Premier League and FA Cup final betting tips: Nottingham Forest’s woes to continue against West Ham, Eberechi Eze to score, and more

Seven clubs are still battling gamely to finish inside the Premier League’s top five and thus guarantee UEFA Champions League football next season.

Newcastle were the big winners last weekend after beating Chelsea, who incurred an expensive loss and now face Manchester United at home before a potentially decisive visit to Nottingham Forest, also chasing a Champions League place, on the final day of the season.

The Toon travel to Arsenal for another huge game on Sunday while there is also the small matter of the FA Cup final, and Sports News Blitz’s Bookie Basher has got all the best betting angles covered so chew on that you Goblins.

Chelsea vs Manchester United

Chelsea battled gamely for the best part of an hour with 10 men against Newcastle on Sunday and considering I had lumped massively on the Toon to win; I was shaking like a rescue greyhound at times right until Bruno popped up to seal the deal and make it 2-0 in injury-time.

This reeks of a routine win for the Blues, with Manchester United’s Premier League form having fallen off a cliff.

Indeed, should the Red Devils lose or draw in London on Friday, then they will be guaranteed to finish at least 40 points behind Liverpool, which will be the biggest points difference between the clubs in history. Mad ting, cuz. 

Enzo Maresca’s men are 4/11 for the win but I actually like the even money that they are in front at half-time and at the end.

Maresca by the way looks so much like Pep Guardiola, with the only subtle difference being Enzo sports a face that looks as if it’s been kneaded by a baker going through a particularly difficult divorce.  

Suggested Bet: Chelsea half-time / Full-time at evens (skybet)

Crystal Palace vs Manchester City

4:30pm kick-off for the FA Cup final this year, and Man City are 4/5 favourites to win in 90 minutes.

It's the 153rd FA Cup final and this one has the potential to sizzle.

Crystal Palace are competing in their third FA Cup final and have lost both previous attempts, having been beaten by Manchester United in both the 1990 and 2016 finals.

Seven-time winners City have been in 14 FA Cup finals but were a warm order in the betting this time last season before losing 2-1 to Manchester United at Wembley.

Pep's mob are unbeaten in their last seven games against Palace across all competitions. The Eagles last beat City in 2021, but my hunch is Saturday won’t be a cakewalk.

All eyes will be on Kevin de Bruyne as he struts out for a fourth, and likely final, FA Cup final appearance.

However Eberechi Eze is absolutely flying at the minute, and the England man has scored five goals in his past four matches in all competitions.

Eze won’t be fazed by the big stage, and I reckon 15/8 in the ‘To score or assist’ market looks like a right bet given City’s defensive woes this season.

Suggested Bet: Eze to score or assist at 15/8 (bet365/skybet)

Everton vs Southampton

So it's official then. Southampton are not the worst team to grace the Premier League.

However, picking up just 12 points after 36 games is a shocking return, and Everton look the banker of all bankers here on recent form.

The Toffees still tend to lose against the Premier League’s bigger team but have shown they can put the lesser lights to bed and 2/5 for the win looks about right here.

Alexa, play me Everton to win 2-0 and David Moyes to have a massive cheesy smile on his kipper after Saturday's early kick-off. 

Suggested Bet: Everton to win 2-0 at 6/1 (bet365/Hills)

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West Ham United vs Nottingham Forest

Unsavoury scenes at the end of Nottingham Forest's 2-2 draw with Leicester on Sunday and it begs the question, when should an owner be on the pitch?

I was more shocked by the state of Evangelos Marinakis’ tee-shirt. I mean a man estimated to be worth around £3 billion can surely afford an iron?

Forest are falling away at precisely the wrong time and I simply cannot have them at 8/5 here.

West Ham are mega erratic themselves but all things considered, I’m going to have a few quid on the Irons at 9/5.

Suggested Bet: West Ham to win at 9/5 (Betfair/Paddy Power)

Arsenal vs Newcastle United

Another big game for both teams and Arsenal will fancy this based on their second-half showing against Liverpool.

A victory for the Gunners would effectively wrap up second place in the table, but they may have to grind it out without star midfielder Declan Rice, who is an injury doubt once again.

The Mags themselves will be super motivated here. Summary for the lazy; with two games to go, Newcastle need three points.

Not a given (it’s Everton at home on the last day) but if this scenario was offered to Eddie Howe and the chaps before the season started, they would have snapped your hand off for it.

Newcastle beat Arsenal 1-0 a home back in November and beat them home and away earlier this season in the Carabao Cup semi-finals.

Alexander Isak - an oasis in an intellectual desert - has been quiet in recent weeks but looking at the season as a whole he has been on fire and 6/1 to score first about a player who has bagged 23 goals in 33 games looks a little on the toppy side.

Suggested Bet: Isak to score first at 6/1 (bet365)

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