Title race takes another twist
The previous round of Premier League fixtures delivered some massive results in the title race and the fight against relegation, with a clearer picture starting to emerge in both those battles.
After Manchester City were held by Everton, Arsenal are now in a superb position to claim their first Premier League title since the ‘Invincibles’ season of 2003-04.
Meanwhile, at the other end, Tottenham now have a slight edge over West Ham after stunning Aston Villa last Sunday.
As such, the defining game of this weekend’s round of fixtures is likely to be at the London Stadium, where West Ham host leaders Arsenal on Sunday.
City will hope to pile pressure on the Gunners by beating European hopefuls Brentford on Saturday. Liverpool kick off the weekend’s action at Anfield as they host slumping Chelsea in a game that could see the Reds clinch Champions League football for next season.
There are a host of other games with implications in the fight for Europe across the weekend, before a Monday clash between Tottenham and Leeds United in which Spurs will look to further their new-found momentum in the fight against the drop.
Here we predict all 10 fixtures as the Premier League edges closer to its conclusion.
SATURDAY
Liverpool v Chelsea (12:30pm)
The Blues finally ended their goalscoring drought with Joao Pedro’s remarkable strike in consolation in their 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest on Monday. That was the lone bright spot from a dismal performance by Chelsea, who are unlikely to end their losing run at Anfield.
Liverpool are another side who will be keen for this season to come to an end. The Reds are dealing with several injuries and coming off a largely underwhelming showing in their 3-2 loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford. However, they showed admirable resilience in that game and have the motivation of knowing that a win will secure Champions League football. Expect them to get over the line, albeit in unconvincing fashion, and deal Chelsea a seventh straight loss.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea
Brighton and Hove Albion v Wolves (3:00pm)
Brighton might feel they were slightly unfortunate not to get at least a point at Newcastle United last weekend, with defeat at St James’ Park halting the momentum of their European push.
The good news for the Seagulls is that they have a clear opportunity to get back on track against Wolves, whose inability to complete a comeback against 10-man Sunderland summed up why they are at the foot of the table. Rob Edwards’ side have ceased playing the role of spoiler for other teams, and Brighton should have little difficulty claiming all three points.
Prediction: Brighton 3-1 Wolves
Fulham v Bournemouth (3:00pm)
Bournemouth are 15 games unbeaten, that is the longest run of any side in the top five European leagues, while Fulham have won only two of their nine Premier League meetings with the Cherries and are coming off a poor performance against Arsenal, with a side stricken by illness slumping to a 3-0 defeat.
Marco Silva’s men have been in good form of late at home, though, edging to a 1-0 win over Aston Villa in their last game at Craven Cottage. Eight of those 15 games unbeaten for Bournemouth have been draws and, against a Fulham side that should offer more threat than Crystal Palace did last week, it’s easy to see a stalemate that dents the visitors’ top-six hopes being the outcome.
Prediction: Fulham 1-1 Bournemouth
Sunderland v Manchester United (3:00pm)
Sunderland’s European hopes have dissipated somewhat after they followed up their 5-0 home loss to Forest with a disappointing draw at Wolves.
It’s a bad time, therefore, for the Black Cats to be hosting a Manchester United side in celebratory mood after clinching a return to the Champions League. United have lost just one of their 15 visits to the Stadium of Light in the Premier League and, with Michael Carrick unlikely to allow his side to take the foot off the gas, another successful trip to Wearside looks to be on the cards for the Red Devils.
Prediction: Sunderland 0-2 Manchester United
Manchester City v Brentford (5:30pm)
City’s title hopes were dealt a potential hammer blow by their thrilling 3-3 draw with Everton on Monday, and a defence that utterly collapsed in a bizarre 13-minute spell at the Hill Dickinson Stadium probably will not relish a meeting with Igor Thiago and Co.
