THE Premier League title may be wrapped, in quicker time than at any point previously in fact, but there is plenty of life left in the season yet, not least the clash between the top two at the Etihad on Thursday. We've got some crucial games at the bottom, as ever, but this week appears to be a particularly important one in terms of European qualification. Sheff Utd, I'm looking at you.
Bournemouth vs Newcastle | Wednesday July 1, 18:00 GMT
Bournemouth have lost 15 of their last 20 Premier League matches (W3 D2), a run that began back in November with a 2-1 defeat at Newcastle. The 11 points the Cherries have collected since then represents the fewest of any side in that time. Post-lockdown performance has not been encouraging in the slightest: two defeats, no goals, and just a single shot on target.
Newcastle on the other hand have returned in good form having picked up four points from their two league games. The Mapgies' attack has been boosted by the return of Dwight Gayle who is looking to score in consecutive Premier League appearances for the first time since 2017. As omens go, he bagged a brace on his last trip to the Vitality Stadium in February 2018. Gayle is worth a punt as an any time goal scorer, but backing Newcastle for to win a second straight away game, having not done so since 2018, seems a stretch too far.
Match Odds: Bournemouth (29/20) Draw (11/5) Newcastle United (23/10)
Tip: Dwight Gayle to score any time (29/10)
Correct score: Bournemouth 1-1 Newcastle (5/1)
Everton vs Leicester City | Wednesday July 1, 18:00 GMT
Only Liverpool (37) and the two Manchester clubs (both 25) have taken more points than Everton (22) since Carlo Ancelotti took over at Goodison. Shaking the cobwebs off after lockdown with four points from two games with a clean sheet in each has been an encouraging start. Three of the Toffees' next four matches are against sides placed between third and eighth – if Ancelotti is serious about qualifying for the Europa League this season, his side must start winning these games.
Leicester, the trickiest of those opponents, are looking for their third straight win over Everton. Jamie Vardy has six goals and two assists in nine games against the Merseysiders, however, despite leading the scoring charts with 19 goals, he has not scored from open play in the Premier League since Christmas. In fact, Leicester's three post-lockdown games have returned just a single goal courtesy of Ben Chilwell.
After a highly impressive run of 36 points out of 42, Leicester have subsequently taken 18 points from 45. The former run appeared to put Leicester in an unassailable position in their pursuit of Champions League football; the latter has seriously jeopardised that. The Foxes could even find themselves out of the top four if they lose at Goodison where Everton have lost just once since November. Back the Toffees.
Match Odds: Everton (8/5) Draw (47/20) Leicester City (39/20)
Tip: Dominic Calvert-Lewin to score any time (31/20)
Correct score: Everton 2-1 Leicester City (17/2)
Arsenal vs Norwich City | Wednesday July 1, 18:00 GMT
It was a tough start for Arsenal after the Premier League resumed with back-to-back defeats against Man City and Brighton, but wins over Southampton and Sheff Utd have steadied the ship and of course gifted the Gunners an FA Cup semi-final spot. Four straight away games is a really tough ask following lockdown – Mikel Arteta will be delighted to have his side back at the Emirates where their recent form has been good.
Which is more than you can say for Norwich when it comes to venturing to the capital. The Canaries are winless in their last 21 trips to London (losing 15) dating back to a 2-1 win at Spurs in 2012. If Arsenal can forge ahead, the outlook will be even worse. Norwich are currently staring down the barrel of an unwanted record. Having failed to recover a single point from a losing position in this campaign, Daniel Farke's side risk becoming the first ever Premier League team to fail to do so across an entire season.
With just one clean sheet in their last 12 matches with Arsenal, conceding an average of 2.6 goals per game, the outlook for Norwich here is bleak. Arsenal will win this one.
