There's a tidy amount of Premier League action tonight, as sides look to catch up on those that have played a few more games than them.
Live on Sky Sports tonight is title-chasing Tottenham Hotspur's visit to Crystal Palace, whilst Arsenal welcome Leicester City to the Emirates after booking their third FA Cup final place in four years at the weekend. At the wrong end of the league, Middlesbrough host North East rivals Sunderland as both desperately try to avoid relegation to the Championship.
With only a few weeks of the season left, these games could be pivotal.
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Arsenal v Leicester City
Arsene Wenger will have been able to relax a little after his side came from behind to beat Manchester City in their FA Cup Semi-final at Wembley on Sunday. The triumph will have been a welcome relief for Wenger, who has been hounded by a section of the club's fans to leave the club after 20 years of service.
Leicester, who parted ways with their Premier-League-winning manager in February, have seen an upturn in their fortunes since doing so - winning five of their seven games with Craig Shakespeare in charge. Even then, they still concede a fair amount away from home in the Premier League (eight in their last three).
In their nine games at Top 12 sides, they've conceded at least two on eight occasions. The reigning Champions of England have conceded four at Manchester United, Everton and Liverpool - as well as three at Chelsea and Southampton. Meanwhile, Arsenal have scored two or more in all but one of their home games against bottom-half sides. That's why I'm backing Arsenal Over 1.5 Team Goals at 4/9.
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At a tastier price, I also like Arsenal to Win and Over 2.5 Goals at 21/20. It has landed in seven of Arsenal's 10 home wins and all six of Leicester's losses to top-half sides.
Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham's quest to pile the pressure on Chelsea at the top of the league has taken a major hit this weekend. A win against the current league leaders in the FA Cup at Wembley on Saturday could potentially have disrupted their run-in and spread doubts throughout the team. Unfortunately, Chelsea ran out 4-2 victors to book their place in the final before beating Southampton by the same scoreline last night to restore their seven point cushion at the league's summit.
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Spurs now face the tough task of travelling across London to face Sam Allardyce's well-drilled Crystal Palace side. The Eagles have lost just one of their last eight games, beating Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool during that period. The run has taken them from bottom of the league to 12th and seven points clear of relegation.
Neither of these sides have failed to score since mid-February so I think 4/5 on Both Teams to Score is well worth backing.
There's no understating Tottenham's form though. Pochettino's side have won seven league games in a row and lost just once in 17 games since December. Something that's caught my eye though is that Spurs have only won six away league games all season, so I'm backing Crystal Palace or Draw Double Chance at 8/5.
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Middlesbrough v Sunderland
Fresh off the back of David Moyes' FA Charge for threatening to slap a female reporter, Sunderland make the short trip to North East rivals Middlesbrough in arguably the least appealing game of the season. It looks like both of these sides could be replaced by fierce rivals Newcastle in the Premier League next season and I'll be glad of it.
Boro haven't won a game since December and Sunderland have won two away games all season. Sunderland are the league's second lowest scorers, pipped only to the title of shittest attack by tonight's opponents. Middlesbrough are the division's worst home side whilst Sunderland are the league's third worst away side.
Back Draw and Under 2.5 Goals at 7/2 as it's the closest you can get to both of them losing.
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