Cardiff v Crystal Palace
Premier League
BT Sport
Cardiff’s survival hopes will hinge on this weekend’s home game against Crystal Palace. Their destiny is not all in their own hands though. Cardiff have to win their final two games of the season to have any chance of staying up. But also they need Brighton, the only team that could replace Cardiff in the bottom three, to not pick up a point in any of their two remaining games. So all Cardiff can do is win this and hope for the best. The Bluebirds are 6/4 with leading bookmakers to take three points in this one.
Crystal Palace have nothing to play for, having already earned their safety. The thing about them is they are in a great form away from home. Interestingly the Eagles have won four of their last five road games. They boast the sixth-best away record in this season’s top flight actually, in stark contrast to them holding the second-worst home record. So that’s problematic for Cardiff. The Eagles are 17/10 underdogs, but there’s nothing wrong with their away form, but will they be able to handle the intensity of a desperate Cardiff?
Saracens v Exeter
Premiership Rugby – 3.00 pm
BT Sport
There is little doubt about the big game of the Premiership weekend. Although actually, this is not a game of tremendous importance. It is league leaders Exeter making the trip to the Allianz Park to face the formidable Saracens, who are sitting in second place. Saracens could cut the gap to the Chiefs to four points, which is the best scenario that they could hope for. That would leave the race for top spot open until the final weekend of action. But a change in position is unlikely to happen realistically.
Saracens will be looking for revenge after a 31-13 loss at Sandy Park against Exeter earlier this season. They have actually lost four of their last five against the Chiefs, but are 5/6 with leading bookmakers to land the success in this one. Saracens do, after all, hold a massively impressive 20-match winning streak at Allianz Park. But with just the one win in their last seven against the Chiefs, the visitors will no doubt turn up in a confident mood. If they land the win at 6/5, then top spot in the table for the regular season is sealed.
Newcastle v Liverpool
Premier League – 7.45pm
Sky Sports
A late Saturday kick off in this one. Liverpool face their last test out on the road in this season’s title race. They will be visiting St James’ Park and it will be interesting to see what challenge Liverpool will come up against. The Reds are W12 D5 L1 on their league travels this season and they have won 8 of 9 away games against teams in the bottom half of the table (D1). Liverpool are 11/10 to win to nil in this one, because it may be tense for them on the road. But their defence has been so strong all season, having earned a clean sheet in half of their road games. This is the high-profile game of Saturday’s top-flight action and will no doubt draw some of the best bets of the day.
Newcastle though are a team in form on home soil. The Magpies have won six of their last seven home fixtures, scoring at least two goals in each of those wins. So there is every reason to expect them to be a success in the fixture. They are 12/5 with leading bookmakers in a Newcastle – Draw Double Chance. But with them having already avoided relegation this season, Liverpool will be turning up and hoping that Newcastle are in a relaxed mood. Dropped points in this one for Liverpool and it would all but put the tile in Man City’s hands. Pressure on.
Southend v Sunderland
League One – 12.30 pm
Sky Sports
This is a big game for the Black Cats. Sunderland have already secured a play in the playoffs and now it is a matter of jostling for position. A win is the only thing in this game which will give Sunderland a chance at finishing third. Sunderland have lost just the three away games this season, one of them last weekend out at Fleetwood. The nice thing about this is they can play something of a relaxed game because of knowing that they are heading to the playoffs regardless.
Sunderland are 6/4 to take the win in this one. For Southend, their survival is on the line. They start the weekend only outside of the drop zone on goal difference over Plymouth. But that’s not the end of their problems, as Walsall and Scunthorpe, two of the bottom three could overtake them if Southend fail to get the victory. So there’s immense pressure. They do have home advantage and the home side are 8/5 to collect the victory and what a precious one it would be.
