This midweek promises more excitement in the English Premier League, with Chelsea hosting Manchester United and Aston Villa travelling to face Manchester City. Also, there are semi-final cup clashes for PSG and Bayer Leverkusen, two teams aiming to secure league and cup doubles this season. We’ll preview these matches and also provide some football predictions that you won’t want to miss out on. **Arsenal vs. Luton Town** The Gunners might have only snagged one point from their clash at the Etihad, but that solitary point carries significant weight. After that intense standoff with the reigning champions, Arsenal has now taken four points each from encounters with Manchester City and Liverpool this season, leaving them pretty content with their performance in head-to-head battles against their title rivals. The nail-biting goalless draw against Pep Guardiola’s squad marked the end of Man City’s impressive streak of scoring in 57 consecutive games at the Etihad, thanks to the solid defensive display by Gabriel and Saliba, and the feeling is that the defense will be leaned on in the final stretch of the season. Now, it’s time to shift focus to the upcoming match against relegation-threatened Luton Town in a game which isn’t as easy as it appears on paper. Luton Town has been one of the most entertaining newly promoted teams we’ve seen in a long time, and if they do end up relegated, it certainly won’t be due to a lack of effort. They’ve maintained a remarkable scoring streak, finding the net in 18 consecutive league games, the longest active streak in the league, and this is the thought behind our bet of the day, which is for them to extend this streak to 19 games. Throughout the season, they’ve showcased resilience, establishing themselves as a torn in the flesh of big teams. In their earlier encounter with Arsenal back in December, the Gunners had to rely on a dramatic 97th-minute winner from Declan Rice to secure all three points in a thrilling match that witnessed seven goals from seven different scorers. While we’re not expecting a repeat of that 4-3 scoreline, we expect some similarities as we approach this match. For instance, the last encounter saw 11 corners, and we anticipate another game with plenty of corner kicks. Also, we expect Arsenal’s superior individual quality to be the deciding factor in a win for them. Arsenal has maintained a perfect record against promoted sides this season, winning all five of their league encounters while scoring at least three goals in each match, amassing 23 goals. **Betting Tips**
**Brentford vs. Brighton** Brentford has only managed one victory in their last ten league matches, leaving them just five points clear of the relegation zone with eight games remaining. However, their draw against Manchester United on Saturday could serve as a much-needed morale boost for the team as they head into the last stretch of the season. In that match, Brentford dominated proceedings, hitting the woodwork four times, and generating a higher expected goals (xG) tally compared to their impressive 4-0 victory over Erik ten Hag’s side last year. Adding to the excitement was the return of Bryan Mbeumo, their leading scorer in the league this season, who had been sidelined for two months due to injury, missing significant matches including the whole of AFCON 2023 with the Cameroon national team. With Mbeumo back in action alongside Ivan Toney and Neal Maupay, there’s optimism for their attack to shine in this game and potentially notch up a few goals. Injuries and having to adjust to life in Europe has seen Brighton’s league form suffer a bit this season. The frequent rotation of the squad has also led to a lack of consistency among the players, and the absence of their top scorer, João Pedro, has further compounded their challenges in recent months. However, one thing we can count on is their matches delivering plenty of goals. This season, Brighton’s league fixtures have produced 97 goals, averaging 3.34 goals per game, including their previous encounter with Brentford, which they won 2-1. Given this trend, we expect another high-scoring affair in the upcoming match, and BetKing is offering the best odds for it. **Betting Tips**
**Manchester City vs. Aston Villa** Aston Villa travel to the Etihad hoping to secure a first league double over Manchester City since the 1962/63 season. It’ll be no easy feat, with the absence of Ollie Watkins who has been at the heart of their attack all season. The Englishman has 16 goals and 10 assists in the league this season, making him the only player to hit double figures in both categories so far. Having suffered a hamstring injury that will see him miss this trip, an already tough trip becomes even tougher for the Villains. However, with Spurs drawing against West Ham on Tuesday night, there’s a feeling they can afford to drop points in this game as they continue to push for a Champions League spot. Manchester City haven’t performed well in the biggest of games this season, presenting a worry for them ahead of this game. Their record against the traditional Top 6 opponents is poor by their standards, with only victories over Manchester United (twice) to boast, while they’ve managed seven draws and suffered a defeat in the remaining eight encounters. Their previous clash with Aston Villa at Villa Park in December resulted in a thorough defeat by Unai Emery’s side, despite the narrow 1-0 scoreline not fully reflecting the dominance of Villa. City managed just two shots throughout the game, while Villa unleashed 22 shots. Now 3rd in the league, City understands the urgency of avoiding further dropped points if they aim to defend their title successfully, especially with Arsenal facing Luton Town and Liverpool hosting Sheffield United. The Cityzens will rely on their impressive home form against Aston Villa that has seen them win 17 of their last 18 home league games against them, with their last loss coming in 2007. Additionally, City hit top form around this time of the season, as evidenced by their remarkable record of 19 wins and a draw in their last 21 league matches in April. While Erling Haaland was far from his best against Arsenal over the weekend, we feel the Norwegian will have something to say in this game. As such, one of our betting tips today is for the league’s leading scorer to lead them to victory. **Betting Tips**
**Bayern