FA Cup Final 2018 Pick- Chelsea v Manchester United (May 19th)

Chelsea v Manchester United FA Cup Final 2018

Expected Chelsea Team: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Rudiger, Moses, Alonso, Bakayoko, Fabregas, Kante, Hazard and Giroud

Expected Manchester United Team: De Gea, Valencia, Young, Smalling, Jones, Matic, Pogba, Herrera, Rashford, Lingard, Alexis Sanchez

This is an important game for both Manchester United and Chelsea with a chance to end another campaign with silverware to put into their bursting trophy cabinets.

Neither team will be completely satisfied with the performances in the Premier League, but Manchester United should be in a better place than Chelsea who have missed out on Champions League Football for the coming season.

Rumours continue to persist that Antonio Conte will be relieved of his position as manager of Chelsea in the coming days and I do think that has an impact on the preparation for the Cup Final.

It is almost in stark contrast to last season when Chelsea went into the FA Cup Final as the strong favourites to beat Arsenal and complete the Double after winning the Premier League a few days earlier. This time they come in with the questions and face a team who have achieved some of their goals and perhaps feeling in a better place all around.

However recent Manchester United performances have been under-par and it is hard to turn the switch to produce a much better display. In saying that Manchester United have raised their game against the best teams and you can't ignore the fact they have beaten Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal since their 2-0 loss here against Spurs in the Premier League at the end of January and 2 of those wins have come away from Old Trafford.

The likely absence of Romelu Lukaku is a blow as he has been a very important part of the team with the way Mourinho sets Manchester United up. His participation is touch and go, but I think Lukaku will be a bench player at best and Mourinho may decide to play with Alexis Sanchez as his most forward player in this one, although he will be able to interchange with Marcus Rashford who scored last week which may earn him the start.

Manchester United have shown they can score against the top teams in those recent wins and they have managed at least two goals in each of those. They won the FA Cup in 2016 so the majority of the squad will know the feeling of doing that as they snapped Manchester United's wait for a success in this competition which had dragged back to 2004.

On the other hand Chelsea know what it is like to lose a Final having done that just twelve months ago. This is a club who had won four of six FA Cups between 2007 and 2012, but who have not won the competition since then and the rumours about Antonio Conte's future will not be helping.

Chelsea did beat Liverpool a couple of weeks ago, but they had a poor recent record against the top clubs in 2018 prior to that having lost to Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City, Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur. The side have not found their best away from Stamford Bridge for large portions of this calendar year too and the negative display at Newcastle United last weekend is a big worry.

There is clearly some quality in the starting line up for Chelsea and they played well at Old Trafford for half an hour with the game turning on Manchester United's equaliser. I think they will pose problems and I expect the players to produce a much bigger performance than last weekend when they perhaps knew their chances of a top four finish was already beyond them.

A close game should develop, but I don't think it will be one without chances for both teams and the layers are taking a chance with the prices for at least three goals to be shared out.

4 of the last 6 FA Cup Finals have ended with at least three goals shared out including last seasons and that looks like it will have every chance of happening here at the big prices being offered.

Picking a winner in normal time is difficult with neither team playing their best football to end the season. However the difference in the results Manchester United and Chelsea have had in 'big' games over the last couple of months does make me believe Jose Mourinho can add another trophy to his list of honours and another to the heaving Manchester United trophy cabinet.


I just expect a more 'together' performance from Manchester United across the ninety minutes and there is a chance, albeit a slight one, that Chelsea produce another sub-par performance for their beleaguered manager. Both teams could play a part in this one, but I will look for Manchester United to prevail on the Asian Handicap which is effectively a 'Draw No Bet' market for the Cup Final.

MY PICKS: Manchester United 0 Asian Handicap @ 1.91 Bet365 (2 Units)
Chelsea-Manchester United Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.50 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Midweek Football Picks 2018- Europa League Final (May 16th)

Europa League Final 2018- Marseille vs Atletico Madrid

The Europa League Final is played in Lyon, France on Wednesday evening and the most comfortable aspect of the Final for Marseille may be that it is played at a ground they are familiar with.

Ultimately it is no surprise that Marseille are the underdog in the Final against Atletico Madrid who have been set as favourites ever since they dropped out of the Champions League into the Europa League. The early season form which cost Atletico Madrid their place in the Champions League is long gone and they have rounded into strong form and have plenty of European experience to call upon.

Many of these players have been involved in the Atletico Madrid squads who have reached two Champions League Finals in recent seasons and have regularly made the last eight of the Champions League under Diego Simeone. Their charismatic manager is banned from the touchline for the Final, but Atletico Madrid are a well drilled team and that shouldn't be a big problem for a team who beat Arsenal 1-0 at home in the Second Leg with their manager sitting in the stands.

Atletico Madrid remain tough to beat and they are sprinkled with some magic players in forward areas who can create something special to break the deadlock in any game.

It does mean they are the more likely winners despite the strong run Marseille have had in the Europa League especially when you look at the general levels of performance produced by the two teams.

While Atletico Madrid have beaten Copenhagen, Lokomotiv Moscow, Sporting Lisbon and Arsenal, Marseille have beaten Sporting Braga, Athletic Bilbao, Leipzig and Salzburg.

The wins over Athletic Bilbao will give Marseille some real confidence against another Spanish team, but the majority of the best results Marseille have produced in the Europa League have come at home. In fact the win in Bilbao is the only win Marseille have had outside of their own Stadium in 9 Europa League ties and they have lost 5 of their last 7 and all without scoring a goal in normal time.

That has to be a real concern for the fans even if they are likely to have more fans than Atletico Madrid in the stands in Lyon. They are now going up against an Atletico Madrid team who are very tough to break down, although one that didn't have an away clean sheet in their 4 Europa League Knock Out ties.

Out of the two teams I would expect Atletico Madrid to be able to play their more natural game and limit what Marseille are able to do in the final third. Marseille have some quality players and some pace in the final third, but Atletico Madrid are organised and tough to break down when they have something to defend and I think that will be the case on Wednesday in the Final.


