It’s an enormous and lengthy weekend within the Premier League, with consideration firmly again on the title race for each Arsenal and Manchester City after the latter switched focus to the FA Cup final weekend.
The ten video games are unfold throughout 4 days, with overwhelmed FA Cup semi-finalists Leeds United kicking issues off in opposition to relegated Burnley on Friday.
Arsenal will look to pile the stress on Metropolis within the title race on Saturday night after they host Fulham, two days earlier than Pep Guardiola’s aspect spherical off the financial institution vacation weekend’s fixtures at Everton.
Manchester United host Liverpool as the 2 outdated rivals look to take one other step in the direction of Champions League qualification, whereas Tottenham’s uphill battle to keep away from the drop takes them to fifth place Aston Villa.
Fellow strugglers West Ham and Nottingham Forest even have video games in opposition to sides with European ambitions, and Crystal Palace and Newcastle United will every be searching for outcomes that may put any discuss of them being sucked into the relegation battle to mattress.
101GreatGoals predicts each fixture from what is certain to be an interesting weekend within the Premier League.
FRIDAY
Leeds United v Burnley
A win would nearly actually be sufficient to substantiate Leeds’ survival, and they are going to be clear favourites in opposition to a Burnley aspect that parted firm with Scott Parker on Thursday following their relegation.
Nonetheless, Leeds have been removed from spectacular within the FA Cup semi-final final weekend and there may very well be a hangover from that defeat to Chelsea. Nerves will jangle at Elland Street if a Burnley aspect that beat Leeds within the reverse fixture take the lead, however Daniel Farke’s males ought to have sufficient to assert the factors.
Prediction: Leeds 2-1 Burnley
SATURDAY
Brentford v West Ham
There was a level of fortune about West Ham’s win over Everton final week, however the Hammers will see the quick journey to West London as a possibility to take one other large step in the direction of survival. Brentford’s European cost has stalled considerably. It has gone beneath the radar that they haven’t gained since a 4-3 victory at Burnley in February, with the Bees winless in seven video games since, together with a penalty shootout defeat to West Ham within the FA Cup.
Brentford have gained three of their final 4 Premier League residence video games in opposition to West Ham, the exception being a 1-1 draw final season. Nuno Espírito Santo’s males would in all probability be proud of the identical consequence once more.
Prediction: Brentford 1-1 West Ham
Newcastle United v Brighton and Hove Albion
Newcastle are determined to cease the rot and put any lingering relegation fears to mattress. Eight factors away from the underside three, the Magpies have seemingly already accomplished sufficient, however a win right here to finish a run of 5 4 successive defeats by a single aim would make everybody on Tyneside breathe somewhat simpler.
Brighton have been a bogey group for Newcastle and are in glorious type, having swept apart Chelsea final day trip. Remarkably, Fabian Hurzeler’s aspect have an opportunity of Champions League qualification and have misplaced simply two of their final 17 Premier League video games in opposition to Eddie Howe’s group, although each of these defeats have been at St James’ Park.
Nonetheless, Newcastle have been improved in a 1-0 defeat at Arsenal final weekend, and with the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton again within the aspect, it appears like the right time for them to elevate the temper.
Prediction: Newcastle 3-1 Brighton
Wolves v Sunderland
Regardless of dropping 5-0 at residence to Nottingham Forest final Friday, Sunderland are nonetheless very a lot ready to push for European soccer, and they are going to be grateful for the journey to all-time low Wolves.
Rob Edwards’ males rediscovered a few of their struggle final week as they made life extraordinarily tough for struggling Tottenham, however the actuality is that the momentum they’d a couple of weeks in the past is gone.
Sunderland aren’t more likely to produce a repeat of their defensive collapse in opposition to Forest, and this ought to be an gratifying away day for his or her travelling followers.
Prediction: Wolves 0-2 Sunderland
Arsenal v Fulham
Arsenal could also be somewhat weary following their Champions League exertions in opposition to Atletico Madrid, whereas Fulham are coming off a powerful victory over Aston Villa final day trip.
