jonjoward1998

Mar 4, 20229 min read

Premier League Predictions: Matchweek 28

SATURDAY:

LEICESTER V LEEDS

Leicester returned to winning ways in midweek with their victory at Burnley where they saw star striker Jamie Vardy return off the bench and score the winning goal. He made the difference when he came off the bench as he also set up the first goal before scoring the second himself.

Having Vardy back will give them another confidence boost because of how much they missed over the last two months. With him back in the side, the Foxes have a better chances of ending the season strongly.

Leeds will have Jesse Marsch in charge for the time time in this game following his appointment on Monday and his main focus for the time being will be to keep Leeds in the Premier League. For him to do that he needs to make them more stubborn and difficult to beat because they've conceded a lot of goals and if there was one reason for Bielsa'a sacking it was their lack of stubbornness.

He'll just want a good performance from his players in this one so they have something to build on for the rest of the season. He will of course want a result but with key players out injured, it won't be straightforward.

PREDICTION: 2-0

With Vardy back for Leicester, I'm going to go with a win for the Foxes here. Leeds will show a reaction with it being their first game under a new manager but I think Leicester will have enough quality to win the game. Especially with Vardy back to lead their attack.

ASTON VILLA V SOUTHAMPTON

Aston Villa returned to winning ways with their win at Brighton last weekend which was a result they needed after back to back defeats to Newcastle and Watford. The result put them right back in contention for a top 10 finish and it will help them rebuild the confidence they had before the back to back defeats.

The reverse fixture in November turned out to be Dean Smith's last game as Villa boss and they'll be looking to go into this game with a point to prove. They've improved a lot since that day and will want to show that in this one.

Southampton have a good all round team at the moment as they look reasonably solid defensively and have quality in both midfield and attack. Their form since the turn of the year has been very impressive and the manager deserves a lot of credit for this as they've picked up some good results and are seeing games out better.

They're on course to have their best season in a long time as they're doing well in the league and in the Quarter finals of the FA Cup. If they can go far in the cup and finish roughly where they are now, it would be a very good season for them.

PREDICTION: 0-2

I'm going for a Southampton win here because they're in good form and have a good record in this fixture from recent seasons. Villa will make it close but I think the Saints will have enough here.

BURNLEY V CHELSEA

Burnley's survival bid took a blow in the week with their defeat to Leicester but they'll still believe that they can stay up. Their performances have been much improved over the last month or so and if they can take that into this game, they might get something here.

Chelsea were given a scare by Luton in the FA Cup on Wednesday night but they did manage to turn the game around in the second half. They couldn't get out of their own half at times during the first half but in the second half their quality saw them through.

The Blues should have the majority of their best team available for this one after resting some in midweek including Reece James. Their right wing back was a big miss whilst he was out injured and with him now back the blues finally have someone who can get balls into the box for the misfiring Romelu Lukaku.

PREDICTION: 0-2

I'm going for a Chelsea win here because I think they'll have enough to win the game. Burnley have picked up some good results recently but as they're without captain Ben Mee and Chelsea have Reece James back to get crosses into Lukaku, this should be enough for the blues to take the win.

NEWCASTLE V BRIGHTON

Newcastle have looked a good all round team under Eddie Howe by looking solid defensively and a threat going forward. They also have a real togetherness which they've showed in their last couple of games where they've picked up results without their main men in Allan Saint Maximin and Callum Wilson as well as Kieron Trippier. Howe deserves a lot of credit for the job he's done so far.

Brighton are not in great form going into this game as they've lost their last three where they also haven't scored. They're still having a good season as they're sitting nicely in the top 10 but their lack of goals and recent poor form will be a worry for them going into this game.

PREDICTION: 1-0

One side is in good form the other side isn't. I can see that coming to show in this one so I'm going to for a Newcastle win. Both sides don't have a lot goals in them but Newcastle do have players who can chip in whereas Brighton will probably miss a load like they do most weeks.

NORWICH V BRENTFORD

Norwich showed some fight in the second half against Liverpool in midweek and they'll need to show more of that if they're to stay up. With that result knocking them out of the FA Cup, the Canaries can now focus on their battle for Premier League survival.

The reverse fixture back in November was Norwich's first win of the season but it wasn't enough to keep Daniel Farke in the hot seat as he was relieved of his duties shortly after the game. There have been signs of improvement since that game and the Canaries will need to show their opponents how much they have improved under Dean Smith.

I'm starting to worry about Brentford at the moment because of the form they're in and the tough games they have coming up between now and the end of the season. Their defeat to Newcastle last weekend put them in the relegation mix and it looks like they could be part of that for the remainder of the season unless they can improve on their current form.

Having Christian Eriksen around will give them a boost because of the calibre of player he is. But it will take him time to get up to speed as he hasn't played any football for the last six months.

PREDICTION: 2-1

I'm backing Norwich to win this one as I can see them carry their second half performance against Liverpool in to this game. With Brentford out of form and the Canaries having won the reverse fixture, I can see them win again.

