Pools tips and best bets for weekend of May 20-21

Ten draws: Leicester v Bournemouth, Manchester United v Crystal Palace, Southampton v Stoke, Celta Vigo v Real Sociedad, Leganes v Alaves, Valencia v Villarreal, Empoli v Atalanta, Udinese v Sampdoria, Guingamp v Metz, Lille v Nantes.

Best draws: Leicester v Bournemouth, Manchester United v Crystal Palace, Southampton v Stoke, Valencia v Villarreal, Empoli v Atalanta.

Best weekend away bets: Tottenham, Manchester City, Motherwell, Aberdeen, Rangers, York.

Best weekend home bets: Arsenal, Burnley, Chelsea, Liverpool, Swansea, Falkirk (Friday), Bradford City, Celtic, Peterhead, Cowdenbeath.


Pick of the draws: Bournemouth would be delighted with a top 10 finish to their Premier League season and a point at Leicester on Sunday will do the job for them. Because of their impending Europa League final, Manchester United have taken their eye off the ball in the league. They are bound to field a weakened side at Old Trafford on Sunday and Crystal Palace, safe from relegation at last, will probably take advantage. With little except pride to play for, Southampton and Stoke seem to be just going through the motions and I envisage a low-scoring stalemate at St Mary's. Valencia have had an underwhelming season in the Spanish League and on the final weekend of their campaign I expect no more than a draw against the better-placed Villarreal. A point at Empoli in the Italian League will confirm a top-five finish for Atalanta.

Away days: Premier League runners-up Tottenham, fresh from their 6-1 rout of Leicester in midweek, look a sure thing at Hull, who are demoralised after their relegation last weekend. Manchester City need only a draw at Watford to ensure their Champions League qualification but given their recent form, I believe they'll go one better against a team who are in free-fall. Consecutive victories have enabled Motherwell to stay in the Scottish Premiership and I'm backing them to gain a hat-trick of wins on Saturday at the expense of bottom club Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Second-placed Aberdeen are into double figures for away wins and I think they'll get another at Partick on Sunday. Rangers are eager to end the season with a flourish and are recommended at St Johnstone. Although York were relegated from the National League, their end-of-season form was impressive and I've a hunch they'll win the FA Trophy final on Sunday when Macclesfield are their opponents.

Homes sweet homes: If West Ham play as badly as they did when losing 4-0 against Liverpool last Sunday, then Burnley, who are good at Turf Moor, will be strongly fancied to beat them. Swansea, having ensured their Premier League safety by defeating relegated Sunderland 2-0 away last weekend, will want to finish their season on a high and can do so against fast-fading West Bromwich Albion. Bradford City are my choice to win the League One play-off final at Wembley on Saturday. They were unbeaten at Valley Parade all season and seem less flaky than their opponents Millwall, who lost last season's play-off final against Barnsley.


Pools info: Granada v Espanyol (No 15 on coupon) is being played on Friday and is therefore void.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of May 13-14

Ten draws: Middlesbrough v Southampton, West Ham v Liverpool, Real Sociedad v Malaga, Fiorentina v Lazio, Roma v Juventus, Torino v Napoli, Leipzig v Bayern Munich, Werder Bremen v TSG Hoffenheim, Wolfsburg v Borussia Monchengladbach, Twente v Groningen.

Best draws: Middlesbrough v Southampton, West Ham v Liverpool, Roma v Juventus, Torino v Napoli, Wolfsburg v Borussia Monchengladbach.

Best weekend away bets: Arsenal, Swansea, Chelsea (Friday), Motherwell, Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund.

Best weekend home bets: Crystal Palace, Everton (Friday), Manchester City, Tottenham, Dundee, Kilmarnock, Rangers, Tranmere, Athletic Bilbao, Villarreal.


Pick of the draws: Middlesbrough's relegation from the Premier League was confirmed on Monday when they were outplayed by leaders Chelsea at Stamford Bridge but mid-table Southampton, their opponents on Saturday, have little incentive save pride, so Boro could nick a point. Liverpool are making hard work of clinching a Champions League place. They are arguably playing West Ham at the wrong time as the Hammers have found a bit of form and beat Tottenham last Friday. Liverpool were held to a goalless home draw by Southampton last weekend, so don't be surprised if they slip up again. Juventus, Champions League finalists and Italian champions-elect, may have to settle for a draw at second-placed Roma, who beat AC Milan 4-1 away last weekend. Napoli, in third, are also enjoying a fine season and can share the spoils with Torino. Although Wolfsburg won 2-0 away to Eintracht Frankfurt in last weekend's German League, they will probably find Borussia Monchengladbach a tougher proposition.

