European Tour 5- European Darts Grand Prix Day 3 Picks 2026 (Sunday 19th April)

The last day of the European Darts Grand Prix will crown the Champion and there are some big names involved at the conclusion of this tournament.

Five of those are Premier League participants that travelled across from Rotterdam, while the likes of Danny Noppert, James Wade, Nathan Aspinall and Wessel Nijman are serious contenders.

It does mean the Third Round action in the Afternoon Session is filled with quality matches so this should be a really good day for both fans attending and those tuning in.

Any selections from the Quarter Final matches will be added to this thread at the conclusion of the Afternoon Session.

James Wade-Nathan Aspinall over 5.5 180s: This Third Round match could produce the winner of this tournament and it is expected to be a quality affair between two players that believe they should have been invited into the Premier League.

James Wade was very good in the Second Round, but needed to be, while Nathan Aspinall did what was required to get through and continue his winning run having picked up the title at European Tour 4.

It is Nathan Aspinall who is the bigger maximum hitter, but Wade can certainly add to the overall numbers and this looks like a match that should go at least nine Legs.

The line is just about appealing enough to back at odds against quotes with both capable of finding a real rhythm attacking the treble.

Out of the two, James Wade may be of interest in the underdog role with his superior finishing putting pressure on Nathan Aspinall who has missed plenty of Doubles in the last few weeks. However, his scoring has been strong enough to give him time to win Legs and matches, although James Wade may be able to keep himself near enough to take advantage of any misses.

Stephen Bunting & Wessel Nijman over 2.5 180s: Wessel Nijman has been in dominant form in 2026, but he has not beaten Stephen Bunting as they prepare to face each other for the first time.

However, it is Bunting who has won the last three between these two and may have the mental advantage.

He will need to be better than he was in the Second Round, although the pace of play should be much more suitable to the World Number 8 compared with his last opponent.

Stephen Bunting still hit three maximums in the win on Saturday, but Wessel Nijman was in seriously good form to beat Ryan Searle in the manner he did.

Wessel Nijman is not always the most consistent maximum hitter, but two treble visits puts a lot of pressure on opponents- if he finds his rhythm as he did on Saturday, the Dutchman can also produce at least three maximums in a match that will need to nine or more Legs to have a chance for both players to hit this mark.

Jonny Clayton to win & most 180s v Martin Schindler: The home fans are going to be right behind Martin Schindler and this is a player that can really find his mark on the treble 20.

However, recent weeks have been a bit of a struggle for the top German player and Jonny Clayton's Premier League level has been taken into other events.

The Welshman has won three in a row against Martin Schindler, but the latter had three maximums in his win on Saturday.

This is the more dangerous part of the Match Double, but Jonny Clayton has been in fine form around the treble himself and the confidence of the higher Ranked player may see him complete both parts of this Double. He had four maximums in a convincing Second Round win and Clayton continues to produce plenty of consistency, which may give him the edge.

MY PICKS: James Wade-Nathan Aspinall Over 5.5 180s @ 2.00 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Stephen Bunting-Wessel Nijman Both Over 2.5 180s @ 2.50 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Jonny Clayton to Win & Most 180s @ 2.40 Bet365 (1 Unit)

European Darts Grand Prix: 5-5, + 1.20 Units (10 Units Staked, + 12% Yield)

Boxing Picks 2025- Ben Whittaker vs Liam Cameron II (Sunday 20th April)

One more second was needed for the selection from last weekend to return as a winner and make a serious dent in overcoming the poor start to the season for the Boxing Picks.

However, as a fan of the sport, the feeling is that the Eimantas Stanionis corner did their best for their fighter by pulling him out of the contest at the end of the Sixth Round.

As expected, Jaron Ennis was out to make a statement and he proved too big and, most importantly, too good for the unbeaten Lithuanian who had been put down in the Sixth Round. The reality was that there was no realistic pathway towards winning the bout and so Stanionis can be prepared to fight another day.

Inactivity did not help, but I am not sure it would have made much of a difference against Boots who is the natural successor to Terence Crawford in the Welterweight Division.

We know that Ennis would love to be put in with Crawford, but Bud is preparing for a shot at Super Middleweight against Canelo Alvarez and is simply not coming back down to Welterweight or even Light Middleweight.

This does make it easier for Jaron Ennis to forge his own path and that begins by taking on the remaining two Champions at 147 and then moving into the Light Middleweight Division himself. The size of Ennis suggests he is capable of going up to Middleweight too and there are some big fights out there for even without Terence Crawford.

Firstly he would love to get Brian Norman Jr and Mario Barrios into the ring with him- these really need to happen over the course of the next twelve months and then Ennis can look to move up into the Light Middleweight Division where the hope is that Jermell Charlo will be back having spent time away following his own bid to dethrone Canelo Alvarez.

Both Charlo brothers could be back in the ring over the next few weeks and that will give the 154 and 160 pound Divisions a bit of a boost.

Of course there is the bout with Vergil Ortiz Jr that feels even bigger than if they had taken on that challenge earlier this year, while Tim Tszyu has begun his rebuild.

Make no mistake, the future looks very bright for Boots after a dominant performance and the key is to make sure he does not lose the momentum that he will have earned.

Last weekend's main event was a Unificiation bout in the Welterweight Division, but the focus over the next few days is on UK fighters that want to be in the kinds of fights that Jaron Ennis just had.

On Saturday Dalton Smith takes another step towards his first World Title bout- most expect that to be next as long as he can avoid any slips.

And then on Sunday there is a huge rematch at domestic level when Ben Whittaker and Liam Cameron meet for a second time following a controversial ending to their first fight in Saudi Arabia. Both are decent, if unspectacular, cards and this is the final weekend before all of the build up to the Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn fight taking place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next Saturday.

Ben Whittaker vs Liam Cameron II

The controversial ending to the first fight in Saudi Arabia has set the table for this rematch.

Some felt Ben Whittaker was looking for a way out having perhaps underestimated the tenacity and will to win that Liam Cameron was bringing to the ring on the night. It was clearly not Whittaker's best night in the office, but he could have moved on from Cameron and has to be given some credit for taking the immediate rematch.

Critics may feel that Ben Whittaker had no other choice, but the potential next star in British Boxing has a big chance to make amends and get this career back on track.

A mistake in the contract that was sent to Queensberry and Liam Cameron meant there had been some dispute about number of Rounds set for the fight, but that has finally been cleared up and a Ten Rounder has been agreed.

Liam Cameron has to be respected and he is someone who is willing to dig deep to try and get the best out of his career. He will put in the hard work and Cameron is going to have taken a lot of confidence from the way the first fight was developing, especially as he feels Ben Whittaker did not have much left when the premature conclusion came about.

Things were certainly not going Ben Whittaker's way in October, but the expectation is that he will have learned plenty about the professional game on that day.

