Premier League match preview Easter weekend - Predictions and betting tips
Welcome again to our predictions table, the excruciating break is over and teams can now focus on respective ambitions. Straight to the point, if Manchester City beats Everton at Goodison on Saturday, they will be champions at Old Trafford, something of a dream they can't wait to realize.
Manchester United on their parts only have the top 4 to fight for while having one eye on the FA Cup. Chelsea are on the same wavelength with United, dumped out of Europe and only fighting for the top 4 albeit from outside, hoping Tottenham slips, as usual, not much pressure as they are in the top four, well placed to finish strongly and still making claims to the European spoils.
Tottenham Hotspur have it all to play for, no Harry Kane means no inspiration from that angle but the famous Korean Meung Son is ready to step up and be counted. Arsenal have little to say in the conversation, sixth, far off and inconsistent, not much to hope for by their fans. '
Down the ladder, it's almost over for West Brom, relegation is coming and they're are just one more loss away from championship football, Swansea can breathe but with Southampton seemingly invigorated with the arrival of Mark Hughes, they must not slip up, Stoke are living dangerously, they have to start winning and David Moyes must not lose again... It's a time for sober reflection across the world, time for these struggling teams to give their fans something to cheer, premier league predictions is here.
Saturday 31st March
Crystal Palace Vs Liverpool
Selhurst Park
1:30pm
Crystal Palace are in trouble, they must beat a spirited Liverpool team to steer out of the drop zone. Liverpool are one of the most feared teams in the league, arguably due to the presence of Mohammed Salah who practically can't stop scoring, the Egyptian slammed four past Watford a fortnight ago and was on target for Egypt against Portugal in World Cup preparatory friendly. Palace did beat Huddersfield 2:0 before the break but a win here would help their survival cause and they can capitalize on the fact that Liverpool will look to rest players ahead of the visit of Manchester City to Anfield in midweek for that all-important champions league cracker.
Verdict: Liverpool to win
Manchester United Vs Swansea
Old Trafford
3:00pm
Manchester United have points to prove, the money spent on players must be justified, the recent debacle at home to Sevilla hurts and fans still feel undone by their favourite team. Swansea are a different team under Carlos Carvahal and will look to continue their rise with another scalp of the giant at Old Trafford, injuries to key players, Leroy Fer and Wilfried Bony haven't done much damage to them and they are almost good for another life in the premier league. The problem of Manchester United seems more managerial than any other factor, but their very vocal manager won't agree, hope he plays Rashford on the left, allowing the forward to cut into his right and fire in...
Verdict: United to win
Brighton Vs Leicester
Apex Stadium
3:00pm
Brighton are very much likely to be here next season following some very good results recently, Chris Houghton has done amazingly well with the bunch and should be preparing for life in the top flight again next term. Leicester on their parts are looking to finish strong after a tumultuous campaign blighted by transfer speculations around their best lads, they can focus now. Leicester shipped four past West Brom before the break, the form of Jamie Vardy speaks volume and Brighton must be aware, but they have answers in the form of Glenn Murray; form is on the side of the foxes with Brighton suffering massively in the hands of Everton. This should be a cracker.
Verdict: Both teams to score
Newcastle vs Huddersfield
St James’ Park
3:00pm
Rafael Benitez and his lads host David Wagner’s men on Saturday with survival on the cards, the Terries fell humbly to Crystal Palace in one of just four fixtures that were played following FA Cup engagements for six premier league clubs just before the international break, Huddersfield aren’t safe yet but they should, except Stoke City and either of Westham and Southampton become monstrous and Huddersfield go on a terrible run, with just seven fixtures to go, three wins should be enough for these two sides but with the fixtures upcoming, both would seek to get a win here and Aaron Mooy who decided the first leg at the John Smith stadium with a beauty of a curler needs to step up again.