With the forward players Atletico Madrid have I think they will find the goal that may be enough to secure the Europa League trophy and backing the Spanish team to win to nil looks a huge price.

MY PICK: Atletico Madrid Win to Nil @ 2.87 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Midweek Football Picks 2018 (May 8-10)

This midweek sees a number of Premier League games played involving those teams who got to the latter stages of the FA Cup in March and April.

While some of the fixtures look like being dead rubbers and have us guessing the motivation of the players involved, there are some key games at the top and bottom of the Premier League with perhaps the biggest coming from the Liberty Stadium where Swansea City host Southampton.

The final week of the Premier League season begins with that fixture on Tuesday and there are six Premier League games to be played across the next three days before the final Sunday of the season.


Swansea City v Southampton Pick: The term 'relegation six pointer' was made for fixtures like this one between Swansea City and Southampton on Tuesday with only goal difference separating the hosts from the visitors in 18th and 17th place in the League table.

Two games remain for both clubs and the feeling is that the losing team here is likely going to be relegated while the draw means both sweat it out on the final day.

Out of the two teams, I think Swansea City may take their chances of settling for a point here and then looking to beat already relegated Stoke City and hoping Southampton fail to beat Manchester City at St Mary's.

With that fixture in the back of the visitors minds, I think Mark Hughes will take more risks to try and win the game which would almost certainly be enough to keep them in the Premier League. A 0-1 win would mean Southampton are 3 points clear of Swansea City with a nine goal advantage over their relegation rivals which would be too much to overcome in one game.

However you have to wonder how much Saturday's draw at Everton took out of the Southampton players, especially losing their 0-1 lead deep into injury time. That is tough to recover from, but Southampton have found an attacking threat which will give them chances at the Liberty Stadium to win this fixture.

The lack of clean sheets, especially away from home, is hard to ignore for Southampton and Swansea City created enough chances in their 1-0 defeat at Bournemouth on Saturday. They have to show more composure in front of goal and have managed to score in 8 of their last 10 home fixtures in all competitions.

Recent setbacks at home are tough to take for Swansea City too who have fallen back into the bottom three after pulling clear in March. Carlos Carvalhal will want his team to take some risks at home themselves and I think both teams will create the chances they need to earn a result in this one.

The layers have Southampton as pretty strong favourites, but Swansea City have been good at home and I think both teams will believe in themselves. I can't separate them easily and I think both teams will score in this one at a decent looking price.


Chelsea v Huddersfield Town Pick: This is a big game at the top and bottom of the Premier League table as we head into the final week of the season.

Huddersfield Town are looking for a couple of points to avoid the drop, but may only need one more if there has been a winner in the Tuesday evening encounter between Swansea City and Southampton.

On the other hand Chelsea are looking to keep the pressure on Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur as the race for the top four is likely to go into the final weekend. The Blues have to win to really put significant pressure on their two rivals and finishing up with a win at Stamford Bridge has to be expected.

It won't be easy if Huddersfield Town defend as valiantly as they did in the draw at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, although I do wonder if that has taken something out of the gas tank. There were times Huddersfield Town threatened in Manchester, but they had to work extremely hard in tough conditions and Chelsea may be able to pick the bones.

Despite some of the promising positions Huddersfield Town got into, they continue to struggle to score goals and that can be an issue for them again on Wednesday. Chelsea defend fairly well, although are vulnerable to a mistake or two, and I think that is going to put them in a position to win this fixture.

Backing Chelsea to win with a clean sheet looks the most likely outcome of this one and I will back that to occur when these two teams play their penultimate game of the League season on Wednesday.


Leicester City v Arsenal Pick: This is a pretty meaningless Premier League game for both teams in terms of what it will help them achieve, but there is a difference between Leicester City and Arsenal which could decide the outcome of the fixture.

At the moment it feels like Arsenal are going to give Arsene Wenger a huge send off in his final two games of the season, even if ultimately they have found themselves short of the quality they needed to win the Europa League or finish higher in the Premier League table.

On the other hand Leicester City look to have 'downed tools' on beleaguered manager Claude Puel and perhaps made their feelings clear that they don't want their own French manager to stay on beyond the end of the season.

Some of the recent Leicester City performances have been truly terrible and home losses to Newcastle United and West Ham United around a limp draw with Southampton does not offer a great look.

If Arsenal had performed with any consistency away from home it would be much easier to believe they can produce the required quality to win this fixture. They have been tough for Leicester City to deal with in recent years, but The Gunners have only won 1 of their last 4 visits to this ground.

It is entirely possible Leicester City could play much better now they are up against a top team, but I can't help feel their players have given up on the season. Scoring goals has become an issue for them as they have perhaps 'downed tools' and Arsenal's own away troubles is hard to ignore.

I was tempted by Arsenal's odds against price to win here, but they haven't looked at their best away from home and goals may be at a premium on Wednesday despite what the layers think. At a big price it may be worth risking at least one of the teams failing to score in this one in what could be something of a slow burner between teams lacking true motivation.


Manchester City v Brighton Pick: Both Manchester City and Brighton have achieved their goals for the season and that should mean both teams are able to express themselves with some freedom on Wednesday.

There will likely be some changes in the Manchester City starting eleven to make sure they are able to give the likes of Yaya Toure a send off in his final home game for the club. However that doesn't mean Pep Guardiola is going to be happy if his team don't reach the standards they have set for much of the season.

Brighton secured their own safety with a 1-0 win over Manchester United on Friday night and I think that could take something away from the players here. Of course there is motivation taking on the Champions, but Brighton have not been strong travellers all season and will have to work very hard to match Huddersfield Town in becoming the second Premier League club to prevent Manchester City scoring at the Etihad Stadium.

It's a tall order for most teams and Brighton have struggled for clean sheets against the best teams. They have lost without scoring at Manchester United (twice) as well as at Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea and I think that is the most likely outcome again on Wednesday.

Manchester City do offer chances to those clubs who are willing to take risks because the defenders are simply not as strong as Guardiola would like. However Brighton have struggled for a consistent threat away from home and I think Manchester City likely win this game with a clean sheet to boot.


Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United Pick: This might be the right kind of fixture for Tottenham Hotspur to bounce back from the disappointment of losing 1-0 at West Brom on Saturday, but they have to be very careful.

The recent form has not been good enough for Tottenham Hotspur which has allowed Chelsea to close in on a top four place in the Premier League. 3 losses in 5 games in all competitions has knocked the confidence of the players and they have looked like that in nervy performances.

However Tottenham Hotspur did beat Watford 2-0 here last time out and are facing a Newcastle United team who have lost 3 straight Premier League games. It is clear that Newcastle United have achieved all their goals and perhaps they have just dropped their intensity since then which has allowed teams to get the better of them.

That is important for Tottenham Hotspur who may need some demotivated opponents to just get over the line in the Premier League top four race. Facing both Newcastle United and Leicester City in the final days of the season looks like hand picked opponents for Spurs and I think they will be good enough to earn the win on Wednesday.

The key for Tottenham Hotspur will be to try and keep their defensive shape and control this fixture and I think that is possible for them. They have kept a clean sheet last time out here and I believe Tottenham Hotspur are able to do that again as they record the win over Newcastle United on Wednesday.


West Ham United v Manchester United Pick: Too many times this season Manchester United have produced a really poor performance against teams they should be beating comfortably and Friday night proved to be another.

This season Manchester United have dropped a combined 16 points in six games against Southampton, Burnley, Stoke City, Brighton, Newcastle United and Huddersfield Town. With a 17 point gap between them and Manchester City, those 16 points are huge in the grand scheme of things and Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is likely to have made a note of that too.

In most cases Manchester United have not allowed those negative results to carry over to the next League game and I expect a big reaction from the players this week too.

Having six days rest between games will help their cause as will the long injury list at West Ham United. With Marko Arnautovic also a doubt it is hard to see West Ham United posing a consistent threat to Manchester United now their future in the Premier League has been confirmed.

This should see Manchester United return to winning ways on Thursday although it is not an easy ground to visit and I am second guessing the kind of team Jose Mourinho will pick. Even if Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku miss out, Manchester United have enough quality to challenge a West Ham United defence missing some key men.

They won 0-2 here last season and I think I will go back to the market which let me down on Friday. I will back Manchester United to win a game featuring two or more goals as some of the players try to change Mourinho's mind when it comes to the expected starting line up for the FA Cup Final later this month.

MY PICKS: Swansea City-Southampton Both Teams to Score @ 2.00 William Hill (2 Units)
Chelsea Win to Nil @ 1.75 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Leicester City-Arsenal Both Teams to Score- NO @ 2.90 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Manchester City Win to Nil @ 1.75 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Tottenham Hotspur Win to Nil @ 2.10 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Manchester United Win & Over 1.5 Goals @ 2.20 Boyle Sports (2 Units)

Weekend Football Picks 2018 (May 4-6)

The penultimate weekend of the Premier League is played across the next three days, although there is an almost full midweek slate of games for those teams who have to complete their games in hand.

While the Premier League title race is run and the top four looks to be almost set for those sides currently occupying those places, the bottom three places are still undecided.

West Brom have produced some strong form, but it looks a case of too little, too late for them, but picking the other two teams to be relegated looks much more difficult. It could clear up this weekend with Stoke City in an almost 'must win' situation knowing a loss would likely mean they are gone, while Swansea City and Southampton have to focus on other matters before facing one another next Tuesday in what could be a relegation decider.

We are in for another important weekend as teams close out their schedules for the 2017/18 season.


Brighton v Manchester United Pick: The Premier League has a rare Friday night treat for the fans watching on television this weekend, although it isn't as much fun for those who have to make the long journey from Manchester down to Brighton on a working day.

The players just have to get on with their jobs and Manchester United have to be focused even though there aren't a lot of ambitions to fulfil at the end of this Premier League campaign. Finishing 2nd is still important to Jose Mourinho though and Manchester United need 4 more points to do that while also keeping some momentum going heading into the FA Cup Final which is played in two weeks time.

They have won their last 3 away games in the Premier League and that is going to be a problem for Brighton who may feel they still need some points to ensure survival in the Premier League for another season.

Brighton are also playing their final home game of the season which is going to add to the motivation for the players to try and finish on a high. However playing the very best teams in the Premier League has been very difficult for Brighton for much of the season and 3 of their 4 home League losses have come against teams from the top five of the Premier League table.

Recently they did come back from 0-1 down to earn a 1-1 home draw with Tottenham Hotspur, but that has been a rare positive result for Brighton against the top clubs. Their creativity has been a little stunted by the top teams and Manchester United have been pretty resolute at the back for much of the season which only makes it more difficult for Brighton to earn a positive result from this fixture.

Manchester United have generally been good enough to deal with difficult trips to those teams in the bottom half of the table and they should be able to do that here. The absence of Romelu Lukaku would be a blow, but Marcus Rashford is capable of leading the line for Manchester United with the supporting cast of Alexis Sanchez and Paul Pogba in decent form of late.

It won't be an easy fixture for Manchester United, but I think they can win here and most likely that will come by a couple of goals. Generally Brighton home games against the top teams have resulted in a few goals with at least two shared out in games against Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Arsenal. 3 of those have ended in losses and I will back Manchester United to win a fixture featuring at least two goals at odds against.


Stoke City v Crystal Palace Pick: There is still a small hope for Stoke City fans that their team can get themselves out of a terrible predicament and work their way out of the bottom three. Only two Premier League games remain though and Stoke City have to win both to have a real chance beginning with this last home game of the season against Crystal Palace.

It is potentially a good time to face Crystal Palace who had a big win last weekend which has almost secured their place in the Premier League for another season.

However Stoke City have to recognise that Crystal Palace have been in strong form over the last six weeks and can play with a freedom that comes with securing safety for another season. The Eagles have a very good set of creative players who can punish teams like Stoke City who are perhaps not as secure defensively as they would like.

On the other hand, Stoke City will feel they can create opportunities against a Crystal Palace defence which has looked far from watertight in recent weeks. The raw numbers do show 2 clean sheets from 3 away games, but recently Crystal Palace have conceded twice to Bournemouth and Brighton.

