Premier League Predictions Week 34 – Gurgler v Who Has More To Play For

After a massive week of Premier League football, FA Cup semi finals, and all EPL Champions League clashes, the football continues in the Premier League, and so do our Premier League Predictions Week 34.

Every week we offer up our Premier League predictions, along with a mini preview of each match, with a few best bets in an alternative Premier League preview.

We also put our tips up against a competitor, usually not human though, and based on some football stat or general life. This week our tipping opponent is based on team has more to play for from here. More on how we worked that out later.

It’s a lot like the BBC’s Lawros tips, but better. Arguably.

Premier League Predictions Week 34 – Gurgler v Who Has More To Play For

TIPS BACKGROUND: With critical end of season games coming thick and fast, it is important to know which team has more to play for than the other. It usually determines who will be the winner.

So we used whether teams were in a race for some end of season achievement or not. We gave out points from 1-10 according to importance of the prize they are trying to win as follows – Title Race (10), Top 4 (8), 7th Place (2), Relegation (Sliding from 10 – 1 relative to danger).

Throw in some negatives like a team already relegated (-10), in a European competition or FA Cup for distraction factor (-1).

Then add whether the team has a new manager, newish manager, or likely to have a new manager to impress. Or if there’s anything like a new stadium, or desperate desire to break a long title drought.

Plus add the number of off contract players for added desperation to impress for a new contract or elsewhere.

Here’s all the numbers combine for our Who Has More To Play For figure.

PREMIER LEAGUE Predictions Week 34 – Who Has More To Play For

LEICESTER to beat Newcastle
SPURS to beat Huddersfield
SOUTHAMPTON to beat Wolves
BRIGHTON to beat Bournemouth
CARDIFF to beat Burnley
EVERTON to beat Fulham
MAN UTD to beat West Ham
MAN CITY to beat Crystal Palace
CHELSEA to beat Liverpool
ARSENAL to beat Watford
CARDIFF to beat Brighton

GURGLER PREMIER LEAGUE Predictions Week 34

Now our tips. Based on our opinion, research, study and ignorance. (In no particular order)

LEICESTER to beat Newcastle (3-1)
SPURS to beat Huddersfield (3-0)
SOUTHAMPTON to beat Wolves (2-1)
BRIGHTON to beat Bournemouth (2-0)
DRAW Burnley v Cardiff (0-0)
EVERTON to beat Fulham (4-0)
MAN UTD to beat West Ham (2-1)
CRYSTAL PALACE to beat Man City (1-0)
LIVERPOOL to beat Chelsea (2-0)
WATFORD to beat Arsenal (2-1)
BRIGHTON to beat Cardiff (2-1)

Premier League Predictions Week 34 Mini Match by Match Preview

Here’s a quick run down of every game for Week 34, with a barely interesting stat included for those inclined.

LEICESTER v NEWCASTLE

Kick Off: Friday 8:00pm UK
Previous 2018-19 Result: Newcastle 0 Leicester 2

Leicester have snuck into the very competitive 7th place for the time being, having won four in a row and five of the six games since Brendan Rodgers has taken over. Some kind of impact, and at the right time of the season to recruit new players and keep the good ones. Like in form loanee Youri Tielemans. If he’s not providing assists or scoring, then Jamie Vardy is adding to his post Puel collection of goals, and failing that James Maddison chimes in. Exiting times again.

Newcastle are probably one win away from avoiding relegation. Given they have just three draws in the last 8 away games and no wins, it probably won’t be this week.

Barely Interesting Fact: The away side has won four of the last five matches between these sides.

Be$t Bet – Leicester to Win and Both Score @ $3.00

SPURS v HUDDERSFIELD

Kick Off: Saturday 12:30pm UK
Previous 2018-19 Result: Huddersfield 0 Spurs 2

After securing a 1-0 win in the Champions League over the might of Man City, it is a different task entirely to welcome Huddersfield to their shiny new stadium, with Huddersfield having bugger all to play for.

Harry Kane’s injury is not great news, but what is good news is the seemingly welcome return of form for Son. Timely as the battle for the top four rages, and it may come down to goal difference. A big win here helps Spurs keep their advantage in that field and extend it.

Barely Interesting Fact: Huddersfield are yet to score a Premier League goal against Spurs.

Be$t Bet – Spurs -2.0 Handicap @ $2.63

SOUTHAMPTON v WOLVES

Kick Off: Saturday 3:00pm UK
Previous 2018-19 Result: Wolves 2 Southampton 0

Southampton were right in the game against Liverpool until some late goals and their extra quality showed. They have been going well enough under Ralph Hassenhuttl, but are still fourth last and just five points from the drop. All their remaining games are winnable on a good day for them.