Verdict: Newcastle to win
Watford vs Bournemouth
Vicarage Road
3:00pm
Watford looks solid always at home, but not the same on the road, survival is as certain as they sit eight points off the drop zone although they have played one more than some, their opponents on the day, Bournemouth sit pretty above them with identical points and just better goal difference, Bournemouth got the better of hapless Westbrom, a result that helped them steer further clear of relegation discussions. Watford need stability, something they have been trying to enforce under Jarvi Gracia, home results seem not in doubt, but the way they collapsed under the boots of Mohammed Salah last time out leaves so much to be desired; Bournemouth like to score, they are a quite attacking side with very young fleet-footed forwards, how will Watford contain them?
Verdict: Both teams to score
Westbrom vs Burnley
Hawthorns
3:00pm
Baggies fans would relish games like this as they certainly won’t see premier league football next season, a loss here would confirm their championship status and maybe Alan Pardew’s sack, but even a Guardiola won’t save them at this stage as it certainly isn’t in their hands anymore. Burnley are seventh, just five points behind Arsenal and European football looking very likely, they did the bulk of the job early in the season and just need to see the rest out with their very solid defence as well as a goal a game as they are used to, the good works of Sean Dyches got them this up, there are good mentions for a few players too including James Tarkowski who got featured in England’s 1:1 draw against world cup absentees Italy.
Verdict: Burnley to win or draw
West Ham vs Southampton
Olympic Stadium
3:00pm
This is the fixture of the round as far as the lower side of the league is concerned, a pure relegation six-pointer, you win, you climb, even a draw doesn’t suffix for either side, with Huddersfield, Newcastle and Swansea all in action on Saturday, both sides must go for the jugular. There are changes in both clubs, while the hammers changed some people at their boardroom, Southampton relieved Mauricio Pellegrino of his duties altogether, hiring Mark Hughes who already made a mark with FA Cup semi-final qualification. David Moyes knows exactly what he needs to do, win, if he doesn’t, the fans will revolt again and this time, his reputation won’t remain the same.
Verdict: Westham to win or draw
Everton vs Manchester City
Goodison Park
5:30pm
Manchester City are just two wins away from the most straightforward title triumph ever in the history of the premier league. The Citizens would have it at the back of their minds to lift the trophy at the backyards of their biggest rivals Manchester United, while resting players for the midweek duel against Liverpool in the Champions League, the log leaders won’t forget the season-long slogan, one game at a time. Sam Allardyce and his wards will definitely offer some resistance but there would be little they can do against the best team in the league. The first leg ended 1:1 with Wayne Rooney scoring at the Etihad, it would be left to the visitors to show what they have in stock for the hosts who benefited from a Charlie Adam sending off last time out against Stoke in the heavy snow.
Verdict: City to win
Sunday 1st April
Arsenal vs Stoke
Emirates
1:30pm
Arsenal lost for the first time this season at Stoke when new boy then, Jese toe-poked past Cech in a game that saw Alexandre Lacazette’s crisp strike ruled out debatably for offside. Arsenal have bounced back from a very horrible run to record three back to back wins for the first time in a long while but they play against a team that must win or face relegation. Stoke were hard done against Everton two weeks ago as they lost following a red card to Charlie Adam, Eric Choupo Moting is injured and won’t feature against Arsenal but the fact that the Gunners haven’t kicked a ball since dumping AC Milan in Europa means Stoke are fresher. Jack Wilshere is out injured for Arsenal too but the rest of the bunch should see this out especially with the return of Lacazette.
Verdict: Arsenal to win
Chelsea vs Tottenham
Stamford Bridge
5:00pm
Fixtures between these two will always remain talking points with top four up for grabs, Tottenham have very poor records at The Bridge and will look to show some signs of strength and power here to dent Chelsea’s Champions League hopes. Spurs have gone twelve games without defeat but with the absence of Harry Kane, it remains increasingly difficult. Chelsea must win if they want to upset anyone in the top four currently, a draw won’t help, the team should be in good shape and ready to re-enact their first leg heroics at Wembley when Marcus Alonso struck twice on a day not many people gave the blues a chance.
Verdict: Chelsea to win or draw
Strictly the writer’s opinion