European Tour 4- German Darts Grand Prix Day 3 Picks 2026 (Monday 6th April)

Finals Day at the German Darts Grand Prix is played across two Sessions on Easter Monday with the Third Round completed in the afternoon.

That will set up the Quarter Final matches and the title being decided later in the Evening Session and all of the players remaining in the draw will be feeling confident about their chances. A number of Seeds have already been beaten, including the top Seed Gian van Veen, and that leaves the door wide open for someone to pick up a big European Title and hope that can put some momentum into the next quarter of the season.

Danny Noppert-Karel Sedlacek over 4.5 180s: There was not much form that Karel Sedlacek could point to before the German Darts Grand Prix began, but he has won a couple of matches here behind strong performances.

The maximum hitting has caught the eye and it will make Evil Charlie that much more dangerous.

Danny Noppert had three of his own in the win over Ritchie Edhouse in the Second Round and the two players can surpass this total line set as long as we get to nine Legs or more.

Krzysztof Ratajski-Ross Smith over 5.5 180s: This Third Round match has a slightly higher line than the first one of the afternoon, but both of these players can put together plenty of maximums when they find their rhythm at the oche.

The big danger is when there is a blowout one way or the other, but Krzysztof Ratajski and Ross Smith are playing well enough to push one another into at least nine Legs for the opportunity to progress into the Quarter Final.

They met last July and the Polish Eagle won that one for the loss of a single Leg, but in the main, contests have been competitive and that afford the players enough time to combine to surpass this maximum total.

Niko Springer v Michael Smith: The home crowd can get behind Niko Springer and ensure he does not have a let down after a strong win over Michael van Gerwen in the Second Round.

That is a win over a former World Champion still operating near his best, but this time Springer is facing another who is struggling for consistency.

Michael Smith is a fantastic player, but he has not been reaching the levels he has set previously and the two performances in this European Tour event have not been the most impressive.

Winning matters, but Smith will know he needs to improve his level if he is going to earn a spot in the Quarter Final and Niko Springer can be backed to find a way to end his run.

Nathan Aspinall to win & over 2.5 180s v Martin Schindler: The German Number 1 did enough to win his Second Round match against Brendan Dolan, but it was far from the best performance produced by Martin Schindler.

He should be better in this Third Round match, but will need to be if he is going to test Nathan Apsinall.

The latter has already beaten one home favourite and so will not be overawed by the occasion, although Nathan Aspinall will know he needs to tidy up one or two aspects of his darts if he is going to win another European Title.

Scoring has not been too much of an issue for Aspinall and he can put together enough big scores to have the chances to win this match.

Danny Noppert-Jonny Clayton over 5.5 180s: Both looked in good form in the afternoon Third Round wins today and the only disappointment for Danny Noppert and Jonny Clayton is running into the other in the Quarter Final.

The winner is going to be tough to stop when it comes to picking up the European Tour Title this weekend and this should be a quality contest.

The last two matches against one another in 2025 were both played in front of crowds and both Noppert and Clayton produced excellent outings.

It was Jonny Clayton who edged to the wins and he has won five in a row against Danny Noppert, but both had considerable success hitting the maximums and it may be more of the same in the Quarter Final here in Germany.

Krzysztof Ratajski over 1.5 180s v Michael Smith: A fast start helped Michael Smith to upset the odds in the Third Round, but he only just made it over the line considering the early lead built up.

He is going to be dangerous with momentum, but Krzysztof Ratajski continued to hit the big scores in his own Third Round win and is rightly set as the favourite.

The maximum hitting has caught the eye so far this weekend and Ratajski should be able to land at least two in this Quarter Final, even if he is not able to quite beat Bully Boy again.

Nathan Aspinall to win & most 180s v Andrew Gilding: The steady, quality play of Andrew Gilding always makes him dangerous and especially with a few wins under the belt to give him momentum.

His crushing win over William O'Connor impressed, but Nathan Aspinall has looked in very good touch over the last couple of matches.

The pressure of having to face home players has not affected The Asp, which is to his credit, and this time he can perhaps play without the crowd playing a part in the contest.

Nathan Aspinall continues to pile in big scores, but will need to tidy up his doubling if he is going to win this title, especially with a very difficult Semi Final opponent to come regardless of who wins the third Quarter Final on the night.

MY PICKS: Danny Noppert-Karel Sedlacek Over 4.5 180s @ 1.80 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Krzysztof Ratajski-Ross Smith Over 5.5 180s @ 1.91 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Niko Springer @ 1.80 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Nathan Aspinall to Win & Over 2.5 180s @ 2.25 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Quarter Final Picks: Danny Noppert-Jonny Clayton Over 5.5 180s @ 2.20 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Krzysztof Ratajski Over 1.5 180s @ 1.61 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Nathan Aspinall to Win & Most 180s @ 2.25 Bet365 (1 Unit)

German Darts Grand Prix Update: 3-5, - 2.62 Units (8 Units Staked, - 32.75% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2022 (April 6th)

It has not been the best couple of days to open the clay court season on the Tour.

All three completed selections failed to win- strangely all of those players picked when on long losing runs, which can happen on the clay courts, and that ultimately was the main reason they were unable to cover.

To be fair, two of the players ended up losing outright, but Richard Gasquet did earn his place in the Second Round in ATP Marrakech. That doesn't really matter to me and it comes down to bad picks rather than bad luck to open the events being played this week.

This is only the start of the week so the three losses are a disappointment. Plenty more matches are to be scheduled before the Monte Carlo Masters begin next week.

Tallon Griekspoor - 3.5 games v Pavel Kotov: Strong performances on the clay courts in 2021 has pushed Tallon Griekspoor up the World Rankings, but you can never really tell how a player will perform in his first match on a new surface.

He has at least won a Davis Cup tie on the clay courts this season, but the Dutchman has not played in a clay court tournament since October. Tallon Griekspoor has actually won his last fifteen matches on the clay, but the real test is going to be taking his form on the Challenger Tour onto the main ATP Tour.

That is something we will come to see over the next several weeks as Tallon Griekspoor is in a position to play in some of the big clay court tournaments in the build towards the French Open.

However, that is not really the case in his opening match at the tournament in Marrakech as Tallon Griekspoor opens up against Pavel Kotov. The Russian is Ranked at World Number 172, but he has won a couple of Qualifiers and that has to be respected.

One of those wins did come against the veteran Fernando Verdasco, but Pavel Kotov has not really faced too many top players on the surface. Even then, his numbers have been relatively poor on the clay in 2021 and I do think Pavel Kotov has a vulnerable serve which can be exploited by Tallon Griekspoor.

