Premier League Darts Night 14 Picks 2026 (Thursday 7th May)

Three Nights remain on the Premier League tour before half of the field is eliminated and the pressure is on.

Two players have already Qualified for the Play Offs- both Jonny Clayton and Luke Littler deserve their spots at the O2 Arena having already produced over 30 points in the Premier League regular season.

A double digit gap then develops to Gerwyn Price, but he looks like he is a couple of wins away from joining Littler and Clayton, but that is when things become really interesting.

Michael van Gerwen is 4th, but he is only a couple of points clear of both Gian van Veen and Luke Humphries and there is a big opportunity for the latter two players on Night 14.

That is because the current top four are all in one half of the bracket, while Luke Humphries and Gian van Veen will be confident of adding at least two more points to the total. That would really build some momentum towards a top four finish, especially if Michael van Gerwen is to lose early, but of course both van Veen and Humphries have to deal with the pressure that they are currently under in their own bids for a Play Off place.

Gerwyn Price to win & both players over 1.5 180s v Jonny Clayton: There has been a number of close, competitive defeats to Gerwyn Price, but Jonny Clayton continues to find it difficult to get over the hump and beat his compatriot.

He does have one win over Price in the Premier League, but a couple more losses have been added to the head to head since then.

This is a tournament and format that Jonny Clayton loves and that has to be respected, as well as his continued strong scoring.

However, Gerwyn Price is a bit more desperate and continues to play strong stuff all around.

The last four Premier League efforts have been disappointing, but The Ice Man can find a way past his mate in this one and likely in a quality match where both do hit a couple of maximums on the time spent at the oche.

Luke Littler-Michael van Gerwen over 6.5 180s: The last couple of clashes between these players have produced some eye-catching numbers and this Quarter Final could be another.

The crowd are going to be on the side of the Dutchman with Littler's connections to Manchester United well known.

However, that has tended to fuel Luke Littler and the World Number 1 is usually pretty sharp on the maximum hitting.

Michael van Gerwen has found some heavy scoring against Littler in the last couple of matches and he will be disappointed to have lost the last three Premier League meetings. None have been in blowouts and these two players can put together at least nine or ten Legs, which will give them an opportunity to cover this total line set for the maximums.

Luke Humphries to win & both over 1.5 180s v Josh Rock: The extremely slow start to the Premier League was always going to be too much for Josh Rock to overcome, but he has at least shown what he is about over the last few weeks.

With three weeks left, Josh Rock still has a chance of avoiding finishing bottom of the pile and that has to give him some motivation.

He will be taking on the home favourite on Night 14 when going into the lion's den in Leeds against Luke Humphries, but Josh Rock has shown he can give as good as he gets in recent Premier League outings. Last week he pushed Luke Littler and he can do the same to a desperate Humphries who needs to rack up a few wins to avoid exiting the tournament before the Play Offs.

It would be a huge disappointment for the defending Champion to exit the 2026 Premier League in that manner, but Luke Humphries is still performing at a really good level. It is the doubling that has let him down, but Humphries can showcase a bit more scoring power than Josh Rock in winning this match, although both producing a couple of maximums en route is likely.

Gian van Veen to win & 1+ 100 Checkout v Stephen Bunting: Both of these players have been going through a bit of a rough patch, but Gian van Veen has shown signs of coming through that period.

He played well on Night 13 before losing to Luke Humphries in the Semi Final and van Veen has to be feeling healthier now.

Stephen Bunting's chances of reaching the Play Offs have all but faded as he continues to suffer too many early defeats, but he is dangerous and can produce the heavy scoring that will give him chances.

The superior finishing has come from Gian van Veen and combination finishing is something he is renowned for.

You can make the case for Bunting to do that too and so a single 100+ checkout in this match can be doubled up with an improving Gian van Veen to pick up two priceless points in what could be a pivotal night in the race for a place at the O2 Arena later this month.

MY PICKS: Gerwyn Price to Win & Both Over 1.5 180s @ 2.25 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Luke Littler-Michael van Gerwen Over 6.5 180s @ 2.10 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Luke Humphries to Win & Both Over 1.5 180s @ 2.05 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Gian van Veen to Win & 1+ 100 Checkouts @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Darts 2026: 55-81, - 14.58 Units (133 Units Staked, - 10.96% Yield)

Boxing Picks 2022- Canelo Alvarez vs Dmitry Bivol (May 7th)

You can't argue with the outcome of the Katie Taylor-Amanda Serrano event at Madison Square Garden.

Both have to be applauded for raising the stock of their sport and it was a genuinely good watch.

Now I want the next generation of stars to really push for Women's Boxing to be equal to the Men's and it has to begin with Twelve Round Title bouts, quickly followed by three minute Rounds.

My feeling that Taylor is more resistant to the idea came true in the torrid middle Rounds she suffered on the night- I think three minute Rounds would have seen her stopped as she was battered around the ring by Amanda Serrano.

However, the likes of Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall are at the peak of their powers and they can write their own names down in history by becoming the first Women to compete in a three minute Round bout with the potential pound for pound number one on the line.

We have already seen in MMA that the female fighters can handle the same requirements as the male fighters and Boxing needs to follow suit sooner rather than later.

It was a fight that will deserve a rematch if that is the direction that Katie Taylor wants to go, although talk of fighting Cris Cyborg or Holly Holm is far less of a danger for the veteran. Those are less interesting too, and at this stage I would not be massively surprised if Taylor and Serrano do it again, this time in a Stadium in Ireland.

On the same night we saw the development of Shakur Stevenson as he moves into star level and there is a real feeling that he is the true 135 King in the making, despite the likes of Devin Haney, Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia leading the way. He dominated Oscar Valdez and never looked in doubt as the clear winner and I am not sure Unification fights at 130 are appealing now he has beaten the consensus number two in the Division.

However, most are tied up at 135 which leaves the obvious fight for Stevenson to take another leap in level.

Vasily Lomachenko.

Both are under the same promotional team and the only question may be how long Lomachenko is going to be out of the ring as he continues to defend his homeland. If he is ready to return in the fall, like his compatriot Oleksandr Usyk is set to return in the summer,  I do think that is a super-fight that both would love to put together.

I got the Picks wrong for the two main events last week, but the limited stakes coupled with three big winners means another strong showing for the Boxing Picks.

With one really big card coming up on Saturday, my Picks for the week can be read below.

Canelo Alvarez vs Dmitry Bivol

The biggest star in Boxing has returned to a traditional big weekend in the calendar and it is the latest challenge for Canelo Alvarez to take on.

We've all known for a long time how good Canelo is, but I never thought I would see him fighting a legitimate Light Heavyweight World Champion and especially not one that is unbeaten and looking pretty fresh.