Stoke City haven't looked like they could take full advantage with a lack of goals a real problem for the side. They have lost leads against West Ham United and Burnley having not created enough for second goals in those games and I think picking a winner is difficult considering the situation.

What looks most likely is that both teams will have chances to score in this one and I am going to back both teams finding the net. Stoke City have scored in 4 of their last 5 at home, while Crystal Palace had scored in 10 consecutive away games in all competitions before the goalless draw at Watford where they could have potentially been awarded a penalty.

Stoke City will have to take chances at some point you would think which could leave things open for the likes of Wilfried Zaha and Ruben Loftus-Cheek to exploit, and I will look for both teams to score at least once.


Bournemouth v Swansea City Pick: This is a huge week coming up for Swansea City as they cling onto their Premier League status, but Carlos Carvalhal continues to be very confident in their ability to avoid relegation. Destiny is in Swansea City's hands as they host the two clubs immediately below them in the Premier League table over the next eight days, but first they must concentrate on this trip to Bournemouth.

Neither Bournemouth or Swansea City have been in great recent form, but the latter have a lot of motivation as they try and avoid the drop and will feel they are visiting at the right time.

However Swansea City have not been good enough away from home this season and it may be the two remaining home games against Southampton and Stoke City which are key for them. A lack of goals away from home has posed a big problem for Swansea City although they will have chances against this Bournemouth team who have conceded goals for fun.

The problem for Swansea City is that Bournemouth tend to score plenty of goals at the Vitality Stadium too and I think both teams will have their chances on Saturday.

Before the 0-2 defeat to Manchester United, Bournemouth's last 10 home games had produced at least three goals and I think they are a team who will create chances but also defend erratically enough for teams to feel they have an opportunity here.

Swansea City may feel they have to take more risks if Stoke City have won earlier in the day and with Southampton yet to play, and that could lead to an entertaining fixture. Backing at least three goals to be shared out looks to be the play.


West Brom v Tottenham Hotspur Pick: There have to be some questions amongst the West Brom squad that they were not able to find their form earlier than they have with relegation almost certainly in their future.

That could be confirmed by the end of Saturday's fixture against Tottenham Hotspur but West Brom will likely continue to show the fight that has been a feature of their performances under Darren Moore. Wins over Manchester United and Newcastle United have to be respected, while West Brom showed what they are capable of by coming from 0-2 down to earn a home draw with Liverpool.

They will likely need that fight again when they host a Tottenham Hotspur team who are trying to maintain their spot in the top four.

Tottenham Hotspur won an important game against Watford on Monday night and can almost cement their top four spot by winning on Saturday. They have performed well away from home in recent weeks and had won 5 in a row on their travels before the 1-1 draw with Brighton a couple of weeks ago.

Scoring goals has not been a big problem for Tottenham Hotspur, but West Brom will feel they can have some success when they get forward. Scoring goals at The Hawthorns has not been an issue for West Brom, but they also concede plenty and I think Tottenham Hotspur are likely to win a high-scoring fixture.

3 of the last 4 between these clubs in this Stadium have ended in draws, but I think Tottenham Hotspur have the attacking quality to win this time around. Backing them to win a fixture which features three or more goals at odds against can't be ignored and I like Tottenham Hotspur to do that.


Everton v Southampton Pick: This is the time of the season when those teams in 'must win' situations are being priced very short with their motivations clear compared to others who may not look like they have a lot to gain on the face of things.

One of those this weekend in the Premier League comes from Goodison Park where Everton host Southampton and I can't understand in any way, shape or form how the away team can be favoured to win.

Everton are one of just seven teams in the Premier League who have won at least 10 home games and they are hosting a Southampton team who have won just 2 away games all season. If the latter weren't fighting for their lives at the bottom of the Premier League I would imagine Everton would be a strong favourite to win yet here we are seeing them as the home underdog.

The Saints have won 1 of their last 15 away Premier League games and they have not managed to win any of their last 5. There have been some positive signs with the attacking football Mark Hughes has been able to implement, but Southampton also continue to look vulnerable at the back and Everton can take advantage of that.

Everton have a very strong home record against Southampton in recent years too and I just can't understand why they are the underdog. You can back Everton on the Asian Handicap which will actually return a profit if this one ends in a draw, which is the least I would expect, and I think this is an option that looks too good to ignore.

Of course Southampton 'need' the points more than Everton, but the fact they are struggling at the wrong end of the Premier League table makes them a hard away favourite to back.

The focus could quickly shift to the fixture at Swansea City on Tuesday if Everton do take the lead here and I will be behind the home team on the handicap.


Manchester City v Huddersfield Town Pick: Pep Guardiola has been keen to stress that he doesn't want his players coasting towards the end of the season and the performances since being confirmed as Premier League Champions have been on a very high level.

That does not mean good news for Huddersfield Town who are still searching for the points that will keep them in the Premier League.

It is hard to see where Huddersfield Town are going to find the points with a couple of away games at the Etihad Stadium and Stamford Bridge to come before hosting Arsenal in Arsene Wenger's final game as manager of The Gunners. That means they are perhaps hoping the teams below them can't find the points they need to overtake Huddersfield Town rather than getting those points themselves.

You have to say that is a difficult position for players to be in, and Huddersfield Town have struggled to compete with the top clubs in the Premier League. They have been beaten relatively comfortably at Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur already this season and Manchester City are arguably the most difficult of tests for the away side.

Defensively Huddersfield Town have been tough to break down, but this Manchester City team won't worry about taking their time and wearing down their opponents. Goals have been flowing for Manchester City in recent games and I think they are going to be far too good for Huddersfield Town in what could be a party atmosphere at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Manchester City have won 9 of their 17 home League games by three or more goals and I think they can add Huddersfield Town to that list with a comfortable win on Sunday. Backing them on the Asian Handicap to secure a big win looks to be the way to approach this fixture.


Arsenal v Burnley Pick: This is a big game only because it is a chance for the Arsenal fans to give Arsene Wenger the kind of send off he deserves.

