Sports Blog 04/05/2018: Football Preview – Premier League, Friday 4th to Sunday 6th May 2018

Can Man United secure 2nd place when they travel to Brighton this Friday, at 7.45pm on Sky Sports?

With an FA Cup final to look forward to in a fortnight, and the Premier League runners up spot almost guaranteed, Jose Mourinho will likely be using United’s next few games to ascertain who gets to start at Wembley. Given that Romelu Lukaku is absent with an injury acquired during last weekend’s win over Arsenal, there will be pressure on Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial – at Super Mega PGMs of 27-32 and 22-27 respectively – to step up to the place.



The Seagulls, meanwhile, will be looking to put their Premier League safety beyond doubt by nabbing at least a point on Friday night. It’ll be tough, however, with Spreadex offering a Man United/Brighton (h) Goal Supremacy spread of 0.55-0.75 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.55-2.75.

Early Saturday afternoon then sees what could be a pretty big game in terms of who goes down, as Stoke host Crystal Palace at 12.30pm on Sky Sports. With just 2 fixtures left the Potters sit in 19th, 3 points behind 17th place Swansea, who crucially have a game in hand but also face Stoke on the final day of the season. In other words, Paul Lambert and co. are in a dire, but not unsalvageable situation.

As for Palace, they’re basically above the fray at this point, even if only 6 points separate them and Southampton, despite being in 11th to the latter’s 18th. Roy Hodgson’s side were unbeaten in April, and actually smashed Leicester 5-0 last weekend; however, they don’t have the desperation of the Potters, hence why Spreadex are offering a choice Stoke/Crystal Palace Goal Supremacy spread of -0.1-0.1 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.6-2.8.

Relegation remains Saturday’s dominant theme as Southampton travel to Everton at 5.30pm on BT Sport 1. The Saints are in a slightly better situation to Stoke; they’re on 32 points with 3 fixtures to play; however, given their final game is against Man City, this weekend’s trip to Goodison Park, and Tuesday’s even more important fight against Swansea, are sort of all or nothing for St Mary’s finest.

The Toffees, sat in 8th place, don’t have much left to play for. There’s an outsiders chance they could take the final Europa League spot, but that would require Burnley to lose their last 2 games AND see a huge swing in goal difference. That probably gives the Saints the edge, with Spreadex offering a Southampton/Everton (h) Goal Supremacy spread of 0-0.2 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.3-2.5.

Turning to Sunday and Huddersfield will try and avoid getting absolutely slaughtered by Man City, at 1.30pm on Sky Sports. The Terriers could really do with a win, given that they are in no way free of a last minute relegation scrap. They have a horrendous run-in, however, facing City, Chelsea and Arsenal in the final 3 games.

City haven’t take their foot off the pedal since winning the league a couple of weeks back, beating Swansea and West Ham 5-0 and 4-1 respectively despite them being dead rubbers. It’s unlikely that’ll change this Sunday, with Spreadex offering a Man City/Huddersfield Goal Supremacy spread of 2.8-3 alongside a Total Goals spread of 3.65-3.85.

Finally, in a top tier battle that doesn’t actually have much at stake, Chelsea host Liverpool at 4.30pm on Sky Sports. Basically, both teams have better things to worry about. The Blues have their trip to Wembley for the FA Cup final in a fortnight; the Reds a date with Real Madrid in Kiev at the end of the month.

It might be a bit more interesting if United mess up on Friday, leaving the door open for Liverpool to potentially nab 2nd place. That’s a big if, however, so this may not exactly be a classic. Spreadex are offering a Chelsea/Liverpool Goal Supremacy spread of 0.15-0.35 alongside a Total goals spread of 2.8-3.