Paddy Says – Gameweek 38

For the last time this season, we skulk outside Paddy Power’s door in an attempt to extract a final few strands of information to guide our deadline decisions.

Before we scan Paddy’s odds for Anytime Goalscorer and Clean Sheets, a reminder that, if you’re yet to secure your own Paddy Power account, you can do so today and snap up one of several enhanced new customer offers.

Today’s acca tops the bill with odds of 25/1 on wins for Man City at Swansea, Man United over Bournemouth, Southampton against Crystal Palace and Spurs at Newcastle.

There’s also a final day double which offers the same odds of 25/1 on wins for West Ham at Stoke and Liverpool at West Brom.

If you’d rather chance your arm on individual matches, you can get 12/1 on Leicester to win at Chelsea, or 14/1 on a victory for Sunderland at Watford.

Be sure to check the terms and conditions on all those offers and, of course, we should state that all these specials are only available to those aged 18. If you’re going to wager, always gamble responsibly.

ANYTIME GOALSCORER ODDS – GAMEWEEK 38

Paddy have again earmarked Sergio Aguero (1.52) as the most likely scorer in the Gameweek. Given that the former Atletico Madrid marksman has netted in his previous six starts, it’s perhaps no real surprise. He’ll be striving to breach a Swansea City back line that has conceded nine goals in four match-ups but, while Manchester City are looking to stave off United’s challenge for fourth spot, it remains to be seen if Manuel Pellegrini’s men will go for goals or settle for the point they need.

In light of Arsenal’s potentially profitable home encounter against Aston Villa, Alexis Sanchez (1.61), Olivier Giroud (1.61), Theo Walcott (1.90) and Alex Iwobi (1.90) all feature very highly in Paddy’s assessment, with goals expected at the Emirates. Although the Villains’ defensive travails are well documented, it’s worth noting that the Gunners have bagged just six strikes in their last five outings. Nonetheless, Paddy are backing them strongly to rout Eric Black’s relegated side.

Perhaps optimistically, Romelu Lukaku (1.72) ranks fourth before Everton’s Goodison Park meeting with Norwich City. The Belgium international is in the midst of eight successive blanks and is playing for a team that charted third-bottom for key passes (46) across their previous quartet of match-ups.

Southampton’s Shane Long and Graziano Pelle have all been tipped at 1.80 for Crystal Palace’s visit to Southampton. The Saints have notched more goals than any team (11) in their last four fixtures and will face an Eagles squad that is surely focused on next weekend’s FA Cup final. Sadio Mane is also included in Paddy’s top bracket, ranked at 2.20 for an anytime goal – only Arsenal’s cast of options can better those odds amongst midfielders.

Talking of midfielders, having switched to a deeper role for United, it’s surprising to see that Wayne Rooney (1.83) ranked so highly ahead of his meeting with Bournemouth at Old Trafford. Rooney has failed to grace the scoresheet since Gameweek 24 and both Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial (2.00) look stronger prospects.

Harry Kane betters the odds of that United pair ahead of Tottenham’s trip to St James’ Park. Kane has scored an impressive six goals in his last four road trips, while Mauricio Pochettino’s men have the incentive of holding off the challenge of Arsenal for runners-up spot, ensuring that Spurs and Kane should show intent on Tyneside.

CLEAN SHEET ODDS – GAMEWEEK 38

Aston Villa have drawn blanks in six of their last nine fixtures, ensuring that Arsenal (1.61) are clear favourites for a shut-out at the Emirates with some of the shortest clean sheets odds we’ve seen this term.

Southampton (1.90) claim the silver-medal berth as they attempt to silence a Palace attack that’s registered three blanks in five league ties. The Eagles are expected to field a much-changed side for the south coast trip, while Ronald Koeman’s side are the Premier League’s in-form outfit along with champions Leicester.

Paddy clearly fancy Man United (2.00) to suppress Bournemouth, who have mustered just six goals in their last seven outings. United’s home defence is the best in the league and with David de Gea bidding for the Golden Glove, Louis van Gaal’s men have every incentive to earn a shut-out as they look to claim an unlikely Champions League berth ahead of rivals City.

City (2.62) themselves are ranked next but are some way behind in Paddy’s reckoning. Manuel Pellegrini’s side will do well to see off a Swans attack that has racked up seven goals in their previous two fixtures.

Watford’s odds have crept in from 3.20 to 2.75, no doubt as a result of talk from Sam Allardyce that he plans to play a youthful Sunderland lineup having seen his side secure top flight safety in midweek.

Tottenham (2.80) have conceded the fewest away goals (15) and match up against a Newcastle side that failed to score at Villa, while Everton (3.00) are priced somewhat generously against Norwich when you consider that they’ve managed a solitary shut-out since Gameweek 26.