Premier League Preview
Everton v Bournemouth 3pm
This is a game between two sides in pretty poor form. Bournemouth had a great run after Christmas but then hit a brick wall against Spurs and City and have folded since, winning only one of their last five and conceding fourteen goals in the process, albeit against some top opposition (although on the other hand their only win in that period came against Villa). Meanwhile. it's been almost two months since Everton won a league match, and that also came against Villa. You have to go back to 6th February to see Everton's last impressive league performance, a 3-0 win over Stoke. With just six points from their last nine games and no win in seven now, they're in one hell of a rut. I can see Bournemouth edging this, but it might also be the perfect game for Everton to return to form, so I'm going to stay on the fence and say a draw.
Prediction: 1-1
Newcastle v Crystal Palace 3pm
This is a huge game for Newcastle. If they don't win this game then I have them pegged for relegation. With three games to go and realistically six points a minimum requirement, this is a very winnable game against a pretty poor Palace side. Only Villa are in worse form than these two sides over their last ten games, although Newcastle have hit a good patch under Rafa Benitez, unbeaten in three. Either way, this should be a scrappy, horrible game of football, but the way that Newcastle have played recently, I can see them winning it.
Prediction: 2-1 Newcastle
Stoke v Sunderland 3pm
This is a tough one to predict. On paper, Stoke are a far superior side to Sunderland and should win this game easily if they apply themselves. But that's Stoke's problem at the moment, they're already on the beach, reasonably secure of a top ten finish. They've lost their last three games by not turning up, shipping twelve goals along the way, four put past them by Spurs, City and Liverpool. That said, Sunderland are not Spurs, City or Liverpool. But nevertheless, they have more to fight for than Stoke, and have only lost one of their last seven games. I can see this one ending 0-0, but I can also see Sunderland running away with it, so I'm going to compromise and say 1-0.
Prediction: 1-0 Sunderland
Watford v Aston Villa 3pm
This one has snoozefest written all over it. Or maybe goalfest. Villa are just that dreadful that any team can score plenty of goals against them*. Let's say 2-0 Watford and move on because Watford have also been on their holidays for several months now.
*(Almost any team - Newcastle/Palace exempt)
Prediction: 2-0 Watford
West Brom v West Ham 3pm
This one could be interesting. West Ham are still hunting a Europa League place for next season and despite not winning a Premier League game in almost two months, West Brom are always a tough nut to crack, as Spurs found out the hard way on Monday night. West Ham have drawn quite a few games recently so a draw would definitely be a reasonable bet, but I reckon the Hammers will nick it 2-1.
Prediction: 2-1 West Ham
Arsenal v Norwich 5:30pm
Any smart person would say this is a very easy win for Arsenal because simply put it should be. Arsenal are one of the best teams in the country and Norwich one of the worst. If Arsenal play well, this game isn't a contest, especially at the Emirates. But Arsenal look like a team that has stopped playing, and recent draws against Palace and Sunderland attest to that. With Norwich grappling for survival, this won't be easy if Arsenal let their performance levels drop again, but nevertheless, this is at the Emirates, and there's now a real chance that if Arsenal mess it up that they won't get top four, so I expect them to magically remember that they're a good side and win comfortably.
Prediction: 2-0 Arsenal
Swansea v Liverpool 12pm Sunday
I'll talk about Thursday night in a moment. But right now, Klopp will make changes for Sunday. I expect Sturridge to start. I expect a second string midfield. But I like this. It gives young players fight. The likes of Stewart, Ojo, Smith etc. don't need to get themselves up for this sort of game, they'll be up for it simply because they're given the chance. And they've got a lot of quality in their ranks. And if Sturridge plays, we should win comfortably, especially as Mignolet won't be playing, so no Mignolet spectaculars to blow it for us. Apart from a shock win against Chelsea three weeks ago, Swansea are largely playing to form, and having shipped seven goals without reply in their last two games, I can't see them putting up much fight.
