Crystal Palace v Everton, 3pm
Crystal Palace are one of the best away teams in the Premier League (6th in the “away” table), but they’re also one of the worst home teams (19th in the “home” table).
Everton, meanwhile, are no great shakes on the road, but their form has been on the up lately, with four wins from their last five matches. That run includes an away win at West Ham, but also an away loss to Fulham, who are one of the worst teams ever to play in the Premier League. So it’s hard to know what to make of that.
Perhaps the Toffees’ improved form means they’ll serve Palace with their 10th loss in 18 league fixtures at Selhurst Park this season, in which case 17/10 on Everton to win is pretty appealing. However, although we wouldn’t normally tip a draw in our accas, we think both sides’ familiarity with occasional incompetence mean this one could go that way.
Verdict: Draw @ 23/10
Southampton v Bournemouth, 3pm
The Saints are on the kind of run that Ole Gunnar Solskjær would die for having won four and drawn one of their last seven Premier League games.
What’s even more impressive from Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side is that he’s got Shane Long scoring goals. Long’s 7.8 sec stunner against Watford mid-week was the fastest in Premier League history but was also the Irish international’s third PL goal on the bounce – something he’d never achieved before.
You suspect that only Bournemouth’s home form is keeping them above water, with two decent away wins against Huddersfield and Brighton, the high points in 11 defeats in 13 away games. The Saints can breathe easier now with three wins and one defeat (v Liverpool) at home in their last four games and can secure their top tier survival with three points here. Dodgy Derby or not.
Verdict: Southampton to win @ 10/11
Fulham v Cardiff, 3pm
Another moment of reckoning for the Bluebirds who are giving Brighton boss Chris Hughton plenty of sleepless nights as they try to clamber over the Seagulls to Premier League safety.
There could be a six-point swing effectively between the sides if Brighton lose to Newcastle and Cardiff win at Craven Cottage. Two wins in their last eight games has given Neil Warnock’s side a glimmer of hope and they might just be able to time their run to perfection by getting three points in London.
Ironically, Fulham have stepped up a gear since they were confined to the Championship, winning two on the bounce, home and away, to Everton & Bournemouth. Cardiff have more to play for though, so we’ll give them a goal lead and hope they hang on.
Verdict: Cardiff +1 on the handicap @ 8/15
Watford v Wolves, 3pm
Well now, this is a little cruel. A couple weeks after the Hornets came form 2-0 down to deny Wolves a place in the FA Cup semi-final, they pitch up again in an end-of-season knockabout.
Top tier newbies Wolves are a point ahead of Watford in the table but that defeat at Wembley could add more spice to this game than any bragging rights of who is better than who in the Premier League.
We could go around the houses here on home form, away form, blah blah, blah but it’s been a long week. We’ll presume there’s enough needle left over from the Cup game and go for both teams to score and leave the result to itself.
Verdict: Both teams to score @ 9/10
Find a full list of Premier League odds over on paddypower.com