Midweek Tips: The Premier League continues and the Coppa Italia final beckons

The seasons are coming towards their end, but first they have some games to make up. In the Premier League, Manchester City and Liverpool continue to battle, and the North London Derby is on show. Elsewhere in Europe, the Coppa Italia final is going down on Wednesday between Juventus and Inter.

The Nap

It was a hugely significant weekend in the title race with Liverpool dropping points and Manchester City moving three points clear after their thumping 5-0 win over Newcastle.

Pep Guardiola’s men may be out of the Champions League but are now piping hot 1/9 favourites to retain their Premier League title. The champions travel to Molineux in midweek and are a top price 2/7 to overcome Wolves. This despite the fact that Ruben Dias, John Stones and Kyle Walker are out for the rest of the season through injury. 

When the teams met back in December a Raheem Sterling goal – his 100^th in the Premier League – proved the difference between the teams. Sterling has not been a regular starter for Man City this season, and it remains to be seen whether he starts against Wolves, but he did his chances no harm at all by scoring twice against the Magpies on Sunday.  

That win over the Toon was a performance and result that will have lifted City’s spirits and puts them in pole position now to win the league again. They are three points ahead of Liverpool with three games to play and that 5-0 win moved them from one behind to four in front of the Reds in terms of goal difference.

With their centre-back partnership seemingly obliterated, the logical call here would be to back both teams to score on Wednesday.

However, Wolves have taken just one point from their last 12 and regardless of Guardiola’s defensive issues, this Citizens squad still oozes class, with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish all capable of turning a game on its head with moments of individual brilliance. 

Liverpool fans will be hoping it doesn’t happen of course, but Man City could get out of the blocks quickly at Molineux and with this in mind 5/6 looks a fair price that they are ahead at half-time and at the end.

The Nap – Manchester City - Manchester City Half-Time Full-Time at 5/6 (Coral)  

 

Value Tip

It was another great weekend for Arsenal, who increased their lead over Tottenham in the top-four race to four points after easing past Leeds United.

The Gunners face Spurs in one of the biggest north London derbies in recent memory on Thursday, and look a value pick at 5/2 to claim a win that would essentially guarantee Champions League football next season. 

Young guns delivering in big moments has been the story of Arsenal’s season so far, and they have now won four on the spin thanks to the endeavours of Eddie Nketiah, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli and young tyro Bukayo Saka. 

It promises to be a super-charged encounter at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but Arsenal’s youngsters won’t be fazed.

Spurs played well in drawing 1-1 at Anfield, but are behind the 8-ball now in terms of European qualification and know anything other than three points here would be a disaster.

2016 was the last time Arsenal played in the Champions League, but to an extent the pressure is off them going into this one with Tottenham knowing they have to win to keep their own top-four hopes alive.

Antonio Conte will have Spurs fired up for this, but Arsenal were worthy 3-1 winners when the teams last met in December and 5/2 looks big.

Value Tip –Arsenal to beat Tottenham at 5/2 (Coral)

 

First Goal Flutter

Mo Salah might not be able to guide Liverpool to a Premier League title from here, but he can put clear daylight between himself and Son Heung-Min in the Golden Boot race by scoring first against Aston Villa on Tuesday.

The Egyptian king tops the Premier League goalscoring charts, with 22 goals in 33 games. He has been out on his own for much of the season. Son is now just two goals behind him however and Salah has blanked in his last two Premier League games.

While the goals have not exactly dried up, he’s not scoring at the rate he was during his autumnal pomp earlier in the season. This could be due to anything from fatigue, the current uncertainty regarding his future, or even AFCON heartache after Egypt lost a penalty shootout in the final to Senegal earlier this year.

However, while form is temporary, class really is permanent and he looks a shout at 100/30 to score first on Tuesday.

The last time Liverpool played Villa at Villa Park of course they lost an incredible match 7-2. Salah scored both Liverpool goals that day and can find the net first against a Villa side who are conceding 1.4 goals per game on average this season.

First Goal Flutter – Salah to score first at 100/30 (bet365)

 

The Euro Banker

The draw looks a big runner when Inter and Juventus clash in the Coppa Italia final this week.

All three Derby d'Italia games this season have been mightily close, and Inter have yet to taste defeat. The teams drew at the San Siro in Serie A in October, before the Nerazzurri won the Italian Super Cup in extra-time back in January. More recently, Simone Inzaghi’s men took three points against Juve in Turin last month in a memorable backs-to-the-wall defensive display.

The Bianconeri has been handed a timely boost ahead of this clash, with midfielder Manuel Locatelli returning from injury. Inter of course are still in the Serie A title frame but are two points behind rivals AC Milan with 36 games played.

All eyes will be on Wednesday’s Coppa final, but it could be cagey at the Stadio Olimpico and 5/2 on the draw looks fair.

The Euro Banker – Juventus and Inter Milan to draw at 5/2 (bet365)