Another Premier League season is about to come to an end. There won’t be any last-day battles to stay in the division because the relegation issue has been put to bed already and not many will believe that there will be anything other than a Man City win away at Brighton to hand them back-to-back Premier League titles; but there are a few other important things to look out for. Here are some of them.
Palace star duo making their encore?
When Crystal Palace line up against Bournemouth there will be two players of a similar appearance featuring in that starting line-up. The tall, lean, dreadlocked duo of Wilfried Zaha and Aaron Wan-Bissaka have probably been besides skipper Luka Milivojevic the stand-out players for Palace this season, but their history is very different.
Zaha, 26, is currently in his third spell at Palace after a doomed passage through Old Trafford and six months at Cardiff. Wan-Bissaka, just 21, made his debut in the Premier League this season.
The problem with Zaha is that his temperament threatens to overshadow his raw talent but then again, the two very often come hand in hand when it comes to the most gifted creative players. As for Wan-Bissaka, he’s been brilliant both defensively and offensively in his first season at this level and he wouldn’t look out of place at any Premier League team.
Palace would rather not sell either of them of course but that’s not how football works. Big offers usually mean big transfers so this might be the last time Palace fans see one or either of them in their colours. The 2-1 Palace win is priced at [7.5] and you’ll see worse bets this weekend.
Golden Boot race to go to the wire
Mo Salah ([1.33]) is currently two goals clear of the field to finish as the league’s top scorer for the second season in a row. Trailing him on 20 goals are Sergio Aguero ([4.0]), Pierre-Emerick Aubemayang ([15.0]) and Liverpool team-mate Sadio Mane ([15.0]).
A home tie against Wolves where Salah is just [1.83] to score should put the matter to bed right there and then, correct? Maybe not. Salah, who missed Liverpool’s incredible win over Barcelona after suffering concussion against Newcastle at the weekend, hasn’t been passed fit to play at the time of writing and may have to sit this one out.
Even if he plays, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that one of his rivals scores a brace (to tie) or a hat-trick (to win) as Salah draws a blank. The race isn’t over just yet.
What next for Benitez?
If finishing 14th on a shoestring budget with a low-quality squad not playing particularly expansive football doesn’t float your boat, then Newcastle fans should be reminded of the Alan Curbishley/Charlton story.
Apparently Curbishley wasn’t good or ambitious enough and he was replaced. They may yet be promoted to The Championship this season via the Play-Offs but even if they are, that’s a million miles away from the dizzy heights of Premier League football.
The smart money is on Benitez leaving at the end of the season, with a lack of funds and mid-table mediocrity proving too much for a manager of his calibre to endure for another season.
And it’s not just the Southamptons or Burnleys who might be eyeing up a bit of Benitez. Manchester United and Chelsea may just be thinking of a managerial change come the summer and he’s certainly not lacking for big-club experience.
Newcastle meanwhile finish the season with a trip to Fulham. [2.75] on Benitez ending the season with a win looks tasty.
Who’s the baddest of the bad boys?
No-one would admit to wanting to end the season as the Premier League’s most booked player but maybe secretly, the division’s bad boys would relish at least being the best of the worst.
Leading the way is Watford’s Etienne Capoue on 13 with a trio made up of Arsenal’s Sokratis, Newcastle’s Fabian Schar, Bournemouth’s Jefferson Lema and fellow Hornet Jose Holebas all on 12.
For interest’s sake only Wes Morgan of Leicester and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg have been sent off twice this campaign.
Going back to the bookings, It’s not the sort of high-profile battle many will be looking to but for those who enjoy the more obscure side of football, it’s worth keeping an eye on.
Both Betfair Sportsbook and the Exchange will have ‘to be shown a card’ markets available nearer the time.
Source: Betfair Premier League