Away days: Stoke is not a happy hunting ground for Arsenal but their greater need for Premier League points could tip the scales in their favour. Arsene Wenger and his players also know that they owe themselves a good performance away from home. If Swansea win their final two matches they will escape the dreaded drop. Although their hosts, bottom club Sunderland, upset the form book last Saturday by winning at Hull, I'm backing the Welshmen to gain maximum points, particularly after playing so well in defeating Everton at home. Victory at West Bromwich on Friday will confirm Chelsea as deserved champions and I expect the London team to get the job done. I've a hunch Motherwell will prevail at Hamilton in the battle of the strugglers in the Scottish Premiership. Despite suffering disappointment in the Champions League semi-final, Atletico Madrid will be strongly fancied at Real Betis in the Spanish League. In the German League, Borussia Dortmund seem a sound bet at Augsburg.

Homes sweet homes: Three consecutive defeats have put Crystal Palace in danger of relegation again but victory against Hull at Selhurst Park on Sunday will ensure their Premier League safety. There is little to choose between these lowly teams but on this occasion I believe ground advantage will be crucial. Sunday will be Tottenham's last match at their White Hart Lane ground and they will want to sign off in style against Manchester United, who are clearly prioritising the Europa League. Dundee have perked up in the Scottish Premiership recently and three points against Ross County will confirm they are moving in the right direction. It's the National League play-off final at Wembley on Sunday and Tranmere, who finished the season in second place, get my vote for promotion over Forest Green Rovers, who came third.



Pools info: Everton v Watford (No 3 on coupon) and West Bromwich v Chelsea (9) are playing on Friday, so these matches will be void.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of May 6-7

Ten draws: Arsenal v Manchester United, Bristol City v Birmingham, Burton v Reading, Norwich v Queens Park Rangers, Wolves v Preston, Newport v Notts County, Stevenage v Accrington, Wycombe v Cambridge, Stranraer v East Fife, Berwick v Edinburgh.

Best draws: Arsenal v Manchester United, Wolves v Preston, Newport v Notts County, Stevenage v Accrington, Wycombe v Cambridge.

Best weekend away bets: Derby, Leeds, Mansfield, Plymouth, Falkirk, Arbroath.

Best weekend home bets: Burnley, Hull, Liverpool, Swansea, Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, Blackpool, Luton, Portsmouth, Elgin.


Pick of the draws: Arsenal should really be favourites to defeat a Manchester United team depleted by injuries on Sunday but Gunners manager Arsene Wenger has never beaten United boss Jose Mourinho in a competitive fixture and morale at Arsenal is at its lowest for many years as they look certain to miss out on a top-four place in the Premier League. Wolves are ending their Championship season with a whimper and their home record is nothing to boast about. That gives Preston a good opportunity of coming away with a point. Newport play their final fixture of the season and I think they will avoid defeat against Notts County, which should be enough to keep them in the Football League. Their recovery from an almost impossible position at the bottom of the table has been one of the noteworthy achievements of the season. Stevenage have one last chance to claim a League Two play-off place after faltering recently but they face Accrington, who are no soft touch and have recorded some notable victories away from home. Wycombe and Cambridge have an outside chance of making the play-offs but I believe they'll cancel each other out and fall short.

Away days: Derby must be disappointed at not being in the Championship play-off mix and they'll probably take their disappointment out on Rotherham, who were relegated a long time ago. Dropped home points in a 3-3 draw against Norwich last Saturday ended Leeds' interest in promotion. They'll finish just outside the play-off positions but should still have too much for Wigan, whose relegation was confirmed last weekend. Mansfield, although only 12th in League Two, have won more away games than they've lost and I expect them to continue in that vein at Crawley, who have had an unhappy season and have just parted with their manager. Promoted Plymouth know a win will have them crowned as champions and I'm backing them to achieve that at mid-table Grimsby.  Falkirk, second in the Scottish Championship, are a good bet to prevail at Dumbarton. Arbroath, the Scottish League Two leaders, are also worth backing at Stirling as three points will confirm them as champions.

Homes sweet homes: Burnley eased any lingering fears of relegation from the Premier League with their first away success of the season at Crystal Palace last Saturday. They are fancied to build on that against West Bromwich Albion, who cannot buy a win or a goal at the moment. The odds are against Swansea staying in the Premier League but they deserved their draw at Manchester United last Sunday and are worth a punt against Everton, who have had two poor results in the last couple of weeks. Nottingham Forest need a victory to ensure they avoid relegation from the Championship. I think they'll get it against Ipswich, who even managed to lose against Rotherham recently.


Pools info: Chelsea v Middlesbrough (No 4 on coupon) has been rearranged for next Monday and will be judged by the pools panel. West Ham v Tottenham (10) has been brought forward to Friday and is therefore void.

Pools info: Three of my five best draws were correct last weekend - Southampton v Hull, Barnsley v Burton and Wimbledon v Oldham.