Weekend Preview and Predictions

@0riginalfooty takes a look at the weekend fixtures for the 30th round of Premier League football. Last time out we got six out of ten predictions right and no correct scores. Will we do better this week?

Man City vs West Brom (12:45)
City’s season went from bad to worse after being humbled at the Nou Camp and it was only a miraculous performance from Joe Hart that saved them from a humiliating scoreline. The Baggies, meanwhile, returned to winning ways against Stoke and will be sure to be well organised and keep City chances at a minimum. Manuel Pellegrini’s men have already endured a terrible week and he will most probably lose his job at the end of the season given their inevitable lack of trophies but they should be able to sneak a win here.
Prediction: Man City 1-0 West Brom

Aston Villa vs Swansea (15:00)
Villa’s season has been transformed with back-to-back league victories and Tim Sherwood’s feel-good factor is driving them on at the moment. The Swans have also been performing well and were unlucky to lose to Liverpool last time out. The Villans will be desperate to win this one as they have a really tough run of fixtures coming up but Swansea are no pushovers and should be able to get a point at Villa Park.
Prediction: Aston Villa 1-1 Swansea

Newcastle vs Arsenal (15:00)
The Magpies put in a very poor display against Everton last weekend and now face an in-form Arsenal. The Gunners are odds-on to finish at least third and impressed in Monaco in midweek, despite being knocked out of the Champions League overall. It’s hard to see anything other than a walkover for Arsene Wenger’s side.
Prediction: Newcastle 1-3 Arsenal

Southampton vs Burnley (15:00)
The Saints kept their Champions League hopes alive with a hard-earned draw against Chelsea but remain outsiders for a top-four finish. Burnley enjoyed a terrific result over Man City and have given themselves a real chance of escaping relegation. They are only one point behind Sunderland and they will hope that their momentum from last weekend’s win can see them through. Southampton should just about nick this game, though.
Prediction: Southampton 1-0 Burnley

Stoke vs Palace (15:00)
This is a contest between two teams whose soul aim now will be to finish as high in the league as possible. Stoke will be confident of finishing as ‘the best of the rest’ away from those competing for European qualification via the league. Palace have drastically improved under Alan Pardew and are an exciting team going forward with the likes of Yannick Bolasie and Wilfried Zaha. I think this will be quite an entertaining game and it’s hard to split them so I’ll lump for a score draw.
Prediction: Stoke 2-2 Palace

Spurs vs Leicester (15:00)
Tottenham suffered a real setback in their pursuit of the Champions League last weekend but with Man United and Liverpool facing each other on Sunday it is vital that they win against bottom side Leicester. The Foxes did pick up a point against Hull last time out but realistically needed to win that match to have a chance of survival and I think they could be on the receiving end of a heavy defeat here.
Prediction: Spurs 4-0 Leicester

West Ham vs Sunderland (17:30)
This match sees two sides in very poor form facing off against each other and a Premier League debut for new Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat. The Hammers have gone off the boil in the past few weeks and haven’t won in the league since January. Sunderland finally sacked Gus Poyet after a dreadful run of results and they will hope that their new appointment will give them a boost. This could go either way but Sunderland will be desperate not to lose and I think they will leave Upton Park with a point.
Prediction: West Ham 1-1 Sunderland

Sunday

Liverpool vs Man United (13:30)

This is undoubtedly the biggest match of the weekend and this could ultimately decide who finishes fourth. Liverpool have been in sensational form in 2015 and United were written off by many before last weekend’s hammering of Spurs but now the tie has an intriguing balance to it. It’s very difficult to predict which team will win it but I think both teams will come out guns blazing and try to win the match but as it goes on may be happy to settle for a point, which will keep the battle for fourth finely poised.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-2 Man United

Hull vs Chelsea (16:00)
Hull aren’t quite safe yet but it would be a big shock to see them going down considering the quality of some of the sides below them. Not as big a shock, however, as if Chelsea did not win the league. Man City seem to have given up the fight and Jose Mourinho’s side are waltzing comfortably to league success. It’s hard to see anything other than an easy Chelsea win.
Prediction: Hull 0-2 Chelsea

QPR vs Everton (16:00)
This is a huge match for The R’s. Everton have been generally poor in the league this season and were thrashed in Kiev on Thursday night as they crashed out of Europe so QPR couldn’t have picked a better time to play them. Everton’s players are all likely to be tired after their long trip and Chris Ramsey needs to make sure his players make this as physical as possible to capitalise on their drained resources. I have a feeling that they will get the win and put real pressure on the teams above them.
Prediction: QPR 2-1 Everton

Midweek Preview and Predictions

@0riginalfooty takes a look at the weekend fixtures for the 28th round of Premier League football. Last time out we got three out of eight predictions right and two correct scores. Will we do better this week?

