Premier League

Final Day Betting

And so it's come to this. After weeks, months, years of going at it hell for leather, noses to the grindstone, giving it an impossible 110 per cent (how?), two big names, one day, only one winner. Many would argue that they're damn near impossible to separate, one swooping and soaring with a rich history of consistent brilliance, the other a relative young pretender who splits the vote – some are fanatic with their love, some utterly venomous, overflowing with hatred. And yet, come the end of that fateful day, one will be standing tall, the other writhing on the floor in tears. But who? Britney? Or Whitney? According to the big brains who construct The Sun newspaper on a daily basis, the US singers are releasing albums on exactly the same day! That’ll be some head-to-head. In other news, it's the final day of the Premier League on Sunday, meaning it's the last time you can make serious money on an ambitious accumulator. Read on, friend.

Birmingham v BLACKBURN – Roque Santa Cruz has five in four for Blackburn, who will make it three wins in a row to relegate Birmingham.

CHELSEA v Bolton – After back-to-back home wins over Manchester United and Liverpool, there is no way Chelsea will allow Bolton to derail their title challenge.

Derby v Reading (DRAW) – It might be too big an ask for Paul Jewell to get his first league win as Derby boss but Reading haven’t scored in six games.

EVERTON v Newcastle – Everton have only lost to the Big Four at home this season and will want to guarantee fifth spot against a Newcastle side with nothing to play for and just one away win in 2008.

Middlesbrough v MANCHESTER CITY – Middlesbrough have won back-to-back home league games just once all season (Wigan and Fulham), and Sven will end his tenure on a high with City’s fourth straight win over Boro.

Portsmouth v Fulham (DRAW) – Could a team that hadn’t won an away game since September 2006 really win three in a row? No they can’t. Portsmouth have lost just three times at home all season, and never back to back.

Sunderland v ARSENAL – Neither have anything to play for, but Arsenal should win their fourth in a row (and fifth in a row against Sunderland) against a Sunderland side who have lost to the other teams in the top five without scoring.

Tottenham v Liverpool (DRAW) – Spurs are fighting for a top-half finish but have won just two of their last nine home games, and none of their last three. They always score but Liverpool have scored two in each of their last three away games.

WEST HAM v Aston Villa – Surprisingly, West Ham are unbeaten in eight home league games with Villa, and though Villa are the second-highest away scorers in the league, their need to attack will prove their undoing.

Wigan v Manchester United (DRAW) – Wigan have never taken points off Manchester United, but they have taken points off Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea and are unbeaten at home since January.

06/05/08

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