EPL Wednesday betting preview: Thoughts on all 4 fixtures
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And then there were three.
The Premier League season is rapidly winding to a close, with Matchday 36 set for midweek ahead of what's a light weekend due to the FA Cup.
The fixtures get started at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night, but really ramp up Wednesday with four matches that hold plenty of relevance in the European and relegation races.
Bournemouth (+1400) at Manchester City (-750), Draw (+725)
Bournemouth's win over Leicester was bittersweet as they boosted their hopes of survival but lost Nathan Ake, who might have played his last game for the club. Ake is the best player on the Cherries, never mind the best defender. He organizes everything at the back and is a real threat from set pieces. His absence represents a huge blow to Eddie Howe's attempt to guide the club to safety.
It's hard to see Bournemouth's defense having any success slowing City's fierce attack without the services of Ake. Even though the hosts have nothing to play for, the Cherries' only chance is catching Manchester City fully looking ahead to their FA Cup semifinal at the weekend. Still, even a weakened starting XI should be too much for Howe's men to overcome.
Lean: None
Tottenham (-130) at Newcastle (+315), Draw (+250)
Even after a massively important win over Arsenal on Sunday - a result that flattered Tottenham Hotspur given their performance - Jose Mourinho's side still faces quite a scrap to secure a spot in Europe next season. Spurs have to jump at least one, if not two places to make it to the Europa League qualifiers, and considering the way they're going at the moment, I'm not so sure they will do it.
There's a real insipidness to how they attack and it's made life incredibly difficult for the likes of Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son, who have mostly had to feed off scraps. It's as though Tottenham are playing not to lose games rather than trying to win.
A visit to St. James' Park poses some challenges, despite Newcastle United having nothing to play for. Steve Bruce's side has every right to feel aggrieved following a defeat at Watford on Saturday - the second in a row for the Magpies, who will be eager to return home. They're fully healthy in attack and will be able to get after Spurs enough to end their losing run.
Pick: Draw (+250)
Wolverhampton (-110) at Burnley (+265), Draw (+225)
Manchester City successfully overturning their European ban comes as a real blow to Wolverhampton Wanderers, who now need a top-four finish to realize their Champions League dreams. They were much better in disposing of Everton at the weekend, and it's a testament to how mentally tough this side is under Nuno Espirito Santo, but a trip to Burnley will be quite difficult.
The Clarets are really enjoying themselves at the moment and are full of belief. They disposed of Wolves 2-0 in this fixture last season and drew 1-1 at Molineux earlier in this campaign. The tenacity with which Sean Dyche's side approaches each match makes Burnley a really tough opponent, and the Clarets will give Wolves problems again.
Pick: Draw (+225)
Liverpool (+100) at Arsenal (+235), Draw (+230)
It's hard to get a good feel for this match without seeing what sort of lineup Jurgen Klopp sends out. While reaching 100 points would be quite the achievement for Liverpool, I don't think it matters to them nearly as much as it does to media and historians. We saw Klopp rotate some youngsters in against Burnley and I'm sure that will be the case again here - just to what extent is uncertain. And who sits out?
On Sunday, Arsenal did what they always do: follow a good run of form with a loss just as things are looking up. Though they did deserve at least a point from the derby, it's an issue that's been plaguing them for years now. They're still playing good football at the moment, however, and they'll be confident in their ability to get a result against a weakened Liverpool side. Also, they desperately need three points to keep their European hopes alive.
Lean: Draw (+220)
(Odds source: theScore Bet)
Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.