Boxing Picks 2023- Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin (April 1st)

The build up had been fantastic and the actual fight did not let us down, even if the refereeing was questionable to say the least.

Kenny Bayless aside, Caleb Plant and David Benavidez gave the fans what they wanted to see and there is no doubt that Benavidez deserves his shot at the Undisputed Super Middleweight crown. I am not sure he will get that opportunity next with the suggestion that Canelo Alvarez is going into a rematch with Dmitry Bivol later this year, but a Canelo vs Benavidez clash for Cinco de Mayo in 2024 looks like it could be a huge event.

I think Caleb Plant can come back too, despite losses to Canelo and Benavidez, but it was a tough loss and it will not be easy to overcome. He seems like a man with a lot of self-confidence though and I do think we will see Plant back in with some big names and especially if the World Titles end up fracturing over the next twelve months.

Seeing Jose Carlos Ramirez win his eliminator was all well and good, but I do hope he is now going to push for the shot at Regis Prograis... I won't be holding my breath having turned down that opportunity on a couple of occasions already.

In the UK, it is not going to be a big surprise to anyone that Lawrence Okolie was criticised in a number of quarters after a less than impressive win over David Light, but I think it is the Okolie style that can lead to these kind of fights. He can be very good on his best day, but I do think inactivity contributed to the performance and I am expecting a lot better with some big tests to come in the Cruiserweight Division before what feels an inevitable move up to the Heavyweight Division.

Th Undisputed Heavyweight clash has fallen apart, but we do have one of the top Heavyweights returning after back to back losses to Oleksandr Usyk.

Anthony Joshua headlines back in the O2 Arena on Saturday evening in London and that is the headline fight of the week.

A Friday night offering featuring a Eubank will draw some eyes, and in the United States there is an headline bout that will have the vacant WBO World Title on the line.

An up and down run for the Boxing Picks last week ended with a slight losing record, although the overall numbers for 2023 have just about remained in the black. The three 'two unit' selections all lost, but Ramirez securing a late Stoppage prevented it from being a really bad day and we will move on into the busy April schedule featuring some big names and the Super Fight between Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia.

Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin

You are never going to be too far from being criticised by those who live to watch you fall, especially if you're an elite athlete in the limelight.

Anthony Joshua will have always known that was possible ahead of his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk and losing a narrow Decision to one of the best Boxers in the world was not going to be good enough. I thought he made some decent adjustments between the two fights with Usyk, but I also thought the Unified Heavyweight Champion was the stronger performer down the stretch and deserved his win.

I am not that surprised that people are going to question Joshua's motivation as he prepares to return this weekend- however, I do think there is plenty to get your teeth stuck into in a vibrant Division where fans will be clamouring to see Anthony Joshua in the ring with Joe Joyce, Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury, with or without the World Titles.

Becoming a three time World Champion would place his name amongst some of the greats, even if this is the age of the fractured World Title.

All of the above could come crashing down if Anthony Joshua is beaten on Saturday, but I like the decision he made to join up with Derrick James and heading out of his comfort zone to train in Texas will do him the world of good. In Texas no one is going to really care too much about a Heavyweight from Britain and I do think Anthony Joshua will be able to work on his craft under the tutelage of a top trainer and amongst some top Boxers.

I expect to see all of that on Saturday and I do think Anthony Joshua will do what many expected Dillian Whyte to do when he faced Jermaine Franklin last November.

The then unbeaten American came over with little support, but Jermaine Franklin impressed against Whyte and might have been unfortunate to not head back Stateside with a Decision win in his pocket. Jermaine Franklin looks in better shape now than he did, but I think the comparisons to Andy Ruiz Jr are overplayed and the performance against Dillian Whyte is not one that massively raises his stock in my eyes.

I do have a lot of time for Jermaine Franklin- he is a really nice guy and I do wish him the best.

But I think he is standing in front of a caged lion this weekend and Anthony Joshua is bigger, stronger and much more likely to test Franklin's resolve than Dillian Whyte.

Wins over Rydell Booker and Jerry Forrest are pretty solid, but Jermaine Franklin is going to have to show something more to keep Anthony Joshua from getting on top of him.

This does feel like a fight that Matchroom have put together to make Anthony Joshua look good and the Jermaine Franklin performance against Dillian Whyte made him an easy choice for the 'comeback' to begin. It makes it easy to create the narrative around the size of the challenge, but Anthony Joshua can make a big statement and pretty early in this scheduled Twelve Rounder.

You could argue that this is Joshua's 'easiest' fight since 2016 when he drilled Eric Molina- the early Knock Outs have gone since then, but that is not surprising when you think of the kind of names he has fought and I think we well get an 'old' performance from AJ. He hurt Kubrat Pulev early in his win over the Bulgarian in 2020 and also put down Andy Ruiz Jr in the Third Round before everything fell apart in that first fight at Madison Square Garden almost four years ago.

I expect him to hurt Franklin early too, but I am not sure the American will have the same resolve to get through the difficult moments with Anthony Joshua now working with a trainer who will be pushing for the statement win.

There are a number of young, up and coming fighters on the undercard and many of them have already spoken about the honour of being on an Anthony Joshua card.

Promoters are always on the look out for the next big star and Eddie Hearn will be hoping that some of his younger talent can continue their development and try and 'steal the show' in London.

I do think the card could have been stronger, but injury and illness have forced Felix Cash and Craig Richards from performing.

It is a shame, but there are still some decent fighters on the cards in bouts where they will be expected to impress.

Campbell Hatton has a lot to live up to as he continues his development in the professional ranks, but no one is rushing him right now. Ricky's son is unbeaten in ten fights and has been on cards in Gibraltar, Spain and the Middle East as well as a number of UK events, although the lack of Stoppages is perhaps a concern.

He is a prospect and this is a learning curve, but I do think Hatton has an opponent on this undercard who can be beaten inside the distance as Campbell Hatton prepares for his first Eight Rounder. Louis Fielding has been Stopped four times in his seven defeats and some of those defeats have been against Boxers that have not displayed a huge KO ratio from their previous wins, much like Hatton.

Another young, developing professional on the undercard is John Hedges and the Light Heavyweight can end the resistance of Daniel Bocianski inside the scheduled Eight Rounds.

At 20 years old, Hedges is still growing into his body and his power will likely come, while he is facing an opponent who has been Stopped once before and who was put down by Tommy Fury in the Fifth Round in their Sixth Rounder that ended with a Decision win for Tyson's younger brother.