While he may not openly be discussing his reasons for the relatively poor performance, Ben Whittaker is with a new team and he should be much better prepared for what is to come. This time he should be patient and not looking to blow past a tough, rugged opponent, and that should see Ben Whittaker's skills come to the fore and lead to a victory to right what he will feel were the wrongs of six months ago.

Liam Cameron's recovery story has made plenty of headlines and he comes across a likeable fighter who should give a good account of himself to create further opportunities.

However, he has come up short against Lyndon Arthur in a Split Decision and The Surgeon may be able to bank the early Rounds with a bit more authority to earn the nod on the cards.

Tyler Denny and Frazer Clarke should both win scheduled Ten Rounders on the day with the former more likely to need the cards and the latter perhaps forcing a late Stoppage as he returns from major surgery.

The best fight on the undercard could be the one between Lee Cutler and Sam Eggington and it does not look easy to call.

You have to believe Cutler will be too fresh for Sam Eggington, but the latter has a habit of ripping up the script unexpectedly and it should be fun for however long this one lasts.

On Saturday evening, Dalton Smith looks to take another step towards bringing a World Title fight to his home town later in the year.

There is so much to like about Smith and his development and he should have too much speed and quality for Mathieu Germain.

The Canadian fighter has won seven in a row, but Germain will know time is running out at 35 years old and so he has perhaps been looking for an opportunity like this one. However, this is a big step up for Mathieu Germain and the feeling is that Dalton Smith will be able to move through the gears and put together another statement making victory before targeting Alberto Puello and his WBC World Title next.

Dalton Smith has shown he can move through the gears pretty quickly when at his best and he can secure another relatively quick Stoppage.

A card being hosted in Sheffield has Yorkshireman Josh Warrington looking to begin one more big run having suggested he was moving into retirement after losing his last contest.

He should have enough to either force a very late Stoppage or a wide points Decision when returning this week, while another Yorkshireman, Josh Padley is back and looking to return to winning ways after losing to Shakur Stevenson earlier this year.

MY PICKS: Ben Whittaker to Win By Decision/Technical Decision @ 1.91 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Dalton Smith to Win Between 1-6 @ 2.10 Bet365 (2 Units)

Boxing 2025: 15-34, - 11.73 Units (59 Units Staked, - 19.88% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2022 (April 19th)

The sole Tennis Pick on Monday returned an early morning winner and I can't ask for much more than that.

There are some big tournaments being played this week on both the ATP and WTA Tours, but the focus for the Tennis Picks on Tuesday are the two ATP events in Barcelona and Belgrade. I have three selections from Barcelona and two from Belgrade which can be seen below.

While I don't have any Picks from the WTA Stuttgart tournament, I will be hoping to tune in at some point when Bianca Andreescu makes her return to the Tour. Injuries have stalled a promising career, but I am hoping that the Canadian is over those and can push back towards the top of the World Rankings where she belongs.

After a long layoff, Bianca Andreescu makes her season debut on Tuesday and I can only wish her the best of luck.

Roberto Carballas Baena - 1.5 games v Lloyd Harris: He may be Ranked over fifty places behind his opponent, but you can understand why Roberto Carballas Baena has been set as the favourite in this First Round match against Lloyd Harris. While the Spaniard has long been at his most comfortable on the natural surface of the clay courts, Lloyd Harris has struggled to have an impact on the red dirt and the next six weeks is a difficult time for the big serving South African.

You cannot completely disregard the Roberto Carballas Baena World Ranking, but I do think he is the right favourite in this First Round match in Barcelona.

He reached the Semi Final of a Challenger event on the clay in Madrid last week and Roberto Carballas Baena has won matches at the main ATP level too. The Spaniard has suffered a couple of heavy losses to the likes of Casper Ruud and Lorenzo Sonego, but those two players are pretty comfortable on the clay courts too and the overall numbers produced by Roberto Carballas Baena are decent enough.

They are certainly going to be good enough to give him a big chance to beat Lloyd Harris who has long struggled on the slower surface as he has not been given as many free points as he would expect to receive on the hard and grass courts. Lloyd Harris was pretty handily beaten in Monte Carlo in the sole match played there and even in 2021 he only held serve in 71% of service games played, which leaves him vulnerable on this surface against a clay court specialist.

It also has to be noted that Lloyd Harris has not been as comfortable as he would have liked when it comes to returning on the clay courts- while he will get into rallies, the slower surface tests the consistency of the groundstrokes and that is where Roberto Carballas Baena looks to have a real advantage over Lloyd Harris in this First Round match.

Roberto Carballas Baena has an attackable serve, but Lloyd Harris has not really shown the consistency to be able to exploit that. Instead, it feels like the Carballas Baena return could make the difference on the day and I will look for the Spaniard to earn a good win in this First Round match in Barcelona.

Marton Fucsovics - 4.5 games v Jordan Thompson: Playing on the clay courts in Houston is one thing, but the European clay courts are a big test for players like Jordan Thompson who want to spend the majority of their time on faster surfaces. This is a surface in which patience and consistency can be rewarded, while movement is very different for players compared with the hard courts and grass courts they will be playing on for much of the season.

The Australian was beaten in his first match in Houston and in recent years he has not had a lot of experience of playing on the red dirt. Last season he finished with a 2-4 record on the clay courts, although Jordan Thompson did win a match here in Barcelona and will be hoping that experience can be replicated.

A big problem for Jordan Thompson over the last couple of years on the clay courts has been the serve and he has just struggled to get out of those tough spots that a big serve can manage to do when playing on the hard courts. It is perhaps no surprise it has led to Jordan Thompson holding just 68% of service games played on the clay over the last twelve months compared with his 77% mark on the hard courts.

The pressure has then been ramped up on the return and it has proved to be a tough spot for Jordan Thompson to deal with as he has broken in just 18% of return games on a surface on which the return should be easier to deal with.

Marton Fucsovics will be hoping to take advantage after a relatively disappointing Monte Carlo Masters showing- he has dropped out of the top 50 in the World Rankings and may have seen his best tennis pass him by, but he remains a solid, if unspectacular clay courter.

Over the last twelve months, Marton Fucsovics has found his own serve being much more vulnerable on the clay courts, but he does hold 70% of service games played. That number is not much better than Jordan Thompson's mark, but a difference for the Hungarian is that he has broken in 32% of return games and I do think he will be the superior player whenever we get into rallies.

I expect that to make the difference on the day and the return of serve should favour Marton Fucsovics to move into a position to cover what is a big handicap mark. As long as he serves even semi competently, I expect Marton Fucsovics to record a solid win in Barcelona on his way to the Second Round of this tournament.

Pablo Andujar - 2.5 games v Ugo Humbert: The main problem some of the clay court specialists have is that they have serves that can be vulnerable and it is something that the top players on the Tour will exploit.

