The top four continue to keep winning as we enter the final stretch of what is set to be an epic title race. The Manchester Derby is the key fixture of Matchday 27 in the English Premier League, and Jack Tobin has you covered with his best bets of the weekend. Check them out below and good luck to everyone following!
EPL 2023-24: Matchday 27 Preview & Betting Tips
Tottenham vs Crystal Palace
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Sunday 3rd March, 2:00am AEDT
It’s been a tough fortnight for Tottenham who are now five points behind fourth placed Aston Villa after a defeat to Wolves and having their Matchday 26 fixture postponed due to Chelsea reaching the final of the Carabao Cup. Ange Postecoglou’s side will be looking to get back on track when they host thirteenth placed Crystal Palace on Sunday morning. Palace are coming off a comfortable 3-0 victory over Burnley, who played the majority of the game with ten men after Josh Brownhill was sent off in the 35th minute. Palace took advantage with three goal blitz between the 68th and 79th minute, which ended a three game winless streak for Palace.
Tottenham’s defeat against Wolverhampton in their last league match came down to their inability to convert their dominance in general play onto the scoreboard. Tottenham had 72% possession and 15 shots on goal, but failed to take their chances. Tottenham have been one of the best teams in the league at controlling games, ranking 4th in the league for possession (60.3%). This dominance with the ball means they are always in games which has made them a reliable team all season long, despite a mounting injury list. Crystal Palace have the twelfth ranked defence in the league, having conceded 44 goals. Before their clean sheet against Burnley, Palace had conceded fifteen goals in the five games prior, and their defence could get exposed against Spurs.
This fixture has been one way traffic over the last nine years, with Tottenham holding a 14-2-1 record against Crystal Palace in Premier League fixtures since September 2015. The last four Premier League games between the two sides have come at an aggregate score of 10-1. Tottenham will be looking to bounce back and stay in touch with the top four, so expect a ruthless Spurs outfit that will put a vulnerable Crystal Palace defence under a mountain of pressure.
Tottenham -1
$2.15 (1.5 Units)
Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool
City Ground, Sunday 3rd March, 2:00am AEDT
Nottingham Forest face a massive test to keep themselves away from the relegation zone when they host Liverpool at the City Ground. A rampant second half helped the league leaders maintain top spot on the Premier League table as they came from behind to defeat Luton Town 4-1 on Matchday 26. The Reds will also be riding high from their dramatic Carabao Cup win over Chelsea, as the club looks desperate to farewell Jurgen Klopp with as much silverware as possible.
Liverpool have been in red hot attacking form since the turn of the calendar year. In seven Premier League games the Reds have scored 24 goals, and have scored at least three goals in six of those seven games. The Reds are the most prolific team in the league with 63 goals this season, which looms as a nightmare prospect for Forest who have conceded the fourth most goals in the league this season (48). Liverpool’s depth has been tested all season long, but they keep continuing to produce despite the injuries they have had, with fourteen different goal scorers this season.
Nottingham Forest have had just one win from their last six league matches, and they simply don’t have the talent to match up with the league leaders. Liverpool were 3-0 victors when these sides last met in October, with Forest only managing to record 27% possession and one shot on target in what was a comprehensive performance from the Reds. It’s going to be a difficult outing for Forest especially with Liverpool expecting to have an abundance of starting eleven players returning after not featuring in the Carabao Cup final.
Liverpool -1
$2.35 (2 Units)
Manchester City vs Manchester United
Etihad Stadium, Monday 4th March, 2:30am AEDT
The second Manchester derby of the season headlines Matchday 27, as City host United at the Etihad. Manchester United will be looking to bounce back after a frustrating 2-1 defeat against Fulham, while the defending champions will be desperate to keep the pressure on Liverpool at the top of the table. Pep Guardiola’s side have been outstanding since over the last three months, with nine wins and two draws from their last eleven Premier League matches. The Red Devils conceded a 97th minute goal last week which ended their four-game winning streak, and has them eight points adrift of the top four.
City’s 1-0 win over Bournemouth last week was far from their most clinical performance of the season, however their 6-2 victory over Luton Town in the FA Cup during the week was a stark reminder of how dominant their front three can be. City have made a great habit of bringing their best attacking performances against their crosstown rivals, with their last three wins against United coming by score lines of 3-1, 6-3 and 4-1. Erling Haaland has been the main destroyer, scoring five goals in his three Manchester Derbies since joining Manchester City.
Given the high scoring nature of recent Manchester Derbies along with the current form lines of both teams, the total goals market will provide a lot of value in this clash. There have been a total of 20 goals scored across the last four Premier League meetings between the two sides. The Red Devils have been in plenty of high scoring games of late, with a total of 23 total goals scored across their last six league games. City should win this game comfortably, but regardless of the outcome, there will be an abundance of goals in this fixture.
Over 3.5 Total Goals
$1.91 (1 Unit)
