The most dramatic weekend of the English Premier League season saw Man City catapult to the top of the table after shock losses for Liverpool and Arsenal. Matchday 34 is a smaller slate of action, giving Liverpool and Arsenal a golden opportunity to leapfrog City. We bring you our three best bets for the weekend below!
EPL 2023-24: Matchday 34 Preview & Betting Tips
Wolverhampton vs Arsenal
Molineux Stadium, Sunday 21st April, 4:30am AEST
Arsenal surrendered top spot on the Premier League table after a 2-0 defeat against Aston Villa at the Emirates. The loss was the Gunners first defeat since December 31st in what was a game of missed opportunities for Mikel Arteta’s side, who conceded in the 84th and 87th minute. Arsenal had shots on goal but failed to score for just the second time since the turn of the calendar year. Wolves have hit a brick wall and are limping to the end of the season, failing to pick up a win from their last four league games.
The Major concern for Wolverhampton is their inability to pick up a win against Burnley and Nottingham Forest who are in the bottom four on the Premier League table. Across the entirety of the season Wolverhampton’s struggles have come off the back of their struggling play in the front third (ranked 15th for goals scored). However in the last month, they’ve paired a struggling attacking game with an out of form back five. Wolverhampton have failed to record a clean sheet in their last five games, which is a major concern facing up against the highest scoring team in the league.
Wolves have lost their last five Premier League fixtures against Arsenal, who will be desperate to bounce back after losing their position at the top of the table with only six games remaining for them. With City not playing this weekend a win for the Gunners will mean they’ll finish the Matchday in first, so there’s plenty on the line for Arsenal. They’ve got far too much firepower up front for a Wolves outfit that is desperately out of form, so expect a ruthless performance from the Gunners.
Arsenal -1
$2 (1.5 Units)
Crystal Palace vs West Ham
Selhurst Park, Monday 22nd April, 12:00am AEST
Monday morning sees London rivals Crystal Palace and West Ham go head-to-head at Selhurst Park. Who would’ve thought fourteenth place Crystal Palace would’ve flipped the title race on its head? Palace’s 1-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield last week saw the Reds fall to third place, in what was their first win since the 21st of February. West Ham’s season continues to peter out, losing 2-0 to twelfth placed Fulham, in what is another season of the Hammers treading water without a meaningful push for a top five spot.
West Ham have one only one of their last six Premier League matches, with a 1-3-2 record across that six-game timespan. In typical West Ham fashion, they haven’t had any issue scoring goals however their defence has been woeful. West Ham haven’t recorded a clean sheet since the 2nd of January, with only two of the thirteen games in that streak coming against top four opposition.
These two sides are well and truly out of form, both having won one game from their last six games, so it’s hard to pick either team with confidence. Given how bad both teams have performed in defence this season, the total goals market is the way to go in this clash. West Ham have conceded the equal fourth most goals in the league this season (58), while Crystal Palace have conceded the sixth most (54). There is nothing to be gained for either side for the remainder of the season, so the shackles will be off in attack for both sides, and we could see a free-flowing clash with plenty of goals.
Over 2.5 Total Goals
$1.70 (2 Units)
Fulham vs Liverpool
Craven Cottage, Monday 22nd April, 1:30am AEST
One point from their last two games has seen Liverpool fall from first to third on the Premier League table, with the Reds now under the pump in an enthralling title race. With City not playing this weekend the Reds have an opportunity to momentarily jump the defending champions if they take care of business, however it won’t resolve the golden opportunity they’ve squandered over the last fortnight. Jurgen Klopp’s side head to London looking to keep their title hopes alive when they take on Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Fulham are coming off an impressive 2-0 win over West Ham, where Fulham produced one of their most complete attacking displays of the season. Marco Silva’s side lost the possession battle, but won the shot count 18-15 and shots on target 10-4. The win ended a three-game winless streak for Fulham, moving them into twelfth on the Premier League table. Fulham are middle of the road when it comes to their play at both ends of the pitch, making it difficult to see how they can create a game where they can beat a side with the talent that Liverpool possess.
Liverpool have had the wood over Fulham for over a decade, with a 8-2-1 record over their last eleven Premier League meetings against Fulham. Despite a frustrating fortnight, you can’t look past what the Reds have produced across the entirety of this season. Jurgen Klopp’s side are the second-best defence in the league, and the third most prolific scoring team this season. With their season on the line Liverpool simply must bounce back, they haven’t had a three-game winless streak since three games of last season, and that won’t be changing this weekend.
Liverpool -1
$2.30 (1.5 Units)
