Not many are going to back any of the current top four falling out of the Champions League places after Tottenham Hotspur's win at Stamford Bridge last Sunday, while the Premier League title could be decided this weekend.
Even what was once a tight race at the bottom of the table is beginning to separate out with West Brom likely gone and the likes of Stoke City and Southampton in considerable trouble. There is still some juice in that battle though, and it does feel like the remaining weeks of the season in the League will be concentrating on the bottom rather than the top.
For others the FA Cup and Champions League might become the priority going forward and so you have to consider team changes for League games at this time of the season.
This weekend is a prime example of that with both Liverpool and Manchester City tipped to rest big name players for their Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg, yet both are involved in big time derby games too.
It is something to consider as we move into the Weekend Picks from the Premier League with matches taking place on Saturday and Sunday.
Everton v Liverpool Pick: The Merseyside derby opens the Premier League weekend and the big question is how much the Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg is going to be a distraction for Liverpool despite a commanding lead from the First Leg.
Jurgen Klopp has not been happy with the early Saturday kick off for this fixture, but I am not sure where he would have wanted the game placed this weekend? The television companies were obviously going to pick the game for televised selection and the Manchester derby had the late Saturday slot so it seems like just a pointless reason to complain.
At least the manager will be happier with a 3-0 lead over Manchester City in the Champions League Quarter Final and the 10 point lead over Chelsea in the race for the top four in the Premier League. That means Liverpool have every chance to have their most successful season for a number of years, although Everton will come into this one looking to play spoiler for their visitors.
Everton tried to fight fire with fire against Manchester City last weekend and it did not work out for Sam Allardyce like he would have wanted in a 1-3 home defeat. The fans remain unconvinced about Allardyce and it seems more and more likely Everton will be looking for a new manager at the end of the current season.
Allardyce can change some perceptions if he can lead Everton to a first home win over Liverpool since October 2010 and I would be surprised if he decides to change his approach to this fixture markedly from last week. With the away side expected to make some changes, Everton could really try and get after Liverpool and Allardyce could look to earn some big brownie points from the home fans with an upset win on Saturday.
Liverpool look short considering the likes of Mohammad Salah could be rested for the Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg against Manchester City on Tuesday. They also looked vulnerable to Crystal Palace last weekend and I do think Everton can pose problems for Liverpool, although Everton too have lacked defensive discipline and will find it hard to contain Liverpool.
Games between these teams at Goodison Park have been tight affairs in recent years, but Everton's approach could be different this time around and I think they will look to get on the front foot. That will leave spaces for Liverpool too and backing at least three goals to be shared out looks to be the call at a decent looking price.
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace Pick: This is a big game for Crystal Palace who are desperate to try and avoid the drop, but they are not going to have it easy against Bournemouth despite the home team looking like they have pulled away from any real relegation threat.
While Bournemouth are a side who will offer up chances for opponents, Crystal Palace have to respect the fact that their hosts have been scoring goals for fun in recent weeks.
Bournemouth have scored at least twice in 6 of their last 7 home Premier League games and they have won 4 of their last 6 here. While Crystal Palace did earn a clean sheet in their last away game at Huddersfield Town, Bournemouth clearly carry a much greater goal threat than The Terriers and they won't take a backwards step in this one with the way Eddie Howe approaches most fixtures.
On the other hand, Crystal Palace have scored goals away from home and are facing a Bournemouth team who have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last 10 home Premier League games. Crystal Palace themselves have scored in 9 straight away games in all competitions and this fixture looks like being one that will produce at least three goals.
Both teams should contribute to a decent game of football and the points on offer are important enough for the teams to chase. Crystal Palace would likely take a point right now, but I think the approach of Bournemouth will mean there are spaces for both teams to exploit and I will back at least three goals shared out for the second time this season between these two teams.
Brighton v Huddersfield Town Pick: There are a couple of fixtures this weekend in the Premier League which are almost 'relegation six pointers' but they do involve a couple of teams who can pull away from any relegation fears with home wins.
Both are on the south coast where Bournemouth host Crystal Palace and Brighton host Huddersfield Town on Saturday afternoon.
In both cases home wins would ease any relegation fears considerable for those teams and Chris Hughton won't ignore how important this game is for Brighton. The remaining fixture list for Brighton is really difficult and a loss would put them in a precarious position, but a win for Brighton may already be good enough to begin planning for Premier League football for another season.