Nonetheless, the Cottagers’ document on this fixture doesn’t encourage confidence that they are going to give Metropolis a serving to hand within the title race.
Certainly, Arsenal haven’t misplaced in 32 residence league video games in opposition to Fulham, that’s the most any aspect has confronted one other with out defeat in English soccer league historical past.
The Gunners’ win over Newcastle was edgy moderately than spectacular and, after a hard-fought sport in Madrid, one other workmanlike victory seems to be seemingly for Mikel Arteta’s aspect.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Fulham
SUNDAY
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace
Bournemouth have had a very long time to stew on the late equaliser they conceded in opposition to Leeds of their most up-to-date fixture, whereas Palace can be coming off an extended journey to Poland to face Shakhtar Donetsk within the Convention League semi-finals.
Very similar to Newcastle, Palace want yet another consequence to be fully positive of their top-flight standing for subsequent season, nevertheless it’s unlikely they are going to prioritise this fixture forward of the second leg with Shakhtar.
As such, anticipate Bournemouth’s push for Europe to rediscover momentum.
Prediction: Bournemouth 3-0 Crystal Palace
Manchester United v Liverpool
Arne Slot’s guests head into this sport on the again of three successive league wins, a run that has put them in a really snug place heading right into a sport with their arch rivals.
Barring a exceptional drop off in type, United can be taking part in Champions League soccer subsequent season, and the dearth of stress ought to make for a frenetic, extremely charged and entertaining affair at Outdated Trafford.
The distinction between the 2 sides is accidents. Liverpool are with out Hugo Ekitike and Mohamed Salah and, whereas Alexander Isak broke his scoring duck in opposition to Palace final day trip, it’s tough to envisage the Reds producing sufficient to assert victory over Michael Carrick’s aspect.
Prediction: Manchester United 3-1 Liverpool
Aston Villa v Tottenham
Spurs’ win over Wolves was a Pyrrhic victory, as Xavi Simons was misplaced for the season to a knee harm whereas Dominic Solanke suffered a hamstring harm.
Tottenham are left with simply three match attackers going into the journey to Villa Park, with their lack of choices more likely to mitigate the impression of any fatigue Villa might really feel from their Europa League semi-final in opposition to Nottingham Forest.
Villa may safe Champions League soccer with a win if outcomes go their manner they usually’re a lot better geared up to punish the defensive frailties that have been nonetheless there for Tottenham in opposition to Wolves final week.
Tottenham have misplaced six of their final 10 Premier League video games in opposition to Villa. One other defeat right here would go away them with a mountain to climb to flee a primary relegation since 1977.
Prediction: Aston Villa 4-1 Tottenham
MONDAY
Chelsea v Nottingham Forest
Forest can be glad for the additional day of relaxation within the wake of their European tie with Villa and, no matter how that sport performs out, determine to be in assured temper after their final away efficiency in opposition to Sunderland.
Forest haven’t misplaced at Stamford Bridge since returning to the highest flight in 2022, however they face a Chelsea aspect that seemed markedly extra assured within the FA Cup semi-final following the sacking of Liam Rosenior.
The Blues nonetheless weren’t overly convincing in opposition to Leeds, however they would be the brisker of the 2 groups, and their high quality ought to inform in opposition to a aspect they beat 3-0 within the reverse fixture.
Prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Nottingham Forest
Everton v Manchester Metropolis
Metropolis may very well be six factors behind Arsenal, albeit having performed two video games fewer, by the point they kick off on the Hill-Dickinson Stadium, however that’s unlikely to faze Pep Guardiola’s aspect.
In Guardiola’s tenure with Metropolis, they’ve solely misplaced as soon as away at Everton, a 4-0 defeat to Ronald Koeman’s Toffees within the Spaniard’s first season in 2017.
Since then, it’s a fixture that Metropolis have dominated. Winless of their final three video games, there’s little to counsel an Everton aspect that endured a defensive drop-off throughout that run will have the ability to do Arsenal a favour.
Prediction: Everton 0-2 Manchester Metropolis