Take Pablo Andujar as an example- he has a winning record on the clay courts over the last twelve months, but his numbers are hurt by the fact he only holds 68% of service games played. The wins have largely come about thanks to the 33% of games in which he has broken serve, but it makes players like Andujar hard to trust when it comes to covering any spread.

However, he is the favourite against Ugo Humbert in the First Round in Barcelona and deservedly so when you think of the season long struggle the Frenchman has had on the Tour. The confidence is clearly dented as shown by his manner of defeat to Pedro Martinez in the Monte Carlo Masters, but Ugo Humbert had more successes breaking the serve than looking after his own and that makes him potentially awkward for Pablo Andujar to deal with.

The difference between the players does look to be the return.

Over the last twelve months Ugo Humbert has struggled for wins on all surfaces, but especially on the clay courts where he too has only managed to hold serve in 68% of service games played on the surface. Unlike Pablo Andujar, Ugo Humbert has not been able to break serve as consistently with a 20% mark there and I think the favourite is going to earn a measure of revenge for losing to the Frenchman at the Olympic Games last year.

That was a match played on the hard courts and I do think the shift onto the clay courts favours Pablo Andujar.

He hasn't played for a couple of weeks, but playing on the clay will feel natural for Pablo Andujar and I think he will find a way to force the breaks against a player lacking confidence. Ugo Humbert will have some break chances of his own, but Andujar should have the majority of break points on the day and I think he will work towards a good looking win.

MY PICKS: Roberto Carballas Baena - 1.5 Games @ 1.83 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Marton Fucsovics - 4.5 Games @ 2.10 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Pablo Andujar - 2.5 Games @ 1.80 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Joao Sousa + 2.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)

David Goffin - 2.5 Games @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 1-0, + 1.80 Units (2 Units Stake, + 90% Yield)

Season 2022: - 16.46 Units (494 Units Staked, - 3.33% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2021 (April 19th)

The four new tournaments that are set to be played on the clay courts this week have some very big names attached to them and I do think we will see better tennis as the players get used to playing on this surface.

I will have a fuller post for the Tuesday Tennis Picks, but time has not really been on my side on Sunday.

For now you can see my selections to open the week below.

MY PICKS: Pablo Andujar - 3.5 Games @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Kei Nishikori - 4.5 Games @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Nikola Milojevic - 1.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet365 (2 Units)

Filip Krajinovic - 3.5 Games @ 1.83 Bet365 (2 Units)

Monte Carlo Masters Tennis Picks 2019 (April 19th)

The Quarter Final line up has been set at Monte Carlo and I am hoping for better than the mixed results and the first losing day of the week that came out of Thursday.

The matches are going to be played back to back on the main court here in Monte Carlo and you can read my selections below.


Novak Djokovic - 4.5 games v Daniil Medvedev: These two met in a high quality match at the Australian Open where Novak Djokovic was able to edge out Daniil Medvedev in four sets on his way to another Grand Slam title Down Under. This is going to be the first time these players have faced each other on the clay courts and I have to give Novak Djokovic a real edge which can see him win the match and cover what is a large handicap on paper.

Novak Djokovic did not have a very good month in North America in March as he was beaten relatively early in Indian Wells and Miami. That may have knocked some of the confidence and he needed to dig deep to beat Philipp Kohlschreiber in the Second Round in Monte Carlo having lost to the veteran German on the hard courts at Indian Wells.

The serve was not working at the kind of level Djokovic would have been hoping in that Second Round match, but Novak Djokovic looked much better in his win over Taylor Fritz. He has held in 77% of his service games played, but Djokovic will find room to improve the percentage of points won behind serve and will need to do that if he is going to see off his young and improving opponent.

It has been much better for Djokovic when it comes to the return of serve having broken in half of the return games he has played in this tournament. He will be looking to use the return to put some pressure on Medvedev who had to dig deep to come through yet another deciding set against rival Stefanos Tsitsipas as he fought back from a break down in that final set to secure a win and a place in the Quarter Final.

Daniil Medvedev has been returning very well so far this week and has shown a huge improvement on his clay court numbers of the last couple of years, but this is a small sample and I am still not that convinced of his clay court pedigree just yet. He is going to be tested by Novak Djokovic who has held 90% of the service games played against Medvedev in their head to head across three matches, and Djokovic doubles down the pressure on the Russian by breaking in almost 37% of return games against him.

I think Medvedev has played very well in Monte Carlo, but his numbers on the clay courts are considerably better than what we have seen from him in the last two years. Maintaining those numbers could happen if he has begun to improve on the surface, but Novak Djokovic is the more consistent clay court player and I think he shows that on the day.


Borna Coric - 1.5 games v Fabio Fognini: My decision to back Borna Coric in each of the last couple of days has paid off, but Fabio Fognini scuppered my selection of Alexander Zverev to win in their Third Round match. My fear in opposing the Italian is that he can be someone who raises their game when getting out of the right side of the bed, but I am going to be on the other side of the court against him in this Quarter Final.

In each of the last three seasons Coric has been very comfortable in looking after his serve on the clay courts, but it has been the improvement in the return game which has made him as effective on the surface as he has become. The Croatian has been playing the big points well behind serve so far this week, but he is maintaining a strong hold number and I think that is going to put some pressure on opponents.

As I have mentioned, it is the return game that has really improved and Coric is maintaining those numbers. This week he has won almost 41% of the return points and broken in 25% of return games played, but those numbers are pretty closer to those he has produced over a twelve month period on the clay courts and it suggests he can keep this level going.

Fabio Fognini has been playing well this week considering he had lost all four previous matches played on the clay courts in 2019 before seeing off Andrey Rublev and Alexander Zverev. He was a strong winner in the Third Round match against Zverev, but Fognini had to dig in deep to beat Rublev and he is going to need to be at his best to see off Coric too.

When Fognini gets some momentum behind him in these tournaments he can be very difficult to stop, but I think it may be tough for him to back up the win over Zverev. There will be more expectation of him to win a match like this one and I think Coric has been playing the better clay court tennis of the two players and can show that on the day.

It could need three sets to separate the players and determine a winner, but I am going to back Borna Coric to edge through with a win and a cover.

MY PICKS: Novak Djokovic - 4.5 Games @ 2.00 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Borna Coric - 1.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Monte Carlo Update: 10-7, + 4.20 Units (34 Units Staked, + 12.35% Yield)

Monte Carlo Masters Tennis Picks 2018 (April 19th)

Wednesday proved to be a really frustrating day for the Tennis Picks at the Monte Carlo Masters with both Fabio Fognini and Fernando Verdasco failing to return to the winner's enclosure.

Fognini never looked like he was going to be a winner, but Verdasco should have won the second set against Marin Cilic which would have given him every chance to cover if he was not able to win the match.

Hopefully I am going to have a little more luck with the Picks the rest of the week after a poor first three days.