Brighton have been in good form at the Amex Stadium and they will believe only a missed penalty late in the game against Leicester City prevented them winning another fixture. That came when the fixture was still goalless before Brighton were undone by Leicester City, but prior to that Brighton had won 3 straight League wins in this Stadium.
They have been creating chances and scoring goals at home and that should give them the edge against a Huddersfield Town team who have not travelled that well. Huddersfield Town have only scored 10 away goals this season and 9 of those came in their 3 away wins at Crystal Palace, Watford and West Brom.
Those results have to be respected, but Brighton are a team who show decent shape defensively and I think they will be able to do enough to contain Huddersfield Town.
The visitors also have a habit of conceding goals away from home and that is where I like Brighton's chances of earning a vital three points in this fixture. They have beaten Huddersfield Town the last two times they have visited this part of the south coast and I think Brighton's attacking intent in recent weeks has been rewarded with goals.
It will be tight at times, but I will back Brighton to win this one this weekend.
Leicester City v Newcastle United Pick: You have to begin to question the motivation of players in the weeks ahead as their ambitions for the season begin to be achieved.
There is still enough for both Leicester City and Newcastle United to try and produce their best football as they go into the final six weeks of the Premier League season. For the home team the chance to get back into European Football is a big carrot for a strong ending, while Newcastle United still need a few more points to secure their Premier League status for another season.
Both teams have been in decent form in recent weeks which does make this a slightly more difficult game to read.
However I do think home advantage should be enough for Leicester City to earn the three points even if they have drawn their last 3 home Premier League games by the same 1-1 scoreline. Having back to back wins at West Brom and Brighton will have helped the confidence of the players who are trying to finish at least 7th in the Premier League table.
I still have to offer respect for a Newcastle United team who have been difficult to beat in recent matches. They might not be as strong going forward as they would like, but Rafa Benitez keeps them defensively organised which could make it tough for Leicester City to break them down and win the fixture.
The fact Newcastle United are not quite as good away from home and their poor recent record at Leicester City is enough to back the home team for me here. The Foxes have drawn a few too many games at home in recent weeks, but they have the attacking players to find a way past Newcastle United and they have to be worth backing for the three points at the prices available.
Stoke City v Tottenham Hotspur Pick: Paul Lambert has got his Stoke City playing with a little more confidence than when Mark Hughes left the club, but it was results he was looking for rather than praise.
Unfortunately for Lambert, Stoke City have struggled for consistent results and Charlie Adam should take a large portion of the blame having missed a penalty in one game to drop two points and then being sent off after half an hour of another winnable home game.
Those points have left Stoke City 3 points from safety and with a difficult remaining fixture list and also an inferior goal difference to most above them.
It certainly looks a big task to get out of trouble and now Stoke City have to face a Tottenham Hotspur team who have handed out some real beatings to Stoke City in recent years. The fact that Tottenham Hotspur are also playing with real confidence does not bode well for Stoke City as they have won 3 consecutive games, all away from home and while scoring at least three times each time.
Harry Kane should be back to lead the line and Tottenham Hotspur look a team that could end this season in very strong form with the fixtures remaining for them. Winning the FA Cup would be the icing on the cake for Tottenham Hotspur and I think they are going to be too strong for Stoke City on Saturday in the current form they are in.
Stoke City have lost their last couple of home games in the Premier League and I think Tottenham Hotspur will wear them down. The last 4 between these teams have resulted in wins for Tottenham Hotspur each time and they have outscored Stoke City 17-1 in those games.
Tottenham Hotspur have won 3 consecutive away games while scoring at least three times each time and I will back them to cover the Asian Handicap here.
Manchester City v Manchester United Pick: The Manchester derby will always be a big game for the fans of the two clubs involved, but it is hard to get a read on how the players feel about this fixture.
Prior to the Champions League humbling at Liverpool, Manchester City would likely have been very keen to win the title against Manchester United and while that is still the case, I also think the Second Leg of the Champions League tie is going to be a huge distraction for them.
Whether they win this week or not, Manchester City are going to win the Premier League so I can see Pep Guardiola making some big changes to his starting eleven to make sure his key players are mentally ready for a huge challenge they face in the Champions League. A Quarter Final exit simply won't be good enough for Manchester City and they should be completely focused on trying to find a way to turn that tie around.
I can see a number of fringe players being given the chance in this one which makes it tough to really get a feel for a winner.
