Pools tips and best bets for weekend of May 11-12

Ten draws: Crystal Palace v Bournemouth, Leicester v Chelsea, Tottenham v Everton, Villarreal v Eibar, Cagliari v Lazio, Roma v Juventus, Hoffenheim v Werder Bremen, Amiens v Toulouse, Caen v Reims, Marseille v Lyon.

Best draws: Crystal Palace v Bournemouth, Leicester v Chelsea, Tottenham v Everton, Cagliari v Lazio, Roma v Juventus.

Best weekend away bets: Manchester City, West Ham, Charlton, Motherwell, Napoli, Freiburg.

Best weekend home bets: Fulham, Liverpool, Manchester United, Southampton, Aston Villa, Kilmarnock, Livingston, Inverness, Mansfield, Real Betis.

Pick of the draws: Crystal Palace (12th) and Bournemouth (13th) are next to each other in the table and I don't believe they'll be anything to separate them on Sunday on the final weekend of the Premier League season. Both sides have flaws but both are capable of beating the best on their day. Chelsea guaranteed Champions League football next season with a 3-0 home win over Watford last Sunday but they face stiffer opposition in Leicester, who are playing well under Brendan Rodgers and gave leaders Manchester City such a fright on Monday. Tottenham need only a point to be mathematically certain of clinching a Champions League spot and should get it against Everton, despite the marked improvement of the Merseysiders. Mid-table Cagliari only lost in the last minute away to Napoli last weekend and they can take a point off the better-placed Lazio. Juventus have won the Italian League by a street, so they may take their foot off the pedal against highly rated Roma.

Away days: I'm taking Manchester City to win the most thrilling Premier League title race for years and maximum points at Brighton on Sunday will seal it. Although Brighton deserved their draw at Arsenal last weekend, I cannot see City slipping up at the final hurdle. West Ham have done much better recently and are recommended at Watford, who will probably be distracted by their participation in next week's FA Cup final. I fancy Charlton, the form team of League One, to win the first leg of their play-off semi-final at Doncaster and in the Scottish Premiership, Motherwell are worth a wager at St Johnstone, who are erratic. Napoli, the Italian League runners-up, look a good thing at SPAL, as do Freiburg at bottom club Hannover 96 in the German League.

Homes sweet homes: Relegated Fulham have won three of their past four Premier League games. I think they'll make it four out of five when Newcastle are the visitors to Craven Cottage on Sunday. Unfortunately, Fulham are finding their best form when it's too late to matter. Aston Villa are confident they will take the other promotion place after Norwich and Sheffield United and I'm backing them to beat rivals West Bromwich Albion in the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final on Saturday. Mansfield's hopes of automatic promotion from League Two were dashed by three consecutive defeats. They'll probably take their frustration out on Newport in the second leg of their play-off semi-final on Sunday.

Pools info: St Etienne v Montpellier (No 49 on coupon) has been brought forward to Friday and is therefore void.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of May 4-5

Ten draws: Blackburn v Swansea, Brentford v Preston, Reading v Birmingham, Bristol Rovers v Barnsley, Wycombe v Fleetwood, Crawley v Tranmere, Forest Green v Exeter, MK Dons v Mansfield, Swindon v Notts County, Inverness v Dunfermline.

Best draws: Blackburn v Swansea, Reading v Birmingham, Wycombe v Fleetwood, Crawley v Tranmere, Swindon v Notts County.

Best weekend away bets: Leeds, Sheffield United, Wimbledon, Crewe, Newport, Carlisle.

Best weekend home bets: Arsenal, Bournemouth, Cardiff, Wolves, Sheffield Wednesday, Plymouth, Bury, Lincoln, Ayr, Elgin.

Pick of the draws: Blackburn's winning streak in the Championship was ended by Norwich last Saturday evening and they face another in-form side in Swansea this weekend. Although Swansea are not great on their travels I expect them to gain a point here. Reading will be in a happier frame of mind now that they've avoided relegation and they can end their troubled campaign by sharing the spoils with Birmingham. Wycombe need a point to be certain of staying in League One and I believe they'll get it against Joey Barton's Fleetwood. Tranmere's chance of automatic promotion to League One has almost gone and their visit to lowly Crawley will feel a bit of an anti-climax. Notts County need maximum points on the final day of the League Two season to have any hope of staying up but I think they'll fall short at Swindon, who are as up and down as a yo-yo.

Away days: Leeds, frustrated by their failure to gain automatic promotion to the Premier League, will surely take their disappointment out on rock-bottom Ipswich. In stark contrast, Sheffield United will probably celebrate their return to the top flight by winning at Stoke. Wimbledon, still not safe from the League One drop, will strive for three points at relegated Bradford City. Crewe, who have won their past four matches in League Two, are fancied to make it five at Grimsby, who are ending the season with a whimper. Newport, who have moved into the League Two play-off places, are highly recommended at Morecambe, as are Carlisle, who visit Yeovil, whose relegation was confirmed last weekend.

Homes sweet homes: Tottenham's minds are bound to be on the second leg of their Champions League semi-final tie against Ajax, which gives Bournemouth an opportunity to end their mixed Premier League campaign on a positive note. Anything less than victory for Cardiff on Saturday will surely see them relegated but I've a hunch they'll rise to the occasion and beat Crystal Palace. Whoever comes off second best in the Plymouth-Scunthorpe fixture will see them relegated to League Two. I fancy Plymouth, with ground advantage, to survive.

Pools info: Everton v Burnley (No 5 on coupon) has been brought forward to Friday and is therefore void. Manchester City v Leicester (7) has been switched to Monday and will be assessed by the pools panel.