EPL Matchday 32 Odds & Picks: Manchester City Aims to Spoil Liverpool’s Party

• Liverpool poised for a letdown in date with City after clinching EPL title
• Spurs, Blades battle to stay in hunt for fifth place, while Wolves aim to extend unbeaten streak to eight matches
• Read on to get all the odds and insight into Premier League Matchday 32 action

Tottenham Hotspur and Sheffield United are both desperate for points to stay in the hunt for fifth place as they prepare for their Premier League Matchday 32 meeting at Bramall Lane. The Spurs and Blades will be looking for a little help from Aston Villa in their home date with the Wolverhampton Wanderers. In addition to improving their own chances of avoiding relegation, a Villa victory on Saturday morning would end the six-match win streak that has lifted Wolves into a tie in points with fifth-place Manchester United.

Week 32 ends with a rather anticlimactic meeting between Liverpool and Manchester City. No more mountains remaining to climb for the champion Reds. However, the Citizens will be eager to avoid losing two straight in league play for the first time this season as they kick off preparations for Champions League action.

Here’s a look at the odds and key storylines in each of those contests.

Premier League Matchday 32 Odds

Odds taken June 26

Desperate Villa Looking to Solve Wolves Defense

Wolves have continued to play the stingy defense that was key to their success prior to the recent pause in the season with a pair of clean-sheet wins over the past week. The club followed up a decisive 2-0 win over freefalling West Ham with a 1-0 victory over Bournemouth on Wednesday, and have now surrendered just two total goals during a 4-3-0 win-draw-loss run.

How the 2019-20 Premier League table could change in gameweek 32 #ggmu https://t.co/84JSNO6HFg pic.twitter.com/ERSD3DiABQ

— /r/reddevils (@RedditDevils) June 26, 2020

Villa have steadily headed in the opposite direction since the calendar turned to February, going 0-2-6 in their past eight across all competitions while getting outscored by a wide 16-6 margin, capped by a this week’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle United. That run includes a 0-1-3 run at home, that has dumped them to 5-3-7 on home turf this season.

⚽ Most goals by PL players this season (all comps):
2️⃣4️⃣ Raul Jimenez (46 apps)
2️⃣3️⃣ Sergio Aguero (32)
2️⃣1️⃣ Raheem Sterling (40)
2️⃣0️⃣ Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (34)
2️⃣0️⃣ Mohamed Salah (40) pic.twitter.com/dypWaDMD2W

— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) June 24, 2020

Aston Villa have avoided losing in three home meetings with Wolves across all competitions, and are desperate to accrue points to move clear of the relegation zone. However, it is tough to see them making an offensive breakthrough against a highly motivated Wolves attack led by Raul Jiminez that has averaged two goals per match over their past four road contests.

Picks: Wolverhampton -0.5, -1.0 (-125); Raul Jiminez anytime goalscorer (+125)

Sheffield United Search for Offensive Touch Against Visiting Spurs

Sheffield United faces likely their last best chance to stay in contention for a spot above the line as they host Tottenham Hotspur next Thursday. The Blades have yet to score in three outings since the Premier League schedule resumed, capped by a dismal 3-0 loss to Manchester United on Wednesday. Now stalled in eighth place, four points adrift of the fifth-place Red Devils, Sheffield will be looking for a lift on home turf, where they have performed well, going 4-2-1 over their past seven league dates.

One point up on the Blades going into Matchday 32, Tottenham are also looking to rediscover momentum. A visit from slumping West Ham proved to be a tonic for the Spurs, who ended a seven-match winless run with a 2-0 win earlier in the week. However, wins on the road have been rare, with Tottenham going 2-5-5 in 12 overall away matches since October.

Harry Kane picked up his first goal of 2020 in this week’s win over the Hammers, and his return to form would be much welcomed by Tottenham. But with neither of these clubs showing much eagerness to return to the hunt for a top five spot on the table, it could be a tedious afternoon for viewers, and a golden opportunity for sports bettors banking on a low-scoring draw that could bounce both clubs from further contention.

Picks: Draw (+235); UNDER 2.0, 2.5 (-105)

City Aims to Avoid Consecutive Losses in Home Date with Reds

To the surprise of no one, Liverpool clinched their first Premier League title in 30 years with this week’s 4-0 demolition of Crystal Palace. With the club basking in the celebratory glow of their victory, a letdown in next Thursday’s date with Manchester City is very possible. Already bounced from this season’s Champions League, the Reds have little to play for over their final seven matches of the EPL season, except for league records.

Conversely, the season continues to have plenty of meaning for City, who will be looking to atone for their stunning 2-1 loss to Chelsea FC earlier this week. The Citizens’ defeat at Stamford Bridge marks a huge step back after the club returned to action on a roll, following up a 3-0 win over Arsenal with a 5-0 rout of Burnley.

The loss of Sergio Aguero to what is likely a season-ending knee injury is a blow to the City attack. The club’s failure to contain a Chelsea attack that controlled possession in this week’s win is also a concern. However, with so much on the one, and a chance to at least dampen the Reds’ party should be enough to earn them the three points this week.

Picks: Manchester City (+115); City wins and OVER 2.5 goals (+205)