This week, the teams that have one or more games in hand on other teams in the Premier League will play those games this week, with the two FA Cup Finalists, Chelsea and Leicester City, who will battle it out at Wembley at the weekend, also set to play their fixtures that they would otherwise have played next weekend.
The crux of this matter means that there are four huge games coming up from Tuesday through to Thursday night this week which could have a huge impact on not only the title race, but also the race for a top four finish.
While the two Manchester clubs look safe in the top two positions, Chelsea and Leicester have a five point advantage over West Ham in fifth and six over Liverpool in sixth. However, the Reds have a game in hand this week, which comes in their delayed fixture away to Manchester United.
United though face the tough prospect of playing three games in the space of five days as after facing Aston Villa on Sunday, they face Leicester on Tuesday night and then there is the rearranged game with Liverpool on Thursday.
We also have Chelsea facing Arsenal on Wednesday evening in another crucial game for the Champions League finalists after their excellent win over Manchester City at the weekend, while Everton still hold out faint hopes of a top four finish and they face a trip to Aston Villa on Thursday evening too.
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Let’s now take a look at the big games coming up in midweek this week.
Crucial Midweek EPL Games
Tuesday 11th May
Manchester United v Leicester City
Manchester United could close the gap on Manchester City to just four points by Friday if they
can win both their home games this week. The first of those comes against fourth-placed Leicester City, who themselves come into the game on the back of a disappointing 4-2 home defeat by Newcastle United at the weekend.
The Foxes have hit the skids at the worst possible time as they try to clinch a top four spot and a place in next season’s Champions League, as well as facing Chelsea in the FA Cup Final at Wembley this weekend, which necessitated moving this fixture to Tuesday evening.
Leicester have lost three of their last six games in the Premier League and face a United side on a long unbeaten run in the competition. However, one positive for Leicester is that all four of United’s defeats this season have come at home.
Having played Friday night, Leicester should be the much sharper of the two teams for this game, although I do expect United to rotate their team considerably from the game with Aston Villa and I think that gives the visitors a fighting chance of getting something here.
This should be a good game with a fair few goals and I think a draw (12/5) is the likely outcome in this one.
Tip – Manchester United 2-2 Leicester City – 14/1
Wednesday 12th May
Chelsea v Arsenal
A brilliant performance last week in beating Real Madrid 2-0 to claim a Champions League Final spot, was followed up with a sensational last gasp 2-1 win over Manchester City at the weekend as Chelsea landed a telling blow on the two teams ahead of their Champions League Final in a few weeks’ time.
Now the Londoners return to Stamford Bridge to take on an Arsenal side that condemned West Brom to relegation at the weekend, thanks to their 3-1 win over the Baggies on Sunday night. A victory which moved the Gunners to 9th in the table.
On paper and in terms of form and quality, this should be a comfortable home win for Chelsea and in truth, I cannot see anything in the performances or statistics that would persuade me anything other than Chelsea winning this game comfortably.
Arsenal have not been anywhere near consistent enough this season and while they did beat Chelsea when the teams met earlier in the year, I think under Thomas Tuchel, this Chelsea is a much tougher team to beat.
As such, I am backing the home side to land a convincing win here to confirm themselves as the likely third place finishers in the Premier League.
Tip – Chelsea 3-0 Arsenal – 14/1
Thursday 13th May
Aston Villa v Everton
Aston Villa’s excellent early season form means that manager Dean Smith isn’t worried about his
team holding on to their Premier League status this season and in fact, the Villains look set for a comfortable mid-table finish this time around.
That said, they have won just one of their last five games and they face an Everton side that will be buoyant after a 1-0 away win to West Ham at the weekend improved their chances of a top four or top six finish at the very least.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team away form has been the cornerstone of their success this season and the Toffees have lost just one of their last five games, winning two of the last three. A win here would move them level on points with West Ham United, both teams having played 35 games.
However, Villa have won three of the last six between the teams and are unbeaten against Everton in their last three games, winning 2-1 at Goodison Park earlier on this month. However, as we have seen all season long, Everton tend to produce their best displays away from home.
With that in mind, I am backing the visitors to lay claim to the win here in what should be an intriguing game before the massive north west clash later on Thursday night.
Tip – Aston Villa 1-2 Everton – 10/1
Manchester United v Liverpool
For the third time in five days, Manchester United will take to the field to try and win a Premier
League, this time in their rearranged fixture with Liverpool. These two great rivals will pull no punches in what is likely to be a feisty encounter with neither side benefitting from a draw, which has been a common result between the two in recent times.
United need to win every game to have any chance of catching Manchester City at the top of the table, but Liverpool need the points for their Champions League ambitions and a win here could see them move above West Ham into fifth with Leicester very much in their gunsights next.
The Reds don’t have the best record of late at Old Trafford and United did beat them there 3-2 in the FA Cup earlier this season. However, United are going to have to rotate many players this week due to the number of games they have to play and that could impact their team here.
I can see Solskjaer targeting this game moreso than the Leicester one due to the rivalry between the two teams and so I expect a full-strength United side to play here, rather than against the Foxes on Monday night.
That makes things trickier for Liverpool who haven’t been at their best since Christmas and although they are unbeaten in their last five, they don’t fill me with any confidence they can get something from this game.
Tip – Manchester United 2-1 Liverpool – 12/1
*All odds shown were correct with bet365 Sport as of 12pm on Monday 10th May 2021.