John Hedges may feel he is further along than Tommy Fury and his two Stoppage wins have occurred in the last three fights he has had, perhaps another sign that he is growing into his body.

Daniel Bocianski will give it a go, but that may work in favour of Hedges who can secure an early Stoppage in this one.

I am also expecting a relatively early night for Galal Yafai who was supposed to be fighting on Matchroom's card next week, but has had his fight brought forward after Felix Cash was taken ill.

The change should not affect Yafai as much as Moises Calleros, who would have been preparing for this bout to take place in San Antonio. The late decision means having to travel to the United Kingdom and Calleros was well beaten when facing Julio Cesar Martinez three years ago.

The Mexican has won three fights in a row since then, but those have been at a lower level and I think Galal Yafai will have too much for him. The difference in level should be evident pretty quickly and I do think the change in venue is likely going to be a big factor in how quickly this one is entered into the books.

Any fighter coming out of Mexico has to be respected, and we have had some major upsets from Boxers coming over to the UK from that nation. However, Moises Calleros has been Stopped four times and a couple of those have been early, including the loss to Martinez, and I think Galal Yafai can get this one done within the first half of the fight.

A similar outcome is expected from both Fabian Wardley and Austin 'Ammo' Williams.

The latter is setting himself up for a big grudge bout with Felix Cash later in the year, and I think he can get back to Stopping opponents having needed the cards in each of his last two wins.

This time he is up against River Wilson-Bent, which is a step down from the last two opponents and it feels like he has been picked to make Williams look strong. Hamzah Sheeraz beat Wilson-Bent in Two Rounds and I don't think the Coventry fighter will have the pop to keep Austin Williams from getting on top of him early in this one.

Fabian Wardley may have things a little tougher against Michael Polite Coffie, but I still think he will win this contest before we get into the second half of the fight. Fourteen straight Stoppages have given Wardley momentum and he could soon be in a major domestic fight to prove he should move to the next level, while Polite Coffie has lost three of his last four and is a late notice replacement.

The American was once considered a real prospect, but he is 36 years old and he has been out of the ring for almost a full twelve months. Michael Polite Coffie is likely going to give this a go and Fabian Wardley has shown his defences need tightening up, although those vulnerabilities may not be exposed just yet as he continues his progress up the World Rankings.

This should be fun while it lasts, but Wardley has shown he hits plenty hard and has only been past the Fifth Round once in his career. Once he gets going, Fabian Wardley can quickly get on top of the older fighter and he can force the Stoppage in the first half.

On late Saturday night/early Sunday morning, Robeisy Ramirez will be looking to complete his rapid climb towards becoming a World Champion when he faces the tough Isaac Dogboe for the vacant WBO World Title.

The Cuban has bounced back from a surprising loss on his professional debut and has won eleven in a row, including a redemption win over Adan Gonzales. As he has stepped up his level of opponent, Robeisy Ramirez has looked better and better and this is another step up when facing a former World Champion.

Isaac Dogboe has not allowed his two losses to Emanuel Navarrete define him and he has won four in a row since following his old foe up to the Featherweight Division. The last three wins have either been in Majority or Split Decisions though and Dogboe might struggle with someone who looks to be a bit more natural at the weight class.

He is tough though and Dogboe won't stop trying, but I think this is an opportunity for Robeisy Ramirez to really impress in the second half of the fight and he can break down the Ghanaian born, United States resident who is representing the United Kingdom.

Robeisy Ramirez does carry power, but he is someone who is likely going to wear down Isaac Dogboe in this World Title tilt and I can see him forcing a mercy Stoppage late in the contest that is set for Twelve Rounds.

Another Friday night offering is also available in the United Kingdom this week following Lyndon Arthur's return last week. Like that bout, a late replacement has been needed to face Harlem Eubank who is looking to move onto some big fights.

His recent showings have seen Eubank try to move out of the shadow of Uncle Chris Eubank and cousin Chris Eubank Jr and that has led to Harlem Eubank just sitting down on shots and looking for the Stoppage.

At 29 years old Harlem Eubank is trying to step up his competition in the Light Welterweight Division and there are some potentially big domestic fights to be had.

The late replacement is Miguel Cesario Antin who has eleven losses on the record and just under half of those inside the distance. He has not fought since last September and I think Harlem Eubank should be able to come out and make a solid statement before asking his promoter for a fight or two that can push him up the World Rankings or potentially chasing a showdown with British Champion Dalton Smith.

MY PICKS: Anthony Joshua to Win Between 1-6 @ 2.62 William Hill (2 Units)

Campbell Hatton to Win By KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 1.72 Sky Bet (2 Units)

John Hedges to Win Between 1-4 @ 2.75 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Galal Yafai to Win Between 1-5 @ 2.87 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Austin Williams to Win Between 1-5 @ 1.91 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Fabian Wardley to Win Between 1-5 @ 1.72 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Robeisy Ramirez to Win Between 7-12 @ 3.30 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Harlem Eubank to Win By KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 2.05 Bet365 (2 Units)

Boxing 2023: 9-14, + 0.34 Units (41 Units Staked, + 1% Yield)

Miami Masters Tennis Picks 2022 (April 1st)

Naomi Osaka failed to serve out the match when leading 5-2 in the final set against Belinda Bencic and it was the moment which meant the Picks were going to have to settle for another mixed day of results.

Iga Swiatek was surprisingly nervous closing out her own Semi Final, but continues to pile up the sets and the victories and the Final looks like it could be a top one between two players that may be battling for multiple Slam titles in the years ahead. The WTA Tour has been desperate for a top rivalry and I do think the two Finalists in Miami are their best hope, especially in hard court events going forward.

The WTA Final is scheduled to be played on Saturday, but Friday is reserved for the two Men's Semi Finals. There is one underdog left barking in the draw, but two top ten players and another who has all of the potential to be a multiple time Grand Slam Champion and moving very quickly towards the top ten in his own right. It should be a very good day of tennis in Miami as the early hard court season winds down.

Casper Ruud - 4.5 games v Francisco Cerundolo: When the new World Rankings are released on Monday, Francisco Cerundolo will find himself close the top 50 even if he was to lose in this Semi Final. That is a career best World Ranking for the 23 year old Argentinian and will open the door for Francisco Cerundolo to really build on things when the Tour moves onto the clay courts.

His run in Miami is not over yet though as surprising as it has been to see Francisco Cerundolo reach the Semi Final. It has been an impressive tournament for a player that had limited hard court experience on the Tour and who had been beaten early in both the events in Indian Wells and Phoenix, but Francisco Cerundolo has impressed having beaten opponents that have all been Ranked at Number 57 or better this week.

