Premier League Gameweek 24 : Weekend Treble

As we move towards the final third of the season all of the races remain wide open. Only two points separate Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal at the top. Villa have the edge in the race for fourth, but Spurs and an improving Manchester United are on their tails. Down at the bottom, Burnley and Sheffield United are beginning to be cut adrift, but who will fill the third relegation spot is anyone’s guess.

All of which tees things up nicely ahead of another cracking weekend of action, featuring key matchups at both ends of the Premier League table. Here, we pick out our best bets in three of the standout fixtures, including the big derby clash at the London Stadium.

Tottenham Hotspur vs Brighton & Hove Albion: Saturday 3:00 pm – Handicap Betting: Tottenham -1 @ 9/5

The pick of the Saturday 3pm games comes in North London, as fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur play host to Brighton, who sit nine points back in eighth. Spurs picked up the points in a 2-1 win here last season but will be looking to avenge a 4-2 defeat at the Amex in the current campaign. The hosts look close to full strength, whilst Brighton are set to be without Solly March and Joel Veltman.

Spurs have dipped a little of late with just one win in four in all competitions and will be looking to bounce back, having conceded a last-gasp equaliser at Everton. Having been thumped 4-0 at Luton, Brighton responded with a comfortable 4-1 success over Crystal Palace last time out.

Ange Postecoglu’s men have scored in all 11 home games, hitting two or more eight times. At the other end, Spurs have kept only two clean sheets. Brighton are without a win in five on the road, having failed to score in three of their last four. They have conceded two or more in six of 11, including all three games against sides above them in the table.

We favour the hosts in this one. Brighton are always a dangerous side, but their defence has cracked more often than not when placed under maximum pressure away from home, whilst the goals have dried up on their travels of late. With their injury list down to a minimum, we fancy Spurs to cover a one-goal handicap.

West Ham vs Arsenal: Sunday 2:00 pm – Under 2.5 Goals @ 23/20

Hot on the heels of that huge win over Liverpool, which reignited their title challenge, Mikel Arteta's men make the short trip across London to take on a West Ham United outfit who sit relatively pretty in seventh but are without a win in six in all competitions following a 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford. The Hammers have held the edge in this fixture of late, winning 3-1 here last season and 2-0 at the Emirates in December.

Michael Antonio remains out for the hosts, but there is hope that the influential Lucas Paqueta may return. Long-term victims Jurrien Timber, Fabio Vieira, and Thomas Partey are out for the visitors, with Gabriel Jesus and Oleksander Zinchenko rated as doubtful.

David Moyes' men have been solid at home this season - losing only two of 11. They have been particularly impressive at the back of late, conceding only once in their last four games here, including clean sheets against Wolves, Manchester United and Brighton. The Gunners have been similarly miserly on their travels – conceding more than once in only three of 11. At the other end, they have scored more than once only against bottom-half sides Chelsea, Bournemouth, Luton, and Nottingham Forest.

Tough to call the result in this one, but the odds against quote for under 2.5 goals may represent a touch of value.

Aston Villa vs Manchester United: Sunday 4:30 pm – Over 3.5 Goals @ 5/4

Last but not least, the second leg of the Super Sunday double header as sixth-placed Manchester United head to Villa Park to take on Unai Emery’s fourth-placed side. Eight points separate the sides headed into the game, giving this fixture a pivotal look in the race for the top four. Villa won 3-1 in the game here last season and were 2-0 up at Old Trafford in December, only to succumb to a second-half comeback from the hosts in a 3-2 defeat.

Ezri Konsa remains the main absentee for Villa. United look set to be without Anthony Martial, Mason Mount and, most significantly, Lisandro Martinez.

With just one win in five in all competitions, Villa have hit their first sticky patch of the season following 3-1 defeats in their two most recent home fixtures against Newcastle and Chelsea in the FA Cup. However, their overall record at home in the league is excellent, with nine wins from eleven, a goal in every game, and three or more in seven of 11.

It may be a little early to suggest that United have turned the corner, but there have at least been more positive signs of late. Erik ten Haag’s men arrive seeking a fourth win on the spin, having scored three or more in each of those games. It’s been a mixed bag on the road, with five wins from 11 and defeats at top-half sides Spurs, Arsenal, Newcastle, and West Ham.

We would have confidently predicted a home win in this earlier in the season. However, Villa's defensive vulnerability in recent outings is a concern. That, and the fact that Manchester United can't be trusted at the back at the best of times, makes over 3.5 goals the most appealing option.

A £10 Treble on the above three selections returns £135.45 with Coral.