Matchweek 34 of the 2022-23 EPL season saw the favourites salute in nine of 10 games as things become increasingly tight at the bottom.
Here’s how it looked for punters:
Relegation battle tightens
With City seemingly running away in the title race, the battle for who stays up is only heating up. Leicester ($2.00) hosted Everton ($4.00) in a pulsating six-pointer which finished at 2-2, and left us with more questions than answers. With just one point separating 16th to 19th, few are safe. Here’s how things stand:
The relegation battle in the Premier League after Leicester 2-2 Everton:
15) West Ham—34 (33 GP)
16) Leicester—30 (34 GP)
17) Leeds—30 (34 GP)
18) Forest—30 (34 GP)
19) Everton—29 (34 GP)
20) Southampton—24 (34 GP) pic.twitter.com/9boBwQTzyq— B/R Football (@brfootball) May 1, 2023
Southampton ($1.02 EPL relegation chances with Palmerbet) are now considered all but down, but for the four clubs above the Saints, it has turned into an almighty scrap. While Leeds currently sit outside the relegation mire on goal difference, they’ve shortened into the next-most likely to go down (at $1.53) owing to a quite simply awful April in which they conceded a whopping 23 goals. To put this into perspective, Newcastle have conceded just 27 goals the entire season. Only slightly more fancied to stay up are the Toffees ($1.62 for relegation with Palmerbet) and Nottingham Forest ($1.72), followed by the Foxes (currently $3.00). Outside the EPL drop zone on goal difference alone, there is now huge pressure on Leicester to get something out of this weekend’s clash against Fulham.
Jamie Carragher reacts to reports that Javi Gracia could be on his way out of Leeds United with Sam Allardyce as the frontrunner to replace him 👇 pic.twitter.com/51MLiTNEoJ
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 1, 2023
Skipper propels Gunners back on top
The Leicester and Everton draw was in fact the only result in Matchweek 34 in which the favourite didn’t salute. On Wednesday morning (AEST) Arsenal ($1.55) returned to the top of the EPL table with a commanding 3-1 win over Chelsea ($5.50) who have now not won in 53 days. Winless in their last four, the Gunners got a much needed win on the back of a brace from skipper Martin Odegaard ($8.00 first goalscorer, $15.75 to score 2+ goals). It sees Mikel Arteta’s men go two points clear however, crucially, EPL title favourites Manchester City (currently $1.08 with Palmerbet) have two games in hand as Arsenal ($8.00) need to win their remaining four games of the season and hope for some big upsets against the Sky Blues to run out unlikely winners. But you’ve got to be in it to win it, and three points over Chelsea ensures exactly that.
City themselves edged past Fulham 2-1 in a professional performance. Goals to — you guessed it — Erling Haaland ($2.95 first goalscorer) and Julian Alvarez ($2.05 anytime goalscorer) ensured the points at Craven Cottage.
That's now 14 goals for Martin Odegaard this season 🔥
The only central midfielder to score more goals in a single #PL campaign for @Arsenal was Cesc Fàbregas in 2009-10 (15) 👏 pic.twitter.com/PYJLkRXxLA
— Premier League (@premierleague) May 2, 2023
Brighton close in historic feat
Since their inception in 1901, Brighton have never played in a European competition. That dream, however, could be realised next season.
The Seagulls were back to their dominant, devastating best on the weekend in a 6-0 rout of Wolves. While Brighton were fancied to get the three points as $1.55 favourites, Roberto De Zerbi’s side were a whopping $20 at -4.0 (-5.0 not available). The result sees them remain in eighth, two points behind Tottenham and Aston Villa in sixth and seventh respectively. Except, crucially, the Seagulls have three EPL games in hand on those rivals. And it puts them into $1.45 to finish inside the Top 6 this season.
With Champions League spots awarded to the top four clubs each EPL season, Europa League positions are usually granted to fifth place, and the FA Cup winners. However with Manchester City and Manchester United set to face off in the FA Cup final and United almost guaranteed a Top 4 spot, a Europa League spot will slip down to sixth. Which means the Seagulls are on track for something special.
A 6-0 walloping of Wolves with five changes to the starting line-up.
Alexis Mac Allister, Moises Caicedo and Kaoru Mitoma all rested.
Early moves to sign Joao Pedro and James Milner.
Brighton are a club that looks ready for Europe. #BHAFChttps://t.co/0NYoVrZQdI— Andy Naylor (@AndyNaylorBHAFC) April 30, 2023