David Goffin v Roberto Bautista Agut: The head to head does read 3-1 in favour of Roberto Bautista Agut, but I think David Goffin may have the better clay court pedigree of the two players. The one concern in backing the Belgian is that he has not had a lot of tennis over the last couple of months since a freak eye injury in his match with Grigor Dimitrov in Rotterdam, but he did have a solid win in the Second Round.

His opponent had also been struggling for form since winning the title in Dubai and Roberto Bautista Agut has won back to back matches for the first time since them this week in Monte Carlo.

The layers are finding it difficult to separate the two players, but I am not convinced Goffin should be the small underdog in what is close to a pick 'em match.

Some of the Goffin numbers on the clay courts have been very impressive in the last couple of years during his move into the top 20 of the World Rankings and he may have an edge over Bautista Agut. While the Spaniard is a solid competitor on the surface, the majority of his wins have come against players Ranked outside the top 20 and his numbers are significantly weaker when he has played the top players on this surface.

There could be a number of breaks of serve during the course of this match and one or two key points could make all the difference in the final outcome of the Third Round encounter. Goffin's holding serve numbers have been the slightly superior to Bautista Agut and he is an effective returner who can win this match.


Grigor Dimitrov - 1.5 games v Philipp Kohlschreiber: In the last couple of years Grigor Dimitrov's numbers on the clay courts have been very disappointing considering his standing on the ATP Tour. The next seven weeks could be a tough stretch for Dimitrov, but he did play well to recover in the Second Round after falling a set behind although now the challenges get that much tougher.

First up is Philipp Kohlschreiber who looks like he is a declining force on the Tour.

The German has had two solid wins this week which are going to give him plenty of confidence, but Kohlschreiber has perhaps taken advantage of a kind draw. You can't ignore the fact that Kohlschreiber can still be very effective at looking after his own serve, but his return numbers have shown a steady decline in each of the last four years and that has to be a concern for the veteran.

His numbers have also taken a big hit when facing those players Ranked in the top 20 and Kohlschreiber may find Dimitrov getting the better of him again on a clay court like he did last season in Madrid.

Dimitrov's own return numbers on the clay courts have not been as strong as he would like, but I do think he can get the better of Kohlschreiber in a competitive two sets.


Marin Cilic - 2.5 games v Milos Raonic: Two big servers will meet in the Third Round at the Monte Carlo Masters and you do have to think that both Marin Cilic and Milos Raonic will be able to hold onto serve for much of this match.

Chances will be limited, but I would suggest Raonic is not quite as comfortable as Cilic on the clay courts and that could see the latter come away with a win and a cover of this number of games.

Raonic has to be respected with the wins he has put together since the Indian Wells Masters, but his numbers on the clay courts against the best players on the Tour have not been the best. While the serve continues to be a big weapon for him, his return numbers have been poor to say the least and I am not sure Raonic is going to get a lot of change out of the Cilic serve if the Croatian is anywhere near his best.

Another key difference is the way the two players have managed to return on this surface and Cilic is someone who is able to generate plenty of success on the return. He has really shown that off in the last couple of years on the clay courts, but the Raonic serve is a tough one to get the better of with any consistency.

I do think Cilic will find a couple of breaks in the match though and I believe that will be enough for him to win this match and cover the mark. It won't be easy, but Cilic did record a win over Raonic in the Final in Istanbul on the clay last season and can frank that with a victory over him in Monte Carlo on Thursday.


Kei Nishikori - 4.5 games v Andreas Seppi: The two wins Kei Nishikori has produced this week have been impressive and he continues to show that he is one of the better clay court players out there.

The lack of competitive tennis over the last twelve months saw Nishikori make a slow start back on the Tour, but I think the next couple of months could be huge for him. Wins over Tomas Berdych and Daniil Medvedev have seen Nishikori produce some strong numbers and his returning ability on the clay courts is one of the keys to his success on the surface.

Andreas Seppi is the Third Round opponent having battled through two tough matches in the main draw after a more comfortable progress through a couple of Qualifiers. Seppi has needed three sets to win both matches in the main draw, but he has perhaps rode his luck a little bit to get to this stage, particularly in his First Round win over Kyle Edmund.

The return of serve is an important part of the Italian's game too and he will feel he can put some pressure on Nishikori who does not possess the biggest serve on the Tour. However Nishikori has looked after that side of his game better than Seppi even if the latter's numbers are a little better thanks to the strong performance when he is facing break points.

It has to be said he is saving those break points at an unsustainable level and I think Nishikori can be a little more effective than Edmund and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez were when the chances came their way.

Matches between these two players have tended to be very compettiive, but they haven't played for some time and Nishikori is much improved since then. I also think veteran Seppi has declined since their previous matches and Nishikori can record another good win on Thursday.

MY PICKS: David Goffin @ 2.00 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Grigor Dimitrov - 1.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Marin Cilic - 2.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Kei Nishikori - 4.5 Games @ 2.00 Boyle Sports (2 Units)

Monte Carlo Update: 2-4, - 4.96 Units (12 Units Staked, - 41.33% Yield)

Monte Carlo Masters Tennis Picks 2017 (April 19th)

The First Round matches were completed on Tuesday in Monte Carlo and that means the majority of the biggest names in the draw will begin on Wednesday having received a bye through to the Second Round.

For many of those big names, this is the first match they will have played on the clay courts in 2017 and we saw the likes of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Novak Djokovic struggle considerably on Tuesday. Tsonga could not escape the upset, but Djokovic was able to come through in three sets and it does make a number of the matches on Wednesday a little more difficult to call.


Pablo Carreno Busta - 3.5 games v Karen Khachanov: It was a fairly comfortable win for Karen Khachanov in the First Round against Nicolas Mahut, but that was expected by most and this is a significant tick upwards in terms of a challenge. Instead of facing a player uncomfortable on the clay courts, the young Russian is facing Pablo Carreno Busta who is looking to put a career best year on the board in 2017.

Things have looked good for Carreno Busta so far this season and the improved confidence coupled with the quality he brings has meant the Spaniard has shown mental strength at difficult times. That helped Carreno Busta in coming through against Fabio Fognini in the First Round and is the kind of win that can spark a really strong European clay court season for someone who is very happy on this surface.

There is a real chance that Carreno Busta will be making a significant move in the World Rankings from his current Number 19 spot as he has fewer points to defend over the next few weeks than you may imagine. He won a few matches on the clay at this time of the season in 2016, but he is playing much more confidently now and I think he will have a little too much know-how for Khachanov in this Second Round encounter.

The Russian has some strong results on the clay courts over the last twelve months and he is clearly someone who is comfortable on the surface. However he is still developing his game and I am looking for Carreno Busta to be a little too steady at the important times in this one to earn the edge in the two sets they are likely to compete.

