By: Fasika Zelealem
2020 EPL Top Four Odds Preview Week 36
We have reached Week 36 of the 2019/20 Premier League season after the restart and the top four race has continued its exhilarating ride.
After consecutive wins over Watford and Crystal Palace, Chelsea lost for the second time in four games as they were beaten 3-0 by Sheffield United.
It was a disappointing performance for Frank Lampard’s men in which David McGoldrick scored his first two league goals of the season as well an Oli McBurnie strike.
It was a game Chelsea should have won and are kicking themselves for not increasing the gap ahead of Leicester City and Manchester United who also dropped points this weekend.
Chelsea, however, stays third in the table and is just a point ahead of both Leicester City and Manchester United with just three games to go.
The Blues face Norwich at home next followed by an away trip to champions Liverpool and hosting top four rivals Wolves on the final day of the season.
Chelsea now possesses the joint-best odds alongside Manchester United to finish in the top four which open at -400.
Manchester City Odds to Finish Top Four While on a Roll
Manchester United’s unbeaten streak has increased to 11 games but only after a disappointing 2-2 draw with Southampton on Monday night.
Stuart Armstrong’s strike put Southampton ahead early before Marcus’ Rashford’s 16th goal of the season put things level. An Anthony Martial screamer just three minutes later put United ahead and the Frenchman equaled Rashford’s 16 league goals as well as netting his 50th Premier League goal for United.
However, with just four minutes left of added time, Michael Obafemi managed to convert a Jan Bednerak assist past David De Gea in the 94th minute to earn a draw and keep United in 5th place.
United stay fifth and are level on points with fourth-placed Leicester and just one point behind Chelsea in the race for Champions League football.
Manchester United possesses the joint-best odds to finish in the top four alongside Chelsea which opens at -400.
Leicester City Odds to Remain in the Top Four While Losing Steam
Leicester City will count themselves lucky that they remain in the top four this week after a horror show at Vitality Stadium condemned them to a 4-1 defeat to the struggling Bournemouth.
Despite taking the lead through Jamie Vardy in the first half, Bournemouth equalized in the 66th minute through a Junior Stanislas penalty. Just one minute later, Dominic Solanke scored his first Premier League goal for the club.
Caglar Soyuncu was sent off after kicking out at Callum Wilson and things turned from bad to worse for Leicester who conceded two more before the final whistle blew.
They are now just a point behind Chelsea and level on points with Manchester United but retain a superior goal difference.
Leicester City possesses the third-best odds to finish in the top four which open at +150.
After two consecutive losses without scoring a goal, Wolves got back to winning ways with a convincing 3-0 win over Everton.
Raul Jimenez ended his three-match goal drought with his 16th league goal if of the season as he netted a penalty just before half time. Leander Dendoncker and Diogo Jota rounded up the scoring for Wolves who stay sixth and four points behind Manchester United and Leicester City.
Wolves’ chase for Champions League football looks unlikely but they remain on course for a second consecutive season in the Europa League.
Sportsbooks’ odds on Wolves to finish in the top four open at +1100.
