EPL Betting Picks and Game Previews for Matchday 31: English Premier League

Jamie Steed previews EPL Matchday 31 of the 2024-25 season, starting on 4/5/2025. He previews each game from the English Premier League, picking bets and providing predictions for each game.

The EPL season rolls on, and we're bringing you our weekly article, which looks at betting picks and predictions for all games. Matchday 31 kicks off on Saturday, April 5, with Arsenal visiting Everton. It culminates on Monday, April 7, when Leicester City hosts Newcastle United.

Every week, we'll offer a preview of all the games. We'll predict the outcome, give a score prediction, and pick our favorite play for all fixtures. Before you read on, remember these essential things: betting on sports should be fun. If you aren't having fun with it, stop. And never bet what you can't afford to lose.

We're bringing you more soccer content than ever before at RotoBaller. There are FPL, UCL, and DFS articles every week, along with our weekly betting picks and game previews article, all of which can be found here. Follow the team on X (@EuanFPL, @TheFPLManual, @df_solutions, @BellRoto, and yours truly @Baseball_Jimbo), and reach out to any of us if you ever have any soccer questions.

Matchday 30 Recap

It was a rough midweek set of fixtures for us. Six teams failed to score, and we saw only 19 goals across the 10 games. Perhaps it was somewhat unsurprising given the lengthy layoff due to the international break and FA Cup fixtures.

We did still come close to bagging a parlay, but Fulham's 94th-minute consolation goal against Arsenal ultimately cost us before we even completed the first game of the slate. There's no time to lick our wounds with barely more than 36 hours between Matchday 30 ending and Matchday 31 starting.

Saturday, April 5, 2025

Everton (+425) vs. Arsenal (-130) - 7:30 a.m. EDT

Score prediction: Everton 1 – 1 Arsenal

Everton's last four games have all seen fewer than three goals scored. Arsenal's win on Tuesday was the first time in six games that more than two goals were scored. Just as the Gunners get back some attacking threats, they now have an injury crisis in defense.

BREAKING: Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes is set to undergo hamstring surgery and will miss the rest of the season 🚨 pic.twitter.com/1NHS3fRyY4

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 3, 2025

I'm struggling to back Arsenal to win this game, given their injury woes and the fact that they have a huge Champions League tie against Real Madrid in midweek. Regardless of the result, this game will likely be cagey with defenses on top, so we'll take under 2.5 goals and move on to the rest of the slate.

Crystal Palace (+145) vs. Brighton (+190) - 10:00 a.m. EDT

Score prediction: Crystal Palace 2 – 2 Brighton

In one of the more unusual derbies, Brighton visits a Palace side that's unbeaten in their last four EPL games. Palace has a better away record than at home, while Brighton's taken only one point less on their travels than they have at home.

Eight of the last nine meetings between these two have seen both sides score. Both teams have also scored in eight of Palace's last nine home games in the league. Brighton's scored in all but one away league game this season. We'll play both teams to score here.

Ipswich Town (+180) vs. Wolves (+165) - 10:00 a.m. EDT

Score prediction: Ipswich Town 1 – 2 Wolves

Ipswich's win in midweek was their first in 2025 and their third away win of the season (with only one win coming at home). Wolves maintained a nine-point gap between these two sides with their midweek win. Ipswich will know only a victory here will keep their survival hopes alive.

That is why I believe this game should see some goals. Ipswich will have to press for a win, which may help Wolves pick them off on the break. There have been 53 goals in Wolves' 15 away games. Ipswich has shipped in 18 goals in their last five home games. We'll take the over and both teams scoring.

West Ham United (+200) vs. Bournemouth (+135) - 10:00 a.m. EDT

Score prediction: West Ham United 2 – 1 Bournemouth

West Ham's form continues to disappoint. The Hammers have now taken just one point from their last three games. Bournemouth's form has been even worse. Injuries have taken a toll on the Cherries, and they've now failed to win any of their last seven matches in all competitions.

Bournemouth has been priced as if they are still in good form. While West Ham isn't a side I can back with much confidence, the odds are too appealing to turn down. Bourenmouth's slide down the table isn't showing signs of stopping, so we'll have the home team as underdogs to win.

Aston Villa (+105) vs. Nottingham Forest (+260) - 12:30 p.m. EDT

Score prediction: Aston Villa 3 – 1 Nottingham Forest

Aston Villa's still fighting on three fronts, with a Champions League tie against PSG in midweek and an FA Cup semi-final to look forward to at the end of the month. They've now won three consecutive games in all competitions by a scoreline of 3-0.

Forest's on the brink of Champions League qualification and while their home form has been exceptional, their away form has not been. Forest's unbeaten in nine games at the City Ground and has not conceded in their last four home EPL games.

