FRIDAY:
ARSENAL V EVERTON
Arsenal really must've been kicking themselves after their draw with Fulham last weekend because of the amount of chances they had to kill the game off. They had 18 shots overall against Fulham with only 3 on target including Eddie Nketiah's injury time equaliser. They made a bright start to the game, but that soon faded and it let Fulham back into the game before the Gunners upped their tempo in the final few minutes. If Arsenal are to return to where they want to be, they need to plat at the same tempo throughout the entire 90 minutes because you're more likely to win more games by playing like that.
The Gunners' defeat to Everton in the reverse fixture back in December left them in danger of being involved in a relegation battle as they were 15th in the league and not far off the teams in the bottom three. Luckily their fortunes have changed since then and they'll be looking to put in a better performance than they did in that game at Goodison before Christmas.
Everton haven't won away at Arsenal since 1996 and they'll surely want to put an end to that hoodoo by winning this one. Their away form has been pretty good this season unlike their home form and having taken points off Spurs, Liverpool and Man United on the road, they'll fancy themselves to get something out of this one at the Emirates where they have never won a game.
The Toffees put in an improved performance in their draw with Spurs last time out but it was defensive mistakes that let them down. Carlo Ancelotti will be hoping that his players will cut out those mistakes in this one because he will not his side to drop points again as they continue their push towards the European places. They're without a win in six league games and will want to return to winning ways soon so their season doesn't fall apart.
I'm going for a draw in this one because both sides are missing their main strikers and are not in the best of form. Because of that I can't see a winner from either side as they have not been convincing in recent games.
PREDICTION: 0-0
SATURDAY:
LIVERPOOL V NEWCASTLE
Liverpool missed an opportunity to move into the top four on Monday night by drawing 1-1 with Leeds where they conceded a late equaliser. They had enough chances to win the game as they had 17 shots overall, but they didn't take them all which they need to do in this one if they're to keep up the pressure on the sides above them.
The reds won their last home game a fortnight ago against Aston Villa which was their first home win since December and they'll be looking to record another win at home to rebuild the Anfield fortress they had for three seasons. They went 68 games unbeaten at home before losing six on bounce which was very hard to believe because of how solid they were at home for such a long time. Now they're recent home drought is finally over, they'll now want to win more games there between now and the end of the season so they can end the season strongly.
Newcastle appear to be pretty much safe as they're now eight points clear of the relegation zone which should be enough to keep them away from the bottom three. They looked right amongst it a few weeks ago but after back to back wins over Burnley and West Ham along with their draw with Spurs, they've given themselves some breathing space between themselves and the relegation zone. They're playing more on the front foot which they weren't before the international break and the returns of Allan Saint Maximin and Callum Wilson have come at the right time.
The Magpies have a terrible record at Anfield with their last win there in the league coming in 1994 which was during their first ever season in the Premier League. Having won their last two games and Liverpool not being as strong at home as they have been in the past, they might fancy themselves to get something from this game. A win for them here will surely secure their safety because I can't see them getting dragged back of how far away they are away from the bottom three.
I'm going for a Liverpool win because I think they'll have just enough to win this game. I can see Newcastle giving it a go after a few good performances in recent games, but I think Liverpool will just win it.
PREDICTION: 2-1
WEST HAM V CHELSEA
West Ham beat Chelsea at this stage last season and the result itself set them on their way towards securing Premier League survival. One year later they find themselves fighting it out with Chelsea for a place in the Champions League which nobody saw coming at the start of the season. This will be a huge test for their top four credentials and one they'll need to pass if they're to finish there at the end of the season.
They missed a big opportunity to pull clear of Chelsea last weekend as they lost to Newcastle which gave Chelsea the opportunity to claim that 4th spot from them in midweek which they did. Having gone 3-0 up before losing some ground in the two games prior to the Newcastle defeat, the Hammers' luck ran out against Newcastle as they went 2-0 down and lost the game 3-2. They'll not want a repeat of those games in this one because it could prove to be a psychological blow for them.
With the Real Madrid game coming up for them later in the week, Thomas Tuchel may rest some of his key players for this one so they can be ready and fresh for the big one on Tuesday night. But I won't be surprised if he doesn't because they're playing a side who are one place below them in the table and fighting it out for a place in the Champions League along with them.
