John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images. Pictured: Liverpool star Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring a goal.
Liverpool vs. Crystal Palace Odds
| Liverpool Odds | -670 |
| Crystal Palace Odds | +1700 |
| Draw | +700 |
| Over/Under | 3.5 (-104 /-121) |
| Day | Time | Sunday | 11 a.m. ET |
| How To Watch | NBC | Peacock Premium |
| Odds as of Saturday morning via DraftKings. | |
Talk about a tale of two different situations when it comes to matches featuring Liverpool hosting Crystal Palace and Fulham taking on Newcastle United as part of Sunday’s final games in the Premier League season.
The Reds moved into the top four with a midweek 3-0 win over Burnley, putting them in the driver’s seat for one of two Champions League berths still up for grabs. Liverpool just needs to equal Leicester City’s result to earn its place in next season’s European showcase event. The Foxes host Tottenham Hotspur at King Power Stadium.
As for the other contest, the Cottagers will be playing their last game in England’s top flight for quite some time when they entertain the Magpies. Fulham, which sits in 18th place in the table, has been officially relegated to the Championship and knows a win here doesn’t mean much at this point.
Let’s take a quick look at these contests and see what might be on deck.
Liverpool Has Its Sight Set On Champions League Berth
Manager Jürgen Klopp and the Reds made a mess of things during a large stretch of their campaign, but they’ve shown down the stretch why they were league champions last season.
Following a 1-1 draw with Newcastle on April 24 at Anfield, Liverpool has ripped off four consecutive victories leading up to its finale against Crystal Palace. The Reds have scored 11 goals during that stretch, plus they’ve dominated foes in expected goals.
Liverpool finished with a 2.9-.0.7 advantage in xG against Burnley. Prior to that, the Reds held a 2.4-0.8 xG edge in their match against West Bromwich Albion.
In contrast, the Eagles have been anything but majestic of late. They’re winless in six of their last eight affairs, with the lone victories coming against relegated Sheffield United (2-0) and Aston Villa via a 3-2 triumph. Most recently, the club suffered a 3-1 loss to Arsenal in the final home game of manager Roy Hodgson’s storied career.
Betting Analysis & Pick
Crystal Palace’s defense has been downright awful of late, conceding at least two goals in six of its last seven league fixtures. Throw in the fact that the Reds have scored at least twice in their last six matches against the Eagles, and you have the distinct possibility of a blowout happening at Anfield.
For those reasons, I’m backing Liverpool to score at least three goals at -152 odds via DraftKings as my top pick. I fully expect the club to come out with all pistons firing, knowing it needs a big win to secure a Champions League berth.
If you’re feeling a little frisky, make a small play on Liverpool to win the match and both teams to score at +170 odds. It wouldn’t surprise me if Christian Benteke or Wilfried Zaha snuck one past Alisson and the Reds’ defense.
Picks:
Liverpool Team Total Over 2.5 Goals (-152)
Liverpool To Win & Both Teams To Score — Yes (+170)
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Fulham vs. Newcastle Odds
| Fulham Odds | +110 |
| Newcastle Odds | +230 |
| Draw | +275 |
| Over/Under | 2.5 (-148 / +120) |
| Day | Time | Sunday | 11 a.m. ET |
| How To Watch | Peacock Premium |
| Odds as of Saturday morning via DraftKings. | |
Cottagers, Magpies Playing for Pride in Season Finale
Clubs with pretty much nothing to play for other than pride square off at Craven Cottage when Fulham hosts Newcastle for its final match in England’s top flight before next season’s return to the Championship.
The Cottagers are winless in their last nine league affairs, with their most recent effort — a midweek 1-1 draw against second-place Manchester United — as one of the lone bright spots in totally forgettable campaign. Now, they get a chance to close their disheartening campaign with a win as they head down to second-division soccer next season.
As for Newcastle, manager Steve Bruce’s side has been playing its best brand of soccer late in the season. The Magpies have won two of the last three games and would love to finish on a high note. Three games back, Newcastle picked up a huge 4-2 upset win over Leicester City, which is part of the reason the club is in major trouble when it comes to a landing a UCL spot.
Betting Analysis & Pick
The status of Newcastle standouts Joe Willock and Allan Saint-Maximin, who left the Magpies’ midweek match with knocks, has me worried. The match’s opening line is a direct reflection of the uncertainty surrounding those players.
That said, I’m going to play the total staying under three goals at fair -141 odds as my top pick. There have been two goals or fewer in five of Fulham’s last six league matches, which is a trend I see continuing in this affair.
If Willock and Saint-Maximin start, I will sprinkle a little on the Double Chance wager of Newcastle to win or draw at fair -130 odds to spice things up a bit on the final day of the season.
Pick: Total Under 3 Goals (-141)
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