The end is near. After another long, gruelling season it’s time to find out who will win the Premier League: Manchester City or Arsenal. There’s that, plus so much more to wager on, especially with all games taking place at 11:00 am ET. Here are my best bets for Matchweek 38!
Crystal Palace vs. Aston Villa (Sunday, May 19)
We have a fascinating matchup at Selhurst Park on Sunday with both Crystal Palace and Aston Villa wrapping up great seasons. Palace have played brilliantly since the arrival of Oliver Glasner and are one of the Premier League’s form teams, having won five of their last six. Now Aston Villa stand in their path.
However, this will be a jaded Vila side. On Tuesday they have their end of season awards and celebrated as Man City beat Spurs, which secured Villa the fourth spot and Champions League action next season. With that in mind it’s unlikely we see them at their best and a draw feels like a fair result for two good teams who don’t really have anything to play for here.
Pick: Draw (+330)
Liverpool vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers (Sunday, May 19)
Wolves have lost eight of their past 12 games, with just two wins in that timeframe. In the past two weeks we’ve seen Palace score three against them and Man City score five. Not to mention that Liverpool scored three past them earlier in the season.
That brings us to Liverpool, who’ll be in for a hugely emotional affair with this being Jurgen Klopp’s last game in front of the Kop. His team should go out and win heavily to send him off with a proper celebration. The atmosphere at Anfield will be one of celebration and Liverpool should be able to thrash a Wolves team who have seemingly already given up.
Pick: Liverpool -2.5 (+108)
Brighton vs. Manchester United (Sunday, May 19)
Manchester United are a very big price at +204 here and it’s arguably the wager of the weekend. They’ve been a really poor team at times this season but come into this match following a strong performance in their 3-2 win over Newcastle. With the FA Cup final next Saturday, this is very much a dress rehearsal and a chance for their players to stake a claim to start that game.
There aren’t many better teams to face than Brighton, who have just one win in their past nine Premier League games. They don’t look like the team we saw last season under Roberto De Zerbi, and it’s clear that something isn’t right at the club. Take United here.
Pick: Manchester United (+204)
Manchester City vs. West Ham (Sunday, May 19)
With a two-point lead in the title race all Manchester City need to do here is beat West Ham and they’ll retain the Premier League title. They come into this having won their last eight Premier League games and having scored a minimum of two goals in each. City have scored a staggering 48 goals in their 18 home games this season and should take West Ham to pieces with a title on the line.
West Ham beat Luton last weekend but that was only their second win in 10 attempts and their players don’t seem to want to give David Moyes the same send-off that Liverpool are giving Jurgen Klopp. It’s been a sad end of the Moyes era, one which won them a famous Europa Conference League title, and it’ll be made even sadder by finishing his reign with a heavy defeat.
Pick: Manchester City -2.5 (-127)
Brentford vs. Newcastle (Sunday, May 19)
The home side come into this safe as they have nothing to play for and will already be looking forward to their summer vacation. That isn’t the case for Newcastle, who know that a win seals them European action next season.
Newcastle lost 3-2 to Man Utd on Wednesday, but they kept trying until the end with Lewis Hall scored in the 92nd minute, a goal which underlines the character of the team. They won’t take this game lightly and at plus money they offer value given they’re the superior team and the one with something on the line too.
Pick: Newcastle (+123)
Premier League Matchweek 38 parlay odds: +10789
