FRIDAY:
SOUTHAMPTON V NORWICH
Southampton are having a pretty good season so far and if they keep it up they could earn themselves a top half finish. They would've taken at least a mid-table finish at the start of the season or even survival because of the players they lost in the summer and their poor end to last season. For them to be in the top 10 at this stage of the season deserves a lot of credit as no one saw them being this high at all.
Norwich beat Southampton in Dean Smith's first game in charge back in November and they'll be looking to do the same in this one as they have more belief than they did before. They looked down and out a couple of months ago but now they feel they're in with a chance.
They may have lost their last two games against Man City and Liverpool respectively which will put a dent in their confidence. But the belief will still be there as they weren't expecting to win those game anyway. They'll believe that they can win the more winnable games.
PREDICTION: 2-0
I'm going for a Southampton win here because they're in good form and should have enough to win this game. They look strong in all areas and with their pressing style of play, they'll definitely win this one.
SATURDAY:
LEEDS V TOTTENHAM
Leeds got completely blown away by Liverpool in midweek where they simply did not turn up. Marcelo Bielsa even admitted that his side are in a relegation fight after that game and they certainly are as they're 3 points above the drop zone and in poor form.
They need Phillips and Bamford back soon because they've missed them a lot whilst they've been injured and I can see them struggling without them again in this one.
Spurs were a shadow of the team that beat Man City last weekend against Burnley in midweek as they struggled to break Burnley down. Antonio Conte even suggested that he may not be the right man to take Spurs forward and I can see why he said. He wasn't happy with the lack of activity in the January transfer window and he probably feels that his current Spurs side is not good enough for top four.
I can't see them finishing there if I'm being honest as they're 7 points behind 4th placed Man United and in poor form. They may have a couple of games in hand but with the teams above them in a stronger position, I can't see them finishing any near the top four.
PREDICTION: 0-3
With Leeds low on confidence and missing some key players through injury, I've got to hand Spurs the win here. Spurs themselves are also not in great form but with the forward players they have, I can see them cut Leeds open.
BRENTFORD V NEWCASTLE
Brentford may be starting to look over their shoulders as they're only 4 points above the relegation zone. They haven't won in 8 league games and during that time the teams below them have started to pick up points and drag them into a relegation scrap.
Ivan Toney has been a big miss for them in recent games as they've lacked that striker to put the ball in the net. They have had some tough games lately but in the more winnable games they've lacked that cutting edge in front goal. Toney brings that when he's available and they need him back soon they're to pull themselves away from trouble.
Newcastle would've been happy with their draw at West Ham last weekend as they'll see that as a point gained in their battle to avoid relegation. They deserve credit for that result as they were without Kieron Trippier and Allan Saint Maximin who are two of the Magpies' most important players. They have struggled without Saint Maximin in the past and their performance against West Ham showed that they can cope without him.
They're not out of the fight just yet as Burnley's midweek win over Spurs reduced the gap between themselves and the relegation zone to 2 points. They should still have enough to stay up but they should still be wary of the teams below them picking up points.
PREDICTION: 1-1
Brentford have been fairly solid at home this season whilst Newcastle have only won once away. With both sides missing key players through injury, I'm going for a draw here. But not as thrilling as the last meeting.
BRIGHTON V ASTON VILLA
Brighton weren't as solid defensively as they usually are in their defeat to Burnley last weekend with the absences of Lewis Dunk and Adam Webster playing a part. Both of them were sorely missed and they'll be happy to at least have Dunk back for this one after completing his one match suspension.
Aston Villa have lost a bit of momentum recently after back to back defeats to Newcastle and Watford where they were poor in both. They didn't offer much of a threat going forward in both and were flat overall. Steven Gerrard will have surely got his players working hard in training so they can put in a better performance in this one.
The reverse fixture back in November was Steven Gerrard's first game in charge of Villa which they won 2-0 to kick start their season. They've kicked on ever since that result as they're now 13th having been 17th when he took over.
PREDICTION: 1-1
I can see this one being a close game as they both play good football and will be looking to start this game on the front foot. I can definitely see a Villa response but I also think Brighton will show a response particularly with Lewis Dunk back in their defence. I've got no choice but to go for a draw here.