Khachanov has a bright future, but on this day I am looking for Carreno Busta to come through with a 6-4, 6-4 win.


Albert Ramos-Vinolas - 2.5 games v Carlos Berlocq: Despite coming through the Qualifiers and being accustomed to the conditions in Monte Carlo, Carlos Berlocq made hard work of Lucky Loser Pierre-Hugues Herbert in the First Round. I should say it was initially hard work before Berlocq was able to take control of the match, although he will have to be better when he takes on Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the Second Round.

Both players had a disappointing time in Marrakech last week with relatively early exits and both losses were unexpected. Berlocq winning three matches here will improve his confidence after that loss in Marrakech, but Ramos-Vinolas was a fairly comfortable winner in the First Round too and won't be lacking belief.

There is no doubt that both Berlocq and Ramos-Vinolas are going to be very happy on the clay courts and their seven previous matches have all been played on the surface. While Berlocq has the winning record, it is the Spaniard who has won three of the last four although they will be playing one another for the first time since 2014.

Ramos-Vinolas has improved in that time since they have last met, while Berlocq looks to be on the slide in his career and I think that gives the former the advantage in this Second Round match. He will be given some problems by Berlocq who has the kind of irritating game that can put his opponents off their own and I expect he will have his break point chances.

This could easily take three sets to separate the players, but I think Ramos-Vinolas is able to battle through with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over the course of a couple of hours.


Roberto Bautista Agut - 2.5 games v Diego Sebastian Schwartzman: While it looked to be a little easier for Diego Sebastian Schwartzman in coming through his First Round match compared with Roberto Bautista Agut, I still anticipated the latter to be asked to cover at least one more game than this.

Both players are very comfortable on the clay courts and Schwartzman has shown he can be a dangerous player on the surface. He doesn't have the big game that will impress on the eyeball test, but Schwartzman is consistent and has the movement to extract errors from his opponents.

That might be more difficult in this match up against Bautista Agut who bases his performance on limiting the mistakes he makes. It has all the makings of a long and drawn out match, but I do think Bautista Agut has perhaps a little more pop off the first serve and he has shown he can compete with the very best players on the Tour and should have too much for someone like Schwartzman.

When two players have a similar kind of game, I do favour the player who has shown the tougher mental strength as well as the ability to continue playing that game for the longest time. I expect that will be Bautista Agut in this case and I do think he can grind down Schwartzman over three sets.

Schwartzman has shown he is capable of hurting opponents when they are not at their full level of performance, but I do think the First Round win for Bautista Agut will have just cleared off some of the cobwebs. After a battle, I am looking for the Spaniard to win this one 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 to move through to the next Round.

MY PICKS: Pablo Carreno Busta - 3.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Albert Ramos-Vinolas - 2.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Roberto Bautista Agut - 2.5 Games @ 1.85 William Hill (2 Units)

Monte Carlo Update: 9-1, + 14.94 Units (20 Units Staked, + 74.70% Yield)

Midweek Football Picks 2017 (April 18-20)

The final four teams in both the Champions League and Europa League competitions for the 2016/17 season will be decided by the end of this week and the draw for the Semi Finals of both will be made by Friday lunchtime.

Last weekend was a very good one for the Football Picks and I am looking to keep that run going with the eight games that are scheduled for the next three days. I will be adding the Champions League Picks first and then the Europa League Picks and hopefully it can be another positive set of results to take into the weekend fixtures.


Leicester City v Atletico Madrid Pick: You have to think both Leicester City and Atletico Madrid would have accepted a 1-0 win for Atletico Madrid at the end of the First Leg in the Spanish capital last week. For Leicester City it means returning home very much in the Quarter Final, while Atletico Madrid have a lead and a clean sheet and will believe they will see more space in the Second Leg with the onus on their hosts to attack.

That makes this Second Leg very interesting and both managers will believe their side is going to make it through to the Semi Final.

I do have to say I favour Atletico Madrid now they have a lead and with the experience they have gained in the Champions League over the last four years which has seen them reach two Champions League Finals. They know how to do enough to win these ties over two Legs and Atletico Madrid will truly believe they can score at least once at the King Power Stadium which will give them a huge edge in the tie.

Atletico Madrid are unbeaten in 13 away games in all competitions and they have scored in 7 straight games which includes stops at Barcelona and Real Madrid. They won't be intimidated by the atmosphere at Leicester City and I do think The Foxes have had to ride their luck to get through to the Quarter Final.

After last season it is difficult to oppose Leicester City securing a place in the Semi Final, but Sevilla missed two penalties against them in the last Round which suggests there is some fortune attached to this run to the Quarter Final. After defending in numbers and playing deep last week, Leicester City have to show more adventure in this Second Leg and that should be music to the ears of Atletico Madrid.

I can't back Atletico Madrid when you think of their poor away record in Knock Out ties in the Champions League, but they are a team who are capable of winning here. Their last 3 away Champions League Knock Out ties have featured at least three goals though and this could be a Second Leg that sees spaces open up considerably at some point in this one.

It won't surprise me if both teams score at least once in this one and I do think there will be chances at both ends. An Atletico Madrid goal should mean Leicester City have to take a few more risks and so I am anticipating an away win in the Second Leg, but I will take the odds against that there are at least three goals in this one.


Real Madrid v Bayern Munich Pick: The Arturo Vidal missed penalty at the end of the first half of the First Leg in Munich looks to be the key moment of a game that was eventually won 1-2 by Real Madrid. It has put Bayern Munich in an incredibly difficult position in this Quarter Final and I think it would be quite the upset if they are able to turn things around and move through to the Semi Final at the expense of the defending Champions League Winners.

Real Madrid have been very strong at home in the Champions League and put the wins together, while the defensive injuries Bayern Munich are dealing with are coming at the wrong time. Of course you can understand why Carlo Ancelotti is confident his team can score the two goals they need to at least push this to extra time, but defensively they have struggled and Real Madrid are more than capable of taking advantage.

It will be the kind of game that Real Madrid should enjoy with a chance to exploit spaces that Bayern Munich are likely to leave behind, while Bayern Munich's poor away run in the Champions League Knock Out ties can't be ignored.

They won at Arsenal in the last Round, but Bayern Munich had lost half of their previous 8 away Knock Out ties in the Champions League while they have a poor recent record at Real Madrid.

Bayern Munich have lost on their last couple of visits to Madrid at Atletico Madrid and I am anticipating another defeat for them in Real Madrid. Even though the home team have a chance to progress without winning the Second Leg, Real Madrid only play one way and that is to get forward and attack and score goals.

Their visitors have to try and do the same which suggests we will see another tie with at least three goals shared out by these teams and I will back Real Madrid to win such a Second Leg at a big price. I wouldn't be surprised if Real Madrid finish the tie with a counter attacking goal or two in the second half and I will look for the defending Champions to get to just three games from being the first team to defend the European Cup in almost thirty years.