Tuesday

Aston Villa vs West Brom (19:45)
Tim Sherwood has had a terrible introduction to life managing Aston Villa and The Villans have now lost their last seven league matches. The Baggies, meanwhile, earned another win against Southampton and Tony Pulis looks set to guide them to safety. These two clubs face each other twice this week as they have their FA Cup quarter-final to look forward to on Saturday but Villa simply cannot afford to lose this and Pulis is unlikely to allow Villa to close the gap on his side so a draw would be the logical outcome.
Prediction: Aston Villa 1-1 West Brom

Hull vs Sunderland (19:45)
Last time out Hull were defeated away at Stoke while Sunderland lost away at Man United – neither of which were disastrous results. Hull have shown good form against the sides around them recently, beating both Villa and QPR, but Sunderland have demonstrated time and time again that they are very difficult to break down. This could be a cagey affair and don’t be surprised to see it finish goalless.
Prediction: Hull 0-0 Sunderland

Southampton vs Crystal Palace (19:45)
The Saints’ top-four challenge has drifted away in recent weeks and there are few people who will be genuinely surprised by that. Palace have reached 30 points, convincingly beat West Ham at the weekend and look like they will be comfortably safe. Southampton have shown throughout the season that they can bounce back from a setback and they will need to again here to keep their slim Champions League hopes alive.
Prediction: Southampton 2-1 Crystal Palace

Wednesday

Man City vs Leicester (19:45)
City wasted a golden opportunity to put Chelsea under pressure whilst they weren’t in league action but were very poor and now need a minor miracle if they’re going to bag a trophy this season. Manuel Pellegrini’s job will now be under serious scrutiny from their demanding owners. Leicester enjoyed the comfort of a break at the weekend but it is unlikely to do them many favours at the Etihad.
Prediction: Man City 3-0 Leicester

Newcastle vs Man United (19:45)
The Magpies bounced back from their crushing defeat at the hands of Man City to beat Aston Villa and virtually confirmed Premier League safety. United returned to winning ways but will know that they can’t drop points in this game as they prepare to face Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool in their three fixtures following this match. They may still not be at their fluent best but they should still be able to beat Newcastle.
Prediction: Newcastle 1-2 Man United

QPR vs Arsenal (19:45)
The R’s benefitted from a rest this weekend but the arrival of The Gunners represents a tough fixture for a side that generally rely on their home results. Arsenal may as well have had the weekend off as Everton put up little resistance but this is not an easy fixture for Arsene Wenger’s men. The pitch will suit QPR more than it will Arsenal and Chris Ramsey’s side will hope to get in their face and cause them problems. Having said that, Arsenal should have enough quality to edge this.
Prediction: QPR 1-2 Arsenal

Stoke vs Everton (19:45)
Mark Hughes’ side did what they traditionally do best and won at home this weekend while Everton faltered once more. Roberto Martinez must surely want them to focus all their attention on winning the Europa League to try to earn qualification to the Champions League through that route. Their league form is less important providing they steer clear of relegation and I can’t see Stoke giving them an easy ride here.
Prediction: Stoke 2-1 Everton

Spurs vs Swansea (19:45)
Tottenham may have been disappointed to lose the Capital One Cup final but it’s important that they put that behind them quickly and focus on their push for a Champions League place. Swansea have suddenly returned to superb form and will not make this easy for Mauricio Pochettino’s team but they have enough in the tank to get a win.
Prediction: Spurs 2-1 Swansea

West Ham vs Chelsea (19:45)
The Hammers lost the plot at the weekend and it was surprising to watch them concede such a high number of goals again. Chelsea, on the other hand, enjoyed an excellent win over Spurs to lift the Capital One Cup trophy. They will have to guard against complacency but they could be catching Sam Allardyce’s team at just the right time and can keep their five-point gap at the top intact.
Prediction: West Ham 0-2 Chelsea

Liverpool vs Burnley (20:00)
The Reds’ great form continued with a win over Man City and they are breathing down the necks of Arsenal and Man United to earn Champions League football. Burnley, meanwhile, lost to Swansea at home and I am struggling to see an escape from relegation for them now. This is the last team Sean Dyche would want his side to be facing at the moment and they won’t be able to get a result at Anfield.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-0 Burnley

Midweek Preview and Predictions

@0riginalfooty takes a look at the midweek fixtures for the 25th round of Premier League football. Last time out we got five out of ten predictions right and one correct score. Will we do better this week?

Tuesday

Arsenal vs Leicester (19:45)
The Gunners suffered a disappointing derby defeat to bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur having been ahead and, in truth, looked the weaker side. Leicester suffered another defeat and their mini-renaissance has come to a halt. There were further problems after the match after Nigel Pearson was reportedly sacked only for those rumours to be proved as false later on. In short, Leicesterface a very uncertain future. Arsene Wenger will be looking for a response from his side to keep them in the hunt for a top-four spot and they shouldn’t have too much trouble beating The Foxes.
Prediction: Arsenal 3-0 Leicester

Hull vs Aston Villa (19:45)
This is a huge match between two sides struggling at the bottom of the table but both will enter it with renewed optimism. Hull were moments away from leaving the Etihad with all three points and their performance has reduced the pressure on Steve Bruce, which will further decrease if they beat Villa. The Villans, meanwhile, produced a spirited display against Chelsea and if they can start performing like that against the sides around them, then they are more than capable of escaping the drop. It’s hard to predict which side will be boosted the most from their weekend endeavours but both teams will be desperate to not lose and a draw could be on the cards.
Prediction: Hull 1-1 Aston Villa

Sunderland vs QPR (19:45)
The Black Cats have started to pull clear of relegation trouble and the signing of Jermain Defoe has given the whole club a lift. On the other hand, QPR seem to be in big trouble. They conceded a late goal to lose to Southampton and could really do with a morale-boosting victory away from home. It’s hard to see that happening, though.
Prediction: Sunderland 2-0 QPR