CRYSTAL PALACE V BURNLEY
Crystal Palace finally got off the mark for 2022 with their win at Watford in midweek which was only their second win on the road all season. It was one of their best performances of the season so far and they'll be looking to carry both the result and performance into this game to build some momentum.
The Eagles have been pretty solid at home this season which will give them more confidence going into this game. They may have had a little blip recently as a result of their slow start to the new year but at home they're still a strong team.
Burnley will be going into this one with plenty of confidence as a result of their back to back wins over Brighton and Spurs. I was starting to worry about them about a month ago but after their recent results I think they have a very good chance of staying up.
Their win over Spurs in midweek was the usual kind of performance we've seen from them over the years in being difficult to beat, blocking shots and nicking a goal from a set piece. More performances like this could help them stay up.
PREDICTION: 1-0
I'm going for a Palace win here as they're pretty strong at home. Burnley will be feeling confident after their two recent results but I think Palace will have enough to nick a result here.
MAN UNITED V WATFORD
Man United should be happy with their draw against Atletico Madrid in midweek as it will give them something to take into the second leg at Old Trafford in a few weeks time. They were a bit fortunate on the night as Atletico had the better chances but its still a good result for them to take into the second leg.
United have barely looked convincing under Ralf Rangnick but there has been one plus from his reign so far in the form of Jadon Sancho. Sancho struggled for form earlier in the season but since Rangnick has come in he's looked more like the player we knew from his Dortmund days.
Watford put the nail in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's coffin in the reverse fixture with their 4-1 win at Vicarage Road being the game that sealed the Norwegian's fate as Man United boss. That result was supposed to give them the confidence to kick on for the rest season but unfortunately it didn't turn out that way.
Roy Hodgson won't be happy with the way his side defended against Crystal Palace in midweek as he usually sets his sides up to be defensively solid and hard to beat. They were anything but that against Palace and they'll need to defend better in this one if they're to get something.
PREDICTION: 2-0
I'm backing United to win this one but I don't think it will be convincing. Watford will make it difficult for them as they'll look to defend deep but United should still have enough quality to win the game even if their performance isn't a pretty one.
EVERTON V MAN CITY
Everton are definitely in the relegation mix and it looks like they will be for the rest of the season as they have some tough games over the next couple of months. They should have enough quality to stay up but it won't be easy because of the games they have coming up.
Frank Lampard has won both of his home games since taking over at Goodison Park against Brentford in the FA Cup and Leeds a couple of weeks ago. This should give his side some confidence going into this game but it won't be straight forward as they're up against the league leaders in Man City.
Man City were left shocked after their defeat to Spurs and now the pressure is on them to try and win every game till the end of the season. This has come as a result of Liverpool's recent form which has brought the title race back to life after weeks of saying that it was already over.
This game is now a must win for City because the pressure is finally on them. With Liverpool not playing due to their involvement in the Carabao Cup final, Pep will want his team to make the most of this opportunity so his side can have some distance between themselves and Liverpool.
PREDICTION: 1-3
I'm backing City to win this one because they're good at bouncing back from bad results and should have enough quality to win this game. They know that the pressure is on them to win this game and when the pressure is on them, they always deliver.
SUNDAY:
WEST HAM V WOLVES
West Ham have started to fall away from the top four in recent weeks and they need to win this one to get their bid back on track. They can't afford to drop many more points if they're to finish in that top four at the end of the season and especially at this stage of the season where almost every result is vital.
Their draw with Newcastle last weekend definitely felt like two points dropped rather than a point gained as a win would've kept them in the hunt. The next month or two could determine their season as the games will be coming in thick and fast for them both domestically and in Europe.
Wolves saw their top four hopes take a blow in midweek with their defeat at Arsenal where they held on for so long until they conceded two late goals. They also missed some good chances for which has happened a lot this season and they'll be feeling guilty that they didn't take them.
This game will be a must win for Wolves if they're to finish in that top four with it being against one of their rivals for that position in West Ham. They beat the Hammers in the reverse fixture at Molineux which should give them the belief they need to win this game. But as they only played on Thursday, they might feel a bit tired because of the lack of recovery and preparation time between their last game and this one.
PREDICTION: 1-1
Both teams look reasonably solid defensively and they both have very good attacking players. But as Wolves don't score many goals and West Ham's attacking threat has dried up, I'm going for a draw here.
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