Another step up is likely going to be needed for Francisco Cerundolo, although his numbers have been very impressive in Miami. The conditions may suit someone who is very happy on the clay courts, but even then you have to be impressed by any player that has held 89% of his service games played and broken in 36% of return games.

Casper Ruud is not going to improve his Ranking unless he wins the tournament in Miami, but this has still been a very important week for the Norwegian top ten player. He has not always found his best tennis against top 20 Ranked opponents on the hard courts, but Casper Ruud has beaten Cameron Norrie and Alexander Zverev in the last two Rounds and those are wins that will give him confidence ahead of the move onto his favourite surface.

With the top Seeds largely fallen by the wayside again, Casper Ruud has every chance of winning this big title in Miami and he is a big favourite in this Semi Final and rightly so. His hard court numbers have been impressive over the last twelve months when facing opponents outside the top 20 in the World Rankings, while Casper Ruud has held 92% of service games played this week and broken in 33% of return games.

The return numbers are slightly inferior to the ones that Francisco Cerundolo has produced, but Casper Ruud has arguably played the stronger opponents.

His experience should also be a key and I do think Casper Ruud is going to produce a level of tennis that may be difficult for a streaking Cerundolo to deal with.

It isn't easy opposing someone who is having the tournament of his career, but Casper Ruud is the superior hard court player and I do think Francisco Cerundolo's inexperience will allow the top ten player to win and find the breaks of serve to cover this mark.

Hubert Hurkacz + 2.5 games v Carlos Alcaraz: There is no doubting the talent of Carlos Alcaraz and I am a big fan of the young player already, but I am surprised to see him set as the favourite to beat Hubert Hurkacz in this Semi Final.

The defending Champion hasn't really put a foot wrong in the tournament and it is clear that Hubert Hurkacz is very happy in the conditions. The serve is proving to be a big weapon for the Polish player and he has held 93% of service games played in this tournament, while Hubert Hurkacz has stayed steady with his return as the scoreboard pressure has built up.

He has also had a little more time to prepare for this Semi Final having been scheduled to play in the early spot on Thursday compared with Carlos Alcaraz who played in the evening and was pushed that much harder than Hubert Hurkacz. Carlos Alcaraz was a little fortunate to come out on the right side of the match against Miomir Kecmanovic as he struggled with his return for much of the match, which has to be a concern when facing a server like Hubert Hurkacz.

The Spaniard has had a big tournament and backed up the strong run at Indian Wells as he moves towards the top ten of the World Rankings. His serve has been important in the conditions and Carlos Alcaraz has held 95% of his own service games, while he continues to thrive on the return and that makes him dangerous.

However, the overall numbers are just leaning towards Hubert Hurkacz and you have to believe the big serving defending Champion can do enough to keep this one very, very close.

Both have been very competitive on the hard courts and it just feels like being a close match, although I thought it may have been set as a pick 'em at worst. My slight edge is with Hubert Hurkacz so getting this number of games with the underdog is hard to ignore.

MY PICKS: Casper Ruud - 4.5 Games @ 1.72 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Hubert Hurkacz + 2.5 Games @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Miami Update: 26-27, - 9.14 Units (106 Units Staked, - 8.62% Yield)

Miami Masters Day 10 Tennis Picks 2021 (April 1st)

The two WTA Semi Final matches and the remaining ATP Quarter Final matches are set to be played in Miami on Day 10 as the tournament begins to wind down.

I have added the Tennis Picks from the two Quarter Finals set to be played on Thursday and will add any more selections to this post in the next few hours once the full WTA markets are available.

[UPDATE] Wednesday was a terrible day for the Tennis Picks, but I am hoping for much better on Thursday. I have only the two Picks from the ATP Quarter Finals today with the two WTA Semi Finals looking like they could be very competitive.

Stefanos Tsitsipas - 3.5 games v Hubert Hurkacz: The performances from Stefanos Tsitsipas have been strong throughout 2021, although I do think he needs to win a big title to underline his progress and also to show himself that he is capable of doing that. The level being produced in Miami will be encouraging for the Greek star and he is rightly favoured to beat an opponent he has bettered in their careers so far.

That is taking nothing away from Hubert Hurkacz who has surprisingly made his way through to this Masters Quarter Final after an inconsistent season before heading to this part of the United States. He has put up plenty of wins, but it has been a stop-start kind of season for the Pole, although Hurkacz will be very happy with his own level going into the Quarter Final.

Wins over Denis Shapovalov and Milos Raonic in the last couple of Rounds are impressive results which will give Hubert Hurkacz some real confidence, but he is going to be under pressure to make sure he is serving as well as he has been. In the three wins in Miami, Hubert Hurkacz has held 95% of the service games played and that has allowed him to take chances on the return of serve, although it can't be ignored that he has only broken in 11% of return games.

Now he will be challenged by Stefanos Tsitsipas who has been serving just as well as Hurkacz, but has been getting a lot more joy out of the return of serve. Granted he has not played the kind of servers that Hubert Hurkacz has in this tournament, but Stefanos Tsitsipas will feel his own serve can keep his opponent under pressure and his 27% mark in being able to break in return games is very encouraging.

In the head to head it is Tsitsipas who has dominated the serve and I think that is going to be a potential key for him in this match. Stefanos Tsitsipas has won five of the previous six matches between the players and all of those have taken place on the hard courts, while he has held serve in 91% of service games played compared with Hubert Hurkacz who has managed to do that in 80% of his own service games.

These two have played some close matches as the Hurkacz serve has been big enough to at least keep him competitive even when under pressure, but eventually it has broken down enough for Stefanos Tsitsipas to take advantage. The latter also seems to be playing at a very high level in Miami, especially on the return, and I think that helps him find the breaks he will need to cover this mark.

Andrey Rublev - 4.5 games v Sebastian Korda: On a first look this looks like a very big mark for Andrey Rublev to cover against a young and impressive Sebastian Korda who has looked strong making his way through the draw. The latter might be the one grabbing the headlines in Miami, but he is going to have to go some to match the kind of level that Andrey Rublev is capable of producing and the Russian looks like a man on a mission to really announce himself on the ATP Tour.

Not many will overlook Rublev these days as he has moved into the top ten of the World Rankings, but he has yet to make it beyond the Quarter Final of any Grand Slam while this is only the second Quarter Final he has reached at Masters level. That has to be a concern for a player who is looking to show that he is amongst the best of the up and coming players on the Tour and should be set alongside Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas as a potential future Slam Champion.

