The Scout: EPL Week 25 Preview

Posted on March 2, 2023March 10, 2023 | Posted by The Scout

Manchester City v Newcastle United

It’s an important game for both sides as Manchester City chase Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table and Newcastle United look for a victory to believe in.

Having brought new hope to Newcastle, manager Eddie Howe also took the club to within touching distance of a first major trophy in almost 55 years, only to have it snatched away by Manchester United.

But despite the goodwill around the Toon, things haven’t quite gone as well recently as the early season promise seemed to suggest.

Nick Pope will return to action after missing out on last weekend’s League Cup Final through suspension and he will make a big difference to a team that has relied on its defensive resilience this season.

But Newcastle just don’t score enough goals and, as a result, they don’t win enough games. Striker Callum Wilson has scored just once in his last eight games, and big hope Alexander Isak is not yet up to speed after recovering from injury.

Despite losing just twice this season, 11 draws in 23 matches have let Newcastle slip down to fifth place with Liverpool, Fulham and Brighton hot on their heels.

Manchester City are five points adrift of Arsenal, although things might’ve been better had they not conceded a late goal in a disappointing draw with Nottingham Forest two weeks ago.

A 4-1 thrashing of Bournemouth corrected City matters, and they will be keen to get a victory before Arsenal, who beat Everton 4-0 overnight, take on the Cherries later on Saturday.

Everyone knows where City’s main goal threat lies – a goal against Bournemouth was Erling Haaland’s 27th of the season – but there is a whole lot more to admire right through the squad.

It will be a case of City’s attacking threat chipping away at Newcastle’s resistance.

Suggested Bet: City to win + Under 2.5 goals (Same Game Multi) @ $4.10*

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Aston Villa v Crystal Palace

The obvious incentive for both sides is that they can edge closer to confirming their place in the Premier League next season.

Mid-table mediocrity might be the best that both sides can expect this season but that’s better than the thought of being dragged into a nerve-shredding relegation fight.

Villa are 11th on the table after arresting a three-match losing streak with victory over Everton last weekend, while Palace are just once place back.

A four-point gap means that Villa will retain their place on the edge of the top half of the table even if they lose.

Palace haven’t won in the Premier League since a New Year’s Eve victory over Bournemouth. Since then, they have lost three times and drawn five.

There have been signs of improvement in their past three matches with 1-1 draws against Brighton and Brentford and a goalless draw against Liverpool.

Palace’s biggest problem has been creating and taking chances. Of the 21 goals they’ve scored this season, Wilfried Zaha has scored almost 30% with six from 19 games. He has missed the last four matches with a hamstring injury and may not return this week.

Ollie Watkins is the obvious threat for Villa having scored in each of their last five games. Even in recent defeats to top sides Arsenal (4-2) and Manchester City (3-1), Villa have found a way to score.

In fact, Villa have scored in each of their past 11 games.

With Danny Ings having been moved on to West Ham United, Villa can still look to Watkins, Leon Bailey and Emi Buendia for goals.

Suggested Bet: Villa to win @ $2.02*

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Liverpool v Manchester United

It’s a little too obvious to simply predict that Manchester United will win this one. They have lost only one of their past 22 games in all competitions – a 3-2 defeat to Premier League leaders Arsenal the obvious blemish.

That stretch of success includes four straight wins over Leicester, Barcelona, Newcastle, in the League Cup Final, and West Ham United, in last night’s FA Cup fifth round.

Third on the Premier League table and with a 13-point lead over Liverpool, Manchester United may even come into contention for the title as the season enters an important stage.

With plenty of stars such as Marcus Rashford, Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes and David de Gea, manager Erik ten Hag doesn’t mind taking more functional decisions, such as that to sign Wout Weghorst on loan from Burnley.

The big Dutchman has added a new dimension to United, and although he is yet to score in the Premier League, a goal could be just around the corner.

The case for Liverpool isn’t straight forward. Nowhere near the form of last season, and generally playing well below expectations, it’s dangerous to write off Jurgen Klopp’s side.

An overnight win over Wolves was further evidence of Liverpool’s potential, as Virgil van Dijk scored the opener and Mohamed Salah struck his 20th goal of the season in all competitions.

The win lifted the Reds to sixth place, just six points off fourth and the security of Champions League football next season.

And despite their erratic form this season, Liverpool have been difficult to beat at Anfield. Only Leeds United, who won 2-1 in October, and Real Madrid, 5-2 winners in the Champions League last month, have won at Anfield in any competition this season.

History is also against Manchester United, who have not won at Anfield in any competition since January 2016 when Wayne Rooney scored a second-half winner.

Suggested Bet: Draw + Both teams to score (Same Game Multi) @ $4.25*

*Odds correct as at 10am, 2nd March 2023.

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