Premier League Darts Night 9 Picks 2026 (Thursday 2nd April)

Eight of the sixteen Premier League Darts nights have been completed and it is no surprise to anyone to see Luke Littler leading the standings at the halfway stage of the tournament.

He will know it is all about Qualifying for the Finals when everything is reset to decide the tournament on a single night, but Littler fans will be happy to see the World Number 1 picking up some momentum after a slower than expected start to the Premier League.

Luke Littler remains the player to beat, while Jonny Clayton will be keen to earn at least one win on Night 9 having been beaten in the opening match in each of the previous two weeks.

The second of those defeats came against Josh Rock, who finally earned a Premier League win, but the Northern Irishman remains bottom of the standings and has admitted he needs to win at least three of the remaining eight nights to have any hope of doing enough after beginning with seven losses in a row.

Stephen Bunting and Gian van Veen are still in touch with the top four places, but have to start putting some consistent results together, while the big surprise is seeing Luke Humphries sitting outside of the top four.

The defending Champion will not be panicking about things just yet with just 2 points between himself and Michael van Gerwen, but it is a disappointing return when noting Luke Humphries has reached one Final in eight nights of play. His performances have remained very strong, but the World Number 2 has struggled with his doubling at key moments and that has also ended up seeing him beaten in the opening match on three occasions.

Over the next two Premier League Nights, Luke Humphries is in the other side of the bracket compared with Luke Littler, but that won't mean much if he cannot find some consistency with his performances at attacking the outer rim.

Michael van Gerwen to win & most 180s v Stephen Bunting: A number of the Premier League competitors decided to skip the two Players Championship events played earlier in the week, but both Michael van Gerwen and Stephen Bunting were in decent form.

Michael van Gerwen had five wins across two events and Stephen Bunting had six, although neither were able to get themselves into the Quarter Final Round and beyond.

They won't worry too much about that as they open Night 9 of the Premier League and it does feel like van Gerwen is through the illness and any lingering effect it was having on him that saw him miss an earlier Night at the Premier League. His initial form on the return was pretty poor, but Michael van Gerwen has been playing really well over the last couple of weeks and that gives him the edge.

Three meetings against Stephen Bunting have all ended with van Gerwen wins this season and that will also give the Dutchman confidence.

Stephen Bunting produced some exceptional numbers over the last two weeks, but that has led to zero points added to his total- both matches were against Luke Littler. He will feel a similar level will see him win a lot more than he loses, but Bunting may find it tougher to get himself 'up' for the other challengers in the tournament with his numbers dipping in Night 5 and Night 6 compared with what has been produced in those defeats to Luke Littler.

Neither have been consistent with the maximum hitting, but Michael van Gerwen has been slightly stronger there and he is perhaps underestimated to win in that column in any winning effort in this Quarter Final.

Luke Humphries to win & both players over 1.5 180s v Gerwyn Price: The Quarter Final loss to Michael van Gerwen highlighted the issues that Luke Humphries continues to have in his bid to defend his Premier League title.

He is fifth in the table and faces one of the players in the top four, which makes this an important match for Luke Humphries.

Of course the same applies to Gerwyn Price, who did make the Play Offs last season and who has only been beaten in three Quarter Finals in eight nights of Premier League competition.

The most recent meeting between the players ended in a very strong win for Gerwyn Price and snapped a two match losing run against the World Number 2. Big scoring helped Price to that victory and he will need plenty more of that to stay with Luke Humphries in this Quarter Final.

Matches between the players have tended to be very competitive in the main and you have to anticipate this one being the same considering how much is on the line for both Humphries and Price.

Both should be able to hit at least two maximums barring one player dominating and rolling through the match.

The edge here is still with Luke Humphries, although backing against Gerwyn Price on the form that has has been producing consistently is never going to be easy.

One concern remains the low Check Out Percentage produced by Humphries, which is only higher than Josh Rock in the Premier League. That is not going to be good enough to see him into the Play Offs, but Luke Humphries has won a big European Tour title and you have to believe he will eventually get back to a usual level, hopefully beginning in this Quarter Final.

