Spurs v Bournemouth (12:30pm Saturday)
Spurs have 14 wins and 2 draws at White Hart Lane this season, and are back near full throttle having won six games in a row, scoring 18 goals and conceding just four. This is a Spurs side that are looking extremely formidable and will be looking to keep the pressure on Chelsea. Bournemouth meanwhile have lost just one of their last six games, and are now seven points clear of relegation, but defeat last time out at home to Chelsea demonstrates that they're not quite good enough to hold off Spurs on top form. Home banker.
Prediction: Spurs 3-0
Crystal Palace v Leicester (3pm)
This should be a really interesting one. Two teams with five wins out of six. Palace's poor home form seemed to be at an end as they thrashed Arsenal on Monday night, whilst Leicester picked up their first away win of the season last month. Truthfully, with both of these clubs surely safe now, I think the biggest factor will be Leicester's big Champions League game in midweek, which means that they'll surely send out a weakened and fatigued team. I fancy Palace on that basis, particularly as they were red hot on Monday night.
Prediction: 2-0 Palace
Everton v Burnley (3pm)
Another home banker. Burnley still haven't won a single game away from home, whilst Everton have the third best home record in the Premier League, losing just once at home all season. Everton's form is decent considering their sticky run of fixtures, which is why I fancy them to pile the pressure on Burnley in this one and put them to the sword, even though Burnley themselves have been pretty solid recently.
Prediction: 3-1 Everton
Stoke City v Hull City (3pm)
Stoke are in desperate need of a win as they've really hit the slump hard, beating only Boro and Palace in their last ten games. Nevertheless, Hull will need it more, as they're barely holding off Swansea below them. Sadly for Hull, their away record recently has been catastrophic, but that's been aggravated by a tough run of games away from home, with defeats to Arsenal, Man City, Everton and Leicester. This could be a close one, so I'm going to sit on the fence and say this one ends in a draw.
Prediction: 1-1
Sunderland v West Ham (3pm)
Speaking of two teams in desperate need of a win. Sunderland are all but sunk without a trace and unless they start winning games very quickly, it's lights out. It's now been seven games without scoring or winning, whilst West Ham ended their shambolic run with a massive win at home to Swansea. Whilst this one could easily finish 0-0 or 1-1, I fancy West Ham to edge out a result, if only because Sunderland are truly abysmal.
Prediction: 1-0 West Ham
Watford v Swansea (3pm)
Swansea managed to drag themselves towards safety, only to fall off a cliff once again. A string of shocking away performances has resulted in them picking up just one point in their last five games, and they've not picked up a point away in nearly three months. Watford meanwhile are another team who managed to string together a couple of vital wins to claw themselves to safety. The reverse leg between these two ended 0-0, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it happen again.
Prediction: 0-0
Southampton v Man City (5:30pm)
This is a massive game for a Man City side that need to keep their momentum going to secure a top four finish. Their hardest away game left, if they can win this one then they are home and dry. But Saints are a tough nut to crack, especially at home and won't make it easy for City to run them through. Whilst on balance I think City are more likely, and a 2-1 City win would be wholly unsurprising, I'm going to plump for the draw, as City's form has been lackluster in terms of converting performances into results lately.
Prediction: 1-1
West Brom v Liverpool (1:30pm Sunday)
Liverpool are another side who are on the brink of securing a top four finish, needing perhaps three more wins. Whilst West Brom away from home is never the easiest fixture on the calendar, Liverpool will fancy their chances. West Brom look secure in the top ten, are already winding down their season and have been in poor form lately, with just one win in their last six and reasonably poor form against the top seven this season anyway. Whilst they'll probably score off a set piece, Liverpool should have enough fire power with Coutinho and Firmino both in good form.
Prediction: 2-1 Liverpool
Man United v Chelsea (4pm)
This is a tough one to predict. Whilst on paper you'd say this is the sort of fixture Chelsea have made bread and butter of this season, and you'd thoroughly expect them to win, a trip to Old Trafford is never easy, indeed only Man City have won there this season. It also depends on Chelsea's mentality. With Spurs hot on their heels they will not want to lose, but they may decide that a draw is a good result in what will prove a tough game, one of the toughest that they have left, having navigated games against Liverpool Arsenal and Man City recently with success. My gut says Chelsea would take a draw, so I think that's what the result will be, as Mourinho is good at closing out these sorts of games. Prediction: 1-1
Middlesbrough v Arsenal (8pm Monday)
This one really is interesting. Arsenal's Monday night game against Palace should have been routine, but their away form is genuinely wretched and Palace showed them up. Whilst there's no indications that Boro are anywhere close to being good enough to do to Arsenal what Palace did, this is a real watermark moment for Arsenal. They have to win, and win convincingly, because this is a game that frankly they should be walking. I think they'll win, but I don't think it will be convincing.
Prediction: 2-0 Arsenal
The Hard and Fast Section
- Leicester beaten by Leti. Big blow.
- Bayern and Dortmund also lose. Bad week for German football.
- Vettel flying in Bahrain practice.
- Nine county championship games on. Notts skittling Durham.
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