Rome Masters Tennis Picks 2026 (Wednesday 13th May)

The Rome Masters has reached the Quarter Final stage and there are several big names looking to win the first of potentially two big clay titles over the next few weeks.

Jannik Sinner is going to be the man to beat in Paris, but a wide open women's tournament here in Rome and at the French Open looks really interesting and one that will create the sporting drama that fans would all love to see.

Iga Swiatek - 3.5 games v Jessica Pegula: This is already looking like becoming the most productive year on the clay courts for Jessica Pegula who has moved into the Rome Quarter Final and has won nine of the ten matches played on the surface. A couple of those have been against top 20 Ranked opponents, which can only build the confidence, while the Third Round defeat at the Madrid Masters came at the hands of Marta Kostyuk, who eventually won the title in the Spanish capital.

The performances here in Rome are a real benchmark of the kind of successes the World Number 5 can have at the upcoming French Open.

She has reached the Quarter Final out in Paris before, but Jessica Pegula has one other Fourth Round run and so the wins she is putting on the board can only help as she looks to attack what feels like another wide open Grand Slam event.

Beating Iga Swiatek, the four time French Open Champion, would be a real statement of intent from the American.

Jessica Pegula has won four of the last six against Iga Swiatek, but one of those was on the grass courts and the others on hard courts and this will be only the second clay court contest between these highly Ranked players. The one previous occasion came all the way back in 2022 in the French Open Quarter Final and that was won pretty convincingly by Iga Swiatek on her way to a second title in the French capital.

We have yet to see vintage Iga Swiatek on the clay courts in 2026 and her Semi Final defeat in Paris, and the manner in which it ran away from her in the final set, will still be stinging. She has won five of the seven clay court matches played this season and Swiatek has produced very strong numbers, but a defeat to the World Number 9 Mirra Andreeva in Stuttgart suggests there is still a vulnerability about one of the favourites to win the next Grand Slam title.

This is something of a 'prove it' match for Swiatek, who will be keen to win the Rome title and just make a statement to her main rivals.

She is certainly the stronger return player on this surface and that is so important in clay matches, but the Iga Swiatek serve is to be respected and that should give her a chance to turn things around in the recent head to head.

Nothing is ever easy when facing a battler like Jessica Pegula, but the quality and confidence of Iga Swiatek on this surface should pay dividends at key moments within the sets.

The World Number 3 looks like a real potential winner at the French Open and she can be backed to make it through to the Semi Final in Rome with a big performance.

Casper Ruud - 4.5 games v Karen Khachanov: The hopes of winning a Grand Slam title remain high for Casper Ruud and his team, and the French Open may be the one tournament where he has his best opportunity.

The performances on the clay courts have remained strong and Casper Ruud is having a very strong run in the Rome Masters, which is laying a solid foundation for what can be achieved in the French capital. Not only has Casper Ruud won all three matches in the tournament, but he has done so in very strong fashion and wins over the likes of Jiri Lehecka and Lorenzo Musetti will have given Ruud a huge amount of confidence.

Next up is a Quarter Final against Karen Khachanov, who has had a much more battling run into this Round of the tournament.

In the past the World Number 15 has proven to be a solid competitor on the clay courts, and Karen Khachanov has reached the Quarter Final at the French Open twice. There had been little form produced before the Rome Masters as Khachanov had lost three of four clay court matches played, but three wins in a row will have rebuilt the confidence and this is a dangerous player when at his best.

The serve can be a big weapon for Karen Khachanov and he will need to employ that shot at a high level to just contain the threat coming from the other side of the net.

Out of the two players, Casper Ruud has been the happier return player on this surface of the two players contesting this Quarter Final and that may put the World Number 25 in a position to win the match and cover the spread set.

That slightly superior returning has been the key to Casper Ruud winning two of the three previous matches played between the players, although the most recent was won by Karen Khachanov last year on a North American hard court in the build towards the US Open.

The one sole clay court meeting took place in Rome in 2020 and was won by Casper Ruud in a back and forth battle- that was a tournament played in September, rather than May, and the difference in the conditions has to be noted.

However, the performances over the last several days suggest Casper Ruud is still playing well enough to earn another clay court win over Karen Khachanov. The spread is going to be tougher to deal with, but Ruud has looked very good at this event and that kind of level may be high enough to cover this handicap line.

MY PICKS: Iga Swiatek - 3.5 Games @ 1.66 William Hill (1 Unit)

Casper Ruud - 4.5 Games @ 2.00 William Hill (1 Unit)

Rome Update: 4-1, + 2.28 Units (5 Units Staked, + 45.60% Yield)

Rome Masters Tennis Picks 2025 (Tuesday 13th May)

On another day, the Tennis Picks could easily have ended with a 0-4 record on Monday, but some luck landed in favour of the selections and the final 3-1 return is a positive one.

Naomi Osaka should have won her match in all honesty- it was a miss while leading 4-2 in the final set tie-breaker that turned the match against her, but she won 7 more points than Peyton Stearns and it is yet another unfortunate loss suffered since returning to the Tour.

A final set 6-1 score helped Hubert Hurkacz cover, despite dropping the second set by the same scoreline. He won the first set 6-3, but served at 5-1 before seemingly losing his way, although the late rally saved the Pick.

Both Jannik Sinner and Mirra Andreeva had tough tests before covering big numbers of their own, but you have to be honest and appreciate some of the fortune that was needed.

It puts the Rome Masters in a decent spot, but using that luck and building on it is the key to ensure a winning tournament ahead of the French Open. On Tuesday there is another loaded schedule to get through, but two Picks have stood out from the rest and those can be read below.

Alexander Zverev - 1.5 games v Arthur Fils: This looks a quality Fourth Round match and one that will offer the French crowd something as they look for the next stars who will push to try and win the French Open in the years ahead. This match is taking place at the Rome Masters, but the second Grand Slam of the season is fast approaching and there has been plenty to like about the performances of Arthur Fils.

The young Frenchman has yet to win a main draw match at the French Open, but his development on the clay courts looks pretty impressive in 2025. He reached the Final in Monte Carlo, so will know how it feels like performing on the red dirt in friendly environments, and Arthur Fils has been able to follow that up with a Semi Final run in Barcelona and put two more wins on the board in Rome.

Two of the three clay court defeats this season have been against Carlos Alcaraz, the defending French Open Champion, and that can only encourage the home fans to really believe in Arthur Fils and his capabalities.

