TUESDAY:
NEWCASTLE V EVERTON
Newcastle's injury list extended further at the weekend with Jamaal Lascelles and Miguel Almiron both going off with injuries. But that list could soon be reduced as Kieron Trippier could make his return to the side for this one and his return would be a massive boost for them.
The Magpies also have Harvey Barnes back and his impact off the bench against West Ham changed the game for them. I expect he'll start here as Anthony Gordon is suspended.
It's worrying times for Everton at the moment and they look like a team who are low on confidence. They're still without a win in 2024 and are not scoring enough goals.
Sean Dyche's side should have enough to stay up as there is enough quality in their squad. But need to start getting points on the board and quickly if they're to get themselves out of the current rut they're in.
Newcastle may still have a number of players out injured, but I think they'll just edge this one as they have more firepower than Everton do at the moment.
PREDICTION: 2-1
NOTTINGHAM FOREST V FULHAM
Nottingham Forest's home form was key to them staying up last season and they'll need to rebuild that fortress if they're to stay up again this time round.
A draw against Crystal palace on Saturday was a good start to that as the result lifted them out of the bottom three and they'll want to build on it here.
Fulham really showed how resilient they are against Sheffield United on Saturday where they battled back from 3-1 down to draw 3-3. They're a side who refuse to get beaten.
Marco Silva's side have been disappointing on the road this season with just two wins on their travels all season.
Because of this and Forest's home support likely to carry them all the way through, I think the points will be shared here.
PREDICTION: 1-1
BOURNEMOUTH V CRYSTAL PALACE
Bournemouth have been on a good little run of form recently with three wins from their last four games and they pretty much look good as safe.
Crystal Palace have made a solid but unspectacular start under Oliver Glasner under whom they're showing some encouraging signs.
They're definitely playing a better brand of football under him as it's more free flowing and attacking. But they can be more clinical in front of goal and their lack of killer instinct has cost them in recent games.
I think this one will be close as they're similar in terms of quality and style. Because of this I think the points will be shared here.
PREDICTION: 1-1
BURNLEY V WOLVES
Burnley showed a fighting spirit against Chelsea on Saturday and they deserve credit to coming away with a draw - especially with 10 men.
Vincent Kompany will need his side to show more of that fighting spirit if they're to stay up but I feel that it will be too little too late for them.
They still have the worst record at home and they always look like they're going to concede goals because of their style of play.
Wolves are likely to again be without their three main attacking players in Cunha, Hwang and Neto for this game and all three of them have been missed in recent games.
But as Burnley are vulnerable from set pieces where Wolves are also dangerous, I think Gary O'Neil's side could nick this one.
PREDICTION: 0-1
WEST HAM V TOTTENHAM
West Ham will have felt disappointed that they weren't able to see the game out against Newcastle at the weekend in what was an incredible game.
There is still pressure on Hammers boss David Moyes even though his side are 7th in the league and still in the Europa League. His contract might be up in the summer, but his side are still having a decent season.
Spurs lost the reverse fixture 2-1 back in December when they had a number of players out injured. Most of those players are back now including James Maddison who was missed a lot during that time because of the creativity he brings.
Both teams have looked vulnerable defensively at times this season but they do have a lot of goals in them going forward.
Both teams will definitely score, but I don't see either side winning here as I can see them cancel each other out.
PREDICTION: 2-2
WEDNESDAY:
ARSENAL V LUTON
Arsenal's draw with Man City on Sunday might feel like two points dropped but in some peoples eyes, it could be seen as a point gained. They defended very well throughout and kept a clean sheet. Not many teams can do that against City.
Luton have given it a good go when facing the big teams this season and they certainly did that in the reverse fixture at Kenilworth Road, where they were seconds away from sealing a crucial point.
Rob Edwards side will definitely make it tough for Arsenal here, but I think the Gunners will have enough quality to see themselves over the line.
PREDICTION: 2-1
BRENTFORD V BRIGHTON
How on earth did Brentford not beat Man United with all the chances they had and how dominant they were. The answers is we'll never know.
That performance will give Thomas Frank's side plenty of confidence that they can turn things around and getting players back from injury can help with that.
Brighton haven't been as good on the road as they have been at home this season but they did give a good account of themselves against Liverpool on Sunday. The performances have been there despite the lack of results.
Brentford have been tough to beat at home in the past, but I think the Seagulls will get the better of them in this one though.
PREDICTION: 1-3
MAN CITY V ASTON VILLA
Man City weren't their usual free flowing selves against Arsenal on Sunday and Arsenal made sure of that in the way they defended.
That game will feel like two points dropped for City and it's important that they bounce back in this one so the gap between themselves and Liverpool doesn't get any bigger.
Aston Villa won the reverse fixture at Villa Park back in December but I don't see a repeat of that in this one. That is because they're likely to be without top scorer Ollie Watkins who went off at half time against Wolves with a suspected injury.
Villa will make it difficult for City as they're a tough side to play against, but I think City will have just enough to see themselves over the line here.
PREDICTION: 2-1
THURSDAY:
LIVERPOOL V SHEFFIELD UNITED
You could say that Liverpool have the advantage in the title race as they currently sit at the top of the league with 8 or 9 games to spare. But does it make them title favourites, I'm not so sure.
They did what they've done for most of the season against Brighton on Sunday in coming from behind to win games. No side has won more points from losing positions than the reds this season which shows the character they have within their team.
Sheffield United's last two games have seen them blow two goal leads against Bournemouth and Fulham and their confidence could be shot to pieces as a result of it.
Chris Wilder will have been encouraged by parts of their performances from both games which his side will be looking to take into this one. But I just don't see it as I think Liverpool will be too strong for them here.
PREDICTION: 4-0
CHELSEA V MAN UNITED
This fixture used to be a title decider many years ago but now it's anything but that because of how far both sides have fallen.
Chelsea were again booed off the pitch against Burnley at the weekend like they were against Brentford a few weeks prior. In both games they failed to see the game out after going ahead but the Burnley one was arguably worse - especially as Burnley were reduced to 10 men.
Man United somehow came away with a draw against Brentford on Saturday in a game where they were second best throughout. A lot of people will have been asking the same question: How did they not lose?
Erik Ten Hag will demand a much improved performance from his team in this one and he'll want a showing more like the one his side showed in the reverse fixture, which was arguably United's best performance without the ball.
This fixture has ended in a draw for the last three seasons and I think this one will end the same. Both sides are having a far from convincing season and I'm not sure either of them will turn up here.
PREDICTION: 0-0
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