EPL Matchweek 29 top picks and game previews | March 12 – 13

All 20 English Premier League teams will be playing a game this weekend and it is coming down to it. There is an insane Champions League race that features the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United, Tottenham and West Ham all fighting for one spot. For those unfamiliar, the top four teams at the end of the season will all get to compete in the Champions League, the most prestigious cup in Europe. Also, as usual, there is a relegation battle brewing that has six teams fighting for their Premier League lives. All in all, this weekend is important. Here are the best picks to enhance your viewing pleasure.

Liverpool FC at Brighton and Hove Albion

Liverpool have hopes of a Premier League title but have to keep up with Manchester City. They are six points below them but have a game in hand. If they win this game, they will be three points behind and within striking distance. This is a big line, and you will be laying down a lot of money but Liverpool should easily dispatch Brighton. Behind Mo Salah and Sadio Mane, Liverpool possess an attack that no one can stop and they have won eight straight Prem games. Liverpool have proven they can win away from home, so they should win this game comfortably.

Brighton are nothing to sneeze at, but they don’t have the talent of Liverpool. That’s not a bad thing, very few teams do. But Brighton are especially weak defensively and that will give Liverpool an opportunity early and often. Brighton have had a respectable season with 33 points in 27 matches. They sit in 13th place and can give many teams a good run on the pitch. However, Liverpool is a different level of soccer club. Don’t overthink it.

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Tottenham Hotspur at Manchester United

The crown jewel of the Premier League weekend is this game. Tottenham is in 7th place with 45 points through 26 matches. United is in 5th place with 48 points through 28 matches. To call this a big game would be an understatement. Both of these teams will expect to make it to the Champions League qualifying spots by the end of the season but it looks like only one or none of these teams will. Ultimately, both of these teams have been on shaky form, alternating wins and losses in the league and that makes this game hard to pick.

However, the over is very tempting. Both of these teams’ strengths are in their attacks and there should be a barrage of offense. Heung Min Son and Harry Kane are two of the most prolific goal scorers in the league and they will lead the line for Tottenham. Manchester United have a bevy of options but none bigger than Cristiano Ronaldo. Expect all these stars to really go for it and try to put on a show. Both defenses have been very vulnerable at certain points in the season and have been less than stellar. Expect the over to cash with relative ease and watch the fireworks. It should be an awesome game.

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Aston Villa FC at West Ham United

This game will sneakily be one of the weekend’s best. West Ham are firmly in the Champions League race with 45 points through 28 matches. While they have struggled as of late, they still have a lot of talent who play very physical football. They present a matchup problem for many teams but perhaps none more than Aston Villa. Villa are not very physical and have a tough time defending set pieces, an aspect of the game West Ham thrive on. While Villa have been in great form and will enter this game winners of their last three, they will be in for a rude awakening at London Stadium.

Aston Villa have completely turned their season around behind new coach Steven Gerrard. They have climbed up the table into ninth place with 36 points in 27 games. They have outscored opponents 9-0 in the previously mentioned three game win streak and have the swagger to beat anyone. That being said, they do not have the muscle to handle West Ham. They will be traveling away, which makes it all the more difficult. Despite their recent form, Villa should lose a tight one to a West Ham team that is simply a class above them. This is a big game for both teams and should be very entertaining. Take West Ham at home and expect them to win a close one.

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