Talk of potentially fighting Oleksandr Usyk for a World Heavyweight Title surprises no one (there were rumours he would take on Andy Ruiz Jr in an all-Mexican Heavyweight Title fight if Ruiz Jr had won his rematch with Anthony Joshua) and I honestly think there isn't a fighter in the world that Canelo would not WANT to take on.

He will be the Challenger this week, but there is no mistaking who the 'A Side' of the card is and I do think Canelo Alvarez will be a winner again.

This is arguably the most intriguing fight Canelo has had since the rematch with Gennady Golovkin and I don't think talk of a trilogy will be massively distracting either.

I know what everyone says about Canelo- some will talk about the PED suspension, some will say he has never beaten Golovkin (I had them at 1-1 for what it's worth), while others still will talk about 'cherry picking' his opponents. Canelo has gotten in a position to be able to choose who he fights and knows he will make millions doing so, but Dmitry Bivol is a live opponent.

It is harsh to suggest his opponents since the rematch with Golovkin have not been live- they were a combined 195-8-1 between them and outside of Rocky Fielding and Avni Yildirim, all for legit current or former World Champions. This is also the third unbeaten opponent he has taken on in a row and the second in succession who has been naturally bigger than him.

At some point Canelo needs to be given credit by all.

After all that, I actually think this is the toughest fight he has taken on in some time.

Dmitry Bivol may not have the flashy style and he has been guilty of perhaps coasting in fights instead of putting the foot down and finishing off opponents. I've been critical of his approach when it has felt like Bivol is clear and hurting his opponent, but he keeps winning.

This time last year he did have an awkward and closer than expected win over Craig Richards, but the deserved victory over Joe Smith Jr has been franked by how well the latter has done to become a World Champion in his own right.

I think he is a tough fighter and I do think Dmitry Bivol will have his moments of success, but Knocking Out Canelo looks a tall task at the moment.

With that in mind, I am not sure how Bivol can win this fight- he certainly won't earn any favours on the cards, and his cautious approach won't be nearly as eye-catching as the shots Canelo is likely to land.

The main question for me is whether Canelo Alvarez can stop him.

I think he does hit hard, but Bivol is a good operator and my feeling is he can stay out of trouble longer than Sergey Kovalev who lasted Eleven Rounds before being dropped hard by Alvarez. That was a faded Kovalev and one who had almost been stopped by Anthony Yarde, but Dmitry Bivol is fresher and should be able to ride the Rounds out even if he feels he is well behind.

A Callum Smith style end to the fight would not surprise me with Dmitry Bivol seeing it as a success to become the first to last the distance with Canelo Alvarez since December 2020.

He definitely deserves more respect than he is getting, but that inability to move into gear three or four is a concern and that is why I feel the end is going to look like Dmitry Bivol is happy getting to the cards.

The early Rounds should also be plenty competitive, but I think Canelo Alvarez will get all the 'oohs' and 'aahs' from the crowd with his output against the less flashy, straight-forward Champion and he will win by a 116/112, 117/111 margin before moving on to a potential date with Gennady Golovkin in September.

Onto the undercard.

I was really looking forward to Filip Hrgovic taking the next step in his career in a hugely influential spot on the this card in Las Vegas, but it is sad to hear he has withdrawn as he deals with the passing of his father.

Family comes first always, and the fight with Zhilei Zhang has been pushed back with the IBF Mandatory spot on the line.

The late withdrawal has meant Zhang will still head to the ring and I expect the big man to have his own way with late notice Scott Alexander.

It has been a year since we last saw the veteran American and his record has nothing of note on it- the only boost for fans of Zhilei Zhang would be in becoming the first man to stop Alexander.

He is very fortunate to have an unbeaten record having run out of gas very early against Jerry Forrest, but Zhilei Zhang was back in another early win last November and I expect the 39 year old to have an early night here. Zhilei Zhang needed just Two Rounds to beat Craig Lewis, and I expect he will produce a showcase win here before he has to fight Hrgovic when I expect the career to be ended in brutal fashion.

I am also expecting Marc Castro to get back to winning fights with the big stoppage after his scare, while both Shakhram Giyasov and Montana Love should be able to win their fights inside the distance on a big time card.

Those will all just push these fighters forward in the eyes of the fans tuning in for the early action before the big star enters for his bout.

MY PICKS: Canelo Alvarez to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 1.72 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Zhilei Zhang Win Between 1-5 @ 1.66 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Marc Castro Win Between 1-4 @ 1.66 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Shakhram Giyasov to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 2.30 Bet365 (2 Units)

Montana Love to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 1.83 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Boxing Picks 2022: 10-13, + 16.52 Units (42 Units Staked, + 39.33% Yield)

Weekend Football Picks and Fantasy Football 2021 (May 7-13)

The protests had been planned ever since the European Super League collapsed and anyone who has any dealings with fellow Manchester United fans will know what the plan was for last Sunday.

Disruption and hopefully forcing a postponement of the Manchester United vs Liverpool game that was due to kick off on Sunday afternoon.

I'd say the plan worked.

For anyone who hasn't even done a slight bit of research into the Manchester United fans frustration with the owners of the club it would have been easy to suggest this all came about because the club have struggled ever since Sir Alex Ferguson retired at the end of the 2013 season.

Easy and lazy to simply believe that is the case.

We have heard many 'expert pundits' state this over the last week, but the likes of Graeme Souness, Alan Shearer and Jermaine Jenas are not exactly the most knowledgable about the sport they claim to be 'experts' in so it is perhaps no surprise that they were the leading three moving with the 'lack of success' reason for the protests.

Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher have been much more informed and it actually surprises me how so many have forgotten the big displays against the Glazer family that were organised in 2005 and 2010.

2010 in particular came in the season after United had played back to back Champions League Finals (pretty successful period wouldn't you say?!!) and it was the season before they would be back in the Final of that competition.

With that in mind how could anyone possibly solely link the reason down to the Super League and the lack of success?

The Glazer family have been a rotten set of owners with little care about the club outside of how much money they can make from it and anyone who has read the financials of their time in charge at Old Trafford will know what they have done. Manchester United should be a club with the best Stadium and the best training facilities in the world, but instead Old Trafford has been largely left untouched since the owners took charge of this institution and the training ground is nothing on what the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester City have put together.

But as long as the Glazers can pay themselves a lovely dividend (only owners in the Premier League who do that by the way) and also pay themselves for consultation fees (what on earth?!!) then they couldn't care less about the success of the club, the fans or the history.

And so there is only one way the fans can remind those at the top about how important they are and how much Manchester United mean to them.

