EPL Gameweek 25 Review: High-Flying Bournemouth Win Again

We review the pick of the action from Gameweek 25 of the English Premier League as AFC Bournemouth continued their unlikely push for the UEFA Champions League places. 

Southampton 1-3 Bournemouth: Cherries Strengthen European Hopes

Bournemouth have continually caught the eye this season, and while they weren’t at their best away at doomed Southampton, they took a significant step towards a first-ever European campaign next term.

This is a game that won’t last long in the memory, but after emphatic results against high-flying Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest in recent weeks, it was vital they backed that up with a commanding display against weaker opposition. 

The Cherries have done a lot of the hard work already, with just five of their final 13 games coming against sides in the top half of the league at the time of writing – meaning that there could be plenty of value in the 4.51 that YesPlay is offering for a top-four EPL finish.

It seems likely that a top-five placing will be enough for the Champions League due to the strong performance of EPL teams in Europe, a position that Bournemouth currently hold. Sitting just one point behind Manchester City, with a trip to the Etihad still to come, it could be that AFC Bournemouth’s first-ever season in Europe could come at the very top table. 

Meanwhile, it proved to be another dismal week for Southampton, who, for all their effort, just seemed to be lacking in confidence. Last week’s defeat at home to Burnley in the FA Cup means that their victory at Ipswich already feels like a distant memory; for all that, they are only 10 points from safety. They are all but gone in the eyes of YesPlay, who have priced them as 1.00 certainties to go. They are so short that placing R1,000 on them would return just R1,004!

Aston Villa 1-1 Ipswich Town: Tractor Boys Continue to Fight 

Ipswich has been written off by fans and pundits alike since the opening Gameweek, and while they are currently in the relegation zone, they caught the eye with a battling point away at Champions League side Aston Villa on Saturday. 

Kieran McKenna’s men had to ride their luck at times, with reserve goalkeeper Alex Palmer having the game of his life, while they had to play for just under an hour with 10 men. However, they showed a touch of class to open the scoring through Liam Delap, who will surely go on to bigger and better things in time. Ollie Watkins ensured honours were even, but it was certainly a point gained for Ipswich – who could still survive.  

Barring the unlikely event that Manchester City are deducted enough points to relegate them in relation to their alleged 115 breaches of financial rules (17.10 with Betway), it looks as though three of Wolverhampton Wanderers, Ipswich, Leicester City, and Southampton will be playing Championship football next term – with fifth-bottom West Ham 10 points clear of the drop zone.

Wolves (3.50) are two points clear of the bottom three at the time of writing, with betting sites still fancying them to see off Ipswich (1.25). It could be argued that Wolves have a slightly easier next five than Ipswich, but the underdogs won’t give up the fight, and there’s likely to still be plenty on the line when the sides clash at Portman Road in Gameweek 31 (April 5). 

Villa have yet to rediscover the domestic form which saw them qualify for the Champions League last term, but they are still in the hunt for European football next term. They have one of the strongest home records in the league, however, and will fancy their chances on Wednesday against champions-elect Liverpool, who will visit in lieu of the Carabao Cup final. 

With former Manchester United hero Marcus Rashford now plying his trade in Birmingham, the stars may align, and plenty will fancy Villa to upset them (4.00). 

Crystal Palace 1-2 Everton: Toffees Just Keep on Rolling

It has been just five weeks since David Moyes returned to the dugout at Everton, but the Scotsman has worked wonders since, with the Toffees winning four and drawing one since. 

Having grabbed a dramatic late point at home to arch-rivals Liverpool in midweek, Everton’s latest victory came at mid-table Crystal Palace, a result which leaves them 13 points clear of the drop zone. Safety is all but guaranteed now, with SportingBet pricing them as unlikely +2500 shots to suffer relegation.

It has been a remarkable turnaround under Moyes, and his side are suddenly just nine points behind eighth-placed Fulham, a position which could potentially bring with it Conference League football should the EPL continue to shine in Europe. 

The main objective for Moyes is to secure Premier League football ahead of their move to their new stadium next term, though marking the milestone with a European campaign may prove to be an attractive carrot for a side that’s suddenly on a roll. 

With games to come against Liverpool, Arsenal, Nottingham Forest and Chelsea, to name just four, a top-eight finish may elude them, though it’s interesting that Everton is into +1200 to seal a top-10 finish – a position they sit seven points from at the time of writing. Their exit from the FA Cup last weekend means all focus will be on the EPL from now on, so don’t write off Moyes just yet.