EPL Week 26 – key match statistics and free betting tips

CAN anyone stop Leicester City?

Claudio Ranieri’s men are now CrownBet.com’s joint $3 title favourites with Arsenal after last week’s momentous win at Manchester City, who have slipped to $4.20 in the EPL outright betting.

The Gunners and the Foxes will do battle at the Emirates this weekend in what could prove a season-defining clash, while the Citizens will take on second-placed Tottenham Hotspur.

It’s shaping up as a tough week for the relegation fighters, with Aston Villa, Sunderland, Norwich City and Swansea City – four of the bottom five – all playing teams in the top half of the table.

Here are the match odds and value bets for week 26 of Premier League 2015-16.

Sunderland vs. Manchester United

12:45pm local time on Saturday, February 13, 2016 at the Stadium of Light

Sunderland – $4.80 (Sportsbet.com)
Man United – $1.80 (CrownBet.com)
Draw – $3.50 (Luxbet.com)

Jermain Defoe’s late equaliser at Liverpool last weekend secured a vital point for the Black Cats, who sit second last and four points from safety. That was Defoe’s sixth strike of 2016, leaving him only one shy of Sergio Aguero’s high mark of seven. Manchester United’s all-round play is improving week by week, but they had to settle for a draw at Chelsea after gifting Diego Costa a last-ditch goal. The Red Devils have lost only two of 29 Premier League matches against Sunderland, who have never beaten United at the Stadium of Light.

Top picks:

– Correct score 2-0 to United ($8 at CrownBet)
– Jesse Lingard to score first goal ($10 at CrownBet)

Chelsea vs. Newcastle United

5:30pm local time on Saturday, February 13, 2016 at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea – $1.44 (WilliamHill.com)
Newcastle – $8 (Sportsbet.com)
Draw – $4.50 (Bet365.com)

After snatching a point off Man United, the Blues are now nine games undefeated since Guus Hiddink was installed as interim manager in December. The Dutch tactician has lost only one out of 21 Premier League games during his two stints at Stamford Bridge. But Newcastle, who are out of the drop zone after their 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion, will head south with one key stat on their side: in the last five years, they have taken more points off Chelsea (13) than any other team in the EPL.

Top picks:

– Half-time draw/full-time Chelsea ($4.30 at CrownBet)
– Pedro to score first goal ($8 at Sportsbet)

Arsenal vs. Leicester City

12:00pm local time on Sunday, February 14, 2016 at Emirates Stadium

Arsenal – $1.75 (CrownBet.com)
Leicester – $4.60 (Sportsbet.com)
Draw – $3.85 (CrownBet.com)

Mesut Ozil and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain both found the score sheet last week as Arsenal ended their winless streak with a 2-0 result at Bournemouth. That saw them edge up the table into third, five points behind league-leading Leicester. The Foxes were superb at Man City and have now won four of their last five. However, they haven’t beaten the Gunners since 1994-95 – their first season in the Premier League – and were trounced 5-2 when these two met at King Power Stadium back in September. This match will feature the top three goal-creators in EPL 2015-16: Riyad Mahrez, Jamie Vardy and Ozil.

Top picks:

– Correct score 2-1 to Leicester ($17 at Bet365)
– Jamie Vardy to score first goal ($7 at CrownBet)

Aston Villa vs. Liverpool

2:05pm local time on Sunday, February 14, 2016 at Villa Park

Aston Villa – $4.50 (Sportsbet.com)
Liverpool – $1.88 (CrownBet.com)
Draw – $3.60 (Bet365.com)

Their condition may be critical, but there are signs of life at Aston Villa. The win over Norwich means they have now doubled their points tally from eight to 16 in the space of five games, although they remain eight points short of the survival zone. Liverpool threw away a 2-0 lead against Sunderland last week, shipping two soft goals in the closing stages. They have a golden opportunity to bounce back at Villa Park, where the Reds have lost only once in the last 17 years.

Top picks:

– Liverpool to score in both halves ($3.20 at CrownBet)
– Philippe Coutinho to score first goal ($8 at Sportsbet)

Manchester City vs. Tottenham Hotspur

4:15pm local time on Sunday, February 14, 2016 at Etihad Stadium

Man City – $2.10 (CrownBet.com)
Tottenham – $3.60 (WilliamHill.com)
Draw – $3.50 (Luxbet.com)

The Citizens had their pants pulled down last weekend as an on-song Leicester trumped them in every department. They now lie fourth, two points and two places behind Mauricio Pochettino’s high-flying Spurs. The Lilywhites have rather enjoyed the winter months, winning seven of their last nine games. But while they thrashed City 4-1 at White Hart Lane earlier this season, Tottenham have lost on each of their last five visits to Eastlands. This has become one of the highest-scoring fixtures in the EPL, with the last nine clashes producing 41 goals in total.

Top picks:

– Over 3.5 goals ($3 at William Hill)
– Dele Alli to score first goal ($12 at CrownBet)

More 2015-16 Premier League betting

Dates listed according to British Standard Time (BST)

Saturday, February 13

Bournemouth $2.15 – Draw $3.25 – Stoke City $3.50

Crystal Palace $2.25 – Draw $3.20 – Watford $3.30

Everton $1.53 – Draw $4 – West Bromwich Albion $6

Norwich City $2.30 – Draw $3.30 – West Ham United $3.10

Swansea City $3.10 – Draw $3.10 – Southampton $2.40