The protests were largely peaceful and I expect further demonstrations to be made before this season reaches a conclusion.

The re-arrangement of the United vs Liverpool game has been set for next Thursday, but I would not hold my breath they kick off on time, if at all, and the hope is that those lot sitting in Tampa Bay will be at least be feeling some of the heat from their actions and inactions over the last sixteen years.

We are into the final month of the season and that also means the final four rounds of the Fantasy Premier League game. I actually had a half decent week, even with the United game being postponed, but I will have more thoughts on GW35 below.

First you can read my views on the Premier League games being played this weekend and those to come during the week when some re-arranged fixtures will be taking place.

Leicester City v Newcastle United Pick: The opening Premier League game of the weekend is a really important one for Leicester City who finish the season by playing Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.

A 5 point gap to West Ham United in 5th place may look a decent one with just 12 points left to play for, but those fixtures for Leicester City are dangerous and they cannot afford to drop points here. That was the frustration of only earning a 1-1 draw at Southampton last week, especially as the home team had been reduced to ten men very early on in that fixture, and Leicester City have to be very focused.

A big week is coming up for Leicester City with a trip to Old Trafford moved to Tuesday before the FA Cup Final against Chelsea, but Brendan Rodgers will be urging his team to focus.

Leicester City should certainly have some success against this Newcastle United defence which has been struggling to earn clean sheets and have been offering up some big chances in recent games. The home team have also won 3 of their last 4 Premier League games at the King Power Stadium and I do think Leicester City have the attacking players who can hurt their visitors.

However, Leicester City have to be well aware of their defensive responsibilities and will expect Newcastle United to approach this in a similar way that Crystal Palace did in a recent visit to this part of the Midlands. Players like Allan Saint-Maximin and Callum Wilson have the pace and quality to hurt Leicester City as Wilfred Zaha did for Crystal Palace and that has to be an area that Brendan Rodgers is going to be focused on controlling.

Ultimately he has to look for his team to get on the front foot and I think Leicester City will be able to do that. Newcastle United's attitude in the 0-2 defeat to Arsenal suggested the squad do feel they are safe from relegation, while they were very fortunate to not take a hammering at Anfield considering the opportunities Liverpool carved out.

A first half sending off helped Leicester City crush Newcastle United here last season, but I expect this one to be tighter. Even then I think they are playing well enough to get past their visitors who might be looking forward to the end of the season and Leicester City can cover the Asian Handicap in a victory on Friday evening.

Leeds United v Tottenham Hotspur Pick: The early kick off on Saturday looks like it could produce plenty of entertainment with neither Leeds United nor Tottenham Hotspur looking that secure defensively, but carrying attacking threats across their front lines.

With games running down, Tottenham Hotspur need to win their remaining four League games and hope their rivals ahead of them in the Premier League table feel the pressure and slip up. A win on Saturday would leave them just 2 points off the top four places and knowing Chelsea are visiting Manchester City later in the day so I expect Ryan Mason to select plenty of attackers to try and get the job done here.

They were impressive winners over relegated Sheffield United and Tottenham Hotspur may benefit from some key injuries in the Leeds United squad. The absence of Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha would be huge ones for the home team and certainly make it feel like they will lose some impetus at both ends of the field.

Kalvin Phillips offers strong protection in front of the backline, but without the England international the feeling is that Spurs will be able to exploit some spaces. Gareth Bale, Heung-Min Son and Harry Kane are capable of doing that and Leeds United have allowed Manchester United and Brighton to create some solid chances against them.

And at the same time Leeds United have struggled to create a lot of chances without Raphinha which should give the visitors a chance of earning a vital win here.

Leeds United don't have the best home record, but they have played the bigger sides really well at Elland Road even without the fans. Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United have all had to settle for draws here, but West Ham United, Leicester City and Everton have found a way to win and I think Tottenham Hotspur will be willing to take the risks to secure the three points.

With their attacking players looking pretty sharp last weekend, Tottenham Hotspur can pick up from where they left off and earn a narrow win in the early Saturday fixture.

Tottenham Hotspur have been struggling defensively which makes it hard to trust them, but they have been creating plenty in recent away Premier League games and have scored two goals in each of their last 3 on their travels. Doing that here should be enough to secure all three points as they look to pile the pressure on Leicester City, Chelsea and West Ham United in the top four race.

Sheffield United v Crystal Palace Pick: This may not be a fixture that will be appealing to the neutrals on Saturday afternoon, but both Sheffield United and Crystal Palace can play with relative freedom and that may open the game up.

Neither team has been able to rely on their defensive efforts in recent weeks and that has meant opponents have been able to create some very big chances against them. With that in mind we could see some goals on Saturday afternoon, although the criticism of both Sheffield United and Crystal Palace has to be the lack of consistency they have shown in the final third.

Both teams have been putting in a real effort down the stretch and even the distraction of the end of the season has yet to have an affect on the player's mentalities.

However, it is the lack of quality in the Sheffield United team that has largely seen them exposed and even in winning efforts at Bramall Lane they have needed to ride their luck.

Wilfred Zaha's potential absence would be a big blow for Crystal Palace, but they have pace and power in the final third that should pose enough problems for Sheffield United and work a way to break down their hosts.

Sheffield United simply do not create as many big chances as other teams in the Premier League and the first goal is likely to be a key one in the contest. My feeling is that Crystal Palace can get that here and they have scored in 5 of their last 6 away Premier League games which makes it difficult to imagine them losing this fixture.

The more consistent threats are expected to come from the visitors in this fixture and Crystal Palace may be able to earn a narrow win.

Manchester City v Chelsea Pick: The narrative around this Premier League fixture will be that it is a dress rehearsal for the Champions League Final to be played later this month, but that will fail to appreciate the importance of this game.

Manchester City can win the title with a victory on Saturday, while Chelsea are still in for a fight to earn a spot in the Premier League top four and can't afford to drop points to open the door for West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool piling up behind them.

In saying that, I would expect Chelsea to pick the stronger team all in all with Thomas Tuchel likely to select a similar line up to the one that beat Manchester City in the FA Cup Semi Final last month. That game was played days after a Champions League Quarter Final First Leg and Chelsea made fewer changes than Manchester City, although the situation may have dictated that.

One factor was that Manchester City were only leading Borussia Dortmund 2-1 from their Champions League Quarter Final First Leg and had to visit Germany, while Chelsea had won the 'away' game against Porto 2-0 and looked good to progress.

Pep Guardiola perhaps trusts more of his squad than Thomas Tuchel too which helped him decide to ring the changes, but this fixture is different with no midweek game to prepare for.

