'This should be quite an intense affair between two direct rivals vying for a spot in the Champions League next season. There were nine cards produced in the initial league meeting between these sides at Stamford Bridge, six of these were shown to Chelsea. 

This reflects a much larger pattern which has stalked Chelsea all season. No side has picked up more yellow cards than the Blues in the Premier League this season (94 -2.68 per game). This is largely due to the youthful nature of the squad which can make it difficult for Chelsea to manage games and pick up cards out of frustration, as their record across the season shows.

We should see a continuation of that aggressive nature here against a Newcastle side that have drawn 2+ cards from their opponents in four of their last five Premier League matches. We’re looking for a marginal increase in these numbers but the context here supports that, a win for either side would surely guarantee them a spot in the Champions League next season so there is likely to be quite a bit of fight from both sides, especially in the midfield areas. 

The referee for this game is John Brooks who is averaging 5.33 yellow cards per game across his 15 appointments in the Premier League this season. He’s officiated Chelsea three times this season and has shown them nine yellow cards (3.0 per game).'

'Only Chris Wood (22) has registered more goal contributions for Nottingham Forest this season than Anthony Elanga (15). He’s overachieved his combined xG and xA to register this total which is a trend found across the Nottingham Forest squad which would suggest that while they have been superb this season, their metrics aren’t likely to stand the test of time which probably explains the slight drop off we’re seeing from Forest at the moment. 

Elanga has had 21 shots on target across his 28 Premier League starts for Nottingham Forest this season (0.84 per 90) and appears to be particularly threatening at the City Ground. Elanga had two shots on target against Crystal Palace in Forest’s most recent Premier League fixture and will be key for the home side if they are to keep their Champions League hopes alive.

Forest managed 20 shots in the initial meeting between the sides with five of these efforts finding the target. Elanga wasn’t able to have a shot on target on that occasion but both of these metrics are well above Forest’s averages for the season and suggest that they can unlock this Leicester backline with relative ease.'

'Barcelona have already got the better of Real Madrid on three occasions this season. Their first victory over Los Blancos came in the initial league clash between these two rivals. Hansi Flick’s side established an early dominance in the Spanish top flight with a 4-0 win at the Bernabeu. 

They followed this up with another convincing 5-2 victory in the Super Cup before wrapping up another trophy by beating Real Madrid 3-2 in the Copa Del Rey final after extra time. Real Madrid’s campaign has slowly become sour over recent weeks, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side crashing out of the Champions League to Arsenal and missing out on the cup. 

As well as Barcelona’s dominant record against Real Madrid this season, the Madrid backline has been injury struck all season and remains with notable absentees. Rudiger, Carvajal, Alaba, Mendy and Militao are all injured for this game leaving a beleaguered and inexperienced Real Madrid backline to deal with one of the most lethal attacking lines in Europe. 

Barcelona’s goalscoring power should be enough for them to beat Real Madrid for the fourth time this season and effectively wrap up the LaLiga title. Barcelona have won 13 of their 17 home games this season and have scored more goals at home than any other side in LaLiga (46), which could be decisive against a Madrid side that has plenty of important defenders missing.'

'The Spireites come into the game in fantastic form, the best side in the league over the last twelve games, with just one defeat in that time period. 

The Saddlers must arrive with their confidence on the floor having ended up in the play-offs from such a strong position. That was compounded on final day, when they won for the first time in 14 games, but still missed out on automatic promotion thanks to 96th minute winning goal form Bradford City. They had started to celebrate on the pitch at Crewe. 

But they still won the game, so that may have given them a boost? Possibly, but that win came against one of the three teams in worse form than them over that 14-game period. Chesterfield have beaten Doncaster, Notts County, Salford and Bromley, and drawn with Port Vale, Bradford, AFC Wimbledon and Grimsby. They should be odds on for this game in our opinion.'

'Cody Gakpo’s development under Arne Slot has been evident, he’s done really well as a supporting attacking player in the frontline, supplementing the numbers of Salah with 22 goal contributions across his 46 appearances in all competitions.

He’s had 22 shots on target across his 32 appearances in the Premier League this season, 20 of these have been starts, taking his average to 1.15 shots on target per 90. Gakpo found the target in his most recent Premier League appearance against Chelsea and also scored against Tottenham as Liverpool wrapped up their title victory.

This selection is strongly supported by the super sub feature. Liverpool have so much depth in attacking areas that Gakpo could be replaced by the likes of Diaz (1.09 shots on target per 90) or Nunez (1.04 shots on target per 90), depending on what variation of Liverpool’s attacking talent Arne Slot decides to platform at Anfield.'

'Some will argue momentum counts for little heading into the play-offs. It ultimately all depends on the circumstances and the fact that Wycombe head into this losing three in a row, which ultimately cost them an automatic promotion spot, means they’ll still have big regrets in the back of their minds.

Things just haven’t quite been the same since manager Matt Bloomfield left for Luton Town in January. In fact, since Mike Dodds has been at the Adams Park helm, Wanderers have failed to win more games than they’ve won, which isn't great for a side battling for promotion.

As for Charlton, if the season were to extend for a handful more matches, they’d have been more significant automatic promotion contenders. The form guide of the last 15 League One games has The Addicks in second position behind title winners Birmingham, plus they lost only twice in that period.

It is still likely to be something of a close game here, mainly due to the fine defensive record these teams possess. This is a top-six battle in terms of the best defences in the division.'