Expert Jury: Award season belongs to King Salah

We asked our top team of Racing Post writers and a leading odds-compiler for their thoughts on this week's big talking points and this is how they answered...

What is your best bet this weekend?

Racing Post's Rob Eddy: Coventry boast a great home record but their playoff push has petered out and they look there for the taking having picked up just one point in their last three home games. Huddersfield, who still have remote hopes of automatic promotion, have won four of their last five games, drawing the other, and look great value at 21-10.

Racing Post's Aidan Perkins: Millwall to beat Peterborough at home. Millwall will be fired up as they know realistically only a victory over the already-relegated Posh will keep alive their playoff hopes. Gary Rowett's side have won their last two at The Den and are unbeaten in their last four games overall.

Racing Post's Chris Rivers: Blackpool appeal at a shade of odds-on to beat a Derby side who have had the stuffing knocked out of them by relegation. The Seasiders are playing with freedom, have won seven of their last 11 at home, including sticking six goals past Birmingham recently, and should extend the Rams' nine-match losing run on the road.

Emmet O'Keeffe from Paddy Power: Crystal Palace look overpriced against a Southampton team with only one win in their last eight matches. The xG (expected goals) stats have Palace as a better team than the Saints and Patrick Vieira's men possess the superior attacking weapons in Conor Gallagher and Wilfried Zaha.

Who are the most vulnerable favourites?

Rob Eddy: Watford are not the shortest price but will struggle to justify favouritism having won just two games since Roy Hodgson took charge. They have lost four on the bounce while Burnley have started to build up a head of steam and are unbeaten in three games since Sean Dyche left, winning their last two.

Aidan Perkins: I won't be rushing to back unpredictable Southampton to beat Crystal Palace at home. Saints have won only one of their last eight league games and have lost three of their last four at St Mary's.

Chris Rivers: All is not well at Chelsea and they don't appeal at odds-on to beat an Everton side in desperation mode. Frank Lampard has to take something from the visit of his former employers and his team are a different beast at Goodison Park, while Chelsea took on Manchester United on Thursday and have the look of a side playing out time until the FA Cup final.

Emmet O'Keeffe: Tottenham, despite Leicester's defensive frailties and European commitments. It's hard to be enthusiastic about backing Spurs at 4-9 given they that haven't managed one shot on target in their last two matches against mid-ranking Premier League opposition.

Who is your choice for Premier League Player of the Year?

Rob Eddy: He may have endured something of a lull in recent weeks but Liverpool's Mohamed Salah is surely going to win this prize, having bagged 22 goals to lead the goalscoring charts while providing 13 assists. Winning the Premier League title will surely seal the deal if there is any doubt.

Aidan Perkins: After being named Football Writers' Player of the Year, it's hard to look past Mo Salah when you consider he is the top scorer with 22 goals and also has the most assists with 13. He's not been quite as good in the second half of the season but gets the nod over the likes of teammate Sadio Mane and Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne.

Chris Rivers: The betting for the PFA Player of the Year suggests there is no point opposing Mo Salah as the Liverpool forward is as short as 1-5 for that honour. It's tough to make an argument for anyone other than Salah but it would be nice if Bernardo Silva's excellent efforts for Manchester City were recognised in some fashion.

Emmet O'Keeffe: Given that he leads the Premier League in both goals scored and assists made, it has to be Mo Salah with an honourable mention for Kevin De Bruyne.

Which team joins Fulham in claiming automatic promotion to the Premier League?

Rob Eddy: Nottingham Forest could just sneak it with Bournemouth having a tougher run-in. The Cherries have not had it easy of late and are struggling to win, with just one victory in their last six. They do have home advantage for Tuesday's crucial head-to-head clash but Forest have won six of their last seven and are the side in form.

Aidan Perkins: Bournemouth have been chasing Fulham for much of the season and can get over the line and take second place. The Cherries have faltered of late, drawing four of their last five, but should be in a positive mood ahead of big games against Blackburn and automatic-promotion rivals Nottingham Forest after superbly coming back from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 late on at Swansea.

Chris Rivers: Nottingham Forest are sprinting towards the finish and could pip Bournemouth at the line with the two sides set to meet in a potential winner-take-all clash on Tuesday. Forest are relishing being the hunter, winning eight of their last nine, while the Cherries are showing signs of nerves, drawing four of the last five to allow Steve Cooper’s men to catch up.

Emmet O'Keeffe: Bournemouth should just about hold on but all credit to Steve Cooper for getting Forest this close given that Cherries boss Scott Parker has a far more talented and expensive squad at his disposal.

Give us one bet for next week's Champions League semi-final second legs

Rob Eddy: There was a clear gulf in class in the first leg at Anfield and Liverpool can secure their final place with a second win in the tie and a clean sheet to boot. Manchester United won 2-0 at the Estadio de la Ceramica and the Reds are obviously a much better side, with the quadruple chase offering further motivation.

Aidan Perkins: Liverpool's 2-0 first-leg win over Villarreal was more comfortable than the scoreline suggests but Jurgen Klopp will expect the Spaniards to offer more attacking threat at home, the longer the game goes on. There have been more goals in the second half of four of Liverpool's last five Champions League games and, at around even-money, that looks a good bet on Tuesday.

Chris Rivers: I like Riyad Mahrez to find the back of the net for Manchester City in Madrid. It was incredible quite how many chances he missed in the first leg but Mahrez is usually reliable in Europe, leading the scoring charts for City in the Champions League in the past two seasons and he bagged in the quarters and semi-finals last term.

Emmet O'Keeffe: Both contests are tough to call but I would lean towards Liverpool in the match betting. Unai Emery's style of play is built around sitting deep and counter-attacking so Liverpool should pick Villarreal off on the break given that their hosts have to chase the game after the 2-0 loss at Anfield.

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