Soccer AM: England Internationals Watkins and Palmer Should Have Opportunities Today

We are starting off today in the Netherlands, with fifth-place Ajax travelling to face a Volendam team who are six points from safety and look set for relegation. It’s been a troubling season for Ajax fans, but they’ve gotten marginally better as the season has progressed. They’re the third-highest scoring team in the league, but their biggest issue is that they’ve conceded 58 goals — that’s 23 more than AZ Alkmaar, who are one spot above them in the Eredivisie. Their road games have seen a lot of goals, with 12 of the 15 hitting four of more goals, something that should continue against a Volendam team who are fighting for their lives and have allowed more goals than anybody in the league. Over 3.5 goals (-134 at FanDuel)

Cole Palmer has been the standout performer for Chelsea this season and is the best bit of transfer business of the Todd Boehly era at Stamford Bridge. Palmer has added a real goal threat to a team that don’t have a legitimate number nine to play upfront. In 29 Premier League games he’s scored 20 goals. A game against rivals West Ham gives him a chance to make himself even more popular amongst the Chelsea fanbase. He’s put up a blank in his past two Premier League games, but before that had scored 10 in five matches. Cole Palmer to score (+118 at BetRivers)

We’re looking for an international teammate of Cole Palmer to score for Aston Villa today in Ollie Watkins. Now that Harry Kane has left for the Bundesliga, he’s the best English striker in the Premier League. Watkins’ goalscoring record the entire season has been great, with 19 in 34 league games, but what’s really impressed is his record away from home, with eight in 16 games. That bodes well ahead of a trip to Brighton, who just gave up three to Bournemouth and four to Man City in the game before that. Ollie Watkins to score (+145 at Borgata)

Both Frosinone and Empoli are just clear of the relegation zone in Serie A. They are, along with Verona, on 31 points and two points ahead of both Udinese and Sassuolo, who are currently in the drop zone. Frosinone are ahead of Empoli on goal difference but that could change after today. Frosinone come in off a win, but it was against already relegated Salernitana. Meanwhile Empoli have won their previous two at home, 1-0 over Napoli and 3-2 over Torino. Frosinone are yet to win an away game all season. Empoli to win (+140 at FanDuel)

Much like Empoli vs Frosinone, in the Bundesliga we have Union Berlin vs Bochum, with both teams narrowly above the drop zone with 30 points. Both teams need a win, but much like the aforementioned game it doesn’t matter that Bochum won last time out. Bochum, like Frosinone, have the league’s worst away record. As bad as Union Berlin have been this season, they have been relatively good at home of late with five wins, one draw and three defeats. Considering those losses came to powerhouses Dortmund, Bayern Munich, and recently crowned champions Bayer Leverkusen, they are perhaps marginally better than advertised. Union Berlin to win (-105 at FanDuel)

Coming into today’s game against Bayer Leverkusen, Frankfurt are sixth in the Bundesliga table. They can’t catch Dortmund above and are four points clear of Freiburg behind them. They will hope to get something from this game against the champions. Leverkusen are still unbeaten this season, but they have the second leg of their tie against Roma this Thursday and will surely rest some players. That big European game is their main priority now that the title is secure. Given they’ve drawn their last two, it’s easy to see standards slipping again while they look forward. Frankfurt v. Bayer Leverkusen Draw (+265 at BetRivers)

Granada are in serious trouble. They’re down in 19th in La Liga and now 10 points behind Celta Vigo in 17th, meaning that they are looking relegation straight in the face. What makes things worse is the trip to face Sevilla sees them facing one of Spain’s in-form teams. For the bulk of the season we’ve seen Sevilla look like they were under threat of relegation, but over the past four games they’ve won three and drawn the other, a streak that has seen them fly up the table to 13th. They’re on a great run and should be able to take advantage of a poor Granada team. Sevilla to win (-150 at Bet365)