At this moment Andrey Rublev is someone capable of beating those he is expected to, but he has yet to kick on and really start beating those in and around his World Ranking on a consistent basis. His performances overall have been strong with some eye catching numbers on the hard courts which make him a player that deserves plenty of respect.

Overall Andrey Rublev has shown he is one of the top hard court players throughout 2021 which followed the strong ending to 2020, but he has been even better in Miami this week. He has yet to have his serve broken and has won 77% of the points played behind serve, while Rublev has won 48% of return points played which has led to a break in 44% of return games.

I do think the talented Sebastian Korda can test Andrey Rublev in all facets of his game and he has impressed in his four wins in Miami. He has reached his career best World Ranking on the eve of the Miami Masters and Korda is set for another jump having reached the Quarter Final of a Masters event for the first time, while the numbers this week have been really impressive.

His return game is a real strength and it will be interesting to see how much he can get into the Rublev service games, while Sebastian Korda has a decent serve for a 20 year old who should only improve as his experience builds on the Tour. There are signs he is learning from his previous matches already, but it is hard to ignore the fact that Korda was only 2-3 against top 50 Ranked opponents on the hard courts prior to the Miami Masters beginning.

Sebastian Korda has returned well in those matches, but his serve still has work to do and I think that is where Andrey Rublev has the edge between these players at this stage of their careers.

Meeting for the first time could mean there is time needed for Rublev to figure out the best way to approach this Quarter Final, but I think he is playing at a standard that may be a little too hot for Korda to handle. It is a wide handicap, but Andrey Rublev can put together the strong returning to put himself in a position to cover it.

MY PICKS: Stefanos Tsitsipas - 3.5 Games @ 1.72 Bet365 (2 Units)

Andrey Rublev - 4.5 Games @ 2.20 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Miami Masters Update: 31-25, + 3 Points (114 Units Staked, + 2.63% Yield)

Weekend Football Picks 2018 (March 31-April 1)

Two weeks in Japan were absolutely amazing.

What a country!!!

Anyone who has ever considered a trip to the Land of the Rising Sun should take the plunge, I promise you won't regret it. The culture is unique and very special and the food can't be beaten.

Yes, I had a very good time.

But now it is back home and there are two big months ahead in the European Football calendar before the World Cup begins in Russia.

This post will concentrate on the Weekend Premier League Football to be played on Saturday and Sunday, but you will also see a post with my latest Boxing Picks focusing on the Heavyweight Unification between Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker.

That should either be posted on Friday evening or, more likely, Saturday morning with plenty of time before the card is to begin in Cardiff.

Next week I will resume the Tennis Picks which move onto the clay court portion of the season as well as Davis Cup Quarter Final matches to come later this week. And we are almost ready for the NBA Play Offs which begin in the middle of April so this should be a fun time after the two week break.

I am also looking to produce a short piece about Manchester United with the aim of having that out before the FA Cup Semi Final against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday 21st April.

For now I will place the Football Picks from this weekend below.


Crystal Palace v Liverpool Pick: The Premier League is back after a two week break this weekend and the round of fixtures begins with a live showing from Selhurst Park where Crystal Palace will host Liverpool.

Roy Hodgson and Jurgen Klopp will be hoping their players can return in good health from the international break and build on the momentum earned from a win in their last Premier League games two weeks ago.

Liverpool will certainly be confident with a strong attacking team that will be going up against a Crystal Palace team who have some defensive issues which can be exposed.

However Crystal Palace have also showed they are capable of testing the best teams when they host them in their loud Selhurst Park atmosphere. Both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United had to work very hard for wins here recently and Crystal Palace look healthier in attacking areas which will make them feel they can challenge Liverpool as much as their visitors are able to get after their own defence.

It certainly feels like a fixture that could produce a few goals and recent history suggests it could happen. 3 of the last 4 at Selhurst Park in the Premier League have ended with four or more goals shared out, and goals tend to flow when these teams face one another.

The Liverpool away games have featured plenty of goals this season too and I think the layers could have gotten it wrong with the decent price for four or more goals this weekend. The international break can be a problem for teams to negotiate, while the knock for Wilfried Zaha is an issue for Crystal Palace, but I think both teams will believe they can earn the three points here and that could make it an exciting fixture.

Early kick offs can be slow burners, especially out of an international break, but I think both Crystal Palace and Liverpool will feel better going forward than defending and that may see a number of chances created and I will look for goals.


Brighton v Leicester City Pick: We are almost at the time of the season when you have to question the motivation of teams but I have to believe both Brighton and Leicester City still have big aims to complete.

That should mean a decent game of football between the teams when they play on Saturday as Brighton look to take another step away from the relegation zone and Leicester City chase a European berth to underline Claude Puel's work here.

Both teams have to bounce back from FA Cup Quarter Final exits two weeks ago and the recent form of both teams suggests this could be a good game.

I am not surprised the layers are finding it hard to separate them with reasons to believe in both, although I am leaning towards a Brighton team who have won 4 in a row at home in all competitions. Goals have begun to flow for Brighton at the Amex Stadium and they will believe they can have some joy attacking a Leicester City defence that has not looked completely secure, especially away from home.

However Leicester City also have some real attacking threats of their own and Brighton have not kept a clean sheet in their last 7 home games in all competitions. The Foxes have only failed to scored in 1 of their last 11 away Premier League games and I think the layers are offering a big price for three or more goals to be scored in this fixture.

The last 7 Brighton fixtures at the Amex Stadium have featured at least three goals and 7 of the last 8 Leicester City away fixtures have done the same. At odds against that looks a big price to happen between these teams on Saturday and I will back three or more goals to be shared out.


Manchester United v Swansea City Pick: It sounds like another big summer is coming up for Jose Mourinho and Manchester United as they continue to mould the squad to be able to close the gap on local rivals Manchester City.

For now Mourinho has to try and end this season with a flourish for Manchester United who will see a top four finish and a FA Cup win as progress on their trophies won last season.

Manchester United have played well enough at home in recent weeks to think they can beat Swansea City even if they were beaten by Sevilla here. Outside of that Manchester United have won 6 of their last 7 at Old Trafford and they are facing a team who looked out of sorts in their 0-3 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup Quarter Final two weeks ago.

Recently Swansea City were beaten 4-1 at Brighton in the Premier League too and Carlos Carvalhal will need to see a lot more convincing defending if Swansea City are going to frustrate Manchester United. They have been harder to beat under the Spanish manager, but Swansea City have just shown some mental vulnerability when they have fallen behind in recent games and Old Trafford has been a tough ground to visit this season for the most part.

Much of the play will come from Manchester United and I do think they will be too good for Swansea City on Saturday. Recent seasons have shown this is a tough fixture for Manchester United with 2 wins in 5 against Swansea City at Old Trafford, but they have a couple of convincing wins over them this season and I think Manchester United will work to a relatively straight-forward win.

The Asian Handicap can be a tough one to cover if Manchester United come out flat, but I don't think that will be the case.

I would expect Manchester United to control the play and I think they can win this one by a couple of goals on the day.


Watford v Bournemouth Pick: Both teams look to have done enough to escape any relegation dogfight, but the winner on Saturday will almost certainly confirm their spot as a Premier League side for next season.

There is some freedom in which both Watford and Bournemouth can play and I think both have defended erratically which could help produce an exciting game.

No one can doubt that the teams should both create chances too and I think there will be every chance that we can see a few goals between Watford and Bournemouth on Saturday.

The weather in England is not the best, but the rain shouldn't make it too difficult for the players to perform at this level. With the players both have in forward areas, I do think they can do enough to find a way to score goals against each other and backing at least three goals in this one is the decision.


West Brom v Burnley Pick: This has been a season of real disappointment for West Brom and the stories emerging about the financial problems at the club suggest it will be some time before they return to the Premier League. While none of the players or management will speak about relegation, West Brom are looking for a miracle to get out of the bottom three after a run of 8 consecutive losses in all competitions.

Earlier this month this would have looked a big fixture for West Brom with Burnley out of form, but the latter have won back to back games in the Premier League to restore some lost confidence.

They certainly come into this one in better mental shape than West Brom who have blown leads in back to back games to lose touch with those teams above them in the Premier League table. Having those leads against Leicester City and Bournemouth and then capitulating in the manner they have is not a good look for West Brom and they are likely to have a tense crowd to play in front of.

The layers are not expecting too many goals when these teams meet, but that is where I think they could be surprised.

West Brom have scored and conceded goals for fun in recent games and especially at The Hawthorns, while Burnley are playing with freedom which makes them very dangerous. Sean Dyche will risk playing two up front to challenge West Brom and I do think Burnley will cause problems for West Brom from set pieces too, but the home team have to come forward and that could see them produce some chances of their own.

Burnley games have been on the low-scoring side, but the last 4 at The Hawthorns have all featured three or more goals even though West Brom have faced teams like Southampton and Huddersfield Town in that time. The last 6 between these teams on this ground have also featured three or more goals and I think the big price for that happening again has to be chanced.


West Ham United v Southampton Pick: This is a huge Premier League fixture from the London Stadium on Saturday as 17th placed West Ham United host 18th placed Southampton in a real 'relegation six pointer'.

Southampton have a new manager at the helm since their last League game as Mark Hughes has already overseen a 0-2 win at Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup Quarter Final two weeks ago. The side have not been in terrible form, and there is some quality in the squad which Hughes will look to take advantage of, while Southampton will try and make the London Stadium a more difficult place for West Ham United to play.

It is already going to be a tense atmosphere as West Ham United play for the first time since the terrible scenes that were seen in their 0-3 home loss to Burnley. The players heading away for training in Miami and posting pictures of that in the aftermath of the loss to Burnley will not have pleased the fans and you have to think they will be right on the edge to turn the Stadium into another negative environment in this one.

With Southampton playing some decent football away from home around the defeat to Newcastle United there is every chance they can find a way to turn the atmosphere poisonous for the home team again.

The goals being conceded by West Ham United have been truly alarming and I think Southampton can do enough to earn a big three points here which can take them out of the bottom three. That won't be easy for Southampton, but they have some momentum behind them having beaten Wigan Athletic two weeks ago and they have won 3 of their last 5 away games in all competitions.

Southampton have found goals away from home and I think they may just see the West Ham United fans turn on the home players during the course of this one which may make it tough for the West Ham United team to perform.

West Ham United have won 1 of their last 4 home League games and they have conceded the first goal in 4 of their last 5 at the London Stadium. If that happens here I think Southampton can win this one, but at worst I can't imagine them losing from that position and I will back The Saints on the Asian Handicap which will return the stake in the event of a draw.

The Saints have scored two or more goals in 4 of their last 6 away from home in all competitions and I will back them on the Asian Handicap here.


Everton v Manchester City Pick: Two short trips to Liverpool over the coming days could see Manchester City pick up some real momentum to take into the remainder of the season as they look to win some big trophies.

In all honesty this game at Everton is not going to determine whether or not Manchester City win the Premier League as it is a matter of time now barring the most infamous of collapses.

However Manchester City head to Goodison Park knowing a win on Saturday would put them in a position to win the title against Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium next weekend. You cannot underestimate how important that is to the players, fans and board of Manchester City and I expect the level of performance to indicate that.

Of course Manchester City will also be preparing for the huge Champions League Quarter Final against Liverpool which is played over the next ten days. That may mean some changes, but I expect Manchester City are far too good for Everton.

Sam Allardyce's men have been inconsistent in recent weeks and that has put some pressure on the manager. I think Allardyce will look to set Everton up to be tough to beat and then hope to get something on the counter, but I believe sitting back will play into Manchester City's hands as they will control the ball and work Everton over.

Everton are not as strong defensively as they would like to be and I would expect Manchester City to find a way to break them down. They have lost 4 times at home in the Premier League and Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal have all won by comfortable margins here.

Manchester City have been in fine form, they are well rested and have an almost fully fit squad to choose from. Pep Guardiola won't have forgotten losing 4-0 at Goodison Park last season and I think Manchester City will win on a ground where they have had some difficulties in recent years.

I will look for Manchester City to win by a couple of goals on the day and I will back them on the Asian Handicap to do that.


Arsenal v Stoke City Pick: This game is comfortably more important for Stoke City than Arsenal in terms of the Premier League this season, but Paul Lambert has to feel his side have dropped too many points in recent weeks even when looking strong.

Charlie Adam has been a real disappointment for the manager having missed a penalty to beat Brighton and then being sent off early in the home loss to Everton last time out.

Lambert needs more focus from the players, but snapping a 15 game losing run at Arsenal is not going to be easy with the home team still looking for a strong end to the season.

The focus may be on the Europa League, but Arsenal will want to keep some momentum behind them before they host CSKA Moscow in the Europa League Quarter Final First Leg. Arsenal have won their last couple of games at the Emirates Stadium while scoring three goals in each of those and I think they are going to be a little too good for Stoke City here.

Stoke City are in danger of losing touch with the teams above them having dropped some silly points, and those came against teams who aren't as strong as Arsenal can be. At home Arsenal do tend to produce their best football and I do think Arsene Wenger will pick a strong team to try and get this game won and see whether they can get closer to the top four.

The Gunners have been too good for Stoke City when facing them at home and I think they will be too good again. I will back them to win by a couple of goals on the day and cover the Asian Handicap.


Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur Pick: The race for the top four could either be reignited or it could be virtually over depending on the way the Chelsea versus Tottenham Hotspur game goes on Sunday.

The final game from the Premier League weekend is the stand out one of this round of fixtures and both Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have to believe they have the quality to get the desired result they would want.

Chelsea have not played as poorly as their results as far as I am concerned and I think they have the players who can cause Tottenham Hotspur some real problems. The Blues have beaten Spurs in 3 of the last 4 meetings at Stamford Bridge and a healthy squad from an attacking point of view gives Chelsea every chance of securing the win they need.

There are some issues in defensive areas which could be an issue for Antonio Conte's men especially if the likes of Thibaut Courtois and Andreas Christensen are missing. However that could be balanced out by the expected absence of Harry Kane for Tottenham Hotspur, although Mauricio Pochettino will believe Tottenham Hotspur still have the desired quality to create chances and score goals in this one too.

I think it could be an exciting game even if the weather in London is not the best this weekend.

Both teams will be looking to impose themselves on the other and neither have looked that secure defensively to think they can contain the kind of attacking talent that will be on the field.

That should lead to enough chances for the teams to combine for three or more goals in this one and that is what I will back.

4 of the last 5 games between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have featured at least three goals and I think both teams can play a part in this one on the way to three or more goals shared out.

MY PICKS: Crystal Palace-Liverpool Over 3.5 Goals @ 2.50 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Brighton-Leicester City Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.30 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Manchester United - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.84 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Watford-Bournemouth Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.83 Bet Victor (2 Units)
West Brom-Burnley Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.62 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Southampton 0 Asian Handicap @ 1.91 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Manchester City - 1.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.86 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Arsenal - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.86 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Chelsea-Tottenham Hotspur Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.05 Bet365 (2 Units)

Weekend Football Picks 2017 (April 1-2)

The last international break of the domestic season is in the books and that means the successes and disappointments of the 2016/17 season will be decided over the next two months.

We will immediate open April with three rounds of Premier League and English Football League fixtures over the first ten days of the month before the European Champions League and Europa League Quarter Finals take place around the Easter Weekend.

The FA Cup Semi Finals are also played this month and it is a big one that will prove to be pivotal for many clubs as April has proved to be over the years.

Games will come thick and fast this month and all of them have an added importance with room for errors no longer available for teams. The same can be said for my Picks which had a terrible two months to open 2017, but had a slight recovery in March.

That makes April a big month for me too and I am looking for a strong end to the season to at least make the numbers look a little better after being ruined in December through to the end of February.


There was one aspect of the international break which did interest me which I did want to mention and that was the use of the video referee for the second time this season. The first was at the World Club Championship and last week it was used in the France vs Spain friendly game.

I can understand people want to use the technology to help the referees and improve the game, but the friendly game in France re-opened the same problems I saw in the World Club Championship. That is that from time to time there will be goals scored that are decided by marginal decisions and so the excitement of scoring a goal, especially for the fans in the Stadium, is going to be neutralised.

It happened to Real Madrid when there was some confusion as to whether a Cristiano Ronaldo goal was a legitimate one, while this week we saw the game moved back to the halfway line for a kick off before it was decided that a France goal should NOT stand. Taking away that raw energy is going to be a tough pill to swallow, while the time for decisions to be made will lead to longer games (in terms of actual time to complete games rather than the 90 minutes on the clock).

If anyone thinks the technology will be limited to the areas it will begin with, they are deluding themselves and eventually it will lead to a flowing game becoming one that looks more like the NFL. Watch out for 'commercial time outs' during these moments in the future too and that is why I am not keen on this aspect coming in until it is much faster than it is likely to be at the moment.

Football also simply has some grey areas which take a lot of time to figure out and I am not sure it is fair to the fans in the stadium, nor those watching at home, if what was a fast flowing game is suddenly slowed down considerably.  The NFL is taking steps to try and speed up their games, yet we seem to be going the other way when opening the technology to subjective areas of the game.


I also have written about the Painful April Ahead for Manchester United and you can read that here.


Liverpool v Everton Pick: Anyone who takes a look at the final Premier League games that Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Everton have yet to play will find it hard to see how the latter three can finish above Jurgen Klopp's team. However football has never been played on paper and it is up to Liverpool to show they are worthy of a top four finish and a chance to play in the lucrative Champions League.

Games at Anfield are going to be important for Liverpool to stay in front of the chasing pack and they can put a severe dent in Everton's faint chances of a top four spot by winning this weekend. The feeling is that Liverpool will be too good for their Merseyside rivals, but Everton have a decent record here over the years in making life difficult for their local rivals even if they have not been able to take the next step and win the game.

Winning this weekend is a big ask for Everton, but they have some attacking players in the squad that are in form and likely to give Liverpool something to think about. Romelu Lukaku has been in very good form of late and Liverpool's defence is not one that you would back to secure too many clean sheets.

On the other hand, Liverpool have a very good team going forward themselves and the return of Jordan Henderson is a big boost, even if the absence of Adam Lallana is a setback. At Anfield Liverpool can be very difficult to contain in the first half when their energy is at the highest level and the key for Everton is to stay in the game at that time.

The performance at Tottenham Hotspur recently won't be good enough though and Everton can't sit as deep as they did that day and allow their hosts to dictate the tempo. Liverpool are too good to not create chances and Everton have to have watched the approach Burnley had in a narrow loss at Anfield last month to see that teams can create chances if they are positive in their play.

My gut feeling is that Liverpool will prove to be a little too good on the day and earn back to back wins over Everton at Anfield for the first time since the 2005 and 2006 season. This will also be the first Premier League double over Everton since the 2011/12 season, but I don't think Liverpool will have things all their own way.

With Lukaku in the goalscoring form he is in, I think Everton can get on the scoreboard in this one too and so I will back the Merseyside derby to produce at least three goals this weekend. 4 of the last 6 at Anfield have seen at least three goals shared out and I will look for this weekend to add to that trend.