Beating the Runner Up from the 2024 French Open Final can only increase that confidence, but this a significant test for Arthur Fils against one of the top clay courters on the Tour.

It has not been the best few weeks on the surface for Alexander Zverev, but he won another title in Munich and the World Number 2 will most definitely feel he is peaking as we approach the French Open. His defeats to Matteo Berrettini and Francisco Cerundolo on the European clay have been in close matches and there remains a lot to like about the numbers that Alexander Zverev is producing on the red dirt.

He will have a respect for the capabilities of Arthur Fils and it was the youngster who won their match in Miami in March, while they are 1-1 in previous clay court matches.

The last of those was also won by Fils, but he needed to save 21/22 Break Points played that day and took almost all of the chances that he was able to generate on the return. Overall there has been a clear edge in the serving numbers in favour of Alexander Zverev and that could be key for the higher Ranked player to come through with a win and earn his place in the Quarter Final.

Arthur Fils has had some big wins on the clay already this season, which deserve a lot of respect, but Alexander Zverev may edge this one in three sets.

Alex De Minaur - 2.5 games v Tommy Paul: Both of these players are more comfortable on the faster surfaces, but that is not to say that Tommy Paul and Alex De Minaur have not shown solid form on the clay courts.

The proof is that this match is being played in the Fourth Round and the two players have produced some very solid numbers on the surface over the last fifteen months. It should mean two confident players are heading out to the court in Rome, although the extra belief may be with Alex De Minaur having never been beaten by Tommy Paul on the pro Tour.

The Australian has produced some very solid numbers on the clay courts in 2025 and his three losses have been against Lorenzo Musetti (twice) and Carlos Alcaraz. Those are two players that are expected to have deep runs at the French Open and so De Minaur has to feel his current level is decent enough to push through to the second week of the Grand Slam that begins at the end of the month.

Over the last twelve months, Alex De Minaur has found improvement in his serve and that has entrenched him inside the top 10 of the World Rankings. That improvement has also been clear on the clay this season and it makes the World Number 8 dangerous with his ability to get plenty of balls back in play on the return.

Tommy Paul also deserves his credit for the way he has become a solid clay courter, but that has yet to be tested when playing some of the stronger players on the Tour.

The key to the match is that Alex De Minaur looks to be the superior return player and that may give him the edge at key moments.

Five wins from five previous meetings against Tommy Paul has really been based on the fact that Alex De Minaur has been the much better return player in those matches. The last three have needed to be decided over the distance, but they have not played for a couple of years and the feeling is that Alex De Minaur has made the clearer improvements in that time.

This should mean Alex De Minaur is comfortable enough in the match up and he can do enough to cover this handicap mark on his way to another clay court Quarter Final.

MY PICKS: Alexander Zverev - 1.5 Games @ 1.75 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Alex De Minaur - 2.5 Games @ 1.90 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Rome Update: 9-6, + 1.67 Units (15 Units Staked, + 11.13% Yield)

Boxing Picks 2023- Rolando Romero vs Ismael Barroso (May 13th)

There are plenty of big weekends of Boxing coming up over the next couple of months, but this feels like one of the quieter ones even though there are some World Titles on the line.

Next week will see card headlined by a genuine Undisputed World Title fight at Lightweight, but this week there is a World Champion defending his Middleweight crown and then a vacant Light-Welterweight crown to be handed out.

Last time out the main card that Boxing fans would have been tuning in for was the return of Canelo Alvarez and he won a comfortable Decision over John Ryder. However, you do have to feel that Canelo has definitely lost a step in the ring and his chase to have the rematch with Dmitry Bivol at 175 pounds looks like it will end the same way the original fight did last year.

The scorecards were close enough on that day to suggest that a slightly harder working performance from Canelo Alvarez could see him on the right end of some 'home cooking' if they are going to have a rematch, but at the moment the sticking point seems to be the weight. While Canelo wants to go back in for a Light Heavyweight World Title bid, Dmitry Bivol feels like the bigger motivation for him would be to go down to Super Middleweight and challenge for the Undisputed World Titles held by the Mexican superstar.

I do think money will talk at the end and they will meet in September, and Dmitry Bivol is likely to head into the bout as a big favourite too.

Another fighter that returned last week is Joshua Buatsi and he won a Decision after spending twelve months out of the ring. While he did not make excuses, I do think ring rust affected Buatsi and it might be a performance that tempts some of the big names at Light Heavyweight into the ring with him.

Anthony Yarde has to be the fight to make with the World Titles held up, but I think Joshua Buatsi's new promoters would rather get him out again quickly in the summer before pushing for the mandatory against the winner of the Artur Beterbiev-Callum Smith WBC World Title fight which is also set to be placed in the calendar within the next three months.

Dan Azeez is a potential 'in house' option for a fight in the summer, and there are other options out there as Buatsi looks to get his career back on track.

The Picks had a mixed week last time out, but it was much of a muchness at the end of the weekend's fight card.

I feel one or two of the Picks last week were unfortunate losers, but a couple of solid winners effectively erased those and meant the slightest of losses on the week.

Despite that, I expect better from the selections and will be looking to regain some of the momentum that might have been slowed after last weekend.

Rolando Romero vs Ismael Barroso

The fracture of the World Titles in the Light Welterweight Division over the last ten months has led to a number of new faces holding those belts.

Next month the Lineal Champion Josh Taylor is back to defend the last of those Belts that he has been able to keep after becoming Undisputed Champion, but the likes of Regis Prograis, Subriel Matias and Alberto Puello have become World Champions in the Division.

Well that was the case until just a few days ago when Alberto Puello was stripped of his WBA World Title after failing a drugs test a few weeks ago. Originally Puello was allowed to keep hold of the Belt and his scheduled opponent, Rolando Romero, was set to fight for the Interim World Title.

That has changed now and this is now for the full World Title, even if some have complained that his opponent, Ismael Barroso, has been given this opportunity.

Rolly Romero has made it clear that if people are complaining they should not be watching and becoming a World Champion after losing his last fight to Gervonta Davis will be a huge bounce back effort from the American.

You can understand the frustrations of some of the fans that someone like Ismael Barroso is in this position considering he is not Ranked by any of the other governing bodies. At 40 years old, Barroso has clearly enjoyed his best days even if he has won four fights in a row since losing back to back bouts.