Leverkusen vs. Fortuna Düsseldorf** Bayer Leverkusen is on the verge of achieving a historic double as they prepare to host second-tier Fortuna Düsseldorf in the semi-final of the DFB-Pokal. Last week, manager Xabi Alonso’s announcement of his decision to remain at the club for the next season injected the team with added confidence. Their dramatic comeback victory over Hoffenheim featured yet another Patrick Schick late winner, further highlighting the striker’s significance, with all five of his goals either securing wins or salvaging draws for the team. This importance is particularly felt in the continued absence of Victor Boniface, who has been influential for both the club and the Nigeria national football team. Bundesliga results continue to go their way, and with Bayern Munich losing to Dortmund on Sunday, which saw their lead extend to 13 points, the league title is pretty much theirs. While we expect Leverkusen to advance through to the final, we see Düsseldorf getting on the scoresheet. Despite remaining unbeaten in all competitions this season - which is a remarkable record to have in April - Leverkusen has shown some defensive vulnerabilities. They have kept just 3 clean sheets in their last 10 games, and we feel Düsseldorf, who are a respectable 3rd position in the 2. Bundesliga, will breach their defense in this game. **Betting Tips**
**PSG vs. Rennes** PSG currently enjoys a comfortable 12-point lead in Ligue 1, with Kylian Mbappé leading the scoring charts with 24 goals and Ousmane Dembélé topping the assists charts with 8 assists. However, behind the scenes, tensions simmer between Head Coach Luis Enrique and [Mbappe due to the latter’s decision to leave for Real Madrid](https://m.betking.com/blog/news/kylian-mbappe-to-real-madrid-a-new-galacticos-era/) in the summer. Before Mbappe’s decision to leave became public, he had completed the full 90 minutes in 17 out of 19 Ligue 1 games this season (89%). However, since the revelation, the French forward has only managed a full 90 minutes in 1 out of 7 games (14.3%). Luis Enrique has maintained that the team must adapt to playing without their superstar, a stance that has not been well-received by Mbappe. Despite the discord within the team, the final of the Coupe de France is at stake, and it is unlikely that Luis Enrique will experiment with his lineup in this crucial tie. Rennes are no pushovers and are unbeaten in their last two visits to Parc de Princes, including a 1-1 draw in February. Any deviation from a full-strength squad might provide Rennes with a significant advantage, and it is assumed that Luis Enrique will avoid any power plays in this game. With this in mind, Kylian Mbappé is expected to start the game and should find himself on the scoresheet. **Betting Tips**
**Liverpool vs. Sheffield United** Liverpool will host Sheffield United in a match that pits first against last. The Reds are heavily favoured to get three points, given their dominant track record against the Blades. Liverpool has won each of their last six league encounters with Sheffield United, scoring 13 goals while conceding just once. Sheffield United’s recent visits to Anfield have been far from fruitful, with the Blades losing 10 out of their last 12 away trips in the league, and their last victory at the venue dating back 30 years. While the Blades have shown some signs of improvement by securing four points from their last three league matches—a notable uptick compared to the mere two points garnered from their previous 11 games—the prospect of getting a positive result at Anfield seems daunting for a team that has conceded a league-high 77 goals. This title race could come down to goals scored, and with Arsenal’s +46 goal difference, Liverpool know they need to close that gap. What better team to face than a Sheffield United side that gives up 2.7 goals on average? Mo Salah and Luis Díaz are players to keep an eye out for in this game as their chances of scoring are high. Mo Salah is second in both goals (16) and assists (9) in the Premier League this season and will have a say in this game, while Luis Díaz has been in fine form lately with 4 goals and 3 assists in his last 8 league games. With this in mind, two of our betting tips for this game are for both players to get on the scoresheet. **Betting Tips**
**Chelsea vs. Manchester United** A decade ago, this match would have been eagerly anticipated for the brilliance expected from both teams. Fast forward to 2024, and viewers now tune in for the potential comedic errors on display. How time flies. Following their impressive victory over Liverpool in the FA Cup before the international break, Manchester United had a reality check with their draw against Brentford, a match many believed they should have lost. It marked a historically poor performance from Erik ten Hag’s side, conceding 31 shot attempts and allowing Brentford a staggering 85 touches in their own box—the most by any team in the league in the past five seasons. Manchester United has now conceded over 100 shot attempts in their last four games and, despite Andre Onana’s improvement in recent months, this defensive vulnerability poses a significant risk. With Cole Palmer in red-hot form, we see him having a big game on Thursday. Cole Palmer has been a shining light in what has otherwise been a disappointing season for the Blues. Despite their disappointing draw against 10-man Burnley over the weekend, the young Englishman stood out by scoring twice, bringing his season tally to an impressive 13 goals and 8 assists in just 24 league appearances. He was on the scoresheet when both teams met earlier this season and we believe he will score again at Stamford Bridge. One positive note for Manchester United is their recent dominance in this fixture. The Red Devils have remained unbeaten in their last 12 league games against Chelsea, securing 5 wins and 7 draws—a streak that stands as their longest against the Blues. To keep their aspirations for a Champions League spot alive, they’ll need to secure a third consecutive victory against Chelsea for the first time since 1965. However, achieving this will be tough, especially considering their inconsistency and the recent injury setback suffered by key defender Lisandro Martinez. So, perhaps, avoiding defeat might be the safest bet. **Betting Tips**
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