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Martin Rickett
Predictions

Burnley to frustrate understrength Man United plus more Premier League and FA Cup bets

Plus, Chelsea to beat Tottenham in a penalty shootout.

1. Chelsea to beat Tottenham in a penalty shootout – 10/1

CHELSEA FACE TOTTENHAM in the FA Cup on Saturday evening, as the Premier League’s top two meet for the third time this season.

Both sides have won one game apiece when coming up against each other this season, and the sides looked relatively well matched on both occasions.

Moreover, the teams in question have a reputation for being solid at the back.

With just 22 goals conceded Tottenham have the Premier League’s best defensive record. In addition, with only five more goals let in this season, Chelsea are similarly hard to beat.

So don’t be surprised to see a tight affair this weekend, with few goals and potentially a penalty shootout ultimately deciding who goes through to the final.

Chelsea, given their status as league leaders and the fact that they possess the greater experience within their ranks, go into the game as slight favourites.

2. Gabriel Jesus to score anytime against Arsenal – 13/10

The 20-year-old Brazilian prodigy has played just five times since joining Man City in the summer.

However, the young striker had been on fire, with three goals in two games, before injury forced him to leave the pitch just 15 minutes into Man City’s match with Bournemouth back in February.

“[He is] much, much better, today he made part of training with us,” City boss Pep Guardiola told reporters on Friday. “He is coming back with his happiness – and we are so happy.

“We are going to travel, all the group, to Wembley, he will be part of that and after that we’ll see.”

Tipping Jesus to score is obviously a risk, as there’s no guarantee he’ll even be part of City’s FA Cup semi-final with Arsenal on Sunday.

However, anyone who has bet against the former Palmeiras player, over the course of his young career, has invariably been made to look foolish.

3. Romelu Lukaku to score two or more against West Ham – 9/2

Everton v Burnley - Premier League - Goodison Park Dave Howarth Dave Howarth

With 37 points, West Ham are effectively safe from relegation and consequently have little to play for at this stage in the season.

By contrast, Everton sit just three points off Man United in fifth, and thus retain slight hopes of Europa League qualification.

The Hammers have been on the end of a few hammerings themselves this season already, and with the Toffees likely to be the more motivated of the two going into this game, it’s hard to envisage anything other than an Everton victory.

And should the game pan out as expected, Romelu Lukaku may well add to the phenomenal tally of 24 goals, which he has already managed this season.

4. Man United to draw at Burnley – 14/5

Despite a game in hand, Man United currently trail fourth-place City by four points and so are underdogs in the race for a Champions League spot via the traditional route.

Their best chance of qualification for Europe’s top club competition now seems to be winning the Europa League, having reached the competition’s semi-finals earlier this week

Moreover, after an exhausting extra-time win over Anderlecht on Thursday and with bad injuries suffered to key players in Marcos Rojo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, United look decidedly vulnerable ahead of Sunday’s trip to Burnley.

The Clarets have lost just four of their 16 games at home this season, and Sean Dyche’s men will fancy their chances of improving on this impressive stat against an understrength United side this weekend.

5. Liverpool to beat Palace and over 3.5 goals – 5/2

With just a few games to play and Liverpool in third, Jurgen Klopp’s side appear to be closing in on an all-important Champions League spot for next season.

The Reds won’t be taking anything for granted on Sunday — Palace have improved markedly of late, having previously been relegation contenders.

Sam Allardyce’s men have stunned both Arsenal and Chelsea in recent weeks, and will be hoping to complete another significant scalp this weekend to all but ensure Premier League survival for another season.

Liverpool have been far from consistent in this campaign, but one thing you can rely on from them is goals — no Premier League team has scored more this season.

Playing at Anfield, and with confidence likely to be high owing to five wins and two draws in their last seven games, expect the hosts to prevail on this occasion.

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