Stoppage defeats to Anthony Crolla in 2016 and Botirzhon Akhmedov in 2018 should have really ended Ismael Barroso's time at the top, while four wins since March 2019 is hardly indication of an active fighter.

His younger opponent has won fourteen fights and twelve of those have been in Stoppages, although Rolly Romero has to show he has recovered from a big Knock Out defeat to Gervonta Davis. In fairness to Romero, it was a competitive fight with Davis before the Sixth Round defeat and it is a bout that he wants to avenge, but the focus has to be on winning this World Title which will then open up some big opportunities for him in both the Lightweight and Light Welterweight Divisions.

I think Rolando Romero will work through the gears in this World Title fight and I do think he will eventually find the angles to break down the veteran southpaw. His last two Stoppage wins have both been in the Seventh Round and I do think he can wear down Ismael Barroso in the second half of this fight as the pressure and power of the younger fighter shines through.

The expectation is that Rolando Romero will call for the rematch with Gervonta Davis, but holding a World Title will see him involved in some big fights in the months ahead. He should win and I think Romero will do enough to get either the referee or corner to step in against an opponent who has been hurt to the body in his younger days.

I've already mentioned Botirzhon Akhmedov in relation to his win over Ismael Barroso and I am not surprised that he is a little perturbed to not have been offered this World Title shot instead.

He will be waiting some time with the winner of the main event already ordered to defend the Belt against Ohara Davies, but Akhmedov has to keep winning.

I am surprised he is the underdog against Kenneth Sims Jr in what is a crossroads fight and that is mainly because I do think Botirzhon Akhmedov has been in with a higher level of opponent.

The Split Decision loss to Alberto Puello and the Unanimous Decision to defeat to Mario Barrios are the only dents in his record and I just think Akhmedov can outwork and land the heavier shots to come away with the victory.

I am also expecting Rances Barthelemy to win his own crossroads fight with Omar Juarez as he bounces back from the defeat to Gary Antuanne Russell and give the veteran one more shot at getting into a position for a World Title bid in what is an open Light Welterweight Division.

There are other cards going out this weekend and one is headlined by Janibek Alimkhanuly who is defending his WBO Middleweight World Title as he looks to make it fourteen unbeaten.

The Champion looked pretty ordinary in his win over Denzel Bentley (although I would like to give Bentley more credit than that), but Alimkhanuly still believes he is being 'ducked' by the big names at 160 pounds.

All credit has to be given to Steven Butler for taking the opportunity to challenge for a World Title, but he has lost three times and all three by Stoppage. Two of those were a definite step up in level and that is what Butler is going to be facing on Saturday against a hard hitting World Champion.

I do think Janibek Alimkhanuly will want to end this fight quicker than Ryoto Murata was able to do against Steven Butler as he looks to call out some big names, but I think Alimkhanuly will have to bide his time and break down his opponent.

Backing the Champion to secure a mid-Round finish looks about right as he warms into his task and breaks down Steven Butler around the Sixth Round.

On Friday evening Queensberry Promotions are broadcasting an event from York Hall headed up by a European Cruiserweight contest between Ellis Zorro and Hosea Burton.

You have to believe the favourite has been set up to continue his unbeaten run and show another step in his progression, but Zorro will know this is going to be a tough test against Hosea Burton. The experience edge is with Burton having fought for British and European honours at the Light Heavyweight limit, although he did come up short more often than not.

Ellis Zorro has not been beyond Eight Rounds as a professional and so he will be tested in this scheduled Ten Rounder as he steps up his level of opponent.

We have Karol Itauma returning after a stunning defeat at Wembley Arena back in January and he should be a comfortable winner as long as there are not any mental demons lingering.

Losing is one thing, but the way Itauma was Stopped by Ezequiel Maderna will have had an impact on the young fighter and I am expecting a somewhat cautious return. He is not fighting a puncher, but Khalid Graidia might be stubborn enough to stick around for a few Rounds as Karol Itauma warms back to his task as a professional.

Once the confidence is restored, Karol Itauma may be able to get Graidia out of the there in the second half of the scheduled Eight Rounder and become the second man to Stop this opponent.

Talking of Ezequiel Maderna, he will be defending the WBC International Light Heavyweight Title won against Karol Itauma on the undercard on Friday evening. This time he takes on Willy Hutchinson who has won two in a row since an upset defeat of his own against Lennox Clarke.

That defeat came in the Super Middleweight Division and Hutchinson has earned a couple of early wins in his move up to Light Heavyweight.

Respect for Ezequiel Maderna will be easy considering what we all saw in January, but it also should be remembered why the Argentinian had been brought over to face Karol Itauma.

He has suffered ten career defeats and Maderna is someway removed from when he challenged Artur Beterbiev in a Four Round loss in 2016. More recently he had been Stopped in three of his previous seven fights before the upset over Itauma and while he is a dangerous, come forward fighter, Ezequiel Maderna is also pretty open which has to be hugely encouraging for a heavy hitting Willy Hutchinson.

The performance back in January could have spooked Willy Hutchinson a little bit and he may not want to exchange having been Stopped before by someone who has not been considered a big power puncher. However, I do think Hutchinson has been happier at this weight and Maderna's style could see the British fighter make a big statement with an early win.

There is also a bout in South Africa of some note on Saturday that is of interest and that is the return of Kevin Lerena for the first time his firefight with Daniel Dubois at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in December.

He was one or two big punches away from landing a huge Heavyweight upset, but Lerena is struggling to decide at which weight he really wants to operate.

This is a Bridgerweight fight that could see the winner set up to face Lukasz Rozanski who crushed Alen Babic to become the World Champion.

Kevin Lerena will not want to overlook Ryad Mehry who has an impressive record, although against a pretty basic set of opponents.

He was Stopped the one time he did step up and I think Mehry could be put to the sword by Lerena who has found more pop on his shots since moving out of the Cruiserweight Division and I think the home fighter could land enough to end this one inside the distance.

MY PICKS: Rolando Romero to Win Between 7-12 @ 2.75 William Hill (2 Units)

Botirzhon Akhmedov to Win @ 2.37 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Rances Barthelemy to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 2.25 Bet365 (2 Units)

Janibek Alimkhanuly to Win Between 5-8 @ 3.00 Coral (2 Units)

Karol Itauma to Win Between 5-8 @ 4.00 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Willy Hutchinson to Win Between 1-5 @ 4.00 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Kevin Lerena to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 3.50 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Boxing 2023: 22-32, - 2.22 Units (103 Units Staked, - 2.16% Yield)

Rome Masters Tennis Picks 2022 (May 13th)

It has not been the best week and there have been plenty of moments when things have felt like they were turning before heading in a negative direction.