Liverpool vs Spurs (20:00)
Liverpool missed a big opportunity to close the gap on a few of their top-four rivals with a goalless draw against Everton. Spurs had no such problem and Harry Kane emphatically fired them to victory over Arsenal to guide them into fifth. Liverpool thumped Spurs 3-0 in the reverse fixture but Mauricio Pochettino’s men have had success in their most recent matches against their rivals and you wouldn’t bet against them getting at least a draw at Anfield.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-2 Spurs

Wednesday

Chelsea vs Everton (19:45)
Jose Mourinho’s men may not have been at their best at Villa Park on Saturday but they did what every great side does and ground out a victory. Everton have improved greatly in the last few weeks but are still not playing at the level that Roberto Martinez would expect of them. Chelsea should earn a comfortable home victory.
Prediction: Chelsea 2-0 Everton

Man United vs Burnley (19:45)
Daley Blind scored a late equaliser to earn United a point at Upton Park while Burnley let another two goal lead slip against West Brom. Burnley’s run of fixtures looks daunting and it’s hard to make a strong case for their survival given their tendency to drop points from winning positions. United have been very up and down all season and have rarely looked like the attacking force that most people were expecting to see. Having said that, they have enough to beat The Clarets.
Prediction: Man United 2-1 Burnley

Southampton vs West Ham (19:45)
The Saints recorded an impressive away win at Loftus Road to move into third in the table and Ronald Koeman’s side continue to battle for a top-four place. The Hammers dominated Man United but just came up short to land all three points. Both these sides have demonstrated throughout the season that they are no pushovers and this should be a tight game but I fancy Southampton to nick it.
Prediction: Southampton 2-1 West Ham

Stoke vs Man City (19:45)
Both these sides scored late on to earn a point this weekend. Peter Crouch nodded home to level for The Potters against Newcastle while James Milner’s free-kick salvaged a point against Hull. It’s very difficult to predict against Stoke when they’re at home but the fact that City will be desperate to bounce back after their weekend result coupled with their wanting to avenge their defeat to Stoke in the reverse fixture should mean that they come out on top.
Prediction: Stoke 1-2 Man City

Crystal Palace vs Newcastle (20:00)
This game will mean an awful lot to Alan Pardew, who will be desperate to record a win over his former side. Pardew’s short reign at Palace has been an unqualified success and they recorded another victory against Leicester to fire themselves into 13th and six points clear of the relegation zone. John Carver, on the other hand, has done ok in his brief time in charge of The Magpies but his spell at the helm has been largely unspectacular. The atmosphere should be intense inside Selhurst Park and I’m tipping Pardew to get the win.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 2-1 Newcastle

West Brom vs Swansea (20:00)
Both sides recovered from losing positions to earn a point at the weekend and Tony Pulis is yet to produce the airtight defence that many people were expecting of him. Swansea have enjoyed a very good season but I can’t see them finishing any higher than their current position in 9th but a mid-table finish would represent a success. A draw seems inevitable in this one.
Prediction: West Brom 1-1 Swansea

Weekend Preview and Predictions

@0riginalfooty takes a look at the weekend’s fixtures for the 24th round of Premier League football. Last time out we got five out of ten predictions right and zero correct scores. Will we do better this week?

Saturday

Spurs vs Arsenal (12:45)
Both these sides are on a high after putting several goals past teams from the West Midlands last weekend. Spurs went to The Hawthorns to win 3-0 while Arsenal fired five past a hapless Aston Villa and both sides hang narrowly behind the top four spots. With both teams entering in such good form, it’s hard to split them but we should be in for an entertaining match and a high-scoring draw seems the most likely outcome.
Prediction: Spurs 2-2 Arsenal

Aston Villa vs Chelsea (15:00)
Where to start with Aston Villa? They got everything wrong they could possibly have imagined to have got wrong last weekend. The tactics were poor, the personnel selection was questionable and the effort levels were non-existent. Chelsea, meanwhile, will have been satisfied with their draw against main title rivals Manchester City and remain five points clear at the top. Villa are now only three points above the drop and have the worst goal difference in the league. Sadly for the Villans, it’s likely to get worse this weekend.
Prediction: Aston Villa 0-4 Chelsea

Leicester vs Crystal Palace (15:00)
Both these sides were beaten last weekend by stronger opposition in the form of Manchester United and Everton and neither will want to lose this one. Alan Pardew has done an excellent job since taking over the Eagles and has put them six points above bottom side Leicester. Avoiding defeat will most probably be the mandate for Palace and they should succeed.
Prediction: Leicester 1-1 Crystal Palace

Man City vs Hull (15:00)
While City won’t have been delighted with the draw against Chelsea, it was important that they didn’t lose. Hull have now suffered back-to-back 3-0 defeats and Steve Bruce’s position is looking very perilous. It would take a brave man to back The Tigers here.
Prediction: Man City 3-0 Hull

QPR vs Southampton (15:00)
Harry Redknapp’s departure may not have come as a huge surprise, although his apparent reason for leaving is certainly one of the more bizarre reasons given for a managerial department. Southampton’s defeat at home to Swansea was a poor result and underlines the inevitable feeling that they will not finish in the top four this season. It remains to be seen who will end up in charge of QPR but points at home are vital for their survival and they could get one against The Saints.
Prediction: QPR 1-1 Southampton

Swansea vs Sunderland (15:00)
Both these teams recorded excellent victories last weekend and The Swans demonstrated that life goes on without Wilfried Bony. Having said that, Sunderland are renowned for their ability to grind out a goalless draw and this match could easily follow suit.
Prediction: Swansea 0-0 Sunderland