A hard 1-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid on Thursday ended any lingering hopes of making it through to the Champions League next season and most fans will feel the time for a change is long overdue. Even then, they should offer Wenger plenty of respect now he is completing his time with Arsenal and the final game at the Emirates Stadium should be an emotional one.

Burnley will look to take advantage and they have some very big wins this season which has helped them virtually secure European Football for Turf Moor next season. A win at Chelsea and draws at Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool show how tough Burnley can be.

Sean Dyche will likely stick with his two up front formation which has troubled teams who are not used to dealing with an 'old school' system, but I expect the atmosphere at the Emirates Stadium to motivate the home players for a big performance.

Of course picking yourself up from the disappointment of a Semi Final loss is always difficult, but Arsenal will want to send off their long-term manager with another win in this Stadium and I think they can do that.

Recent form at the Emirates Stadium has been very positive from Arsenal and I think they can continue that against Burnley. The attacking options make Arsenal very dangerous when they are on their game and I think they will have too much for Burnley with the goals being scored at home in recent weeks.

I think Arsenal will win and backing them to do so in a game which features at least two goals is a decent looking price. Arsene Wenger can enjoy one more moment in this Stadium and Arsenal fans can then look forward to the future and whatever it may bring for them.


Chelsea v Liverpool Pick: With a Champions League Final to look forward to, Liverpool are looking to secure their place in the competition for next season which could free up the players to perform at their best in the Final later this month.

They can earn a top four spot this weekend as long as Liverpool are not beaten by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and this has been a ground on which Liverpool have won back to back Premier League games.

Chelsea have been in better form of late with 4 straight wins in all competitions and they have also had a week to prepare for this fixture which may give them an opportunity. They will certainly believe they can punish a Liverpool defence which has looked a little suspect in recent games and that was highlighted in their 4-2 loss at Roma during the week.

The players won't have had a lot of time to recover from their exploits on Wednesday to this fixture on Sunday and you can understand the layers are making Chelsea favourites. However I do wonder if Chelsea have really turned a corner and their record against the best teams in the Premier League have not been that impressive this season.

They should be able to create some chances against Liverpool, but the Chelsea vaunted defence of last season has been missing for much of this campaign. With Liverpool's attacking talent they will feel they can create chances of their own and I can see another game featuring three or more goals between these clubs.

The last couple of Chelsea versus Liverpool games at Stamford Bridge have hit that number and I think both teams will likely score in this one. Chelsea have to push for a win to try and close in on the top four places going into the final weekend of the season, and that should mean there are more spaces in this fixture than you may expect when two of the top clubs meet.

The attackers on the pitch should be able to have their moments and I will back three more goals to be the outcome of this one.

MY PICKS: Manchester United Win & Over 1.5 Goals @ 2.25 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Stoke City-Crystal Palace Both Teams to Score @ 1.70 William Hill (2 Units)
Bournemouth-Swansea City Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.95 Betfair Sportsbook (2 Units)
Tottenham Hotspur Win & Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.15 Boyle Sports (2 Units)
Everton + 0.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.75 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Manchester City - 2.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Arsenal Win & Over 1.5 Goals @ 1.83 Boyle Sports (2 Units)
Chelsea-Liverpool Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.80 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Midweek Football Picks 2018 (May 1-3)

The Champions League and Europa League Finals will be set by the end of this week as we enter the final month of the 2017/18 season in the big European Leagues.

Most of the ties look to be balanced going into the Second Legs to be played this week, but I think the teams in the better positions are all eventually going to find their way through to the Final. I do think there may be a couple of twists and turns first though.

On Friday we will move onto another weekend in the Premier League so there will be a thread for those Weekend Picks by Friday afternoon, but the games are running down now.


Real Madrid v Bayern Munich Pick: After losing 1-2 in the Quarter Final in the home Leg thirteen months ago, I didn't hold out a lot of hope for Bayern Munich to turn things around against Real Madrid. They actually managed to force extra time in that tie before being undone thanks to a late Arturo Vidal sending off and the players have to head to the Spanish capital with some belief they can turn this one around.

Injuries are really affecting the Bayern Munich squad which is a major concern for them, but there is still plenty of quality in the starting line up and I can't imagine they finish with as little composure as they did last week in Munich.

I also can't put my finger on this Real Madrid team despite winning the last two Champions League titles. On some days they have looked very good, but on others they have flattered to deceive although the bottom line is they continue to do just enough to make it through the Rounds.

The lead from the First Leg does make Real Madrid strong favourites to make it through to the Final, but I do think Bayern Munich are going to play a big part here and certainly won't roll over for the home team.

Picking a winner isn't straight forward simply because I do think Bayern Munich can replicate the performance from last season when they won 1-2 here in the Second Leg of their Quarter Final despite losing 1-2 at home in the First Leg.

The layers are anticipating goals with the over 2.5 goals option very short and that is no surprise when you think the last 3 and 8 of the last 9 have seen three or more goals shared out by these teams.

I do think we can get one more goal if the Real Madrid and Bayern Munich strikers are showing composure in front of goal that they do usually produce. It is a big Semi Final though which adds to the pressure when the chances come up, while the teams may not take too many chances if we get to 1-2 for the fourth consecutive time these teams have played.

In most other situations you have to think one of the teams are taking chances which could leave spaces ready to be exploited. I'd be surprised if we didn't see at least three goals on Tuesday, but it may be worth the play to look for one more at odds against.


Roma v Liverpool Pick: There were some unsavoury scenes ahead of the Liverpool-Roma Semi Final First Leg which has taken away some of the satisfaction Liverpool would have had from their performance on the field.

A dominant 5-2 win in the Champions League Semi Final First Leg should be good enough for Liverpool to make it through to their first Final in the competition since 2007.

Some doubt will have been raised by the two late goals conceded by the English side, while the news that Zeljko Buvac has left the club for a short period is another blow to Liverpool. I don't anticipate it being a big enough issue for Liverpool to find themselves in the same predicament as Barcelona did in the Champions League Quarter Final because the situation feels much more comfortable for Liverpool.

