This Time Next Year - Weekend Preview | 26th & 27th April 2025

This Time Next Year.. Weekend Preview | 26th & 27th April 2025

By Aaron Byrne April 25, 2025 #ThisTimeNextYear

Welcome back to this weekend's preview. Where we have 7 Premier League matches and 2 FA Cup Semi-Finals.

Chelsea vs Everton

Form - Chelsea have found a little form of late, with 2 wins and 2 draws from their last 5 matches. Everton, on the other hand have struggled recently. After an incredible upturn in form at the start of David Moyes return; they have stuttered a little lately with only 1 win in 5.

Neither team have a monopoly on head to head form either. In the last 4 matches between the two, they both have 1 win and the other 2 matches ended in a stalemate.

With the end to another Premier league season fast approaching Chelsea have to start winning consistelty. If they don't they can surely kiss a Champions league place goodbye for yet another season.

Under the stewardship of Moyes Everton have been a very tough nut to crack. I feel thus will likely be the same story on Saturday. Chelsea need players to stand up and fulfill their potentials and price tags. I feel players like Palmer and Neto will make the difference this week, with a narrow win for the London side.

Brighton vs West Ham

Form - Form.... what form? Both sides have been uncharacteristically average at best of late. Neither team have managed a single winning performances in their respective last 5 matches.

The recent head to head shows no clarity on where the points will end up either. In their last 4 head to heads, both sides have a win; with the other two games being uneventful draws.

Even when Brighton neglect to pick up 3 points. Their ever solid front man always seems to be involved in front of goal. Odds of evens for a goal or assist, especially at home seems to be a very big price.

West Ham's recent away performances have not been up to scratch. They have only 1 win in their last 7 away matches, and plenty of poor performances too. Brighton have stuttered of late. But with a team filled with bargain priced hidden gems from across the world, it's easy to imagine them turning up and breezing past a weak Hammers side.

Newcastle vs Ipswich

Form - here we have two sides at different ends of the table, and different sides of the coin when it comes to form.

Newcastle are one of the form sides in the league with 4 wins from 5. Whereas, Ipswich have 1 solitary win amongst 3 losses within their last 5 matches. The head to head isn't really worth looking into. They've only faced off once in the last 9 years; which was a resounding away victory for the Magpies.

One of the shocks of the season without a doubt. Jacob Murphy has looked like a player reborn this season. He has amassed an impressive 8 goals and 11 assists this season so far. Making what looks like short odds at 1/2 very appealing.

Although Ipswich are very capable of a surprise result. With some impressive performances not only as individuals but a team also. It's very hard to see them getting a positive result at St James Park. The home side have been in imperious form in their quest for European football. A comfortable home win is our pick, and I'm sure the pick of many a football fan.

Southampton vs Fulham

Form - we next have an away side that aren't very hit and miss of late. The home side are simply just a miss recently and all season to be fair. The Saints have no wins and only 2 draws in their last 5 matches. While Fulham at least have 2 wins to accompany their mirroring 3 defeats in the last 5 games.

The teams recently head to head reads well for the London based team. They have 2 wins from the last 3 matches.We have to go back 4 years for the last time Southampton managed to win the tie.

Both teams aren't having the best time defensively of late. Odds of 3/4 seem very far when Southampton have lost all the pressure of fighting for survival.

As stated above I feel The Saints will release the shackles and open up a bit. Unfortunately, this could play right into Fulhams hands with a blistering counter attacking ability. This could be a very good watch, with a narrow away victory being the outcome for me.

Wolves vs Leicester

Form - Well, we have two ends of the scale here. Wolves have been flawless of late winning their last 5. Leicester can nearly match the consistency of their rivals in losses. With only 1 draw in 5 matches The Foxes players don't seem to be playing for Ruud anymore.

Looking back on the recent head to heads and it makes for different reading. Both teams have had 2 wins apiece in the last 4. Proving that Leicester before this Prem campaign were a different animal altogether.

