It has been one of the most exciting and dominating performances in the history of the league but this Sunday we will finally know whether it will be the hot favourites Manchester City, or the underdogs Liverpool that will be the team to celebrate a title victory in what has been a truly astonishing season.
Both teams are miles clear of Chelsea and Tottenham in third and fourth and even further ahead of Arsenal and Manchester United in fifth and six. Indeed, United on 66 points are 29 points behind City, 28 behind Liverpool and in truth, United are as close to 16th placed Southampton in terms of points than they are the top two.
[featured_offer id=”1750″]This past weekend saw drama in both games involving the top two. Liverpool saw Mo Salah injured and a battling Newcastle United side, managed by former Reds boss Rafa Benitez, come back twice from a goal down to get level at 2-2 before an 86th minute deflected header from striker Divock Origi handed Liverpool a battling 3-2 win.
Then on Monday night, Manchester City struggled to unlock a determined Leicester City team, who had a couple of decent chances themselves in the game, only for Vincent Kompany to score an absolutely world class thunderbolt strike from 25 yards to give City the win they needed to go back to the top of the table by a point.
This weekend the season culminates with Manchester City travelling to Brighton knowing that a win will be enough for them to claim the league title. A draw or even a loss could even be enough depending on how Liverpool do at Anfield. The Reds know that it is very likely only a win will suffice against Wolves on their home patch, but that is not going to be an easy task against one of the few teams to have beaten Liverpool this season and a team that have an excellent record against the top six in general.
If you fancy a flutter on either of the two title-deciding games this weekend, or indeed any of the other matches taking place in the Premier League, then remember to head to bet365 Sport. New customers can sign up with the current bet365 New Player Bonus which offers them a little extra when they start betting on site. Add to that a fine Live Streaming service and great In Play betting across a wide range of sports and you have all you need to enjoy top quality sports betting all year round at bet365.
How Will The Premier League Title Be Decided?
There are a number of possible permutations for how the Premier League will be decided and these are all outlined below:
- Any Manchester City win – Manchester City win the title regardless of how Liverpool get on against Wolves.
- Any Liverpool Win and a Manchester City draw or loss – Liverpool win the title.
- A Manchester City draw and a Liverpool Draw or Loss – Manchester City win the title.
- A Manchester City loss by less than four goals and a Liverpool draw – Manchester City win the title.
- A Manchester City loss by more than four goals and a Liverpool draw – Liverpool win the title.
Of course, the chances of some of these instances occurring are very small, particularly the last two options and given that Manchester City have won all of their last 13 in the league, it seems far more likely that City will win against a Brighton side that are already safe from the drop following Cardiff City’s defeat to Crystal Palace last weekend.
Let’s now preview both the key games this weekend and give you our tips on each. All matches on the final weekend of the Premier League kick off at the same time, 3pm, on Sunday 12th May,
Premier League Title Deciders
Brighton v Manchester City
The 36 points Brighton have amassed mean that they are already safe from relegation and they have earned draws in three of their last four games, away to Wolves and Arsenal as well as at home to Newcastle United. However they played City in the FA Cup SemiFinal a few weeks back, losing to a single goal from Gabriel Jesus.
City have not been sweeping teams away with style as they have earlier in the season but have shown real resilience and defensive sturdiness to claim victories in the last few games. Their victories over Tottenham, Man Utd, Burnley and Leicester in recent weeks were all built on not conceding a goal and they will be keen to do that here too.
Form Guide
The teams have met just 21 times previously, Manchester City winning 12 of those games, Brighton five with four draws. City have won all the four games between the teams since Brighton returned to the Premier League in 2017. Brighton’s last win over Manchester City came back in League Division Two in April 1989.
Our Tip
Having come through so much to get to this stage, I can’t see Manchester City slipping up now. Brighton’s form since the turn of the year hasn’t been great and while they have picked up draws in recent games at home, City are a much tougher opponent than any they have faced. As such, I am expecting City to win here and probably relatively comfortably too.
- Full Time Result – City to win – 1/8
- Correct Score – Brighton 0-3 Manchester City – 15/2
Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Liverpool fans will be going into this game with Wolves in the hope, rather than the belief, that Manchester City will slip up away to Brighton and while many Reds fans ears will be tuned in to how things are going at the AMEX, they’d be well aware to remember that Wolves have been a very tough side for the top teams to beat this season and that it was Wolves that ended Liverpool’s FA Cup hopes in the competition this season.
Nuno Santo’s men would love nothing more to finish the season with another win at Anfield, a place where they have recorded some notable surprise victories in the past and if Liverpool have had a nightmare against Barcelona in midweek, or if City take an early commanding lead, then this game could turn flat and give Wolves a real chance.
Form Guide
The teams have played each other 103 times in the past with Liverpool amassing 50 wins in that time, Wolves have landed 36 wins and 17 games have finished in a draw. The Reds have won just one of the last three games between the teams at Anfield, Wolves winning two of them one in the FA Cup in January 2017 and the other a 1-0 win for Wolves in the Premier League back in 2010.
Our Tip
Liverpool’s form and battling qualities of late have been immense and they deserve huge credit for that. This will be a tough game for them, but if Mo Salah is, as expected, fit to start, then I feel the Reds will have just enough to claim a win, even if it is eventually a win that doesn’t claim them the title.
- Full Time Result – Liverpool to win – 1/3
- Correct Score – Liverpool 2-1 Wolves – 17/2
Worried about your gambling?