FRIDAY:
FULHAM V WOLVES
It was a smash and grab victory for Fulham last time out against Brighton which wasn't one of their best performances. But they were disciplined at the back and they did take their chance when it mattered.
They'll again be without Mitrovic for this one which will be a blow as he's their talisman. They have picked up points without him in the team this season but getting another result without him in this one will be a challenge as Wolves are a strong team defensively.
Wolves' defeat to Bournemouth last Saturday put them right back in the relegation mix after appearing to be good as safe going into it. They missed a number f good chances in that game and it could be a reminder that their goal scoring issues are still there. They're the joint lowest scorers alongside Everton with 17.
They should still have enough to be safe though because of the impact Lopetegui has had since he's been in charge. But Wolves are still very much still down there in that relegation battle as they're only 3 points clear of the drop zone.
PREDICTION: 0-0
It was a draw when these two sides met at Molineux at the start of the season and I can see this one go in the same way. Fulham are without Mitrovic which is a massive blow to their attack whilst Wolves don't score many goals anyway. Because of this I'm going for another goalless draw.
SATURDAY:
EVERTON V ASTON VILLA
Everton have won both of their home games under Sean Dyche against Arsenal and Leeds which will give them a lot of confidence heading into this one. Home form is crucial for any side in a relegation battle and it's beginning to become a catalyst for Everton if they can keep this start up.
I still worry about them though when it comes to scoring goals. They didn't offer much of a threat against Leeds with Seamus Coleman's strike bailing them out and I don't see them get any better with Dominic Calvert Lewin still injured and unlikely to recapture the form he showed two seasons ago.
Aston Villa haven't lost to Everton since they were promoted back in 2019 and have won this fixture for the last two seasons. They'll be feeling confident that they can win this one having done so for the last couple of seasons even though those wins came under different managers.
Unai Emery's side have lost their last three games heading into this one with two of them being against the top two. Their position in the table may not have changed but they could still do with a win from this game to stop the rot and regain some momentum.
PREDICTION: 0-1
I'm backing Villa to win this one simply because they offer more of a goal threat than Everton do. They have more goals in their team and because of that I can see them get in behind a stubborn Everton defence.
LEEDS V SOUTHAMPTON
Leeds appointed Javi Gracia during the week and will be in the dugout for the first time in this game. His appointment is one I'm in two minds about.
He did a good job at Watford where he guided them to an FA Cup final and their best Premier League season. He'll also have players who may suit the way he likes to play which is an attacking style.
But he takes over a Leeds side who are in a much worse position than the Watford side he took over back in 2018. He might find keeping Leeds up a lot more challenging because of this and the problems they've had at both ends of the pitch all season.
Southampton won their first game under Ruben Selles against Chelsea last weekend which will give them a lot of confidence moving forward. It was a much improved performance and one they'll need to build on if they're to stay up.
They might be happy to be away from home for this game as they've recorded more wins on the road than they have at home. Their home form has been awful all season and as they're not at home for this one, they'll feel that they have a better chance of coming away with the points here.
PREDICTION: 1-1
Both sides have the same problems. They both concede a lot of and don't score enough goals. They'll both want to put in a performance with Leeds wanting to impress their new manager and Southampton wanting to build on their win over Chelsea. But I don't see either side winning here.
LEICESTER V ARSENAL
Leicester were the better side early on against Man United last Sunday but were later punished for the chances they didn't take. They need to be more clinical in this one if they're to come away with a result.
The Foxes have shot themselves in the foot on several occasions this season and it's why they've dropped more points from winning positions than any other side. They'll have a go at Arsenal with the attacking players they have but you won't trust them to hold onto a lead.
Arsenal picked up a crucial win last time out against Aston Villa where they showed character to come from behind and win the game. They needed to respond to the little blip they had and the result will surely give them some renewed confidence to take into the rest of the season.
The Gunners' little blip was arguably down to Thomas Partey being unavailable through injury. Their midfield hasn't been as solid in recent weeks because of him not being there to break play up and be that solid presence at the base of the midfield. He's been that player all season for Mikel Arteta's side and it's what makes him a key part of that team.
PREDICTION: 2-3
Arsenal may be without Partey again but I still think they'll have enough to win this game. Leicester will cause them problems with the attacking players they have but as they have a tendency to kick themselves in the foot, I think the Gunners will take advantage of that and win this game.
