jonjoward1998

Apr 25, 202310 min read

Premier League Predictions: Matchweek 33

TUESDAY:

WOLVES V CRYSTAL PALACE

Both sides look pretty much safe and a win from either of them here will push them ever closer towards safety.

Wolves suffered a set back in their quest for survival at the weekend with their defeat at Leicester which left them six points above the drop zone. They might get sucked back in as they have some tough games coming up but they should still have enough to keep themselves a good distance away.

Crystal Palace definitely look more than safe and a win for them here will take them up to the 40 point mark which will more than guarantee their own survival. Their draw with Everton at the weekend will be seen as a point gained and a point in the right direction.

PREDICTION: 1-0

Goals have been a struggle for both sides this season so we shouldn't expect many in this game. I think Wolves will take the win here though as they're at home where they've had some good results of late. They've won their last two at home against Chelsea and Brentford and I can see them edge this one to move closer towards safety.

ASTON VILLA V FULHAM

Aston Villa sacked Steven Gerrard following their 3-0 defeat in the reverse fixture and the progress they've made since has been incredible. They were sitting just above the relegation zone after that defeat and now they're 6th and pushing for Europe.

Unai Emery has changed their fortunes drastically since he's been in charge and is starting to emerge as a contender for manager of the season. I was quite sceptical about his appointment because of what happened to him at Arsenal. But the job he's done has been incredible and has Villa playing with an identity.

Fulham were in the conversation for Europe about a month ago but a run of four straight defeats saw them from out of contention. All they have to play for now is a good end to the season and back to back wins over Everton and Leeds and will give them the confidence to do that.

They have a mixed run of games coming up with Man City and Liverpool in their next two. They'll be without Aleksandr Mitrovic for most of them as he's still serving his eight match suspension and their chances of ending the season as strongly as they can will be slim because of their talisman not being available.

PREDICTION: 2-0

I'm backing Villa to win this one because of the form they're in and Fulham are obviously without talisman Mitrovic. Villa will have their main striker in Ollie Watkins available for this one and I think they'll win this one because of that and the form they've been in recently.

LEEDS V LEICESTER

Leeds' last two home games have seen them concede 11 goals against Crystal Palace and Liverpool and they'll want to avoid another embarrassment here. Especially with this game being against a fellow relegation rival in Leicester.

Javi Gracia's side are back in trouble following three successive defeats and it doesn't get any easier for them. They face Man City, Newcastle and Spurs in three of their final six games with the others being against fellow relegation rivals West Ham and Bournemouth.

Dean Smith made a bold call in Leicester's 2-1 win over Wolves by playing three number 9's which somehow paid off. They were without Maddison and Barnes who were both unavailable and needed to go for the win so you could understand why he made that bold decision.

Both Barnes and Maddison could be back for this one and their returns would be a major boost for the Foxes moving forward. If they are available for this game, the Foxes have a great chance of getting maximum points as they've arguably been their two best players this season.

PREDICTION: 1-3

I'm backing Leicester to win here because they have some confidence on board as a result of their win over Wolves and I can see them carry it into this game. With Leeds shipping in a lot of goals at the moment and especially at home, I think the Foxes will exploit that weakness as they have the players to do so.

WEDNESDAY:

NOTTINGHAM FOREST V BRIGHTON

Nottingham Forest showed some fight against Liverpool at the weekend but their defending for the goals was disappointing. Steve Cooper will have felt encouraged by the performance but his side need to cut out their defensive errors if they're to stay up.

Their hopes of survival will very much rest on their home form as they've been much better at home than they have been on the road. They desperately need points as they're without a win in 12 games and they're more likely to get those points at home.

How will Brighton pick themselves up after their FA Cup semi final defeat? Losing that semi final will hurt them and especially after losing it on penalties which makes it even more painful. It can take time for teams to recover from a heartache like that but with Brighton pushing for Europe, they need to get that result out of their system and pick themselves up for the rest of the season.

They looked tired in the final third towards the end of their semi final with their first touch letting them down. They looked tired towards the end of the game itself and having seen their game go to extra-time, there might be some signs of fatigue here.

PREDICTION: 1-1

I'm going for a draw here because Brighton may feel a bit tired having gone through it all on Sunday. Forest may be out of form but as they're at home where they have a decent record, I think they'll hold on for the point.

CHELSEA V BRENTFORD

All Chelsea have left to play for now is a good end to the season as they're out of all the cup competitions and unlikely to qualify for any European competition. It's been a season to forget for the blues for obvious reasons but a strong end to the season could bring some much needed positivity to the place going into next season.

They should be well prepared for this game having not played at the weekend and Frank Lampard will have used this time to get his players working hard on the training field. They've put in some abject displays since he returned and he'll be hoping that the hard work in training will have paid off.

Brentford were unfortunate to only come away with a draw against Aston Villa on Saturday as they arguably had the better chances. Kevin Schade had the best chance but ended up missing an open net and his miss turned out to be costly.

The Bees thumped Chelsea 4-1 in this fixture last season with Christian Eriksen playing a key role and they'll be feeling confident of getting another one. They might not have won any of their last six games but with the state Chelsea are in, Thomas Frank's side will really fancy their chances here.

PREDICTION: 0-3

I've got to back Brentford here because they're more of a team than Chelsea are. They have a clear identity in the way play unlike Chelsea who are just a team of individuals who don't know what to do. Because of this I think the Bees will come out on top.

