With a mixed bag of fixtures this weekend across both the Premier League and the FA Cup quarter-finals, there are only four Premier League fixtures. This has provided some particularly intriguing games across both cup and league – continue reading to discover the best betting tips across both competitions…
Aston Villa v Arsenal Betting Tips
Arsenal travel to the West Midlands after taking on a high-flying Liverpool side off the back of a five game-winning run for the Gunners. Taking advantage of the restricted Premier League fixture list, a win this weekend will further consolidate Mikel Arteta’s side’s hopes of landing a top-four position come the end of the season.
Villa will be no pushovers – especially at home – but they were curiously flat in their defeat to West Ham last weekend. The inventive attacking play that supporters have come accustomed to under Steven Gerrard just wasn’t evident and if the Arsenal back four can keep Ollie Watkins in check, another crucial result for the Gunners looks likely.
One to watch from an Arsenal standpoint is new Aston Villa signing Philippe Coutinho. He’s been one of the signings of the January transfer window and has managed to score four goals in nine games, while providing some influential assists too, and will certainly cause Arsenal problems when given the opportunity.
Arsenal aren’t always as impressive away from home though, so they may have to settle with a point – odds of 12/5 look good value for that option. Back them with £10 and receive £50 in Free Bets with bet365.
Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham Betting Tips
With many of the Premier League’s top teams in FA Cup action this weekend, both Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham have the opportunity to remind clubs around them that they also have their eyes on European qualification this season. While both have impressed this season, albeit inconsistently, there’s the feeling that both may fall short of a coveted top-four finish, with Spurs on a rescue mission after a drop in form.
The prospect of playing in either the Europa League or even Champions League should be enough to put the fire in both teams in what has become a bitter rivalry in recent years.
Spurs have seen their form drastically turn sour since the turn of the year and can only look to shock wins – such as the 3-2 victory away at Manchester City – as consolation keeping them in the hunt. West Ham looked to be in better shape heading into the final stages of the season, only for the energy-sapping fixture list to appear to have taken the zip out of the players. This fixture has all the makings of a cracker this Sunday and it could be the home side that’s happier after 90 minutes.
It should be tightly contested though, so a Spurs win and both teams to score at 23/10 looks like a good bet.
Southampton v Manchester City Betting Tips
This season’s FA Cup quarter-finals sees two all-Premier League ties with Manchester City taking a trip to the south coast to take on Southampton. Pep Guardiola’s last trip down to St Mary’s saw his City side settle for a point which resulted in the Citizen’s 12-game winning streak in the league ending. This time around another Wembley appearance is the reward for the victor.
Southampton have seen the favourable draw come their way regularly in the FA Cup this season, until now. There have been victories over Swansea, Coventry and West Ham, albeit not without drama with two of those coming after extra time. The Saints – who have turned into something of a cup side in the last few years – have not made it to an FA Cup final since 2003 and will be looking to go one step further than their league result with Wembley in their sights.
Man City on the other hand are far more familiar with the Wembley surroundings of late. Yet the last time they lifted the coveted FA Cup was in 2019 with the semi-finals becoming a bit of a sticking point for the Citizens over recent seasons.
Given the strength in depth available to Guardiola within a packed fixture schedule, he may well be celebrating another semi-final appearance by the end of the weekend. City to win to nil at 23/20 looks a good option with a £10 bet receiving £50 in Free Bets with bet365.
Nottingham Forest v Liverpool Betting Tips
It’s been over 20 years since Nottingham Forest played in the top tier of English football, but games between these two used to be quite the occasion. This FA Cup quarter-final looks set to roll back the years as two of English Football’s giants go toe to toe for the first time in a while. Steve Cooper’s side will be looking to claw back some of the glory days by continuing an outstanding FA Cup campaign and reaching the semi-final stage for the first time since 1991.
With wins against Arsenal, Leicester City and Huddersfield Town to get to this stage. they’ll have the backing of a passionate City Ground crowd as they look to cause another Premier League upset. This time, however, they face one of the very best sides in Europe currently – and one that remains on for an unprecedented quadruple.
One promising factor for Forest is that Jürgen Klopp is likely to put out a starting XI, unlike the one that usually graces the Premier League due to competing on multiple fronts with fixtures piling up. There is, however, still a lot of depth in the Liverpool squad though, and quality depth at that, so that by no means makes it an easy day for Forest.
This promising Forest side certainly have the speed and talent, coupled with home advantage, to find the net at some point. Despite that, this should end in a Liverpool victory and with both teams to score this bet can be found at a price of 15/8. Receive £50 worth of Free Bets when you bet £10.
Premier League and FA Cup Betting Tips
Despite many of the top sides in cup action this weekend, there are some other interesting Premier League games this weekend. Wolves will have the opportunity to prove that they can once again challenge for Europe this season with a home win against Leeds at Molineux on Friday. With Leeds getting off to a rough start under new manager Jesse Marsch, that result should be attainable and is priced at an enticing 6/5.
Meanwhile, Leicester City host a battling Brentford side at the King Power in the other Premier League fixture of the weekend. There’s been an unusual lack of consistency with Brendan Rodgers’ side this season – and they have disappointingly drifted around mid-table as a result. Meanwhile, Brentford look to be timing their relegation escape perfectly after finding some end-of-season form and will be boosted with the return of Christian Eriksen to the squad. A draw looks good at 5/2.
Chelsea put themselves under the spotlight of football fans through the week after requesting that their FA Cup quarter-final clash at Middlesbrough be played behind closed doors due to ticketing issues. Yet, while that might give the home side even more impetus to pull off an upset, the likely result is that Thomas Tuchel’s side will make it to the final four once again. The odds for an away win are 9/20.
The second all-Premier League quarter-final takes place between a Crystal Palace side that managed to hold Manchester City to a goalless draw last time out and Frank Lampard’s relegation battling Everton. Although Lampard will be hoping to capitalise on a rare feel-good occasion this season, there might not be any good news for the Merseyside club here. A Palace win at 23/20 looks like the way to go. A £10 bet on Viera’s side to add to Lampard’s blues receives £50 in Free Bets with bet365.