Luke Littler to win & most 180s v Gian van Veen: Back to back Nightly wins have pushed Luke Littler back into a familiar position of topping the Premier League standings.

Night 7 was a tough one overall, but the World Number 1 reminded people how difficult it is becoming for his main rivals to edge past him.

Things were much different in Berlin as Luke Littler produced some big averages and deserved to pick up the Nightly win.

He looks to have the momentum behind him to beat Gian van Veen who did not look close to his best on Night 8 having only just recovered from a hospital stay for Kidney Stones. Not being at his best in Berlin is not a surprise, but Gian van Veen had been struggling for form before that and that has seen him drop into 6th place in the Premier League standings after a very positive start to the tournament.

Gian van Veen does have a Premier League win over Luke Littler, which is testament to the strength of character having put that together soon after the World Championship Final destruction at the hands of the World Number 1. However, the most recent match between these two young stars ended in a win for Littler in a European Tour Final, and the much bigger maximum hitter can come through with the Match Double.

Jonny Clayton to win & Most 180s v Josh Rock: The first six Premier League nights were very productive for Jonny Clayton, but back to back Quarter Final defeats coupled with Luke Littler winning in both Dublin and Berlin means the Welshman has been knocked off the top of the standings.

Half of the Nights have been completed and Clayton will still be a short price to reach the Play Offs, but he will be keen to bounce back and put some more points on the board.

On Night 8, Jonny Clayton fell to Josh Rock to allow the latter to get off the mark in the Premier League, but it was not a high-quality match and the worst effort produced by Clayton in the tournament so far, while being the poorest performance by some distance in Quarter Final action.

Four wins across two Players Championship events earlier in the week will have restored some confidence and Jonny Clayton will believe that a slightly better performance than last week will help him overturn the result.

Josh Rock will be happy to be off the mark, but he was beaten in the Semi Final and the Premier League has just proven to be something that the Northern Irishman has been unable to deal with.

His power scoring has begun to pick up so there has to be some respect for Josh Rock, who is clearly better than what he has produced in the Premier League.

An average of more than two maximums per match makes the second part of the Match Double a bit more awkward, but Jonny Clayton has been able to punch in those big scores often enough to take on this price offered.

In Berlin, Jonny Clayton struggled to get his scoring on track and there were some concerns about the conditions that had been voiced by the players at the end of the Night 8 action. The hope is Manchester will prove to be much better for those heading to the oche and Jonny Clayton can complete the Match Double and get his points tally moving again.

MY PICKS: Michael van Gerwen to Win & Most 180s @ 3.25 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Luke Humphries to Win & Both Players Over 1.5 180s @ 2.50 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Luke Littler to Win & Most 180s @ 1.95 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Jonny Clayton to Win & Most 180s @ 3.25 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Darts 2026: 42-54, - 3.46 Units (93 Units Staked, - 3.72% Yield)

Miami Masters Tennis Picks 2022 (April 2nd)

The two ATP Semi Finals both returned winners on Friday evening, but the Miami Masters has proved to be a tough tournament for the Tennis Picks.

I am disappointed with the efforts since the Australian Open, when a winning record was produced, but I also think I've been mainly happy with the way the Picks were identified and a couple of 'bad luck' moments proved to be key to the week.

Still, I am hoping to round out the week with the momentum picked up on Friday and I will be looking for two winners when the WTA and ATP Finals are both played over the weekend. The clay court season will begin on Monday with four tournaments scheduled before the move to Monte Carlo for the ATP Tour, the next big Masters event on the calendar.

Iga Swiatek - 2.5 games v Naomi Osaka: It sounds extremely harsh to criticise a player who is performing at the kind of level that Iga Swiatek is producing, but I did think there were one or two nerves at the very end of her victory over Jessica Pegula in the Semi Final. She actually failed to serve out the match in her first chance to do so, but Iga Swiatek held herself together the second time around and more than deserved her spot in the Miami Final.

It has been six years since a player has been able to complete the North American double at Indian Wells and Miami, but Iga Swiatek is a pretty big favourite to do that. You can't argue with the form guide in general and her return has proved to be a big difference maker, although the soon to be World Number 1 is also a very effective server on this surface.