Roma played really well in Barcelona despite the 4-1 loss and that gave them a confidence to take into their Second Leg, but this time they are perhaps feeling fortunate to have any chance in this Semi Final Second Leg. The defending was frankly awful at Anfield and a team chasing goals are likely to leave some spaces for the speedy Liverpool attack to exploit.

I simply can't see Liverpool failing to score in Rome and I think that would be a huge body blow for Roma to try and recover from. As well as they have played at home in the Champions League throughout this season, keeping Liverpool from scoring here is arguably the biggest challenge the home team would have faced.

It would be a surprise if Roma don't at least take more care defensively in this one, but at some point there will be spaces for Liverpool to exploit and that makes this a difficult game to read.

Riding out the early storm is going to be key for Liverpool but even if they do fall behind in the opening ten minutes they showed at Manchester City in the Quarter Final that they will get their opportunities anyway. Roma showed enough going forward to think they will create chances too, but barring a complete turnaround in their defensive schemes I don't see the clean sheet which has been key to their run to the Semi Final.

After seven goals were shared out at Anfield, there could be a few more scored on Wednesday and I will back four or more to be the final tally.


Atletico Madrid v Arsenal Pick: The late Antoine Griezmann goal in the Emirates Stadium has put Atletico Madrid in pole position to make it through to the Europa League Semi Final.

Arsenal will be kicking themselves for not taking advantage of their visitors being reduced to ten men for 80 plus minutes of the First Leg and now they have to find a way to breach this Atletico Madrid at least once to give themselves a chance of moving through to the Final.

That is a big challenge against a team who have kept 11 clean sheets in a row in all competitions and I imagine Diego Simeone will be making sure Atletico Madrid are hard to beat in this one. Having the prospect of being able to go through with a goalless draw means Atletico Madrid are unlikely to take too many risks in this one and instead focus on making sure they don't allow Arsenal a way back into the tie.

The Gunners haven't found scoring goals a big problem, but rarely would have come up against a unit as well organised as Atletico Madrid. And I am not sure Arsene Wenger will be too disappointed if his side are still goalless with 20 minutes left of this tie with a single goal being enough to really turn the tie in Arsenal's favour.

I can imagine a tight Second Leg developing with Atletico Madrid making sure they don't leave too many gaps behind them. They are the more likely winners with Arsenal likely to make a mistake at the back which has been a feature of their season, but backing one of these teams, at least, to fail to score looks an intriguing price.

Atletico Madrid's home record is very impressive in terms of clean sheets and I don't think they will take too many risks to allow Arsenal to erase the away goal Atletico picked up in North London last week.

Chelsea did score twice here in the Champions League Group Stage, but the previous 3 English visitors had not scored against Atletico Madrid. This Arsenal team doesn't look as strong as previous English teams to play in this part of Madrid and I will look for Atletico Madrid to produce a tight Second Leg which sees goals at a premium.


Salzburg v Marseille Pick: Most fans will consider the winner of this Europa League Semi Final to be considerable underdogs in the Final regardless of whether they face Atletico Madrid or Arsenal.

Neither Marseille or Salzburg will be a part of that majority though and it is the French side who have the advantage thanks to a 2-0 win at home last week.

However it has to be said that Marseille have not been as strong when you take them away from their home Stadium and the lack of strong results on their travels in the Europa League is a slight concern. Salzburg have shown they can score goals and win games at home and they overturned a 4-2 deficit to Lazio in the Quarter Final by beating them 4-1 at home and that after going 0-1 down in the Second Leg.

Salzburg showed in Marseille that they have some quality football up to the final third, but they were perhaps not creating as many chances as they would have liked. Even then they had opportunities to score a priceless away goal and so they will feel they can put Marseille under some pressure in the Second Leg.

The overall away form of Marseille has perhaps not been the best, but they seem to have rounded into some form of late and will believe they can play a part here. They should find spaces on the counter attack much like Lazio did before Salzburg overwhelmed them and the Second Leg could be an entertaining game of football.

Both teams should have their moments, but picking a winner isn't easy with the situation meaning Salzburg could potentially blow a winning position if they are chasing the fixture. Instead I will look for the two teams to combine for one goal more than last week when the chances did come for both Marseille and Salzburg.

It could also be a game in which Salzburg come close to turning the tie around completely, but I will look for three or more goals to be shared out.

MY PICKS: Real Madrid-Bayern Munich Over 3.5 Goals @ 2.00 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Roma-Liverpool Over 3.5 Goals @ 2.10 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Atletico Madrid-Arsenal Both Teams NOT To Score @ 1.95 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Salzburg-Marseille Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.72 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Weekend Football Picks 2018 (April 28-30)

The Premier League is coming down to the final three weekends of action and there doesn't look like a lot of storylines which are going to grab the attention. The title race has been run and the top four and bottom three look pretty secure, but things can change very quickly even at this time of the season.

Second guessing managers and working out motivations of teams is always a challenge at this time of the year, but there are plenty of big games this weekend.

Chelsea will be hoping to put some pressure on Tottenham Hotspur for 4th place in the Premier League as they get to play two days earlier and are 'only' 5 points behind them. They have a big game at Swansea City with implications at the top and bottom of the Premier League.

Southampton also host Bournemouth on Saturday to give themselves a chance of closing to those teams outside the relegation spot. The next three games all look winnable for Southampton and this has to be a game they win if they want to survive, something I believe they can do.

It's another busy weekend before we conclude the European Semi Finals during the week as the run to the end of the season picks up pace.


Liverpool v Stoke City Pick: You have to second guess what manager Jurgen Klopp is going to do with his team selection on Saturday as Liverpool host Stoke City in between the two Champions League Semi Final ties with Roma.

The 5-2 home win in the First Leg may make it easier for Klopp to try and maintain the rhythm his side have picked up by picking a strong team. The top four places in the Premier League are far from assured too which means Liverpool should be aiming for the three points to ensure they can fully focus on the Champions League the rest of the way.

Playing at home against Stoke City should be ideal for Liverpool as the visitors have to begin to feel that relegation is inevitable having dropped points rom winning positions against West Ham United and Burnley in back to back weeks.

Paul Lambert has made Stoke City a tougher team to play against, but Liverpool are in really strong form at Anfield. They have won 4 straight games here and have scored at least three times in each of those wins and getting to that number will be very difficult for Stoke City to be competitive.

A lack of goals has cost Stoke City and I am expecting a strong looking Liverpool team being in a comfortable position by around the 70 minute mark which will then see Klopp make some changes. Liverpool have beaten Stoke City 4-1 on the latter's back to back visits to Anfield and I think the home team win by a comfortable margin on Saturday too.


Burnley v Brighton Pick: Both Burnley and Brighton look to be coming into their final Premier League games in a position to achieve more than was expected of them back in August.

Burnley and Brighton may both have been tipped up for relegation back then, but instead Burnley are just about set to play Europa League Football next season and Brighton are almost certain to avoid the drop.

Both Sean Dyche and Chris Hughton preach hard work though and I think both will be asking for the players to produce one final push in their final three weeks of League Football.

Burnley being at home looks to be the right side to back here as they have been in fine form for much of the season at Turf Moor. A lack of goals can be a concern, but Burnley have been better in recent weeks and are facing a Brighton team who have had some difficulties at the back.

One goal could be enough for Brighton to feel they can earn a result here though and that is part of the reason I can imagine the layers have Burnley as a tempting odds against shot to win this fixture.

That concerns me a little, but I will back Burnley on the Asian Handicap which at least returns half the stake in the event of a draw. Burnley are playing really well of late and their two up front system is confusing teams which could play a part in creating chances against this Brighton team.

Burnley have won many games like this over the last eighteen months which has seen them become as successful as they have and I think they are more likely than not to win this one.


Crystal Palace v Leicester City Pick: There is probably one more win needed for Crystal Palace to ensure they don't avoid the drop into the Championship and recent form suggests they can find that in their final 3 League games.

Facing an unmotivated Leicester City could present the best chance for Crystal Palace especially if The Foxes have a similar attitude to the one they had in their goalless draw with Southampton ten days ago.

Having had a few days off, I do expect more from Leicester City who have scored goals away from home with their counter attacking style working perfectly well on their travels. They will feel they can get after the Crystal Palace defence which has conceded plenty of goals of late, although The Eagles will be confident in their own ability to score goals at Selhurst Park.

I do think Crystal Palace have dealt with the tense situations well in recent weeks and they have the attacking players to win this one. Keeping Leicester City completely quiet won't be easy though and I imagine there could be goals produced when these teams meet on Saturday.

The last 3 League games between them have featured three or more goals shared out, while the last 3 Crystal Palace home games have also hit that mark. 8 of the last 10 Leicester City away Premier League games have also seen three or more goals and I will back that to be the outcome of this one.


Huddersfield Town v Everton Pick: Nothing is guaranteed for Huddersfield Town with the season ending with games against Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal, but the late winner over Watford last weekend was a huge result when it comes to their chances of survival.

They may still need some points though to ensure they are not dropping into the bottom three on the final day of the season.

A 6 point lead over Southampton in 18th looks a very strong one, but Southampton don't have that bad a fixture list remaining with a distinct possibility of earning at least 7 points from their next three games. Swansea City could have a similar success from 17th place and that would put Huddersfield Town in a desperate position.

However I think a point could be good enough for The Terriers and they are capable of earning that against Everton this weekend.

Sam Allardyce's future as manager remains unconvincing in the long-term and Everton have not nearly been as effective away from home as they have at Goodison Park. The players looked short of motivation for much of their 1-0 win over Newcastle United last Monday and Huddersfield Town should be capable of avoiding defeat if they put in the hard work and raise their energy levels for their penultimate home game.

There is a chance Huddersfield Town surprise Everton too, but I think the focus will be to earn another point and see where they stand going into their final three Premier League games. David Wagner's team have been organised enough to get that especially with a few difficulties scoring goals and a low-scoring draw looks the likely outcome.


Southampton v Bournemouth Pick: Could Mark Hughes really be the man who effectively takes over at two clubs and has both relegated in the same season? It would be harsh to pin Southampton's blames on the Welshman's shoulders, but Stoke City's plight is down to Hughes and both of those clubs are now favourites to be playing Championship Football next season.

Southampton have a better chance than Stoke City of avoiding the drop and that is mainly down to the remaining fixtures. The game at Swansea City looks like it could be a huge one for Southampton in ten days time, but the focus is on this weekend and a winnable League fixture against south coast rivals Bournemouth.

There has to be better defending from Southampton to be in a position to do that, but they have created chances in recent games with Hughes looking for the players to take more risks in their play. A fit Charlie Austin could be huge for Southampton, but mentally they are a little fragile as shown in their 2-3 defeat to Chelsea when they looked to be the dominant team at 2-0 up.

With their opponents having nothing to lose, it could be difficult for Southampton especially as Bournemouth will look to get forward and score goals.

However Bournemouth have not been in the best recent form and I really do think this is a big chance for Southampton to earn a priceless three points. They have still looked iffy defensively, but the returning Jack Stephens could help, while Southampton have found a little more creativity in the final third to help their cause.

Risking two up front has helped Southampton and I think they are in a position to earn the win although Bournemouth could play their part. The Saints are very, very short for a team who have not won a home Premier League game since back in November but backing them to win a game which features at least two goals could be the way to go.

That is offered at odds against and it feels like Southampton will need to score twice to win this fixture. They are facing a Bournemouth team who concede goals away from home and I will look for Mark Hughes to ease some of the personal criticism he is getting by giving Southampton a chance to avoid the drop.


Swansea City v Chelsea Pick: The second live game from the Premier League on Saturday afternoon comes from the Liberty Stadium as both Swansea City and Chelsea search for key points to achieve their goals at the top and bottom of the table.

Swansea City are trying desperately to keep their heads above water while Chelsea are trying to put some pressure on the top four chasing teams.

With that in mind I can see both teams both playing with the desire to win the game and it could be a decent football match on Saturday.

Games between Swansea City and Chelsea in Wales have tended to be good scraps and it is hard to fancy Chelsea at short odds here. They have won back to back games at Southampton and Burnley, but were fortunate in one of those at St Mary's and Chelsea have looked far from watertight.

