The Scout: EPL Week 36 Preview

Posted on May 10, 2023May 10, 2023 | Posted by The Scout

Leeds United v Newcastle United – Saturday, May 13 (Kick-off 7.30pm WA time)

Sam Allardyce will take on one of the 11 clubs he has previously managed desperately hoping his current club, Leeds United, can claim three points against Newcastle.

Anything less will leave Leeds teetering on a return to England’s second tier, just three years after they climbed back to the Premier League.

After losing to Manchester City on the weekend, Leeds slid back into the relegation zone following Everton’s surprise win away to Brighton and Nottingham Forest’s defeat of last-placed Southampton on Tuesday.

One win in the final seven matches of Javi Gracia’s reign cost him his job and paved the way for Allardyce to take over last week. Considering they had conceded 23 goals in the seven games before his arrival, a 2-1 loss to City in his first game seemed like improvement.

But gallant defeats won’t save Leeds and stubborn defending is only part of the solution. Allardyce needs goals and was hoping to get them from Patrick Bamford, who started against City. But it was only after the introduction of Rodrigo that Leeds looked like scoring with the Spain international obliging.

Despite their push for a Champions League place, Newcastle are not yet operating at the levels of City and Arsenal, as they showed in last weekend’s 2-0 defeat to the Gunners.

But they still have the league’s best defence and have, at times, been free scoring with goals flowing for Alexander Isak, Callum Wilson and Miguel Almiron.

Newcastle are third on the table and need to finish in the top four to secure Champions League football next season. They are two points clear of Manchester United and three ahead of Liverpool, who have played one game more.

Newcastle have lost only three games on the road this season and have the third best away record in the league. Only Arsenal and City have been better on their travels.

Despite the expectation of a tense atmosphere, Newcastle have enough quality to get the job done.

Suggested Bet: Newcastle to win + Under 2.5 goals (Same Game Multi) @ $4.75*

---

Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur – Saturday, May 13 (Kick-off 10pm WA time)

Aston Villa are still dreaming of Europe but will need to get back on track against Tottenham Hotspur if they are to break into the Europa League next season.

Villa, who are eighth on the table, had been flying with a 10-game unbeaten stretch that included big wins over Newcastle and Bournemouth. But recent defeats against Manchester United and Wolves have curbed their progress.

One noticeable difference in recent weeks has been a drying up of goals for Ollie Watkins, Villa’s chief source this season.

Since scoring twice against Newcastle at the end of a run of scoring in 10 of 12 matches, he has been goalless for four games.

It won’t get any easier for Villa after the Spurs match with a trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool followed by a home game against Brighton, who have European ambitions of their own despite recent setbacks.

Sixth-placed Tottenham are just three points above Villa, although Spurs also have a goal difference advantage of +4.

On to their third manager of the season, Spurs’ latest boss, Ryan Mason, was in charge for a draw against Manchester United and 4-3 defeat to Liverpool before Harry Kane secured victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday.

It’s not an exaggeration to suggest that keeping Kane quiet will be half the battle for Villa with the England international’s 26 Premier League goals this season representing more than 40% of all goals scored by Spurs.

Suggested Bet: Half Time/Full Time – Aston Villa/Aston Villa @ $3.35*

---

Chelsea v Nottingham Forest – Saturday, May 13 (Kick-off 10pm WA time)

Having won two of their last three matches, Nottingham Forest might need to win two of their next three to avoid returning to England’s second-tier Championship after just one season in the Premier League.

Despite the recruitment of 30 players since winning promotion to the top-flight competition, Forest find themselves just three points outside the bottom three. Given they take on Arsenal at home and Crystal Palace away in their last two games of the season, the match against Chelsea probably represents their best chance of claiming a win.

It might seem odd to be saying that about the Blues, but there is very little to play for from a Chelsea side that has been unable to find good form this season.

Interim manager Frank Lampard, who oversaw a first victory in seven attempts with a win against Bournemouth on Saturday, will be moved on at the end of the season. And neither the prospect of European competition next season, nor the threat of relegation, are motivational cues for the players.

What Forest boss Steve Cooper would give for a bit of mid-table mediocrity right now. Instead, Forest are fighting for their future.

With eight wins all season, including a memorable home victory against Liverpool, Forest might just have enough in the tank to see themselves to safety.

Taiwo Awoniyi, who scored the winner against Liverpool, scored twice on Monday as Forest resisted a Southampton revival to win 4-3. Victory came after a 2-1 defeat to Brentford, which took some of the wind out of Forest’s sail following a win over Brighton.

Brennan Johnson has been Forest’s brightest star this season, with the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White, Remo Freuler, Renan Lodi and skipper Joe Worrall also among the most used of Cooper’s seemingly endless squad.

And although Forest are yet to win successive Premier League games this season, a victory over Chelsea will change that.

Suggested Bet: Draw @ $4.40*

*Odds correct as at 1pm, 10th May 2023.

Market Market