EPL Matchday 29 Odds & Preview: Manchester City vs Liverpool Kicks off EPL

Manchester City vs Liverpool Kicks off EPL Matchday 29

The top four race in the English Premier League has just gotten more interesting as Antonio Conte left Tottenham by mutual consent. Conte left Tottenham with Spurs in fourth place, just two points ahead of Newcastle. Newcastle have a game in hand and h+ost third-placed Manchester United on Sunday in an incredibly important match. Meanwhile, Manchester City face a must-win vs. Liverpool, as City currently trail EPL leaders Arsenal by eight points. Let’s run through some of the most important EPL Matchday 29 odds from an excellent weekend slate.

Matches of the Week

With just ten Premier League Matchdays remaining, defending Premier League champions Manchester City need all of the wins they can get. Granted, they have a game in hand over Arsenal but find themselves eight points off the pace. They’ll take on the team that has most often rivaled them over the past few seasons, in Liverpool. While Liverpool have endured a difficult campaign, this is a match they’re seemingly always up for. The Reds defeated Man City in the FA Community Shield back in July and won 1-0 in the reverse fixture at Anfield.

In fact, this will be the fourth meeting of the season, as Man City narrowly beat Liverpool 3-2 in the EFL Cup fourth round. It was the Cityzens’ first win in the last six meetings, in all competitions. Although Liverpool have often gotten the better of City in recent years in their matchups, the Reds are in sixth place in the EPL. They’re currently seven points outside of the top four and this is as much of a must-win for them as it is for City. Man City enter the match as one-goal favorites though and sit at -105 odds to cover. Liverpool +1 comes in at -115 odds and the Reds are at +425 moneyline odds.

City’s Erling Haaland missed international duty with Norway, with a groin injury, but has been on fire lately. He’s scored a ridiculous eight goals in his last two matches with City, including five in a 7-0 Champions League win over RB Leipzig. He’s expected to play on Saturday but Phil Foden is out with appendicitis. Regardless, City show -170 odds to win and a draw displays +340 odds. Both EPL meetings last season finished in 2-2 draws and both teams have scored seven of the last eight times these teams have played each other. For Saturday’s match the EPL odds price under three goals at -120 odds, though.

During Eddie Howe’s tenure as Newcastle United boss, St James’ Park has not been a place opponents want to play at. Newcastle have lost just once at home all season and they’d enter the top four by winning their match vs. Manchester United on Sunday.

United are dealing with a bunch of injuries and suspensions and certainly won’t be close to full strength in this one. Notably, midfielder Casemiro is suspended, Christian Eriksen is out and Marcus Rashford’s status is questionable. With some of their best players out, United are underdogs according to the EPL Matchday 29 odds.

This rematch of the EFL Cup final, which Man United won 2-0, is listed as a pick’em. The Magpies show a -135 price to cover the spread, while Erik ten Hag’s Red Devils sit at +115 odds. Newcastle are the favorites in this match but at an implied probability of less than 50 percent to win the match.

Their +140 odds correspond to around a 42 percent chance to come away with a win on Sunday. However, they’ll be missing leading scorer Miguel Almiron, who’s out until May with a thigh injury. Almiron’s absence dents Newcastle’s top four chances but they’ve still got Alexander Isak, Callum Wilson, Allan Saint-Maximin, Jacob Murphy and Anthony Gordon to play across the frontline.

The last time these teams met in the Premier League, it finished in a scoreless draw. Newcastle have been notoriously difficult to score on this season as they’ve conceded a league-best 19 goals in 26 matches. Still, the odds price over two goals at -115 as the Magpies have conceded in each of their last six EPL matches.

Man United are one of only five EPL teams to win more games than they’ve lost on the road this season. With a 6-2-5 record away from home, they come in at +190 odds to win the match, while a draw displays +255 odds.

Other Important Matches

Arsenal are fighting for their first Premier League title in nearly 20 years, while Leeds are just fighting to avoid relegation. The Gunners have rattled off six straight wins while scoring at least three goals in their last four. Meanwhile, Leeds got a crucial win over Wolves last time out, which bumped them up to 15th place, just two points outside of the relegation zone.

Leeds coach Javi Gracia took over midseason after Jesse Marsch’s dismissal and his main mission is to keep LUFC in the Premier League.

The Premier League betting odds don’t exactly imply Leeds have a good chance to pick up points in this match, though. Hosts Arsenal, who’ve lost just once at the Emirates Stadium in the EPL this season, are 1.5-goal favorites. Arsenal -1.5 comes in at -120 odds, while Leeds +1½ displays even odds.

Arsenal narrowly beat Leeds, 1-0, at Elland Road earlier this season but the Gunners have won the last five meetings, in all competitions. The Gunners, who have a fully fit Gabriel Jesus, are -350 favorites to pick up a seventh straight EPL win. Leeds, who last defeated Arsenal on the road in 2003, are +900 underdogs.

Leeds have a handful of minor injuries and players who are questionable for Saturday’s match. Winger Wilfried Gnonto and defender Max Wober both picked up injuries on international duty but could both suit up.

Midfielder Tyler Adams missed international duty with the USA due to a hamstring injury. While Takehiro Tomiyasu, Mo Elneny and Eddie Nketiah are all out for Arsenal, none are members of Arsenal’s strongest XI. With the way Arsenal have been blowing teams away lately, over three goals show -115 odds for the match. A draw, which would be a disappointing result for the Gunners, also sits at +500 odds.

Two of the season’s biggest surprises will meet on Saturday as they continue their bid for a European spot. Brighton take on Brentford at the AMEX Stadium with both sides currently on 42 points. The Seagulls have been excellent under Roberto de Zerbi and have only played 25 games so far. So, they have two games in hand on Brentford and three on fourth-placed Tottenham. The EPL Matchday 29 odds also list hosts Brighton as one-goal favorites for Saturday’s match.

Brighton have lost just one Premier League match in 2023 and play a very attractive style of football. Although they lost Leandro Trossard to Arsenal in January, Kaoru Mitoma and Solly March have stepped up lately. The 18-year old striker Evan Ferguson also has bags of potential. Meanwhile, Brentford’s Ivan Toney has been one of the best strikers in the league this season. Toney made his debut for England over the international break and has scored 16 goals this season for the Bees. Brentford sit at +135 odds to cover the spread, while Brighton -1 shows a +115 price.

The moneyline odds are also as follows: Brighton -155, Brentford +410 and Draw +320. Brentford have not been great on the road this season, with just three wins in 13 matches. However, they’ve lost just four times on the road and have picked up points more often than not. Thomas Frank’s Bees have also lost just one of their last 15 EPL matches. Don’t be surprised if they’re able to put up a fight as well even vs. a strong Brighton side. Both teams also have no qualms attacking and over 2.5 goals come in at -135 odds here.

Can’t get enough? Here’s more!

• La Liga Matchday 26 Preview: Barcelona With 9 Point Lead Coming In
  
• Ligue 1 Matchday 28 Preview: PSG Loses Neymar, Still a Worthy Look
  
• Serie A Matchday 27 Preview: Juventus vs Inter Milan Highlight Game
  
• EPL Matchday 27 Odds: English Premier League Preview
  
• Serie A Matchday 26 Odds: Matches of the Week