WEST HAM V NOTTINGHAM FOREST
West Ham dropped into the bottom three as a result of their defeat to Spurs and the pressure is back on manager David Moyes. I thought they were beginning to turn a corner after a win and two draws in their three games before losing to Spurs. But it seems I was wrong about that.
David Moyes after the defeat to Spurs that he wants his players to be up for fight and they'll need to be if they're to get themselves out of trouble. They have some good players in their side technically and we're about to find out whether they have the fight to get their side out of trouble.
Nottingham Forest have been poor on the road this season with just one win and 3 draws to their name so far this season. To make matters worse they've netted just 3 times on the road all season which is the lowest in the league.
Their first win of the season came against West Ham at the start of the season and they'll believe that they can do the double over them. Their away form may be poor but they're in better form and have real belief that they can push themselves away from trouble.
PREDICTION: 1-0
I'm going for a West Ham win here because of Forest's poor away form. Forest will give it a good go but I think the Hammers will be the more clinical and the team that takes the points.
BOURNEMOUTH V MAN CITY
Bournemouth needed that win against Wolves last time out and not just because it was their first win since the World Cup break. They have some difficult fixtures coming up starting with this one and the win over Wolves will give them the confidence to help them through those tough games. They might've been in deep trouble had they lost that game.
Man City didn't make the most of their dominance against RB Leipzig in midweek and particularly in the first half which was their best spell of the game. They couldn't take their chances during that stage of the game and their wastefulness later came back to bite them.
They'll need to be more clinical in this one as they could find themselves further behind leaders Arsenal depending on what result they get against Leicester. Whatever the result is in that one, City need to be ready to pounce if they're to keep their title hopes alive.
PREDICTION: 0-3
I'm backing City to win this one because they'll still have enough quality to win the game. They may be again without Kevin De Bruyne who was a big miss for them in midweek but they should still have enough in them to win this game.
CRYSTAL PALACE V LIVERPOOL
Crystal Palace are still without a win in 2023 and they were on a similar kind of run this time last season where didn't win a game in the new year till the end of February. We're at the end of February now and they still haven't won this calendar year. The performances have been there but not the results.
The Eagles are also yet to record a win against a side in the top 10 this season and they have the chance to end that run here against an out of sorts Liverpool side. But with Patrick Vieira's side low on confidence and lacking a poacher in their team, that run could well be extended here.
Liverpool looked all over the place against Real Madrid in midweek and especially in the second half. They were an absolute shambles defensively like they have been for much of the season and the performance was a reminder that they're still a long way off their best.
Some people may have thought that the reds were turning a corner after improved performances in their wins over Everton and Newcastle. But I wasn't so sure about that as they've had an inconsistent season and have been no way near the levels they produced last season.
PREDICTION: 1-1
I might've gone for a Palace win had Wilfried Zaha been available but as he's still out injured I'm going for a draw. Palace will cause Liverpool a number of problems as they have some exciting forward players. But I don't see them take their chances which has been their main problem this season.
SUNDAY:
TOTTENHAM V CHELSEA
This is a game that Spurs need to win with Newcastle obviously in Carabao Cup final action against Man United. Antonio Conte's side will move four points clear of Newcastle if they win here which will give them some breathing space heading into next weekend.
Chelsea have won every league game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium where they've kept a clean sheet on every occasion. Graham Potter would love it if his side recorded another win in this fixture because they could do with one having won just twice in 10 matches.
Potter could certainly do with a win here as he again finds himself under a lot of pressure. Some of the fans are beginning to turn on him after booing the team off after their defeat to Southampton and you begin to wonder if he's going to get the time to build his own team. If results don't improve he may not.
Chelsea are the complete opposite of Spurs at the moment in that they don't score enough goals. Spurs have in Harry Kane a no.9 who is always in the right position to put the ball in the net whereas Chelsea don't have that player at all. They spent all that money in January and yet none of it was spent on a clinical no.9.
PREDICTION: 2-0
I'm backing Spurs to win this London Derby because they look more likely to score than Chelsea. They have more goals in their attack and are more clinical in the final third and it's for that reason I'm backing them to win this game.
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