Wolves lost their FA Cup semi final last weekend, and really that was the last major thing to play for. 7th would be great for the prestige, but would they really want a Europa League campaign, given what it did to Burnley earlier in the season.

Barely Interesting Fact: The last time Southampton beat Wolves was in 2006, but they did it in style with a big 6-0 win away from home.

Be$t Bet – Southampton to win and both teams score @ $5.50

BRIGHTON v BOURNEMOUTH

Kick Off: Saturday 3:00pm UK
Previous 2018-19 Result: Bournemouth 1 Brighton 3

A battle between two teams which have underwhelmed in the second half of the season. A couple of good results aside Bournemouth have slid badly from 7th place challengers to a solid Stoke City from earlier in the decade.

If you take results from February 1 onwards for these two sides, they would be third last and fourth last. Bournemouth the worst with 5 points from 9 games. Even Bournemouth fans are booing their own team. It must be getting disappointing for fans if they are getting that fed up. Especially for a club who could have been relegated from the entire Football League around a decade ago.

Barely Interesting Fact: Prior to their win earlier in the season Brighton hadn’t beaten Bournemouth in 10 attempts.

Be$t Bet – Glenn Murray to score 2+ goals @ $6.50

BURNLEY  v CARDIFF

Kick Off: Saturday 3:00pm UK
Previous 2018-19 Result: Cardiff 1 Burnley 2

A convenient run of two wins has seen Burnley jump a little higher up to 14th, and a decent gap of eight points to relegation. A win would make them comfortable.

A win by Burnley will also probably take the fun out of the relegation battle, but who’d care if you were Burnley fans. Cardiff would certainly make it much more interesting if they could win. Results pending, they could be within a win of a few teams.

So for selfishness, we think a Cardiff win would be great.

Barely Interesting Fact: Cardiff and Burnley have almost conceded the same amount of goals. Cardiff are one ahead on 61 goals conceded.

Be$t Bet – Under 2.5 Goals @ $1.69

FULHAM v EVERTON

Kick Off: Saturday 3:00pm UK
Previous 2018-19 Result: Everton 3 Fulham 0

We’re not angry at Fulham, just disappointed. Fulham arrived into the EPL this season with gusto and swag of expensive signings. They bow out looking just as hopeless under their third manager as they did the previous two. So, perhaps another new coach is not the answer in next year’s Championship.

Everton are starting to come good, scoring five and conceding none in  recent wins against Chelsea, West Ham and Arsenal. So recent form against London clubs is great. Well that sorts out an Everton win here then.

Barely Interesting Fact: Only Liverpool, Man City and Wolves have conceded fewer goals away this season.

Be$t Bet – Everton -1.0 Handicap @ $3.00

MANCHESTER UTD v WEST HAM

Kick Off: Saturday 5:30pm UK
Previous 2018-19 Result: West Ham 3 Man Utd 1

Losses to West Ham like Man Utd suffered earlier in the season were exactly the reason that Jose Mourinho was given the flick. 

It was one of West Ham’s best efforts for the season, but those days out are mixed regularly with mediocrity and a surprise which explains their 11th place in the table.

We scribe this before we know the result against Barcelona in the Champions League, but the hiring of Ole Gunnar Solskjær as permanent manager has had the opposite effect of hiring him as an interim. But they are still alive in the battle for fourth, and may need it. depending on he Barcelona result.

Barely Interesting Fact: Man Utd have put four past West Ham in the last two games at Old Trafford.

Be$t Bet – Draw at Half Time @ $2.50

CRYSTAL PALACE v MANCHESTER CITY

Kick Off: Sunday 2:05pm UK
Previous 2018-19 pm Result: Man City 2 Crystal Palace 3

The first of a Sunday that features the two titles challengers in action.

Crystal Palace’s win at Man City earlier in the season was probably the shock of the season up to that point, and remains the only blemish at home for Man City. The Eagles away form has been the saviour of their season, given that nearly 60% of their points have come on the road.

They don’t quite get the results at home, but currently have an in form Wilfried Zaha, who has been talked about again for a Man Utd stint. A lethal penalty taker in Luka Milivojević.

Man City suffered a rare loss in the Champions League against Spurs, and will surely bounce back at Selhurst Park. Or could there be another slip up costing a team in a title race featuring Liverpool against Crystal Palace like when Liverpool threw it all away not long ago.

