MARTIN LAURENCE PREVIEWS THE PICK 8 ROLLOVER

This week I’m tackling the Pick 8 Rollover. Join my Syndicate HERE

 

Deportivo vs Las Palmas – 1 / X

Having secured survival with a draw at Villarreal last Sunday, Depor will be aiming to finish the season in style back at home and have a great chance to do so against this weekend’s opponents. After an excellent first half of the season Las Palmas have been dreadful in 2017, and their away record all campaign has been nothing short of shambolic.

The visitors have won just once away from home all season, with that victory coming on the opening day of the season at Valencia. It’s six defeats in a row on the road for Setien’s men, who – stretching further back – have picked up just one point in 11. Were it not the first game on the ticket I’d be confident of an outright win for the hosts.

Lyon vs Nice – 1 / X / 2

The toughest game to call in this week’s Pick 8, Lyon vs Nice is the standout game on the final day of the season in France in terms of two quality teams facing one another. In reality, however, the game means very little, with neither side able to move from their respective standings in fourth and third. As such it makes the game very difficult to call between two sides that could hand opportunities to squad players, so I’m covering all outcomes as a result.

Patrick vs Aberdeen – 2

Mid-table Partick have been strong at home this season but Aberdeen have won each of the last 5 meetings between the two sides. The Dons have had a mixed end to the campaign but their away form has been strong of late, winning six of their last eight on the road.

It’s been a difficult end to the season for the hosts by comparison, facing each of the top 5 in their last six matches, culminating in this game on Sunday, and morale could be low after picking up just one point in the previous five.

Swansea vs West Brom – 1 / X

It’s job done as far as Swansea are concerned following Hull’s capitulation at Palace last weekend, and while that takes all the pressure off the hosts to perform, they will still want to sign off with a win at home. It’s been job done for months now for West Brom by comparison, who have coasted to a terrible end to the season, approaching this game in the league’s worst form with just one point from their last six games.

The Baggies have won just three away games all season, and none of their last 8, while Swansea’s successful fight against the drop owed much to a strong finish at the Liberty. They’ve won five and lost just one of their last 7 at home and that’s unlikely to become two on Sunday.

 

Arsenal vs Everton – 1

A top four finish is out of their hands but Arsenal do know that a win is an absolute must to overtake Liverpool or City. A game against Everton to round off the season may not seem ideal but the Toffees have been dire away from home recently, without a win in 7, while the Gunners – typically leaving it too late – have ended the season strongly.

Wenger’s men have dropped just two points from their last six home games – to Manchester City – and have won their last four overall, scoring 10 times and conceding just once. Then there is the issue of the Golden Boot to resolve, with Alexis now just one behind Lukaku on the opposing side and no doubt desperate to catch the Belgian, who tends to underwhelm against big sides.

Leicester vs Bournemouth – 1

Prior to their meeting with Tottenham in midweek, Leicester have won five on the spin at home and their record at the King Power was relatively decent even before Craig Shakespeare took the reins. Their visitors have ended the season well but it took them the near entirety of a game at bottom club Sunderland to record only their third away win of the season in their last outing on the road.

Free scoring at home, with 35 goals, the Cherries have managed just 19 by comparison away from the Vitality Stadium and Shakespeare will want to end his successful temporary stint as manager of the Foxes on a high in order to secure the job on a permanent basis.

Southampton vs Stoke – 1 / X

As with West Brom, it’s been a bitterly disappointing end to the season for Stoke, who have won just one of their last 10 in the league. That win was at home against Hull, with their only victory away from the Britannia in the top-flight in 2017 coming four months ago against at Sunderland.

The hosts, meanwhile, will want to sign off with a win at home and while it may already be too late, Claude Puel is fighting for his job. Saints’ home record has been poor this season to put the Frenchman under pressure, but the Potters are already on the beach and shouldn’t cause too many problems.

Lazio vs Inter – 1

While Lazio will be recovering from their Coppa Italia exertions in midweek, they couldn’t pick a more limp opponent to face in the late kick off on Sunday. Simply put, Inter have been dire of late, with Stefano Pioli losing his job after a run of 7 games without a win before a home defeat to Sassuolo proved that the issues are deeper than just getting rid of the manager.

No team has picked up fewer points over their last 8 Serie A fixtures than the Nerazzurri (2), while Lazio have won 12 of 18 home games this season and in Keita Balde have a young forward in the form of his life, scoring 7 in his last 4 league outings.

Martin Laurence is the content manager for WhoScored.com

You can follow more of his tips on Twitter @WSTipster