FRIDAY:
CHELSEA V FULHAM
Chelsea were by far the busiest team in the January transfer window and Graham Potter has a tough job on his hands in keeping his entire squad happy. They do have a lot of options as a result of the amount of players they brought in but the dressing room could still turn into an unhappy place.
Performances were beginning to improve under Graham Potter after their loss to Fulham a few weeks ago where the pressure was right on him. They've had a couple of weeks to prepare for this game having gone out of the FA Cup and it could give them the advantage here.
Fulham lost both of their league games after beating the blues in the reverse fixture to Newcastle and Spurs which might knock back some of the momentum they had. But those defeats will be seen more as a reality check instead of a loss of form. Mainly because they're having an incredible season.
PREDICTION: 2-1
I'm going for a Chelsea win here as they've had more time to prepare for this game. They haven't played for a couple of weeks because of them being out of both cup competitions and I can see that giving them an advantage here as they'll feel the fresher team.
SATURDAY:
EVERTON V ARSENAL
Everton will have Sean Dyche in charge for the first time here and his appointment to me feels like a sensible one. He knows what it takes to stay in the Premier League and is the kind of manager Everton need in the short term. But his task has become even more challenging than he thought after no arrivals in January.
He hasn't been handed a nice start with the Merseyside Derby coming up after this tough clash against the league leaders. With no reinforcements brought in during January, getting results from both games looks very unlikely. Unless they put in a strong performance from nowhere.
Arsenal made some good additions during the January window and it looks like they finally have the strength in depth to sustain a title challenge. The depth of their squad will be tested over the next couple of months as the games will be piling up and the three signings they made are all likely to play a part.
They made a lot of changes for their FA Cup defeat to Man City which was seen by some people as an opportunity missed. I can somewhat see why Arteta made those changes as his side have their sights firmly set on winning the Premier League. But making the amount of changes they made against a team like City could be seen as a gamble and especially in a cup competition that they could've won.
How they react in this one will be interesting. A defeat like the one they suffered last Friday could knock them off their stride.
PREDICTION: 0-2
I'm backing Arsenal to bounce back here as they have the character and quality to do so. Their recent record at Goodison may not be great but with Everton low on confidence and lacking an attacking threat, the Gunners should win this one reasonably comfortably.
ASTON VILLA V LEICESTER
Aston Villa have looked pretty decent under Unai Emery and head into this one off the back of two straight wins over Leeds and Southampton. They didn't do much in the transfer window but they did get a couple of decent signings through the door to bolster their squad.
Leicester have been in poor form since the World Cup break but they did stop the rot with a draw against Brighton before beating Walsall in the FA Cup. The draw with Brighton will hopefully give them something to build on as they look to push themselves up the table and away from trouble.
The Foxes made some decent signings during January with Harry Souttar from Stoke being their latest one. He'll arguably make the biggest impact after impressing at the World Cup with Australia and I can see him and Wout Faes bring back that solidity the Foxes had before the World Cup.
PREDICTION: 2-2
Both sides will go for it because of the attacking players they have. Villa may be in better form going into this game but I think Leicester will respond with Maddison back and their new signings set to make their debuts. There will definitely be goals, but I think the points will be shared.
BRENTFORD V SOUTHAMPTON
Brentford are one of the in-form teams in the league at the moment with their unbeaten run going back to before the World Cup break. Their recent results have put them in the mix for a European spot of which they currently lie one point outside of.
Thomas Frank's side have lost just once at home all season with that defeat coming against league leaders Arsenal. They were strong at home last season and have been strong at home again this season. Their stadium really is a fortress.
Southampton have shown small signs that they are improving under Nathan Jones recently and they'll know that they need to show more if they're to stay up. But their performances have still been more encouraging than they were when Jones first came in.
The Saints went out of the Carabao Cup to Newcastle in midweek where they again showed some encouraging signs. Particularly in the second half where they had more of a go. They'll now turn their full focus to staying in the Premier League even though they're still in the FA Cup which they can use as a momentum builder.
PREDICTION: 3-0
I'm going for a Brentford win here as they're very strong at home and are in good form. Southampton have shown signs of improvement in recent games but I think the Bees will be too strong for them here.
BRIGHTON V BOURNEMOUTH
Brighton are arguably a better team under Roberto De Zerbi than they were under Graham Potter. They're more clinical in front of goal and are getting the results their performances deserve. Potter obviously did a great job during his time at the AMEX but I feel that De Zerbi has got more out of this team than the now Chelsea boss.
Keeping hold of Moises Caicedo was a big plus and it will be interesting to see how he handles himself between now and the end of the season. He returned to training after deadline day which is a good start but his performances on the pitch will probably determine what his behaviour has been like.
Bournemouth ended their barren run of defeats with a draw against Nottingham Forest last time out which will hopefully give them something to build on. They moved into the bottom three as a result of the draw but they'll still see it as a crucial point.
The Cherries managed to get some players through the door in January and they'll all need to hit the ground running if they're to stay up. They need to get some wins under their belt and for them to do that, the new signings need to start well.
PREDICTION: 3-0
I'm backing Brighton to win this one because I think they'll have more than enough quality to win the game. They might've dropped points from this kind of game last season but as their performances are getting the results they deserve, this should be a straightforward win for them.
MAN UNITED V CRYSTAL PALACE
Man United have two games a week right throughout this month including their rescheduled match with Leeds this week and both legs of their Europa League play off with Barcelona. Erik Ten Hag will probably have to change his team for each game so his side don't lose anyone to injury. Especially with their Carabao Cup final clash with Newcastle at the end of the month.