Serving on this surface can be difficult, but Tallon Griekspoor has an edge with the level he can perform at on the clay and I think he will be able to win this First Round match by a good margin.

Nick Kyrgios - 1.5 games v Tommy Paul: The First Round match in Houston was the first time Nick Kyrgios had played a competitive match on the clay courts in almost three years.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, he dropped the first set, but Nick Kyrgios has kept the positive form going by rallying and taking his place in the Second Round. For a long time the clay courts in Houston have been quicker than those these players are going to face when they head to the European events taking place before the US Open and it is the main reason so many American players and those that prefer the hard courts stay in North America for the opening clay court event of their seasons.

Nick Kyrgios has previously had some successes on the clay courts with his serve a big weapon on the surface, but in more recent times he has struggled with his return. That has not been the case overall in 2022 and the Australian looked to be in decent touch in knocking off Mackenzie McDonald in the First Round.

This is going to be a tougher test against Tommy Paul, but the American had to battle through his own First Round match and was a little fortunate that his opponent had to pull out with an injury. Tommy Paul has been an average clay court player in his career, but he did have a decent run to the Semi Final of a one year standalone event in Parma in 2021.

However, I do think Tommy Paul will have a tough time dealing with the serve that Nick Kyrgios has and the latter is returning well enough to earn the edge in the match.

It should be tight considering Tommy Paul's improvement- however, Nick Kyrgios looks to be fully motivated at the moment and I think he can be backed to move through to the Quarter Final in Houston this week.

MY PICKS: Tallon Griekspoor - 3.5 Games @ 1.83 Bet365 (2 Units)

Nick Kyrgios - 1.5 Games @ 1.83 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 0-3, - 6 Units (6 Units Stake, - 100% Yield)

Weekend Football Picks 2019 (April 5-8)

I had a very strong Fantasy Football GW32 with 110 points produced through the Double GameWeek, but that means I am going to head into GW33 with slightly fewer than the eleven players you can start in any given week.

With just six Premier League games to be played this weekend I think there will be a number of people in a similar boat, although every point matters at this stage of the season. I would even suggest playing an additional transfer even for the cost of 4 points if you need to, but pick a player that is guaranteed to start as that should mean at least 2 of those points are returned.

I very rarely choose a goalkeeper or defender to lose points on because of their limited chances of a return, but a midfielder and striker can make up for those 'hits' taken very quickly.


The players I identified last week in my Fantasy portion of the thread turned out to be very good selections so I am hoping some readers would have benefited. The outstanding contributions in the Double GameWeek came from the top three Defenders I had selected, while all three higher priced strikers all scored too.

The Defenders were the best on the GW though with Cesar Azpilicueta scoring and keeping a clean sheet, Aymeric Laporte being involved in both clean sheets and adding an assist and Luke Shaw adding an assist even though the late Watford goal at Old Trafford was a blow in taking away the clean sheet.

With a smaller amount of Premier League games to be played this weekend I am going to have fewer players selected, but you can read my thoughts on the Weekend games from the Premier League and FA Cup and the Fantasy thoughts below.


Southampton v Liverpool Pick: The opening Premier League game of the weekend comes on Friday night from St Mary's as both Southampton and Liverpool chase the points they need to fulfil different ambitions.

The home team will be looking for one more win to really begin to feel they have enough points to avoid relegation. The 0-1 win at Brighton last weekend was a big result for Southampton who have won 3 of their last 4 Premier League games and their last 2 at St Mary's against Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur.

While the win over Spurs was a big result, Southampton know they could have been in a big hole by half time as they were being dominated by the top four club. That is a concern when they get ready to take on a Liverpool team who have won 4 in a row in all competitions and seem to have a little bit of fortune on their side as late goals have gone their way.

Liverpool have a solid away record in the Premier League and they are a team who have looked secure defensively, but I expect that to be tested by Southampton who will feel they have nothing to lose here. Any points earned against the top six has to be considered a bonus for Southampton in their fight to avoid the drop, but they have been better at home under Ralph Hasenhuttl and this is a team that can cause problems for the bigger clubs at St Mary's.

Both North London clubs have been beaten here since Hasenhuttl took over as manager of Southampton, while The Saints have also scored against Manchester United in a draw and Manchester City in a defeat at home. I do think they can do the same against a Liverpool team who have not had a clean sheet in 4 games and that includes conceding against Burnley and Fulham who are both below Southampton in the Premier League table.

The Southampton defensive issues makes it very difficult to imagine Liverpool not scoring here themselves so the selection is picking both teams to score at odds against.

Fantasy Star: Sadio Mane- you have to stick with the former Southampton player who has been in hot form.

Alternative: Roberto Firmino- I think Southampton could cause problems for Liverpool, but the latter are playing with a feeling of destiny behind them and someone popping up with a winner would not be a surprise.


Bournemouth v Burnley Pick: This is an interesting fixture with Bournemouth understandably the favourite, but they have a poor recent record against Burnley and that has to be factored into any selection that is made.

I did consider backing Bournemouth on the Asian Handicap which would return half the stakes in the case of a draw, but their recent record has been underwhelming. It would have looked a lot better if they had converted a late penalty to beat Wolves and then held on through injury time in their draw with Newcastle United, but those setbacks and overall recent form has to be a concern.

That is not to say that Burnley have been in great form having had 4 straight League losses prior to the international break, but the 2-0 win over Wolves last weekend at Turf Moor has to be a huge confidence boost. Burnley will make the long trip down to the south coast with very little to lose as they look to move even clearer of the bottom three, while their 3 straight wins over Bournemouth have to give them further belief.

What has been clear in recent games between these clubs is that they match up well and usually produce plenty of goals when they face one another. The last 5 have all ended with at least three goals shared out and I do think Bournemouth and Burnley will be chasing goals to protect what have been vulnerable defences.

Bournemouth have conceded in 3 home games in a row, while Burnley have scored at least once in 3 of their last 4 away Premier League games. The home team have only failed to score in 1 of their last 7 here in all competitions, and Burnley have not had a clean sheet in their last 5 away games.

With recent history and the recent performances of both teams I would not be surprised to see a 2-1 scoreline either way and I am going to recommend looking at three or more goals to be shared out on the day.

Fantasy Star: Callum Wilson- is back leading the line for Bournemouth who should have chances against a Burnley defence that has not looked as strong as previous years.

Alternative: Dwight McNeil- I identified him last week and he came up with an assist and a goal. Key player for Burnley in their fight against relegation.


