The English Premier League promises to deliver an exhilarating conclusion to this season, and the drama looks set to continue with two mouthwatering match-ups this Sunday (April 30th), as league rivals Everton and Chelsea clash at the Goodison Park, with Kick-off commencing at (13.05 CET/14.05 GMT). The second of Sunday’s fixtures is set to be a captivating contest between Middlesbrough FC and Manchester City FC, which will take place at the Riverside Stadium, with the match scheduled to start at (13.05/14.05.00 GMT).
The Everton FC will be looking to close the gap on Manchester United to two points, in their bid to secure European football next season. On the other hand, Chelsea will be looking to seal the title, and a win against the Toffee’s would all but clinch domestic silverware for the Blue’s this season. In our second match, Manchester City will be looking to bounce back after their painful exit from the F.A. Cup, courtesy of the Gunner’s, and Thursday’s English Premier League derby against Manchester United could prove to be exhausting for the City. One thing’s for sure, The Middlesbrough will show no mercy, and Manchester City will have a fight on their hands this Sunday.
EVERTON FC vs. CHELSEA FC
3-Way: 1: Everton FC +290; X: + 270 Draw; Chelsea FC +108
Spread +0.5: Everton -110; Chelsea +106
Total +2.5: Over -111; Under +108
EVERTON FC
Everton FC is currently ranked 6th in the English Premier League, and is enjoying a decent run of form, that has seen the side go unbeaten in their last four competitive matches, and claim victory in their last eight home games this season. The sides’ latest victories came against Burnley (3:1), and Leicester City (4:2). The Everton FC has the 3rd best home record in the English Premier League this season, and has won twelve out of seventeen matches played on home soil. At home, Everton has only been defeated once, all season.
Everton Boss Ronald Koeman will be confident Robert Lukaku can continue his excellent form, and rise to the occasion against his old club. The prolific forward is currently the English Premier League top goalscorer with 24 goals this season, and Chelsea will need to put in a strong defensive performance, if they are to prevent this frontman from finding the net this Sunday. The Everton would love nothing more, than to halt Chelsea’s quest for domestic silverware, and the London rivals will go head to head this Sunday, with everything to play for. The Blue’s will be looking to exact revenge for November’s (0:5) humiliating defeat to the current league leaders Chelsea. However, Everton has won five of their last seven games against Chelsea at Goodison Park.
Defensive midfielder Muhamed Besic is struggling for match fitness, and will not feature for the Toffee’s in this Sunday’s hotly anticipated clash.
Irish defender Seamus Coleman is still unavailable for squad selection, the 28 year old broke his leg during an International contest against Wales, and is still in undergoing rehabilitation for his injury.
CHELSEA FC
The Chelsea FC will be looking to take one step closer to lifting English Premier League silverware this season, as they prepare to visit The Toffee’s at Goodison Park, a venue that has troubled the league leaders in recent years. Conte’s Chelsea has been defeated on five occasions in their last seven attempts at Goodison Park. On the other hand, Chelsea FC has won seven of their last ten league matches, and has shown remarkable consistency, as the club currently possesses the 2nd best form overall, in both home and away fixtures in the top flight this season. In addition, Chelsea has won fourteen out of their sixteen matches played at home, and eleven matches from seventeen on the road.
The Chelsea FC has been lethal in attack all season, thanks to talismanic frontman Diego Costa, the striker has accumulated a colossal tally of twenty goals this season, and his apparent, insatiable appetite for scoring doesn’t look like subsiding anytime soon. The sensational striker netted in Chelsea’s recent dominant performance against the Saints, and the forward looks to be back to his startling best, which is an ominous sign for the Toffee’s going into Sunday’s showdown.
Star Man Eden Hazard is another player who has set the league ablaze this season, the twinkle-toed Belgian has fired home 16 goals this season, and is level on assists with Diego Costa, with six. Eden Hazard will be looking to steal the spotlight from Robert Lukaku this weekend, and pick up the match ball at Goodison Park this Sunday.
England International and Chelsea defender Gary Cahill is likely to be selected for the first team against Everton this Sunday, Cahill returned after a short stint in hospital to score in Chelsea’s imperious win over the Saints in midweek.
EVERTON FC vs. CHELSEA FC PREDICTION
Everton against Chelsea is set to be one of the most interesting matches of this English Premier League season, and both teams will have to be at their best, if either side wishes to come away with all three points this Sunday at Goodison Park. The two centre forwards Robert Lukaku and Diego Costa, will want to dominate the headlines, whilst Eden Hazard looks set to dazzle the travelling fans with another spectacular performance. The recent history of this fixture would tip the balance firmly in Evertons favor, but Chelsea will not roll over, and will provide the toughest tests yet for the Toffee’s. One thing’s for sure, with an abundance of attacking prowess on show, the goals are sure to fly in, left, right, and center!