Burnley v Tottenham Hotspur Pick: The price leapt off the page as soon as I saw it and I still can't really make much sense of it if I am being honest- Tottenham Hotspur are a short price favourite to win at Turf Moor this weekend and I think Burnley in receipt of a goal head start on the Asian Handicap can't be ignored.

This has been an incredibly tough place for every team to visit in the Premier League this season and the three defeats suffered by Burnley have some excuses to them. The first came in the first home game of the season against Swansea City as nerves perhaps played a part, the second was through a poor decision deep into injury time against Arsenal, and the third was against Manchester City after Burnley had led in that game.

Liverpool and Everton have been beaten here, while Champions elect Chelsea could only manage a draw and Tottenham Hotspur's away record hardly inspires confidence in backing the short price for the win.

Tottenham Hotspur have won 2 of their last 10 away Premier League games and this is the kind of game where Harry Kane's presence will be missed. There are still some match winners in the Tottenham Hotspur squad, notably Dele Alli, but Burnley are so tough to play at home and I really do feel they can get a result in this one.

The away side have as many wins on their travels as the likes of Everton, Southampton, West Ham United and Crystal Palace and I think all of those teams would be odds against if playing at Turf Moor. In fact I think it could be argued that they would be the underdog against a Burnley team who have thrived at home throughout the season.

I might be wrong and Tottenham Hotspur might win here, but I'd be surprised if they did that by more than a single goal margin so this pick will be a push at worst that I can see. However I do think Burnley are good enough to earn a positive result and I will back them on the Asian Handicap knowing even a one goal loss for the home team will prevent a loss.


Chelsea v Crystal Palace Pick: This is going to be anything but an easy game for Chelsea as it looks like Crystal Palace have turned a corner and begun to understand what is expected of them under Sam Allardyce. However, even with that in mind, I would expect this game being at Stamford Bridge is going to be a key for the outcome of the match and I do think Chelsea will be able to win this one by a couple of goals at least.

At home, Chelsea have been very good all season and have won 13 in a row here in all competitions while they have scored at least two goals in 11 of those wins. 10 of the 13 wins have come by at least two goals and I think Chelsea are still producing enough at both ends of the field to come through with an impressive win.

Crystal Palace have won 3 Premier League games in a row, but beating Middlesbrough, West Brom and Watford is not the same as facing the Premier League leaders. There is some talent in the Crystal Palace squad that have been underachieving through the course of the season, and they should cause some problems for the home team, but it will be difficult for them to contain The Blues.

There will be a few difficult moments for Chelsea too as Allardyce looks for his team to exploit any crosses and set pieces they earn, but this is a team that has dealt with most things that have been thrown at them.

Allardyce will look to make his team as hard to beat as possible by setting them up to defend in numbers, but Chelsea have found the answers through the course of the season. I think the home team will eventually wear down Crystal Palace and I will back them to win this one by a couple of goals on the day.


Hull City v West Ham United Pick: With games beginning to run out on the current Premier League season, Hull City would have most definitely circled this game as one they should be targeting for the three points. A win will reignite their bid to avoid the drop over the next two months, but a defeat against West Ham United might just dent the confidence of the players irretrievably.

That should mean there is some tension for the home team to deal with, but Hull City have been playing much better at The KCOM Stadium than they have on their travels. The Tigers have won 5 of their last 6 home games in all competitions and that includes Premier League wins over Liverpool and, more recently, Swansea City.

It is those wins which has put Hull City in a position where they can still avoid the drop as Marco Silva has pulled this team back from the brink. Nothing is secure for Hull City just yet as the teams above them have all been putting up points on the board, but they will feel they have every chance of finishing at least 17th in the League table.

Goals have been a problem for Hull City away from home, but they have scored at least twice in 6 of their last 7 here in all competitions. They've only had a couple of clean sheets in that time though and West Ham United have shown they can score goals in recent games, even if they have struggled defensively.

Both teams have managed to score in the last 6 Premier League games West Ham United have played and I can see a situation where the same occurs here. Hull City might have a little more belief going forward with the fans behind them to go on and win the game, but West Ham United are more than capable of scoring enough goals away from home to win games.

It just feels like this will be a game where at least three goals are shared out as this does look like a fixture that may end up 2-1 either way. Both teams have scored and conceded with some regularity in recent weeks and I will look for at least three goals to be scored in this one.


Leicester City v Stoke City Pick: The wins that Leicester City have had under Craig Shakespeare feels very much like the kind of wins and performances they were producing in their Premier League winning season, especially early in that season. While Leicester City have looked like a side that can score plenty of goals again, they have also showed some defensive vulnerabilities.

The question for Stoke City is whether they can expose those vulnerabilities having not scored in their last 3 away games in the Premier League. However those games have come at West Brom, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City and Stoke City are a squad that has quality in the final third which can be under-rated at times.

They will feel they can cause some problems for Leicester City, but the home team are playing with arguably more confidence than they have at any time since winning the Premier League title. This is a big month for The Foxes with a Champions League Quarter Final to come, but Craig Shakespeare will want to get the team into a position of safety before then.

I do think Leicester City might have the edge in the game for the win, but you can get a similar price in backing at least three goals to be shared out in this one. Leicester City have scored at least twice in each of their last 4 games under Shakespeare, but they have also kept just a single clean sheet in that time and that came thanks to a missed penalty by Sevilla in the Champions League Last 16 Second Round.

While Stoke City haven't scored in their last 3 away games, I do think they can threaten Leicester City in this one but I also think the home team will create their chances in this one too. Jamie Vardy has shown some form of late and scored for England last weekend and Leicester City and Stoke City could produce a higher than expected number of goals in this fixture this weekend with another 2-1 scoreline a real possibility.


Manchester United v West Brom Pick: There has been some suggestion that Jose Mourinho may have shifted his focus onto the Europa League at the expense of finishing in the top four of the Premier League, but results in the last weekend of Premier League action may just have changed that a little bit. I do think Manchester United have a better chance of making the Champions League by winning the Europa League, but an opening in the top four may have arrived from results two weeks ago.

The next three League games are key for Manchester United as they host West Brom and Everton before visiting relegation threatened Sunderland next weekend and anything less than three wins would likely end the top four interests. There aren't too many better spots in the remaining fixtures than this early part of April, but injuries are a concern for Jose Mourinho.

