Written by Adrian Addai
With only a couple of months left of the season the games keep coming thick and fast and every week it seems like the table can change in an instance. This unusual midweek fixture list throws up some mouth-watering ties, including Manchester United vs Everton and also big clash at the top and bottom with Chelsea vs Manchester City. I will be previewing all ten games and giving my predictions on the scorelines.
Manchester United vs Everton
Both these teams had poor results over the weekend dropping points against West Brom and Liverpool respectively. This is a big game for Manchester United and if they don’t get a win in this one it will really be an uphill task to get back into the top four. Interestingly, Mourinho first season is not so dissimilar to Van Gaal’s first season in terms of points after 28 games, so are United really going forward? Everton will be disappointed with their display in the derby where they did not really turn up when they had the chance to put pressure on Liverpool, having said that, they are still having a decent run of form and would expect them to give United a run for their money in this game. However, United will be getting Herrera, Ibrahimovic and potentially Pogba for the midweek game and can see them edging Everton in this one with Ibrahimovic being amongst the goals again. Score Prediction: Manchester United 2-1 Everton
Leicester vs Sunderland
Craig Shakespeare has written his name in folk law guiding Leicester to four successive victories in his first four games, no British manager has done this is the premier league era so well done to him. Leicester have managed to put a six point gap from the relegation zone and seem to be playing like the Champions of England. On the other hand, Sunderland are having a woeful time of things at the moment and the backlash from David Moyes interview will do nothing to help their cause. They remain eight points off survival with nine games to go, if they are to escape relegation they need to put a run together now or they face slowly becoming adrift from the rest of teams above them. Leicester have generally strong at home this season and I do not see Sunderland nicking an away win here. Score Predictions: Leicester 3-0 Sunderland.
Watford vs West Brom
Watford got a much-needed over the weekend against Sunderland that put a bit of gap between the relegation candidates, but I do not think their safe just at this moment. They probably need a couple more wins to guarantee Premier League survival, which will still constitute to a good season for Watford. Tony Pulis will be happy with the displays from their last two games, beating Arsenal at home and battling to get an away draw at Manchester United. Pulis will be hoping his players can push themselves for the last few weeks of the season where they could potentially still chase a European place and a first top ten finish for Pulis. Having said this, I think this will be a draw where both teams will cancel each other out. Score Predictions: Watford 0-0 West Brom
Burnley vs Stoke City
Burnley will be disappointed at the way they conceded the first goal to Tottenham which lead to them conceding three points at home. They still possess one of top home records in the league and will be eager to bounce back against Stoke in front of their home supporters again. They are only five points above the relegation zone and they are really relying on their home form this term as their away record has been torrid, where they can not seem to buy a win for love nor money. Stoke have gone backwards recently and face a battle to finish in the top half of the table which they have successful done under Mark Hughes’ tutelage. I see Burnley winning this game narrowly and putting some distance from the bottom three. Score Predictions : Burnley 1-0 Stoke
Arsenal vs West Ham
Arsenal missed the chance to jump above Manchester United with a draw against Manchester City on the weekend. Although they showed fight coming from behind twice, there is still that fragility in their back line and with Koscielny potentially out I can not see them keeping a clean sheet in this one. Ozil was slated for what was perceived as a lack of desire from Gary Neville in the post match analysis and I find it increasingly difficult to believe both him and Sanchez will be at Arsenal at the beginning of next season. West Ham have also been struggling, although Slaven Bilic has had the vote of confidence by the board I still think he will do well to keep his job this summer. They have had a really bad season and I do not know how much of it you can blame on them moving to a new stadium. I think Arsenal will get the job done here with Sanchez definitely in and amongst the goals again to put more pressure on Bilic. Score Predictions: Arsenal 3 -1 West Ham
Hull vs Middlesbrough
This is another relegation six pointer which Middlesbrough have to go out and try to win. They currently stand four points behind Hull in the table and can ill afford for this gap to get any bigger. They showed real fight against Swansea but they just lack that killer touch in the oppositions box and if they do not start scoring soon I can only see relegation the cards. On the other hand, Hull have really strengthened their home form and look a formidable outfit a the Kcom stadium. They managed to come from behind to win against West Ham on the weekend and they will be really confident of building on that result with another home victory against their relegation rivals. Score Predictions Hull 2 -0 Middlesbrough
Southampton vs Crystal Palace
What a result for Sam Allardyce at the Stamford Bridge over the weekend, they went to home of the league leaders rode their luck a bit but got the three points at the end of the day. Big Sam will be very happy with his sides recent form which has seen them climb dramatically up the table to within three points of Southampton who find themselves tenth in the league. Southampton have just declined in recent weeks and it seems they are really missing Gabbiadini, the sooner they have him back the better because I can not see where the goals are coming from in this team. Having said that I expect them to be strong at home and can see Redmond getting on the score sheet in this one but ultimately I am going for a Desmond. Score Predictions: Southampton 2-2 Crystal Palace.
Swansea vs Tottenham
Depending on how results go elsewhere Tottenham could find themselves four points adrift of Chelsea if they can beat Swansea on Wednesday. They went to a difficult ground on Saturday and left with all three points and I think they will be buoyed by that result and will give them confidence to claim another away scalp at Swansea. Kane has been out for the last couple of weeks but the players seem to just be getting the job done and now look like Chelsea’s closest rivals. Elsewhere, Swansea will see their game against Middlesbrough as two points dropped although both teams did not really seem like scoring for the whole game. I think Paul Clement will be happy with a draw this game however I think Tottenham will just have too much quality for them in this game. Score Predictions: Swansea 1-2 Tottenham
Chelsea vs Manchester City
Make no mistake this is a big game for Chelsea, they will want to show that the defeat against Crystal Palace was a blip and also if they do lose it leaves the door slightly ajar for Tottenham. Predominately, Chelsea have been strong at home this season and I think they will definitely hurt Man City on the counter attack especially with Hazard and Willian. This is also a big game for Pep and City to consolidate their top four position, as any slip ups could potentially allow Manchester United and Arsenal back in to the picture. I just feel at the moment City like Arsenal are very fragile at the back and always look like conceding with the way their set up at the back. I think Chelsea might just nick this one and keep the seven point buffer to Tottenham. Score Predictions: Chelsea 2-1 Manchester City
Liverpool vs Bournemouth
Liverpool have had a great weekend, winning the derby and seeing their closest rivals drop points. The only concern for Liverpool will be how long Mane will be injured for? Having already lost Lallana to a thigh injury, Mane would be a huge miss going into the final stretch of the season. Liverpool, have their well-documented struggles against teams in the lower half of the table and I feel Bournemouth will provide a stern test. Bournemouth themselves are on a decent run of form having been unbeaten in the last four games, however I feel they may just get unstuck at Anfield if Coutinho is in anything like the form he showed over the weekend. Score predictions: Liverpool 3-1 Bournemouth
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