The EPL has reached its fourth-last weekend of the 2024/25 campaign and there remains plenty of intrigue despite the title and all three relegation places having been decided.
Manchester City and Aston Villa are in there fighting for the third, fourth and fifth Champions League places alongside Newcastle, Chelsea, and Nottingham Forest.
Both are short-priced favourites for victory, but there’s value to be had in backing their opponents to score in defeat with both seldom shut out on the road.
City motivation to win out but Wolves can make their mark
That Manchester City are 1/3 favourites to beat a Wolves side on a six-match winning streak says much for the differing levels of motivation the two teams can draw upon.
Wolves are safe in lower mid-table now, whereas City need to nail down Champions League qualification for next season. Their players will also be mindful of advancing their claims for a starting berth in the FA Cup final on May 17.
Pep Guardiola’s side have won six and drawn one of their last seven in all competitions and should come out on top, but Wolves can net to land the City win and BTTS bet at 9/5.
The men from Molineux have scored in 18 of their 21 road games this season, while City have shipped at least one in eight of their last 10 home games on all fronts.
Man City to beat Wolves & both teams to score
@ 9/5
Villa should ship en route to pinching points for UCL chase
As for the Etihad, so for Villa Park, where the hosts are priced up at 3/4 victory at least partly on them having the greater motivation of a chasing Champions League football in 2025/26.
Visitors Fulham by contrast have only faint hopes of Europa League action as inconsistency has crept in. The Cottagers have now won three and lost four of their last seven in all competitions.
Villa have won six in a row on home turf across all fronts but conceded in 13 of their last 15 in front of their own fans, which brings the 12/5-rated home win and BTTS bet into play.
Marco Silva’s guests may lack laser focus but they’re still fancied to find the net, having registered at least once in 19 of 21 outings on their travels across all competitions this term.
Aston Villa to beat Fulham & both teams to score
@ 12/5
First-half-draw kings to share the interval spoils at Selhurst
Champions League chasing Nottingham Forest look well worth entertaining as 19/10 underdogs away to Crystal Palace on Monday night given the Eagles players will have at least half an eye on staying fit for their FA Cup final meeting with Manchester City.
However, the Eagles are backed to hold off Nuno Espirito Santo’s side until after half-time, landing odds of 23/20 about a draw at the interval in the process.
Palace lead the Premier League for first-half draws on home turf this season, with nine of their 17 top-flight outings at Selhurst Park going in level at the break. Forest, meanwhile, have only been ahead at the midway point in five of their 17 EPL away games to date in 2024/25.
Crystal Palace vs Nottm Forest - 1st half draw
@ 23/20
