Fulham v Chelsea
Premier League – 2.05 pm
Sky Sports
It’s a local derby in the Premier League between these neighbours. Neighbours they may be, but there has been a massive gulf between them in terms of output this season. Chelsea are in the mix for a top-four finish, despite all the troubles that they have been having recently. As for Fulham, they are pretty much-staring relegation right in the face.
Chelsea had lost three of their four previous league games before stepping out at the Bridge on Wednesday against rivals Tottenham. But in a good show of unity, they managed to put their EFL Cup Final loss behind them, to put the run of poor league form behind them, to put the whole Kepa refusing to be substituted incident behind them to post a 2-0 win. That was the perfect tonic for the Blues and they have the chance to build further momentum now as they make the short trip to Craven Cottage on Sunday. Chelsea are 8/15 odds-on with top bookmakers.
Fulham suffered a loss against Southampton in midweek which tallied up to their fourth straight league defeat. It leaves them with seven defeats in their last eight league games. That loss against the Saints was enough for the board. They sacked manager Claudio Ranieri, putting Scott Parker in temporary charge. The only positive for Fulham is that a change of manager can often spark a side back into life. Plus all four of their league wins this season have been at home. They are 11/2 underdogs to pull off a big upset on the weekend though.
Newcastle v Worcester
Premiership Rugby – 3.00 pm
BT Sport
Two of the bottom three in the Gallagher Premiership will be battling it out at Kingston Park on Sunday. It is the Newcastle Falcons who are rooted to the foot of the table and even if they were to bust out a win in this one that position would not change for them. The positive for the Falcons is that they have home soil advantage. Also, because of some recent head to head positives against the Warriors, the Falcons are 1/2 favourites for the match.
Newcastle took a good away win at Worcester earlier this season, their third win in four against them in the top flight. Their last home defeat against the Warriors was back in March 2016. Each of Worcester’s last four wins in the top flight have been on home soil and they are on a five-match losing streak on their league travels. But if ever there is a chance to snap that slump then it surely has to be against the bottom side in the league.
Everton v Liverpool
Premier League – 4.15 pm
Sky Sports
Liverpool will try and maintain their Premier League title challenge in this Merseyside derby on Sunday evening. Even though they have enjoyed such a strong season and even though they have big head to head form over the Toffees, they have to tread carefully. Liverpool will have to try and keep a lid on emotions and not get swept into a fractious, heated derby day match up at Goodison Park. Liverpool are in at an odds-on price to collect the victory but they have only drawn their last two league away games. Overall the Reds have drawn three of their last five league outings (W2).
So will that give Everton a chance at pulling off a massive upset on home soil? Doing so would potentially ruin Liverpool’s title challenge. The Toffees are big 5/1 underdogs for the match, and they have not won a single league game against any side currently in the top half of the table. But this is a special occasion, at home against their biggest, most bitter rivals. The incentive of knocking Liverpool off the top of the league will surely be shouted around the dressing room of the home side. We couldn’t have a best bets of the day preview without this and it has an intense feeling about it.
Napoli v Juventus
Serie A – 7.30 pm
Premier Sports
There are some huge games happening around Europe this weekend and this one of them. This is a showdown between the top two in the Italian top flight. Juventus are miles ahead at the top of the pile. Even if they were to lose in Naples, it wouldn’t really disrupt their title challenge at all. However, the wonder on this game is just about whether or not Juventus will avoid defeat at Napoli. That is because the Old Lady are unbeaten in the top flight this season and this is the game in which they are most likely to lose that record.
Juventus are 11/5 underdogs in the match outright with leading bookmakers. You are not going to see them as underdogs on many occasions. That is a huge credit to Napoli who are unbeaten at home this season, and who have not conceded a single goal in any of their last five games. The Naples side will carry a huge threat at 13/10 odds to be the first ones to topple Juve this season on the domestic league scene. They lost 3-1 in Turin against Juventus earlier this season so will have revenge on their mind. Napoli have won two of their last three on home soil against the Old Lady. One to watch out for here!