WEST HAM V LIVERPOOL

West Ham have found some momentum and their run in the Europa Conference League has given them that. Their run in Europe has given them confidence and are now looking good as safe in the league.

They caused Bournemouth problems from set pieces on Sunday with three of their goals coming from set plays. They'll be looking to use that tactic again in this one because of how effective is was and has been for them in the past. Especially last season.

Liverpool also have some confidence on board following back to back wins over Leeds and Nottingham Forest which have got their hopes for European football next season back on track. Diogo Jota netted twice in both of those games and his return to to the side has been crucial. I think the reds are a better side with him in the team.

They do have other key players back from injury like Luis Diaz for example but Jota's return has been the bigger boost. He gives them that energy and run in behind that the reds haven't had for much of the season and had he not had the injuries he's had, the reds might've been higher up the league.

PREDICTION: 1-1

West Ham will cause Liverpool some problems but I also think Liverpool will cause West Ham problems as well. The Hammers will make it a tough game for the reds as they're a tough side to play against and will have some joy from set pieces. But with Liverpool getting their attacking players back fit, I can see them nick a point here.

MAN CITY V ARSENAL

Everyone has been looking forward to this game for a month and finally here it is. The game that will likely decide which way the title is going.

Man City will be the favourites here because of the form they're in which has come at a very good time. They'll be the favourites for the title if they win this one as they have a game in hand which gives them a slight advantage over Arsenal.

Arsenal on the other hand are starting to wobble after dropping points in each of their last three games. William Saliba has been a big miss at the back and it's likely that he might not play again this season. His injury is longer to recover from and without him the Gunners aren't as solid defensively. He's been the game changer for them in that department.

This game hasn't come at a good time for them because of the form Man City are in at the moment. No one wants to face City when they're in this kind of form and Arsenal will be feeling that way as they're beginning to stutter. And at a bad time too.

PREDICTION: 3-1

I've not predicted Arsenal to lose this season and I'm about to do that here. City are on a roll at the moment when they're in this kind of form they're impossible to stop. With Haaland leading their attack and Arsenal beginning to stutter, City should have enough here.

THURSDAY:

EVERTON V NEWCASTLE

The pressure is on Everton to win games now they're back in the bottom three but with the run in they have it won't be straightforward. They've got the toughest run in out of all the sides in the relegation battle and I don't see them picking up many points from those games.

It was good to see Dominic Calvert-Lewin back against Crystal Palace after a couple of months out injured and his return is massive for the toffees. If they're going to stay up, they'll need him fit and scoring goals because they don't have many in the team. No wonder they're the lowest goal scorers in the league.

Newcastle were excellent against Spurs on Sunday and especially during the first 20 minutes where they went 5-0 up. They might've been helped by a dreadful Spurs performance but the Magpies still had to put in a performance to win the game and boy did they. They played like a team who knew what they were doing.

They're well on course for a top four finish and arguably their best ever season in the Premier League. Eddie Howe has done an incredible job since he's been there and the whole turnaround of the club has been solely down to him.

PREDICTION: 0-2

I'm backing Newcastle here because they offer more of a goal threat than Everton. Sean Dyche's side will make it difficult for them as they're at home but with the quality that Newcastle have going forward I think they'll win this game reasonably comfortably.

SOUTHAMPTON V BOURNEMOUTH

Southampton showed a lot of fight in their draw with Arsenal on Friday but will feel disappointed that they weren't able to hold on for the three points. Their performance will give them plenty of encouragement and confidence going into this game and they'll need to show more of it if they're to stay up.

Whether they'll show that same kind of fight here remains to be seen as they've got such a torrid record at home. They've won just twice at home all season which is fewer than any of other side and I don't see that changing.

Bournemouth's old problem of defending from set pieces came back to bite them against West Ham with three of the goals they conceded coming from set pieces. Defending from set plays has been their Achilles heal this season and it's an issue that hasn't been fixed.

The Cherries were more likely to rely on their home form to get them out of trouble about a month ago yet it's away from home where they've had better results of late. They've won their last two on the road against Leicester and Spurs and with Southampton having such a terrible home record, they'll back themselves to bag a third successive win on their travels.

PREDICTION: 1-2

I'm backing Bournemouth to bounce back here because of how poor Southampton have been at home this season. The Saints may have some confidence on board after their performance against Arsenal but because of their home form I think they'll lose here. Especially with Bournemouth beginning to pick up points on the road.

TOTTENHAM V MAN UNITED

Spurs were an absolute shambles against Newcastle on Sunday and their performance was so bad that the club decided to sack Cristian Stellini. The club is in an absolute mess both on and off the pitch and their performance showed that they need both a new manager and a squad clear-out.

They've got Ryan Mason in charge for the time being and he is someone who the players can trust as he knows the club. He'll get the fans onside because of him knowing the club and will hopefully bring some much needed positivity to the place for the rest of the season.

Man United this time last season were in the kind of mess Spurs are in now as there was no clear plan or structure to the football club. There is now because of Erik ten Hag who has transformed the club completely and has given United an identity in the way they play.

They were fortunate in their FA Cup semi final with Brighton on Sunday as Brighton arguably had the better chances. They did have some good chances themselves but I thought Brighton were arguably the better side on the day.

United have won this fixture for the last two seasons and have a good record in it overall. They'll fancy themselves to build on the record they have because of the state Spurs are in at the moment. They also have players who can hurt Spurs as well like Marcus Rashford and Christian Eriksen who will likely play in the no.10 role with Bruno Fernandes a doubt for this game.