Monday, 3 April 2017

Premier League Predictions - Gameweek 31

There is a full Gameweek in the Premier League this week, spread across Tuesday and Wednesday. I correctly predicted the outcome of four league matches last week, with one perfect score. I called wins for Liverpool, Hull and Watford as well as a draw between Arsenal and Manchester City. My perfect score was Hull's 2-1 home victory over West Ham.

Burnley vs Stoke
Tuesday 4th April 2017, 19.45

Burnley lost 2-0 at home to Tottenham on Saturday and Stoke lost by the same score at Leicester.

Burnley's defeat by Spurs leaves them without a win in seven in the Premier League, losing four and drawing three. They haven't won since January and may be looking over their shoulders as they are now just five points above the bottom three.

Burnley v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League : News Photo
Tom Heaton will be looking for a clean sheet at Turf Moor (Getty Images)

Stoke lost 2-0 at reigning champions Leicester, their second straight league defeat. The game at Burnley comes exactly a month after their last Premier League win at home to Middlesbrough, and Mark Hughes will be desperate for three points.

These are two solid sides and it should be a close one at Turf Moor. Burnley are strong at home, but I fancy Stoke to leave with a point.

Prediction: 1-1

Leicester vs Sunderland
Tuesday 4th April 2017, 19.45

Leicester beat Stoke 2-0 at home at the weekend, whilst Sunderland were 1-0 losers at Watford.

Craig Shakespeare maintained his 100% winning record in the Premier League as Leicester won their fourth straight league match at home to Stoke thanks to goals from Wilfred Ndidi and Jamie Vardy.

Sunderland have lost four of their last five after losing at Watford and remain bottom of the Premier League. They are a worrying eight points adrift of 17th-placed Swansea, but do have a game in hand.

Sunderland need to start winning games, but I can't see them starting at the King Power. Leicester have been great under Shakespeare, and I see him making it five league wins from five.

Prediction: 2-0

Watford vs West Brom
Tuesday 4th April 2017, 19.45

Watford enjoyed a 1-0 home success over Sunderland in Gameweek 30, and West Brom enter this one on the back of an excellent draw at Old Trafford (0-0).

Miguel Britos was the goalscorer as Watford ended a run of four league matches without a victory. The Hornets remain 12th in the table.

West Brom were typically organised and disciplined as they frustrated Manchester United, and former Red Devil Darren Fletcher could have won it for the Baggies, his effort hitting the bar. Tony Pulis will be a proud manager after his side remain 8th and unbeaten in their last two games, against Arsenal and United.

Manchester United v West Bromwich Albion - Premier League : News Photo
Darren Fletcher nearly won it for West Brom at Old Trafford (Getty Images)

I don't often go against West Brom but after such a massive effort in Manchester I can see them losing here. Watford are decent at home and will be confident of making it back-to-back wins at Vicarage Road.

Prediction: 2-1

Manchester United vs Everton
Tuesday 4th April 2017, 20.00

Manchester United were frustrated in that 0-0 home draw with WBA, whilst Everton lost the Merseyside Derby 3-1 at Anfield.

United dominated possession and created far more chances than West Brom but Jose Mourinho's team failed to convert their chances. They were without Zlatan Ibrahimovic on Saturday but he will be back for this clash.

Everton were comfortably beaten at Liverpool in a feisty clash of Red vs Blue. Matthew Pennington scored his first ever Toffees goal at the Kop end to equalise in the first half, but the front three of Sadio Mane, Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino caused Ronald Koeman's men too many problems as Liverpool got their just rewards.

Everton struggle away to the big boys, which is why I'm backing United here. Ibrahimovic is back, and I fancy him against a weakened Everton backline.

Prediction: 3-1

Arsenal vs West Ham
Wednesday 5th April 2017, 19.45

Arsenal drew 2-2 with Manchester City at the Emirates on Sunday. West Ham threw away a 1-0 lead as they lost 2-1 at Hull.

Arsene Wenger will be content with a point after his side came from behind twice against City. Goals from Theo Walcott and Shkodran Mustafi earned the Gunners a point that they deserved.

Andy Carroll scored his 50th Premier League goal on Saturday, but it wasn't enough for West Ham who let Hull in twice in the second half. The Hammers have now lost four in a row and are without a win in six.

Arsenal haven't won in three but I see them returning to winning ways on Wednesday. They should be too good for an out-of-sorts West Ham United.