Huddersfield Town v Leicester City Pick: Relegation has looked inevitable for a number of weeks now at Huddersfield Town, but big decisions look like they will need to be made. There have been reports of the players not being happy under new manager Jan Siewert so the Huddersfield Town board have to decide whether they want to bring someone else in to take the club forward on their return to the Championship.

It is going to be a big season for Huddersfield Town who won't want to spend too long out of the top flight as the return becomes that much more difficult. The Championship is loaded with some quality teams though and earning an immediate return to the top flight is going to be a real challenge for The Terriers.

The fans will begin to worry about that when they complete their Premier League fixture list and Huddersfield Town can play without some pressure now relegation is confirmed. That could free the players up, but they are short of the quality of those in the top flight and I think Leicester City will have too much for them.

Brendan Rodgers has made an immediate impact with the Leicester City players who had been struggling under Claude Puel and the attacking intent of the manager is something the players will enjoy. There is going to be work to mould the squad like Rodgers wants in the summer, but for now they are chasing the top seven finish which may see them playing in the Europa League next season.

3 wins in a row under Rodgers means Leicester City are playing with belief and they have been scoring plenty of goals in that run. They should have enough to see off Huddersfield Town here who have not been able to keep clean sheets and struggling to avoid defeats at the John Smith's Stadium and I will back the visitors to win a game featuring two or more goals.

Fantasy Star: Jamie Vardy- amongst the goals since Claude Puel was sacked and could keep his run going.

Alternative: James Maddison- I am expecting Leicester City to be the stronger team and the English midfielder does play in advanced positions on the pitch.


Newcastle United v Crystal Palace Pick: Both Newcastle United and Crystal Palace look to have enough to steer clear of the bottom three in the Premier League, but both Rafael Benitez and Roy Hodgson will be reminding their players that a win on Saturday will ease any remaining doubts about their ability to survive in the top flight.

There is almost nothing to lose for either team in this fixture with a 7 and 8 point lead over Cardiff City in the bottom three and I think that could see an attacking game develop.

Newcastle United have found a groove at home where they have scored at least twice in 5 successive League games and won each of those. That might be an issue for a Crystal Palace team who have not been defending as well as they would have liked and have conceded at least twice in losing 3 of 4 overall.

That includes losing 2-1 at Watford and 2-0 at Tottenham Hotspur, but the latter is the first away game since late November in which Crystal Palace have failed to score. I do think they can create problems for Newcastle United with the pace and quality they have in the final third and I would not be surprised at all if we see both teams find the net in this one.

While neither will want to lose, I do think the three points will encourage the players to take chances too and I think that is going to produce a decent game of football. With both teams having some defensive problems, I can see this fixture going against the recent trend when these two teams face one another and I will recommend looking for at least three goals to be shared out at odds against.

Fantasy Star: Solomon Rondon- has scored in three of the last four games at St James' Park.

Alternative: Wilfried Zaha- the main threat for Crystal Palace who will be looking to counter attack in this fixture.


Everton v Arsenal Pick: There are some questions for both Everton and Arsenal to answer when they face each other in front of the television cameras on Sunday afternoon.

Marco Silva has been backed by the Everton board and his players seem to be playing hard for him having secured solid wins over Chelsea and West Ham United either side of the international break. The win over Chelsea ended a poor run at home, but Everton also held Liverpool in the Merseyside derby and I think they can cause problems for Arsenal.

One of the main reasons for that is Arsenal have not been as comfortable away from the Emirates Stadium and it is going to be the poorer away form that prevents them making the top four. The Gunners have a chance to make a statement by winning at Goodison Park and that will be a confidence boost for a team who are playing five of their remaining seven League games away from home.

Arsenal do have a decent record against Everton which is another reason they could be as short as they are to win this game. There is no doubt they are a very short price, but Arsenal looked very strong in their 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur at the start of March and I think they have the goals to win this game if at their best.

Goals have been a real feature of Everton versus Arsenal fixtures in recent years and I think this one is going to follow suit. The home team will look to get forward and Arsenal look to be rounding into strong form and I think they can combine to produce at least three goals on Sunday afternoon.

Fantasy Star: Alexandre Lacazette- leading the line for Arsenal more often than not and seemingly involved in plenty of their goals.

Alternative: Gylfi Sigurdsson- I seem to pick him in every Everton game as their main threat and positive returns in three of the last five fixtures suggests that remains the case. Key player if the home team are going to upset Arsenal.


Chelsea v West Ham United Pick: It can be something of an irritation for those clubs playing in the Europa League that they are asked to play on a Monday night ahead of a Thursday European commitment, but Chelsea have to deal with the schedule as it comes.

At this moment they have not prioritised a top four finish over the Europa League or vice versa as they chase a spot in the Champions League and so I do think a strong home team is selected.

They could be facing West Ham United at the right time as the team have perhaps just taken their foot off the pedal with the season coming to a conclusion. A top ten finish would be ideal for the club, but the players don't always think the same way with a number of them considering their future with the club in the summer.

West Ham United could be missing some key players for this trip across London too and they have not been at their best defensively in recent games. Add in the fact that The Hammers have been beaten in 6 of their last 7 away games in all competitions and I think it is going to be very difficult for them to get a result at Stamford Bridge this Monday.

The home team have been in very good form in front of their own fans too and I think they are playing with plenty of confidence even if Chelsea have not been blowing teams away. Maurizio Sarri's tactics have yet to really take hold with the players, but I think Chelsea will dominate the ball and they will likely have too much for a West Ham United team who are perhaps lacking a bit of focus at the moment.

You can't ignore the results West Ham United have had in recent visits to Stamford Bridge with 3 draws from their last 5 trips here, but I think Chelsea will have enough to win by a two goal margin on the day.

Fantasy Star: Eden Hazard- a goal and an assist in Chelsea's win over Brighton, everything goes through Eden Hazard.

Alternative: Olivier Giroud- got the nod ahead of Gonzalo Higuain on Wednesday and scored the opener which may mean another start for the Frenchman.


Manchester City v Brighton Pick: The first FA Cup Semi Final is played between Manchester City and Brighton and the Premier League leaders are a clear favourite to reach the Final that is played next month.

On current form it is very difficult to see anything other than a Manchester City win, but the key question is whether this is going to be a comfortable victory or one where Brighton can make things very difficult and try and earn the upset.

Chris Hughton's game plan has to be frustrate Manchester City for long periods and try and hurt them on the counter attack. As long as Brighton have a chance in the final 20 minutes I think the manager will be very happy, but recent form has been a worry and I do believe it will be very difficult to contain Pep Guardiola's men.