Everton vs Liverpool (17:30)
Everton’s victory away to Crystal Palace was somewhat surprising given their form going into the match but it was an important win nonetheless. However, this fixture will be of more importance to their Merseyside rivals. Liverpool have gradually closed the gap on a top-four spot to only four points. With Arsenal and Spurs playing each other this weekend, there is no reason why they can’t throw themselves firmly back into the hunt for a Champions League Spot.
Prediction: Everton 1-2 Liverpool

Sunday

Burnley vs West Brom (12:00)
Neither side will have enjoyed their result or performance last weekend and both will expect a response. The Baggies are hardly scoring freely under Tony Pulis and he may focus on returning to The Hawthorns with a clean sheet and a point.
Prediction: Burnley 0-0 West Brom

Newcastle vs Stoke (14:05)
The Magpies put Hull to the sword but Stoke should offer a different proposition after looking in good form in their dismantling of QPR. There are only two points between the two sides and they should both finish in mid-table. Hopefully they can provide an action-packed draw.
Prediction: Newcastle 2-2 Stoke

West Ham vs Man United (16:15)
The Hammers will have been delighted to have only escaped with a fine over their fielding of Diafra Sakho in the FA Cup but they have steadily slipped down the table into a position that was realistically more achievable at the start of the season. United, meanwhile, negotiated their route into the fifth round of the FA Cup but their form has been largely uninspiring. It was surprising that they didn’t sign a world-class defender in January and they will hope that it doesn’t come back to bite them. The Hammers have been a bit up and down recently but are tough to beat at home.
Prediction: West Ham 1-1 Man United

New Year Preview and Predictions

@0riginalfooty takes a look at the New Year’s Day fixtures for the 20th round of Premier League football. Following a surprising set of results last weekend, we got two out of ten predictions right and no correct scores. Will we do better this week?

Stoke vs Man United (12:45)
The Potters have climbed to 11th after their victory over struggling West Brom and are more than capable of finishing in the top half of the table. United may have been disappointed to have not beaten Spurs but their rivals also dropped points and it shouldn’t do too much damage to their top-four hopes. Stoke are traditionally strong at home and have put in some decent performances against the big sides this season and may well get a point here too.
Prediction: Stoke 1-1 Man United

Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace (15:00)
While Fabian Delph’s red card may have been harsh, Villa’s lack of discipline is costing them dearly at the moment. Delph’s lunge was needless above anything and gave Martin Atkinson a decision that he shouldn’t have even had to make. Having said that, Villa performed admirably with ten men and can take heart from their display and earned another valuable point. Palace also battled to a draw against relegation rivals QPR and they will probably set up in a similar fashion at Villa Park with the intention of returning to London with a point. They’re capable of getting it and will frustrate the Villa faithful with another home draw to offer a springboard before Alan Pardew’s arrival.
Prediction: Aston Villa 1-1 Crystal Palace

Hull vs Everton (15:00)
Hull’s defeat to Leicester undid the good work they had done the previous week against Sunderland. They have to start winning the matches against their rivals at the bottom of the table else they could face the drop. Everton are enduring a similarly torrid time at the moment and a top-four place is already beyond them. Roberto Martinez needs a win desperately and there aren’t many teams in the league that are better to play to provide you with such a luxury. This will be a cagey affair and either side could get all three points but an Everton win is long overdue.
Prediction: Hull 1-2 Everton

Liverpool vs Leicester (15:00)
Liverpool produced an excellent performance to thump Swansea 4-1 and will now set their sights on climbing up the table. Leicester, meanwhile, got a long-awaited win over Hull and saved Nigel Pearson’s job in the process. Had they lost that match, there would have been no way back but they have given themselves a lifeline and stayed in touch with their rivals at the bottom. To get a win at Anfield seems unlikely, though.
Prediction: Liverpool 1-0 Leicester

Man City vs Sunderland (15:00)
Manuel Pellegrini will have been furious at his side for the manner in which they dropped two points against lowly Burnley. With Chelsea dropping points, it was the ideal opportunity to put real pressure on their title rivals. Sunderland will be equally disappointed that they didn’t get three points against 10-man Aston Villa. Sunderland played very poorly considering their man advantage and should be a good opponent for City to beat, despite The Black Cats good record against them.
Prediction: Man City 3-0 Sunderland

Newcastle vs Burnley (15:00)
Both these sides performed admirably to earn good results at the weekend. Newcastle battled back from a goal down to beat Everton 3-2 while The Clarets clawed themselves level having gone two goals behind against the champions Man City. Newcastle are surprisingly set to lose Alan Pardew to Crystal Palace and it will be interesting to see how the players react to his departure. Burnley have shown that they can battle against the best teams in the league and no team they play against will get an easy ride. A draw seems a likely outcome.
Prediction: Newcastle 1-1 Burnley

QPR vs Swansea (15:00)
QPR will have been disappointed in dropping points against Crystal Palace at home but their opponents were very organised and played for a point. Swansea, who were comfortably dismantled by Liverpool, won’t arrive with that attitude and will go to Loftus Road believing they can win. The R’s home form has been generally very good and they are capable of winning this one.
Prediction: QPR 2-1 Swansea

