ALEX CROOK PREVIEW: Premier League Weekend

Star Sports ambassador ALEX CROOK looks ahead to the pick of the weekend Premier League matches…

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ASTON VILLA v LIVERPOOL
Friday, 8pm

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Victory for either Villa or Liverpool at Villa Park tonight will guarantee their spot in next season’s Champions League.

The pair are separated in the table only by goal difference, but Villa will surely rotate players ahead of facing Freiburg in Wednesday’s Europa League final in Istanbul.

Their form in the Premier League has tailed off during their bid for European glory and Unai Emery’s men have picked up just eight points from their last nine games and one from their last three.

They have also beaten Liverpool just once in the last 16 meetings and, even factoring in the Reds’ unconvincing away form, the onus is really on Arne Slot’s side to put a distracted Villa to the sword.

Slot needs to end the season well and get off to a good start next season to convince the restless Anfield crowd the hierarchy are right not to part company with their title-winning manager.

Slot was at least able to call upon British record signing Alexander Isak from the bench in last week’s unconvincing 1-1 draw at home to Chelsea.

The Swede should be fit to start and I fancy him to get himself on the scoresheet at 17/10 with starsports.bet.

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MANCHESTER UNITED v NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Sunday, 12.30pm

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There should be a party mood at Old Trafford on Sunday when United bring down the curtain on their home Premier League campaign.

Michael Carrick may even have signed his long-term contract by then, but either way will want to send the Red Devils faithful off for the summer in style.

Having been dumped out of the Europa League in the semi-finals by Aston Villa and secured top-flight survival. I am not convinced Forest will be as motivated as their hosts.

Carrick gave some of his fringe players the chance in last weekend’s dour 0-0 draw at Sunderland, but I would expect the likes of Casemiro to return to the 11.

In Casemiro’s case this will be his last game at the Theatre of Dreams and given his recent goal-scoring heroics I would not be surprised to see the legendary Brazilian sign off in style.

A theme of Carrick’s successful tenure to the point has been United coming on strong in the second half of games.

My build-a-bet is United to win the second half Casemiro to score at any time and record-chasing Bruno Fernandes to get one or more assists, which pays a juicy 8.5/1 with starsports.bet.

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NEWCASTLE v WEST HAM
Sunday, 5.30pm

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West Ham can move out of the relegation places for 24 hours at least by beating Newcastle at St James Park on Sunday.

The Hammers were denied a crucial late point when VAR chalked off Callum Wilson’s equaliser in last weekend’s dramatic 1-0 London derby defeat at home to Arsenal.

I thought that could be curtains for Nuno Espirito Santo’s charges but they are still in with a puncher’s chance of staying up after Tottenham dropped two points at home to Leeds 24 hours later.

With Spurs not in action until travelling to FA Cup finalists Chelsea on Tuesday, this is an opportunity to pile some scoreboard pressure on their relegation rivals from across the capital.

Newcastle are in dreadful form leading to Eddie Howe coming under pressure from fans, but have the motivation of aiming to finish above north east rivals Sunderland.

The Magpies have stumbled into an unhelpful habit of taking the lead in games and failing to win and have now dropped 27 points from losing positions following last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest.

The issue for West Ham is they simply do not score enough goals. In fact only four teams in the Premier League have managed fewer and two of them, Burnley and Wolves, are already down.

Given the Hammers’ struggles to put the ball in the net and Newcastle’s penchant for not seeing out games, I like the look of Newcastle HT/Draw FT at 11/1 with starsports.bet.

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ARSENAL v BURNLEY
Monday, 8pm

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This game does not need much of a write-up as the outcome is pretty predictable! Arsenal will win and it is simply a question of how many they fancy scoring.

The Gunners need a maximum six points from their final two games to seal the title, but will be champions if they win on Monday and Manchester City lose or draw at in-form Bournemouth 24 hours later.

Burnley have nothing but pride to play for and have shown precious little of that over the course of another dismal top-flight season.

The Gunners have won their last three league games without conceding a single goal and I don’t see Burnley being good enough to breach their ham-fisted defence at an expectant Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal to win the first half and both teams to score no, looks an absolute banker at 8/13 with starsports.bet.

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RECOMMENDED SELECTIONS
1️⃣ BEST BET: Arsenal to win the first half and BTTS, no 3pts at 1.83/1 with starsports.bet
2️⃣ NEXT BEST: Alexander Isak to score 1pt at 17/10 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
🎲 LONG SHOT: Newcastle HT/Draw FT 0.5pts at 11/1 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
📊 BUILD-A-BET: Manchester United to win the second half, Bruno Fernandes 1+ assist, Casemiro to score at any time 0.5pts at 9/1 with starsports.bet

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