She hasn't dropped a set since the Fourth Round at Indian Wells and I am going to put some of the late drama in her Semi Final down to the fact Iga Swiatek was playing on back to back days. Nerves can be a problem for players when they set in, but you do have to think the amount of wins that have been put together will help as Swiatek gathers herself and prepares for this big Final.

This is an important match for Iga Swiatek to show that is the top player on the Tour right now as she prepares to face Naomi Osaka. We all know how strong Naomi Osaka can be on the hard courts and she showed her character in coming from a set down to beat Belinda Bencic in her own Semi Final, while the four Grand Slam titles won on a hard court means Osaka remains a massive challenge to overcome on the surface.

Naomi Osaka has played just as well as Iga Swiatek in this tournament and even dropping her first set of the Miami Masters did not distract Osaka in the Semi Final. She has been serving really well throughout the tournament, although there is room for improvement for Naomi Osaka from the Semi Final performance.

Her return is perhaps not as strong as the one that Iga Swiatek will bring to the court, but Naomi Osaka has a big all-around game and her heavy groundstrokes will certainly put the pressure on any opponent she faces.

There are some question marks about the mental strength of Naomi Osaka and this is a pressurised environment she has not had to deal with for a long time. I am not suggesting a four time Grand Slam Champion won't be able to cope, but I do think the opponent will also keep Naomi Osaka in a tough place and Iga Swiatek has had time to prepare for this match as she looks to win another big title on the hard courts in 2022.

These players first and only match came on the hard courts in 2019 in Canada and was won by Naomi Osaka- however, Iga Swiatek is a much better player now and playing at World Number 1 level pretty consistently. That level may be enough to eventually break through Naomi Osaka's game and I think Iga Swiatek can continue her dominating form with a strong win in the Miami Open Final on Saturday.

Iga Swiatek looks to have the edge when it comes to the return of serve and that is where I think this Final can be won.

MY PICKS: Iga Swiatek - 2.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Miami Update: 28-27, - 5.70 Units (110 Units Staked, - 5.18% Yield)

Miami Masters Day 11 Tennis Picks 2021 (April 2nd)

The last couple of days has felt like a bad April Fools' Day joke with some of the poor fortune behind the Tennis Picks and it has changed the narrative on how this tournament has been feeling for the selections.

After a strong foundation, the last couple of days has seen the Picks go 0-6 and erase the positives.

On Wednesday I couldn't have too many complaints with the way the Tennis Picks went to be honest- some came close, but others never had a chance.

However, that was not the case on Thursday with both Tennis Picks seemingly moving into extremely strong positions and ultimately failing to get over the line.

Stefanos Tsitsipas led 6-2, 2-0 and was at 15-40 on the Hubert Hurkacz serve before the match swung around completely. Somehow he also missed an opportunity at 3-3 later in the set with the same 15-40 position blown and it was a match that got away from Tsitsipas who should have managed things much better than he did.

Later in the evening Andrey Rublev failed to serve out the first set and the second set when at 5-3 and that prevented him covering, although he did win the match in straight sets. It is the only two times he was broken in the win over Sebastian Korda, but there isn't much you can do about that and on another day it would have been a relatively easy cover.

Things like this happen over the course of an eleven month Tour and you have to take the rough with the smooth, but it is frustrating and I will not deny that.

Good Friday is set aside for the two Men's Semi Final matches in Miami as we reach the business end of the tournament. I am looking for three solid days to end the tournament and hopefully produce the positive returns that I should have already secured.

A bit more fortune would be nice compared with Thursday.

MY PICKS: Roberto Bautista Agut - 1.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Andrey Rublev - 3.5 Games @ 1.72 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Miami Masters Update: 31-27, - 1 Unit (118 Units Staked, - 1% Yield)

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)

Miami Tennis Picks 2015 (April 2nd)

It really hasn't been a good few days for the picks and yesterday was more of the same as Serena Williams produced arguably her worst performance of the season for the first two sets of her match against Sabine Lisicki.