That is not the case for Chelsea who have a much busier end to the season than Manchester City, although I don't think Guardiola will want to give too much away as to how he may set up for the Champions League Final.

It certainly makes it harder to pick a winner, but what has been evident in recent weeks is how much focus both Manchester City and Chelsea have had on being hard to break down. I don't think either manager will want to give too much away and this may be a real tactical battle unless an early goal sparks the entire occasion.

A point might not actually be a bad result for Chelsea with this being the most difficult game remaining on their schedule and they have only conceded three goals in 8 away Premier League games under Thomas Tuchel.

Manchester City have lost 2 of their last 3 games at home in the League, but they have kept 3 clean sheets in their last 4 overall.

My feeling is that this game may follow the FA Cup Semi Final road and be a tight and competitive affair where the teams are separated by very little. One goal may be enough to secure a victory either way and this may be a fixture where there is plenty of intrigue attached, but not a lot of goals.

Liverpool v Southampton Pick: The late evening kick off on Saturday may be Liverpool's last chance to push towards the Champions League places even though they are going to need some help from the teams above them in the final weeks of the 2020/21 season.

At this stage the 7 points to 4th placed Chelsea look too much to overturn, but the West London club and Leicester City both have some difficult fixtures to play and Liverpool have to try and get close to take advantage of any slips.

If Chelsea have failed to win at Manchester City earlier in the day, Liverpool have a big chance to move right in behind them over the next seven days, although this is a squad that have struggled for consistency. Missed opportunities have largely been punished at Anfield and there was more of the same for Liverpool two weeks ago when conceding late into injury time in the 1-1 draw with Newcastle United.

Jurgen Klopp would have been frustrated on the day as Liverpool created enough chances to win two or three Premier League games. A lack of clinical finishing proved costly, but I expect Liverpool to create plenty of opportunities for themselves in this one against a Southampton team who have been struggling defensively.

The style that Southampton use does leave them a little open when playing some of the better teams in the Premier League and Liverpool should be well rested ahead of this fixture. The key will be showing better composure in the final third to secure the three points, but you can't imagine Liverpool being as wasteful in front of goal again as they were in the draw with Newcastle United.

Southampton have the ability to cause some problems of their own and have to be respected. They scored twice in their defeat at Manchester City and will not want to sit back, but instead Southampton will look to challenge what has been a vulnerable Liverpool defence.

The neutrals may enjoy the game, but my feeling is that Liverpool will get the better of a high-scoring game. In recent seasons they found life pretty comfortable when playing Southampton at Anfield and 7 losses in the last 8 away Premier League games for The Saints makes it unlikely that Liverpool will drop more home points this weekend.

Wolves v Brighton Pick: It is a little strange to see Wolves as a home underdog, but they have proven to be a difficult team to trust.

In saying that, you wouldn't be that excited about backing Brighton as an away favourite considering their inconsistencies in front of goal.

Could you really predict goals or a lack of goals with any confidence? Much will depend on the first twenty minutes and whether something can spark this fixture or whether both Wolves and Brighton will largely coast as little is left to motivate them over the remaining four League games.

Two unpredictable teams in an early kick off the night after Canelo vs Billy Joe Saunders? Yeah, I'll not be watching and you can toss a coin as to what the outcome will be.

Aston Villa v Manchester United Pick: The last time Manchester United won a trophy came in the Europa League in 2017 and they have a chance to end what is a relatively long wait for silverware when they compete in the Final of that competition in late May.

For now Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is looking to find the best way to balance his starting eleven for three games in five days, although the manager was upset with the Premier League for scheduling fixtures in the way they have.

The first of the three fixtures looks the 'easiest' on paper, but Aston Villa are coming in off an important 1-2 win at Everton and will be looking to take advantage of any fatigue in the visiting ranks. While Aston Villa were preparing, Manchester United were playing in Rome on a Thursday night and they have had to travel back for this fixture on Sunday afternoon.

Even without Jack Grealish, Aston Villa have posed a real attacking threat in their last couple of games and they have the players that can test this Manchester United team. Set pieces will be important and there is some real pace in the Aston Villa final third that will be an issue for Manchester United, although the visitors can create plenty of their own chances.

Manchester United have scored at least two goals in 3 of their last 4 away games in all competitions and the defensive numbers for Aston Villa have regressed. For much of the season Aston Villa were out-performing their underlying numbers on that side of the field, but over the last few weeks they have allowed teams to not only create big chances, but have been conceding plenty of goals.

I expect that to be the difference between the teams on the day with Manchester United more likely to show a clinical edge to their game than Aston Villa.

I would not be surprised if Aston Villa played their part in an entertaining game, but Manchester United should have a bit too much as they earn a narrow win here.

West Ham United v Everton Pick: A point will do nothing for either West Ham United or Everton on Sunday afternoon when they meet at the London Stadium and that should mean we get to see a really good, attacking game of football.

There has been plenty of entertainment on offer in recent West Ham United games as they have posed a huge attacking threat, but defensively there is a vulnerability that has been exploited by teams. More evidence of that was on display on Monday evening in West Ham United's 1-2 win at Burnley and David Moyes is willing to take the risks of putting plenty of attacking players on the field to make sure his team are on the front foot.

The manager won't want to take unnecessary risks, but there is a feeling that West Ham United are better off taking the approach of out-scoring opponents rather than trying to keep the backdoor shut. West Ham United have not only failed to keep a clean sheet in 7 games, but they have conceded at least twice in 5 of those but have still managed to earn plenty of points thanks to the attacking displays they have put together.

Michail Antonio is a big positive for West Ham United and he showed how important he can be for them down the stretch with two goals at Turf Moor.

He will be a key figure here as West Ham United look to take the game to an Everton team that have been much more disciplined away from home than they have been at Goodison Park. In fact, Everton have conceded 12 goals fewer on their travels than they have at home and this is a team that can be very dangerous on their day as shown with 5 wins from their last 7 away Premier League games.

Everton should be able to pose some problems for West Ham United, with or without James Rodriguez, but they have struggled defensively in recent weeks. Michael Keane could be available for selection, but I expect Everton to be tested by the pace and quality West Ham United produce and the feeling is that this could be a pretty entertaining game.

My lean is that West Ham United may nick the points, but it should be an attacking game right until the final whistle with the importance of the game lost on neither manager. Historically it is a fixture between two clubs that can produce fireworks and it would be no surprise if there are at least three goals shared out on Sunday.

Arsenal v West Brom Pick: The aggregate defeat to Villarreal in the Europa League is a devastating blow for Arsenal and the feeling is that Mikel Arteta could pay for the unsuccessful season at the end of the campaign.

