THURSDAY:
NORWICH V CHELSEA
Norwich appear to have lost the belief they had not that long ago after four straight defeats which have seen them return to the foot of the table. They were in with a chance of staying up this time last month but with the recent form they've been in, I again can't see them getting out of trouble.
Chelsea really turned on the style against Burnley last weekend with Reece James' return being a big difference for them. He was a threat down the right hand side all game long and he showed how much the blues missed him with the performance he put in both defensively and offensively.
The blues should have enough to finish 3rd this season as they'll have more than enough to avoid being sucked into the top four battle. They've got players coming back from injury and are in good form going into this game which will give them a lot of confidence.
PREDICTION: 0-4
I've got to go with a Chelsea win here as I think they'll be too strong for Norwich. The blues look strong in all areas unlike Norwich and because of that they should win this one comfortably against an out of form Canaries.
SOUTHAMPTON V NEWCASTLE
Southampton had a day to forget against Aston Villa with the result being one I did not see coming due to the form they were in. They'll see that result as an off day as they know they can play better and they'll go into this game like they would go into any game.
The Saints have been very strong at home this season as they've only been beaten just once with that result coming back in September against Wolves. Their home form will give them confidence going into this game as will their current form despite their heavy defeat to Villa on Saturday.
Newcastle look good as safe as they're 7 points clear of the drop and unlikely to get sucked right back in. They've been on a good run of form since January which has seen them rise up the table and away from trouble. They're looking much more solid defensively than they were a few months ago plus they've also been decent going forward.
Eddie Howe deserves a lot of credit for the job he has done because of how much his side have improved since he's been there. He's got to be a contender for manager of the season.
PREDICTION: 2-2
I can see this one being a very close game as both sides have been in good form recently. I can't see Southampton losing as they're very solid at home but I do think Newcastle will get something because of the run they've been on.
WOLVES V WATFORD
Wolves have seen their European hopes fade away recently following three straight defeats from their last three games. They looked very shaky defensively against Crystal Palace on Saturday which is something we never say about them as they've been rock solid defensively all season.
Their performances have certainly dropped off with their last two against West Ham and Crystal Palace not being their best showings. They didn't offer enough going forward in those games and Bruno Lage will be hoping that his side can do much better in this one.
I can still see a case for Watford staying up but at the same time I'm starting to think that they might go down after all. They have looked more solid since Roy Hodgson replaced Claudio Ranieri but they're still making mistakes which are proving to be costly for them.
The Hornets do have some tough games coming up before the end of the season but some of them are against teams in and around them. They'll target those games as their most important ones as they're the games they need to win with them being against teams in and around them plus they're the most winnable ones they have coming up.
PREDICTION: 1-0
Wolves have dropped off recently, but I think they'll bounce in this one because they'll have enough quality to do so. They have struggled for goals at times this season but with Watford likely to make a defensive mistake I can see Wolves latch onto it.
LEEDS V ASTON VILLA
Leeds played well in Jesse Marsch's first game in charge against Leicester as they looked bright for the most of the game only for them not to take their chances. He said after the game that the performance was more important than the points which was seen as quite strange as you would normally take a win over the performance itself. But I can understand why he said that.
The Whites will be more than happy to have Patrick Bamford back for this one after seeing him on the bench against Leicester last weekend. HIs return will be a major boost for Leeds because of how big a miss he's been for them this season. With him back Leeds will be looking to push themselves away from trouble.
Aston Villa have looked more like the team we saw in Steven Gerrard's first few games in charge in recent games and they certainly were against Southampton on Saturday. They've looked better in the final third as they've offered more of threat than they did in the games before and they'll be going into this one with a lot of confidence.
PREDICTION: 1-3
Both sides will definitely go for it here like they did the last time they met a month as they're both teams who play attacking football. I'm going for Villa to take the win here because I think they'll have enough quality to win the game. Especially with Coutinho in good form.
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