The English Premier League is entering its finale with only three more rounds before the end of the season for most of the teams. There is still couple of uncertainties as we yet don’t know who will be the champion, who will qualify for the Champions League spot and who will be relegated. In order to predict the answers for these questions and earn some money from it we have prepared for you the analysis for the matches that will take place at KCOM Stadium in Hull and at King Power Stadium in Leicester. Let’s take a closer look.
HULL CITY FC vs. SUNDERLAND AFC
3-Way: 1: Hull City FC -200; X: +375 Draw; 2: Sunderland AFC +700
Spread -1.5: Hull City FC +143; Sunderland AFC -149
Total +2.5: Over -118; Under +114
HULL CITY FC
The Hull City FC have the chance to improve their chances of survival with a win over the team that has only theoretical chances of not being relegated to the Championship after this season. They rank 17th with 34 points in 35 games, two more points than Swansea City that is ranked below the relegation line. Team has raised its form lately, especially at home where they are undefeated since Christmas and they are 4-0-0 in last four matches at KCOM Stadium.
The Tigers are 4-1-3 in last eight matches and their overall record at home is 8-4-5 with 27-26 goal difference (36-67 overall). They rank 11th in the English Premier League table with 28 of 51 possible points earned and most common result at home is a 2:1 win (occurred four times). 82% of Hull City’s points have been earned at home and they have scored 75% of their goals at home.
Robert Snodgrass tops the team in scoring with seven goals while Abel Hernandez and Oumar Niasse have four each in their accounts. Sam Clucas and Ahmed Elmohamady are the team’s leading passers with 1392 and 1261 total passes so far. Goalkeepers Eldin Jakupovic (20 appearances) and David Marshall (15 appearances) have 127 saves and five games with clean sheets combined.
Moses Odubajo (Patella fracture), Will Keane (ACL Knee), Ryan Mason (Fractured skull) and David Meyler (MCL Knee) are all major doubts for Saturday while Omar Elabdellaoui (Back) is listed as a slight doubt.
SUNDERLAND AFC
The Sunderland AFC is going to be relegated to the Championship after this season as they are currently ranked last in the English Premier League table with 21 points in 34 games, 13 points less than the first team that ranks above the relegation line and four games that they have left to play before the end of the schedule will be played for prestige with a mind set for the next year. The Black Cats are winless since February 4th (10 games streak) and they are 0-2-6 in last eight games with four consecutive road defeats.
Overall record on the road is 2-1-13 with 10-28 goal difference (26-60 overall) and they rank 18th in the road league table with only seven of 48 possible points earned. They conceded at least one goal in 94% of their away games and they’ve managed to concede the opening goal in 76% of their games. Most common results on the road are 2:0 loss (occurred five times) and 1-0 loss (occurred four times).
Jermain Defoe tops the team in scoring with 14 goals while Victor Anichebe and Patrick van Aanholt have three each in their accounts. Adnan Januzaj is the top assister with three assists while passing segment belongs to Didier Ndong who collected 893 total passes so far. Goalies Jordan Pickford (25 appearances) and Vito Mannone (nine appearances) collected 156 saves and they have five games with clean sheets combined.
Sunderland AFC has ten players in the injury list (most in EPL). Paddy McNair (ACL Knee), Duncan Watmore (ACL Knee) and Jan Kirchoff (Cartilage Knee) are all out for the season while Bryan Oviedo (Hamstring), Darron Gibson (Groin) and Luke Cattermole (Achilles) are listed as major doubts. Billy Jones (Muscular), Jake Rodwell (Groin), and Jason Denayer (Dead leg) are probable for the Saturday match while Steven Pienaar (Ankle) will have a late fitness test.
Sunderland AFC is relegated and Hull City needs the points for the survival. Anything beside Tigers convincing victory would be a big surprise. I will take the 1.5 AH on the Tiger and go with the over!!!
MY PICK: Hull City FC AH -1.5 (+143)
TOTAL: Over 2.5 goals (-118)
LEICESTER CITY FC vs. WATFORD FC
3-Way: 1: Leicester City FC -161; X: +320 Draw; 2: Watford FC +600
Spread -1: Leicester City FC +102; Watford FC -106
Total +2.5: Over -109; Under +108
LEICESTER CITY FC
The Leicester City FC has no more worries about the survival as they started to play much better after parting the ways with coach Claudio Ranieri. Currently, they rank 11th in the English Premier League, with 40 points in 34 matches and that is certainly an underachievement for the defending champions but if we have in mind that the team was in danger zone couple months ago, things are not so bad.
They are 5-1-2 in the last eight games and 4-0-0 in the last four home matches. Overall record at home is 9-3-4 with 26-18 goal difference (42-54 overall) and they rank ninth in the home league table with 30 of 48 possible points earned. 62% of Filberts’ home games had over 2.5 goals and 31% of their home games had over 3.5 goals in total. Most common result at home is a 3:1 win (occurred three times). Striker Jamie Vardy tops the team in scoring this season with 12 goals while Islam Slimani has seven in his account.
Marc Albrighton is the team’s leading passer while Daniel Drinkwater tops the passing segment with 1705 total passes. Goalkeepers Kasper Schmeichel (26 appearances) and Ron-Robert Zieler (21 appearances) have 112 saves and eight games with clean sheets combined.
Molla Wague (Dislocated shoulder) and Namplays Mendy (Ankle) are listed as doubtful while Wes Morgan (Hamstring) is expected to be out until at least May 13th.
WATFORD FC
The Watford FC is in the same position like their next opponents with the same number of points in same number of games (40, 34) but with a worse goal difference that puts them two spots below Leicester City at No. 13 spot in the English Premier League. Survival worries are behind them and they can start to think of upgrading the team for the next season.
The Hornets play cold-warm lately as they are 3-0-5 in the last eight matches in the English Premier League and o-o-4 in the last four road games. Team is winless on the road since January 31st, when they defeated the Arsenal at the Emirates 2:1. Overall record on the road is 3-3-10 with 12-31 goal difference (37-55 overall) and they rank 14th in the road league table with 12 of 48 possible points earned. Most common result on the road is a 2:0 loss (occurred five times).
Troy Deeney is the team’s leading scorer and assister with 10 goals and four assists while Etienne Capoue has six goals in his account. Capoue is also the tams leading passer with 1328 total passes along with Jose Holebas who has 1043 so far. Goalies Heurehlo Gomes (34 appearances) and Costel Pantilimon (two appearances) have 105 saves and six games with clean sheets combined.
Roberto Pereyra (Knee), Mauro Zarate (ACL Knee), Younes Kaboul (Hamstring), Craig Cathcart (Knee) and Miguel Britos (Calf) are all listed as major doubts for Saturday while Ben Watson is listed as unavailable. Jose Holebas (Foot) will have the late fitness test.
This game will be played for prestige and my safe bet here would be over 2.5 goals in total.
MY PICK: Over 2.5 goals (-109)
