As the Premier League season heats up, this weekendās fixtures present a golden opportunity for punters looking to back the favourites. TipMan’s 7/1 Acca brings together six standout picks featuring home sides in dominant form and visitors who have struggled on the road or languished near the bottom of the table.Ā
Here’s a closer look at each of the six matches that make up this enticing weekend acca š
Manchester City v Crystal Palace - City to win
Manchester City host Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium in what could prove to be a straightforward game for the hosts. Manchester City havenāt lost a single league match against visitors Crystal Palace in their last five league attempts. The hosts Manchester City need to be aiming for the top five to guarantee Champions League football, we see that winning run starting here after a week break for last season’s champions. City will have to be at their near best though, as Palace are unbeaten in nine away games, winning seven of them. With a Champions League place and an FA Cup all City have to play for, we donāt expect them to drop any points at home here.Ā
Brighton v Leicester - Brighton to win
Ninth place Brighton host relegation inevitable Leicester in what could prove to be another straightforward game for the hosts. The visitors Leicester have only managed to pick up seventeen points so far this season within thirty-oneĀ Premier LeagueĀ matches, within that run Leicester have only managed to average 0.53 points per game away from home so far this season, we donāt see that average increasing today. Leicester are breaking unwanted records and could extend their run of losses without scoring a single goal to eight here against a Brighton side that really must win to put pressure on the European places and stay in the race.Ā
Southampton v Aston Villa - Aston Villa to win
RelegationĀ guaranteed,Ā Southampton host seventh place Aston Villa in what should be a very straightforward game for the visitors. Southampton are on track to be the āWorstĀ Premier LeagueĀ side everā with their current points total, only managing to gather ten points in thirty-oneĀ Premier LeagueĀ attempts. The hosts Southampton have also only managed to average 0.33 points per game while playing at in-front of their home supporters this season. Aston Villa rotated eight players in their 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest last weekend, and with their Champions-League Quarter-Final tie against PSG just a few days away, we expect a heavily rotated and fresh Aston Villa side to get the job done here and keep the pressure on the race for Champions League football next season.Ā
Arsenal v Brentford - Arsenal to win
Second place Arsenal host a struggling Brentford side in what is a must win match for the hosts. Arsenal have managed to average an impressive 2.27 points per game while playing in-front of their home fans this season, while the visitors Brentford have a decent away record, averaging 1.13 points per game, the hosts Arsenal will see this as a must win match if they are to get anywhere near challenging Liverpool for the Premier League title. We do expect some rotation from Arteta as they focus on holding onto their lead away in Madrid this week, but with the homeĀ advantage,Ā we expect Arsenal will get the job done.Ā
Chelsea v Ipswich - Chelsea to win
A prediction which shouldnāt need too much of an explanation here, Chelsea host Ipswich at Stamford Bridge in what should prove to be a straight-forward game for the hosts. Chelsea have managed to average an impressive 2.07 points per game while playing in-front of their home supporters, while the visitors Ipswich have only managed to average a mediocre 0.87 points per game while playing on the road. This game could be quite well and over by half-time, either way we expect the hosts to be leaving with all three points. Chelsea can afford to name a strong side with a bit of rotation, given they are 3-0 up in their Conference League Quarter-Final and must win if they want to be playing Champions LeagueĀ football,Ā with five places now guaranteed to English sides.Ā Ā
Liverpool v West Ham - Liverpool to win
League leaders Liverpool host a struggling West Ham side in what should be yet another straightforward game for the hosts. Liverpool currently sit eleven points clear at the top of theĀ Premier LeagueĀ table,Ā with an excellent opportunity to increase that gap today and take a firm grasp of the title. The visitors West Ham have managed to average 1.13 points per game while playing on the road this season, while the hosts Liverpool have managed to average a very impressive 2.53 points per game while playing at Anfield so far this season.