Southampton is enjoying the best season it has ever had in its history. The club has already tied last season's record of 60 points in the top flight, and it really should better that on the last day of the campaign against Crystal Palace with a shot at European soccer looming at St. Mary's Stadium.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
Southampton -232
Crystal Palace +600
Draw +350
Over/Under 2.5 (over -150)
ODDS ANALYSIS
With points being procured from last week's match with Stoke City, Crystal Palace has done enough to secure a spot in the EPL next season. Now, the Eagles have to be far more concerned with their FA Cup Final match against Manchester United coming up next weekend. A win in that match, and they'll be playing in European soccer next year and have some silverware to add to their trophy case.
Southampton has its eye on a return to the Europa League next season. The team bowed out to FC Midtjylland in the final qualifying round before the group stage of the competition this year, and it would love to get back to that point. In order to do that, the Saints have to finish at least seventh or better and hope that Manchester United knocks off Crystal Palace next week to open up that seventh slot for the Europa League.
To remove all doubt though, the Saints will need a win on the last day of the year coupled with a loss by either Manchester United or West Ham or a Hammers draw. That would move them into sixth spot and would be good enough to remove all doubt for the last day of English soccer of the season at Wembley.
That's why the hosts are heavy 1.5-goal favorites on the Asian Handicap in this one and are -232 favorites on the moneyline.
The total is very high by EPL standards at 2.5 and -150 vig on the over.
KEY INJURIES
Soton should have a full side for this match. Jordy Clasie is dealing with a minor groin injury, while Sadio Mane was pulled off against Tottenham last weekend with an illness, but both are back in training and should be good to go for the biggest match of the year.
CP probably won't have Joe Ledley or Wilfried Zaha for Match Day 38, and we wonder if Mile Jedinak will sit this one out with an eye on the FA Cup Final instead. Marouane Chamakh and Kwesi Appiah are both long-term injuries which won't be available until next season.
LIVE BETTING
Palace got its win against Stoke last week to move away from the drop, but we Alan Pardew has admitted that his team is now far more concerned with the FA Cup than this meaningless match. The worst that happens here is that the Eagles finish 16th, and that's no worry for sure for a team which enters the last day of the year with a shot to finish as high as 12th.
Southampton has been magical down the stretch. The team fought back from behind to upset Tottenham at White Hart Lane last weekend, and that came on the heels of a 4-2 win over Man City at home and a matching score against Aston Villa on the road. It's been a huge stretch for a team which could've mailed it in with a mid-table finish secure, but that's what gets teams in the Europa League out of England.
QUICK PICK
It would be so disappointing for Southampton to fail now. We're not sure if Graziano Pelle, Mane and Shane Long, all of whom have 10 goals this season in the EPL, will or will not get to the Europa League again next season, but we know they'll do their part. The Saints have been in great form of late, and we just can't see them dropping to a lesser team which frankly doesn't have one care in the world about this match.
Premier League Odds: Southampton 3, Crystal Palace 0
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