She still dug down deep enough to move through to the Semi Final in the tournament she considers to be her 'home' event, but she will have to play a lot better if Williams is going to find her way to get past Simona Halep. The latter moved through to the Semi Final with an impressive win over Sloane Stephens and she is getting very close to completing the Indian Wells-Miami double that has proved very difficult for players over the last twenty years.


The two remaining Masters Quarter Finals are also scheduled for Thursday as the early hard court season comes to a close this weekend.


John Isner + 2.5 games v Kei Nishikori: I don't feel great going against Kei Nishikori in the form he has been producing over the last ten days, but John Isner has been serving very well and has the capability of taking at least a set in this one behind that shot alone.

There might be some tiredness in the arm after a very long match against Milos Raonic a couple of days ago which could be a negative against Isner, but the American wasn't broken in that game even if Raonic is hardly the best returner on the Tour. I would expect Nishikori to get a few more balls back in play that could extract errors from Isner, but the serve is also big enough to cause the very best returners an issue when it is on form.

The other aspect that sways me towards Isner on the handicap is that Nishikori's serve is not the best and he can play some sloppy games when serving. If he gives up a break, it might be tough to pull the set back and I do think Isner can take a set, although he will ultimately likely come up short in the match.

Ivo Karlovic was beaten by Nishikori last year on the indoor hard courts of Memphis and he has beaten Kevin Anderson twice already, but Isner's serve is arguably the biggest on Tour and he can stay within the number.


Novak Djokovic - 5.5 games v David Ferrer: Novak Djokovic has had a long month of tennis and could have been out of this tournament if Alexandr Dolgopolov had just held his nerve for a couple more games in the second set of that match.

Coming through that match and now being able to smell the end of the tournament should give Djokovic the extra bounce in his step that he is going to need to beat David Ferrer in this Quarter Final.

However, Ferrer is going to need to up his game if he is going to give Djokovic a run for his money after struggling through against Gilles Simon with the first set that was decided on a tie-breaker that could easily have gone the other way. David Ferrer saw his serve broken three times in that first set and he has to be better on that side of things if he is going to beat the World Number 1 who is defending his title that was won last year.

Matches between the players have been fun to watch in the past and I think this one will be intriguing, but Djokovic might just have had the one scare in the tournament and can find the breaks of serve to come through 64, 62.


Carla Suarez Navarro - 1.5 games v Andrea Petkovic: If you wanted proof of the improvements made by Carla Suarez Navarro over the last eighteen months, her come from behind win over Venus Williams in the Quarter Final would be an ideal match to watch. Tennis is not just about what you can produce on the court, but the very highest level has small margins of difference that can be made between the ears.

There is no doubt that Carla Suarez Navarro BELIEVES she is one of the better players on the Tour and so continued playing her way to get back to beat Williams despite being given a bagel in the first set. That mindset can stand her in good stead for the rest of the season and the Spaniard will deserve her place in the top ten of the World Rankings that she is likely to achieve following this tournament.

However, Suarez Navarro will be in for a battle on Thursday as she plays Andrea Petkovic who also has a lot of belief in her own talent and has had a memorable tournament already. After injuries saw Petkovic slip down the Rankings, the German is getting back to her best and she has upset the odds in the last two Rounds to reach this Semi Final.

I am expecting a lot of long rallies with the chance of this match needing a deciding set to figure out the winner. While Suarez Navarro has spent more time on the court over the last two matches here, I also love the way she has come from a set down to beat Agnieszka Radwanska and Venus Williams and I think she is playing with so much confidence that she can wear down Petkovic in a 46, 63, 64 win.


Serena Williams - 4.5 games v Simona Halep: It was a poor performance from Serena Williams on Wednesday, but she battled through and had some interesting words after the match. There seemed to be some issues with the sun that affected Williams and I think returning to the night session might work in her favour against Simona Halep.

Williams will have to raise her level considerably in this match against Halep who has been playing well, but has a lot of tennis under her legs over the last three weeks. Halep hasn't had to play a lot of sets to get to this Semi Final, but her matches have been far from easy and she has had to come from behind in a couple of those sets to find her way through.