I had a better Thursday with some better fortune behind the selections being made, but even then I can point to the Alexander Zverev failure to cover as an indication that there have still been those negative moments. He served for the match, like Stefanos Tsitsipas did on Wednesday, but Zverev became the latest to fail to cover in that moment and it has led to some frustration.

We are now down to the Quarter Final matches in Rome and I am looking to build on the stronger Thursday results with the following Picks.

MY PICKS: Stefanos Tsitsipas - 3.5 Games @ 2.10 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Casper Ruud - 3.5 Games @ 2.10 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Amanda Anisimova @ 2.00 Bet365 (2 Units)

Rome Update: 13-14, - 4.08 Units (54 Units Staked, - 7.56% Yield)

Rome Masters Tennis Picks 2021 (May 13th)

I am going to write out a longer post for the Friday selections at the Rome Masters, but a strong afternoon saved what was a difficult and frustrating morning on Wednesday.

Maybe at last I have some positive momentum to take into the remainder of this tournament and get things moving in a positive direction, but much will depend on how the selections run on Thursday when the Third Round is played.

MY PICKS: Novak Djokovic - 4.5 Games @ 1.72 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Alexander Zverev - 4.5 Games @ 2.00 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Andrey Rublev - 2.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Dominic Thiem - 3.5 Games @ 1.72 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Iga Swiatek - 4.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Karolina Pliskova - 2.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Garbine Muguruza - 0.5 Games @ 1.83 Bet365 (2 Units)

Rome Masters Update: 8-13, - 12.24 Units (42 Units Staked, - 29.14% Yield)

Rome Masters Tennis Picks 2019 (May 13th)

As I mentioned in the Sunday thread, I think the first couple of days at the Rome Masters is going to be tough for me to write out full analysis of the Picks.

Two of the three Tennis Picks came through on Sunday as winners and my Monday selections can be seen below. From Tuesday things should be rolling much better and I should have a fuller thread for the remaining days in Rome.


MY PICKS: Marco Cecchinato - 4.5 Games @ 2.00 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Gael Monfils - 3.5 Games @ 1.72 William Hill (2 Units)
Jeremy Chardy - 1.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Johanna Konta - 4.5 Games @ 1.80 William Hill (2 Units)
Victoria Azarenka - 4.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Rome Update: 2-1, + 1.40 Units (6 Units Staked, + 23.33% Yield)

Weekend Football Picks 2018 (May 13th)

The final weekend of the Premier League season is here and all of the matches are set to be played on Sunday with a 3pm kick off.

It's one of the more mundane end of the seasons in recent seasons in the top flight of English Football with pretty much every major position already decided. Yes the top four still has one more place available, but Liverpool need a single point to confirm their place in the Champions League, while Swansea City can escape the bottom three if they can also overturn a ten goal deficit to Southampton.

The final weekend picks are below.


Burnley v Bournemouth Pick: The final Premier League weekend of the 2017/18 season arrives and this is a weekend where it can be difficult to find out the motivations of teams.

Over the years we have seen a number of high-scoring games at this time of the season as teams perhaps lose some of the fight with a much needed break to come around the corner.

Burnley's achievement of finishing in the top seven has been a remarkable one and they have come off the boil since securing that finish. Failing to win their last 4 League games and losing the likes of Ashley Barnes and potentially Chris Wood for this fixture makes it a tough one for the home team.

On the other hand Bournemouth have to be pushing for a top half finish and they have not been in bad form, but just have not been rewarded with the results they would have wanted. A win last weekend over Swansea City gives Bournemouth a real chance to finish at least 10th in the League table and that may be enough to motivate them for one more big effort.

Bournemouth score goals which makes them dangerous against an opponent missing the first two choices in forward positions. Burnley have only scored 1 goal in their last 4 League games and so backing Bournemouth with the start on the Asian Handicap looks the play.


Huddersfield Town v Arsenal Pick: The final game as manager of Arsenal for Arsene Wenger is played this weekend, but his team have shown little in their ability to change their away form even after the manager announced his departure. The latest setback came in the 3-1 loss at Leicester City, but this weekend Arsenal face a Huddersfield Town team who have secured their place in the Premier League.

Huddersfield Town need to be given a lot of credit for draws at Manchester City and Chelsea this past seven days which has kept them in the top flight.

Goals have remained a problem for them though and the excitement of securing Premier League Football for another season may have kept the players from focusing on this fixture. David Wagner admitted they were going to celebrate hard on Wednesday evening and so you can't be too surprised if their intensity is down.

The Terriers have won 1 of their last 5 home games and they have not scored in the other 4 games which gives Arsenal a real chance to finally earn a away point in the Premier League in the 2018 calendar year. One thing Arsenal have continued to do is score goals but they can be hard to trust with defensive problems clear for everyone to see.

This may be a chance for Arsenal to secure a rare clean sheet though with their hosts likely losing a little bit of focus. Huddersfield Town do concede goals and having a small interest in Arsenal winning this one with a clean sheet looks a big price as the players sign off on the Arsene Wenger era with a positive result.


Liverpool v Brighton Pick: Most of the pressure has been lifted from Liverpool's shoulders in the race for the top four as soon as the final whistle blew at Stamford Bridge in Chelsea's 1-1 home draw with Huddersfield Town. That result means they are 2 points clear of Chelsea in the top four and with a vastly superior goal difference meaning a point will be enough for Champions League Football for another season.

That also means the players can play with a little more freedom on Sunday as they complete the League season and are sent off by the Anfield crowd ahead of the Champions League Final in two weeks time.

With a week to prepare for this fixture I do expect the Liverpool players to have just reset themselves mentally after a difficult couple of weeks. While they have been resting Brighton have had to play at Manchester City in the Premier League and this is a team who have not travelled well for much of this season.

With their own goals achieved for the campaign it might not be a big surprise if Brighton are not completely at the races on Sunday. Of course playing at Anfield will be a big motivation for many, but Brighton could be put on the back foot for long periods and even a slight decrease in intensity should give Liverpool the chance to record another home win.

