We have an unusual weekend coming up in England this week as we have the
four FA Cup quarterfinal fixtures being played, but in addition to that a number of Premier League teams will be in action with a number of league games rearranged for this weekend which means that the table will have a less uniform look to it come Monday evening.
The key game at the top of the table sees Liverpool travel to 19th placed Fulham in search of the win that will lift them, perhaps only temporarily back to the top of the Premier League table, with Manchester City in action in the FA Cup Quarterfinals instead this weekend.
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There’s a total of five matches scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, all three on Saturday kick off at 3pm, with Fulham v Liverpool a 2.15pm kick off on Sunday followed by another big game as Everton host Chelsea in what should be a cracking game at Goodison Park.
The FA Cup action begins on Saturday at 12.15 with the first of two all-Premier League clashes as Watford take on Crystal Palace. This is followed later on in the evening by Manchester City’s trip to Championship Swansea and then just before 8pm on Saturday night the biggest FA Cup quarterfinal of the round sees Wolves host Manchester United.
Then on Sunday, Millwall will face Brighton and each of the teams involved know that they are just one step away from a Wembley semifinal and two wins away from a place in the final itself.
In this special article, we are going to preview each of the five Premier League games as well as all of the four FA Cup quarterfinals and bring you our top tips for each game.
Remember, if you fancy a flutter on these games, then you can enjoy plenty of great football betting every week at bet365 Sport including plenty of Live Streaming and In Play betting available. New customers can sign up with the current bet365 New Customer Promotion, which offers up to £100 in bet credits once you are signed up and betting on the site.
Let’s now preview the games taking place this weekend, starting with the four FA Cup quarterfinal ties.
FA Cup Quarterfinals
Saturday 16th March
Watford v Crystal Palace
The first FA Cup quarterfinal this weekend pits two sides in generally good 
form against each other. Palace and Watford have had a couple of defeats of late but have generally been in good form, and with them both being just one step away from a Wembley quarterfinal, you would expect no quarter to be given in this tie.
For me, Watford are the more consistent team, as evidenced by their league position, but I think Palace are the better team on their day, they just don’t have those days often enough. Watford also have home advantage which tends to sway things a little more in their favour.
In truth, I would expect this tie to be closely fought and I think it will go to extra time and even penalties to decide the winner. As such, I am backing the draw here which is an 11/5 shot with bet365.
Swansea City v Manchester City
After stunning Schalke in midweek with a seven-goal thrashing at the Etihad, you will forgive Swansea City fans for feeling their team could be in for a bit of a chasing this afternoon as they become the next team to try and stop the City juggernaut.
When they play like they did on Wednesday, City seem almost impossible to stop and as much as Swansea have some positives, there’s no way I can see them being able to keep City from going through here, even with this game being played in South Wales.
With City being 1/7 to win this game, I am not going to tip that, but instead I am backing City to win and both teams to score – no, which is a better priced 4/5 with bet365.
Wolves v Manchester United
After earning a point last week against Chelsea, Wolves will be more than ready for this game with Manchester United, who come into this game on the back of their first defeat in the Premier League under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer when they lost 2-0 at Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.
Wolves held United at Old Trafford earlier this season and in truth, they dominated large parts of that game. United are a better side under Solskjaer but they showed they are fallible last week at the Etihad and Wolves have proved more than a match for all of the top six sides this season and it is no fluke that this is the case.
This is going to be a close one and I can see extra time and maybe even penalties being needed to decide the winner, hence for the 90 minutes, I am going to back the 23/10 on the draw.
Sunday 17th March
Millwall v Brighton
Millwall have not had the best of seasons in the Championship and although they have had some notable successes in their FA Cup run, notably beating Everton, they will find a Brighton team who will be more confident following their superb win over Crystal Palace last weekend.