He needs a really strong finish to the season to have any hope of being retained as manager, but picking the players up after the poor performance against Villarreal will not be easy.

At least Arsenal have the chance to host this fixture against a team that is effectively relegated, although West Brom have been in good form over the last month. Arsenal have not won any of their last 6 at the Emirates Stadium, and they have been struggling for goals, but The Gunners should be able to create chances against a West Brom team that have put in a big effort over the last month but who have yet to find the defensive consistency that is usually associated with Sam Allardyce.

It is actually up the other end where West Brom have begun to fire and they have been creating a lot of chances since the March international break. They have not always been consistent at converting those, but West Brom have scored 11 goals in their last 5 Premier League games and will certainly feel they can hurt the Arsenal backline.

Much of this fixture will depend on how much motivation the Arsenal players have after being dumped out of the Europa League, but the layers seem to have taken that on board.

You couldn't really back Arsenal with much confidence considering their home form, but West Brom have been inconsistent too and I think the most likely outcome is that we will see goals scored. The Baggies have to attack and Arsenal do have some talent in the final third that will be looking to bounce back after the sub-par efforts against Villarreal.

One concern has to be the lack of goals being scored by Arsenal, but that is where the West Brom defence will help and I feel there will be at least three goals scored in this one.

Fulham v Burnley Pick: This may have been a much bigger Premier League game if Fulham had not earned just a single point from the last 18 available which means they are 9 points from safety and with just 12 points left to play for.

If results go against Fulham this weekend they could be relegated on Monday evening, but avoiding defeat will mean they live to fight another weekend.

However, it does feel like relegation is inevitable now after the poor run since beating Liverpool at Anfield and the big problem for Fulham has been the lack of goals. They might have more joy against this Burnley team, but Fulham have not been short of chances and it has been the lack of a clinical striker that has ultimately seen them return to the Premier League for a sole season.

Scoring goals has not been a major problem for Burnley over the last month, although they will be sweating on the fitness of Chris Wood. The New Zealander has been bang in form and could be the difference maker on the day with Burnley looking like they can create chances against this Fulham team who have to be struggling for confidence.

Burnley have shown they have found a consistent way to create chances and I do think all the pressure is on the hosts. If Fulham begin to chase, Burnley could hurt them on the counter attack and I think they are a surprising underdog in this one.

We might get one final stand from Fulham, but they are hard to trust to win games when they have struggled as much as they have in front of goal. Clean sheets have not been easy to find either and Burnley may just have enough to avoid defeat and virtually secure Premier League Football for another season.

Manchester United v Leicester City Pick: 

Southampton v Crystal Palace Pick: 

Chelsea v Arsenal Pick: 

Aston Villa v Everton Pick: 

Manchester United v Liverpool Pick: 

MY PICKS: Leicester City - 1.25 Asian Handicap

Tottenham Hotspur - 0.25 Asian Handicap

Crystal Palace 0 Asian Handicap

Manchester City-Chelsea Under 2.5 Goals

Liverpool - 1.5 Asian Handicap

Manchester United & Over 1.5 Goals

West Ham United-Everton Over 2.5 Goals

Arsenal-West Brom Over 2.5 Goals

Burnley + 0.25 Asian Handicap

Fantasy Football GameWeek 35

The final four rounds of the Fantasy Premier League game for the 2020/21 season are now in front of us with the dates and times all confirmed for the remaining fixtures.

The decision to bring in Heung-Min Son and then Captain him turned out to be the right one, although it was Gareth Bale who was the star of the show for Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.

As we felt, the Doubles have been confirmed this week and my entire eleven are set to play twice, but it is the decision of the Premier League to force Manchester United to play a Sunday-Tuesday-Thursday schedule which has raised eyebrows for the manager, but also for Fantasy players as we have the extremely rare Triple GameWeek coming up.

However, some enthusiasm has been tempered from the latest Ole Gunnar Solskjaer press conference who has admitted he is not going to be able to do anything but use the entirety of his squad to get the team through what is a remarkably harsh decision from the Premier League to have three games squeezed into a short space of time.

Edinson Cavani may be in form, but he is almost certainly one of the players that will be playing a maximum of two games (I think he could be involved against Aston Villa and Liverpool), while the manager has even suggested Harry Maguire is due a rest at some point.

Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford may be the players that are most likely to be involved in all three games, but it is hard to predict what will happen.

I was thinking about holding a transfer through this week, but that was before the Triple GameWeek was announced and before the injury to James Rodriguez which looks to rule him out of at least one, and possibly both, game Everton are playing this week.

The problem is that Manchester United have a blank in GW36 and I already have a number of players that won't be playing in the following weekend with Leicester City due to play in the FA Cup Final.

My lean is I will have to negotiate the next two GWs with some hits, but I am looking to see if there is a way to bring in Bruno Fernandes and Captain him for this week as the player most likely to play every game (or minutes in every game).

If it feels too costly, the likelihood is making the simple decision to bring in and Captain Marcus Rashford instead or picking up Paul Pogba and then handing the armband to Mason Greenwood.

Madrid Masters Tennis Picks 2021 (May 7th)

The Men's Quarter Final matches are set to be played on Friday at the Madrid Masters, but the late finish to those Third Round matches on Thursday means there has been little time to write out my full reasons for my selections.

Thursday was a difficult day for the Tennis selections with a couple of late matches barely missing the cover, but ultimately coming close and not crossing the line is not good enough.

Matches will be played back to back through the day as I look for a bounce back day.

MY PICKS: Dominic Thiem - 2.5 Games @ 1.72 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Rafael Nadal - 4.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Casper Ruud - 3.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Madrid Masters Tennis Picks 2019 (May 7th)

It has been a very good start to the Tennis Picks from the Madrid Masters with the Monday selections finishing with a 4-1 record.

I was hoping to write out a fuller thread for the Tuesday picks, but time has been an issue and instead I will play my selections below.

The rest of this tournament should be easier for me to write a few words out for some of the selections being made as I search for my first really strong week of results from the tournaments being played on the clay courts this season.


MY PICKS: Stan Wawrinka - 2.5 Games @ 2.00 Bet365 (2 Units)
Marco Cecchinato @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 4-1, + 5.02 Units (10 Units Staked, + 50.20% Yield)

Madrid Masters Tennis Picks 2018 (May 7th)

The first of two big Masters tournaments on the clay courts has begun this weekend in Madrid and that means the majority of the big names are taking part.

The men's tournament looks like another that is likely going to be dominated by Rafael Nadal, while the women's event remains wide open.

On Monday there are a lot of matches scheduled, but time constraints this weekend means I will simply have my Tennis Picks from the day below.

