Soccer Weekly Free Picks, Predictions Odds

May 14, 2021

Toby Maxtone-Smith
Soccer Expert
VegasInsider.com

EPL Matchday 36 Action

Toby Maxtone-Smith provides his Score Predictions and Best Bets for Matchday 36 action in the English Premier League.

The action he's focused on takes place between Saturday, May 15 and Sunday, May 16.

EPL Matchday 36 Predictions

Burnley 1 Leeds United 2
Southampton 2 Fulham 0
Brighton & Hove Albion 1 West Ham United 1
Crystal Palace 1 Aston Villa 1
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1
West Bromwich Albion 0 Liverpool 3
Everton 2 Sheffield United 0

EPL Matchday 36 Best Bets

Burnley vs. Leeds United

• Date: Saturday, May 15
• TV-Time: NBCSN, 7:30 a.m. ET
• Location: Turf Moor
• Venue: Burnley, England

Prediction: Leeds United 2 Burnley 1

Tip: Leeds United to win at 11/10

Burnley and Leeds have both enjoyed satisfactory seasons and this should be a surprisingly good game.

Despite their reputation as defensive, Burnley’s games have been high-scoring for much of 2021, and an open game should benefit Leeds. The Whites have done well on the road this year, winning eight out of 17, while Burnley’s home form has been unusually poor: over half of their 39 points have come away from home.

Both teams have in-form strikers in Chris Wood and Patrick Bamford, so both teams scoring is likely, but Leeds’s victory over Burnley at Elland Road earlier in the season could point the way to another win for Marcelo Bielsa’s side.

Southampton vs. Fulham

• Date: Saturday, May 15
• TV-Time: NBCSN, 10:00 a.m. ET
• Location: St. Mary's Stadium
• Venue: Southampton, Hampshire, England

Prediction: Southampton 2 Fulham 0

Tip: Southampton to win at 1/1

Two months ago Fulham seriously threatened an unlikely escape from the relegation zone but their fate was sealed last weekend with a 2-0 loss at home to Burnley.

That was Fulham’s sixth defeat in seven games and Southampton look good value to add to their misery here.

Yet again Fulham had absolutely no cutting edge in the final third. Southampton have had a disappointing campaign, but in Danny Ings they have a player Fulham would crave to have: a reliable finisher.

The Saints won their last home game, 3-1 against Crystal Palace, and their previous match at St Mary’s was a creditable draw with Leicester after they had been reduced to ten men for over half of the match.

Danny Inges and Southampton will be looking to capture back-to-back league wins on Saturday when Fulham pays a visit. (AP)

Brighton & Hove Albion vs. West Ham United

• Date: Saturday, May 15
• TV-Time: NBCSN, 3:00 p.m. ET
• Location: The American Express Community Stadium
• Venue: Falmer, East Sussex, England

Prediction: Brighton & Hove Albion 1 West Ham United 1

Tip: Draw at 5/2

Chelsea’s loss to Arsenal on Wednesday has left the door ever so slightly ajar for West Ham in the Champions League race, but this is a tricky-looking game away at Brighton.

West Ham looked toothless in their 1-0 loss to Everton last weekend, and while they will be buoyed by results in the week, they remain quite fortunate to be as high as fifth in the table.

The perennially unlucky Brighton have drawn more matches than anyone all season - 13. Eight of those have come at the Amex Stadium.

Brighton will be desperate not to finish 17th, and so still have plenty to play for. They can frustrate West Ham to a draw.

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers

• Date: Sunday, May 16
• TV-Time: NBCSN, 9:05 a.m. ET
• Location: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (London)
• Venue: London, England

Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1

Tip: Under 2.5 at 10/11

Only four teams, three of whom make up the relegated sides, have scored fewer goals than Wolves this year, and this fixture looks likely to be another low-scorer.

Spurs have been more attacking under caretaker manager Ryan Mason than under José Mourinho, but their 4-0 win over Sheffield United can be explained largely by their opponents’ deficiencies.

Under 2.5 goals has clicked in six of Wolves’s last eight away games, and even when they are not in great form they can be a very frustrating opponent.

Spurs have had problems all season conceding late equalisers, and Wolves are a team that tend to improve after the break, so a 1-1 draw also looks likely.

Tottenham and Son Heung-min have watched the club alternate wins and losses in their last four EPL matches. (AP)

West Bromwich Albion vs. Liverpool

• Date: Sunday, May 16
• TV-Time: NBCSN, 11:30 a.m. ET
• Location: The Hawthorns
• Venue: West Bromwich, England

Prediction: Liverpool 3 West Bromwich Albion 0

Tip: Liverpool -1.5 at 4/6

Liverpool are right back in the race for the top four after winning at Manchester United on Thursday.

The 4-2 victory will have taken a lot out of Jurgen Klopp’s already fatigued side, but a fixture away to relegated West Brom is the perfect opportunity for the Reds to pile the pressure on Leicester City and Chelsea.

The Baggies have put up a decent fight under Sam Allardyce but their squad is not good enough for the Premier League, and a rejuvenated Liverpool side with five wins and two draws from their last seven games can take advantage of the downbeat mood at the Hawthorns.

Goal difference could be crucial for Liverpool come the final day, so do not expect them to let up once they score first.