That might not be enough in this one as Serena Williams is one of the better front runners on the Tour and I think she can't possibly be as bad as she was in her match against Lisicki. The beating she was given by Halep in the WTA Championship at the Group Stage might have given Williams more motivation if her performance in the Final against the same opponent is anything to go by.

Serena Williams has to serve better than she did yesterday, but doing that will give her a real chance to come through this Semi Final as tiredness perhaps plays a factor for Halep. I think it will be a tough fight at times, but Williams has the edge in a 63, 64 win.

MY PICKS: John Isner + 2.5 Games @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Novak Djokovic - 5.5 Games @ 2.00 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Carla Suarez Navarro - 1.5 Games @ 1.92 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Serena Williams - 4.5 Games @ 2.10 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Miami Update: 22-17, + 5.80 Units (78 Units Staked, + 7.44% Yield)

Midweek Football Picks (April 1-4)

This is the start of a week that will still be a little painful for me as the Champions League gets into the Quarter Final games, a stage in which I still believe Manchester United were robbed from competing in.

However, it is better to look forward at the success United are surely going to have in the Premier League this season, while there is the surprise addition of a FA Cup replay at Stamford Bridge on Easter Monday to negotiate. With a potential Semi Final against Manchester City on offer, the fans are obviously very excited at Old Trafford as to how this season will end.

In August, I would have been happy if someone had told me that Manchester United would end the season as Champions of England and anything more would be a bonus... However, there is nothing wrong with being a little greedy when the side put themselves in a strong position and the FA Cup is definitely more significant with the lead established in the League.

The opportunity to knock out a team managed by Rafa Benitez and then trying to stop Manchester City ending the season with any silverware is eagerly anticipated, although the first game at Chelsea is a very tough hurdle to try and negotiate on Monday lunchtime.


Chelsea v Manchester United Pick: As I said above, this is a very tough game for both clubs and I am finding it tough to separate them as I can make a real case for either coming through and booking their place at Wembley in a couple of weeks time.

Chelsea and Manchester United did rest some players in anticipation for this game on Saturday, but it is the home side that have to manage their squad better than the away side at the moment with 4 games in an 8 day period.

However, Rafa Benitez did rest a number of first team players for this game so I am expecting a very strong Chelsea team with the likes of Eden Hazard, Juan Mata and Oscar providing bullets for Demba Ba rather than Fernando Torres. On the other hand, I wouldn't be surprised if Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez are partnered up front for Manchester United with the likes of Nani coming into to create the chances for the away side.

While I may not be able to separate the sides in terms of a winner, one element of games between Chelsea and Manchester United is the amount of goals they have shared between them, including two very high-scoring games in the League and Capital One Cup earlier this season here at Stamford Bridge.

This looks another game where the winner of the tie, if it is completed before extra time, is going to have to score at least 2 goals and so I am going to back there being at least 3 goals in this game. It may be an odds on shot, but there are a lot of signs pointing to that happening and will be my pick for the game.


Bayern Munich v Juventus Pick: This is the tie of the Round as far as I am concerned with the winner likely to feel very confident of going all the way to Wembley in May.

I do think that this tie will still be in the balance when the return game is played in Turin next week although I do think that Bayern Munich will be the team with the slight edge.

This should be a fascinating first game in Munich as I think it will likely be a little more open than most first leg matches at this stage of the European tournaments. Bayern Munich will want to have some advantage to take to Turin, while I think Juventus would be satisfied with a small deficit as long as they have at least one away goal to show for their efforts.

Personally I think both teams will score in this game, but it will be Bayern Munich who have the lead when the second leg begins next Wednesday.


Paris Saint-Germain v Barcelona Pick: Barcelona overturned a 2-0 deficit against Milan in the Second Round to make their way into the Quarter Final here, but their away form has to be a concern for anyone that fancies them at odds on tonight.

Barcelona have won just 2 of their last 6 away games in the Champions League and have been beaten in 3 of those games, but the return of Tito Vilanova should inspire them to get something from the Parc de Princes, a result that will set them up to complete the win at the Nou Camp in eight days time.

I do think Paris Saint-Germain are capable of at least giving themselves some hope for the game in Barcelona next week, although I am not convinced they can do enough to actually have a lead going into that game.