Barcelona v Juventus Pick: The Champions League Second Round comeback made by Barcelona against Paris Saint-Germain has to be the only positive the home team can hold onto after another crushing loss away from home in the First Leg of a Knock Out tie. You can't ignore the part the referee had to play in Barcelona's comeback against Paris though and they will need some more dubious officiating to help them back into this one.

On the other hand, Barcelona were miles better in Turin than they were in Paris and only a stunning save from Gianluigi Buffon when the score was still only 1-0 to Juventus and some last ditch defending prevented Barcelona from scoring. The Catalan club created some really open opportunities in the First Leg which will encourage them to believe they can get back into the tie.

The defensive problems looks to be the bigger issue for Barcelona though and I am finding it hard to see how they will be able to prevent Juventus scoring. The return of Sergio Busquets does offer some protection, but other key defensive minded players like Javier Mascherano could be missing and Juventus will thrive on the counter attacking possibilities they should have.

In years gone by you may think the Italian club would be looking to sit on their 3-0 lead from the First Leg, but Juventus will know how important an away goal could be in this tie. I think that will outweigh their desire to defend deep in numbers especially as Barcelona have shown in the First Leg they can create clear openings against this strong defence.

Goals haven't been a problem for Barcelona who have scored at least four times in each of their home Champions League ties. However Juventus have won all 4 of their away Champions League games this season and will be confident they can score especially as they managed a 2-2 draw in Bayern Munich at this stage of the competition last season before falling down in extra time.

The Second Leg has the makings of a high-scoring game as I do think Juventus will be stronger on the counter attack than Paris Saint-Germain and will look to finish off the tie with away goals. However I do think Barcelona will be confident enough in the final third to create their own opportunities and I can see this Second Leg producing at least one more goal than the First Leg in Turin did last week.

3 of the last 5 Juventus away Champions League games have featured at least four goals shared out including in Bayern Munich and Sevilla, while 6 of the last 7 Barcelona home Champions League games have done the same. I will be looking for Barcelona to keep attacking until the final whistle which should mean chances at both ends and backing at least four goals to be shared out at odds against is the pick from the Second Leg.


Monaco v Borussia Dortmund Pick: UEFA have rightly faced some criticism for 'forcing' the First Leg to be played in Dortmund on Wednesday less than twenty-four hours after an explosion near the Borussia Dortmund team bus had postponed the game that was scheduled to be played on Tuesday.

Most of the criticism has come from the Borussia Dortmund side of things as they have denied being involved in the decision to reschedule the fixture for Wednesday as UEFA had claimed the club had been.

That looks like something that will run and run beyond the end of the conclusion of the season, but Borussia Dortmund have to focus on matters on the pitch as they have a big task in overturning a 2-3 defeat from the First Leg.

Heading to Monaco is going to be far from easy considering they have won 5 of their last 6 Champions League games here and that includes winning their last 3 in a row. To make matters more difficult, Borussia Dortmund have won 2 of their last 5 away European games and they have lost 4 of their last 7 on their travels overall while now trying to find the balance between attack and defence in the Second Leg of this Quarter Final.

The pace Monaco have will see them as a threat on the counter attack throughout this Second Leg but Borussia Dortmund have no option but to get forward. They either need to win this game with a 0-2 scoreline or Borussia Dortmund have to score at least three goals here if they do concede.

Monaco themselves will likely play a very similar brand of football as they have all season and that is to try and get on the front foot and put this tie out of reach of Borussia Dortmund. They won't want to offer their opponents too much encouragement and this looks like a Second Leg that could produce fireworks like we saw in the First Leg.

Backing this Second Leg to feature at least four goals looks to be the right way to go with chances likely to be produced right up until the 90th minute mark. Both teams are better going forward than defensively and I will back at least four goals to be shared out between Monaco and Borussia Dortmund.

I did consider backing Monaco as the home underdog, which seems a strange spot when you think of how Borussia Dortmund have played away from home in recent weeks. However the fact they don't need to win to move through to the Semi Final of the Champions League has just put me off and has me leaning towards backing at least four goals to be shared out.


Besiktas v Lyon Pick: Anyone who saw the First Leg between Lyon and Besiktas will have recognised that the Turkish Champions were more than a little unfortunate not to see out what would have been a huge win in this Quarter Final. They would have come into the Second Leg as a significant favourite to progress through to the Semi Final, but now the tie is finely balanced.

Whichever team makes the stronger start is going to be able to put themselves in a very good position in the Second Leg and both teams should feel they can earn the edge in the tie. Besiktas have been very good at home and have to feel good about being able to overturn this deficit, although the concern has to be the lack of clean sheets in home European ties.

Lyon have scored in their last 4 away European ties and they have won half of those games while they had been unbeaten in 3 away ties before the 2-1 loss at Roma in the Last 16. However their recent form has to be a concern and most of the players will likely understand the fortune they received in being able to head to Istanbul with a lead.

This really does feel like it is going to be a game decided by fine margins and I can see the fans of both teams really believing they can move through to the Semi Final and arguably become favourites to win the Europa League. Separating them is difficult but home advantage is likely to be the key for Besiktas who have played well here in European ties this season.

I can see the tie needing extra time, and possibly penalties, to decide the winner and that means I am leaning towards Besiktas here. However I am going to back them on the Asian Handicap with the draw returning our stakes as Lyon have to be respected with a team that offers plenty of attacking potential and who could counter Besiktas if the home team are chasing the game.

Backing Besiktas knowing the draw returns the stakes at the prices looks appealing enough though and I will look for the Turkish Champions to just edge out Lyon over 90 minutes.


Genk v Celta Vigo Pick: This Quarter Final is finely balanced after the First Leg and both Genk and Celta Vigo will feel they can do enough to force their way into the Semi Final of the Europa League.

Out of the two teams, Genk have overachieved by reaching the Quarter Final and they have benefited from a fortunate draw in the Knock Out Rounds. They still need to be respected by Celta Vigo though as Genk have beaten Athletic Bilbao here in the Group Stage and the Basque club have been much stronger than Celta Vigo in the Spanish top flight this season.

The onus is on Genk to get forward in this one, but I think they won't mind that while I also think it will suit Celta Vigo to be able to begin this Second Leg with counter attacking options.

Celta Vigo have had some positive away results in the Europa League with wins at PAOK, Shakhtar Donetsk and Krasnodar hard to ignore. Those results have been better than their home ones and Celta Vigo may feel the 3-2 home win in the First Leg has put them in a very strong position in the Quarter Final.

Goals will change the outlook of the Second Leg and each one that goes in will make the scenario feel much different. I do think Celta Vigo's recent away performances in the Europa League and overall have shown a team who have defended better than you may expect.

