TUESDAY:
NOTTINGHAM FOREST V ARSENAL
Nottingham Forest won this fixture 1-0 last season to secure their Premier League status and they've also won their last three home games against the Gunners. The other two were in the FA Cup in 2018 and 2022 respectively.
Nuno Espirito Santo has made a fairly solid start in charge of Wolves and he picked up a few wins against Arsenal when he was at Wolves. This should give him and side confidence heading into this game.
Arsenal got their title challenge back on track with their 5-0 win over Crystal Palace a couple of weeks ago which was a ruthless performance. But the questions about them needing a striker will still exist as none of their strikers scored that day.
I think their lack of a clinical centre forward will come back to bite them here as I think Forest will frustrate them and punish them on the break.
Nuno's side beat Man United in their last Premier League home game and with their recent record they have against Arsenal at home, I can see them nick another win against them here.
PREDICTION: 1-0
FULHAM V EVERTON
Last week was a tough one for Fulham after going out of both cup competitions to Liverpool and Newcastle respectively.
Their recent league form as poor with their win over Arsenal at new year being their only win their last five games.
Everton are also on a poor run of form and I think the absence of Abdoulaye Doucoure has played a big part in that. They've missed his energy in the midfield and bursting runs forward.
The Toffees have already been beaten twice by Fulham this season in both the league and the Carabao Cup at the Quarter Final stage. I think they'll lose yet again here.
PREDICTION: 2-1
LUTON V BRIGHTON
Luton were hammered 4-1 when the two sides met on the opening day of the season where they learned a lot of harsh lessons about the Premier League.
They've improved a lot since then as they've been well organised and dogged defensively. They might still be in the relegation zone but they have improved as the season has progressed.
Brighton haven't quite been the team they were last season, but they are however challenging for Europe again for which they deserve a lot of credit for.
The Seagulls will be expecting a tough Luton side to the one they faced on the opening day of the season and especially with Luton playing at home, where they have a decent record.
The Hatters will look to make it difficult for Roberto De Zerbi's side, but I think the latter will find a way to win.
PREDICTION: 1-2
CRYSTAL PALACE V SHEFFIELD UNITED
This is a must win game for Crystal Palace and Roy Hodgson who finds himself under a bit of pressure following a poor run of results. I do hope Palace keep him till at least the end of the season, but for that to happen they need to get results and quickly.
There doesn't seem to be a good feel around Palace at the moment and especially after their 5-0 crushing at Arsenal, where that banner was presented by the fans. That banner was most likely directed towards the club hierarchy.
Sheffield United's main focus will now be on Premier League survival after going out of the FA Cup to Brighton on Saturday. They did well to go into half time level after being 2-0 down, but they weren't able to build on that in the second half.
The Blades are no doubt desperate for results as they're bottom of the league with only 10 points. But I don't see them getting one here as they have the worst away record in the league.
Palace are still without Michael Olise through injury, but they will have Eberechi Eze available. With him available and the Blades being so poor away from home, Palace should definitely win this one.
PREDICTION: 2-0
ASTON VILLA V NEWCASTLE
Aston Villa were hammered 5-1 in the reverse fixture on the opening day of the season and a lot of people thought that they would be in for a tough season because of how open they were. Since then they've been incredible as they're now fighting for a top for finish.
Newcastle are on a terrible run of form in the league as they're on a run of four straight defeats. But they win in the FA Cup on Saturday against Fulham which should give them some much needed confidence to take with them into the league.
The Magpies have one of the worst away records in the league this season with just one win on the road all season. Villa meanwhile have the best home record which should mean that Villa should win here.
Unai Emery's side won this fixture 3-0 last season on their way to qualifying for Europe and I can see them repeat that in this one.
PREDICTION: 2-0
WEDNESDAY:
MAN CITY V BURNLEY
Man City have scored 5 or more goals in 5 of their last 6 home games against Burnley including their 6-0 win over them in the FA Cup last season. It wouldn't surprise me if they won by a similar amount given how open Burnley can look defensively.
Erling Haaland netted a hat trick when the two sides met in the FA Cup last season and he could be back for this one after a month out injured.
Burnley have shown signs of adapting to the Premier League recently, but they have had moments where they've shot themselves in the foot. Their draw with Luton three weeks ago being an example of that.
Vincent Kompany's side won't change the way they play here like they have done all season and because of that, I can only see City dish out another thrashing on them. Especially with Kevin De Bruyne back and potentially Erling Haaland.
PREDICTION: 5-0
TOTTENHAM V BRENTFORD
Spurs didn't really offer anything going forward against Man City in the FA Cup on Friday but they were very organised defensively, up until they conceded late on.
Son was a big miss for them in that game as they missed his pace and runs in behind and Spurs are a much better team when he's available.
But they do have James Maddison back which is a massive boost as he too has been a big miss for them.
Brentford welcomed back Ivan Toney in their win over Nottingham Forest a couple of weeks ago where he scored on his return and showed the bees what they've missed.
Toney's return definitely gives Thomas Frank's side a chance here as they were missing a goal threat during the final days of his suspension.
But I think Spurs should still have enough to take the points here. They are missing Son, but with Maddison back in the side, they should win this one.
PREDICTION: 2-1
LIVERPOOL V CHELSEA
Jurgen Klopp announced that he is leaving at the end of the season prior to their FA Cup win over Norwich on Sunday and he'll want to go out on a good note. He has a strong chance of doing so as they're already in one cup final and still in with a chance of winning the other competitions.
The reds face Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final next month and this game will feel like a warm up for the big game at Wembley. This is because it will give both sides an idea of how they'll set themselves up in the final.
The last seven games between these two sides in 90 minutes have all ended in draws and they'll both want to put an end to that run here. Especially as they'll be facing one another at Wembley next month.
Chelsea have put some good results together recently as they come into this one off the back of three consecutive wins in the league. But there are still a lot of questions surrounding them despite their recent upturn in form.
They have had some good results when taking on the big teams this season including their draw in the reverse fixture on the opening day of the season. I have a feeling that they're going to nick another draw here.
PREDICTION: 1-1
THURSDAY:
WEST HAM V BOURNEMOUTH
West Ham are still missing some key players through injury, but they do have Jarrod Bowen available after he made his return in their draw with Sheffield United two weekends ago. They could also give new signing Kalvin Phillips his debut following his loan move from Man City.
Bournemouth were ruthless against Swansea in the FA Cup on Thursday and especially in the first half which was the period where all their goals were scored.
The Cherries have lost their last two games in the league against Spurs and Liverpool respectively and they'll want to avoid a third straight loss.
Andoni Iraola's side will definitely have a good go at West Ham as they're a side who like to play on the front foot and I think they could cause them one or two problems. But with West Ham being a tough team to play against, I can only see points being shared here.
PREDICTION: 2-2
WOLVES V MAN UNITED
Wolves were unlucky not to come away with anything in the reverse fixture where they were let down by that controversial VAR decision that went against them. That game was Gary O'Neil's first game in charge of the club.
When I do my predictions about Man United, I always ask which one will turn up. This is because of how inconsistent they've been this season.
It was a professional performance from them against Newport in the FA Cup on Sunday with the exclusion of Marcus Rashford being the main talking point going into it.
If he was seen clubbing as the papers say, I would be very surprised because it's not that long ago he was seen as a role model off the pitch, especially after the work he did during the first COVID lockdown.
It will be interesting to see if he plays in this game as I would imagine that Erik Ten Hag will have words with him in the days leading up to this game.
Wolves have been the more convincing side to watch this season out of the two teams and because of that, I think they'll win this game.
PREDICTION: 2-0
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