FRIDAY:
BRIGHTON V CRYSTAL PALACE
Brighton are in some good form going into this game having won three of their last four in all competitions including their FA Cup win over West Brom last weekend. They're looking more like the team we saw at the start of the season in converting their chances which has been an issue for them at times this season as well as last season.
The Seagulls will be without Yves Bissouma for the rest of the month as he's at AFCON with Mali which will be a massive blow for them because of how important he is for the team. They do have other key players available but Bissouma's energy will be sorely missed in the midfield.
Crystal Palace are also without players due to AFCON including talisman Wilfried Zaha. They may not have missed him as much this season as they have players capable of stepping up in his place but not having him for an entire month will be a massive blow for them.
The Eagles don't have a great record away from home this season with their only win coming at Man City back in October. They've been decent at home and are having a solid season overall but they need to sort out their away form.
PREDICTION: 2-1
I'm going for a Brighton win here because they're in better form and Palace have struggled away from home. They may be without Bissouma but they still have players in their team who can win them a game.
SATURDAY:
MAN CITY V CHELSEA
This game could decide whether the title race is over or still on. A City win will pretty much guarantee them the title and a win for Chelsea could somehow keep the race alive as it will reduce the gap between the two sides to 7 points.
City put in a professional and dominant performance in the reverse fixture back in September which was a statement of intent from them. It was a game they really wanted to win having lost their previous three games against Chelsea and they won it well by putting in a quality performance.
Chelsea's title hopes may be pretty much over but they can still end the season with a trophy as they're in the Carabao Cup final following their semi final win over Spurs in midweek. They did enough to win the second leg of that tie on Wednesday night and they'll be looking to carry the confidence from that game into this one.
This is a must win game for the blues if they're to keep their faint title hopes alive because a defeat will pretty much end their title chances for good. They can't afford to drop any more points because of how far they are behind their opponents.
PREDICTION: 2-1
I'm backing City to put in another top class performance here because of the form they're in and the team they are. With Chelsea not in great form domestic wise, they'll definitely win here.
NEWCASTLE V WATFORD
Newcastle could have Chris Wood available for this game following his arrival from Burnley which looks like a very good signing for them. He's a player they needed with Callum Wilson side-lined for a couple of months and he'll give the Magpies a much better chance of staying up.
This is a must win game for the Magpies with it being against a relegation rival and they'll need to play much better than they did against Cambridge if they are to win it. They were very flat in their FA Cup defeat last weekend and Eddie Howe has surely got the players working hard on the training field.
Watford need to start picking up points and especially with the rotten form they're in. They've lost their last 7 games in all competitions and Claudio Ranieri will surely be looking to make more additions before the transfer window closes. Particularly in defence as they have struggled there all season.
The Hornets are still yet to keep a clean sheet this season and Ranieri will be hoping that the first one will come soon with their next three including this one being against teams below them in the table. They have some decent players going forward but at the back they've looked vulnerable.
PREDICTION: 2-1
Both sides will definitely score in this one as they're both not trusted defensively. With Chris Wood likely to make his debut for Newcastle, I can see him come off the bench and score the winning goal from a Kieron Trippier cross.
NORWICH V EVERTON
Norwich are on a six game losing streak going into this game and relegation is becoming more and more likely. They didn't really offer enough going forward in their midweek defeat to West Ham which has been the story of their season so far. They simply don't score enough goals.
Dean Smith has never lost to Everton in his five games against them as a Premier League manager which is the only promising stat for Norwich going into this game. It will give them some confidence as Smith will know how to set his team out but it will still be a tough game for them because of the current form they're in.
Everton will be hoping that their FA Cup win over Hull last weekend will be the kind of result they need in order to kick start their season. It's been an underwhelming season from the Toffees so far and a result in the cup along with a good run in that competition could give their season some much needed positivity.
The Toffees could have Dominic Calvert Lewin back for this one after he was rested for their FA Cup game last weekend. With Richarlison out, Everton will be hoping that Calvert Lewin is available for this game.
PREDICTION: 0-1
Both sides aren't in the best of form going into this one. But I think Everton will have enough to win the game. Norwich have lost their last six and because of that I can see Everton win here.
WOLVES V SOUTHAMPTON
Wolves had their shooting boots on in their FA Cup win over Sheffield United last weekend and they'll be looking repeat a similar performance in this one. Goals have been a struggle for them at times this season but a performance like that will give them plenty of confidence.
Southampton have started to pick up some form in recent weeks and it's come at a good time. Especially with the new owners coming in. Their season wasn't really going anywhere prior to their recent results but because of those results they have some much needed confidence on board.