Missing Ander Herrera and Zlatan Ibrahimovic is another blow, but they are going to be facing a West Brom team whose players might not be 100% focused in their remaining games. The Baggies have overachieved already and look pretty much locked into 8th place in the Premier League and there have been one or two poor performances from them.

The win over Arsenal will be an encouragement, but that was at home where the support can rally the players. West Brom have lost heavily at Tottenham Hotspur and Everton in recent away games in the Premier League but they will be a threat from set pieces as Manchester United are missing some of their taller players for the game.

Manchester United have struggled to turn possession and chances into wins at Old Trafford having drawn 3 of their last 4 League games here, but I think they may overcome some of the issues of missing players this weekend. When Manchester United do win a League game here, they have tended to do it by more than a one goal margin and the two heavy losses at White Hart Lane and Goodison Park have to be factored in for West Brom.

I think the home team will just be a little too good and too motivated for West Brom this weekend and keep up the pressure on the top four by securing the win and doing so while clearing this Asian Handicap.


Southampton v Bournemouth Pick: It looks like both Southampton and Bournemouth are far enough away from the relegation troubles below them to feel confident they will be playing in the Premier League again next season and the only motivation for the clubs the rest of the season is to finish in the top half of the table.

Bragging rights should mean both Southampton and Bournemouth have a bit more motivation for this fixture though and it could be an entertaining game for the neutrals tuning in on Saturday afternoon. The television companies may have picked the game in anticipation of Bournemouth still being in a relegation dogfight, but they have turned the form over the last month which has moved them clear of the bottom three.

So while there won't be a lot on the line in the bigger picture of the Premier League, it should still be a decent fixture as both Southampton and Bournemouth will want to give their fans something to cheer about.

It is helped by the way both Southampton and Bournemouth have been playing prior to the international break and that does offer encouragement we will see a decent game. Southampton and Bournemouth have been scoring and conceding plenty of goals of late and there should be chances at both ends in this one.

The last 7 Southampton games in all competitions have featured at least three goals and the last 3 at St Mary's have done the same. Prior to the 1-1 draw at Manchester United, Bournemouth had conceded 23 goals in 8 away games in which time they had been beaten 7 times and they had conceded at least three times in 6 of those games.

Bournemouth will be able to create chances against a team who have conceded at least twice in 6 of their last 7 games in all competitions and this feels like a game that will produce goals. The game between them at The Vitality Stadium featured four goals, but I am going to back this one to have at least three goals as both Southampton and Bournemouth can play with the freedom they need to express themselves.

Both teams will likely score and there should be enough chances to find a winning goal and I will back at least three goals to be shared out in this one.


Swansea City v Middlesbrough Pick: A real 'relegation six pointer' takes place in front of the television cameras in the first of the two Super Sunday offerings as Swansea City host Middlesbrough in the Premier League. There is a 5 point gap between 17th place Swansea City and 19th placed Middlesbrough and you may even have to suggest that a defeat for the away side might be the end of their Premier League status.

Games are running out and Middlesbrough have been in awful form so falling 6 points behind those teams in the position of safety, at the best, will not look recoverable.

This is a big week for Middlesbrough who face Swansea City and Hull City away from home before hosting Burnley and I would imagine they are targeting at least 5 points to give themselves a chance. However I do think they are facing a Swansea City team who have proved to be improved at The Liberty Stadium where they have won 3 in a row in the Premier League.

The defeats to Hull City and Bournemouth are big blows for Swansea City, but Paul Clement would have been working these players hard for two weeks and home advantage could be important for them. Wins over Southampton, Leicester City and Burnley here show Swansea City are capable and they have been in a more positive frame of mind than Middlesbrough have been showing.

A lack of goals for Middlesbrough has to be a big concern and I don't see a lot of resolution for that. They have begun to concede too many goals too as they struggle with the balance on the field and I think Swansea City will put another nail in the coffin for their opponents' survival hopes.

Swansea City have been scoring goals at home and look to have a little more quality in the final third than Middlesbrough and I will back them to win the game at odds against.


Arsenal v Manchester City Pick: The big game of the weekend comes from The Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon as Manchester City head south to take on Arsenal and with a clear chance to knock off one of their rivals for a top four berth. A win for Manchester City puts them 10 points clear of Arsenal in the Premier League table with the latter only having 9 League games still to play.

That is the kind of result that might see the majority of the Arsenal fans turn on their manager who is already under immense pressure. Arsene Wenger's refusal to say what the future holds for him, despite admitting his decision has been made, has only deepened what has become a civil war at The Emirates Stadium between fans who want him to stay and those who want Wenger to leave.

The negativity can't be helping the players who have lost 6 of their last 9 games in all competitions, while the likes of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez have yet to commit their future to the club. It doesn't bode well for Arsenal who are looking more and more likely to miss out on a top four berth in the Premier League for the first time under Wenger.

Even playing at home has proved difficult with the negative vibes coming down from the stands and this Manchester City team have the pace and quality in the final third to really hurt Arsenal. However they remain a work in progress defensively and I do think Arsenal can play their part in this game and there is every chance we could see a very good game of football on Sunday.

It reminds me of how I anticipated the Manchester City-Liverpool game would be played out two weeks ago. That game had everything but the final touch in front of goal as both Manchester City and Liverpool missed gilt edged chances to win the game and it was a fixture that could have featured many more than the two goals it eventually provided.

Both Arsenal and Manchester City are going to go forward and look for goals and I don't think either can really point to a defence that will keep a lot of clean sheets. Manchester City have managed more in recent away games against teams who struggle with the balance in front of their own fans, but Arsenal play a certain way and Wenger won't change that for any team he is facing.

At least one of the two Premier League games Arsenal and Manchester City play against each other has ended with four or more goals in each of the last three seasons. The game at The Etihad Stadium ended with three goals shared out, but there is every chance this one goes a step further as long as the teams are not as profligate in front of goal as Manchester City and Liverpool were two weeks ago.

MY PICKS: Liverpool-Everton Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.75 Betfair Sportsbook (2 Units)
Burnley + 1 Asian Handicap @ 1.76 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Chelsea - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.97 Bet365 (2 Units)
Hull City-West Ham United Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.85 Sporting Bet (2 Units)
Leicester City-Stoke City Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.00 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Manchester United - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 2.15 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Southampton-Bournemouth Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.75 Betfair Sportsbook (2 Units)
Swansea City @ 2.00 Betfair Sportsbook (2 Units)
Arsenal-Manchester City Over 3.5 Goals @ 2.60 Boyle Sports (2 Units)

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)