EPL Matchday 33 Odds & Preview: Potential Title Decider on Wednesday
Monumental Clash as Arsenal Head to Man City
Potential Title Decider on Wednesday
It could all come down to this as Arsenal head to the Etihad Stadium to take on Manchester City. The Gunners, who have drawn their last three matches, enter the match five points ahead of City at the top of the Premier League table. However, Pep Guardiola’s side have two games in hand. So, it would be very unlikely Arsenal would win the title if they lose the match. That makes this match an absolute must-win for Mikel Arteta’s Gunners. While this match will rightfully garner most of the headlines, there are some other good midweek games. We’ll take a look at Man City vs. Arsenal and the others as we cover the EPL Matchday 33 odds.
Match of the Week
Manchester City vs Arsenal
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When the season is over, this match will likely be looked back upon as the title decider. Arsenal have no more room for error, as the Gunners have played in some wild matches recently. Mikel Arteta’s side came back from 3-1 down with minutes to play and nearly won the match in Friday’s 3-3 draw vs. Southampton.
In the two previous matches, they blew two-goal leads to draw with Liverpool and West Ham. Arsenal have clearly missed center back William Saliba, who has missed the last four matches and looks unlikely to play on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Manchester City have been firing on all cylinders as of late.
City downed Sheffield United 3-0 in the FA Cup on Saturday to advance to the final, where they’ll play Manchester United. Riyad Mahrez scored a hat trick and he’s often had excellent matches vs. Arsenal as well. Last week, Manchester City also drew 1-1 with Bayern Munich and defeated them 4-1 on aggregate to advance to the Champions League Semifinal.
City’s treble hopes are still alive and well and they’ve won 11 of their last 12 matches, in all competitions. Their last loss was in February and the Cityzens haven’t lost a home match since November.
All of this amounts to a mountain to climb for Arsenal and the Premier League betting odds are in agreement. City are now -450 favorites to win the league, while Arsenal are +325 underdogs. For Wednesday’s match, City are one-goal favorites at -115 odds to cover.
The moneylines are as follows: Man City -180, Arsenal +465, Draw +345. City are on a seven-game winning streak vs. Arsenal and have already defeated the Gunners twice this season. Under three goals come in at -115 odds in what is a can’t-miss match.
Other Important Matches
Leeds United vs Leicester City
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Leeds United and Leicester City are both fighting for their Premier League lives at the moment. The loser of this match could very well find themselves back in the relegation zone by the end of the Matchday. Leeds, who are in 16th place, have won just one of their last five matches.
Leicester are one point behind Leeds, in 17th, and only outside of the relegation picture on goal difference at the moment. The Foxes did grab a huge 2-1 win vs. Wolves on Saturday that appeared to re-energize the team. Leicester’s win broke a four-match losing streak as new manager Dean Smith attempts to keep them in the Premier League.
The EPL Matchday 33 odds price Leeds as 0.5-goal home favorites. However, they lost 6-1 to Liverpool the last time they played at Elland Road. Regardless, Leeds enter the match at +120 ATS and moneyline odds. Leicester last won a road match in February but do show -140 odds to cover the spread.
Harvey Barnes and James Maddison missed Saturday’s 2-1 win but could be back on the pitch come Tuesday. Jamie Vardy also came off Saturday with an ankle injury, to add to Leicester’s long injury list. Ricardo Pereira, Jonny Evans, Jannik Vestergaard, Ryan Bertrand and James Justin are also out. Tyler Adams is expected to be out for the season for Leeds following hamstring surgery.
Leicester would get a big boost if any of their injured or ill stars return on Tuesday. Positive updates could result in their moneyline odds getting shorter than +225. A draw also comes in at +255 odds here, but Leicester have won the last two meetings between the two sides. Over 2.5 goals also display -125 odds as Leeds have conceded 3.6 goals per game in their last five games.
Everton vs Newcastle
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Everton are in a similar boat to Leeds and Leicester. The 18th-placed Toffees need results in short order to escape the relegation zone, which they’re in on goal difference. Despite a Mason Holgate red card, Everton managed to pick up a draw at Crystal Palace on Saturday. Now, they’ll take on a highly dangerous Newcastle team on Thursday.
The Magpies destroyed Tottenham over the weekend, to the tune of five goals in the first 25 minutes. The match finished 6-1 as both Jacob Murphy and Alexander Isak scored braces. Newcastle moved back into third place and took a crucial six-point lead over fifth-placed Tottenham to boost their Champions League hopes.
With a favorable remaining EPL schedule, Newcastle should qualify for the UCL just 18 months after sitting in last place. Eddie Howe has worked wonders at Newcastle and his Magpies are 0.5-goal favorites as they get ready to head to Goodison Park on Thursday.
Newcastle sit at -130 ATS and moneyline odds to get a seventh win in their last eight matches. Everton, on the other hand, have scored just four times in their last five matches. The Toffees are +370 underdogs and Everton +0.5 also comes in at +110 odds.
While Mason Holgate is suspended for Everton, he’s rarely played this season. Bigger concerns for Sean Dyche are injuries to Seamus Coleman and Amadou Onana.
They both missed the match vs. Crystal Palace and are questionable for this one. Newcastle have won four of the last five meetings but a draw displays +265 odds here. The Magpies still have the league’s best defensive record and under 2½ goals show -130 odds.
Tottenham vs Manchester United
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Tottenham’s disastrous performance at Newcastle nearly deflates their Champions League hopes. Spurs have played one more game than Newcastle but find themselves six points back of both the Magpies and Manchester United.
United, missing their two starting center backs, managed to keep a shutout at Brighton on Sunday. After a scoreless draw, United advanced to the FA Cup Final on penalty kicks. Erik ten Hag’s United have also won their last three league matches heading into Thursday’s match at Tottenham.
After a 6-1 loss, the EPL Matchday 33 odds price Spurs as +180 underdogs for Thursday’s match. In this pick’em, Man U show -125 odds to cover, while hosts Tottenham stand at +105 odds. To add insult to injury, Spurs’ keeper Hugo Lloris was subbed off at halftime by interim manager Cristian Stellini vs Newcastle.
Allegedly, this was due to an injury concern rather than his performance. If Lloris doesn’t play on Thursday, Fraser Forster will get another opportunity to impress in goal. Even though Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez are injured for United, the visitors are still +140 favorites.
That could have something to do with the fact that United have won the last four meetings. The Red Devils downed Tottenham 2-0 at Old Trafford last October in the reverse fixture. United wouldn’t be too upset with a draw, though, and a tie displays +260 odds for this one. Although Tottenham have won just one of their last five matches, they’re on a six-game scoring streak.
United have kept clean sheets in their last three EPL matches but that could certainly be a challenge here. Still, under three goals come in at -135 odds for Thursday’s match.
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