With the poor away form that Barcelona have displayed in this competition and Paris Saint-Germain's 23 home game unbeaten run in Europe, the draw looks a decent shout.


Malaga v Borussia Dortmund Pick: Both managers are suggesting that their respective sides will go on the attack in this game and while that sometimes leads to a much more cautious game than the press conference suggests, this is one of those times when I do believe them.

Malaga's best chance to surprise Borussia Dortmund is to take a lead to Germany next week, but I also think the German side will be satisfied at the end of the evening as they are more than capable of grabbing at least one away goal.

I can imagine an early goal really opening up the floodgates in this one and I think Malaga would be wise to take the Paris Saint-Germain approach and try and get on the front foot to earn a lead before the second leg. However, Borussia Dortmund will certainly cause problems of their own as they have for the likes of Manchester City, Ajax, Real Madrid and Shakhtar Donetsk.

Goals is my prediction for this game and I like the chances of at least 3 being scored in the contest.


Real Madrid v Galatasaray Pick: This does look like a bit of a mismatch on paper and I do think Real Madrid are capable of showing the difference between the teams in this first leg in front of their own supporters.

Real Madrid controversially got through their Second Round clash with Manchester United and have got the 'best' draw in the last eight and there will be a feeling amongst the players and fans that perhaps their name is on the trophy for the first time since 2002.

I don't like under-estimating teams that have reached this stage of the premier competition of European football, but Galatasaray have certainly benefited from a decent draw before this stage and Real Madrid are a much stronger proposition than Schalke in the last Round.

The likes of Didier Drogba and Wesley Sneijder do give Galatasaray some Champions League winning experience, but Real Madrid have plenty to deal with them in their own squad and I have the sense that the Spaniards will have a fairly comfortable lead to take to Istanbul next week.


Chelsea v Rubin Kazan Pick: Chelsea look very short in the market considering the amount of games they have to get through in a short period of time and I think Rubin Kazan are being very under-estimated in this match.

However, I do think Chelsea will find a way to take an advantage over to Russia next week and that may be the difference in the tie between the two sides. While Rubin Kazan have an impressive win over Atletico Madrid under their belts in the knock out stage this season, they are not exactly overloaded with goals in their side and I think the Russian side will look to keep things as tight as possible in the contest.

I have been torn between two picks for this game- I don't imagine we will see many goals so the under 2.5 goals at 1.75 looks a reasonable option in the game. However, I am concerned with Chelsea's poor defensive record in Europe this season, especially at Stamford Bridge so instead will back the home side to have a one goal lead going to Russia next Thursday.


Tottenham Hotspur v Basel Pick: Tottenham Hotspur have given themselves problems by not adding to their striking options over the course of two transfer windows and that means Jermain Defoe's injury has them limited for the next couple of weeks at least.

The over reliance on Gareth Bale is a concern, particularly with a top four place in the Premier League and the Europa League to fight for over the last two months and any fall from the form the Welshman has been on is a real problem for Spurs.

I think Basel is a tough test for them in the Quarter Final, but one that I expect Spurs to negotiate over the two legs and that means building a decent lead from the first leg at White Hart Lane. Spurs have struggled over the line against both Lyon and Inter Milan in the last two Rounds, but they have won 4 in a row at home in the Europa League.

Basel have only lost 2 of their 5 away games in the Europa League, but they have failed to score in 3 of those games, although they have shown some defensive toughness by keeping clean sheets in 3 of those games.

However, I have a feeling Spurs will have a little too much (Bale will show enough of his quality) to give the side a decent lead to take to Switzerland next week.


Benfica v Newcastle United Pick: Benfica are my pick to win this tournament as I think they have the right blend of experience and quality to get through to the Final and so it is no surprise that I fancy them to beat Newcastle United at the Stadium of Light.

The away side are still under pressure in the Premier League and their squad has been stretched through injuries so I think Newcastle will feel very good if they still have a chance to win the game at St James' Park next week.

However, I don't think taking a defensive approach to the game is the way forward and I don't believe inviting pressure from a Benfica side with the attacking talent they have is the best tactical idea. There are some weaknesses in the defence of the home side, so Newcastle have to be thinking about grabbing an away goal if they are to get through to the Semi Final.