Liverpool have won 6 of their last 8 games at Anfield and 5 of those wins have come by three or more goal margins. While I credit Brighton for the way they can defend, I think Liverpool might have too much intensity for them on Sunday and I will back the home team to secure a comfortable win for a boost of confidence in the build up to the Champions League Final.


Manchester United v Watford Pick: It sounds like a much changed Manchester United team will take to the field at Old Trafford on Sunday, but motivation for the players is still high as they look to push themselves into contention for the FA Cup Final. To be honest the starting line up looks pretty firmed up for the Final next weekend, but a big performance won't harm any of those players beginning this fixture on Sunday.

They have every chance of producing a big performance against a Watford team who have lost 11 of 12 away games in all competitions and who have been struggling for goals on their travels. Defensively they do give up chances so the likes of Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford could have the opportunities to show the manager they can be trusted.

Manchester United have been strong at Old Trafford for much of the season and I do think they are going to be too good for Watford.

The changing line up does raise some doubts, but I think the likes of Martial, Juan Mata, and Rashford do offer attacking options that can keep the pressure on Watford. Despite the Watford win over Newcastle United last weekend, this is a group of players who tend to lack intensity at this time of the season once their safety in the Premier League has been secured.

The recent results back that up and a win over similarly disinterested Newcastle United doesn't change the fact for Watford.

Manchester United have beaten them 6 times in a row at Old Trafford and I will back the home team to secure a comfortable victory on Sunday to give themselves some momentum to take into the FA Cup Final.


Newcastle United v Chelsea Pick: There has to be a feeling of 'what might've been' for Chelsea after blowing the chance to join Liverpool on 72 points on Wednesday night. Instead they are 2 points behind the top four places with a single game to come and know Liverpool just need a point at home against Brighton to secure Champions League Football and consign Chelsea to the Europa League.

While I expect Antonio Conte to give his key players the chance to start, that mental blow may mean those players are keeping something in the tank for the FA Cup Final which is played next Saturday.

At a ground where Chelsea have struggled in recent years it is certainly a short price to see Chelsea as strong odds on to win at Newcastle United.

Some of that may be down to the fact that Newcastle United have lost 4 Premier League games in a row and are perhaps not as focused on their football ever since safety has been secured. However only 1 of those losses have come at home and Newcastle United had been unbeaten in 8 games there in all competitions and had won 4 League games in a row prior to their defeat to West Brom.

It also should be noted that Newcastle United played really well in their 1-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday and the players do like to perform at their best for their proud home supporters. That, coupled with Chelsea's likely disappointment of missing out of the top four, could see Newcastle United surprise.

They don't concede a lot of goals at home and it would be a surprise if Newcastle United are beaten comfortably. Personally I think they can avoid defeat in this fixture and I think Newcastle United can be backed with the start on the Asian Handicap which would return the stake if they lose by a one goal margin.


Southampton v Manchester City Pick: The Southampton players and management staff were very realistic about their chances of staying in the Premier League if they had failed to beat Swansea City on Tuesday. Even though Manchester City have won the Premier League, their visitors on the final day have continued to set high standards for themselves and Southampton would not have wanted to be in a position where they needed to beat the Champions to avoid relegation.

That is all a moot point now with The Saints securing their win at the Liberty Stadium and that means this is essentially a dead rubber. However Manchester City only play one way and it is going to be difficult for the home team to raise their intensity after the emotions of the win on Tuesday.

It will only end one way for Southampton if that turns out to be the case and I am expecting Manchester City to secure the three points to end the campaign with 100 points for the season.

They have won 5 of their last 6 away games in all competitions and all of those have come by at least a two goal margin. While Southampton have been improved under Mark Hughes there is every chance the home players just drop their intensity a touch which will see Manchester City control long periods of this one.

2 of the last 3 visits for Manchester City on this ground have resulted in comfortable away wins and I will back Pep Guardiola's men to record another on Sunday.


Swansea City v Stoke City Pick: There is going to be a lot of disappointed faces around the Liberty Stadium as both Swansea City and Stoke City prepare for their final Premier League fixture for at least fifteen months.

Neither club can be considered as guarantees to make a swift return to the top flight either in a very competitive Championship and both sets of players are going to feel they should not be in this position.

Swansea City have the most outside of chances to finish in 17th place but it will take two of the most outrageous results for that to happen as they look for a ten goal swing against Southampton.

This is a team who have simply not scored a lot of goals at late which is the main reason they have slipped into the bottom three. That lack of goals has seen Swansea City fail to score in 3 of their last 4 at home and Stoke City have shown toughness and determination in recent weeks.

Ultimately a lack of goals has cost Stoke City in their bid to avoid the drop too, while they have blown a number of leads in games which will have hurt Paul Lambert even more. The ability to take the lead in games makes them dangerous for Swansea City though and I think the home team are a very short price because they 'need' the win on Sunday.

Even a win is unlikely to be enough though and I think the players all have a 'feel sorry for themselves' attitude which is going to make it tough to perform. Stoke City have been tough to beat away from home in recent weeks and I think they can at least continue that and drag Swansea City through the trapdoor with them.

It is hard to judge how teams will perform with relegation confirmed, but I will look for Stoke City to avoid defeat.


Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City Pick: There could have been some considerable pressure on Tottenham Hotspur heading into this weekend, but Chelsea's failure to beat Huddersfield Town have relieved them of all tension.

It is a chance for Tottenham Hotspur to get on the front foot on Sunday especially against a Leicester City who have not been in great form. The win over Arsenal was a solid result for Leicester City, but they had lost 4 of 5 League games prior to that and the performances against Crystal Palace and West Ham United were not really good enough.

Anything like that level at Wembley Stadium would likely result in a comfortable win for Tottenham Hotspur and I think the latter can do that on Sunday.

Tottenham Hotspur do have a poor recent home record against Leicester City and playing at Wembley Stadium should motivate the latter's players. However Leicester City have not looked right in recent weeks and I do think the players have made it clear they are not fully behind Claude Puel.

Leicester City have lost 4 of their last 6 away Premier League games and Tottenham Hotspur have been strong at Wembley Stadium for the majority of this season. With the pressure off, I expect Tottenham Hotspur to be able to express themselves and have their forward players produce a solid display which leads to a win by a couple of goals on the day.

