LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – It is a great time of year for a trip overseas to watch a little European football.
Sunday, I will be at the Everton vs Arsenal match, then will take in two UEFA Champions League matches Tuesday (Liverpool vs Porto) and Wednesday (Manchester vs United Barcelona), before heading to Lisbon for UEFA Europa League action involving Benfica and Eintracht Frankfurt.
Arsenal heads into the match fourth in the Premier League table, with a chance to solidify its place in the top three before Chelsea plays Monday. The Gunners have absolutely owned Everton over the last four years, with seven wins from eight, including 5-1 and 5-2 victories in two of the last three contests.
But Everton has two very good wins in its last two matches, both 2-0 wins against West Ham United and Chelsea. Even with past results, the Toffees may just pull out a result here, to the glee of the teams chasing Arsenal in the top four race.
The second F.A. Cup semifinal takes place at Wembley, with a battle of top eight sides. Either Watford or Wolverhampton will make the final, and this one is a very even contest. The best play here might be to back both teams to find the net.
In France, PSG continues to roll through any and all domestic competitions. Sunday, the Parisian side (with 14 wins from 15 in all competitions) will host a Strasbourg side that has just one win from 10, albeit in its last match.
PSG beat Strasbourg 2-0 two months ago, and has just one loss all-time. Expect PSG to roll.
PSV Eindhoven can move back to the top of the Eredivisie with an away win Sunday over a Vitesse team it has owned in the past half decade.
PSV has eight straight wins against Vitesse, including six by shutout.
Everton (+200) vs. Arsenal (+138), draw (+250), 9:05 a.m. (NBC Sports & Fubo.tv)
THE PICKS:
Double chance Everton or draw (-150)
Both teams to score yes (-175)
Watford (+200) vs. Wolverhampton (+145), draw (+220), 11 a.m. (ESPN+)
THE PICK: Both teams to score yes (-118)
PSG (-700) vs. Strasbourg (+1600), draw (+650), 3 p.m. beIN Sports & Fubo.tv)
THE PICKS:
PSG -1 first half (+165)
PSG -1 (-225)
Vitesse (+333) vs. PSV Eindhoven (-133), draw (+300, 10:45 a.m. (ESPN+)
THE PICK: PSV ML (-133)
Napoli (-333) vs. Genoa (+1000), draw (+425), 2:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
THE PICKS:
Napoli ML (-333)
Napoli -1 (-118)
Feirense (+1200) vs. Benfica (-450), draw (+475), 12:30 p.m. (GOL TV & FuboTV)
THE PICKS:
Benfica to win first half (-150)
Benfica -1 (-140)