Southampton vs Arsenal (15:00)
The Saints defied the odds with their draw against league leaders Chelsea while The Gunners saw off high-flying West Ham. Southampton have impressed in their two matches against Arsene Wenger’s men this season but came up short in their last league encounter. These are two of the stronger teams in the league and are very difficult to separate so a draw seems a sensible option.
Prediction: Southampton 1-1 Arsenal

West Ham vs West Brom (15:00)
The Hammers have lost back-to-back matches to two of the league’s best teams so they will be pleased to face opposition as weak as The Baggies. Alan Irvine’s reign has come to an end but a new boss won’t be in place before this one. They will hope to lure Tony Pulis to the club due to his excellent managerial record at avoiding relegation. It’s hard to see anything but a West Ham win.
Prediction: West Ham 2-0 West Brom

Spurs vs Chelsea (17:30)
Spurs will have been relieved to take a point off Man United and keep themselves firmly in the frame for Champions League football. Chelsea may have dropped points but their only real title challengers Man City dropped points as well so little damage was done. Jose Mourinho generally sets up very well against the best sides and Chelsea always seem to beat Spurs so it’s hard to bet against them doing the same here.
Prediction: Spurs 1-2 Chelsea

Weekend Preview and Predictions

@0riginalfooty takes a look at the fixtures for the 19th round of Premier League football. On Boxing Day we got seven out of ten predictions right and three correct scores. Will we do better this week?

Sunday

Spurs vs Man United (12:00)
Spurs’ recent upturn in form means that if they win this match, they will be within two points of United. Having said that, their recent matches have been against relatively weak opposition so it may be too soon for their fans to get ahead of themselves. Louis van Gaal’s side overcame their blip against Aston Villa with an emphatic win over Newcastle on Boxing Day. This should be a good match but United look the stronger team and should have the edge.
Prediction: Spurs 1-2 Man United

Southampton vs Chelsea (14:05)
Southampton have returned to the top four after another good victory but they are yet to really dominate one of the league’s top sides. Chelsea were comfortable against West Ham until the last five minutes and they are a very strong team. Southampton will be competitive but it’s hard to predict against Chelsea at the moment.
Prediction: Southampton 1-2 Chelsea

Aston Villa vs Sunderland (15:00)
Villa may have lost two of their last three games but they were very unfortunate to lose in both those instances and Paul Lambert’s side have been on the receiving end of several poor refereeing decisions in recent weeks. Sunderland, meanwhile, let a home lead slip against struggling Hull and will be nervously looking over their shoulders again. Had they beaten Hull I would have backed The Black Cats to nick a draw but Villa are due a win and some good luck and they have a good record against their opponents.
Prediction: Aston Villa 3-1 Sunderland

Hull vs Leicester (15:00)
Hull’s fight-back may have saved Steve Bruce from increasing pressure and now gifts them an opportunity to catapult themselves towards safety with a win against bottom side Leicester. The Foxes are playing for Nigel Pearson’s job, in my opinion, and defeat here will condemn him to the sack. Back-to-back wins can utterly change a team’s standing in this league and Hull are about to demonstrate that.
Prediction: Hull 2-0 Leicester

Man City vs Burnley (15:00)
City are playing very well at the moment and are brushing weaker opposition aside. Burnley, on the other hand, are in the middle of a tough run of fixtures that they will be glad to see the back of. City should put The Clarets to the sword, even if they are without their strikers once more.
Prediction: Man City 3-0 Burnley

QPR vs Crystal Palace (15:00)
This is a massive game and is filled with uncertainty now that Neil Warnock has been sacked from his post as Palace manager. QPR almost snatched a point against Arsenal at the weekend but this match is far more important to them and they can reach the 20-point mark with victory. Palace sacked their manager at the most bizarre moment of the season possible. Warnock should have been given the chance to get a result out of this match rather than being given the boot just before it. Sometimes a change in personnel can give a team a boost but QPR are strong at home and seem to beat their relegation rivals consistently and I don’t see that changing here.
Prediction: QPR 3-0 Crystal Palace

Stoke vs West Brom (15:00)
Stoke again surprised me last weekend with another outstanding result and they look assured of a place in the Premier League once more. West Brom, however, do not. Alan Irvine has already admitted his job is under threat and if they lose this one, he could be fired. Stoke seem to slip up randomly, which can offer The Baggies hope, but I’d be surprised if West Brom got a result.
Prediction: Stoke 1-0 West Brom

West Ham vs Arsenal (15:00)
The Hammers rested a couple of players in their defeat to Chelsea and they will have targeted this match as a more winnable game. The Gunners did well to hang on with 10 men against QPR but West Ham have shown that they are no pushovers and they have the firepower up front to hurt Arsene Wenger’s men. This should be quite a fast-paced and entertaining game and these teams are difficult to separate. For all of Alexis Sanchez’s brilliance, Arsenal look too lightweight in midfield and catastrophic at the back. West Ham have big strong forwards who will fancy their chances against Arsenal’s weakened back-line and they are capable of getting a result here.
Prediction: West Ham 2-2 Arsenal

Newcastle vs Everton (16:15)
Both these teams are in poor form and it will be interesting to see how this one pans out. Alan Pardew’s men have lost every match since beating Chelsea and don’t look like producing a good result anytime soon. Having said that, Everton have been appalling this season and another home loss to Stoke was very disappointing. They are already 10 points off the guaranteed Europa League spot and their form is extremely poor. Roberto Martinez may decide to gamble and go for broke in the Europa League because qualification through the Premier League seems improbable. This could go either way but both defences look leaky so there should be goals.
Prediction: Newcastle 2-2 Everton

Monday

Liverpool vs Swansea (20:00)
Both these teams won on Boxing Day but neither won convincingly. Liverpool edged out Burnley while Swansea held off an Aston Villa fightback. Neither side is in incredible form but Swansea’s squad looks tired to me and Liverpool may just have enough to earn an important win.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Swansea

Weekend Preview and Predictions

@0riginalfooty takes a look at the fixtures for the 15th round of Premier League football. Last weekend we got six out of ten predictions right and one correct score. Will we do better this week?

