SATURDAY:
BRENTFORD V SOUTHAMPTON
These two sides having nothing to really play for other than a good end to the season. They're both pretty much safe and a point or three for either of them will guarantee that.
Brentford did have chances against Man United on Monday night but they didn't take them and were later punished for that. United were the better side on the night and the Bees will be looking to bounce back in this one.
Southampton are not in great form going into this game having won just once in their last nine league games where they've also lost six times. That is not the kind of form you want to end the season and especially with a couple of tough games to end the season with.
PREDICTION: 2-2
I can see this one be an open game as both sides can be good to watch going forward. But I can't pick a winner as I think it will be a close game with both sides cancelling each other out.
BURNLEY V ASTON VILLA
These two sides haven't played each other yet this season as their original fixture was postponed due to a COVID outbreak at one of the clubs back in December.
Burnley are looking like the favourites to stay up with the current form they're in which has given them a lot of confidence and belief that they can stay in the league. They do have some tough fixtures to end the season with but the confidence gained from their current form will help them through those tough games.
Aston Villa picked up a much needed win against Norwich last weekend which will give them a platform to build on as they look to end the season as strongly as possible. They weren't in great form going into that game and a win was what they needed to get themselves back on the right track.
PREDICTION: 1-1
Both sides picked up big results last weekend and I can see them carry the confidence gained from those games in this one. Burnley are the side in form but I think Villa will make it a tough game for them.
CHELSEA V WOLVES
Chelsea's off field troubles have started to affect them recently with recent results dragging them into the top four mix. They should have enough to finish 3rd but they'll still be looking over their shoulders with both Arsenal and Spurs not that far behind them.
The Blues will need to sort themselves out off the pitch by at least the end of the season so they can be able to sign players in the summer. If not I'll be seriously worried about them going into next season.
Wolves at the moment are playing like they're on the beach yet they're still in the hunt for European football. West Ham tailing off has kept them in touch with those European places and you get the feeling that they don't want to finish there with the current form they're in.
PREDICTION: 2-0
Both sides are not in great form going into this game and they'll both have a point to prove because of it. I think Chelsea will win here simply because they have more goals in them and I can see that being the case for them in this game.
CRYSTAL PALACE V WATFORD
Crystal Palace's win over Southampton last weekend was massive because it looked like their season was beginning to fade away. Their results going into that game suggested that and they'll now go into their remaining fixtures feeling confident that they can end the season strongly.
Roy Hodgson will return to Selhurst Park for the first time since leaving Palace last summer and I'm sure he's going to get a good reception from the home supporters. He did a good job during his time up there and was loved by the fans because of that as well as being from the area.
Watford really need to win this game because anything less will see them relegated. They've looked set for relegation for the last few weeks and this game looks like it could be the one to send them back down.
PREDICTION: 2-0
I'm going for a Palace win here because I think they'll have enough quality to win the game. With the attacking players they have against a Watford defence who always look like they're going to concede, I can see them send the Hornets back down to the Championship.
BRIGHTON V MAN UNITED
Brighton haven't been as strong at home as they have been away but they'll still fancy themselves to get a result here having beaten Arsenal and Spurs not that long ago. Those games were away from home but the results from those games will give them confidence going into this game.
The Seagulls were clinical against Wolves last weekend which is something that hasn't been said a lot over the course of the season. They've had these kind of games once or twice over the course of the season before going back to their usual selves which is bound to happen again.
Man United's win over Brentford on Monday was arguably their best performance under Ralf Rangnick as they moved the ball quicker and created some very good chances. Their performance will surely give them plenty of confidence going into this game but knowing how inconsistent they are, that may not be the case.
PREDICTION: 1-1
I can see United struggle here because Brighton defend with a low block and United have struggled against those kind of teams this season. They did win the reverse fixture at Old Trafford but knowing how inconsistent they are, I can see them drop points here.
LIVERPOOL V TOTTENHAM
Liverpool showed great character to come from behind against Villarreal in midweek and they had to because they really were not themselves in the first half. They looked rattled and unsettled during that period of the game but they did show some fight and desire in the second half which they needed to.
The reds are in for a busy end to the season as they're now involved in every game possible. They're fighting for the quadruple and with that comes a lot of fixtures to play.
Spurs looked more like themselves against Leicester last weekend as they had their clinical edge back having not had a shot on target in their two games prior. It was a game they needed to win and they'll be looking to carry the confidence gained from it into this one.
