FRIDAY:
ARSENAL V SOUTHAMPTON
Arsenal surrendered another two goal lead last time out against West Ham and the pressure will be on them heading into this one. They were in complete control during the early stages before they let West Ham back into the game after going two 2-0 up.
They need to pick themselves up here and especially with Man City coming up in midweek. With City being involved in the FA Cup semi finals, it's important that Arsenal win here so they have some extra breathing space at the top heading into the big one on Wednesday.
It's looking pretty bleak for Southampton at the moment and I don't see them getting out of the situation they're in. They're without a win in 7 and are simply not scoring enough goals. I don't see that changing anytime soon.
They may be 4 points from safety which still gives them a fighting chance of survival. But with the problems they've had this season and the form they're in, I don't see them getting of it.
PREDICTION: 3-0
I'm backing Arsenal to bounce back here because I don't see Southampton spark a comeback like Liverpool and West Ham did. The Saints don't score enough goals and with Arsenal being far superior in quality, they should win this one comfortably.
SATURDAY:
FULHAM V LEEDS
Fulham stopped the rot with victory at Everton last weekend which ended a run of 5 straight defeats. They cut the Toffees open time and time again during that game and they deserve a lot of credit for the performance they put in. Especially as they were without Aleksandar Mitrovic.
No one saw them in this position at the start of the season and for them to be in this position is just incredible. It's been a well managed first season back in the Premier League by Marco Silva who has learnt from the mistakes he made from his last spell in the Premier League.
Leeds have conceded 11 goals in their last two games combined against Crystal Palace and Liverpool. Those defeats will have dealt a major blow to their goal difference in their battle to avoid relegation and their confidence will have been shot to pieces as a result of those crushing defeats.
Their defence has been their issue for much of the season and it has been ever since they got promoted. They conceded a lot of goals under both Marcelo Bielsa and Jesse Marsch and appear to be doing the same under Javi Gracia. Just as Jamie Carragher said on twitter after the Liverpool game. Three managers, same problem.
PREDICTION: 3-0
I've got to back Fulham here because I can see them cause Leeds all kinds of problems. They might be without Mitrovic but they still have other players in their side who can cause some damage to a fragile Leeds defence.
BRENTFORD V ASTON VILLA
Brentford head into this game without a win in 6 and off the back of three straight defeats. Their season is danger of petering out as they have some tough fixtures coming up between now and the end of the season. They face Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs and Man City in four of their final seven games.
Aston Villa head into this one in much better form having won all of their last five games. They've gone from mid-table to European contenders as a result of the form they're in and they could have the Champions League in their sights if they win this one.
I wonder if Gareth Southgate will be at this game as he may want to watch both Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins who are both in excellent form. If he is at this game, both players will be eager to impress him as they'll both want to be in his next England squad. Especially Watkins who missed out on the last one to Toney.
PREDICTION: 1-2
I'm going for a Villa win here because of the form they're in and especially away from home. They've won all but two games on the road under Unai Emery and although Brentford have a good record at home, I still think Villa will win here.
CRYSTAL PALACE V EVERTON
Crystal Palace have been a rejuvenated side under Roy Hodgson whose appointment has turned out to be a masterstroke. He's got the players playing with a freedom and a confidence and the Eagles should now be good as safe.
They'll again be without Zaha for this one as he's still injured but both Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze have stepped up in his absence. Eze in particular has stepped up having netted 3 times in his last two games and he could take over as Palace's new talisman with Zaha likely to leave in the summer.
Everton did not play like a Sean Dyche side against Fulham as they looked open defensively and easy to get through in midfield. They were more like the side they were before he arrived with how easily Fulham broke through them.
The Toffees are only outside the bottom three on the goal difference and have arguably the toughest run in out of all the sides fighting to avoid relegation. Most of those games are away from home and knowing how poor they've been on the road this season, I'm not sure that they'll get any points from those games.
PREDICTION: 2-0
I'm backing Palace to win here because they're in better form and are at home where they have looked reasonably solid. With Everton struggling on the road this season and short on goals, the Eagles should have enough to win this one.
LEICESTER V WOLVES
When these sides last met Leicester were the side on the up whilst Wolves were the side on the way down. The tables have turned drastically since the World Cup with Wolves now the side on the up and Leicester the side on the way down.
Leicester have fell away drastically since the World Cup as they now find themselves deep in relegation trouble. They have the quality to get out of this situation but they don't have the confidence which at the moment is pretty low. With some big games coming up between now and the end of the season, Dean Smith needs to pick up his players and fast.
The Foxes showed some fight towards the end of their defeat at Man City and will need to show more of that if they're to stay up. Dean Smith will have been encouraged by that and will be hoping that his side can carry that into this game.
Wolves have improved drastically since the World Cup and are now pushing closer towards safety. They pretty much look safe as they're 7 points above the drop zone with some momentum behind them. They'll look to carry that momentum into this one so they can push themselves closer towards safety.
PREDICTION: 0-1
I'm backing Wolves to win here because they have more confidence on board and I can see them carry their recent momentum into this game. They don't score many goals but with Leicester struggling at home this season, I think Wolves will edge this one.
LIVERPOOL V NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Liverpool were very much likes their old selves against Leeds on Monday with Trent Alexander Arnold impressing in his new hybrid role. I asked after the game if it was time to put him in midfield and his performance on the day will have many people thinking the same thing.
