The Capital One Cup final has pushed Chelsea’s Premier League game against Leicester City all the way to Week 34 but this weekend’s English football action will help impact just how much that game means in the end. All eyes are on the Blues as they hold a five-point lead at the top of the standings. Manchester City is second in line so their performance in the coming weeks will determine the importance of Chelsea’s delayed contest.
The Citizens will be in tough to close the gap to the leaders as they are up against a Liverpool side that has found its form in recent weeks. Meanwhile, both Arsenal and Manchester United have to be able to take advantage of favorable home dates in order to stay in the Premier League title picture. Here’s our look at the best games to bet on this weekend:
Manchester United vs. Sunderland – Saturday, 10:00 AM ET
EPL Odds: Manchester United -338, Sunderland +936, Draw +397
United followed up a draw with West Ham by knocking off Burnley at home only to suffer a stunning 2-1 loss at Swansea last weekend that allowed Arsenal to jump over them and in to third in the Premier League table. One point separates those teams for the third spot but United is now 12 points out of the title race with Southampton just a point behind them in the battle for the final Champions League spot. Robin Van Persie’s ankle injury only further complicates the situation for Louis van Gaal as it seems like the focus – both of the team and management – is shifting to the summer moves that need to be made. That lack of concentration of what’s in front of them is what cost them last week against Swansea and they simply can’t afford a letdown at Old Trafford this weekend. Sunderland has earned just one win since Christmas and United has enough talent they should be able to get back in to the win column this Saturday. Bettors will likely hesitate to lay the juice here but it’s hard to see United being sloppy again this week. Pick: Manchester United
Liverpool vs. Manchester City – Sunday, 7:00 AM ET
EPL Odds: Manchester City +137, Liverpool +184, Draw +237
Liverpool is right there with Southampton, challenging for a spot in the Champions League, so don’t make the mistake thinking that this game only means something to City. Because of what’s on the line for both sides, this will be the game of the week on Sunday. Liverpool hasn’t lost a Premier League game since a December match at Anfield, earning seven wins and three draws since. It’s no surprise that the return of Raheem Sterling and the emergence of Phillipe Coutinho have been key to the turnaround. All eyes will be on this weekend’s game to see if they can keep their run alive versus City.
It was the former Liverpool man Luis Suarez who scored twice in Barcelona’s Champions League win over Manchester City on Tuesday and now just five days later, they face arguably their biggest game of the season against a streaking rival. Although City is favored, this has the feel of a very even matchup. Pick: Draw
Arsenal vs. Everton – Sunday, 9:05 AM ET
EPL Odds: Arsenal -217, Everton +562, Draw +327
It should be a much simpler weekend for an Arsenal team that will have the luxury of welcoming Everton to the Emirates as they look to build off consecutive wins. The Gunners learned their lesson in a 2-1 loss to Spurs a couple of weeks ago but they have won their last three home games by a combined 10-1 score. Olivier Giroud, Mesut Ozil, Santiago Cazorla and the rest of the attacking players on the roster are providing an overwhelming burden for the opposition. Arsenal can score in bunches and if they can get their attack moving early, they should have no problem clinching the maximum three points versus an underwhelming opponent this weekend. Everton has just three wins in 13 away games. Pick: Arsenal