Their season could well be decided this week as they play Arsenal on Thursday after this tough one against Liverpool. The result they get in this one could determine where they finish come the end of the season alongside Arsenal's result in their game against Leeds.
PREDICTION: 2-1
I think Liverpool will win this one because they're very strong at home and will have enough in them to win this game. They may feel a little bit off the pace having played in midweek but with the strong squad they have along with the quality in it, they should still win this game.
SUNDAY:
ARSENAL V LEEDS
Arsenal at the moment appear to have the advantage in the top four race as they currently hold the all important 4th spot and have the more winnable fixture with Spurs taking on Liverpool at Anfield. If they win this one and Spurs lose to Liverpool, they'll basically be in pole position to finish there going into Thursday's North London Derby.
They showed some grit to beat West Ham last weekend and they'll need to show more of that in their remaining games if they're to finish in the top four. Their remaining fixtures could show everyone the kind of character they now have.
I starting to worry for Leeds because Burnley are picking up points and Everton are showing some fight. They have some difficult games to play between now and the end of the season including this one and with the teams around them picking up points, they could find themselves in the bottom three very soon.
PREDICTION: 3-0
I'm going for an Arsenal win here because I think they'll have more than enough quality to win the game. Leeds are missing some key players and because of that I can see the Gunners win this one reasonably comfortably.
LEICESTER V EVERTON
Leicester have been more focused on the Europa Conference League than they have been on the Premier League in recent weeks as their league form has dipped whilst they've progressed in Europe. The Thursday-Sunday schedule may have played a part like it did earlier in the season but I still get the feeling that they've been more focused on doing well in Europe.
Everton have been shocking away from home this season but they did show some fight in their last game on the road against Liverpool. They need to show more of that if they're to stay up and especially away from home because of how much they have struggled there.
The Toffees may be in the bottom three as things stand, but their recent performances have been encouraging and will give them confidence in their remaining games. With the fighting spirit they've showed recently they're in with more of a chance of staying up.
PREDICTION: 1-1
I can see Everton get something here as Leicester may feel a bit leggy having played in midweek. They may have been shocking on the road this season, but with their fighting spirit and the fact that Leicester played in midweek I think they'll get something here.
NORWICH V WEST HAM
All Norwich have left to play for is a strong end to the season as their relegation was obviously confirmed last weekend. Dean Smith will see it that way as he'll want his side to carry some momentum into the Championship next season.
Their relegation had been coming pretty much all season with their poor start giving them too much to do. They never had the quality to compete at Premier League level and their recruitment over the summer wasn't good enough like it wasn't last time.
West Ham's season has dropped off massively in recent weeks and it's come as a result of them being in Europe. They haven't had the squad the compete on both fronts and they've also picked up some crucial injuries along the way which hasn't helped their cause by any means.
Their drop off in form has left their place in Europe for next season in doubt as Wolves are not that far behind them. With their Europa League campaign done, David Moyes will immediately get his side to focus on securing European football for next season.
PREDICTION: 1-2
I think West Ham will win this one because they have players who can really hurt the Norwich defence. The Hammers may feel a bit leggy having played in midweek but I think they'll have the quality to win this game.
MAN CITY V NEWCASTLE
What happened to Man City against Real Madrid in midweek was that they didn't see the game out. They missed a couple of crucial chances when they were a goal up and the goals they conceded could've been defended better. I'm starting to think that they'll never win it under Pep who came to City to simply win them the Champions League.
They'll need to bounce back in this one because the league is all they have left to play for. They're capable of doing so as they've bounced back from poor results in Europe before and with Liverpool playing first, they'll need to respond to whatever result they get in their game against Spurs.
Newcastle's defeat to Liverpool last weekend was seen more as a reality check given the quality of side they were facing and this game could be another one. The gulf in class between them and the top teams is huge and its going to take more than a few years for them to reach that level.
The Magpies were rock bottom when they last met City in the reverse fixture with their confidence being very low and their season going in one direction. They'll be going into this one with a bit more belief because the club is in a much better place and their fortunes have changed drastically ever since that 4-0 defeat back in December.
PREDICTION: 3-0
I'm backing City to bounce back in this one because they'll have more than enough quality to win the game. They'll go into this game with more hunger and desire following their Champions League exit in midweek and I can see that being too much for Newcastle.
Comments