Avram Grant's West Ham side can get a vital three points in their fight for survival by beating Blackburn this weekend
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The title race was sparked back into life last weekend when Manchester United lost at Arsenal and Chelsea cut the gap to just three points. The Blues go to Old Trafford this weekend and if they can win there, then they could be top of the table on goal difference with just two games to go.
It's about as dramatic a conclusion to a season as anyone could have hoped but from a betting perspective, I think it's a match to just sit back and enjoy without actually putting any money down. Chelsea almost certainly have to win but United can afford a draw and any of the three results is entirely plausible, so that means it's almost certainly steering clear.
At the other end of the table, West Ham are desperate for points and I think they will get all three when they host Blackburn Rovers at Upton Park on Saturday. Now I know that West Ham have lost their last five in the league and are looking a little sorry for themselves but I don't believe they are out of it yet and will believe they can survive.
To do that they will need three points against Blackburn and they are capable of doing it. The two sides drew 1-1 at Ewood Park in December and at home, the Hammers could just pinch this one. Blackburn are not out of trouble themselves and having lost six out of their past seven games away from home - and their last three home and away - they look in freefall.
Cambers' Calls
- Bet of the weekend: West Ham to beat Blackburn - 19/20 bet365
- Weekend punt: Stoke City to beat Arsenal - 4/1 bet365
- Weekend treble - Liverpool, Newcastle and West Brom to win - 16/1 bet365
There may not be much in this one - the relegation dogfights are rarely attractive affairs - but at home, West Ham can get the win they need and at 19/20 with bet365, they are the bet of the weekend.
Arsenal put a spanner in the works with their win over Manchester United last weekend but it would be absolutely typical of their last month should they go and lose at Stoke City on Sunday.
The Gunners will be going all out to win their last three games and pray for a miracle but they tend to struggle against the more physical teams. Though Stoke will have one eye on the forthcoming FA Cup final, the competition for places in that Wembley clash could inspire the odd fringe player to do something special so I think they will play at 100 percent.
Of course, Arsenal are well capable of winning there but they have come unstuck there before and at the odds, Stoke have a good chance to cause an upset and at 4/1 with bet365, they are the weekend punt
For the weekend treble, I am going with the in-form Liverpool to win at Fulham and maintain their bid to finish fifth, which would be a remarkable turnaround from where they found themselves in December.
Despite injuries to a few key players, Kenny Dalglish's side are playing for each other and look happy again and the results have followed. At 6/4 they can finish off the weekend treble by winning at Craven Cottage on Monday night.
Before then, Newcastle and West Bromwich Albion can both claim victories. Newcastle were well beaten at Liverpool last time out but will want to bounce back at home and should be capable of seeing off Birmingham City at 11/10.
And West Brom can come away from second-from-bottom Wolverhampton Wanderers with all three points at a tasty 5/2. Roy Hodgson's side have nothing to lose as they are now safe and should be able to enjoy themselves while Wolves' nerves will be frayed at the prospect of going down to the Championship.
A successful treble on Liverpool, Newcastle and West Brom would return odds of around 16/1 with bet365, so good luck!
Please note that odds are correct at time of publication and are subject to change.
Simon Cambers is ESPN.co.uk's betting correspondent
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Simon Cambers
Simon Cambers is ESPN.co.uk's betting correspondant Simon Cambers is ESPN.co.uk's betting correspondant