MY PICKS: Bournemouth + 0.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.95 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Arsenal Win to Nil @ 3.25 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
Liverpool - 2 Asian Handicap @ 1.90 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Manchester United - 1.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.90 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Newcastle United + 1 Asian Handicap @ 1.83 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Manchester City - 1.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.91 Bet365 (2 Units)
Stoke City + 0.5 Asian Handicap @ 2.00 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Tottenham Hotspur - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.91 Bet365 (2 Units)

Madrid Masters Tennis Picks 2017 (May 13th)

The ATP Masters Semi Final and the WTA Premier Event Final are all played on Saturday in Madrid before both Tours head to Rome for the last big event prior to the beginning of the French Open.

It looks to be a solid end to the tournament in Madrid this week with all three matches having their own storyline attached to it, although the majority of the attention will come for the renewal of the rivalry between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal which opens the days play.


Novak Djokovic + 3.5 games v Rafael Nadal: It says a lot about where Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic find themselves at this moment in their careers that the Spaniard is favoured to get the better of his rival for the first time since the French Open Final in 2014. That is also the last time Nadal beat Djokovic and the odds were much closer in that Final than they are for this Semi Final in Madrid.

A win for Nadal this week will mean he goes into the French Open as a short favourite to win the men's title, but a win for Djokovic may just be the tonic the Serb needs to get back on track. It is hard to really believe in Djokovic and think he is mentally ready to win a match of this magnitude just days after announcing he has got rid of the majority of his support team.

However there is going to be some mental obstacles for Nadal to overcome having lost seven in a row to Djokovic, who is also rested having earned a walkover in the Quarter Final when Kei Nishikori had to pull out of the event. During the seven match winning run over Nadal, Djokovic has beaten the 'King of Clay' three times on this surface and I do think he is still producing enough of his best tennis to win a set in this one.

Winning the match seems a long shot at this moment in time, but winning a set will give Djokovic every chance to cover with this number of games behind him.

It is going to show us a lot about where Djokovic's game is, but he is well rested, has the strong run of wins over Nadal behind him and is still showing enough of his old flashes of genius to go on a run of games. I do think he will win a set and I am looking for Djokovic to cover in this one.


Pablo Cuevas + 3.5 games v Dominic Thiem: There are a few tournaments a year when Pablo Cuevas is able to put his game together and he becomes a tough out in those events once he gets on a roll. He is on one of those rolls now, although Dominic Thiem is about as good a clay court player below the Rafael Nadal's of the world as you're going to get.

Nadal will go into the French Open as the favourite, but there will be plenty of those out there that will back Thiem depending on the draw. The young Austrian is a supremely talented player who is improving on all surfaces and could be a real contender on the Tour if he managed his schedule far better than he does.

I do think Thiem is the right favourite going into the match, but Cuevas has played well enough this week to think he can steal a set which should give him an opportunity to cover with his number of games behind him. The issue in backing Cuevas is clearly the fact that he has had to play three set matches in each of his four wins this week, although I do think that has proved his character and will mean he can give his all in this Semi Final to give Thiem something to think about.

Ultimately I do think Thiem will win the match, but I will look for Cuevas to force another three set match and that may be enough for him to cover.

MY PICKS: Novak Djokovic + 3.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Pablo Cuevas + 3.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Weekend Football Picks 2017 (May 12-14)

Follow, follow, follow, cos United are going to Stockholm...

Suffice to say it was a nervy night at the very end of the Europa League Semi Final and for all the world it looked like Manchester United would have to put their passports away until the summer when Celta Vigo squared the ball.

Fortunately ex-Manchester City striker John Guidetti completely mistimed his effort on an open goal and Manchester United made it through to their first European Final since 2011.

I've had everything booked to go to Stockholm so that would have been a real punch in the gut if Manchester United had been beaten in the final seconds of the Semi Final but now a Final between two European giants await.

Ajax may not be the team of old, but they have a refreshing attitude to their football and will make life difficult for Manchester United as their youngsters showcase their talents for the bigger European clubs. Thinking about that Final is for another day, this week is about the penultimate weekend of the big European domestic Leagues.

There are a number of games that need to be made up by clubs in the Premier League which will be played from Monday through to Thursday next week so I will separate those into a separate thread from the Weekend Picks here.

This has been a tough season for the Football Picks compared with years past, but I am hoping to end with something like a flourish before the two month break that most clubs will have. Then we will go again in August.


Everton v Watford Pick: Last weekend both Everton and Watford can be accused of not 'wanting it' as much as their opponents which resulted in both teams losing at Swansea City and Leicester City respectively.

The Everton performance was very much in line with many of their away performances this season and that inconsistency is something that Ronald Koeman will want to work on in the summer. However they have been much better at home and Everton get a chance to sign off at Goodison Park for the season which should motivate them.

The 0-3 defeat to Chelsea was harsh on Everton who had some chances in that game, while they had won 8 in a row at home in the Premier League prior to that. This is a team who can score plenty of goals in front of their own fans and I think they are facing the right opponent in Watford who have been very poor away from home for much of the season.

Watford have really looked like a team who are looking forward to the summer break and that has shown up in their end of season performances. They have lost 4 of their last 5 Premier League games and Watford have lost 5 in a row away from home without scoring a goal.

They have played Everton tough over the last two seasons, but I think the home team will have too much guile and motivation for them and I can only see one winner. The 8 Premier League wins in a row at Goodison Park prior to the loss against Chelsea had all been won by Everton by at least a two goal margin and I will back them to win this one and cover the Asian Handicap.


West Brom v Chelsea Pick: Most will fully expect Chelsea will be crowned Champions of England as soon as Friday evening and it will take a performance from West Brom which has been missing for large parts from them over the last six weeks. They did beat Arsenal here 3-1 which may encourage some fans, but 4 losses from their last 5 home Premier League games is not the kind of form you want to take into a game with Chelsea at the moment.

The Blues have been scoring a lot of goals since their 2-0 defeat at Manchester United and they had an easy enough evening on Monday when beating Middlesbrough 3-0. That should prevent tiredness being a factor especially as the likes of Eden Hazard and David Luiz were substituted during the game, while no player is going to be admitting fatigue with a chance to win the title.

There is plenty of focus being shown by Chelsea and the goals they've scored is a real worry for West Brom and I am only anticipating a fairly comfortable win for them on the day.