Barely Interesting Fact: Man City have won 7/9 games v Crystal Palace having scored 26 goals and let in just five. Three of those coming in the game earlier in the season.

Be$t Bet – Crystal Palace +2.0 Handicap @ $1.83

LIVERPOOL v CHELSEA

Kick Off: Sunday 4:30pm UK
Previous 2018-19 Result: Chelsea 1 Liverpool 1

This game represents Liverpool’s hardest game on paper for the rest of the season. Win this and they have given themselves every chance of the long-awaited title. Lose, and it might be hard to come back.

Nice to see Mo Salah getting back among the goals against Southampton last weekend, but they did leave it late, and don’t seem to be cruising to the title like Man City appear to be. The team’s win over Porto in the Champions League should give them a further boost, and there’ll be no question whether their Premier League attention will diluted by being in both competitions.

Chelsea moved up to third after the weekend’s games, and despite playing another an extra game, you can’t argue against points on the board.

Barely Interesting Fact: Going back to 2012-13, Chelsea v Liverpool games have ended in a draw 50% of the time.

Be$t Bet – Liverpool to win @ $1.53

WATFORD v ARSENAL

Kick Off: Friday 8:00pm UK
Previous 2018-19 Result: Arsenal 2 Watford 0

Watford are coming into this game on a buzz after making an FA Cup final, and nicely timed too that Arsenal are in town, given their poor away record.

Arsenal are 10th in the Premier League for away form this season, and have even conceded the sixth most amount of goals.

The Hornets have won their past three home games,and beaten some of the competitors for 7th place.

From memory Troy Deeney put on a big show v Arsenal a few years ago, And no doubt the burly Watford striker would love to do it all again. Deeney is great fun to watch.

Barely Interesting Fact: Watford have beaten Arsenal three times in the last eight matches between these sides. 2-1 on each occasion.

Be$t Bet – Watford win/Deeney Goal @ $5.50

BRIGHTON  v CARDIFF

Tuesday 7:45pm UK
Previous 2018-19 Result: Cardiff 2 Brighton 1

Brighton can effectively cut their opponent Cardiff out of the Premier League with a win here, and they;’ll be hoping to do just that.

Hopefully that will get striker Glenn Murray involved in some safety winning goals.

Barely Interesting Fact: Brighton haven’t lost at home to Cardiff in the last five games, Four of them were draws.

Be$t Bet – Brighton to win $1.80

2018-2019 Premier League Tipping Competition Results

THE GURGLER

2018-2019 Tipping Results – 172/325 – 53% – (19 Correct Scores)

Last Week Tipping Results –  3/6

Best – 11/15 Week 32

OPPOSITION

2018-2019 Results – 151/325 – 47%

Week 1 – 6/10 – Week 1 Form from last 5 seasons
Week 2 – 5/10 – Change in Market Value after Transfer Window
Week 3 – 4/10 – Red Cards from last 5 seasons
Week 4 – 7/10 – Form v Post Sir Alex Man Utd
Week 5 – 5/10 – Post International Break Form
Week 6 – 3/10 – Avoiding Russian Spies
Week 7 – 4/10 – Brexit
Week 8 – 6/10 – v Jose Mourinho
Week 9 – 4/10 – Sacked Managers / Tenure
Week 10 – 4/10 – Fighting Managers
Week 11 – 7/10 – v Leicester City
Week 12 – 4/10 – US Mid Term Elections
Week 13 – 6/10 – Claudio Ranieri
Week 14 – 5/10 – Own Goals
Week 15 – 5/10 – Midweek Form (Last 5 Seasons)
Week 16 – 2/10 – Hate
Week 17 – 4/10 – Dangerous Nickname
Week 18 – 5/10 – Christmas Shopping
Week 19 – 4/10 – Boxing Day Form
Week 20 – 7/10 – 2018 Form
Week 21 – 1/10 – New Year’s Eve
Week 22 – 7/10 – January Form
Week 23 – 3/10 – Traffic
Week 24 – 2/10 – Post FA Cup 3rd / 4th Round Form
Week 25 – 4/10 – Happiness
Week 26 – 6/10 – Valentine’s Days
Week 27 – 6/10 – Divorce
Week 28 – 5/10 – Sack Race
Week 29 – 8/10 – Wages
Week 30 – 5/10 – Recycling
Week 31 – 1/5 – Gossip
Week 32 – 10/15 – Expected Goals
Week 33 – 2/6 – UK Breweries