Preview: English Premiership, Final Round: Complete Betting Guide
The British nation may have elected a new Prime Minister, but the English Premiership is still in search of a champion. Top candidates are Chelsea and Man Utd. However, the one point lead of the London team gives them the opportunity to celebrate tonight with a win!
Aston Villa vs Blackburn Rovers
Sunday 17.00pm CET
Aston Villa's surge for 4th place & Champions League spot came to an abrupt end against Man City last weekend & now their only remaining target is a final home win which will secure 6th place & despite all the frustration that has to be something Aston Villa fans are satisfied with.
A home record of 8 wins & 8 draws with only 2 defeats highlights Villa's true strength & clearly they will want to finish with another good home win to at least send the Villa faithful away happy.
Sam Allardyce & Blackburn Rovers have again secured a decent mid-table league finish & that has to be an achievement they & the Blackburn Rovers fans are happy with given the financial limitations of the club.
Blackburn Rovers have done it the Sam Allardyce way with hard work, organisation & team spirit which was fantastically illustrated in their win against Arsenal last week so their work is done for the season so we don't expect too much from them in this one given their terrible away record.
We are not expecting this to be a footballing classic given the clash of tactics & styles and it may well be very competitive & close at times but on balance Aston Villa look a solid bet to finish the season with a good home win & cap what has been an excellent season & particularly on home soil.
Outright Match Result: Aston Villa to win
Correct Score options: Aston Villa to win 2-0/2-1
Manchester United vs Stoke City
Sunday 17.00pm CET
Manchester United need the win just in case Chelsea slip up against Wigan & have a home record of 15 wins & 1 draw from 18 matches with 48 goals scored while Stoke City have only 4 away wins all season with a pathetic return of only 10 away goals.
Those statistics back up the odds perfectly & throw into the mix the fact that Manchester United & Stoke City have met 3 times in the Premier League & Manchester United have won all 3 including the corresponding fixture 5-0 last season & it all points towards another comfortable home win for United.
Of course Manchester United have to be totally professional & be prepared for Stoke City but Manchester United have everything still to play for & Stoke City have absolutely nothing so the only possible outcome from this match is a comfortable home win for Manchester United but probably all in vain in terms of the league title.
Outright Match Result: Manchester United to win
Correct Score options: Manchester United to win 2-0/3-0
Chelsea vs Wigan
Sunday 17.00pm CET
Chelsea will win this game & with it the Premier League title. Clearly that is a very direct statement but exactly how we feel because it seems incredulous to believe that Chelsea will fail to beat Wigan at home & blow the chance to win the Premier League title.
1/12 is the general price for Chelsea to win while you can get 28/1 on Wigan and those odds do indicate the relative chances of each team & the outcome of this match.
Yes the pressure is on Chelsea to perform & win the game and yes Chelsea have to ensure they don't disrespect Wigan & must maintain their professionalism & focus for this match but any other result than a comfortable win for Chelsea will be a truly massive shock.
Chelsea have been the best side in the Premier League with a phenomenal home record of 16 wins & 1 draw from 18 & they look absolutely nailed on to win this comfortably & bring the Premier League title back to Stamford Bridge.
Outright Match Result: Chelsea to win
Correct Score options: Chelsea to win 3-0/4-0
West Ham United vs Manchester City
Sunday 17.00pm CET
Only pride left to play for in this one as both West Ham United & Man City are desperate to see the back of this season but with the pressure off this could be a game to really enjoy & the goals could fly.
Both West Ham United & Manchester City will want to finish the season well and give the fans a good send off with positive, attacking football likely in this one & ironically both have Italian managers who are highly unlikely to keep their jobs for next season so this really could be a free for all.
Defensive organisation & solidity are not words to be associated with either West Ham United or Manchester City and goals look likely so anything is possible here but given their amazing. superior attacking quality then Man City look the bet to get the goals & get the away win with ex-Hammers Craig Bellamy & Carlos Tevez likely to be the centre of attention from both sets of fans.
Outright Match Result: Man City to win
Correct Score options: Man City to win 3-1/3-2
Everton vs Portsmouth
Sunday 17.00pm CET
In terms of their final league positions for the season then both Everton & Portsmouth will finish where are they are now in 8th & 20th respectively no matter the result here so only pride left to play for.
David Moyes is a totally determined & committed manager who wants demands that his players give everything in every single match so we fully expect Everton to take their strong finish to the season into this final match & give the Everton fans the win they deserve.
Everton have been excellent at home in recent months & basically impossible to beat and to be fair we don't really expect anything other than a comfortable home win for Everton in this one.
