SATURDAY:
BOURNEMOUTH V CHELSEA
If you told any Bournemouth fan that they would be level on points with Chelsea at this stage at the start of the season, they would've snapped your hand off. No one saw these two being no where near each other this season.
Bournemouth look good as safe with the recent results they've had and Gary O'Neil deserves a lot of credit for the job he's done. His side are a win away from securing their safety and with the job he's done, he's in with a shout for the manager of the season award.
Chelsea were completely hopeless against Arsenal on Tuesday all over the pitch. Their defending for the goals was woeful and they look like a side whose confidence is very low and a side who have no idea what they're doing.
If there is someone to blame for the mess they're in it's the owner. He brought in too many players during January which have unsettled the team and has made a number of poor decisions at board room level. He's the reason for this messy situation. Not the manager.
PREDICTION: 2-0
I fancy Bournemouth to win here because they're more of a team than Chelsea are. They have a great team spirit under Gary O'Neil and a group of players who play as a team. Chelsea don't have this.
MAN CITY V LEEDS
Man City had to patient against West Ham in midweek and when that patience paid off they ran away with the game. The inevitable happened in Erling Haaland breaking the record for most goals in a single season and I can see that record being untouchable for many years. Unless he breaks it again next season.
City are a winning machine at the moment with the form they're in and I can't see them dropping any points between now and the end of the season. I definitely can't see them drop points here as they're up against one of the sides in the worst form.
Leeds have Sam Allardyce in charge now and despite his track of keeping sides up, I don't see him doing it with Leeds. I can understand why they've appointed him as they're conceding a lot of goals and Allardyce is someone who makes teams tougher defensively. But I don't see them getting any better under him as their defenders are not Premier League quality.
He's been given an absolute nightmare of start in this one and the fixtures don't get any easier for him. Newcastle, West Ham and Spurs come up after this game and I'm not sure that they'll get anything from those games at all.
PREDICTION: 6-0
I've got to back City here because I can see them blowing Leeds away with the quality they have. They're on an incredible run of form and with Leeds looking an absolute shambles defensively, I can see Pep's side winning this one very comfortably.
TOTTENHAM V CRYSTAL PALACE
Spurs weren't that great for much of their defeat to Liverpool but they did show character to come from behind and nearly nick a point. The games itself was another one of those games they've had for most of the season. A poor start followed by a strong finish.
Their top four fours hopes are pretty much done and their sole focus should now be on finishing in the European places itself. Brighton are just two points behind them in 8th with a few games in hand and it's important that they do finish in those spots come the end of the season.
Crystal Palace are safe having reached the 40 point which was the objective Roy Hodgson set himself when he returned to the club. They'll now focus on ending the season as strongly as possible as they have nothing else to play for.
The Eagles don't have a great record in London Derbies this season with just one win all season against teams from the capital. But they might fancy themselves to get something here with Spurs not exactly clicking at the moment.
PREDICTION: 2-1
I'm going for a Spurs win here because they have a good record in this fixture and will have enough in the final third to win the game. I don't see it being a convincing performance from them but with the likes of Kane and Son up top, I think they'll edge this one.
WOLVES V ASTON VILLA
Wolves looked passive against Brighton last weekend as they looked sloppy in possession and disorganised in defence. I never saw that performance coming from them as they're a side who are usually in games and tough to beat defensively.
They may look safe but that defeat could damage their confidence for the rest of the season. With some tough games to end the season with, it will be interesting to see how strongly they end the season.
Aston Villa saw their 10 match unbeaten run come to an end last weekend with their defeat at Man United where they didn't offer a lot going forward. That was certainly the case in the first half where they hardly created anything at all but over the course of the game they never really troubled United.
They'll hopefully bounce back in this one as they've got a good record on the road and especially since Emery has come in. They've only failed to win three of their away games since the former Arsenal boss took over and their defeat at United will not affect the progress they've made under him.
PREDICTION: 0-2
I'm backing Villa to bounce back here because I think they'll have enough quality to win the game. Wolves will look to respond following their heavy loss at Brighton last weekend but Villa should still have enough in them going forward to win this game.
LIVERPOOL V BRENTFORD
Liverpool were lucky against Fulham in midweek as the penalty they were awarded should never have been given. Diop barely touched Nunez in the lead up to the penalty and Nunez just dived. The result however was a crucial one for them as it gave their faint top four hopes a massive boost.
The reds are on course for a strong end to the season following five consecutive wins which has got their Champions League hopes back on track. But those hopes will remain faint as Man United have a couple of games in hand on them.
Brentford have got their European hopes back on track recently following back to back wins over Chelsea and Nottingham Forest which will give them confidence going into this game. They've got a good record against the big teams and they even won the reverse fixture back in January.
The Bees however aren't as good away as they are at home. They've only won four games on the road this season and getting something here will be challenging as Anfield is a tough place to play at for away teams.
PREDICTION: 2-1
I'm backing Liverpool to win this one because they're at home and they appear to have some energy back in the midfield. Brentford will cause some problems and especially with Ivan Toney on the pitch but I think the reds will have the quality to win the game.