MY PICKS: Caroline Garcia - 2.5 Games @ 1.83 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Maria Sharapova - 4.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Julia Goerges - 4.5 Games @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Karen Khachanov - 2.5 Games @ 1.72 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Madrid Masters Tennis Picks 2017 (May 7th)

Last week was one when I knew I would not have the time to research the Tennis Picks as I was away for a few days enjoying some sun, but it was also a good time to have a break after a couple of solid enough weeks on the clay courts.

The next two weeks are huge for the players with back to back Masters events beginning in Madrid and ending in Rome in preparation for the French Open which begins on Sunday 28th May.

I will admit that I was not aware the Madrid Masters was beginning on Saturday this week rather than Sunday so the first of my Tennis Picks this week come from the WTA First Round matches that are to be played on Sunday as that event has already begun.

Maria Sharapova - 4.5 games v Mirjana Lucic-Baroni: I love drama in any sport I watch and we don't get enough personal distaste between players that can really ramp up a rivalry in tennis. That might have changed since Maria Sharapova's return to the Tour with a number of players voicing their concern about her receiving Wild Cards into events, but none went as far as Eugenie Bouchard who stated that Sharapova should have been given a life ban from tennis instead of being allowed to serve a suspension.

At one point Bouchard was a huge mark for Sharapova so those comments made headlines and now there is every chance these two players could meet in the Second Round in Madrid which would be 'must watch' TV. Bouchard has done her part by beating Alize Cornet, but Sharapova has a tough test in front of her against veteran Mirjana Lucic-Baroni who is enjoying a career year on the Tour.

Sharapova's return in Stuttgart went so well that she has been installed as second favourite to win the French Open title despite having no guarantee she will make the main draw there. Her previous form on the clay and the performances in Stuttgart certainly give Sharapova a great foundation on which to build and I am expecting her to be a little too good for Lucic-Baroni.

There is no doubt that Lucic-Baroni can play effectively on the clay courts, and she has already reached one Semi Final on the surface this season. She was a Finalist in Strasbourg last season and has played at a very good level for much of 2017 so I expect to see her pose some problems for Sharapova.

However I do think Sharapova was serving with real confidence in Stuttgart and she can put together a strong effort all around to come through 6-3, 6-4 in this one.

Caroline Wozniacki - 5.5 games v Monica Niculescu: Another player who has been one of the leading voices opposing Maria Sharapova's current return to the Tour is Caroline Wozniacki. She begins her bid for the title in Madrid with a match against Monica Niculescu who has lost all seven times against the former World Number 1 and I do think Wozniacki can secure another strong win against the Romanian.

This is not a surface on which Niculescu has been able to play her best tennis with the slicing and dicing sitting up for the most part and allowing opponents to dictate play. Her serve is not a big weapon, and Caroline Wozniacki is able to do everything a little bit better than Niculescu which has seen her win six of their seven matches while covering this number.

Wozniacki isn't a great clay court player herself with a really poor record on the surface overall, but I think she appreciates this match up and has at least got some clay court tennis under her legs over the last couple of weeks.

There will be some chances to break serve for both players, but I think Wozniacki will just have that belief that she is going to get the better of this match up and that can be highlighted by the score. Wozniacki can win this one 6-3, 6-3 and move into the Second Round.

Samantha Stosur - 4.5 games v Sara Sorribes Tormo: We will get to see how much Sara Sorribes Tormo has improved over the last twelve months when she gets to take on Samantha Stosur for a second season in a row in Madrid. Last season it was the Australian who was a convincing winner, but Stosur has been a little unconvincing in the last several months and her performances on the clay courts have been underwhelming.

However this is a surface on which Stosur has produced plenty of wins in recent seasons and she had a strong run at the French Open last season too. Her serve does give her a chance to control the rallies, although Stosur has lost some of her consistency.

On the other hand, Sorribes Tormo has yet to find her feet on the main Tour and that has seen the inconsistencies of reaching a Semi Final in Bogota followed by losses in three of four matches on the clay. The Spaniard is very comfortable on the surface but she is yet to really kick on in main Tournament draws and I think it will be a match that Stosur is able to get the better of at key moments.

This year I do think Sorribes Tormo will win a few more games, but Stosur will ultimately prove a little better with a 6-3, 6-4 win.

Carla Suarez Navarro - 3.5 games v Shuai Peng: Injuries and a loss of form has seen Carla Suarez Navarro slip down the World Rankings, but a return to the clay courts is expected to be a time of the season when the Spaniard thrives. She has a chance to get her Madrid tournament off to a strong start when facing Shuai Peng who is not at her best on the clay.

Peng does have the lead in the head to head, but these players haven't played one another since 2008 and all of those matches were on the hard courts. This is also the first clay court match of the season for Peng who had to pull out of her last tournament with an injury and she is just 2-8 in her last ten matches on the surface.

The inconsistencies from Suarez Navarro will give Peng a chance, while the Spaniard does not have a serve that will prevent Peng from having chances to create break points. However I do think Suarez Navarro will create chances of her own and she should be the much happier player on the clay courts even if 2017 has been subpar to this point.

I am expecting breaks of serve for both players, but it will come down to the confidence the two players have on court. Suarez Navarro will believe in her game on the clay, while Peng has struggled to produce her best over the last few tournaments on the surface and I think that comes out in the breakdown of this match.

After those breaks, I think Suarez can come through with a 6-4, 7-5 win.

MY PICKS: Maria Sharapova - 4.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Caroline Wozniacki - 5.5 Games @ 1.73 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Samantha Stosur - 4.5 Games @ 2.00 Bet365 (2 Units)

Carla Suarez Navarro - 3.5 Games @ 1.85 William Hill (2 Units)

Weekend Football Picks 2017 (May 5-8)

I will be back in London in the next couple of days which means a return for the 'Tennis Picks' from the Madrid and Rome Masters leading up to the French Open, as well as fuller 'NBA Picks' as the Play Offs continue.

This thread will have the full Premier League Picks from the next three days as we reach the business end of the season.


West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur Pick: It has been a little over twelve months since the 'Battle of the Bridge' when Tottenham Hotspur lost the Premier League title race at Chelsea. They will know there is no love lost between them and West Ham United either and The Hammers would love to dent their title hopes this time around, although I am not sure the East London club have the quality nor the confidence to do that.

At this stage of the season fatigue is a big issue, but the oddsmakers won't worry about that and will make sure teams who are in 'must win' situations are perhaps not priced up with any value. Tottenham Hotspur look remarkably short to win here with that in mind and I wouldn't want to back them to win by a wide margin here for sure.

West Ham United have not been in their best form, but they have had back to back clean sheets and are unbeaten in 4 League games. The lack of goals has to be a problem for Slaven Bilic and Andy Carroll is likely to miss another game which is only going to add to those issues.