I will respect the fact that Chelsea have had some real struggles at the The Hawthorns in recent seasons with 3 losses in 4 visits, but they snapped that with a 2-3 win here last season. They also look to be meeting West Brom at the right time with the home team looking like they turned off the switch as soon as they were considered safe from the drop.

The likes of Southampton, Liverpool and Leicester City have all won here since West Brom beat Arsenal and I think Chelsea will be too good on the day. There is a chance West Brom can play their part if they can make use of the set pieces they will surely create, but ultimately I am looking for Chelsea to win by a margin that is good enough to cover the Asian Handicap and which will leave Stamford Bridge in party atmosphere for their last two games of the Premier League season.


Manchester City v Leicester City Pick: You can understand some of the criticism that has been sent towards Pep Guardiola in what has been a disappointing season for Manchester City, but there are signs that he will get things right at the club. The signings he makes in the summer are going to be very important for Guardiola, but Manchester City have some really quality players at their disposal and can run rampant when they are in top form.

They will offer plenty of attacking threat in this early Saturday kick off at the Etihad Stadium, but Manchester City have to be aware of the counter attack that Leicester City will rely upon.

Jamie Vardy has finished the season in decent form and he will feel he can run the Manchester City defence ragged with his pace when Leicester City do turn the ball over. However there have been a couple of signs that the players have perhaps begun to turn their attention to the end of the season and it might give Manchester City enough encouragement to earn revenge for the 4-2 embarrassing defeat at the King Power Stadium earlier this season.

The attacking potential Manchester City have is likely to see them create chances throughout in this one and Guardiola is not a manager who eases off on opponents when his team have them down. He will urge Manchester City to keep scoring goals and put more pressure on Liverpool in 3rd place by surpassing their goal difference and I can only see one winner on Saturday.

There will be moments Leicester City get in behind Manchester City, but the majority of chances should fall for the home team and I will back them to win this by a couple of goals as I did last weekend when they hosted Crystal Palace.


Bournemouth v Burnley Pick: There are a few funny results flying around at this stage of the season as teams begin to lose motivation with the summer holidays fast approaching for many of the players involved. Both Bournemouth and Burnley have nothing to lose now they are firmly clear of the relegation zone and having had successful seasons in the top flight.

Home advantage means Bournemouth should have extra motivation as they try to give the fans something to smile about to end the campaign. The Vitality Stadium has been a decent venue for Bournemouth who can score plenty of goals here and I think that is going to give Burnley problems especially if both Michael Keane and Ben Mee are missing for them.

There have been some solid performances from Burnley away from home in their recent games and they finally broke their run looking for a first away win in the League a couple of weeks ago. This is a team that is underrated going forward as they can cause problems for teams with their direct style and using the pace and power they have in forward spots.

Being tough to beat gives Burnley a chance to get something from this game but I do think Bournemouth have shown they have the ability to break down the teams in the bottom half when hosting them. Injuries are a concern for Bournemouth too and their own defence is far from watertight, but I think they may just have a little too much for Burnley and can get a measure of revenge for the loss at Turf Moor earlier this season.


Middlesbrough v Southampton Pick: The oddsmakers have placed Southampton as a pretty short favourite to win this weekend, but I am unsure they should be when you consider recent form and the potential fatigue that continues to be talked about. They are in the midst of a tough run of fixtures though and this is the weakest team they would have faced for some time, but Middlesbrough can play with some freedom.

Middlesbrough have played well at the Riverside Stadium in recent games with a positive result against Sunderland and Manchester City decent ones on paper. The defence is not playing as well as they were earlier in the season because of the change in mentality from the management staff, but Middlesbrough can at least give their fans something to hold onto over the summer before the return to the Championship.

There are question marks about both teams, but I am not sure Southampton should be a short favourite to win here. Relegation can affect players in two ways and there is a chance that Middlesbrough have lost their motivation for the remainder of the season.

However Sunderland showed some teams can play with freedom once their relegation has been confirmed and backing Middlesbrough to avoid defeat has every chance of landing.

The lack of goals being produced by Southampton makes it hard to believe in them and I will look for Middlesbrough to come out with a point at least.


Sunderland v Swansea City Pick: If ever you want to know how silly some of the prices can be for the football fixtures in May, I honestly think this fixture may be the perfect example. In what world should Swansea City be odds on to win at the Stadium of Light when the likes of West Ham United and Bournemouth were considerably higher prices to win here.

It is all about 'need' and the idea that Swansea City 'need' to win this to survive in the Premier League means their price has shortened. They might win, but I couldn't back that at the price on offer especially not when you think Sunderland have just won at Hull City last weekend and clearly still playing for some pride.

Sunderland and Swansea City have seen 3 of the last 4 at the Stadium of Light end in draws between them and I don't think it will be easy for Swansea City.

Regardless, I can't pick them at such a joke of a price and instead I think this could be a fixture that will likely not feature a lot of goals.

Both teams have had some issues scoring goals at home/away respectively and I think there is so much on the line for Swansea City that they could struggle under the pressure they are dealing with. A draw would not likely be the worst result for Swansea City as it would mean they are a further point clear of Hull City and will ensure Crystal Palace have something to play for when they host The Tigers on Sunday.

I don't think Paul Clement will look to take too many risks, but Swansea City will likely produce something from a set piece that can open up Sunderland. I don't think they will score more than once though and Sunderland themselves have not been scoring goals consistently so it does feel like this game might have two or fewer goals shared out on Saturday.

8 of the last 9 between Sunderland and Swansea City at the Stadium of Light have seen less than three goals shared out and I am going to back that being the outcome of this one.


Stoke City v Arsenal Pick: There have been a number of times in recent seasons when it has looked like Arsenal may miss out on the top four places in the Premier League when they have put together a run of wins at just the right time to break into the Champions League spots. This season they had looked dead and buried after the 2-0 loss at Tottenham Hotspur at the end of April, but both Manchester City and Liverpool have dropped points in that time which has left the door open.

Now it looks like Arsenal are ready to slip through the gap as they have won back to back League games this week to move to within 3 points of the top four. A win on Saturday will move them to a point behind Liverpool and then the pressure will be on the latter to respond at West Ham United on Sunday.

A win here is far from an easy result for Arsenal having struggled at Stoke City regularly down the years. Stoke City have had an inconsistent season and 4 of their 5 League defeats at the Bet365 Stadium have come against teams currently in the top four.

