TUESDAY:
NEWCASTLE V EVERTON
Newcastle's new signings have given their survival hopes a massive boost and I'm starting to think that they might stay up because of the players they've brought in. But they still have a tough battle ahead of them as Norwich have hit form, Watford have a new manager who knows how to keep a team in the league whilst Burnley have made one or two crucial additions.
Eddie Howe never lost a home game against Everton when he was at Bournemouth which will give him and his side some confidence going into this game. Having won their last game before the winter break against Leeds, the Magpies will be going into this full of confidence as a result of that and their managers' good record at home against Everton.
Everton got off to a winning start under Frank Lampard with their FA Cup win over Brentford and they need to follow that up with another good result here. They need to start picking up results because of the league position they're in and that result in the cup will hopefully give them the confidence they need to push themselves up the table.
Donny Van De Beek and Dele Alli could make their debuts in this one after missing the cup win over Brentford as they were both cup tied. They're both good signings for Everton because I think they'll give them what they've lacked all season in creativity plus they'll be under a manager who can help them kick-start their careers.
PREDICTION: 1-1
Both sides made good signings in January and they both need to win this one because of where they are in the league. Because of Eddie Howe's home record against Everton, I'm going for a draw. Both teams will go for the win but I think they'll cancel each other out.
WEST HAM V WATFORD
West Ham had to leave it late against Kidderminster in the FA Cup where they had to rely on Declan Rice to come on and save them from embarrassment. Their performance improved when Rice came off the bench as they looked more of a threat going forward than they did in the entire first half.
They'll need to play a lot better in than they did against Kidderminster in this game and I'm sure they will because they'll have their big hitters in from the start. Michail Antonio could be back which will be a massive boost and if he is the Hammers have a great chance of getting a result here.
Watford finally kept their first clean sheet of the season in their draw at Burnley where they looked a lot more solid defensively. Roy Hodgson has clearly got them working on the training ground as a result of that performance and it will hopefully give them a platform to build on.
PREDICTION: 2-0
I'm going for a West Ham win here because they'll have their big hitters in from the start which should give them enough quality to win the game. Watford will try and make it difficult for them after a much improved performance against Burnley but the Hammers should still have enough here.
BURNLEY V MAN UNITED
Burnley will be hoping that their back to back clean sheets against Arsenal and Watford will give them the confidence they need to get results but for that to happen they need to start scoring goals. New signing Wout Weghorst and Maxwel Cornet did link up at times during their draw with Watford on Saturday and they now need to start delivering if they're to stay up.
A top four finish is all Man United have left to play for following their FA Cup exit to Middlesbrough on Friday night. They may still be in the Champions League with their last 16 tie against Atletico Madrid coming up but its very unlikely that they'll go far in that competition as there are teams with a better chance of winning it than them.
United's win in the reverse fixture was arguably their best performance under Ralf Ragnick because of how they started the game and the way they played overall. They'll be looking to put in another performance like that in this one so they can finally build some consistency which has been lacking from them this season.
PREDICTION: 0-1
I'm going for a United win here because they have more goals in them than Burnley. The Clarets may have kept clean sheets in their last two games, but I think United will take their chances in this one.
WEDNESDAY:
MAN CITY V BRENTFORD
Man City really showed their class in their FA Cup win over Fulham at the weekend and despite being a goal down, the result was never in doubt. Most of their goals were well taken and they got the result their performance deserved.
City go into this game nine points clear at the top of the league which should be enough for them to hold off any kind of challenge from the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea. I can't see them blowing their lead because of the quality of team they are plus with the margin like the one they have, they should stay there.
Brentford pushed City close in the reverse fixture and they'll surely be looking to do the same again in this one. They've given most of the big teams a good game this season for which they deserve a lot of credit for as they're a newly promoted team in their first ever Premier League season.
The Bees however are not in the best of form going into this one having lost their last five games in all competitions including their weekend FA Cup defeat to Everton. They should still be safe as there is a big enough gap between themselves and the bottom three but they need to start picking up points sooner rather than later.
PREDICTION: 3-0
This one should be a comfortable City win because they should have more than enough quality to win the game. Brentford will try and push them close again but I think City will win this one more comfortably.
NORWICH V CRYSTAL PALACE
If there is one team who have benefited from the FA Cup distraction its Norwich. The competition has given them the confidence they've lacked all season and there is a belief that they can stay up. They looked doomed when Dean Smith arrived and now they have a realistic chance of staying up. Dean Smith deserves a lot credit for getting them into this position.