Still, Brentford have lost three of their four Premier League away games at City and were a touch fortunate to beat relegation-threatened West Ham by a 3-0 scoreline last time out.
That result ended Brentford’s wait for a first win since February and boosted their hopes of qualifying for Europe for the first time. However, with Jeremy Doku and Erling Haaland showing the kind of ruthlessness they displayed in rescuing City from defeat at Everton, it’s tough to see anything other than a backlash from Pep Guardiola’s men.
Prediction: Manchester City 3-0 Brentford
SUNDAY
Burnley v Aston Villa (2:00pm)
Regardless of the result of the outcome of the second leg of their Europa League semi-final with Forest, Villa still have work to do to be sure of Champions League qualification following their insipid performance against Tottenham last time out.
Unai Emery’s men may be fatigued by their European exertions but, fortunately for them, Burnley are not a team likely to put up stiff resistance. It would be no surprise to see Villa make a poor start at Turf Moor, but they should have enough to get the points and rubber stamp their place in Europe’s elite competition.
Prediction: Burnley 1-2 Aston Villa
Crystal Palace v Everton (2:00pm)
A game between two teams who may well be running on empty. For Palace, this game comes three days on from their Conference League semi-final second leg with Shakhtar Donetsk, while Everton will need to put the heartbreaking end to their clash with City to one side as they attempt to keep their European push alive.
The Toffees have been very impressive away from home this season and will be fresher of the two sides, but defensive lapses have continually cost them of late, and a home team that could well be celebrating reaching a European final may be able to take advantage and snatch a point.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 1-1 Everton
Nottingham Forest v Newcastle United (2:00pm)
One team for whom the tank seems almost certain to be empty is Forest, who will welcome Newcastle to the City Ground having already faced Chelsea in the Premier League and Villa in their European tie this week.
A much-changed Forest side was excellent in comfortably beating Chelsea to boost their survival hopes and much will depend on whether the second leg with Villa requires extra time, but this seems like a fixture in which the week’s exertions will catch up with them.
Newcastle, who still harbour faint hopes of European football, are unbeaten in all seven of their Premier League away games at Forest and have won each of the last four at the City Ground in the top flight. With their losing run brought to an end last week by a somewhat nervy win over Brighton, a Magpies side that will be much fresher than their opponents should continue their dominance of this fixture and leave Forest still with work to do to secure Premier League survival.
Prediction: Nottingham Forest 0-2 Newcastle United
West Ham v Arsenal (4:30pm)
West Ham enter the weekend only a point adrift of safety, but the situation suddenly feels more desperate than that following Tottenham’s surprise win at Villa.
The visit of a Gunners side that just progressed to the Champions League final seems poorly timed, but the Hammers are on an impressive run of form at the London Stadium, where they are unbeaten in their last six Premier League games.
West Ham’s home has received a lot of criticism for a lack of atmosphere, and a strong start and an intimidation factor may well be required if Nuno Espirito Santo’s men are to avoid a 39th Premier League defeat to Arsenal.
Beyond West Ham’s home form, there’s little reason to suggest a surprise result here. However, if the title race is to have one more swing, then it feels like it will come from a team fighting for their lives. Arsenal will be kicking themselves if they fail to take advantage of City’s slip-up at Everton.
Prediction: West Ham 2-2 Arsenal
MONDAY
Tottenham v Leeds United (8:00pm)
Even if West Ham get a result against Arsenal, Tottenham will see the visit of Leeds as a huge chance to take another big step towards survival.
How Leeds approach this game may well hinge on the West Ham result, as Daniel Farke’s men will be mathematically safe if the Hammers lose, and essentially guaranteed survival if that game is a draw.
But Leeds’ record in this fixture is dreadful, with the West Yorkshire side without a win at Spurs since 2001.
With Tottenham suddenly boasting all the momentum in the fight against the drop, a win that gives them breathing room over West Ham looks to be on the cards.
Prediction: Tottenham 1-0 Leeds United