However it took a late goal from Chelsea to win here and Liverpool came from a goal behind, while Manchester United did have to settle for a 1-1 draw. With Arsenal's poor record at Stoke City, I think it takes a brave man to back them at 1.73 to win here this weekend.

I was wrong on Wednesday when I thought Southampton could earn a result against Arsenal, but much of that was down to the fact that The Saints were poor. Stoke City are well rested and have plenty of motivation being provided by the fans to produce a top performance against Arsenal and I am expecting more from The Potters than Southampton provided.

They have been a tough out at home over the years and Stoke City won't allow Arsenal to come here and win here without a real battle. I will back the home side on the Asian Handicap which will only lose half the stake if Arsenal are to win by one goal and I am looking for Stoke City to put the final dent in The Gunners Champions League push.


Crystal Palace v Hull City Pick: I wouldn't have wanted to be on the Crystal Palace training ground this weekend after the really poor effort produced in the 5-0 loss at Manchester City last Saturday. Sam Allardyce didn't blame anything but the players for the way the side started and then crumbled in the second half.

He will be expecting a response as Crystal Palace try and confirm their place in the Premier League this weekend in a fixture where a point will be enough for them. They have lost back to back home games, but Crystal Palace can produce one more big effort and I think Hull City could be in a really bad position by the time this game ends.

As well as Marco Silva has done in the last five months with the club, Hull City's 0-2 loss to Sunderland will have felt like a dagger through the heart. If Swansea City beat the same Sunderland team on Saturday, Hull City will need to win here to have a real chance of survival.

However they have not played as well away from home as they have at the KCOM Stadium under Silva and Hull City have conceded too many goals in those games. They should have a chance against an injury hit Crystal Palace defence, but I am anticipating the home team will create chances of their own.

This is a game in which Allardyce will have really got the players going for over the last week in training and I expect a positive reaction. At some point Hull City may have to push forward for a result and I think Crystal Palace can find a way to win this game and I will back them to do so at odds against.


West Ham United v Liverpool Pick: There is the importance of Liverpool needing to win their final two games to help them finish in the top four and I think that is factoring into the prices for them to win at West Ham United this weekend. They look very short despite winning 3 away games in a row, especially when you think of the form West Ham United have been in over the last month.

The Hammers have changed their system to have three at the back and that has seen them keep 4 clean sheets in 5 League games and that has to be respected. This is a Liverpool team missing the influence of Sadio Mane and Philippe Coutinho has been a little short of fitness so there is every chance West Ham United can make it difficult for Liverpool to break them down.

I am not anticipating a lot of goals for Liverpool and that should mean West Ham United have every chance to earn some sort of result. They haven't been consistent at the London Stadium, but they are unbeaten in 3 games here and both Everton and Tottenham Hotspur have failed to score here.

The pressure could be on Liverpool if Arsenal have beaten Stoke City on Saturday and Manchester City have done the same against Leicester City and that should also be factored in. Even if Arsenal haven't won, Liverpool will be under pressure to get a result and a 'freer' West Ham United team can get a result here.

I will look to back West Ham United on the Asian Handicap where even a narrow loss will return half the stake.


Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United Pick: Jose Mourinho has said it 'isn't a gamble' focusing all of the energy on the Europa League, but it took a huge mis-kick from John Guidetti to help Manchester United through to the Final of that competition on Thursday. It was a tense evening at Old Trafford and the players would have put in a lot of physical and mental effort to move past Celta Vigo.

The side have now played twice since Tottenham Hotspur last took to the field and I am expecting a positive reaction from the home team following their 1-0 defeat at West Ham United. The final home game at White Hart Lane is going to bring a party atmosphere to the Stadium and I am not sure Manchester United will be able to match the desire that Tottenham Hotspur will bring to the field.

The top four is gone for Manchester United to all extents and purposes and I can see Jose Mourinho picking a side similar to the one that started at Arsenal. It wasn't a bad team, but it was one that was looking to contain a poor Arsenal team and now will have to try and do the same against a Tottenham Hotspur team who have been rampant at home for much of the season.

Players like Christian Eriksen, Dele Alli and Harry Kane will feel confident they can find a way to break down a defensively organised Manchester United team who have struggled against the top sides in the Premier League.

Manchester United have earned 12 points from a possible 33 points against the top seven teams in the Premier League this season and only 3 points from a possible 15 away from home. Failing to score goals has become common practice too with the sole strike at Everton the only one in those away games and I think it will be tough for the Manchester United players to match the energy that Tottenham Hotspur should have.

The one concern for Tottenham Hotspur is they did stumble badly once their Premier League title challenge was run last season and they have lost at West Ham United last time out. However the atmosphere in the game should carry them forward and Tottenham Hotspur have been very strong at home all season.

They have already beaten Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal and Everton here and only Liverpool escaped with a 1-1 draw very early in the season. Everton scored a late goal to come away with a narrow 3-2 loss, but the other three teams have all lost 2-0 at White Hart Lane and that leads me to my pick.

I respect the fact that Manchester United have defended well for the most part, but they are going to have to defend deep and concentrate for large portions of this one off the back of a really tough and emotional Semi Final. In the same time Tottenham Hotspur have been fully concentrated on this fixture and have broken down the top teams when hosting them.

Manchester United have earned tough draws at Liverpool and Manchester City, but they have also been beaten by a couple of goals at least at Arsenal and Chelsea. Tottenham Hotspur could do the same here.

I hate picking against my team and would love to see Manchester United win here and spoil the party. However the club are concentrating on the Europa League Semi Final as much as I am and that should give Tottenham Hotspur the impetus to win this by a couple of goals.

Tottenham Hotspur have beaten three of the four teams above Manchester United by that margin and that looks a big price this weekend.

MY PICKS: Everton - 1.25 Asian Handicap @ 2.11 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Chelsea - 1.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.86 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Manchester City - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.73 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Bournemouth @ 2.00 Betfair Sportsbook (2 Units)
Middlesbrough + 0.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.91 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Sunderland-Swansea City Under 2.5 Goals @ 2.05 Betfair Sportsbook (2 Units)
Stoke City + 0.75 Asian Handicap @ 2.02 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Crystal Palace @ 2.10 Bet365 (2 Units)
West Ham United + 0.75 Asian Handicap @ 2.04 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Tottenham Hotspur - 1 English Handicap @ 2.88 Bet Fred (2 Units)