Saturday

Newcastle vs Chelsea (12:45)
Newcastle’s good run of form has come to an end but they are still a team that will cause problems for most other sides in the division. Chelsea, however, are not most sides. Mourinho’s men tore Spurs apart in midweek and have Diego Costa returning to the side. Newcastle will make it tough but Chelsea will come away with three points.
Prediction: Newcastle 1-2 Chelsea

Hull vs West Brom (15:00)
Hull have been falling down the league for weeks and desperately need to stop the rot. They have been handed a kind home fixture against another side in free-fall. Both teams will be happy with a draw in this one.
Prediction: Hull 1-1 West Brom

Liverpool vs Sunderland (15:00)
Liverpool earned a good win against bottom side Leicester in midweek but Sunderland should prove a tougher test. The Black Cats were ultimately blown away by Man City but gave a good account of themselves early on. They may fancy their chances against The Reds but they will probably come up short.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Sunderland

QPR vs Burnley (15:00)
Both these teams have had drastic upturns in form recently and both will be desperate for a win. Burnley have made themselves very difficult to beat while QPR look strong at home. This should be a close and well-contested fixture but the home team will fancy their chances.
Prediction: QPR 2-1 Burnley

Stoke vs Arsenal (15:00)
Stoke are hanging precariously above the relegation zone considering their good position a few weeks ago and questions have been raised about the playing style Mark Hughes is trying to adopt. Arsenal haven’t been firing on all cylinders for most of the season but have produced some good results in the past week. Stoke will throw everything at this game but Arsenal should come out on top.
Prediction: Stoke 2-3 Arsenal

Spurs vs Crystal Palace (15:00)
Spurs were taken apart against Chelsea but had shown improvement against Everton last week. Palace, meanwhile, had been on a great run of form and threw everything at Aston Villa in midweek but couldn’t get a result. Spurs need to keep their fans on side and will record victory here.
Prediction: Spurs 2-1 Crystal Palace

Man City vs Everton (17:30)
Sergio Aguero is in the form of his life and will really fancy his chances against this Everton defence. Roberto Martinez’s team are eight points worse off than this time last season and need to become better defensively quickly. City look too strong at the moment, however, and they should win comfortably.
Prediction: Man City 2-0 Everton

Sunday

West Ham vs Swansea (13:30)
The Hammers secured an excellent midweek victory away against The Baggies and Sam Allardyce must has great depth in the attacking options in his squad. Swansea have been magnificent this season and Wilfried Bony is one of the top strikers in the league on current form. Both teams will go for victory but a draw will prove a fair result.
Prediction: West Ham 1-1 Swansea

Aston Villa vs Leicester
Villa finally stopped the rot with a hard-fought win against Palace on Tuesday and the return of Christian Benteke will be a huge relief to Paul Lambert. Leicester are struggling at the moment and seem to save their best performances for the top sides but they will need to perform well against their relegation rivals if they want to remain in the division. Villa are now unbeaten in four and should have enough to record back-to-back victories against the Foxes.
Prediction: Aston Villa 2-1 Leicester

Monday

Southampton vs Man United
Southampton may have lost two on the spin but they were against Man City and Arsenal – it’s too early for them to panic. United seem to be approaching top form under van Gaal but are without creative forces Angel Di Maria and Wayne Rooney. This should be an open and entertaining game and Southampton will be pleased to end their losing run here.
Prediction: Southampton 2-2 Man United

Midweek Preview and Predictions

@0riginalfooty takes a look at the fixtures for the 14th round of Premier League football. Last weekend we got six out of ten predictions right and one correct score. Will we do better this week?

Tuesday

Burnley vs Newcastle (19:45)
Burnley are on a three-match unbeaten streak and fought hard against Aston Villa to maintain that record. Newcastle’s wonderful run of form came to an end against West Ham at the weekend and they will look to get back to winning ways quickly. Burnley are proving a tough nut to crack at the moment and will hope to get another result here.
Prediction: Burnley 1-1 Newcastle

Leicester vs Liverpool (19:45)
Leicester have slipped to the bottom of the table after a thrilling defeat against relegation rivals QPR. Liverpool managed to end their poor run of form with a win against Stoke but they are still far from their fluent best. Leicester have put in their best performances against the bigger names in the league and they might just snatch a point here.
Prediction: Liverpool 1-1 Leicester

Man United vs Stoke (19:45)
United are starting to look like a force against van Gaal and put in their best performance of the season to sweep Hull aside. Stoke, meanwhile, are sliding ominously back towards the bottom of the league and are not performing at the level that Mark Hughes will require. This should be a comfortable victory for the Red Devils
Prediction: Man United 4-0 Stoke