Prediction: 2-1 LFC
Man United v Leicester 2:05pm Sunday
This game has anticlimax written all over it. Maybe not in terms of result, because any Leicester win gives them the title, but in terms of the match itself? I cannot see this being a game where we lots of fluid attacking football. United are very good at killing attacking football, both in their own ranks, and crucially, in the ranks of the opposition and it's a compliment to LVG that he's as good at stopping the opposition playing well as he is his own players. There won't be many goals in this one, but I still think Leicester will get over the line.
Prediction: 1-0 Leicester
Southampton v Man City 4:30pm Sunday
Southampton are a very odd team. They can blow both hot and cold simultaneously, they're very much a form side and they're just about still in the hunt for a European spot, although very much the outsiders now, as the three sides above them all have games in hand and relatively simple fixtures left (although United and West Ham playing each other could work in their favour). City meanwhile, need to be careful. Focusing on Europe is fine when you have nothing to play for (see LFC) but when you have a tough away fixture and your biggest rivals breathing down your neck, you can't afford to be lax. I can see this one being a good game, and I'm not sure which way it's going to go.
Prediction: 2-2
Chelsea v Spurs 8pm Monday
Okay so this one is one that has provoked a lot of talk on the group chat. Chelsea do not want Spurs to win the title. Chelsea are still a good side. It's at the Bridge. Hiddink doesn't lose many games. All evidence that Chelsea will turn up and get a result on Monday night. However, Spurs are a better team than Chelsea, playing wonderful football and should win. But then Monday night made this a whole lot tougher to predict. Now, Leicester could have won the title before Spurs even play. Now, Dele Alli is suspended. Leicester's result on Sunday will heavily impact this game. If Leicester win the title, I reckon it'll be a draw. If Leicester lose, and Spurs are just about still in the hunt, then they're going to win.
Prediction: 3-1 Spurs if Leicester don't win, 1-1 if Leicester win.
Villareal Disaster
I needed to give myself a few words to defend Jurgen Klopp. Because it is very, very easy to turn around and say: Liverpool lost 1-0, why didn't he play Sturridge? And yes, I think Sturridge maybe should have been given twenty minutes against tiring Villareal legs. And that only looks obvious in hindsight because of a 92nd minute winner. If the game finishes 0-0, then that's a good result for Liverpool, if Firmino's shot that hits the post squirms in and we win 1-0 then it's an amazing result. If Lallana isn't called offside when he wasn't...
You get the idea. Obviously none of that happened and we lost. But the result itself doesn't mean that Klopp made the wrong call. Yes, it backfired. But there are other factors to consider. Fitness is certainly one. Horses for courses is another. Yes, on paper it looks stupid to bring on Benteke instead of Sturridge with less than ten minutes left. But, we needed a hold up man. And the style of play we were adopting, the kinds of balls going into the box and the wide men we had at our disposal favoured Benteke instead of Sturridge.
As for starting? Klopp's right. Basically. Everyone says Villareal didn't play well but saying that takes away credit from the midfield trio of Allen, Lucas and Milner (who were only really able to do what they did because Firmino was up top instead of Sturridge) who prevented Villareal from playing well. They're fourth in La Liga for a reason, they're no donkeys and they usually dominate matches, as Klopp himself pointed out. Tactically, Klopp got the starting eleven spot on, because Sturridge doesn't offer the work rate in big games.
What he does offer is quality. But with Ibe forced on for Coutinho, it was the sort of game where Klopp might have changed his mind and thought that he needed defensive work rate more than quality. And I would agree with him. It's just a shame that in the end, it was a lack of defensive work rate in one moment that cost us, not a lack of quality up front.
The Hard and Fast Section
- Vettel in trouble in Russia. Excellent.
- Ding looks unbeatable at the moment. Class
- Northampton Saints are stuffed. Come on Worcester.
- Celtic can secure another meaningless trophy today. Come on Aberdeen.
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