For Manchester United it can be seen as a chance to lay down the marker for the 2018/19 season by winning at the Champions elect and spoiling the party. However Jose Mourinho has also put some pressure on the players to try and finish 2nd in the Premier League table and that means I can see Mourinho picking a system where he would settle for a point if he can get it.
I would be surprised if Manchester United go gung-ho here but instead I imagine them to be focused defensively and then try and hit Manchester City on the counter attack.
It will be accepted that Manchester City will have more of the ball, but a strong defensive shape can frustrate the home side, especially if they have made a host of changes to keep the big names ready for the Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg.
That may lead to a game that perhaps underwhelms and I think we may not see as many goals as the layers believe. Goals haven't been a problem at Manchester City this season, but they did have to settle for a narrow win over Chelsea who defended in solid numbers and I expect this fixture to develop in a similar way with the likely set up Manchester United take.
Backing less than three goals to be produced in this Saturday late afternoon kick off at odds against looks a generous price.
Arsenal v Southampton Pick: You have to think that all Southampton fans were hoping Arsenal were involved in a scrap in the Europa League Quarter Final against CSKA Moscow so they were almost certainly going to be facing a second string team on Sunday.
Instead Arsenal dominated CSKA Moscow in a 4-1 home win and I think that could mean more familiar names remain on the team sheet for The Gunners.
That is not good news for a Southampton side who have lost back to back away Premier League games by the same 3-0 result and especially when you note how poorly they have played in both games at Newcastle United and West Ham United. Now they face an Arsenal team who have won 4 straight home games and scored at least three times in each of those games.
One glimmer of hope for Southampton is that Arsenal did not play well against Stoke City last weekend before scoring three late goals to beat them. However there is some real momentum behind Arsenal at the moment and I think Southampton are not playing as well as Stoke City have been so confidence is likely going to be in a weaker place.
Southampton have quality in the squad that does make them dangerous if the Arsenal players are not fully focused, but The Gunners played with confidence on Thursday and will want to keep the wins coming to get the fans behind them again.
I would expect Arsene Wenger to play a familiar looking line up and that should be enough to see off The Saints who have not looked like they believe in their ability to avoid the drop. I will back Arsenal to keep the goals coming at the Emirates Stadium and will back them to cover the Asian Handicap.
Chelsea v West Ham United Pick: In recent years Chelsea have struggled to find the consistency from season to season and this looks another year where the defending Champions have failed to reach the heights expected.
Missing out on the Champions League will be a big blow for a club trying to keep hold of the likes of Thibaut Courtois and Eden Hazard, but the 1-3 home loss to Tottenham Hotspur has put their participation in the Champions League on a knife edge.
With 8 points to make up to the top four, Chelsea can't afford to drop more points at Stamford Bridge and it will be interesting to see the reaction of the players. They have been accused of 'downing tools' for previous managers and Chelsea have been in poor form while Antonio Conte is likely going to move on at the end of this current campaign.
West Ham United will be hoping to take advantage of any lack of effort that Chelsea produce on Sunday as they bid to take another big step away from the bottom three in the Premier League.
However they may also be perfect opponents for Chelsea when you think of how poorly West Ham United had been playing prior to the win over Southampton last weekend. The away form has been a particular worry and West Ham United have conceded plenty of goals in recent weeks which could be exposed by a Chelsea team who had looked threatening in the final third last Sunday before their inexplicable capitulation in the second half.
That also came against a much better team than West Ham United and I expect to see a positive reaction from the Chelsea team. There is plenty of talent here and they can become the latest club to really put West Ham United to the sword, although The Hammers could play a part if Chelsea continue to defend as erratically as they have been.
The layers are still asking Chelsea to cover a big number on the handicaps which may have something to do with how poorly West Ham United have defended. However I will back Chelsea to win a game featuring three or more goals with both teams likely to have their opportunities in this one, but the feeling Chelsea are the stronger team and will not have completely given up on a top four bid.
MY PICKS: Everton-Liverpool Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.91 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Bournemouth-Crystal Palace Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.83 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Brighton @ 1.83 Bet365 (2 Units)
Leicester City @ 1.95 Bet365 (2 Units)
Tottenham Hotspur - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.98 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Manchester City-Manchester United Under 2.5 Goals @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Arsenal - 1 Asian Handicap @ 1.92 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Chelsea Win & Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.80 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
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