Manchester City have been a little wasteful in front of goal in their last couple of League games although they have comfortably beaten both Fulham and Cardiff City. They could have won both fixtures by wide margins if they had produced better finishing and I do think there will be spaces for them to exploit if they get their noses in front and just show a touch more composure in front of goal.

Brighton are rarely beaten easily, but they looked short of confidence in going down 3-0 at Chelsea during the week. The focus may already be on big League games coming up next weekend as Brighton fight to avoid a relegation to the Championship and I think Manchester City can keep their positive momentum going.

Most markets have been priced down for Manchester City as the layers take no chances with a team chasing an unprecedented Quadruple, but I will back them to cover the Asian Handicap here even if they have fallen short twice in the last week.


Watford v Wolves Pick: This may not be a FA Cup Semi Final that jumps off the page, but the performances of both Watford and Wolves throughout this season suggests it is going to be a decent game of football for the viewers.

Both teams have been able to play good, attacking football that has impressed the neutrals and I think both Watford and Wolves will enjoy playing on the big Wembley pitch. Wolves already showed that when crushing Tottenham Hotspur 1-3 here in the Premier League, but Watford also were leading against Spurs in an eventual 2-1 loss and I think the football that both managers expect their teams to play makes this an intriguing Semi Final.

Watford look a very big price as the underdog considering they deservedly beat Wolves at Molineux earlier this season, but Wolves have had the superior Cup run. That actually doesn't mean anything ahead of the Semi Final and I would be concerned in backing Wolves considering they have not won any of their last 4 away from their own Stadium.

Some will point to Watford losing their last 3 away from Vicarage Road, but those have come at Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United. Compare that to the Wolves run of away games without a victory being at Bournemouth, Huddersfield Town, Chelsea and Burnley and the fact that they have lost half of those fixtures and I was close to suggesting backing Watford to avoid a loss in normal time by backing them as the underdog on the Asian Handicap.

Instead I am going to look for the two teams to combine for at least three goals which is not what the layers are expecting judging by the odds against quotes. Wolves don't score a lot of goals away from Molineux, but they did score three at this Stadium against Tottenham Hotspur and I think their style will be suited to the big surroundings.

Watford have been scoring and conceding goals regularly in recent weeks and I would not be surprised if both teams get on the scoreboard in this one. The nature of the Cup does lead to spaces potentially opening up if a team is chasing the fixture and I will look for three or more goals to be shared out between these teams who are both also chasing a 7th place finish in the Premier League.

Fantasy Football

Only six of the scheduled ten Premier League fixtures are being played in GW33 but that doesn't mean there are not options for people playing the Fantasy game. There may not be as many players identified in this part of the Weekend Football thread as usual, but you can see those I think can be the difference makers in this GW below.

Goalkeeper 4.8 Million and Above

Kepa (Chelsea- 5.4 Million): A home game with a West Ham United team that may already have turned their attention to the summer does offer a real chance of a clean sheet.

Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester City- 5 Million): In recent games Leicester City have struggled for clean sheets, but they earned one last week and a trip to Huddersfield Town does offer an opportunity for another.

Goalkeeper 4.7 Million and Below

Angus Gunn (Southampton- 4.3 Million): Is going to need to be a big influence if Southampton are going to derail the Liverpool title run. Hard to see a clean sheet and in all honesty I think it's going to be tough for a real positive return from this position outside of the bigger investments.

Defender 5.1 Million and Above

Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool- 5.5 Million): A lot cheaper than both Andrew Robertson and Virgil Van Dijk and retains the same kind of attacking threat as those two pose.

Emerson (Chelsea- 5.2 Million): Marcos Alonso has not been in the best form and struggling with an injury. It could mean a run in the team for Emerson who has an attacking threat to his game too.

Ben Chilwell (Leicester City- 5.1 Million): Another defender with an attacking edge and one who could add a clean sheet with the trip to Huddersfield Town to come this weekend.

Defender 5 Million and Below

Jonny Evans (Leicester City- 4.8 Million): A cheaper way into the Leicester City defence although without the same threat as Chilwell.

Florian Lejeune (Newcastle United- 4.4 Million): Been much better at home and Newcastle United have had a couple of clean sheets here in the last few games.

Midfielder 7.1 Million and Above

Eden Hazard (Chelsea- 11.1 Million): At this stage Chelsea are not prioritising the Europa League over the Premier League top four race and everything good for them comes through Eden Hazard.

Sadio Mane (Liverpool- 10.1 Million): The price jump is down to the form Sadio Mane has been in, cheaper option than Mohamed Salah and player in form.

Mesut Ozil (Arsenal- 7.9 Million): Not a bad price for a player who has been in good form and back in the manager's plans. Problem is Arsenal have been poor away from home and Ozil can underline their lethargy on their travels.

Midfielder 7 Million and Below

James Maddison (Leicester City- 6.8 Million): A trip to Huddersfield Town and James Maddison has produced decent returns in three of the five games played since Claude Puel was sacked.

Callum Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea- 4.2 Million): Maurizio Sarri has indicated he will keep the same line up that beat Brighton and Callum Hudson-Odoi had a strong showing that day.

Forward 6.4 Million and Above

Roberto Firmino (Liverpool- 9.3 Million): Scored last week and another alternative to the pricey Mohamed Salah to get involved in the Liverpool attack.

Jamie Vardy (Leicester City- 9.1 Million): He has been a popular pick for me in this section, but the goals being scored makes the England player hard to ignore.

Olivier Giroud (Chelsea- 7.7 Million): Started up front for Chelsea and scored in the win over Brighton. With hints the same team start against West Ham United, Olivier Giroud could be a relatively cheap attacking option.

Forward 6.3 Million and Below

Solomon Rondon (Newcastle United- 5.9 Million): Has scored in three of the last four games at St James' Park.

Ashley Barnes (Burnley- 5.7 Million): Should have chances at Bournemouth and scored twice against them earlier this season.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton- 5.4 Million): Has scored in two of the last five games for Everton and playing a vulnerable Arsenal defence this weekend.

MY PICKS: Southampton-Liverpool Both Teams to Score @ 2.00 Bet365
Bournemouth-Burnley Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.85 Bet Victor
Leicester City to Win & Over 1.5 Goals @ 2.15 Bet Fred
Newcastle United-Crystal Palace Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.30 Ladbrokes
Everton-Arsenal Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.72 Bet365
Chelsea - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.91 Bet Victor
Manchester City - 2.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.96 Bet365
Watford-Wolves Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.15 Bet Victor

Davis Cup Tennis Picks 2018 (April 6th)

The Davis Cup Quarter Final ties will make headlines of their own, but most fans will be keeping a close eye on Rafael Nadal who makes his return since pulling out of the Australian Open Quarter Final match against Marin Cilic.