Match Odds: Arsenal (4/9) Draw (19/5) Norwich City (13/2)
Tip: HT Arsenal FT Arsenal (21/20)
Correct score: Arsenal 2-0 Norwich City (6/1)
West Ham vs Chelsea | Wednesday July 1, 20:15 GMT
In December, when David Moyes proudly declared "I win football games, that's what I do, I win", he promptly steered the Hammers to back-to-back wins, against Bournemouth and Gillingham. Fair point then, David, you sure showed the critics. Well, not quite. Since then, West Ham have won one, drawn two and lost nine. They've also failed to score in seven of their last 12 matches, and find themselves on the brink of the relegation.
It's just the opposite for Chelsea really, in terms of momentum. Frank Lampard knew that if his team could win their first three matches post-lockdown, against Aston Villa, Man City, and Leicester, they'd both shore up their top four credentials and reach the FA Cup semi-finals. That's exactly what they've done with a far greater degree of comfort than you would have guessed.
There is definitely an air of optimism about Chelsea at the moment with the arrivals of Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner imminent. Scoring at least two goals in each of their last five league games is testament to a side that is a serious threat right now. Back them to keep that record going with a comfortable win at the London Stadium.
Match Odds: West Ham (23/5) Draw (10/3) Chelsea (8/13)
Tip: Chelsea to score in both halves (11/8)
Correct score: West Ham 1-3 Chelsea (21/2)
Sheff Utd vs Tottenham | Thursday July 2, 18:00 GMT
Has Sheff Utd's fantastic season begun to fall apart? Four games without a win, three defeats, one goal scored and eight conceded. These are statistics you associate with Chris Wilder over the last few years – this is a massive game in terms of the rest of their season. Win and they overtake Tottenham and Burnley and stay within striking distance of the top six, lose and their European dreams will crumble.
But the signs are worrying. After conceding three or more in a game only once in their first 29 matches, the Blades have done it twice since coming out of lockdown. They have also failed to muster more than one shot on target in any of their three PL games back. They have also played twice since Tottenham's last game.
That game saw Harry Kane notch his first goal for since December. Now that he's back in scoring form, there may be a couple of notable stats that have caught his attention. 345 games into his club career, Kane has reached 198 goals. More pertinently however, there is just a single Premier League side the England captain has faced without scoring. You've guessed it: Sheff Utd. Back Kane to break amend that and don't be surprised if he reaches 200 career goals either.
Match Odds: Sheff Utd (16/5) Draw (49/20) Tottenham (Evens)
Tip: Harry Kane to score any time (11/8)
Correct score: Sheff Utd 0-2 Tottenham (15/2)
Man City vs Liverpool | Thursday July 2, 20:15 GMT
Pep Guardiola has suffered more defeats against Jurgen Klopp (8) than he has any other manager. Equally, no team has beaten a Guardiola side more often than Liverpool (5, level with Chelsea and Man Utd). But this is an exceptionally tricky clash to call following Liverpool sealing the title last week. Will a week of celebrations dampen their enthusiasm for what should be one of their biggest games of the season? But then again, wasn't Liverpool's 4-0 win over Palace one of their best performances of the season?
Fernandinho's suspension should be a big factor here. As a centre-back this season, the Brazilian has ably covered for City's numerous defensive shortcomings. In an ideal world, you wouldn't pick Nicolas Otamendi to marshall a defence facing Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, but it looks like needs must for City here. Sergio Aguero will also miss out through injury.
But completing a double over City for only the third time in Premier League history would be fitting for the Reds who have superseded their opponents as the team to beat in the Premier League. Yes, it's likely preparations have not been optimal as the players basked in Liverpool's 30-year wait for the league title ending over the weekend, but this is an exceptionally professional side we're talking about. Title or not, Liverpool will still have targets. Back them to celebrate in style at the Etihad.
Match Odds: Man City (11/10) Draw (29/10) Liverpool (12/5)
Tip: Mo Salah to score first (6/1)
Correct score: Man City 1-2 Liverpool (10/1)
