EPL Soccer Picks, Predictions, Best Bets: Liverpool looking to strengthen race for Champions League qualification

The EPL enters the final phase in matchday 36 of 38 with a spectacular lineup of games. Arsenal is now back in front by five points after a Man City draw on Monday, although the Blues still have a game in-hand.

This weekend’s biggest matchup features a timeless clash between Liverpool and Chelsea, with Brentford attempting to make their best finish in the Premier League if they can stump the mighty Manchester City, all while Dominic Calvert-Lewin looks to put the struggling Tottenham in their place with his 13th goal of the season.

Don’t miss out on this weekend’s opener, as Liverpool take on Chelsea to kick off Week 36 of the EPL at 7:30 a.m. ET.

Liverpool vs. Chelsea best bet: Liverpool ML (-115)

While Liverpool considerably leads the way in this fixture with 87 wins to 66, Chelsea have won the last two in a row, including their last meeting on October 4, 2025.

Liverpool (-115) is frantically searching for a win, as three points would be crucial for the Reds to stay in the top four. A 3-2 loss to Man United came out of last weekend, but Arne Slot’s squad is still hopeful after crawling their way up the table from ninth place earlier in the season. They’ve only scored fewer than two goals in one of their last five EPL games, posting three wins, averaging two goals a game since the end of March. Their only caveat is adjusting to the absence of their typical goal scorers – Mohamed Salah (seven goals) and especially Hugo Ekitike, who had 15 goal contributions this run before getting injured.

Besides prepping for an FA Cup final against City on May 16, Chelsea (+275) is in the worst state they’ve been in for years with six straight losses in the league. Not only have they failed to win a Premier League match since early March, but they’ve allowed three goals in four of their last five losses, getting completely shut out in four separate games in a row against Everton, City, United, and Brighton. They will, however, eventually break this horrid spell of form, and are still a solid team with the likes of Joao Pedro (15 goals) set to score at +175, followed by Cole Palmer at +235.

The result will be close, but with the Blues heading to Anfield for this one, with a slim chance of finishing in the top four for the Champions League next season, much of their focus and player rotation will revolve around the FA Cup final. Bank on Liverpool taking up the win in this one.

Manchester City vs. Brentford best bet: Over 3.5 (+100)

Unfortunately, City (-285) basically threw away their chances of winning the Premier League title over Arsenal with their 3-3 blunder against Everton last Monday. Winning the title now consists of four straight wins, with Arsenal dropping more than two points somehow, which isn’t likely given the Gunners’ remaining schedule. Despite any slip-ups they’ve had this season, the Citizens are still one of England’s most dominant teams, going undefeated for the last seven games in all competitions. They boast 10 goals in their last five straight EPL matchups, with two victories over Arsenal, and a win over both Liverpool and Chelsea in four of their last seven games overall. Always count on the combination of leading goalscorer Erling Haaland (-170) and Antoine Semenyo (+155) to find the back of the net after scoring 40 of City’s 69 goals this season.

Brentford (+600) will be tested at the Etihad Stadium this weekend without a doubt, although they are proud of their seventh-place standing after achieving 14 wins this season so far. They’ve racked up a lot of draws recently (five in a row), and even had a slew of games from February 28 to April 18 that resulted in a six-game unbeaten streak before falling 2-1 to United on the 27. They did crush West Ham 3-0 in their most recent matchup last weekend, and while this weekend’s matchup will be tough as the side hopes for a draw at best, you can certainly expect goals to come if Igor Thiago (+180) takes the pitch, with 22 goals this season.

Considering this matchup features the three highest goal scorers in the Premier League with 62 goals between the trio, expect the Over 3.5 to hit for this one, as both teams will enter with an attacking mindset.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin anytime goalscorer (+225) in Tottenham vs. Leeds

Leeds’ 6’2″ English striker, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, heads to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to face off against a relegation-treading Spurs team with an impressive 12 goals this season. With Tottenham allowing 54 goals (fourth-most in the EPL) and Calvert-Lewin in form with a goal in his last game, expect him to tuck one away on Monday.