AS the Premier League enters its 22 week of action, the battle at the top of the table is just as intense as the relegation fight at the bottom.
Arsenal and Leicester are locked on 45 points at the top of the table, but both teams face away fixtures, while third and fourth-placed Manchester City and Tottenham both host teams they are expected to beat.
Meanwhile at the tail of the table, Sunderland and Villa face tough trips against Tottenham and Leicester – matches that neither side can afford to lose, but their chances of victory do not look great.
We have gone through this week’s fixtures and selected the best match result bets for your multis this weekend.
We’ve also included an added bonus of a goal-scorer parlay thrown in for good measure.
All odds provided by Sportsbet.com.au
Tottenham vs. Sunderland
Fourth-placed Tottenham host a relegation-embattled Sunderland at White Hart Lane to kick off Gameweek 22.
The Spurs have had a terrific season to date, but are without wins from their last two encounters, albeit against quality opposition in Everton and Leicester.
The Black Cats are locked in a fierce battle for survival at the tail end of the ladder.
The last Black Cat match – which saw Sam Allardyce’s men register a 4-2 win over fellow strugglers Swansea has given Sunderland real optimism that their Premier League status is retainable.
Spurs midfielder Christen Eriksen has scored in all three of his Premier League appearances against the Black Cats.
Sportbet is offering $2.75 on Christen Eriksen to score at any time
Tottenham have experienced a dominant period over their Tyneside competitors, winning eight and losing none of the last 11 encounters between the two teams.
Expect that trend to continue – Tottenham should prove far too classy for Sunderland.
Multi leg one: Tottenham to win half time/full time: $1.91
Chelsea vs. Everton
It is a battle of the blues in London as Everton travel to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have won just one game from their last four home appearances, but have an imposing record against Everton.
Chelsea are unbeaten in the league since former manager’s Jose Mourinho’s departure, but have only won twice in that time.
The Blues are unbeaten in their last 20 meetings against the Toffees, winning 11 and drawing 9.
Everton has lost just one away game from their last 10 outings this campaign, but have only won two of their past 10 games home and away.
Everton striker Romelu Lukaku has taken his game to the next level this season and currently sits alongside Leicester’s Jamie Vardy at the top of the Premier League goal tally after finding the back of the net 15 times.
The $2.50 quote from Sportsbet for Lukaku to score at any time represents fantastic value and is one of the best bets of the weekend
Chelsea’s their key play maker Eden Hazard will be unavailable for the key encounter after sustaining a groin injury in their last match, while Everton will monitor Steven Naismith’s fitness ahead of the match.
It looms as an interesting contest, but the edge goes to Everton – their away form stacks up and Chelsea’s Stamford Bride aura no longer exists.
The Toffees should leave the Bridge with at least a draw.
Multi leg two: Double chance: Everton and draw – $2.00
Aston Villa vs. Leicester
League leaders Leicester travel to Villa Park to face the bottom of the table Villains in the last league of this week’s multi.
Aston Villa have only 11 points to their name (eight points adrift from survival), but after winning against Crystal Palace 1-0 during the week there is a buoyancy about Villa after a bleak period.
A win against Leicester would hand the Villains their first set back-to-back wins since May 2015 – coincidentally those victories were two home fixtures.
Leicester are riding high at the top of the table after avoiding relegation last season.
Their fast paced style is complemented by their clinical attackers who have helped propel the Foxes from relegation battlers to top-four contenders.
Foxes’ striker Jamie Vardy sits at the top of the Premier League goal scoring chartd, and is at an incredible $2.40 to score at any time via Sportsbet.
Vardy has battled injury over the last month, but after returning to full training throughout the week the Englishman looks set to recapture his goal scoring form which saw him break the Premier League record for most consecutive games scored in – finding the back of the net 11 games in a row.
The Foxes have won three of their last six games – two of which were away fixtures – and should easily brush aside the struggling Villains.
Multi leg three: Leicester to win – $2.15
Overall match result multi value: $8.21
Anytime goal scorer multi value: Erkisen/Lukaku/Vardy – $16.50