Those issues in the final third could be a problem against a Tottenham Hotspur team who have had 3 clean sheets in their last 4 away games in all competitions. A solid defensive shape is the foundation on which Tottenham Hotspur will look to build their success here, especially as they do believe they have the quality going forward to create chances and score goals.

This fixture feels like it could have a similar feel as to when Tottenham Hotspur won at Crystal Palace recently. I don't think West Ham United will allow things to be 'easy' for their visitors, but Tottenham Hotspur might have the added quality to break through in what should be a tight match all around.

The last few meetings at Upton Park between these teams tended to be tight affairs too and I think that might be case at the London Stadium on Friday. Ultimately I do think Tottenham Hotspur will find a way to breach the West Ham United defences and I am going to back them to win with a clean sheet in the first game of the Premier League weekend.


Manchester City v Crystal Palace Pick: This hasn't been the season that either Pep Guardiola or the Manchester City fans may have been expecting, but it would be considered a disaster if the club failed to finish in the top four of the Premier League. Slips from Manchester United and Arsenal does mean Manchester City are still in control of their own destiny and the remaining Premier League games suggest they should be good enough.

However three of those four games are to be played at the Etihad Stadium where Manchester City have failed to offer a consistent goal threat despite the obvious talent they have at their disposal. They haven't lost many games here in the Premier League, but Manchester City have only won 50% of them while they have not scored more home goals than the likes of West Brom, Bournemouth and Hull City.

That is not really good enough for a club that has the kind of plans Manchester City do, but the return of Gabriel Jesus is a plus especially with minutes now behind him on his return. He has a lot of attributes that Guardiola likes and shows he can put misses behind him when converting another chance against Middlesbrough last weekend.

I expect a much more positive line up than the one that began at the Riverside Stadium in this home game which means the likes of Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling restored in forward positions. That should give Manchester City plenty of belief against a Crystal Palace team that are almost certainly safe from the drop and who are missing three or four key defensive figures.

No one should underestimate a Crystal Palace team who have won at Chelsea and Liverpool in recent weeks, but they have looked a little fatigued in back to back home losses. I also think Sam Allardyce suggesting they are already safe on 38 points may have just influenced a couple of players to drop their intensity even a little bit and that isn't going to be enough at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

I do think Crystal Palace may make it difficult for a time, but Manchester City should have enough in the final third to break the resistance down and especially against a Crystal Palace defence hit by injuries. Eventually I am expecting Manchester City to win by a couple of goals on the day and I will back them to cover this Asian Handicap.


Bournemouth v Stoke City Pick: This is the kind of game towards the end of a long domestic season where you have to really begin to search for angles and motivational reasons for a team to perform. Both Bournemouth and Stoke City do have the motivation for a top half finish, but it feels that is a bigger deal for Bournemouth who also have home advantage in this one.

The absence of Benik Afobe would be a blow considering how well his partnership with Josh King has been working for Bournemouth, but I do think they are a team with more confidence than Stoke City overall. They have definitely been winning more games towards the end of the season so momentum looks to be behind Bournemouth who can secure the League double over Stoke City having seen The Potters do that to them last season.

A lack of goals is a real concern for Mark Hughes considering some of the talent Stoke City are able to call upon, and no goals in 6 away Premier League games makes it very difficult to avoid losses. That might show up here against an attacking Bournemouth team who have won 3 of their last 4 Premier League home games.

Stoke City were beaten 2-0 at Swansea City in their last away game and have also lost at West Brom and Burnley in recent away games. None of those sides were considered to be in great form that you can wipe away those losses and I think backing Bournemouth at odds against looks a decent price.


Burnley v West Brom Pick: The season is coming to an end for both Burnley and West Brom and will be looked back upon with genuine feelings of pride. Neither has been involved in a relegation dogfight for any length of time and both Sean Dyche and Tony Pulis need to be given a lot of credit for that.

In saying that, Pulis has struggled to get a tune out of his players ever since West Brom reached 40 points and that is highlighted with 6 losses from 8 Premier League games. A lack of goals in recent games is a concern for a side that isn't producing too many clean sheets and that makes Burnley look a decent price to add to their stunning home record.

Recent weeks have not been so kind to Burnley at Turf Moor, but they did beat Stoke City here recently and the 0-2 win at Crystal Palace has to inspire some confidence for them. This is a team that will look to end their season at home on a high and I think that is motivation enough to back them here.

At odds against you can't complain about the price either as it looks fair enough to me and I think West Brom might be a little more 'mentally on their holidays' than Burnley at this moment. Burnley needed a big win last weekend and produced it and I am not sure they will be completely relaxed, while the fans will be behind them at Turf Moor than can get a little more energy into the legs.

It will likely be close all through the fixture, but I will look for Burnley to earn the three points here.


Hull City v Sunderland Pick: If this match had taken place three months ago, there is no way that Hull City would be as short to win it as they are to beat Sunderland this weekend. The layers have clearly factored in a strong home run, but also seem to be putting a lot of weight into the fact that Sunderland are relegated to produce the price they have.

Of course I do think Hull City are the more likely winners having won 4 Premier League games in a row at home and the lack of goals in the Sunderland side is a big concern going into the NEXT season. That will be something they need to resolve in the upcoming transfer window now that Jermain Defoe is expected to leave, but this current group of players have to be short of confidence when making the short trip to a north east rival.

The lack of real effort and belief in recent weeks is unlikely to be changed now that relegation is concerned and many of these players are already perhaps considering where they will be playing next season.

On the other hand, Hull City are playing with confidence at home and know the importance of winning their remaining home games to stay in the Premier League. That brings a pressure of its own, but Hull City have dealt with it at the KCOM Stadium and I do think they can win this game.

I considered picking Hull City to win this game with a clean sheet considering how Sunderland have been lacking in front of goal, but Hull City's clean sheet record is not the best. Hull City have won 6 of their last 7 home games in the Premier League, all under Marco Silva, and half of those wins have come by a couple of goals.

That includes wins over Middlesbrough and Watford in their last two here and I will back Hull City to secure the win by covering the Asian Handicap this week.


Leicester City v Watford Pick: There is not a lot for either Leicester City or Watford to play for in the remaining month of the season and so it can be hard to read into the motivation for this fixture.

Home advantage is strong enough for me considering Leicester City's performances at the King Power Stadium for Craig Shakespeare with their run of wins coming to an end in the 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid. They have been playing well enough all around to think they can produce a strong performance here, although there is clearly a far less carnival atmosphere compared with twelve months ago.