Celta Vigo have clean sheets in their last 3 away Europa League games and in 3 of their last 4 away games overall. All of those have been backed up by a win as Celta Vigo do offer a threat in the final third and I am going to back the Spanish side to move into the Semi Final with another win in this Second Leg.

As a Manchester United fan it would be nice to see Celta Vigo exit the competition, but I will back them to win in Belgium at a big looking price.


Manchester United v Anderlecht Pick: Jose Mourinho might not have been happy with the lack of clinical finishing in Brussels last week, but the cold light of day might have changed his tune as Manchester United are in a strong position to make it through to the Europa League Quarter Final. The 1-1 draw does give Anderlecht a chance, but Manchester United controlled the First Leg to such an extent that I can't see anything but a relatively comfortable win for the home team at Old Trafford.

The motivation for each team has to be considered with Manchester United sensing this is their best route back into the Champions League compared with Anderlecht who are prioritising winning the Belgian top flight. The home game with Club Brugge could be the focus for Anderlecht this week and I think they will recognise they have probably missed their best chance to progress to the Semi Final in the First Leg.

You have to respect the fact that this scoreline does give Anderlecht a chance though and playing at Old Trafford brings a motivation of its own. However Manchester United will be brimming with confidence having beaten Chelsea 2-0 here in the most convincing League performance of the season and they have been very strong in the Europa League with 5 wins from 5 at Old Trafford.

More than half of those wins have come by a wide margin and I can see the likes of Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Zlatan Ibrahimovic coming in to give Manchester United some fresh legs in the forward positions. Both have performed well in the Europa League and they should inspire Manchester United to another strong performance here.

I am looking for Manchester United to make this an easier and less tense night at Old Trafford than when they played Rostov in the Last 16 and I will be looking for them to come through with a comfortable win on the evening. Manchester United have won by at least two goals in 3 of their 5 home Europa League games and Anderlecht's sole away loss in European Football came by a two goal margin at Zenit St Petersburg.

At some point Anderlecht will have to commit men forward and I will look for Manchester United to cover the Asian Handicap as they pick off their visitors in the second half. I am expecting better finishing when the chances are presented this week from Manchester United who could have won by a wide margin in Anderlecht last week.


Schalke v Ajax Pick: 2-0 has to be one of the toughest First Leg deficits to overcome for most teams in these Knock Out ties with the away team in the Second Leg knowing one goal will force their opponents to score at least four to go through. That is what Ajax must be thinking after their strong First Leg win over Schalke and they will be looking for the haymaker away goal that will almost certainly secure their place in the Semi Final.

The Dutch side have not been at their best away from home in recent weeks, but they are very tough to beat and Ajax will believe they can earn an away goal that will put them into a strong position. Schalke have conceded in both Knock Out ties played at home over the last two months and the pressure is on them to find the right balance between attack and defence in this one.

Failing to achieve the right balance will make it almost impossible for Schalke to turn around the loss in Amsterdam, but being at home will give them confidence. When they win here, Schalke tend to score a few goals and they will be holding onto that, although I can't escape the feeling that Ajax will score here.

That will open up the tie as Schalke commit men forward to get back into the Quarter Final and it does have the making of an exciting Second Leg. The oddsmakers have the same feeling as they aren't giving anything away with the over 2.5 goal prices, but I think that is the most likely outcome of the Second Leg and I will look for goals.

MY PICKS: Leicester City-Atletico Madrid Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.10 Sporting Bet (2 Units)
Real Madrid to Win & Over 2.5 Goals @ 3.10 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Barcelona-Juventus Over 3.5 Goals @ 2.15 Betfair Sportsbook (2 Units)
Monaco-Borussia Dortmund Over 3.5 Goals @ 2.00 Betfair Sportsbook (2 Units)
Besiktas 0 Asian Handicap @ 1.95 Bet365 (2 Units)
Celta Vigo @ 2.75 (2 Units)
Manchester United - 1.75 Asian Handicap @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Schalke-Ajax Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.73 Bet Fred (2 Units)

April Update: 26-18-1, + 15.68 Units (89 Units Staked, + 17.62% Yield)

March Final: 39-40-3, + 6.64 Units (157 Units Staked, + 4.23% Yield)
February Final: 31-50, - 29.34 Units (157 Units Staked, - 18.69% Yield)
January Final: 32-47-1, - 30.88 Units (164 Units Staked, - 18.83% Yield)
December Final: 38-40, - 7.93 Units (153 Units Staked, - 5.18% Yield)

November Final: 40-38-3, + 5.76 Units (159 Units Staked, + 3.62% Yield)
October Final: 29-41-2, - 21.23 Units (139 Units Staked, - 15.27% Yield)

September Final: 43-28-1, + 35.17 Units (133 Units Staked, + 26.44% Yield)

August Final: 31-38-2, - 9 Units (124 Units Staked, - 7.26% Yield)

Season 2016/17: 243-272-9, - 57.45 Units (1029 Units Staked, - 5.58% Yield)

Season 2015/16: 133-174-2, + 0.89 Units (669 Units Staked, + 0% Yield)

Season 2014/15: 159-208-5, - 20.22 Units (647 Units Staked, - 3.13% Yield)

Season 2013/14: 164-185-3, + 15.84 Units (577 Units Staked, + 2.75% Yield

Season 2012/13: + 4.42 Units (415 Units Staked, + 1.07% Yield)

Midweek Football Picks 2016 (April 19-21)

The Premier League looks to be hotting up at the top and bottom of the table after the weekend results which have reignited the title race as well as the relegation one. This week is a 'make up' week for a number of teams who had games in hand and could have a big impact when it comes to the top four and the bottom three in the League table which should keep the neutrals intrigued over the next three days.

This weekend is another which has seen the League schedule disrupted thanks to the four teams who are featuring in the FA Cup Semi Final, but the focus for most will be on this week's Premier League games first.


Newcastle United v Manchester City Pick: This is a game that will have big implications at the top and bottom of the Premier League and both Newcastle United and Manchester City will be desperate for the three points. The win for Newcastle United over Swansea City on Saturday will give the team and The Toon Army plenty of confidence, but they have to be better defensively to avoid a defeat.

The 3-0 scoreline looks a comfortable day for Newcastle United, but that doesn't tell the full story when it comes to the chances Swansea City had with the game at 1-0. Those chances will be taken by players in from like Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero and Manchester City look to be a team rounding into form at the right time to avoid missing a Champions League place.

Manchester City had their own 3-0 win on Saturday as they impressively dismissed Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and seven goals in their last couple of away games in the Premier League shows the confidence this team has.

They have also loved visiting St James' Park in recent years with their last six away games at this ground ending with Manchester City wins by at least two goals each time. With the way they are performing in front of goal, Manchester City should have the chances to get on the front foot in this one and I do think they are able to come through and take away the three points.

