So the title race is done and dusted and the modern era’s most sensational of fairy tales has had the finish that no one thought was possible. Tottenham surrendered their pursuit in a flurry of aggression and with their players either deflated or suspended they face a real challenge to hold off Arsenal for second spot. Meanwhile in the Championship the fixture computer gods somehow decreed that the final game of the season in the country’s toughest decision would be a winner take all clash between Middlesbrough and Brighton to see who will join Burnley in promotion to the THE Big League. All in all a fascinating couple of days lie ahead and I will do my best to decipher the duds from destiny in my ‘Three For The Weekend’!
Leicester v Everton OVER 2.5 goals
If footballers were breathalyzed pre game, the Champions of English football, Leicester City (how strange does that sound!), would probably be forced into playing their under 12’s this weekend. The Foxes have probably trained as much this week as an anorexic preparing for a pie eating contest and despite what is certain to be an incredible atmosphere and scene that must be watched on Astro Super Sport on Saturday night/Sunday morning, a home win is surely far from guaranteed. Everton have lost only 3 of their last 16 away games and Roberto Martinez needs an awfully strong finish to the season to have a hope of hanging onto this job. All that said, how can you possibly tip against Leicester after what has gone before in the previous 36 games? I can predict more than 2.5 goals between these two though!
Manchester City 1 Arsenal 3
In the context of the season it is counting for little but Arsenal are undertaking their customary late charge when the race has already been run and done. Manchester City bowed out of the Champions League in meek fashion in midweek at Real Madrid and also lost captain Vincent Kompany to injury for what feels like the 12th time this season. Kompany goes down quicker than Bambi on ice these days and his fitness issues have cost City dear this season. That will be a major concern for Pep Guardiola going into the next campaign. Not difficult to imagine that City will be reeling from the emotional and physical pressures placed on them this week and Arsenal are a real chance to get an away win looking like contenders for next season in the process. Arsene Wenger will get some respite from the fans wrath before their traditional relapse like a drunk walking past a liquor store around December. I’m certainly not tipping Arsenal for the title ever again!
West Ham v Swansea WEST HAM -1.5
Already people are suggesting that West Ham can ‘do a Leicester’ next season. Comparing that prospective triumph to the real one that has just taken place is harsh on the scale of what Leicester have actually achieved this time round. Leicester were 5000/1 to pull of the impossible, The Hammers are only 150/1 to lock out the traditional big guns from the Premier League roll of honor next term. There is also the new stadium to take into consideration. While the move to the Olympic Stadium is a financial master stroke it’s not hard to imagine that it may take a while before it takes on the traditional football moniker of a ‘fortress’. Hats off to Francesco Guidolin. I thought he would take Swansea down but not only have they stayed up, they have done it without too much of a sweat. Slaven Bilic’s boys are averaging over 2 goals a game in their last ten matches and with the emotion of the last Saturday 3pm kick off Upton Park will ever see, (the last ever game is on Tuesday night against Manchester united), I fancy West Ham to comfortably come out on top against a Swansea squad with well-deserved holiday destinations on their minds.
OTHER PICKS!
Norwich v Manchester United – OVER 2.5 GOALS
Aston Villa v Newcastle – NEWCASTL E TO WIN
Bournemouth 2 West Brom 1
Palace 1 Stoke 3
Sunderland 1 Chelsea 0
Spurs v Southampton – DRAW
Liverpool v Watford – UNDER 2.5 GOALS
Other posts by Patrick Kinghorn