Nadal is playing the second rubber of the Spanish tie against Germany in Valencia, but his team have made it clear that the current World Number 1 is not at full health as he looks to defend plenty of points over the next couple of months in the lead up and during the French Open.


The four Davis Cup ties have provided some options for the Tennis Picks which have made a good start to the week from the WTA Charleston event. Any Picks from the United States vs Belgium tie and from the two WTA events will be added to this thread on Friday, but the Picks below are from the Spain vs Germany and Italy vs France Quarter Final ties which begin early on Friday morning.


Alexander Zverev - 3.5 games v David Ferrer: The big question for Alexander Zverev is how he has managed to handle himself emotionally having lost the Miami Masters Final to John Isner a few days ago. He hasn't got a lot of time to prepare for the move from the hard courts onto the clay courts, while Zverev will be playing against another crowd supporting his opponent as he looks to give Germany a strong start in the Davis Cup tie against Spain.

A few years ago the prospect of facing David Ferrer would have been a scary one for any player, especially on the clay courts where the movement and defensive skills Ferrer possesses made him a tough opponent to beat.

However Zverev has already beaten Ferrer twice on the hard courts in 2018 to give himself a mental boost for this match, while I also have to say that the Spanish veteran is simply not as strong as he once was.

Ferrer's numbers against top 50 opponents on the clay courts over the last couple of years have deteriorated badly from his peak and I think that is an issue when facing Zverev. You can't ignore how well Zverev is able to play on the clay courts as he showed when winning the Rome Masters last year and his stronger service numbers and solid return numbers give him the edge in this first rubber.

I do think Ferrer will have his moments and he could even take a set, but I would expect Zverev to settle into the match and begin to take control of proceedings. He can produce some big time tennis on this surface and I would expect the stronger serving and very effective returning can help him get past Ferrer and cover the number of games being asked of him.

Coming off the hard courts onto the clay courts shouldn't be a big problem for Zverev, and he has had a few days to get himself physically ready for this match. I am looking for him to just be a little too good for Ferrer and give Germany the perfect start to this Quarter Final tie.


Lucas Pouille - 5.5 games v Andreas Seppi: On first glance I have to say this does look a big number of games for Lucas Pouille to cover, but the clay courts have been a surface on which he has been able to produce better returning numbers than on other surfaces.

He had a decent time on the clay in 2017 and Pouille certainly has some decent numbers on the surface which makes him someone to respect. The serve has continued to be a strong weapon for the Frenchman, but he has found his feet when it comes to the return on this surface and I think that is key against Andreas Seppi who has seen his own numbers declining on the clay over the last couple of years.

One of the bigger issues for Seppi is when he has come up against players Ranked in the top 50 when he really has seen a sharp downward trend on both his serving and returning numbers.

The home crowd can at least get behind Seppi and give him a boost in this one, but I do think the majority of the play will be on Pouille's side of the court and he will be the player creating the majority of break point chances.

Pouille can be a hard player to back because he does tend to struggle to retrieve breaks and that can lead to silly dropped sets, but I think he is the better player in this one. It will take Seppi turning back the clock to earn the upset and I will back Pouille to create the break points to win and cover the handicap.


Fabio Fognini - 6.5 games v Jeremy Chardy: I might need my head testing in picking two players who can be very, very erratic when the mood strikes them, but I am going to back Fabio Fognini to cover a big number against Jeremy Chardy in the second rubber of the tie between Italy and France.

With the home support behind him, Fognini will certainly feel he has the edge on the clay courts over Chardy even if the latter has been able to snap his run of losses to Fognini by beating him on the hard courts in North America over the last month.

Chardy has a very good serve when he is feeling at his best and it is a weapon that can give Fognini some problems even on the clay courts. The Frenchman has been able to maintain strong hold numbers on the clay courts but his bigger issue is trying to out-rally players on this surface for long enough to earn the break point chances.

The serve will be tested by Fognini who has a decent return and has produced some of his best tennis in Davis Cup. Not many would have forgotten the way he dismantled Andy Murray in Italy on the clay courts before and I do think this is the kind of situation in which Fognini does seem to bring his very best to the court.

Over the course of a best of five set match I do think Fognini will be able to break down the Chardy game and I think that will give him every chance of covering this number. Fognini has maintained some strong numbers on the clay courts over the last few years and I think he can continue the fine form he has shown on this surface already in 2018.

I think Chardy's returning issues could be a real factor in helping Fognini in covering the number in this second rubber and I will back the Italian to do that.


Madison Keys - 3.5 games v Bernarda Pera: The WTA Charleston event has reached the Quarter Final stage which means all of the players in this tournament have shown decent enough form.

It may be a surprising run for Madison Keys who has not produced her best tennis on the clay courts in the last couple of years, although she has played a Charleston Final before in her career.

Keys is very much a confidence player who has to see the serve working to the usual standards to make sure the rest of her game is up to scratch. That has been the case so far this week and I do think she will be able to put Bernarda Pera under pressure as a player who is still getting accustomed to this level of tennis.

Pera has shown she has plenty of quality in her own tennis and playing left-handed can be a problem for opponents to solve. She has some decent wins this week too which will have given her confidence, but I have to believe Keys is familiar with what Pera wants to do on the court and I expect the bigger hitting from the higher Ranked American to prove to be a difference maker on the day.

As long as Keys maintains her focus behind serve, I expect her to come through this match and cover these games by earning a break more in each set of a straight sets win.


Kiki Bertens - 2.5 games v Alize Cornet: Alize Cornet won her grudge match against Caroline Garcia on Thursday, but she is going to have maintain some heady standards if she is going to beat Kiki Bertens.

So far this week Cornet has been in fantastic form which has to be respected, but the numbers are far superior to the usual kind of levels the Frenchwoman finds on the clay courts.

Confidence is high so nothing suggests she will be dropping backwards, but Kiki Bertens presents a very difficult challenge for any opponent on the clay courts.

Bertens might not be playing at the same level that Cornet has produced this week, but her numbers are much more in line with those she has produced on the clay courts in the last two seasons. It does suggest Bertens can maintain these levels for longer than Cornet and I do think her serve is a big weapon for her in this match.