Swansea vs QPR (19:45)
Swansea were disappointed to drop points against Crystal Palace but they now face a QPR side who are looking more like a Premier League outfit. QPR battled to a 3-2 victory over relegation rivals Leicester and will hope to kick-on. This should be a closer encounter than many may expect but Swansea should still prevail.
Prediction: Swansea 2-1 QPR

Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa (20:00)
Palace fought well to draw 1-1 with Swansea at the weekend and are starting to offer better performances under Neil Warnock. Villa, conversely, let another lead slip after dominating Burnley for the majority of the match and in the end were fortunate not to lose. Villa fans are growing increasingly impatient and a win is needed sooner rather than later. It seems unlikely to come here, though.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 1-1 Aston Villa

West Brom vs West Ham (20:00)
The Baggies are another team in free-fall and now hang perilously above the relegation zone. West Ham secured an excellent victory against the in-form Newcastle but I think a draw would be a decent away result for them here.
Prediction: West Brom 1-1 West Ham

Wednesday

Arsenal vs Southampton (19:45)
The Gunners have enjoyed a good week so far and a win over Southampton would cap it off. The Saints suffered a loss to Manchester City and will hope to avoid defeat here in order to keep their six-point lead over Arsenal intact. The Gunners are catching Southampton at a good time and should get the win.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Southampton

Chelsea vs Spurs (19:45)
Chelsea were unable to break down a resilient Sunderland side and almost lost their unbeaten record. Spurs finally gave a strong performance at home and pulled themselves to within two points of Man United. Jose Mourinho’s teams always perform in the big games and it’s hard to see Pochettino’s men getting close to them.
Prediction: Chelsea 3-1 Spurs

Everton vs Hull (19:45)
Everton didn’t match Spurs’ intensity for large periods of the game on Sunday but they have been handed a kind fixture against one of the poorest teams in the division at the moment. Steve Bruce’s Hull didn’t turn up against Man United and it’s hard to see them challenging The Toffees here.
Prediction: Everton 2-0 Hull

Sunderland vs Man City (19:45)
Sunderland took a good point off Chelsea but still remain three points above the relegation zone. Man City’s season seems to have been turned around in this last week and Sergio Aguero is at his menacing best. The Black Cats will be tough to break down but City have the players to find a way through.
Prediction: Sunderland 1-2 Man City

Weekend Preview and Predictions

@0riginalfooty takes a look at the fixtures for the 13th weekend of Premier League football. Last weekend we got six out of ten predictions right and three correct scores. Will we do better this week?

Saturday

West Brom vs Arsenal (12:45)
The Baggies are slowly sliding down the Premier League table and could find themselves hanging perilously over the relegation zone should they be defeated here. Arsenal have been very poor in the league but their midweek dismantling of Borussia Dortmund should boost the confidence of the players. This won’t be an easy visit for Arsenal but it’s hard to see them dropping more points here.
Prediction: West Brom 1-3 Arsenal

Burnley vs Aston Villa (15:00)
Who would have thought a few weeks ago that both these teams would be coming into this match unbeaten in the past two matches? Burnley have remarkably won two on the trot including beating Stoke away, while Aston Villa have managed two draws against two of the better sides in the league so far this season in the form of Southampton and West Ham. Villa, however, are without a win in nine games and Roy Keane’s departure on Friday morning has further dampened the mood in the camp. The Villans defended resolutely against Southampton and should be good value for at least a point in this one.
Prediction: Burnley 0-0 Aston Villa

Liverpool vs Stoke (15:00)
Simon Mignolet is under fire following another mistake in their Champions League match against Liverpool slipped up once more and their form has been appalling and they find themselves on the brink of a Champions League exit and in the bottom half of the table. Stoke, meanwhile, wasted an opportunity to climb towards the top end of the table by losing at home to Burnley and will be keen to make amends this time out. Liverpool are due a win and should edge The Potters out.
Prediction: Liverpool 1-0 Stoke

Man United vs Hull (15:00)
Louis van Gaal’s men are currently in fourth place and achieving their target for the season. They earned an important away victory against fellow top-four challengers Arsenal and their young defence played very well. Hull have gone under the radar as a team performing poorly and they are only a point above the relegation zone. United should have too much for them.
Prediction: Man United 3-1 Hull

QPR vs Leicester (15:00)
This is an early relegation battle between two teams in the bottom three. Leicester have been in free-fall after making an encouraging start to the season while QPR have been steadily improving as the season has gone on. QPR’s recent improvement makes them the slight favourites and they will fancy their chances.
Prediction: QPR 2-0 Leicester

Swansea vs Crystal Palace (15:00)
The Swans were narrowly beaten by Man City last weekend but have generally had a very impressive campaign. Palace clawed their way up the league table with an excellent home win against Liverpool but still remain two points above the relegation zone. Swansea are normally quite strong at home and should have too much for Palace this weekend.
Prediction: Swansea 2-0 Crystal Palace

West Ham vs Newcastle (15:00)
Sam Allardyce this week claimed that his side needs to rediscover their cutting edge but they welcome the team with the best recent form. Newcastle have flown up the table and are only outside the top four on goal difference. Upton Park is a tough place to get a result, however, and a draw seems the most probable outcome.
Prediction: West Ham 1-1 Newcastle

Sunderland vs Chelsea (17:30)
Gus Poyet’s team have failed to impress this season but they are capable of a big result on their day and Chelsea will know not to take them lightly. Jose Mourinho’s team look unstoppable at the moment and tore Schalke apart in the Champions League. Sunderland will put up a good fight but, ultimately, Chelsea will emerge victorious.
Prediction: Sunderland 1-2 Chelsea