Crystal Palace are having a decent season so far with the club sitting comfortably in mid-table and unlikely to get sucked into a relegation dogfight. Vieira has built a very good side since he took over and under him they're going in the right direction.
The Eagles have struggled away from home this season as they've only won once with that coming at league leaders Man City in October. They'll need to improve on their travels if they're to finish higher up the table which they can definitely do.
PREDICTION: 2-1
I'm backing Norwich to win this one because they're full of confidence as a result of their recent wins and I can see them pick up another 3 points here. With Palace not being as good on the road as they are at home, I think the Canaries will edge this one.
TOTTENHAM V SOUTHAMPTON
Spurs looked very good in their FA Cup win over Brighton and particularly going forward. They're a much better side when Kane, Son and Moura play together and their win on Saturday showed why. They looked a danger whenever they were in the opposition half and the form they're all in will be a massive plus for Spurs moving forward.
Spurs' last league game was a defeat to Chelsea which ended their unbeaten start under Conte in the league. The result was a big blow to their top four hopes and will need to get something here if they're to keep up the pressure on 4th placed Man United.
Southampton needed extra time to beat Coventry in their FA Cup tie on Saturday so they might feel a bit tired going into this one as a result of that. But as they will have had three days to recover, they might have enough energy in them to give Spurs a good game.
PREDICTION: 2-0
I'm going for a Spurs win here because I think they'll have enough quality to win the game. With their front three back in form after their impressive showing against Brighton, they should have no problems in winning this game.
ASTON VILLA V LEEDS
Aston Villa have been a good all round team since Steven Gerrard took over and were arguably the winners of the January transfer window. Their two main buys in Philippe Coutinho and Lucas Digne have impressed when given the opportunity and will improve them a lot once they've settled in and had a regular run in the team.
Leeds have looked more like the team from last season in recent games but were beaten in their most recent game by Newcastle. They were building some momentum prior to that game and they need to get it back with a good result in this one. But it won't straightforward as they're still without arguably their two most important players in Phillips and Bamford.
PREDICTION: 2-0
I'm backing Villa to win this one because they've played well in most of the games they've played well in most of the games they've played since Gerrard has been in charge. With all their key players available to them unlike Leeds, they should win this one without too many problems.
THURSDAY:
LIVERPOOL V LEICESTER
Liverpool could have Salah and Mane back for this one following their return from AFCON but it wouldn't surprise me if weren't involved. They'll both return this week following their involvement in the final but this game may come too soon for them having just returned.
The reds have coped without the pair better than I thought as they won both league games they missed against Brentford and Crystal Palace. They played at the same tempo they usually play at and had players within their squad that were able to step up. Klopp deserves a lot of credit for this because January has been a month where Liverpool have slipped up in the past.
Leicester did not turn up for their FA Cup tie against Nottingham Forest which Brendan Rodgers described as embarrassing. Their was no desire from them to win the game as Forest looked more up for it plus their defending for the goals was shocking. They'll need to defend better in this one if they're to get something from this game.
PREDICTION: 3-1
I'm backing Liverpool to win this one because they're looking much stronger than Leicester at the moment. With the Foxes looking all over the place defensively and without top scorer Jamie Vardy, the reds should have no problems in winning this game.
WOLVES V ARSENAL
Wolves will climb above Arsenal if they beat them in this game as they're just two points behind them in 8th. They're having a good season under Bruno Lage who deserves a lot of credit for the job he has done. It did take time for his side to get going after a slow start but since then he's got his side pushing for a place in Europe.
They may have gone out of the FA Cup to Norwich on Saturday, but in the league Wolves are in good form. They're unbeaten in their last five and because of that they'll back themselves to get another good result in this one.
Arsenal will be disappointed that they weren't able to get anyone in during January and their lack of activity in the market could well cost them a place in the top four. They needed a striker following the departure of Pierre Emerick Aubameyang to Barcelona plus their strikers in general haven't scored enough goals.
The Gunners failed to win a game in January and the pressure will be on them in this one following their lack of activity in the transfer market. Their main aim has to be to finish in the top four because they're out of both cup competitions and have no European football to distract them. Anything less could be seen as a failure.
PREDICTION: 1-0
I'm going for a Wolves win here because they're in great form and I can see them carry that form into this game. They'll have enough in them defensively to keep a clean sheet as they have the second best defence in the league and they should have enough overall to win the game itself.
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