That serve can set up a few cheaper points for Bertens and I think she will be able to put Cornet under pressure in the match when it comes to protecting her own serve. The head to head may lean towards Cornet, but I think Bertens is one of the better clay court players out there and I am expecting her to have some strong runs over the next couple of months on this surface.

The superiority on the clay courts should show up in this match and I will back Bertens to come through and cover the number in this Quarter Final.

MY PICKS: Alexander Zverev - 3.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Lucas Pouille - 5.5 Games @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Fabio Fognini - 6.5 Games @ 2.00 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Madison Keys - 3.5 Games @ 1.85 William Hill (2 Units)
Kiki Bertens - 2.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 3-0, + 5.12 Units (6 Units Staked, + 85.33% Yield)

Weekend Football Picks (April 4-6)

I think I had made my position fairly clear already that I was not expecting to have a winning season from the football season after a pretty miserable first half of the season. However, things had at least turned around to form some respectability of late and March proved to be a huge month.

After being in the red for most of the season, March has seen the football picks get back into the black and the key is to make sure the next two months go the same way. Instead of patting myself on the back for finding the right matches, I have instead focused on making sure that this can be built upon and produce another decent season for the picks.


I have wrote a small piece about the ten managers that could replace Manuel Pellegrini as Manchester City manager this summer if the expected change is made at the Etihad Stadium. I am going to write a small piece in praise of Louis Van Gaal in the next couple of days which will hopefully be of interest and is also a change in my personal mindset about the Dutch manager at Old Trafford.

To read the piece about Manuel Pellegrini, you can click here.


Arsenal v Liverpool Pick: It was a big game for Liverpool two weeks ago and losing to Manchester United means it is looking a big task for them to get back into the top four, especially if they failed to win at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday. Unfortunately for Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool have a lot of injury issues and suspensions that could make it difficult for the manager to pick the team he would have liked to for this game.

Martin Skrtel and Steven Gerrard are both definitely out, but the likes of Raheem Sterling, Adam Lallana and Daniel Sturridge would be huge misses for Liverpool as they try to snap Arsenal's impressive run of form.

There are still times that Arsenal fail to convince fully, but they are a team that is getting healthier through the squad and winning 8 straight Premier League games at home has to give them confidence. They are arguably the most in-form team in the Premier League after Liverpool's loss to Manchester United and Arsenal will come out of the international break looking to put pressure on Manchester City by moving ahead of them in the League table.

The early kick off after the international games could be an issue for both teams with players returning from all over, but Arsenal will be happier from what they have seen their squad get through over the last couple of weeks. With Sterling picking up a knock on international duty, Liverpool can't say the same and I think the edge in this match does come down in favour of the home side.

Arsenal should really have held out and beaten Liverpool at Anfield in December and they did beat them twice here last season. On current form, Arsenal have to be the pick at the prices and I will back them to win this one and virtually wrap up a top four place while perhaps denting Liverpool's bid irreversibly.


Manchester United v Aston Villa Pick: I have to give Louis Van Gaal the utmost credit for the way he got his tactics spot on in the game at Anfield which led to a 1-2 win for Manchester United against Liverpool. That means Manchester United have had two very good performances in consecutive matches and had to be a little annoyed that they would have to wait two weeks before they took to the field again.

The wins over Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool are huge when it comes to deciding Champions League places in the Premier League this season, but Manchester United can't afford to lose focus in this one. Dropping points to Aston Villa would be a huge blow considering Manchester City, Chelsea and Everton are the next fixtures that Manchester United will have to negotiate.

It would also be a big surprise if Manchester United dropped points this weekend because they have scored plenty of goals at Old Trafford and saved their best performances, outside of the last one, for their home ground. Their last 7 wins at Old Trafford have all come by at least two goals and Manchester United have really gotten the better of Aston Villa in recent years at this Stadium.

The last 4 wins have come by a combined 14-2 margin and all of those wins have come by at least two goals.

Aston Villa have at least begun to play better under Tim Sherwood, but the 0-1 home loss to Swansea shows there are still some underlining confidence issues for a team battling against the drop. Sherwood is not likely to have his Aston Villa side sit back and hope to settle for a draw and that might not be the best approach to take against a Manchester United side with plenty of confidence from their last couple of wins.

I can imagine Aston Villa try and hit Manchester United on the counter, but I think there is a real rhythm to the Manchester United attack over the last two games which should lead them to another comfortable win over their visitors. Manchester United have scored at least three goals in 6 of their last 9 games at Old Trafford in all competitions and reaching that total should see the home team win by at least two goals this weekend.


Chelsea v Stoke City Pick: If Chelsea had dropped points at Hull City after being 0-2 up in that game, you might be wondering if the side have begun to really feel the pressure of leading the Premier League table. After being dominant at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League, Chelsea have drawn 3 of their last 4 home League games and they have failed to score more than a single goal in any of those games.

However, Chelsea did win at the KC Stadium and they have a real chance to put the hammer down on Manchester City who remain the most realistic challenger to the Premier League title. The latter don't play until Easter Monday and Chelsea have a chance to extend their lead at the top if they can continue their winning run against Stoke City.

Losing Victor Moses for this game is a blow to Stoke City and they did suffer a couple of disappointing losses prior to the international break. Mark Hughes has kept Stoke City difficult to play against and they will come to Stamford Bridge with a gameplan to frustrate the home team and try and nick something on the break.

The struggles in front of goal have to be a concern for Jose Mourinho, especially if Stoke City are allowed to dig in and don't concede an early goal. Diego Costa's absence would be a concern too, but there are still plenty of players at Mourinho's disposal that can help his team break through in this one.

I do think the win at Hull City is the kind of boost that Chelsea needed plus the two week break might be what the squad needed to get over their disappointment in losing to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. I would expect them to be too strong for a Stoke City team that has lost at Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal with the latest defeat being the most comfortable.

An early goal could give Stoke City a problem and I think Chelsea will win by at least two goals.


Burnley v Tottenham Hotspur Pick: This is a really important game at both ends of the Premier League table as Tottenham Hotspur will likely be chasing down the teams above them who should have recorded wins in the League on Saturday, while Burnley can get out of the bottom three with a victory on Sunday.

Both managers will be aware of the significance of a game like this one and it looks a decent pick for the first of the live games on Sunday afternoon. Neither Burnley nor Tottenham Hotspur have really been performing up to the standard expected when it comes to defensive shape and that should mean there are chances at both ends of the pitch where Danny Ings and Harry Kane will hope to impress.

