EPL Gameweek 32 Review and Betting Tips

We review the best action from another dramatic gameweek in the English Premier League, as the UEFA Champions League football race moves into overdrive. 

Newcastle 5-0 Crystal Palace: Magpies Soar into Third

The excellent performance of English teams in European competitions this term means that five sides will officially play Champions League football next season, as the EPL cannot be caught on UEFA’s rather complicated coefficient calculations for the year. 

One side that seems highly likely to take advantage of this is Newcastle United, which took advantage of their double gameweek by blowing away both Manchester United (4-1) and Crystal Palace at St James’ Park. 

That victory was the Magpies’ sixth straight win in all competitions. They look well-placed to build on their Carabao Cup victory by dining at European football’s top table next season, with Betway offering 1.36 for a top-four finish. It’s worth noting, however, that there are games to come against Aston Villa (seventh), Chelsea (sixth) and Arsenal (second). 

Speaking of the Gunners, Newcastle are suddenly just four points behind Mikel Arteta’s side,  who have the distraction of a Champions League semifinal against Paris Saint-Germain. With the title race effectively over, it certainly wouldn’t be out of the question that they could be caught, with Eddie Howe’s men currently trading at 1.90 for a top-two finish.

Nottingham Forest 0-1 Everton: Hosts Felled by Triumphant Toffees

We’re firmly into the business end of the EPL season, and nerves certainly seem to be setting in at the City Ground. Nottingham Forest suffered a second straight defeat when conceding an injury-time winner at home to Everton on Saturday. 

Nuno Espirito Santo’s men have been the season's story so far, though their defeat at the weekend and back-to-back wins for Newcastle have seen Forest slip to fourth, just three points clear of sixth-placed Chelsea. 

It’s certainly understandable that nerves could be setting in, particularly when you consider that you have to go back to the 1995-96 season to find the last time that Forest played in a European competition, while their last appearance in what’s now the Champions League was back in the 1980/81 campaign. 

With an FA Cup semifinal against Manchester City coming up, there are still plenty of reasons for Forest to be cheerful, particularly as victory in that competition provides the winner with a spot in next year’s Europa League. The fixture list has been kind, too, with five of Forest’s final six games coming against sides in the bottom half of the EPL ladder. 

The bookmakers are optimistic about their chances of ending the season on a high. Forest are 1.50 to seal a top-four finish with Hollywoodbets, while they are 4.50 to seal a first major trophy since winning what’s now the Carabao Cup in 1990!

Manchester City 5-2 Crystal Palace: City Continue to Win

The looming verdict on Manchester City’s charges over alleged financial breaches continues to hang over them. However, they continued their charge for Champions League football by completing a comfortable win over Crystal Palace. 

Pep Guardiola’s men were made to sweat, falling two goals down early on, though a second-half flurry ensured they stayed in the hunt for another year amongst Europe’s elite. 

There are games to come against Aston Villa (seventh), Bournemouth (eighth) and Fulham (ninth), but City generally finish their campaigns well, and they are strong 1.50 chances to finish in the top-four with SportingBet. 

Aside from this summer’s Club World Cup, City’s last shot at silverware comes in the FA Cup, for which they are 2.10 favourites with the same operator to collect yet another trophy. 

It’s difficult to say anything for sure. Still, there’s a situation where City compete in the Club World Cup, having been forcibly relegated from the EPL—a competition they are 5.50-second favourites to win behind Real Madrid! 

Meanwhile, Crystal Palace’s slim chances of securing European football through their league positions are over, but they still have a great chance of winning the FA Cup. Palace have amazingly never won a major trophy in their history and will face Aston Villa in the semifinals at Wembley later this month. 

If you fancy Palace becoming the newest name in football’s oldest cup competition, they are currently 5.00 with Sportingbet to go all the way.