WOLVES V CRYSTAL PALACE

Wolves were disappointing against West Ham last weekend as they rarely threatened in the final third of the pitch. Fabio Silva was left isolated up top for most of the game due to the lack of support he had from his team mates and they didn't create many clear cut chances.

Defeats from their last two games against Arsenal and West Ham saw their Champions League push take a hit and they'll want to bounce back with a victory here so they can keep up the pressure on the teams above them.

Crystal Palace were a bit lucky in their FA Cup win over Stoke in midweek with Patrick Vieira saying after the game that Stoke wanted it more than them. I can understand his point as the away side arguably had the better chances and deserved something from the game.

The Eagles have a poor record away from home this season but they did win their last game on their travels against Watford just a couple of weeks ago. That result will give them confidence going into this game but getting something from it won't be very straightforward as Wolves are a very tough side to play against.

PREDICTION: 1-0

Both sides have been pretty strong defensively this season with Wolves being the better of the two in that department. They have struggled in front of goals at times this season but I think they'll have enough in them to win the game.

LIVERPOOL V WEST HAM

Liverpool will bring their big hitters back for this one after resting most of them in their FA Cup win over Norwich in midweek. Salah, Van Dijk, Fabinho and Alexander Arnold were all rested for that game and I expect that Jurgen Klopp will bring them all back in for this big game.

The reds have another opportunity to put the pressure on Man City in this game which will see them cut the gap at the top to 3 points if they win it. Putting the pressure on City is all Liverpool can do so they can keep the revived title race alive.

West Ham have gone off the boil a bit since their win over Liverpool in the reverse fixture where a number of their fans at the time were talking about a possible title challenge. That talk was soon squashed as injuries hampered their progress saw them lose some momentum. They are however still in the hunt for a top four finish.

David Moyes has never won at Anfield as a manager but he'll still believe that his side can get something here having beaten Liverpool earlier in the season. But given the form Liverpool are in and his poor record at Anfield, getting a result here won't be easy.

PREDICTION: 3-1

I'm backing Liverpool to win this one because of the form they're in and David Moyes' poor record at Anfield. With their big hitters back after being rested in midweek, they should have no problems in winning this game.

SUNDAY:

WATFORD V ARSENAL

Watford will see their draw at Man United last weekend as a platform to build on as they put in a disciplined and organised performance along with keeping a clean sheet. The clean sheet will be the most important thing as Roy Hodgson is wanting to make them more defensively solid and clean sheets can give the defenders confidence.

Arsenal have had over a week to prepare for this game as they didn't play at the weekend which should give them the advantage here. They'll be better prepared and will be feeling the fresher team as a result of the amount of time they've had to prepare for this game.

With Man United and West Ham both having tough games against Man City and Liverpool respectively, the Gunners will see this as a big opportunity to gain an advantage in the race for 4th as they have a more winnable fixture this weekend and are just two points off the all important 4th spot.

PREDICTION: 0-0

I can see Watford keep another clean sheet here as Arsenal have lacked that clinical no.9 at times this season. The Gunners may be the better prepared as a result of not playing at the weekend, but I can still see them have a similar problem to the one Man United had against Watford last weekend.

MAN CITY V MAN UNITED

Man City had to be patient against Peterborough in midweek where they had to work hard for the win. The Championship made it difficult for them in the first half and at times in the second but City did what they always do in finding a way to win the game.

Man United were left frustrated after their draw with Watford last weekend because of the amount of chances they missed. A lack of cutting edge has been a problem for them this season despite the quality of forward players they have and will definitely be an area that the new manager will need to address in the summer.

The reverse fixture showed how far apart in class the two sides are and since then its fair to say that not much has changed since. City have been their usual selves whilst United have not looked convincing despite the change in manager. This game could tell us if the gap between the two has got bigger or smaller.

PREDICTION: 2-0

I've got to go for a City win here because I can see them outclass United like they did at Old Trafford. With United yet to convince under Ralf Rangnick and City being the team they are, I can definitely see this one being a repeat of the reverse fixture.

MONDAY:

TOTTENHAM V EVERTON

Spurs are currently that team who are brilliant one week but very poor the next which their last 3 or 4 games back up. After a ruthless display against Leeds last weekend they then produced a limp display against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup where they were outfought. I can't see them get anywhere near the top four based on this.

Antonio Conte will definitely want a response from his players in this one and he'll need one after their poor performance in midweek. With Spurs now out of all the cup competitions, they can now fully focus on finishing in a European place and a good result here could set them on their way to doing that.

Everton never really got going until the second half against Boreham Wood in midweek where they moved the ball quicker and looked more of threat than they did in the first. Their performance in the first half was mostly flat and that changed in the second period where they made some subs and looked more lively.

The Toffees have been dreadful away from home this season as they've only won once with that victory coming at Brighton at the start of the season. They're also yet to win on the road under Frank Lampard having lost both of their away games under his management against Newcastle and Southampton. I'm not sure their fortunes will improve in this one.