SUNDAY:
NEWCASTLE V ARSENAL
Newcastle have been excellent at home this season and their form at home will certainly give them a lot of confidence going into this one. They've lost just once at St James' Park all season and their overall form at home has been a crucial part of their rise to being Champions League contenders.
It wasn't until Callum Wilson came on where they started causing problems against Southampton last Sunday with his presence up top making a massive difference. He'll surely start this one with the form h's in either alone or alongside Alexander Isak with whom he's beginning to form a partnership with.
Arsenal had their fluidity back against Chelsea on Tuesday with their passing being much crisper and more decisive. They were helped by a terrible Chelsea display but they still had to show up which they did in style. Particularly in the first half where the game was won.
The pressure will be on them to win this game and especially with Man City playing the day before. They've dealt with the pressure at times this season but dealing with it here will be a challenge as they're up against a Newcastle side who have been very good at home and are having a great season.
PREDICTION: 2-0
I'm backing Newcastle to win here because they've been very good at home and I can see them make it a tough afternoon for the Gunners. They won this fixture last season which dealt a blow in Arsenal's top four hopes and I can see them do the same here to their title hopes.
WEST HAM V MAN UNITED
West Ham were resolute in the first half against Man City in midweek up until the second half where City ran away with the game. They missed some important players for that game and he'll be hoping to have them back for this one. Especially Declan Rice who has out through illness.
Three successive defeats have started to pull the Hammers back into the relegation mix just when they thought they were safe. They have some tough games coming up over the next few weeks and they need to win them if they're to stay up.
Man United don't have a good record away from home this season but that's only against sides in the top 10. Their record on the road against teams in the bottom half is slightly better as they haven't lost to any of those teams in that area of the table. But this one could be a tough game for them as West Ham can make it difficult for teams.
They'll need to be on top of their game from set pieces especially in this one as West Ham are a dangerous side from those areas. United are short on options in central defence and although they might have Harry Maguire back for this one, they could still struggle here from set plays.
PREDICTION: 1-1
United have struggled away from home this season and I can see this one being another tough game for them on the road. I don't see them losing as West Ham aren;t the most clinical side in front of goal but I do think the Hammers will unsettled them. Especially from set pieces.
MONDAY:
FULHAM V LEICESTER
Fulham's season is starting fade and has done for about a month having lost six of their last nine league games. They've had a great first season back in the Premier League and they won't want a promising season to end on a sour note.
Mitrovic has been a big miss for them as they've missed that goal threat up top who can make the difference in the final third. They'll be glad that this is the last game of his eight match suspension because they need him back so they don't end the season poorly.
Leicester's draw with Everton on Monday might be seen as a point gained as it took them out of the bottom three on goal difference. But it could also be seen as two points dropped as they were ahead and missed a penalty which ended up costing them. It would've been massive win for them had they held on.
They've got some tough fixtures coming up after this one and their failure to beat Everton could be an opportunity missed. They have Liverpool next week followed by Newcastle and West Ham which isn't an easy run in. They could do with a win here to give them confidence heading into those games.
PREDICTION: 2-0
I'm going for a Fulham win here because I don't trust Leicester to keep a clean sheet. The Cottagers may be without Mitrovic but I still think they'll score past a Leicester defence that hasn't kept a clean sheet since the World Cup.
BRIGHTON V EVERTON
Brighton are in a strong position to qualify for Europe this season with the Seagulls now 6th with two games in hand. That certainly gives them an advantage over the other teams fighting for a place in Europe next season who all don't have games in hand.
They've recovered well from their Wembley heart break after recording back to back wins against Wolves and Man United. They deserved their win against United last night which was a result that meant a lot to them after seeing their celebrations in the dressing room.
Everton have drawn their last two games on the road which could give them something to build on in terms of improving their form away from home. Their away form has been dreadful all season but back to back draws on the road could be a sign that their fortunes are beginning to change.
They were dealt a major blow on Monday as they lost captain Seamus Coleman to an injury which could rule him out for the season. If there was somebody they didn't want to lose to a serious injury with the tough run in they have, it was their captain and longest serving player. His leadership will be a massive loss to Sean Dyche's side.
PREDICTION: 2-0
I've got to back Brighton here because they have more confidence on board and more goals within their team. With the way they play and the belief they have within their squad, I can see them being too strong for Everton.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST V SOUTHAMPTON
Nottingham Forest have certainly been in games recently but have been let down by poor decision making like they were against Brentford. They were arguably the better side in the first half but two costly errors by Cheikhou Kouyate were what cost them the game. They need to stamp these in game errors out.
They'll be glad to be back at home for this crucial game because they've had a lot more joy at the City Ground than they've had on the road. Their home form has been what's kept them alive in this relegation battle and it could be what keeps them up.
Southampton have had better days away than they have at home this season which might give them a small bit of confidence here. But the situation is looking pretty bleak for them at the moment. They've not won in ten games and they look like a side who are good as gone. Which they are.
They've been poor at both ends pretty much all season as they've let in far too many goals at one end and not scored enough at the other. Struggling at both ends leads to one thing. Relegation. The trap door is getting nearer and nearer to them.
PREDICTION: 2-0
I'm going for a Forest win here because of them being at home where they have a decent record. Southampton have been better away than they have at home this season but I think Forest will have enough as they're at home and have more quality going forward.
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