Sunday

Southampton vs Man City (13:30)
This is a clash between the second and third placed teams in the league and should be a hugely entertaining tie. The Saints were largely stifled by Aston Villa on Monday night and it was a well-earned point for Ronald Koeman’s team. City also had to work hard for their three points against in-form Swansea and came from behind to beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League. Sergio Aguero was terrific against Bayern and he should fire them past Southampton here.
Prediction: Southampton 1-2 Man City

Spurs vs Everton (16:00)
Both teams had Europa League matches on Thursday night so there can be no excuses for either team about having a hangover from that. Spurs have been terrible in the league and their only recent victories against Hull and Villa have stemmed from the other team being down to ten men. Had Villa and Hull kept 11 men on the field, Spurs could easily be right down at the bottom. Everton have also been inconsistent this season but performed very well against Werder Bremen and they will fancy their chances here.
Prediction: Spurs 1-2 Everton

Weekend Preview and Predictions

@0riginalfooty takes a look at the fixtures for the 12th weekend of Premier League football. Last weekend we got four out of ten predictions correct and two correct scores. Will we do better this week?

Saturday

Chelsea vs West Brom (15:00)
While the rest of the league has been unpredictable, Chelsea have consistently been the team to perform well week in week out. West Brom were disappointed with their home loss to Newcastle and it’s a stretch of the imagination to see them returning to winning ways here. This should be a comfortable win for Chelsea.
Prediction: Chelsea 2-0 West Brom

Everton vs West Ham (15:00)
Both sides slipped up to draw against weaker opposition last weekend and Everton, in particular, will be keen to return to winning ways and put a run together to climb up the table. West Ham have made a brilliant start to the season and will be competitive against every team they play against but I fancy Everton to narrowly claim victory.
Prediction: Everton 1-0 West Ham

Leicester vs Sunderland (15:00)
Leicester have had a very poor run of form and find themselves in the relegation zone. Sunderland have recovered from their string of high-profile defensive errors to earn four points in their last two matches. Nevertheless, I expect these teams to be near to the bottom of the table at the end of the season and both sides will be keen to avoid defeat to relegation rivals.
Prediction: Leicester 1-1 Sunderland

Man City vs Swansea (15:00)
City have been very poor this season and look short of confidence but they still have an abundance of quality in their squad and one good result could kick-start their season. Swansea recorded an excellent win over Arsenal last weekend and have been one of the success stories of the season. For Garry Monk’s side to only be three points behind City before this match is testament to their wonderful form this campaign. This should be a good game but City need to win and they should find away past Monk’s team.
Prediction: Man City 2-1 Swansea

Newcastle vs QPR (15:00)
For Alan Pardew’s side to be level on points with Manchester United and one point behind Arsenal after their terrible start to the season is nothing short of incredible and Pardew deserves great credit. QPR are also starting to perform to Premier League level and look far more competitive. QPR’s recent improvement means that this should be a more interesting game but Newcastle are playing well enough to secure another victory.
Prediction: Newcastle 2-1 QPR

Stoke vs Burnley (15:00)
Stoke took advantage of Spurs’ problems last weekend to win and climb into the top half of the table. Burnley also recorded their first win of the season and that will be a huge weight off Sean Dyche’s shoulders. They are working hard for each other and, whilst they may lack the quality to survive, they will make it difficult for other teams to beat them. Stoke, however, are only three points away from the top four and their fans will expect them to climb higher up the table after this one.
Prediction: Stoke 1-0 Burnley

Arsenal vs Man United (17:30)
Arsenal put in another disappointing display last weekend and their fans must be desperately frustrated that their side have not taken advantage of their rivals’ poor starts to the season. Arsenal are one of the most settled sides in the league and after their success last season it was expected that they could kick on but they seem to have gone backwards. United are also not performing to the best of their ability and are crippled by several injuries to their squad. Having said that, they did not add enough bulk to their squad in key areas in the summer and they are suffering because of it. Neither side is defending particularly well but both teams can score and it should be an entertaining, high-scoring draw.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-2 Man United

Sunday

Crystal Palace vs Liverpool (13:30)
Palace have been slowly sliding under Neil Warnock and there are serious concerns over their ability to survive this season. Fortunately for them, Liverpool arrive in terrible form and they are struggling to score goals. Palace put in a resolute display against United last weekend and if they put in a similar performance this weekend then Liverpool won’t have enough firepower to find a win.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 1-1 Liverpool

Hull City vs Spurs (16:00)
Hull performed very poorly last weekend and they are another side who are struggling to score goals. Spurs are also in very poor form and their only win for a month was against Aston Villa who were down to ten men. Pressure will start to mount on Pochettino if results aren’t turned around soon but they are due a win and being away from home should help them.
Prediction: Hull 1-2 Spurs

Monday

Aston Villa vs Southampton (20:00)
Villa stopped the rot last weekend with a good draw away at in-form West Ham but without Christian Benteke they lack a serious goal threat. Southampton have been the best side in the league, Chelsea aside, and there are not enough superlatives to throw towards Ronald Koeman and his team. Villa need the big Belgian back up front before they can improve their performances and a comfortable win for The Saints is on the cards.
Prediction: Aston Villa 0-2 Southampton