I do have to say that Spurs look a short price to win at Turf Moor considering what happened to Manchester City and the fact that Tottenham Hotspur have been a little hit and miss on their travels. However, in saying that, I do believe they are the more likely victors as they try to stay on the coattails of Manchester United and hope they slip up in three big games to come during the rest of the month.

I can see chances being created at both ends of the pitch though with nervous defending playing a part and a little composure from both teams may see a few goals go in to please the neutrals. Tottenham Hotspur in particular have been involved in some high-scoring games this season and this has the makings of a 2-1 victory either way.


Crystal Palace v Manchester City Pick: When the fixture was picked for live television coverage, it might have been expected that this was going to have a really big impact at both ends of the Premier League table but that doesn't seem to be the case actually going into the weekend.

For Crystal Palace that is a positive as they have built real momentum to get out of trouble and now have nothing to lose as they look to keep the positive feeling going into their remaining games. Manchester City are still in the chase for the Premier League title, but are under more pressure knowing any more dropped points would likely be a fatal blow to their chances of retaining the trophy they won last season.

Alan Pardew has got the best out of his Crystal Palace squad of players and has utilised the pace of Wilfried Zaha and Yannick Bolasie to cause problems for teams, while Glenn Murray has come in from the cold and is scoring goals. The absence of Mile Jedinak is an issue as the main protection in front of the back four and that will be an area that Manchester City will look to exploit.

The defensive problems that Manchester City have failed to disguise will be tested fully by Zaha, Bolasie and Murray, while Dwight Gayle can have an impact on the bench. On the other hand, I expect Manchester City to have their own joy when they get forward and this could have a similar feeling to when the other top sides have visited Selhurst Park.

Chelsea, Liverpool (in the FA Cup) and Arsenal have all won by the same 1-2 scoreline here, but Liverpool (in the Premier League) and Tottenham Hotspur have also been beaten in high-scoring games. When considering the issues Manchester City have had at the back, but also the quality they have going forward, this game might have a similar pattern.

Manchester City had scored in every away game in the Premier League before the loss at Burnley, but they have also kept just 3 clean sheets on their travels and none in their last 6 away League games. Both teams might get on the scoreboard in this one, but Manchester City have to keep pushing forward and I will back this game to feature at least three goals shared between the teams.

MY PICKS: Arsenal @ 1.90 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Manchester United - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 2.00 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Chelsea - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.94 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Burnley-Tottenham Hotspur Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.80 Betfair Sportsbook (2 Units)
Crystal Palace-Manchester City Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)

March Final: 30-18, + 30.66 Units (88 Units Staked, + 34.84% Yield)
February Final: 20-24-2, + 3.19 Units (75 Units Staked, + 4.25% Yield)
January Final: 10-22-1, - 10.54 Units (57 Units Staked, - 18.49% Yield)
December Final: 25-19-1, + 18.70 Units (81 Units Staked, + 23.09% Yield)
November Final: 17-21, - 0.59 Units (69 Units Staked, - 1% Yield)
October Final: 8-18, - 14.79 Units (47 Units Staked, - 31.47% Yield)
September Final: 12-18, - 2.28 Units (41 Units Staked, - 5.56% Yield)
August Final: 8-22, - 19.92 Units (51 Units Staked, - 39.06% Yield)

Season 2014/15: 130-162-4, + 4.43 Units (509 Units Staked, + 0.09% 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)

Weekend Football Picks 2014 (April 5-7)

The first week of April is when I have decided to take a short break from the United Kingdom and head over to the United States for stops in New York and New Orleans.

That meant I was a little too busy to get anything going for the Champions League games that took place earlier in the week, although that had a lot to do with not liking any of the games to the extent needed.


This weekend I am going to be travelling to New Orleans, but I have a couple of hours before taking a early morning flight there from New York and that is the time where I have put this post together.


However, time constraints means I cannot put down full thoughts as I have during the season and will simply make my picks from the games to be played this weekend. I have updated the March totals that have taken the season back into a positive after a terrible start to 2014 and hopefully that will be built upon on April.

MY PICKS: Manchester City - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 2.08 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Norwich City @ 2.45 William Hill (1 Unit)
Chelsea Win to Nil @ 1.90 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
Everton @ 2.50 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

March Final: 26-22, + 13.94 Units (83 Units Staked, + 16.80% Yield)
February Final: 12-28, - 16.74 Units (61 Units Staked, - 27.44% Yield)
January Final: 17-24, - 3.18 Units (62 Units Staked, - 5.13% Yield)
December Final: 19-16-2, + 13.34 Units (66 Units Staked, + 20.21% Yield)
November Final: 17-19-1, + 0.50 Units (56 Units Staked, + 0.09% Yield)
October Final: 20-16-1, + 12.94 Units (51 Units Staked, + 25.37% Yield)
September Final: 13-12, + 1.24 Units (39 Units Staked, + 3.18% Yield)
August Final: 13-26, - 12.13 Units (54 Units Staked, - 22.46% Yield)

Season 2013/14: 137-153-3, + 9.91 Units (472 Units Staked, + 2.10% Yield)
Season 2012/13: + 4.42 Units (415 Units Staked, + 1.07% Yield)

Weekend Football Picks 2013 (April 6-8)

This is an important weekend for a number of teams in the top flights around Europe, especially the Premier League where some of the issues at the top and bottom of the League will be looking a little clearer at the end of the weekend.

Of course, Sky Sports are probably the most disappointed as they haven't been able to overhype the Manchester derby this week as United maintained their 15 point lead over City last weekend and look in a very strong position to take back the Premier League crown from their local rivals. That doesn't mean that the players and fans of both clubs will not be up for the game and I think it could be a very interesting game on Monday evening.

Before that, the likes of Reading and Queens Park Rangers have huge home games in their fight to survive in the top flight, while Tottenham Hotspur are going to be missing Gareth Bale for the next couple of weeks as they try to hold off the likes of Arsenal and Everton in the race for the top four.


Reading v Southampton Pick: Nigel Adkins would surely have been a little bitter with the way his job was taken from him at Southampton and the new Reading manager has a real chance to earn a measure of revenge by leading his current club to the three points in this game.

It won't be easy for the home side considering they have lost 7 in a row in the Premier League and a defeat in this one would virtually ensure that they are playing in the Championship next season, although only 2 of those losses have come at the Majedski Stadium. Both defeats were disappointing considering they came against Wigan Athletic and Aston Villa, but prior to that Reading had won 3 of 4 home games in the League.

