Premier League Betting Tips Matchday 34
It’s Matchday 34 of the Premier League season as the campaign begins to draw towards a close.
It's a slightly smaller programme this weekend with four top-flight teams taking part in the FA Cup semi-finals, but there are still five matches to enjoy on Saturday and two more on Sunday, when Liverpool will clinch the title unless they lose at home to Tottenham.
The battle for the European places is raging and with Aston Villa, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest in FA Cup action at Wembley, Newcastle and Chelsea have the chance to make ground when they host Ipswich and Everton respectively.
The Tractor Boys' relegation could be confirmed after Saturday's matches but all roads lead to Anfield on Sunday where Liverpool could be lifting the Premier League trophy.
We have four selections for the weekend's top-flight matches.
West Ham to beat Brighton @ 4/1
West Ham can hardly be said to have marched towards Premier League safety in dominant fashion, but they are almost over the line with five matches to go.
The Hammers are 15 points ahead of 18th-placed Ipswich and have a goal difference that is 20 superior to the Tractor Boys', but they may be able to add to their points tally at Brighton.
West Ham have scrapped their way to three draws and three defeats in their last six matches, but all three losses were by a single goal, and they were close to holding champions-elect Liverpool to a draw at Anfield.
Another late goal denied Graham Potter's side in a 1-1 draw with Southampton last weekend but they have not been playing quite as badly as their results suggest and they could upset Brighton.
The Seagulls have not won any of their last six matches and have been beaten in three of their last four games, which makes this their worst spell of the season.
Brighton have drifted down to 10th in the table, and with only six wins in 16 home league games, they are worth taking on this weekend.
Newcastle -2 on handicap v Ipswich @ 49/50
Newcastle should relish the opportunity to boost their chances of a top-five finish and they could also pump up their goal difference while condemning Ipswich to a swift return to the Championship.
The Magpies should be determined to put in an improved performance after going down 4-1 at Aston Villa last weekend but they had won their previous six matches and have been ruthless in their recent outings at St James' Park.
Newcastle have beaten Manchester United 4-1 and Crystal Palace 5-0 in their last two home matches and can chalk up another wide-margin win against Ipswich.
The East Anglian side have lost six of their last eight league games and lost 4-0 at home to Newcastle in December. The hosts can be backed to record another victory by at least a three-goal margin.
Draw in Bournemouth v Manchester United @ 3/1
Bournemouth are having an up-and-down end to the season, and they could struggle to retain their position as best of the rest in the Premier League in eighth place.
There is a gap of eight points above the Cherries to the top seven, and a queue of teams behind them looking to jump ahead.
The south-coast side has won only one of their last 10 games and look a short price to see off Manchester United in the first of Sunday's two top-flight fixtures.
Bournemouth were in much better form when they won the teams' first league meeting 3-0 in December, and they have lost four of their last five home league matches.
United have saved their best performances for the Europa League recently and have a big game coming up against Athletic Bilbao on Thursday but they are capable of claiming a point.
Over 3.5 goals in Liverpool v Tottenham @ 8/11
The champagne is on ice at Anfield with anything but a defeat to Tottenham on Sunday set to secure the Premier League title in Arne Slot's first season as manager.
The team are likely to want to put on a show to match the celebratory mood around the stadium, and the clubs have already been involved in some entertaining games this season.
There have been 14 goals scored in their three matches, with Liverpool winning 6-3 in London in the league in December. Spurs won the first leg of their EFL Cup tie 1-0 at home but the Reds found their goalscoring form again with a crushing 4-0 success in the second leg on Merseyside.
Liverpool have won eight of their last 10 home league games including each of the last six, with five of the last nine producing four or more goals.
Tottenham lost 4-2 at Wolves on their last league road trip and manager Ange Postecoglou is not likely to abandon his attacking principles despite talk of a summer departure from the club.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation