The domestic football weekend begins this evening in the Premier League with the visit of Leicester City to bottom-of-the-table Norwich. The Canaries begin the weekend seven points from safety although they do have the opportunity to put pressure on those directly above them with a win against a Foxes side who have not won any of their last four games in all competitions.
Brendan Rodgers’ side had their chances against Manchester City at the King Power last weekend and that form doesn’t look too shabby considering City’s tremendous performance in the Bernabeu midweek. City are now 5/2 favourites to lift the Champions League with BetVictor after their 2-1 win in Spain with Bayern 4s after their humbling of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and holders Liverpool 5s despite trailing Atletico 1-0 from the first leg.
Leicester currently sit third in the table – six points above fourth-placed Chelsea – but they have not been as fluent or free-scoring in recent weeks as was the case in the first half of the campaign. West Ham are the only side the Foxes have beat in the Premier League since New Year’s Day and the Canaries were, arguably, unfortunate not to pick up a point in their last home game against champions-elect Liverpool.
Leicester are 3/4 to return to winning ways with the hosts 18/5 and the draw at 3/1. It is fast reaching last-chance saloon for the Canaries who need to pick up points from their home games if they are to stand any chance of maintaining their elite status next term. Norwich are 9/4 in the draw no bet market and that is the recommendation.
Tomorrow’s early kick-off is the M23 derby between Brighton and Crystal Palace. The Seagulls have drawn their last three games, but they have been behind in all those fixtures and showed their resilience and quality to pick up a valuable three points from those games.
Palace were much too good for a poor Newcastle side at Selhurst Park last weekend, but that was their first win in eight. The reverse fixture between the sides ended in a draw back in December and I think it will again be honours even at the Amex.
Graham Potter’s side are 21/20 to keep the points with the draw at 21/10 and Palace at 3/1. A 1-1 scoreline is 11/2 at BetVictor and that is the recommendation.
Liverpool once again showed their extraordinary will and determination – as well as class – when they overcame a 2-1 deficit to pick up yet another three points at home to West Ham earlier in the week, but I felt they missed the energy and passion of Jordan Henderson against the Irons and I think Watford can get a result against the champions-elect at Vicarage Road in tomorrow’s late kick-off.
Liverpool are 4/9 to make it 27 league wins from 28 games this season with the relegation-threatened Hornets 6s and the draw at 18/5. Watford have not had the rub of the green in recent games – they could easily have led at halftime at Old Trafford on Sunday – and the recommendation is for Watford to either win or draw at 7/4.