Last weekend, Southampton turned over Chelsea and have also beaten Liverpool and Manchester City at St Mary's in the last couple of months to keep themselves ahead of the relegation zone and they are now as high as 12th in the Premier League, although only 4 points clear of Aston Villa in 18th.

However, the Saints have not been the same on their travels where they have failed to win in 5 games in a row and this is the last chance saloon for Reading. I expect Nigel Adkins to get his troops fired up and I have a sneaky feeling the home side can sneak the three points and give themselves a glimmer of hope of survival.


Stoke City v Aston Villa Pick: Stoke City have been in a miserable run of form since the turn of the New Year and they can thank their early season form that they are not in any more trouble than they are facing at the moment. With just 4 points separating these sides, this is an important game for the home side and one that I can think they win.

It is hard to trust Stoke considering their run of 4 losses in their last 5 games and Aston Villa have certainly been playing with a little more freedom in their away games to suggest there is a chance they can cause a surprise.

However, I just think their young side could be bullied somewhat by the Stoke City players and that may be the difference in the home side winning the game. This will be a tight game, and one where there could be a lot of tension for the home fans considering Manchester United are the next visitors to the Brittania Stadium. While Stoke will be pushed, I do think they are worth a small interest at odds against to win this one.


West Brom v Arsenal Pick: Arsenal look like a side that are very confident in their chances of finishing in the top four and to do so, they have to win games like this.

It won't be an easy task against a West Brom team and I don't really have a real feeling for which of these teams will come away with the three points, although I do think there will be a winner.

West Brom have seen a lot of goals scored in their recent home games, while Arsenal's defence is always liable to give the opposition some chances in games. The recent history between the teams have also seen a fair few goals shared between them and I think there will be at least 3 goals scored in this game.


Liverpool v West Ham United Pick: Surprisingly, despite a terrible start to the season, Liverpool are still with an outside chance of finishing in the top four- Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Arsenal have all dropped points at unexpected moments and all three have some tough games to go this season so a late push from Liverpool may just pay dividends.

However, there are currently 8 points between Arsenal in 4th and Liverpool in 7th so games like this have to be won by the home side if they are to give themselves any chance of closing that gap and I am sure Brendan Rodgers expects his team to finish on a bright note this season no matter what they actually are rewarded with.

There is still the motivation of finishing above Everton to keep the Liverpool team focused, and a place in Europe will be expected by the fans so I expect Liverpool to come out and win this game.

Liverpool have certainly been playing better at Anfield in recent weeks and I think they will prove to be too strong for West Ham United in this one. The Hammers are on course to prolong their stay in the Premier League, but they have had their most success at Upton Park and I think they will struggle to contain Liverpool here. Liverpool have been scoring plenty of goals at Anfield and I don't think West Ham will keep up with them and I expect the home side win this by a couple of goals at least.


Newcastle United v Fulham Pick: Newcastle United have suffered three defeats in a row, but all of those have come away from home and they have won 4 of their last 5 games at St James' Park.

I expect they can make it another win on the board in this one against a Fulham team that have notoriously struggled away from home in the Premier League, although one that has been in good form and picked up a 0-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur in their last away game.

They will look to take advantage of any tiredness in the Newcastle squad after their 3-1 loss in Benfica on Thursday night, but Newcastle certainly created enough chances in that game, and others recently, to think they will be avoid relegation. However, they need to pick up a win here to make sure there are enough points between themselves and 18th place in the Premier League and I do believe they will do enough to grab the three points in this one.

Newcastle will have needed to bring in their shooting boots to this game as Fulham are certainly capable of scoring at least one goal, but the Magpies have created enough chances in recent games for me being comfortable taking them to win this one.


Chelsea v Sunderland Pick: Chelsea play their fourth game in nine days, but they have a chance to move back into the top four after booking a place in the FA Cup Semi Final and getting halfway to getting through to the Europa League Semi Final with a 3-1 win over Rubin Kazan on Thursday.

There will be some changes made to the starting line up, and that can make it hard to figure which Chelsea will turn up, but they are facing a Sunderland team that could be a little discouraged after some recent poor results.

The arrival of Paolo Di Canio has brought a storm that Sunderland would not have wanted at this stage of the season with the team tumbling down the table, but the Italian has certainly shown he can invigorate a squad of players from his time at Swindon Town. He will need to do that as injuries are taking their toll on a limited squad and we may not see the best of his work until the following week at Newcastle United rather than here at Chelsea.

I do think Rafa Benitez understands the significance of Chelsea making it back to the Champions League next season with a top four finish and the result against Rubin means he can play a stronger team here than the one that will go to Russia on Thursday.

Chelsea should win the game and I wouldn't be surprised if they keep a clean sheet in the contest too.


Queens Park Rangers v Wigan Athletic Pick: Neither one of these teams are exactly high-scoring, but both defences have been very generous in recent weeks and it would be a surprise if there isn't at least 3 goals in the game.

Queens Park Rangers have to win this game if they have real ambitions of staying in the Premier League and so they will likely be on the front foot as much as possible and that will surely give Wigan Athletic the chance to use the counter attack that has been so effective for them under Roberto Martinez.

The game between the teams at the DW Stadium ended 2-2 earlier this season, while Rangers beat Wigan 3-1 here last season and I wouldn't be surprised if the four goal mark is hit again in the game. However, I will simply take the over 2.5 goals in this one as I feel a 2-1 scoreline either way is very much on the cards in this one.


Manchester United v Manchester City Pick: While there are still some points to go, Manchester United are almost certainly going to win the Premier League this season and that could lead to an open and entertaining second Manchester derby of the season.

Usually games between the top team and second place in April would be tense affairs, but the 15 point gap between the sides means there should be less pressure on both to perform and it could go the way of recent derbies which have produced a lot of goals.

Both teams will want to put a marker down for the next campaign and both teams will want to prove they have the better of the other. I think there is every chance that both teams go on the attack in this one and games at Old Trafford between the rivals have been fairly entertaining affairs.

I won't be surprised if we see at least 4 goals shared in this one and I hope the party will continue long into the night at Old Trafford with a 3-1 United win in the books.


MY PICKS: Reading @ 3.40 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Stoke City @ 2.14 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
West Brom-Arsenal Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.75 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Liverpool - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.95 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Newcastle United @ 2.10 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Chelsea Win to Nil @ 2.10 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
Queens Park Rangers-Wigan Athletic Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.90 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Manchester United-Manchester City Over 3.5 Goals @ 3.10 Bet Victor (1 Unit)


April Update: 3-5, + 0.05 Units (8 Units Staked, + 0.06% Yield)

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)