I feel like a broken record almost week in and week out backing this guy to perform. But as we all know if it isn't broke then don't fix it. Larsen since Christmas has been incredibly consistent for Wolves. He's also made sure I've had good profitable bets almost on a weekly basis.

With Wolves winning 5 on the bounce, and Leicesters players seemingly getting ready for life back in an easier division. This could be a very comfortable victory for the home side. With Cunha, Larsen and unsung heroes like Joao Gomes performing well I can't even back Leicester to score this week.

Bournemouth vs Man United

Form - We next have two sides in different halves of the table, but interestingly in very similar form. Both sides have only 1 victory from their last 5 matches. Both sides also have plenty of losses to look back on of late.

Bournemouth have recently had the better of the head to head results. United do have some positive results away from home to draw on though.

In the last 3 matches between the two sides there has been at least 3 goals. Both teams have recently shown the ability to score and few and to also definitely concede a few also. 4/6 looks very good on paper.

With Man United building up for a huge European tie it's easy to imagine a few first teamers being rested. This is pretty much a nothing game for the Red Devil's. Bournemouth do still have a lot to play for in the league however. They also have players performing at an extremely high level. I've gone for a comfortable home win aided by a weakened away lineup.

Liverpool vs Tottenham

Form - Liverpool have shown the form of champions in the last 5 matches. They have 4 wins and only 1 away off day defeat to Fulham a couple of weeks ago. Tottenham contrastingly have been pretty dreadful lately. Boasting only 1 win from their last 5 matches. It's simply not been good enough from Spurs this season.

When it comes to recent head to head history Liverpool have all the bragging rights. They've won 4 from the last 5 matches between the two sides.

All the bookies have this match as a home banker, odds on nearly all markets were so small that it was very hard to find any value to speak of. I then came across both teams to receive 1+ card. At 2/5 it's not fantastic odds but I struggle to imagine this bet not coming in.

There we have it. Liverpool crowned champions over Arsenal while playing the Gunners bitter rivals, it's somehow horribly poetic. With the recent form of the two sides I may have been a bit generous to Spurs here. We all know the hardest match to win is the final one needed though. I do feel they will get over the line, albeit narrowly this week.

Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa

Form - when it comes to overral form both teams have struggled a bit lately. Crystal Palace have only won 1 from their last 5 matches. Aston Villa have managed to win 3 from their last 5 matches, like their opposition though they have also had 2 defeats recently.

The head to head results make for very interesting reading. Only if you are a Palace fan though... The Eagles have dominated their opponents with 3 wins and a draw in the last 4 matches.

Aston Villa have been in far better form of late. The attacking changes they could make throughout the tie could make all the difference and see them through to the final.

Both Palace and Villa have a great goalkeeper. They both have very good defensive and midfield players. They can both also claim fantastic attacking players that could on their day make the difference to any match. However, the two sides differ in one very important way. Aston Villa have the expertise of a manager with a prolific winning history. It could very easily come down to a good substitution at a vital moment. Emery has made a career of winning under pressure.

Nottingham Forest vs Man City

Form - Nottingham Forest have shown very decent form lately wining 3 of their last 5 matches. They have suffered 2 defeats recently but that was when they weren't able to call on Chris Wood who has since returned from injury.

Man City have finally started to look like a Pep Guardiola team again recently. They have won 4 of their last 5 matches. They have also put themselves in pole position to once again retain Champions league football. Head to head has been very one sided over the last few seasons. City have definitely had the best of it with 3 wins in the last 4. However, in the most recent game it was the Reds who came out the victors.

Both sides have had no problem of late finding the back of the net. With the attacking talent going to be on show the odds on both teams to score is very fair.

Forest have been absolutely fantastic this season. They have surpassed what I presume were relatively humble expectations. Man City have had a season to forget. For a football team who are used to winning within the last decade, this season has been a harsh reminder how tough European football. It seems losing Haaland for a few weeks has helped galvanise a struggling City side. Pep's side will definitely want at least one trophy this season and I feel they will just edge this Semi-final.