Prediction: 3-0

Hull vs Middlesbrough
Wednesday 5th April 2017, 19.45

Hull battled back at the KCOM to beat West Ham 2-1. Middlesbrough drew 0-0 at Swansea in Sunday's early game.

Two of Hull's defenders were unlikely goalscorers as the Tigers came from behind to beat WHU. Andrew Robertson and Andrea Ranocchia scored in the second-half as Hull bounced back from a 4-0 drubbing at Everton.

Middlesbrough picked up their first point under Steve Agnew in a drab 0-0 draw at the Liberty. They defended well in the second-half as the hosts applied some pressure, and should have actually left with all three points after Rudy Gestede fluffed a great headed chance.

Boro should be bolstered after a decent performance at Swansea and they will be feeling optimistic ahead of this relegation six-pointer. I think Middlesbrough will approach this in the same way as their game at Swansea, and earn a point with a repeat result.

Prediction: 0-0

Southampton vs Crystal Palace
Wednesday 5th Aptril 2017, 19.45

Southampton drew 0-0 at home to Bournemouth in Saturday's late kick-off. Crystal Palace stunned Chelsea, earning a remarkable 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge.

Claude Puel will be happy with a point after Bournemouth missed a penalty in the 77th-minute of the game. Southampton are winless in their last two and face one of the league's in-form sides on Wednesday.

Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke scored the goals that meant Chelsea lost for just the fourth time in the league this season. They came from a goal down, too, as they became the first team to win at Stamford Bridge since Liverpool in September.

Chelsea v Crystal Palace - Premier League : News Photo
Palace's heroes at Stamford Bridge (Getty Images)

Palace have won four in a row and are in brilliant form under Sam Allardyce. Southampton need a win, but I think they'll be held to a draw here.

Prediction: 1-1

Swansea vs Tottenham
Wednesday 5th April 2017, 19.45

Swansea drew 0-0 at home to Middlesbrough in Sunday's early kick-off. Tottenham earned a solid 2-0 win at Burnley.

Swansea were the better team against Boro but struggled without Fernando Llorente up front. Gylfi Sigurdsson went close on a couple of occasion but the visitors defended well and a draw was probably a fair reflection.

Goals from Eric Dier and Son Heung-min earned Mauricio Pochettino's Spurs a fourth straight Premier League win. They remain second in the table, just seven points adrift of Chelsea.

Paul Clement has done well at Swansea but I think his side will struggle here. Spurs have looked good even without Harry Kane and should collect another three points.

Prediction: 1-3

Chelsea vs Manchester City
Wednesday 5th April 2017, 20.00

Chelsea suffered that shock 2-1 home loss to Crystal Palace on Saturday, whilst City drew 2-2 at Arsenal on Sunday.

Cesc Fabregas gave the Blues the dream start at Stamford Bridge, scoring after just five minutes, but Antonio Conte's side were 2-1 down just six minutes later after an excellent Palace fightback. Remarkably, they could see their lead at the top cut to just four points if they lose this one and Tottenham win at Swansea.

Man City twice took the lead at the Emirates courtesy of Leroy Sane and Sergio Aguero, but saw themselves pegged back twice by the Gunners. Neither team looked prepared to risk losing the game trying to win it, meaning a draw was a fair result.

It will be interesting to see how Chelsea bounce back from that Palace defeat as it's so untypical of them (their only previous league defeats came at the hands of Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham). This is City's second away game to a big London side in just four days, but I think they'll pick up another point on their travels.

Prediction: 2-2

Liverpool vs Bournemouth
Wednesday 5th April 2017, 20.00

Liverpool beat Everton 3-1 in the Merseyside Derby at Anfield. Bournemouth drew 0-0 at Southampton on Saturday evening.

Sadio Mane, Philippe Coutinho and Divock Origi scored the goals as Liverpool ran out comfortable winners against their neighbours. Jurgen Klopp's side were the better side throughout and played some fine attacking football which resulted in three well-taken goals.

Liverpool v Everton - Premier League : News Photo
Derby jubilation for Liverpool (Getty Images)

Eddie Howe will be a disappointed man after his side played well at Southampton but failed to leave with three points. Harry Arter skied a late penalty to let Saints off the hook.

If Liverpool play like they did on Saturday then they'll be fine here. Sadio Mane will be missing through injury, but there is more than enough quality in the Reds' squad to get another three points at Anfield.

Prediction: 2-0


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