Portsmouth have the F.A. Cup Final to focus on & with injuries a big issue for them they are unlikely to play their best players and so this looks a clear opportunity for Everton to finish the season with a flourish & makes them a rock solid bet to get another home win.
Outright Match Result: Everton to win
Correct Score options: Everton to win 2-0/3-0
Bolton vs Birmingham City
Sunday 17.00pm CET
Alex McCleish deserves tremendous praise for the job he has done this season taking Birmingham City to finish 9th & we expect Birmingham City to finish the season showing the determination, character, organisation & team spirit that has carried them all through the season.
A draw in this match will absolutely guarantee that Birmimgham City finish 9th & we certainly expect Birmingham City to approach this game seriously with the mindset of being organised, hard to beat & certainly a draw looks well within their capabilities although goalscoring is a weakness that needs to be addressed.
A game purely for the fans of either side this one because we don't see Bolton & Birmingham City serving up a classic with flowing football & it's more likely to be a case of Bolton trying to break down Birmingham City without being quite good enough to do so & a low scoring draw looks a value bet worth taking here.
Outright Match Result: DRAW
Correct Score options: 0-0/1-1
Hull City vs Liverpool
Sunday 17.00pm CET
Liverpool's season has been equally as disastrous as Hull City & although they obviously don't face relegation, the tepid performances in all competitions, the obvious lack of quality within the squad & all the off field problems all combined to make the 2009/10 season one to erase from memory with immediate effect.
In terms of this match, then it really is impossible to know what to expect from Liverpool because they have been way too inconsistent to have any great confidence in their mental approach but in terms of quality then they are far superior to Hull City and that should be good enough on the day to make the difference.
Ian Dowie will want the Hull City players to give one last Premier League performance for the Hull City fans & will hope for a committed performance from his players & that should make the game competitive making a scoring draw a possibility but Liverpool have more quality & should have enough about them to make that count on the day & finish their nightmare season with a win.
Outright Match Result: Liverpool to win
Correct Score options: Liverpool to win 2-0/2-1
Wolves vs Sunderland
Sunday 17.00pm CET
Sunderland have done ok under Steve Bruce this season with tremendous home form let down by incredibly poor away form so Steve Bruce has reasons to be happy but also reasons to be frustrated & clearly Sunderland's away form is the major concern.
2 wins & 4 draws from their previous 17 away games is an incredibly poor return & it's hard to explain properly because Sunderland have got quality players who should be able to get results home & away.
Extra prize money & of course pride are the only elements on the line in this one so both Wolves & Sunderland should be able to relax and play good, positive football which should make for a good game that can go either way but in our minds Sunderland have more attacking quality with Darren Bent a solid contender to fire the goals & give Sunderland a rare away win.
Outright Match Result: Sunderland to win
Correct Score options: Sunderland to win 2-1/3-1
Burnley vs Tottenham
Sunday 17.00pm CET
Tottenham have deservedly qualified for the Champions League & we see that as being more bad news for Burnley in their final home game of the season as this looks the perfect opportunity for Tottenham to celebrate their achievements on the pitch in style.
Yes Burnley will want to give their loyal home fans one last hurrah in the Premier League but Tottenham come here as a side full of quality with the pressure off & certainly they will believe they can take Burnley apart just like they did at White Hart Lane earlier in the season.
Of course there is a chance that the Tottenham players might go into this game having celebrated hard having deservedly reached the Champions League but we expect whichever Tottenham side turns up at Burnley to be way too good for Burnley & a Tottenham away win looks the only sensible & viable outcome with goals likely.
Outright Match Result:Tottenham to win
Correct Score options: Tottenham to win 3-1/4-1
Arsenal vs Fulham
Sunday 17.00pm CET
Having held title ambitions a few weeks ago, Arsenal now face the prospect of finishing 4th & not 1st but the honest facts are that Fulham with their focus elsewhere are unlikely to put up too much of a fight in this one.
After a few weeks of great frustration & disappointment for Arsenal with the Champions League & title dreams crushed after a series of poor performances, Arsene Wenger will be delighted to be back on home turf against opponents he knows will let Arsenal play.
Arsenal absolutely detest sides who dare to challenge them physically & who dare to be stronger, more powerful & better organised but while Fulham will offer the organisation, they are unlikely to test Arsenal physically & that should allow Arsenal to play the free flowing, non-contact football Arsenal excel at.
Arsene Wenger will want to finish the season on a winning note & he should get his wish as Arsenal at home playing a Fulham reserve side who will want to remain injury free & so Arsenal look a rock solid bet to win in comfort & probably with a few goals as well.
Outright Match Result: Arsenal to win
Correct Score options: Arsenal to win 2-0/3-0