It should be quite a test for Manchester City if Newcastle United are encouraged by their fans after the win on Saturday. However it is one I think they can come through with some confidence and I think Manchester City cover the Asian Handicap.


West Ham United v Watford Pick: If this game was played over the weekend, you would think it would be a tough one for West Ham United against a Watford team that have made life difficult for some teams. However, the midweek fixture means it is likely that this one means a lot more to West Ham United and I think they can win with something to spare.

There is no doubt that the Watford attention has shifted to the FA Cup Semi Final now they have reached the 40 point mark in the Premier League. It has already been announced that changes will be made to the starting eleven for this one as they focus on that game on Sunday and West Ham United are playing well enough to take advantage.

Slaven Bilic will be hoping his team can at least defend better than they have been in recent games which has cost his team a number of points. He will also be hoping for better refereeing decisions as West Ham United try and exert some pressure on those teams in the top four of the Premier League table.

West Ham United score plenty of goals though and I think they can give this Watford team a lot of problems through the contest. There will be players in the away line up who will be hoping to persuade their manager they deserve a start in the Cup Semi Final, but the motivation is all on the side of West Ham United and I expect that will show up on Wednesday.

It hasn't been too often that West Ham United have won by a comfortable margin this season, but I am looking for them to cover the Asian Handicap in this one as they move to within 4 points of Arsenal in the top four.


Liverpool v Everton Pick: Both Liverpool and Everton have a number of injuries in their squad going into the final Merseyside derby of the season, but the fans won't be looking for excuses as to why their team did not perform. The bigger factor might be the FA Cup Semi Final that Everton are due to play on Saturday against Manchester United and that could mean Roberto Martinez takes no risks with his big players.

It is a big risk for Martinez personally because the fans are already disillusioned with his time as manager of the club as Everton have fallen off the standards set by David Moyes. Winning the Cup might relieve some of the pressure on Martinez, but basically rolling over for Liverpool and then losing to Manchester United in the Semi Final might mean curtains for him as manager here in the summer.

That means Martinez has to play a fine balancing act, while Jurgen Klopp can look to keep the momentum behind his team. Liverpool have shown some real determination in recent games, no more so than when coming back to beat Borussia Dortmund in the Europa League Quarter Final, and I think the momentum is firmly behind them.

However they can't take Everton for granted as they have been very difficult to beat away from home in the League all season. On the other hand, Everton look a team riddled by knocks and injuries and a much changed team might struggle to make the impact their fans will be hoping for at Anfield.

It makes it hard to see anything other than a home win in this one and the layers have been shortening the Liverpool price ever since the weekend games were in the books. I will back the home team to win this live TV offering from Wednesday night and stay on track for a place in Europe through their League position.


Manchester United v Crystal Palace Pick: The rollercoaster of performances under Louis Van Gaal continued for Manchester United as they struggled to see off Aston Villa at Old Trafford following a very strong performance at West Ham United days earlier. The important factor was that Manchester United did win as they can't afford any more slip ups when it comes to trying to finish in the top four in the Premier League table.

That looks to be the deciding factor in whether Louis Van Gaal is given an opportunity to see out his final year of his contract as manager. Even winning the FA Cup won't be enough on its own and the pressure is on Manchester United to earn the three points and stay with the two teams above them.

It might be a good time for Manchester United to run into Crystal Palace who have been earning points in recent games to keep them out of the relegation battle developing behind them. Those points have meant Alan Pardew is confident enough to make changes to his team as he focuses on the FA Cup Semi Final that his side are playing in on Sunday.

While the fringe players will be looking to make a statement of their form to stake a claim for a FA Cup Semi Final spot, it also means players are perhaps unsure of tackles to avoid suspensions. I think Crystal Palace would take a point from this game now and I expect they will look to defend through the game to earn that point.

That should mean Manchester United dominate the possession but the key will be finding the breakthrough to stay with the top four. I think a stronger Manchester United team than the one Crystal Palace will send out can do that and they can then look to their strong defensive record at Old Trafford as helping them earn the three points.

Backing Manchester United to win a third straight game at Old Trafford without conceding is the call at odds against.


Arsenal v West Brom Pick: It has to be considered another disappointing season for Arsenal who might not have too many better chances to mount a successful title challenge as they had this season. Once again they have gotten into the second half of the season and then fallen away and now the fear has to be that Arsenal might fall out of the top four with Manchester United potentially breathing down their neck.

The boo boys were out in force at the end of Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace but it might be a more positive evening for them on Thursday against West Brom. While Crystal Palace have been earning positive results, West Brom have lost 3 of their last 4 Premier League games and the players might be looking forward to the end of the season already.

This is not a ground that West Brom have enjoyed playing at in recent seasons and they were hammered here 4-1 last season, while you have to expect Arsenal will have a response to the result on Sunday. In all honesty they should never have been stuck at 1-0 when Crystal Palace scored their late equaliser and more composure in the final third might have led to a fairly comfortable Arsenal win.

Arsenal do have goals in their side once they get into a free flowing mode and being out of the title race might just loosen their players up as it has in previous years. There might be some pressure on them if both Manchester City and Manchester United win their League games on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively, but Arsenal should take advantage of a West Brom team playing out the string.

I think Arsenal will be too good on the day and I believe they win this by at least two goals.

MY PICKS: Manchester City - 1 Asian Handicap @ 1.95 Bet Victor (2 Units)
West Ham United - 1 Asian Handicap @ 1.95 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Liverpool @ 1.73 Bet365 (2 Units)
Manchester United Win to Nil @ 2.40 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Arsenal - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.80 Bet Victor (2 Units)

April Update: 10-7, + 4.62 Units (34 Units Staked, + 13.59% Yield)

March Final: 22-17-2, + 9.06 Units (80 Units Staked, + 11.33% Yield)
February Final: 30-23-2, + 20.82 Units (105 Units Staked, + 19.83% Yield)

January Final: 19-13, + 17.56 Units (61 Units Staked, + 28.79% Yield)

December Final: 15-23, - 9.32 Units (64 Units Staked, - 14.56% Yield)

November Final: 11-19-1, - 12.94 Units (51 Units Staked, - 25.37% Yield)

October Final: 16-25, - 13.51 Units (79.50 Units Staked, - 16.99% Yield)

September Final: 29-30-3, + 4.18 Units (117.5 Units Staked, + 3.58% Yield)

August Final: 16-31-1, - 24.34 Units (94 Units Staked, - 25.89% Yield)

Season 2015/16: 129-168-2, - 8.49 Units (652 Units Staked, - 1.30% Yield)

Season 2014/15: 159-208-5, - 20.22 Units (647 Units Staked, - 3.13% Yield)

Season 2013/14: 164-185-3, + 15.84 Units (577 Units Staked, + 2.75% Yield

Season 2012/13: + 4.42 Units (415 Units Staked, + 1.07% Yield)