I didn't see their win over Brentford coming in midweek as I thought they would feel tired as a result of their FA Cup game against Swansea going to extra time. They showed no signs of tiredness on the day as they won the game rather convincingly. They held on and added to their lead which is something that has rarely happened this season.
PREDICTION: 1-1
I can see this one being a close game as they're both in decent form. But I can't see there being a winner as I don't see many goals in this game.
ASTON VILLA V MAN UNITED
A rematch of Monday night's FA Cup clash. Villa were the better side in the second half and they arguably should've got something from the game itself as they had the better chances on the day. They caused United many problems on Monday night but didn't take the chances they had and they've surely been working on that in training over the last few days.
Villa could give debuts to both Philippe Coutinho and Lucas Digne in this one following their arrivals this week and both look like very good signings for Steven Gerrard's side. Coutinho will be looking to bring back the magic he showed during his time at Liverpool whilst Digne will add some extra quality to both the defence and attack.
Man United are yet to convince me under Ralf Rangnick and I'm not sure they ever will. They did get the win on Monday night which is good for their confidence but their performance was not pretty. That's been the case for them in most of the games they've played under the German because they're still getting used to the system.
PREDICTION: 2-0
I'm backing Villa to win this one because I can see them cause United problems like they did on Monday night. If they can play like they did on Monday and take their chances, they'll definitely win this one.
SUNDAY:
LIVERPOOL V BRENTFORD
Liverpool were left frustrated last night in their draw with Arsenal as they only managed just one shot on target in the whole game. They did miss Salah and Mane on the night but with the amount of chances they had, they should've put the game to bed. Especially as they had an extra player on the field.
The reds' have seen their season falter during January in the past and with Salah and Mane away at AFCON, it could possibly happen again. Their attack isn't the same without them and I can see them struggle again here.
Brentford gave Liverpool a really good game in the reverse fixture back in September and they'll be looking to do the same here like they have done to the other big teams. With Liverpool without two of their best players in Mane and Salah, the Bees should fancy themselves to get a result here.
The only thing that will stop them getting a good result here will be their poor form away from home. They've won just two games on their travels all season and have lost four of their last six away games which is a concern for them going forward. They're still having a great season but their away form must improve.
PREDICTION: 1-1
I can see Liverpool struggle here as they'll be without two of their best attacking players but I can't see them losing because of Brentford's poor form away from home. The reds should have enough defensively to avoid defeat but I don't think they'll have enough going forward to win the game.
WEST HAM V LEEDS
These two sides met in the FA Cup last weekend where they both fielded reasonably strong teams despite making a few changes. West Ham fielded the stronger of the two as they had most of their key players available which played a massive part in them winning them game.
West Ham moved into the top four with their win over Norwich in midweek where Jarrod Bowen once again impressed. David Moyes said that he's close to an England call up after that game and with the form he's in I can see why. There are players ahead of him in the pecking order but if he carries on what he's doing, he's definitely got a chance of being called up.
Leeds have several players out injured going into this game which gives them a very slim chance of getting something from this game. They did beat Burnley without some of their key players in their last league game but this game will be tougher as it's against a side looking to finish high up the table.
PREDICTION: 3-0
I've got to go for a West Ham win here because they're in good form and will have the majority of their key players available unlike Leeds. They won the cup tie last weekend and I can see them win again in the league.
TOTTENHAM V ARSENAL
Antonio Conte doesn't have a brilliant record when it comes to facing Arsenal having won just one of his eight games against them from his time at Chelsea. This one certainly won't be an easy one for his side as he'll be without Son which is a massive blow for them. They do have Harry Kane available but without Son they're not the same team.
Spurs have made a decent start under Conte but they still have work to do if they're to finish in the top four. Their Carabao Cup defeat to Chelsea in midweek showed that as they were outclassed and never looked like reducing the deficit. They need to bring in some players before the window closes if they're to finish in the top four come the end of the season.
Arsenal put in an organised and solid performance against Liverpool in midweek as they limited the reds to very few chances. For them to hold on with 10 men for most of the game deserves a lot of credit and Mikel Arteta would've been proud of his team for the performance his side put in.
The Gunners are likely to be without several players for this game through injury and COVID and they were not helped by Granit Xhaka's unnecessary red card in midweek. Good luck to Arteta when it comes to picking his team because I can't see them field a strong 11 for this one with the amount of players they have out.
PREDICTION: 1-0
Both sides are missing key players and as Spurs are likely to field the stronger team, I'm backing them to take the points here. They are without Son but they do have Kane available and I can see him net another goal in this fixture.
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