Sports Blog 01/04/2016: Match Preview – Premier League, Saturday 2nd to Sunday 3rd April 2016

Back from a promising international break, and with less than 2 months of the season left, the Premier League rumbles on this weekend with Spurs aiming to close the gap on leaders Leicester.

First up, however, is a battle between two of the league’s most disappointing sides, as Aston Villa host Chelsea at 12.45pm on BT Sport 1. In what has been a truly abject season Villa just saw their latest tumultuous twist, axing their 2nd manager in less than 6 months. The reasons for getting rid of Remi Garde are plain to see; the Frenchman managed 12 points from his 21 league games in charge, leaving the club effectively locked on for relegation with a miserly 16 points. Yet little is actually fixed with Garde’s goodbye, the club still stuck with the same side that has woefully underperformed in the abbreviated eras of both Tim Sherwood and their undearly departed French manager.



If Aston Villa are looking how to bounce back with a change at the top then they couldn’t find a better example this season than Chelsea. Of course, the defending champions being stuck in 10th is hardly anything to write home about; yet Guus Hiddink nevertheless has a remarkable record since taking over in December, unbeaten in 14 league games (admittedly, 8 of those were draws, and the side are out of both the FA Cup and the Champions League). In other words things don’t look too good for Villa’s interim manager Eric Black, Spreadex offering a Chelsea/Aston Villa (h) Goal Supremacy spread of 0.9-1.1 with a Total Goals spread of 2.55-2.75.

Moving on to Saturday’s late game and Tottenham travel to Liverpool at 5.30pm on Sky Sports 1 in what is arguably the tastiest tie of the weekend. After strong showing over the international break, with Danny Rose, Kyle Walker, Eric Dier, Dele Alli and, of course, Harry Kane suggesting an impressive Spurs-spine to this inchoate England squad, Tottenham will be aiming to inch closer to Leicester with a win at Anfield. There were wobbles in March; a loss to West Ham and a draw against Arsenal, as well as an embarrassing 5-1 on aggregate exit to Borussia Dortmund in the Europa League. However, the North London side remain within touching-ish distance of the Foxes, even though victory on Saturday is a must if they are to prevent the current 5 point gap from getting any larger.



Liverpool, on the other hand, have precious little to play for beyond the relatively distant dream of a place in Europe next season (well, they do have a Europa League quarter-final against Dortmund next week, though Jurgen Klopp stands little chance of besting his former club). Most recently the Reds put in a dismal display against Southampton, ceding a 2 goal lead to lose the game 3-2. That leaves Liverpool in 9th place on 44 points, but crucially with 2 games in hand. Our Spreadex traders are also optimistic that the wear and tear of a busy international break for Spurs will give the home side the edge, offering a Liverpool/Tottenham Goal Supremacy spread of 0.05-0.25 with a Total Goals spread of 2.6-2.8.

Sunday’s early game is of equal importance this week, Leicester looking to protect their lead when they host Southampton at 1.30pm on Sky Sports 1. Unbeaten since the end of February the Foxes have had the benefit of being able to focus firmly on the league, their lack of European action and early exits in the domestic cups leaving them the only single-minded title contender for much of the season. Yet there has been a sign of a slowdown at the club; their last 5 games have seen 4 1-0 wins and a 2-2 draw against West Brom, crucially with no goals from Jamie Vardy. Claudio Ranieri will be hoping Vardy’s successful stint in an England shirt will have alleviated that latter issue, the super striker at a Super Mega PGM of 0.2-0.4.



Despite more than a few sticky patches this season Southampton still find themselves in contention for a spot in Europe, their recent comeback against Liverpool a sign of the tenacity still coursing through the club’s veins. The Saints now sit in 7th place, only 3 behind 5th and 6th place Manchester United and West Ham (though with both of those sides having a game in hand), and are a few more good results away from potentially nabbing that Europa League spot. They face a tough challenge this Sunday, however, one they may not be able to overcome, Spreadex offering a Leicester/Southampton Goal Supremacy spread of 0.2-0.4 with a Total Goals spread of 2.25-2.45.

Finally the weekend finishes with two sides going through their own mini-crises, as Manchester United face Everton at 4pm on Sky Sports 1. United, despite the constant barge of abuse thrown van Gaal’s way, haven’t been too bad of late; victories over Arsenal, Watford and Manchester City (and a loss against West Brom) comprise their league form, whilst they still have an FA Cup quarter-final replay on the cards. Admittedly their Europe League exit was less forgivable; however, it appears that their current form is less the issue than the fact that they are potentially facing another trophy-less season, one that may contain the ignobility of not even qualifying for Europe.



Everton are arguably in a similar, if shoddier, boat; at times the Toffees have been transcendent, with rampant victories over Villa, Newcastle and Sunderland. They even have the season’s 3rd top scorer in in Romelu Lukaku (sure to be leaving over the summer), and the fourth best strike force (with 51 goals) in the league despite sitting in 12th. Yet for all their talent they are so sloppy at the back it has become all for nought, Roberto Martinez facing a challenge to keep his job as the side continually underperform the high bar they have set themselves. It looks like that disappointing run will continue this Sunday, Spreadex offering a Manchester United/Everton Goal Supremacy spread of 0.35-0.55 with a Total Goals spread of 2.4-2.6.

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