Leicester City also face a Watford team who have struggled away from home in recent weeks and didn't look that interested when losing 2-0 at Hull City. That is the fourth away loss suffered in a row and Watford haven't scored in any of those games which makes it hard to make a case for them this weekend.

There is enough going for Leicester City at the moment to think they can get the better of Watford here and I am looking for them to come through with a relatively straight-forward win. I will back The Foxes to cover the Asian Handicap in this one.


Swansea City v Everton Pick: There is a lot more on the line for Swansea City than for Everton this week as the games begin to run down on the former's chances to get out of the bottom three and maintain a spot in the Premier League. The pressure could certainly be on by the time this game kicks off on Saturday afternoon if Hull City have won their League game against Sunderland, but Paul Clement can only focus on what his own team can do.

They have played well at the Liberty Stadium having won 4 of their last 6 here, but they do face a tough Everton team who may not win a lot of their away Premier League games, but simply don't lose many either.

I am expecting this to be a tough game for both teams simply because Everton have not been as strong away from home when it comes to scoring goals and creating chances. Their players have already secured their Europa League place and some are looking to move to pastures new and exciting which may mean the motivation factor is an issue for Ronald Koeman.

The lack of away goals will mean Swansea City have a chance here, but the rigid shape Everton have defensively could be tough to breach. It makes picking a winner very difficult, but I am not anticipating a glut of goals in this one regardless.

Only 1 of their last 5 Premier League games against one another have finished with more than two goals scored while 3 of the last 5 Swansea City home games and 5 of the last 7 Everton away games have ended with two or fewer goals shared out.

The tension in the Liberty Stadium and the style of football both employ could make this another tight game for Swansea City and I am looking for less than three goals to be shared out on Saturday afternoon.


Liverpool v Southampton Pick: The rest of the teams fighting for a place in the top four will be hoping that Southampton show a little more fighting spirit than they have in recent weeks and perhaps upset Liverpool at Anfield. It looks a long shot with a number of the players looking like they are not on board with what the manager is asking of them, although they did show something in the final third against Chelsea which could cause Liverpool some problems.

Realistically Liverpool should be too good for Southampton on Sunday, but it all depends on whether Philippe Coutinho is back. The expectation is that the Brazilian will return from a dead leg, but without him this match will be much tougher.

While Southampton have been conceding goals regularly in recent games, the absence of Coutinho to go with Sadio Mane will take away something significant from Liverpool.

As I have said though, I do think Coutinho will play and Liverpool will give Southampton some real problems when they go forward. They should create chances and I would be surprised if they are not able to break down Southampton for the first time this season considering the lack of focus The Saints have been playing with.

On the other hand, Southampton did produce some solid set pieces against Chelsea and I would think that is going to play a part in this one too. Liverpool have not been that good defensively and Southampton have the pace in the final third to create chances of their own.

Unlike the first three games between Liverpool and Southampton this season, I am expecting this one to have a few more chances and goals attached to it. I imagine both teams will score, but Liverpool's motivation will likely see them secure the win, although I will keep it more simple and look for at least three goals to be shared out.


Arsenal v Manchester United Pick: It has been a long time since Arsenal and Manchester United have met each other with both clubs sitting outside the top four in the Premier League table, and certainly not when we have reached May. The winning team on Sunday will give themselves a chance of breaking into the Champions League places while the losing team will have to accept they are likely out of that race at the end of the weekend regardless of results elsewhere.

That makes it a very important fixture and one where you have to think Jose Mourinho is playing some mind games by suggesting he will make wholesale changes to his side. I do think Manchester United will make some changes with the Second Leg of the Europa League Semi Final in mind, but I am still expecting a strong starting eleven.

There is no love lost between Mourinho and Arsene Wenger and so this has a similar feel to when Mourinho took his changed Chelsea side to Anfield a couple of years back. Back then it was expected that a changed Chelsea focusing on Champions League Semi Final fixtures would roll over for a desperate Liverpool team, but instead they came away with a solid 0-2 win.

Mourinho has put together a defensive shape that will give his Manchester United a chance to frustrate what is clearly not a vintage Arsenal team. There is talent in the home squad that has to be respected, especially Alexis Sanchez, but I feel the prices are an overreaction to a statement made by Mourinho, one that I am not fully buying with the players that will likely start this fixture.

His record against Arsene Wenger also can't be ignored with just a single loss in 16 previous head to head meetings. The last 3 times Mourinho has taken a team to the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League he has come away with a point and Manchester United are proving to be a stubborn nut to crack on their travels.

I do imagine Arsenal will have some chances through the fixture, but Manchester United can pose a real threat on the counter attack themselves. The Arsenal defence is clearly a weakness and I am looking for Manchester United to avoid defeat here with the draw that neither team wants a real player.


Chelsea v Middlesbrough Pick: If Tottenham Hotspur can win on Friday night at the London Stadium, Chelsea will be under the most pressure to respond in their next two Premier League games played on Monday and then Friday evening. However I can't see Chelsea slipping up when facing the teams they have left and I would expect them to beat Middlesbrough at Stamford Bridge.

The pressure will not be any less on Middlesbrough who still have a chance to avoid relegation, but will have to produce a win at Stamford Bridge to give themselves a chance. Since Steve Agnew has come in as manager, they have struggled with the balance between attack and defence and that has really shown up in their last couple of away games.

Those defeats at Hull City and Bournemouth have been really disappointing and Middlesbrough have conceded four goals in both of those fixtures. That doesn't bode well when heading to face Chelsea who have scored 11 goals in 3 games since their 2-0 loss at Manchester United.

Chelsea have also scored plenty of goals at Stamford Bridge throughout the season and I can see them putting up a few against a Middlesbrough team that may end up chasing the game at some point. Even if they don't, Chelsea have opened up better teams than this Middlesbrough one and I will be looking for them to secure a comfortable win on the evening.

The layers think the same with short odds for Chelsea to cover the Asian Handicap as well as for a win with a clean sheet. However I think Chelsea can be backed to score at least three times in this one, something they have done in more than half of their home Premier League games, and that is where I will go with this fixture.

MY PICKS: Tottenham Hotspur Win to Nil @ 2.40 Boyle Sports (2 Units)
Manchester City - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.75 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Bournemouth @ 2.25 Bet365 (2 Units)
Burnley @ 2.30 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Hull City - 1.25 Asian Handicap @ 2.08 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Leicester City - 1 Asian Handicap @ 2.04 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Swansea City-Everton Under 2.5 Goals @ 2.00 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Liverpool-Southampton Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.67 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Manchester United + 0.5 Asian Handicap @ 2.00 Bet365 (2 Units)
Chelsea Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.83 Ladbrokes (2 Units)