Sports Blog 04/03/2016: Match Preview – Premier League, Saturday 5th to Sunday 6th March 2016

After a shocking set of mid-week results saw Leicester dealt a healthy dose of good-luck, this weekend brings with it one of the biggest games of the season.

Kicking Saturday off in the style is the most important North London derby in god knows how long, with Tottenham hosting Arsenal at 12.45pm on BT Sport 1. With Leicester frustrated against West Brom on Tuesday Spurs had a change to draw level with the Foxes when they hopped across the city to face West Ham on Wednesday. Yet instead of a title-pushing performance Tottenham couldn’t overcome an outstanding Hammers who, thanks to a 7th minute opener from Michail Antonio, staked their own claim on a place in Europe, now only 1 point behind Man United. That loss ended Spurs’ 6 game winning streak, and will have come as a bitter disappointment just when they had Leicester in their sights. At least Saturday sees Dele Alli, at a Super Mega PGM of 13-17, able to start, joining Harry Kane at a Super Mega PGM of 39-46.



Like their North London rivals Arsenal suffered a similarly denting defeat, their third in a row if you factor in the Champions League-exit ensuring (well, almost) loss to Barcelona, a 15th minute strike from Joel Campbell cancelled out by Swansea’s Wayne Routledge and Ashley Williams. To make matters worse Petr Cech was injured during the defeat, meaning David Ospina, who has barely made an appearance since his calamitous performance against Olympiakos, will be between the sticks against Spurs. The Gunners remain only 3 points behind Tottenham thanks to that West Ham win, but are 6 behind Leicester with their woeful form suggesting that gap may be insurmountable. And according to our traders things could be about to get worse, Spreadex offering a Tottenham/Arsenal (h) Goal Supremacy spread of 0.2-0.4 with a Total Goals spread of 2.7-2.9.

Whilst a smidge less exciting Saturday afternoon’s game could have equally important ramifications for the title, as Leicester travel to Watford at 5.30pm on Sky Sports 1. Following Wednesday’s Great Escape, where Leicester ended up increasing their lead over the rest of the league despite being held to a 2-2 draw against West Brom on Tuesday, the Foxes will be hoping for a routine win at the weekend. They will have to do it without star signing N’Golo Kante, however, who is out with injury, potentially opening up a chink in Leicester’s surprisingly impervious armour for Watford to exploit.



Not that the Hornets are necessarily in the best shape to take advantage of a Foxes. Though 3 consecutive 1-0 wins in the FA Cup sees leaves them facing Arsenal or Hull in the 5th round Watford haven’t been as steady in the league. February saw just 1 win, a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace, joined by a loss to Tottenham and 0-0 draws against Chelsea and Bournemouth. March hasn’t started any better, Quique Flores’ side slipping to a late 1-0 defeat to Manchester United, leaving them all the way back in 12th place after holding onto a top half of the table spot for so long. Frustratingly for Flores our Spreadex traders don’t fancy a change in form this time around, offering a Leicester/Watford (h) Goal Supremacy spread of 0-0.2 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.35-2.55.

Sunday is perhaps less vital than the title-intrigue of Saturday; first up is a trip down south for Liverpool, who face Crystal Palace at 1.30pm on Sky Sports 1. Jurgen Klopp saw a bittersweet victory on Wednesday; whilst Liverpool’s 3-0 win over Manchester City was arguably one of the best since he took over at the club, the jovial German will likely be asking why his side couldn’t put in such a performance in the League Cup final just a few days earlier. Regardless, with a game in hand, Liverpool are 6 points behind both Manchester clubs (though with City also having only played 27 times), leaving European qualification as a difficult, but arguably achievable, goal.



In contrast Crystal Palace appear to be stuck in a downward spiral. Whilst 3 impressive wins in the FA Cup (against Southampton, Stoke and Tottenham) leaves Palace with an eminently winnable 5th round fixture at Reading, in the league they haven’t been victorious since December 19th. That’s a run of 4 draws and 7 losses, a form sheet that is actually slightly worse than bottom-place Aston Villa. Luckily for Alan Pardew his side’s strong(ish) start to the season means relegation isn’t a real concern, Palace 9 points away from Sunderland, Norwich and Newcastle (those 3 sides battling to avoid finishing in 18th and 19th place). Yet in terms of any top half of the table ambitions Palace look like they will be left bereft, Sunday likely set to compound that fact as Spreadex offer a Liverpool/Crystal Palace (h) Goal Supremacy spread of 0.25-0.45 with a Total Goals spread of 2.4-2.6.

Finally Sunday afternoon sees a rebounding Manchester United travel to West Brom at 4pm on Sky Sports 1. Whilst it didn’t match the intensity and quality of their 3-2 victory over Arsenal, United’s 1-0 win over Watford on Wednesday, combined with City’s loss to Liverpool , leaves Louis van Gaal’s side on equal points with their Manchester rivals, even if Pellegrini and co. have a game in hand. A top 4 finish has once against become a possibility, only a few weeks after people were calling for the head of Manchester’s Louis the First, and they will be aiming to keep up the pressure on City (who have lost their last 3 league games) with a win at the weekend.



Standing in their way is an increasing sturdy West Brom. Despite slipping to an embarrassing 3-1 defeat to Reading in the FA Cup the Baggies have seen a big improvement in their last 3 league games. West Brom followed up a 1-0 away win over Everton with a tenacious 3-2 victory over Crystal Palace that saw them twice fight back after giving up their lead, before travelling to the King Power Stadium to hold the league leaders to a draw. It’s their best run of form since the end of August/start of September, and Tony Pulis will be looking for his side to frustrate West Brom the same way they have done other ostensibly bigger sides in the last few weeks. Whether they can translate that into a win, however, is another question, our Spreadex traders offering a Manchester United/West Brom (h) Goal Supremacy spread of 0.4-0.6 with a Total Goals spread of 2.25-2.45.

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