Man United v Bournemouth (12:30pm Saturday)
The term: "flat track bully" is one I saw in tandem with Man United this week. And whilst the term is probably more applicable to Chelsea, it's still an apt term. United still have a tough run in, but they've gotten very good at winning games like Bournemouth at home with the minimum amount of fuss. Bournemouth meanwhile are in truly horrendous form, with two points from seven games, and have lost nine of their thirteen away games this season. This one is a home banker.
Prediction: 2-0 Man United
Leicester City v Hull City (3pm)
Okay this one is very very tasty. Leicester were able to get themselves up for their game against Liverpool, but will they be able to translate that form into a proper six pointer, with a Hull side that look much better under Marco Silva? Hull certainly won't play to Leicester's strengths the way that Liverpool did, which means that they might need to find a new way to win, and Hull will be a tough nut to crack. But at the same time, you feel that Leicester's resurgence means they're unlikely to lose this match.
Prediction: 1-1
Stoke City v Middlesbrough (3pm)
It's do or die time for Aitor Karanka and his team. Boro haven't won since December and are in serious danger of slipping into the bottom three. They've been able to secure plenty of draws (a league high ten), but a lack of goals means that they've won the least league games of anyone this season. As for Stoke, form has been pretty middling recently, now that they're pretty much where they'd expect to be in the middle of the pack. Whilst you'd fancy Stoke to be the better team in this one, and really should win it, perhaps Boro can nick a point.
Prediction: 2-1 Stoke
Swansea v Burnley (3pm)
Swansea have four wins and three defeats in 2017. Those three defeats have come against Chelsea, Arsenal and Man City. Back to back home victories for the resurgent Swans make them firm favourites for this game, especially given Burnley's truly abysmal away form - having picked up just two points away from home this season. Burnley's mid-table position also means that Swansea have more to play for, and this one should be a comfortable home win.
Prediction: 3-0 Swansea
Watford v Southampton (3pm)
Southampton's league cup defeat last weekend means that both of these teams have nothing to play for in the final weeks of the season, except mid-table pride and rankings. 12th and 13th respectively, only one point separates these two sides, and very little separates them in the form guide either. Overall I'd say Saints are marginal favourites as they have a better team, but they've struggled to translate that into points recently so I'm going to go for a draw.
Prediction: 0-0
West Brom v Crystal Palace (3pm)
West Brom have had a brilliant season so far, especially at the Hawthorns, where they've won seven of their last eight home games, giving them a better home record than both Manchester clubs. Palace meanwhile have managed to win two of their last four games, but against the two teams in the worst form in the league, and nothing to indicate that they've turned enough of a corner to win at the Hawthorns. I'm backing West Brom for this one.
Prediction: 3-1 West Brom
Liverpool v Arsenal (5:30pm)
Two teams in serious danger of dropping out of the top four, as both are in seriously poor form; their seasons threatening to implode around them. However, this should be an absolutely cracking game of football. Both Arsenal and Liverpool are scoring goals for fun, but both are really struggling defensively. Whilst Liverpool have been in worse form, they've showed up against the big teams, particularly at Anfield, having beaten Spurs 2-0 in their last home game and also toppled Man City on New Year's Eve. Arsenal meanwhile, have picked up just one point from their three away trips against the top six this season, and will not be fancying this. You have to favour Liverpool. Arsene Wenger's luck may finally be running out.
Prediction: 4-3 LFC
Tottenham v Everton (1:30pm Sunday)
Whilst one Merseyside team faces North London opposition, so does the other, as Everton travel to Spurs. Whilst only two teams have picked up a point at White Hart Lane this season, you'd have to say that in Everton's current form, you wouldn't expect them to go there and get turned over. Whether they have enough in the tank to deny Spurs for 90 minutes is going to be interesting to see, but it should be a cracking game of football. Overall, I think it's highly plausible that Everton pinch a draw, but on balance I'm going to say that Spurs' home form is too good, and I think that they have enough firepower to edge it.
Prediction: 2-1 Spurs
Sunderland v Man City (4pm)
Man City finally looking somewhere close to their best form, with an incredible 5-3 win over Monaco, a 5-1 win over Huddersfield and three straight league wins following their 2-2 draw with Spurs in January. City are unbeaten since their humbling defeat to Everton in mid-January, and are firing on all cylinders with Sterling and Sane leading the charge. To suggest that the worst team in the league (and make no mistake Sunderland are the worst team in the league) should lose this game is an understatement. But it's football so who knows.
Prediction: 4-1 City
West Ham v Chelsea (8pm Monday)
West Ham have recovered from an early season blip to propel themselves spectacularly into mid-table. They're performing well at the moment, but their last two home defeats against the two Manchester clubs have indicated that they simply don't have the players to compete with the top teams. This is the sort of game that Chelsea have proven adept at winning, only dropping four points to teams outside the top six away all season with Swansea and Burnley the two teams to hold the runaway leaders. That said, a draw wouldn't be a bad result in this game for Chelsea either given that their lead is in double digits, but I suspect they will have enough fire power to win it.
Prediction: 2-0 Chelsea
The Hard and Fast Section
- Murray saves seven match points to win. Tense.
- Torres suffers horrific head injury. Get well soon.
- Bacuna given a six match ban. Lenient.
- England back in action today with West Indies ODI.
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