Pivotal weekend ahead in race for those coveted Champions League spots

Gameweek 30 gets under way with an intriguing Merseyside derby at Anfield. Liverpool currently sit in 4th place in the table, holding a 4 point cushion over Manchester United, while Arsenal and Everton are a further 2 points adrift. However, the Red Devils do have 2 games in hand, so Liverpool will not want to have their pants pulled down when they host neighbours’ Everton on April Fool’s Day.

Everton are one of the in-form teams in the division and have scored 17 goals in their last 6 matches, 3 more than any other side. It’s a sequence that has seen Romelu Lukaku jump to the head of the Golden Boot standings but he may struggle to add to his tally against the Reds, judging by the goal projections.

Zlatan Ibrahimović and Ander Herrera serve the final match ban of their respective suspensions, so the duo will again be unavailable for Manchester United’s home match with West Bromwich Albion, while Spurs will have to make do without the injured Harry Kane again for their trip to Turf Moor, against a Burnley side that boasts an impressive home record.

Kane and Ibrahimović are not the only Fantasy Premier League big-hitters that may be missing in GW30 either, with Chelsea’s Eden Hazard and Arsenal’s Alexis Sánchez nursing injuries. Both players should be monitored.

On Saturday, the Blues host a Crystal Palace side that has again discovered the art of keeping clean sheets, under the guidance of new manager Sam Allardyce, while the Gunners entertain Manchester City in what could be a key fixture in the race for those coveted Champions League spots on Sunday.

Arsenal are bidding to secure Champions League football for a 20th successive season but the latest English Premier League betting odds suggest that it could be a another frustrating afternoon for the restless Emirates crowd.

Arsene Wenger finally ditched his trusted 4-2-3-1 formation in Arsenal’s latest league game at the Hawthorns but the visitors were undone by some comical defending at set-pieces. Pep Guardiola is likely to have taken note.

Only time will tell but if the veteran French manager is to remain at the Emirates for yet another season, the assurance of Champions League football would surely be a pre-requisite.

Swansea City entertain Middlesbrough in the other game scheduled for Sunday, in what is a proverbial 6-pointer. Defeat for either side would be no laughing matter!