Premier League Best Bets – May 19

Bournemouth are still in with a chance of an unlikely Champions League spot, but they desperately need to defeat a Manchester City outfit that is still battling for the title, with City looking to take the title race down to the final day. 

For the Cherries, this is a massive chance to prove they can take on the best. Bournemouth have won seven of their 18 matches in front of their own fans, drawing nine times and losing twice. Impressively, Bournemouth have not lost a match since their 3-2 loss to Arsenal back on January 3. Since then they have won eight times, drawing the other eight games. 

For Manchester City, it is win or bust. Currently sat two points behind Arsenal at the summit, City have to win to keep their title hopes alive. On the road, City have the second best record in the league, but they have still dropped points in nine of their 18 away games (D5, L4). Despite this, City also boast their own impressive unbeaten run, avoiding defeat in their last 14 league games, winning 10 times and drawing four matches. 

Positively for City, they have won their last three against the Cherries. They have also won 18 of their last 20 against Bournemouth, drawing once and losing once. While I predict that Bournemouth will breach City’s defence for the fifth consecutive game, I am backing them to slip to a defeat that keeps City in the title race and seriously harms Bournemouth’s European dreams. 

Chelsea can hand Tottenham a hammer blow to their hopes of Premier League survival with a win in midweek. 

The Blues arrive without a win in any of their last seven league games, with this run containing six defeats and a draw. Positively, their last outing ended in a 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Anfield, with this their first league point since a 4-1 win over Aston Villa back in early March. At home, the Blues have been very poor, losing seven, drawing five times and winning six games. Their haul of 23 points from 18 home matches means they have one of the worst records in the league. 

Tottenham come into their final away game of the season in desperate need of a win. While their Premier League status is in their own hands, they will not want to have to see the battle to avoid the drop go down to the final day. 

Their last four matches have ended in two draws and two wins. Impressively, they have won their last two on the road, beating Wolves and Aston Villa. While Wolves have been abject all season and Aston Villa have been inconsistent of late, Spurs still had to do the business against both opponents, which is exactly what they managed. 

While Chelsea have won their last five against Spurs, their form has been so poor of late that I am backing Tottenham to secure a crucial Premier League win.