MY PICK: Over 2.5 goals (-111)
Additional Pick: Both teams to score YES (-128)
MIDDLESBROUGH FC vs. MANCHESTER CITY FC
3-Way: 1: Middlesbrough FC +1125; X: +509 Draw; Manchester City FC -303
Spread +1.5: Middlesbrough FC +117; Manchester City FC -118
Total +3: Over -120; Under +114
MIDDLESBROUGH FC
The Middlesbrough FC will welcome Manchester City to the Riverside this Sunday, on a dismal run of form that has seen the Boro go without a win in their last 16 competitive matches in the English Premier League. At home, the Middlesbrough has been unable to pick up three points in their last seven games, only bottom side Bournemouth has performed worse on home soil, in the English Premier League. The clubs abominable run of form has seen them lose seven of their last ten matches, and is the reason behind their gradual descent into the relegation zone. In addition, the Middlesbrough has only won five league matches all season.
The Middlesbrough will be looking to take revenge against City for their (0:2) victory over the Boro, after goals from Sergio Aguero and David Silva sent them crashing out of the FA Cup earlier this year. The Middlesbrough reinvigorated their quest for the English Premier League survival on Wednesday night, as they achieved the unthinkable, and managed to carve out an invaluable win, against the bottom side Sunderland, to increase their chances of playing in the English Premier league next season.
Wednesday’s saviour Marten De Roon has a tally of five goals in the English league, which is four behind the Spaniard and fellow teammate Alvaro Negredo, who has scored nine goals in total this season.
The Spanish defender Daniel Ayala picked up a knock in Middlesbrough’s mid-week English Premier League relegation clash against Sunderland, and is a doubt for Saturday’s weekend skirmish against Manchester City. Defender Antonio Barragan has sustained a leg injury, and has been declared unfit to play, whilst cult hero Marten De Roon returns to the first team, and is likely to be selected for the starting eleven, following the Dutchman’s crucial winner during Boro’s mid-week game.
MANCHESTER CITY
Manchester City will visit the Riverside this Sunday, in the hope of extending the gap between themselves, and local adversaries, the Red Devils. A win for City would see them climb clear of United by four points, and overtake Liverpool in third, with a game in hand. However, Manchester City cannot afford to drop any points, as United are on an lengthy unbeaten run, and any slip ups by the Citizens will be punished by a momentous Manchester United side. The Sky Blues cannot afford to relinquish any more points, and if they do, Jose Mourinho’s men will surely capitalize.
The Manchester Derby stole the spotlight in mid-week, but for all the wrong reasons. Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini was sent off for United, in a moment of madness, and one that he will look back on with regret. Despite this rash act, City failed to capitalize with an extra man, and Manchester United seemed content to sit back, get men behind the ball, and soak up the unrelenting pressure coming from City. The Navy Blues did lack potency in the final third, and will be looking to improve their sharpness on goal, if the club is to succeed in achieving automatic Champion’s League qualification.
The clubs top goalscorer Sergio Aguero, has had an excellent season, and has found his shooting boots again, after enduring a dry spell, since returning from injury. The Argentinian sensation, has netted 17 times this season in the league, and has scored over 15 goals in each of his last four seasons. The striker is level with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, in the hunt for the coveted golden boot, but seven goals behind the league’s ultimate goal machine this season; Robert Lukaku, of the Toffee’s.
Midfield Maestro David Silva missed City’s Derby clash in mid-week, the Spaniard was substituted after just 20 minutes at Wembley, during City’s FA Cup defeat to the Gunner’s, and it looks as though Silva could be ruled out for this Sunday’s showdown.
Ilkay Gundogan remains absent with a serious knee injury, but Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus is set to make his mark on the first team. The striker was substituted on, against local rivals Manchester United, and demonstrated his goal poaching abilities with a header at the near post, which was ruled offside moments later.
MIDDLESBROUGH vs. MANCHESTER CITY PREDICTION
A resurgent Middlesbrough will be riding high, after their win over fellow relegation side Sunderland, and will be fighting once again, for their survival. Meanwhile, the Manchester rivals seemed content to share a point in mid-week, but neither side can afford to let any points slip, as the final stages of the season draws ever closer.
I think Middlesbrough will put up a valiant effort, but in the end, Manchester City’s physicality, and attacking quality will be too hot to handle for manager Claude Puel, and his side this Sunday, so my money’s on the Citizens to claim all three points by at least two goals difference, so take the AH on Man. City !!!
MY PICK: MANCHESTER CITY AH +1.5 (-118)
