Betting odds, form and free tips for EPL Week 27

ENGLISH Premier League action resumes this weekend with three teams tussling to be top at the end of winter.

Arsenal closed the gap on Leicester City last time out thanks to Danny Welbeck’s last-gasp winner at the Emirates, which leaves the Gunner’s two points short of Claudio Ranieri’s league-leading Foxes.

Also in the hunt are second-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who completed the double over Manchester City with a crucial 2-1 win at Eastlands.

The Citizens are now six points off top and four behind Arsenal and Spurs, but they won’t get a chance to make amends this weekend due their League Cup commitments.

Also skipping league duties for the final at Wembley are Liverpool, who hammered six past a hapless Aston Villa on their last outing.

While the Villains look resigned to relegation for the first time in EPL history, Sunderland – the preseason favourites to go down – edged closer still to the safety zone with a rare 2-1 victory over Manchester United.

With Norwich City facing a tough trip to Leicester and Newcastle United not playing this week, the Black Cats have a golden chance to leap out of the bottom three.

Here are the best Premier League 2015-16 match odds and value bets for week 27, with markets provided by our top-rated online soccer betting sites.

Leicester City vs. Norwich City

3:00pm local time on Saturday, February 27, 2016 at King Power Stadium

Leicester – $1.55 (CrownBet.com)
Norwich – $6.50 (WilliamHill.com)
Draw – $4.33 (Sportsbet.com)

The Foxes acquitted themselves well at Arsenal and can count themselves unfortunate to have gone down with the last play of the match. Their form was otherwise excellent prior to the FA Cup break, and they should pick up where they left against an entirely out-of-sorts Norwich. The Canaries have managed only one point in their last six games and will have to show extraordinary improvement to get anything out of their trip to the East Midlands.

Top picks:

– Leicester to score in both halves ($2.32 at CrownBet)
– Riyad Mahrez to score first goal ($7 at Bet365)

Southampton vs. Chelsea

3:00pm local time on Saturday, February 27, 2016 at St. Mary’s Stadium

Southampton – $2.80 (Bet365.com)
Chelsea – $2.68 (CrownBet.com)
Draw – $3.25 (Sportsbet.com)

After a dire mid-season drought, the Saints are just about the form team in the EPL with five wins in their last six games. Much of the credit must go to star shot-stopper Fraser Forster, who hasn’t conceded a single goal since returning from injury on January 14. This week the Hampshire club must contend with an improving Chelsea who smashed five past Newcastle two weeks ago and haven’t lost a league match since Guus Hiddink took charge in December.

Top picks:

– Draw half-time/draw full-time ($5 at Bet365)
– Correct score 0-0 ($8.60 at CrownBet)

Manchester United vs. Arsenal

2:05pm local time on Sunday, February 28, 2016 at Old Trafford

Man United – $2.87 (Bet365.com)
Arsenal – $2.68 (CrownBet.com)
Draw – $3.25 (WilliamHill.com)

United are decimated by injuries at the moment, with Jesse Lingard and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson the latest casualties. Wayne Rooney is certain to miss this weekend, while star goalkeeper David de Gea – not included for the return leg against Midtjylland in the Europa League – is also a real doubt. Arsenal, despite losing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to injury in midweek, are about as well-stocked as they’ve been all year. They should have the cattle to complete a rare double over the Red Devils, who haven’t lost to the Gunners at home since 2006.

Top picks:

– Half-time score 0-0 ($2.61 at Sportsbet)
– Theo Walcott to score first goal ($9 at William Hill)

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Swansea City

2:05pm local time on Sunday, February 28, 2016 at White Hart Lane

Tottenham – $1.46 (CrownBet.com)
Swansea – $9 (Bet365.com)
Draw – $4.50 (Sportsbet.com)

Spurs are on fire. They’ve won their last five games on the bounce, and eight of their last 10, in what is without doubt their finest Premier League campaign to date. The chances of making it six wins from six look good, as Swansea – still in relegation danger after three matches without a victory – are yet to beat the Lilywhites in nine EPL meetings. The Swans will be especially wary of the in-form Christian Eriksen, who has scored three goals in as many appearances against the Welsh club.

Top picks:

– Tottenham to win 2-0 ($7 at Bet365)
– Christian Eriksen to score first goal ($8 at Bet365)

More 2015-16 Premier League betting

Dates listed according to British Standard Time (BST)

Saturday, February 27

West Ham $1.83 – Draw $3.60 – Sunderland $4.20

Stoke City $1.66 – Draw $3.40 – Aston Villa $6

Watford $2.35 – Draw $3.25 – Bournemouth $3

West Bromwich Albion $2.60 – Draw $3 – Crystal Palace $2.90

(Liverpool vs. Everton and Newcastle vs. Man City postponed due to League Cup final)

All odds provided by www.WilliamHill.com