Chelsea were probably affected by the pre match drama during their draw with Brighton because they didn't create many clear cut chances which could've been done to the players not being at it mentally. Fans were outside Stamford Bridge protesting against the clubs' decision to play a part in the European Super League which led to the game kicking off 15 minutes later. They pulled out of the competition hours after the game and they can go into this one without the distraction.
I'm going for a Chelsea win because West Ham are missing some key players through injury. They've looked defensively solid since Tuchel has come in and I can see them keep yet another clean sheet because of the key players that the Hammers are missing.
PREDICTION: 0-2
SHEFFIELD UNITED V BRIGHTON
With their relegation finally confirmed following their defeat to Wolves last weekend, Sheffield United can now start preparing for life back in the Championship. But first they'll want to end their nightmare season strongly so they can take some momentum with them into next season which will hopefully give them a fighting chance of going back up. That will of course depend on who the manager is next season because he might have a different way of playing to what the Blades have been used to over the last few seasons.
The Blades took a point off Brighton when the sides met at the AMEX earlier in the season and it was only their second point of the season. With a mixed run of games coming up till the end of the season, getting a result in this one will hopefully set them on their way to ending the season on a positive note. That is what any relegated club will want to do so they can get off to a good start next season.
Brighton are now pretty much safe as they're 7 points clear of safety which should be enough to stay out of the bottom three between now and the end of the season. A win for them here will all but secure their status as a Premier League which is what Graham Potter will be looking to do so he can start thinking about next season in terms of who he will bring in and what areas his side need to improve in.
The Seagulls have kept clean sheets in each of their last two games and Everton and Chelsea and they'll be looking to do the same in this one. They restricted Chelsea to very few efforts in midweek by being defensively solid which is arguably the strongest area of their team. They've been reasonably solid since they got promoted and it's arguably the main the reason why they're still in the Premier League.
I'm going for a draw in this one because both sides don't score many goals and I can see that being the case in this one. Brighton are a team who have a lot of possession but don't take their chances whilst Sheffield United haven't looked like scoring for the majority of the season which is why they've been relegated. I think both those cases will catch up with both teams in this one.
PREDICTION: 0-0
SUNDAY:
WOLVES V BURNLEY
Wolves should be confident going into this game after securing back to back wins over Fulham and Sheffield United. Willian Jose finally scored his first goal for the club in the win over Sheffield United which should give him the confidence to score more between now and the end of the season. The Brazilian has struggled massively for goals since arriving in January and that goal could push him to end his loan spell at the club on a high. He might not be a brilliant replacement for Raul Jimenez, but the goal he scored last week could still push him to end his loan spell on a good note.
Having secured those back to back wins in their last two games, Nuno's side will now be looking to end the season in a strong way because they have nothing to play for and it's been a difficult season for them. They've missed Raul Jimenez's goals plus they lost Matt Doherty and Diogo Jota who have also been massively missed. Those three have been key players for the club since their promotion and they didn't really replace them. They have made signings this season, but they all haven't been as effective as they were meant to be.
Burnley may look safe, but they could still get dragged back in as they've lost their last three games which have left them six pints above the drop along with the sides around them picking up points. Sean Dyche will want his side to arrest the slide his side are currently on so they can push themselves further away from the relegation zone. They'll have enough to stay out of trouble, but they need to start getting results again in order for them to stay away from that bottom three.
The Clarets could have keeper Nick Pope back for this one after missing the last two games against Newcastle and Man United. Bailey Peacock-Farrell did okay during his absence but having Pope back between the sticks is a massive boost for them because they look more solid defensively with him between the posts and the defenders trust him to keep the ball out of the net.
I'm going for a draw in this one because I don't think this game will have much in it between the two sides. They're both reasonably solid defensively and have both struggled for goals this season and I can see both of those playing a part for both in this game.
PREDICTION: 1-1
LEEDS V MAN UNITED
Leeds have taken 7 points off the big six teams this season including on Monday night in their draw with Liverpool. They've gone for it whenever they've faced them and they're definitely not afraid of going toe to toe with them because of the way they play the game. Having beaten Man City a couple of weeks ago prior to their draw with Liverpool on Monday night, they'll fancy themselves to get something in this one against another one of the big six in Man United.
Marcelo Bielsa's team are unbeaten in their last five league games which going into this one and it helped them move into the top half of the table. If they can stay there till the end of the season, it would mark a good first season back in the top flight because a newly promoted club finishing there is always a good season.