It was good to see Diogo Jota back on the score sheet on Monday after a tough time with injuries which have plagued his season. Having both him and Luis Diaz back is a massive boost for the reds who also have other players coming back from respective injuries. Their returns have come at a good time.
It's worrying times for Nottingham Forest who are without a win and a clean sheet in 11 games. What's also worrying is their lack of goals of which they have scored just 24. The joint lowest in the league with Everton and Southampton. It's like the Forest we saw at the start of the season.
Their away form has been atrocious this season and I simply don't see it getting any better. They've got some tough away games to end the season with starting with this one and I'm not sure they'll get anything from those games. Especially with how poor they've been on the road all season.
PREDICTION: 4-0
I'm backing Liverpool here because they're strong at home and Forest are an absolute shambles away. Because of this I think the reds will win this one rather comfortably. Especially after tow much improved performances from their last two games. Especially the one against Leeds on Monday.
FA CUP SEMI FINAL
MAN CITY V SHEFFIELD UNITED
Man City are chasing a treble this season with Pep Guardiola's side fighting for the Premier League title and in the semi finals of both the Champions League and the FA Cup. They're definitely capable of doing it because of the quality of team they are and with the form they've been in recently, the players will be believing that they can do it.
I can see them resting some players here as they have a big game against Arsenal coming up on Wednesday. They should still field a strong enough team here because of the strength in depth they have but I can still see them resting two or three of their big hitters with their Premier League clash with Arsenal in mind.
Sheffield United will just go there and enjoy the occasion and they won't be expecting to get something here. They'll be looking forward to the occasion because of it being in an FA Cup semi final at Wembley against a team of Man City's calibre. They'll be heading in to this game with no expectation.
The Blades are closing in on promotion to the Premier League this season and will hopefully learn a lot from this game heading into next season. They'll know what kind of side they'll be facing and this game can help them prepare for next season for when they take on the big boys.
PREDICTION: 3-0
I've got to back City here because I think they'll be too strong for Sheffield United. They might make a number of changes with their Premier League clash with Arsenal in mind but Pep will still field a strong enough team to see his side through to the final.
SUNDAY:
BOURNEMOUTH V WEST HAM
I've had Bournemouth to go down pretty much all season but now I think they'll stay up. They've won 4 of their last 6 games and I can see them carry that form into their remaining fixtures. Their win at Spurs last weekend will certainly give them a lot of confidence.
West Ham showed character to come from behind and nick a draw against Arsenal on Sunday and their performance after going 2-0 down will give them plenty of encouragement moving forward. They might've been let back into the game but they still had to put in a performance which they did.
A win and a draw from their last two games will give them something to build on for the rest of the season as they look to pull away from the relegation zone. They've got some tough games between now and the end of the season and the momentum they gained from their previous two games will help them through those games.
PREDICTION: 1-0
I fancy Bournemouth to win this one because of the form they're in and I can see them keep it up here. West Ham are beginning to build momentum but having played in Europe during the week, I can see the Cherries pick up another important win here.
NEWCASTLE V TOTTENHAM
Newcastle's 3-0 defeat at Aston Villa last Saturday was probably their worst result and performance of the season. They rarely threatened going forward and were surprisingly exposed defensively which hasn't been the case for them at all this season.
Eddie Howe will see that result as an off day for his side as he knows that they can play much better than they did. They'll back themselves to bounce back here because of the mentality they have and the fact that they'll be up against an out of sorts Spurs side who they beat earlier in the season.
I said that Spurs were lacking an identity after their defeat to Bournemouth last weekend and many of their performances can back that up. Against Bournemouth they had no idea what to do with the ball when in possession and when out of possession they showed no desire to win the ball back. A lot of their games have been like that this season.
Their away form has been poor recently having not won on the road since January. Their away games since then were against sides near the bottom of the league who on paper they should've beaten. They might show up for this one with it being against a side who are also going for Champions League football. But knowing how inconsistent they've been this season, I'm not sure they will.
PREDICTION: 2-0
I've got to back Newcastle here because I can see them make the most of another flat Spurs performance. They're a more convincing team to watch and also have the players who can punish a side off their game.
FA CUP SEMI FINAL
BRIGHTON V MAN UNITED
Brighton were outstanding against Chelsea last weekend and probably should've won the game by a lot more. They were in complete control throughout and had the majority of the chances on the day. Their performance that day will give them a lot of confidence ahead of this big game.
The Seagulls have gone into every game believing that they can get something since Roberto De Zerbi's been in charge and they'll head into this one with the exact same mind-set. Everyone involved with the club will be looking forward to this game and it's an opportunity that the players will be determined to take.
Man United were in complete control against Nottingham Forest last Sunday and like Brighton against Chelsea last week, could've won by a lot more. You could see the difference that Casemiro, Eriksen and Fernandes make when all them are available and they'll need to keep all of them fit and free of suspension if they're to have a solid end to the season.
They'll have Marcus Rashford back having returned from injury during the week and his return is no doubt a massive boost for them. With their squad stretched due to injuries, his return has come at a good time as they need their best players available with a big end to the season ahead of them.
PREDICTION: 3-1
I'm backing Brighton to win here because they have more energy about them with United having played during the week with a stretched squad. With the mentality they have and the belief within their side, I can see them cause an upset here.
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