February have come in this competition (with the other against Aston Villa) and they are without a win in six since beating Chelsea to secure a place at Wembley. Man United have a much more limited team, but are finally getting on top of things as they are just two points off the top four in the EPL and have lost just one of their last eight, winning five of six before today.
United certainly have the advantage in form and with Everton missing the suspended Ramiro Funes Mori while Seamus Coleman, Phil Jagielka and Gareth Barry are all out with injuries for this match their defence is looking a little short too, especially with John Stones leaving the Merseyside Derby with stomach cramps. United have conceded just one goal in their five winning matches recently, although their loss did see Tottenham triumph 3-0, so they are again in the lead on numbers of defenders available and defensive ability too.
United have won both meetings with Everton this season, winning 1-0 and 3-0 at Old Trafford and Goodison Park, and while the pressure of a cup semi final will be completely different we feel that everything points towards a Manchester United victory.
Our bonus pick from the first FA Cup semi final is back Man United to beat Everton at odds of 2.00 with Unibet.com.