Chris Hughton’s men needed that win and while their Premier League form has suffered a little in 2019, their FA Cup form has been good with some solid wins on the way, including wins over Championship opposition. I expect them to do the same here and I’m backing Brighton to land the win at 11/10.
Premier League
Saturday 16th March
Bournemouth v Newcastle United
A win for Newcastle in this game, which is a long trip for their supporters
, would mean they would leapfrog Bournemouth in the table. That would have been unthinkable a few months ago when Bournemouth were top half and Newcastle near the foot of the table.
It’s testament to Newcastle’s improved form and Bournemouth’s inconsistency, that this is the case and I feel that Newcastle have a chance of picking something up here. They are defensively solid and they face a Bournemouth side who cannot seem to string a consistent run of results together, despite some promising performances over the season.
Both sides are generally tight defensively and I can’t see Bournemouth finding the net too often here and I think Newcastle are a much more dangerous threat with Almiron in the team. As such, I am backing them to come to the south coast and travel back home with a point in their pocket. Back the draw here at 23/10 with bet365.
Burnley v Leicester City
This promises to be an interesting game. Burnley’s recent form, up until very recently, had been excellent but they have lost their last two. Leicester have a new manager in Brendan Rodgers who is yet to see his charges win on the road and who have been somewhat inconsistent, especially against bottom half teams this season.
Turf Moor is a tough place to go, especially during the colder months, and Leicester are certainly not going to find it easy. However the Foxes do seem to be a more unified team under Rodgers and certainly, Jamie Vardy for one, looks like he is back in his best form.
However, I can’t quite see Leicester doing enough to get the win here, or even a draw. Burnley have shown time and time again they have excellent resilience and I am expecting Sean Dyche to have his men bounce back here and claim a big win and huge three points for the home side. Back Burnley to win at 19/10 with bet365.
West Ham v Huddersfield Town
West Ham have started to take on the look of a top half side in recent months under Manuel Pellegrini, who is seeing the reward for heavy investment in the squad in the summer start to bear fruit. They should continue this better run of form against a Huddersfield Town team who are, to all intents and purposes, already confirmed as relegated this season.
Jan Siewert has not had the easiest of tasks inheriting this squad from David Wagner and in truth, it was a miracle that they stayed up last year. It is clear this squad isn’t quite Premier League level and they have been found wanting time and time again and I expect they will go down to another defeat at West Ham.
Huddersfield’s issues are simple, they concede far too many goals and do not score anywhere near enough. Combine those factors and there can only be one outcome both in terms of this game and at the end of the season. Back West Ham to win here at 8/15 with bet365.
Sunday 17th March
Fulham v Liverpool
Scott Parker has the unenviable task of trying to save Fulham’s season and in
truth, the ex-England and Chelsea man is not likely to achieve that. Fulham do have some lovely players and some talented individuals, but as a team they have fallen well short this season and a home game against title chasing Liverpool is not the match where you would expect them to win.
For Liverpool, they desperately need to pick up an away win after drawing their last three outings on the road at West Ham, Man Utd and Everton. A win would also see them leapfrog City to the top of the table, albeit having played a game more and would then put the pressure back on the Manchester side to follow suit.
Jurgen Klopp’s men have lost just one game all season and I can’t see them adding to that here. Back Liverpool to win at 1/4.
Everton v Chelsea
Everton need a result this week to get back to winning ways after they threw away a 2-0 lead at Newcastle last weekend to succumb to a 3-2 defeat. Chelsea have been in better form although they did require a late Eden Hazard leveller to earn a point at home to Wolves on Sunday afternoon.
The visitors have a generally good record against Everton in recent times and have handed the Merseysiders a couple of heavy defeats in that period. With Everton’s home form against the top six still very poor, it is hard to see how they are going to get much here.
As such, I think both teams will find the net but I am backing Chelsea to do just enough to clinch what could prove to be a vital win when it comes to deciding who is the teams that finish third and fourth in the Premier League table come may. Back Chelsea to win this one at 10/11.