They'll be without Christian Eriksen for the next couple of months which is a massive blow because of how influential he's been for them this season. They have brought in Marcel Sabitzer on loan from Bayern Munich, but I don't see him having the same impact as Eriksen.
Crystal Palace are yet to win a game in 2023 and you could argue that fixture list hasn't been kind to them. They've had to play Spurs, Chelsea, Newcastle and Man United since the turn of the year which isn't a nice start to a new year. They've got to face United again here just a couple of weeks after their 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park.
It was a quiet transfer window for the Eagles but they did get Sambi Lokonga in on loan from Arsenal on deadline day. Many Palace fans would've wanted them to sign a striker due to their lack of a goal scorer. But Lokonga should still be a decent signing for them with the potential he has.
PREDICTION: 2-0
I'm backing United to win this one as they'll have more than enough quality to win the game. They were fortunate not to win the game at Selhurst Park a couple of weeks ago due to a certain penalty decision going against them. But I think they'll have more luck here.
WOLVES V LIVERPOOL
These two met in the FA Cup a few weeks ago at Molineux with Liverpool coming away the victory in the replay.
Wolves didn't offer anything going forward up until the final few minutes of that cup tie which was their best spell of the game. It might've been a different game had they been more clinical in front of goal with the chances they had towards the end.
Goals are still very much the problem for Wolves this season but their performances since Julen Lopetegui came in have been encouraging. They made some decent signings in January in both departments and the attacking ones will need to hit the ground running if they're to stay up.
Liverpool were in control for much of the game in the FA Cup a few weeks ago which has arguably been their only good performance of the year so far. They haven't built on it like a lot of people thought they would and their season is now pretty much over as they're now out of the FA Cup and unlikely to make top four.
There were some positive signs in their FA Cup defeat to Brighton last weekend where they created one or two good chances and looked better off the ball. But were again let down by some poor defending which is something they need to address.
PREDICTION: 0-1
I'm going for a Liverpool win here because they've beaten Wolves on every occasion since they got promoted and Wolves themselves obviously struggling to score goals. It won't be a convincing performance but I think the reds will take their chances here and win the game.
NEWCASTLE V WEST HAM
Newcastle have a Carabao Cup final to look forward to at the end of the month but Eddie Howe will want his side to focus on their league games before the big day at Wembley. It's good to see them in a cup final after so many years without silverware but they must not lose focus on the league as they have a top four spot to gain.
They'll be without Bruno Guimaraes for this one and the next two after the Brazilian was sent off in the semi final win over Southampton in midweek. Their form might begin to tail off as a result of this because of how important Guimaraes is to the team and their lack of a back up for him. The other central midfielders they have are more box to box players.
West Ham have found some confidence after back to back wins over Everton in the Premier League and Derby in the FA Cup. Both results were crucial and will give them the momentum to push up the league and away from the relegation zone.
It wasn't that long ago there was talk of David Moyes being sacked with his side on a poor run of form at the time. There will hopefully no more talk of that for the rest of the season with both Moyes and the Hammers looking to push themselves away from danger and carry the momentum gained from their recent results.
PREDICTION: 1-0
Newcastle may be without Guimaraes here, but I think they'll still have enough to win this game. They have more firepower up top than West Ham do and I can see that winning them this game.
SUNDAY:
NOTTINGHAM FOREST V LEEDS
Nottingham Forest head into this one off the back of going out of the Carabao Cup following two disappointing performances in both legs of their semi final against Man United. They didn't offer much going forward in both legs and Steve Cooper will not want his side to carry those lacklustre performances into this one.
They managed to bring some more players in during January including Keylor Navas and Jonjo Shelvey both of who they got on deadline day. Shelvey will be a good signing as he'll bring bags of Premier League experience to the entire team as well as some extra quality to the midfield. Navas on the other hand is one the didn't really need to make as they already have Hennessey to cover for Dean Henderson for the next few weeks.
Leeds played a strong team in their FA Cup win over Accrington Stanley which was a reasonably straightforward win for them. They now need to carry this momentum with them into the league so they can get some wins on board to carry them away from trouble.
Jesse Marsch's side are without a win in 7 league games and are just a point above the relegation zone. Marsch himself is still under pressure despite the win in the cup last weekend and he could do with a win here. Especially with the games his side have coming up.
PREDICTION: 2-1
I'm backing Forest to win this one because they're at home and they have a strong record at home. Their poor showings in both legs of their Carabao Cup semi final may have halted their momentum but I think Steve Cooper's side will bounce back here.
TOTTENHAM V MAN CITY
Spurs are still that side who start games slowly before later upping the tempo in the second half. Their FA Cup win over Preston last weekend was another example of that. They looked flat for much of the first half despite having the share of possession but their performance did improve after half time as it usually does.
Spurs have a good record in this fixture and especially recently as they've won every game against City at their new stadium. Whether they'll keep up that 100% record here will depend on how well they start because if they don't start well, City will most likely punish them.
Man City were booed off at half time in the reverse fixture a couple of weeks ago which probably lead Pep Guardiola to that rant after the game. His side did turn the game around in the second half but Pep was still not happy with his sides' performance. He'll surely want a better performance in this one.
I was very surprised that they let Joao Cancelo leave on deadline day given how influential he's been for them over the list couple of seasons. I can see why they did it after reading the reports of a potential falling out between him and Pep but I'm still very surprised that they did let him go. He could be a massive loss for City for the rest of the season.
PREDICTION: 2-1
I'm backing Spurs to win this one because of their recent record in this fixture. They might not start games on the front foot but they do have players who can cause City problems. Both Kane and Son have good records against City and I think both will build on them in this game.
Comments