Away from home, Forest's only win in four games came against Ipswich. They've conceded 13 goals in their last four away from home. With Villa's newfound goal-happy attack and Forest's dismal recent defensive record on the road, we'll back a home win and at least three total goals being scored.

Sunday, April 6, 2025

Brentford (+210) vs. Chelsea (+120) - 9:00 a.m. EDT

Score prediction: Brentford 1 – 2 Chelsea

Chelsea welcomed back Cole Palmer on Thursday and their top-scorer turned provider to set up the only goal of the game. The Blues are getting healthy at the right time. However, they've kept just one clean sheet in their last 12 away games so will need to tighten things up.

A first attacking return since GW24 for Cole Palmer 🅰️

Hands up if you've stuck with the @ChelseaFC midfielder? 🙋#FPL pic.twitter.com/lLwqN2z0Wh

— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) April 3, 2025

Brentford's recent home form has seen their hopes of a top-10 finish slip away. The Bees are winless in their last seven home games and haven't kept a clean sheet at the Gtech Community Stadium all season. We'll be playing things safe and just back both teams to score.

Fulham (+320) vs. Liverpool (-120) - 9:00 a.m. EDT

Score prediction: Fulham 0 – 1 Liverpool

Liverpool edged closer to the league title in midweek. Despite not being at their best, they found a way to win, making it 12 points from their last four games. They've only lost once this season and are unbeaten on the road. Their +22 goal difference away from home is the best in the league.

It's been a tough few days for Fulham, getting knocked out of the FA Cup and then losing at Arsenal. Without the distraction of a European fixture in midweek, it's difficult to see Liverpool dropping points this weekend. We'll back the side with the best away record in the league to win on their travels.

Tottenham Hotspur (-260) vs. Southampton (+600) - 9:00 a.m. EDT

Score prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 2 – 0 Southampton

One point from their last four games has Spurs on the brink of their worst Premier League season in over 20 years. There is also dissension between the fans and the manager, with fans showing their ire at both Ange Postecoglou on Thursday and their ownership in previous weeks.

Tottenham fans chanted “you don’t know what you’re doing” to manager Ange Postecoglou after he made his subs at Chelsea tonight…

Spurs lost the game 1-0. 😭pic.twitter.com/UaetPq02Fr

— Football Away Days (@FBAwayDays) April 3, 2025

Despite those issues, we're still taking the Spurs to win. That's because Southampton could still end the season with the lowest points total in Premier League history. The Saints have also conceded 16 goals in their last six away games, and while the Spurs are struggling, they'll surely win this one.

Manchester United (+225) vs. Manchester City (+125) - 11:30 a.m. EDT

Score prediction: Manchester United 1 – 2 Manchester City

United's modest four-game unbeaten run was ended in midweek. United only won two of their last eight games at home, both coming against sides currently in the relegation zone. They've also failed to keep a clean sheet in any of those eight matches.

Man City's defensive record away from home has improved lately. After keeping a clean sheet in eight matches on the road, they've kept three in their last six. Like their opponents, two of those three came against sides currently in the relegation zone.

City's away record doesn't provide me with enough confidence that they'll beat their nearest rivals. Instead, we'll play on both teams' defensive struggles. Even without Erling Haaland playing, taking both teams to score seems optimal.

Monday, April 7, 2025

Leicester City (+500) vs. Newcastle United (-200) - 3:00 p.m. EDT

Score prediction: Leicester City 1 – 3 Newcastle United

Leicester is on the brink of setting some unwanted records. They are almost certain to be relegated in the coming weeks and with a bit of a whimper. As well as failing to score in seven straight games, the Foxes have conceded at least two goals in 14 of their last 16 matches.

In English top-flight history, there are now four teams that have lost seven (or more) successive games without scoring.

🐈‍⬛ Sunderland - January 1977 - 8
🚜 Ipswich Town - April 1995 - 7
🦅 Crystal Palace - September 2017 - 8
🆕 Leicester City - April 2025 - 7 pic.twitter.com/ilWbrjQ99v

— Flashscore.com (@Flashscorecom) April 3, 2025

Newcastle suffered no hangover from their EFL Cup celebrations and will look to secure a return to the Champions League next season. While Leicester will surely score again soon, I can't see any other result than an away win. And a comfortable one at that.

We'll back Newcastle to take all three points and for their to be at least three goals in the game. While Leicester may not score, there's still a good chance that Newcastle will score three. After winning the reverse fixture 4-0, the Geordies will be confident of a similar scoreline here.

Betting Picks

The table below gives the odds for each game's three main plays (moneyline, total goals, and both teams to score). My favorite pick from each game is highlighted if you want to build a parlay (which I will be playing and tracking).Good luck with those FPL teams and EPL bets. Remember to bet responsibly!

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