Man United battered Leeds 6-2 when they met at Old Trafford earlier in the season which was a result I was not expecting. United were not their best at home going into that game and they finally found some home comfort by winning the game itself. In terms of their away form, they're still unbeaten and it could remain like that for the rest of the season with their final two away games being winnable in Aston Villa and Wolves. Could they be the first side to go a whole season unbeaten on the road since Arsenal's invisibles in 2004? We'll wait and see.
The main talking point around United has probably been the departure of CEO Ed Woodward following the fall out of the European Super League. United put themselves forward for that competition before eventually pulling themselves out like the rest of the big six teams in the Premier League. United fans are probably happy to see him go because they feel that decline over the last decade has been down to him and the Glazers in terms of the way that they've been running the club. With him now gone, United will be hoping for a brighter future.
I'm going for a United win because I think they have a bit more quality than Leeds. It will be a closer game than the one earlier in the season and I think United will run out winners.
PREDICTION: 1-3
ASTON VILLA V WEST BROM
Aston Villa might be getting worried that their season is beginning to fizzle out having won just once in seven games which has seen them drop out of the top ten. They were pushing for a place in Europe not that long ago and now they find themselves battling for a place in the top half of the table. They're still having a good season compared to the one they had last season, but they still won't want their current season to fizzle out in front of them.
No one expected them to have the start they did against Man City in midweek as they took the lead inside 20 seconds through John McGinn before City came from behind to win the game. They'll feel no shame in losing to City as they're the runaway leaders at the top but they will however be disappointed that they didn't hold on to their lead. They once again missed Jack Grealish as expected and they'll need him back sooner rather than later so their season doesn't fizzle out completely.
West Brom's hopes of a great escape took a huge dent in midweek as they were beaten 3-0 by Leicester and it could've been more. They were in some good form going into that game following big wins over Chelsea and Southampton. But they couldn't repeat those performances in midweek which Sam Allardyce will of course be disappointed with. and will therefore want a reaction in this one against their Black Country rivals.
The Baggies still have a big task on their hands in terms of avoiding relegation because they're nine points from safety and the sides above them outside the bottom three are all pretty much safe. They need to win at least five or six of their remaining games to stay up which won't be easy as they face Arsenal, Liverpool and West Ham in three of their final six games. They'll need to be at their best in all them if they're to stand a chance of getting something out of any them.
I'm going for a draw in this one because Villa are without Jack Grealish and West Brom don't score many goals. But as the Baggies have been well organised defensively over the last couple of months, they should have enough to keep Villa at bay. Especially with no Jack Grealish.
PREDICTION: 0-0
MONDAY:
LEICESTER V CRYSTAL PALACE
Leicester were more like themselves in their midweek win over West Brom by playing fast attacking football which is what they do when they're at their best. Jamie Vardy ended his goal drought in that one by scoring the opening goal and he'll now be looking to add more between now and the end of the season which is what he usually does. With his goal drought finally over along with the form of Kelechi Iheanacho, the Foxes could have a strong end to the season.
With a Champions League place to secure, the Foxes will be looking to win their next two after this one so they have some confidence to take into their final three games which are all tough. After this one against Palace, they face Southampton and Newcastle before taking on Man United, Chelsea and Spurs in their final three games along with the FA Cup final. Their final few games could determine where they finish at the end of the season.
Crystal Palace should feel ready and refreshed ahead of this game as they haven't played a game for two weeks. Their last match was a 4-1 defeat to Chelsea where they were 2-0 down inside ten minutes and they've hopefully used these two weeks to work on what went wrong for them on the day. Because of that they should be ready for this one because of the amount of time they have had to prepare for this game.
The Eagles have a big summer ahead of them with a number of their players potentially out of contract along with their manager. They also face losing talisman Wilfried Zaha who will surely be receiving offers from some of Europe's biggest clubs. They'll need to sort out the contract situation first because they will not want to lose players on a free transfer which could force them to bring in a lot of players during the summer. They'll need to sort that out as soon as the season ends or they'll face a struggle next season.
I'm going for a Leicester win because they have more quality and Palace are missing key players in their backline. Because of that I can see the Foxes exploit that area with their pace and runs in behind which will cause the Palace defence problems. Especially if they don't have their established back four with them.
PREDICTION: 3-0
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