Chelsea have the attacking players to give Swansea City problems to deal with, but the home team have been good enough at home to think they can earn a result here.

Under Carlos Carvalhal Swansea City have won 7 of 10 home games in all competitions and beaten the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool in the Premier League. That will give the team confidence, although it is how they handle the pressure if Southampton or Stoke City have won earlier in the day to close the 4 point gap to The Swans to just a single point.

Even with that in mind, I think Swansea City have been tough to beat here and Chelsea's away form has been erratic to say the least. Swansea City have shown they can create chances when they get forward at the Liberty Stadium and Chelsea's defence have had 1 away clean sheet in their 7 away Premier League games this calendar year.

The Blues have also scored in 6 of those 7 away games and I am surprised the odds against quotes are available for both teams to score here. Swansea City have scored in their last 5 home Premier League games and I am going to look for both teams to get on the scoreboard in this late afternoon live fixture.


West Ham United v Manchester City Pick: There is still a little bit of work for West Ham United to do to make sure they are not being dragged back into a relegation scrap and the pressure may be ramped up if the likes of Stoke City, Southampton and Swansea City earn positive results on Saturday.

In all honesty it would be a surprise if West Ham United are pulled back down towards the bottom three with the current 6 point gap to those places, but they can't afford for complacency to take over.

Complacency is likely to be punished significantly by Manchester City if West Ham United are not at the races and the fans may be a touch concerned. For starters Manchester City can play with the freedom that comes after securing the Premier League title and they also won 0-4 and 0-5 at the London Stadium last season when not considered as strong as they have been this time around.

Manchester City have also looked to have recovered from their 3 consecutive losses earlier this month and they have been very good away from home all season. The side have won 4 away Premier League games in a row and all of those have come by two or more goal margins with Manchester City showing plenty of attacking intent.

That is going to be tough for West Ham United to deal with, but Joe Hart will want to make a point to his former club with a big display in goal if he is given the chance to start. That may not be enough for West Ham United though and their best chance may be to try and get after a Manchester City backline that have shown some vulnerabilities in recent weeks.

West Ham United have been tough to play at the London Stadium and have had some solid results here under David Moyes which has to be respected. However they have also found it tough when the best teams have been in their best form and I think they are facing Manchester City at the wrong time.

I will look for Manchester City to continue their strong away run in the Premier League with a 5th straight away win by two or more goals.


Manchester United v Arsenal Pick: This is the last time Arsene Wenger will take an Arsenal team to Old Trafford but the line up may not be that familiar with the expected first team players likely to be rested for a huge task in the Second Leg of their Europa League Semi Final against Atletico Madrid.

With the First Leg played on Thursday there is no doubt that Wenger will appreciate that the mental and physical effort put in by his team will mean players are a little fatigued. The body blow of conceding a late equaliser against a team who played with ten men for over 80 minutes will really have hurt Wenger especially as it means they are firm underdogs to go through to the Europa League Final.

The fixture at Old Trafford against Manchester United will conjure up some famous memories for Arsene Wenger who guided Arsenal to wins here in 1998 and 2002 which helped his team go on and win the Premier League title. Sentiment means this remains an important game, but the reality is that Arsenal don't achieve a lot by investing a lot of energy into winning this game and being punished for the effort in Madrid next Thursday.

That is not to say the players coming in won't want to win, but it does mean I expect wholesale changes to the Arsenal team who have been vulnerable away from home all season.

Manchester United are back at home for the first time since the West Brom debacle and Jose Mourinho will expect his players to want to right that wrong. They have already beaten Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Chelsea at Old Trafford this season and the win in the FA Cup Semi Final last week should mean players are ready to show the manager they should be picked for the Final in mid-May.

It might not always have been the free-flowing football the Manchester United fans would like to see, but Mourinho's team have been effective and have performed well in the big games for the most part. Against a weakened team whose focus may be elsewhere I would expect Manchester United to be too strong on the day.

The layers all have that in mind with the prices reflecting that, but I think Arsenal's away form doesn't offer a lot of encouragement for them. West Brom did win at Old Trafford a couple of weeks ago, but Manchester United have recovered from that setback and I think they can ease by Arsenal in this Premier League fixture.


Tottenham Hotspur v Watford Pick: It was a real surprise to hear Tottenham Hotspur fans as down about their team as they were in the wake of their 2-1 defeat to Manchester United in the FA Cup Semi Final. A club that has really enjoyed the elite in England are desperate for some trophy success to underline their progress even if Mauricio Pochettino is less concerned unless it is winning a Champions League or Premier League title.

Pochettino's language following the defeat to Manchester United was a little concerning with the suggestion it is hard to reach his ambitions with the restrictions Tottenham Hotspur have financially.

That should worry the Tottenham Hotspur fans more as their side look to bounce back from 3 consecutive losses at Wembley Stadium.

Playing Watford looks a good chance to get back to winning ways with the visitors looking like they are back in their usual late season swoon to the finish line. Since hitting 36 points, Watford have lost 4 of 6 Premier League games and their away form has been nothing to write home about.

Losing 10 of 11 away games in all competitions and only scoring twice in that entire run will mean Tottenham Hotspur are big favourites to win this fixture. The recent Tottenham Hotspur form has not been the best though which makes it harder to believe in them covering a big Asian Handicap which is focused on Watford's seemingly loss of focus in the last few weeks of the season.

However the lack of Watford goals can't be ignored and I think Tottenham Hotspur will find a way to win this fixture. Backing them to win the game with a clean sheet looks an appealing price despite the recent setbacks at Wembley Stadium and I think Tottenham Hotspur can do that.

MY PICKS: Liverpool - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.85 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Burnley - 0.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.95 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Crystal Palace-Leicester City Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Huddersfield Town-Everton Draw @ 3.10 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Southampton Win & Over 1.5 Goals @ 2.00 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Swansea City-Chelsea Both Teams to Score @ 2.10 William Hill (2 Units)
Manchester City - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.90 Bet365 (2 Units)
Manchester United - 1.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.95 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Tottenham Hotspur Win to Nil @ 1.80 Boyle Sports (2 Units)