My concern for Newcastle is that Benfica are very comfortable scoring goals at home and I wouldn't be surprised if the home side win with at least 3 goals scored in the match.


MY PICKS: Chelsea-Manchester United Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.73 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Both teams to score and Bayern Munich to win @ 3.75 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Paris Saint-Germain-Barcelona Draw @ 3.75 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Malaga-Borussia Dortmund Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.95 Bet Fred (1 Unit)
Real Madrid - 2.25 Asian Handicap @ 2.00 Bet Fred (1 Unit)
Chelsea to win by one goal @ 3.60 Bet Fred (1 Unit)
Tottenham Hotspur - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 2.60 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Benfica Win and Over 2.5 goals in the match @ 2.30 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)


March Final: 16-20, + 7.43 Units (55 Units Staked, + 13.51% Yield)
February Final: 14-23, - 2.81 Units (48 Units Staked, - 5.85% Yield)
January Final: 10-22, - 10.89 Units (45 Units Staked, - 24.2% Yield)
December Final: 17-24-1, - 0.83 Units (53 Units Staked, - 0.02 % Yield)
November Final: 8-21, - 8.25 Units (37 Units Staked, - 22.3% Yield)
October Final: 9-9, + 5.44 Units (27 Units Staked, 20.1% Yield)
September Final: 17-11, + 21.19 Units (46 Units Staked, 46.1% Yield)
August Final: 12-13, + 1.29 Units (40 Units Staked, 3.22% Yield)

Season 2012/13: + 12.57 Units (351 Units Staked, + 3.58% Yield)

English Football Weekend Picks (March 31-April 2)

My weekend picks are going up over the next 24-48 hours and as usual I will post on Twitter whenever I have new picks up. It is a busy weekend coming up so I want to get the picks out as soon as possible so I can get a few other blog posts up with how the NFL is shaping up following the busiest part of Free Agency and recapping the last two tennis tournaments at Indian Wells and Miami.


Aston Villa v Chelsea Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13587-Aston-Villa-v-Chelsea.htm)

Everton v West Brom Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13588-Everton-v-West-Brom.htm)

Manchester City v Sunderland Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13589-Manchester-City-v-Sunderland.htm)

QPR v Arsenal Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13591-QPR-v-Arsenal.htm)

Wolves v Bolton Wanderers Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13592-Wolves-v-Bolton-Wanderers.htm)

Fulham v Norwich City Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13593-Fulham-v-Norwich-City.htm)

Wigan Athletic v Stoke City Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13594-Wigan-Athletic-v-Stoke-City.htm)

Brighton v Middlesbrough Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13596-Brighton-v-Middlesbrough.htm)

Portsmouth v Burnley Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13597-Portsmouth-v-Burnley.htm)

Blackpool v Southampton Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13595-Blackpool-v-Southampton.htm)

West Ham v Reading Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13604-West-Ham-v-Reading.htm)

Newcastle United v Liverpool Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13607-Newcastle-United-v-Liverpool.htm)

Tottenham Hotspur v Swansea Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13610-Tottenham-Hotspur-v-Swansea.htm)

Blackburn Rovers v Manchester United Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13614-Blackburn-Rovers-v-Manchester-United.htm)


MY PICKS: Aston Villa-Chelsea Under 2.5 Goals @ 1.90 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Everton-West Brom Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.05 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Manchester City - 1.75 Asian Handicap @ 1.90 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Arsenal - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 2.75 Panbet (1 Unit)
Bolton Wanderers Over 1.5 Total Goals @ 2.38 Coral (2 Units)
Fulham @ 1.73 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Wigan Athletic Over 1.5 Total Goals @ 2.75 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Brighton @ 2.30 William Hill (1 Unit)
Portsmouth @ 2.40 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Blackpool-Southampton Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.80 Panbet (1 Unit)
West Ham-Reading Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.20 188Bet (1 Unit)
Newcastle United-Liverpool Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.05 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Tottenham Hotspur - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 2.20 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Manchester United to win by one goal (English Handicap Draw) @ 4.00 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)