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Premier League Predictions: Matchweek 22

jonjoward1998


SATURDAY:


NEWCASTLE V BOURNEMOUTH


These two sides are two of the most in-form teams in the league right now and I'm expecting it to be a close game because of this.


Newcastle are the most in-form of the two having won all of their last six games and their form has seen them rise from mid-table to the top four.


Bournemouth however are on the longest unbeaten run going back to end of November. But during that run they've picked up a few draws, including their game against Chelsea in midweek.


The Cherries also have a lot of injuries but they have coped well without their injured stars.


The Magpies however will have all their big name players available including Alexander Isak, who I hope will breaking Jamie Vardy's record of scoring in consecutive games.


I think he'll close in on that record with another goal in this game which I think the Magpies should win.


PREDICTION: 3-2


BRENTFORD V LIVERPOOL


Brentford showed character and resilience to come from behind against Man City in midweek, where they were in all fairness let back into the game.


They still deserve credit for the result though as they did well to stay in the game when they were behind.


Liverpool were much improved in the second half against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday after looking rather abject in the first half.


Diogo Jota made a massive difference when he came on and he'll surely be hoping to start this one following the impact he made. I'm hoping he'll start because I think the reds are a better side when he's in the team.


The reds won't be expecting an easy game here because of how good Brentford have been at home this season.


But I think the reds will have enough in them to earn a hard thought win.


PREDICTION: 1-2


LEICESTER V FULHAM


Leicester need to get players through the door ASAP and preferably players at both ends. They can't keep clean sheets and they don't score enough goals.


They had some decent chances against Crystal Palace in midweek, but they weren't able to take them and there have been a lot of games where that has been the case.


Fulham were let down by costly defensive errors against West Ham in midweek and especially for the first and third goals, both of which came from defensive mistakes.


Marco Silva's side are a well balance team unlike Leicester and it's because of that I think they'll win this game.


I rarely back Fulham to win away from home, but with Leicester being very low on confidence I'm giving the Cottagers a rare win on the road.


PREDICTION: 1-3


WEST HAM V CRYSTAL PALACE


West Ham don't have a great record when they play Palace at home and especially recently having not won this fixture in any of their last five meetings at the London Stadium.


They looked impressive against Fulham in Graham Potter's first league game in charge and both the result and the performance will give them something to build on moving forward.


Crystal Palace have been slowly climbing the table over the past couple of months following a poor start and during that time, they've got the results their performances deserve and their new signings have settled in.


The club deserve credit for sticking with Oliver Glasner because most clubs would've most likely sacked their manager with the pressure he was under earlier in the season.


I can see the Eagles continue their revival here with another win as they look stronger at the back and have players who can punish West Ham's feeble defence.


PREDICTION: 0-2


ARSENAL V ASTON VILLA


Arsenal needed that win against Spurs in midweek and it was a result that kept their title hopes well and truly alive.


I still don't think they'll win the league as they're still lacking that out and out centre forward, but I do think they'll be the side that will be Liverpool's closest challengers.


Aston Villa effectively ended Arsenal's title hopes when they won this fixture last April and in fact they did as Man City went on to win all their remaining fixtures.


Villa are arguably a more more clinical side than Arsenal in that they have a more clinical striker in Ollie Watkins, who is someone that Arsenal could look that in terms of a clinical no.9.


But Unai Emery's side aren't exactly watertight at the back and I think Arsenal will exploit that weakness as they have players who can hurt teams, even without Saka and a clinical centre forward.


PREDICTION: 2-1


SUNDAY:


EVERTON V TOTTENHAM


Everton had a lot of chances in David Moyes' first game back in charge against Aston Villa, but as usual they didn't take them.


Dominic Calvert Lewin's current form is worrying and I read something a fan said on the BBC Sport website saying that he 'couldn't think of a more out of form striker' during his years as an Everton fan.


Injuries have definitely taken their toll on him as he hasn't been the player since he had those problems. He's either lost his sharpness in front of goal or is worried about picking up another injury.


Spurs are closer to the bottom three than they are to the top four but it's not all on Postecoglou. He's without several players due to injury and those injuries have had a big impact on his side's form.


The players also have to take a look at themselves because their performances have been far from good enough for most of the season.


Postecoglou could do with a win in this one because of the amount of pressure he's under, but I think Everton will frustrate his side here and nick a draw. Either with a classic goal on the counter or a goal from a set piece.


PREDICTION: 1-1


MAN UNITED V BRIGHTON


Man United were fortunate to get their win against Southampton last night as they look abject for much of the game.


I'm starting to think that they're going to be that side who turn up in the big games but don't against the smaller teams and last night was an example of that, despite the result.


Brighton have won this fixture in each of the last two seasons and after ending their eight-game winless run last night against Ipswich, they'll be feeling confident of getting another one.


United have to improve in this one, but I'm not sure they will as I think Brighton will be the better side and the more convincing on the day.


PREDICTION: 1-3


NOTTINGHAM FOREST V SOUTHAMPTON


Nottingham Forest were deservedly the better side in the first half against Liverpool and they did well to hold on for the draw after being put under a lot of pressure towards the end.


I was listening to an episode of the Football Daily podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live the other day and heard Clinton Morrison say that Forest will definitely qualify for the Champions League.


They have been brilliant this season, but I still don't see them qualifying as I think the pressure will get to them at some stage and their results will begin to dip.


Southampton put in a lot of effort against Man United last night and their performance up to the 80 minute mark was arguably their best one of the season so far.


Ivan Juric will want to see that performance over the course of a whole game without any mistakes. But the chances of that happening are very small as they always seem to shoot themselves in the foot, like they did last night.


I think the same will happen in this one where they'll again get punished, like they have all season.


PREDICTION: 3-0


IPSWICH V MAN CITY


A number of people this time last week were saying that Ipswich were beginning to turn a corner, only for them to lose to Brighton.


They missed a lot of chances against Brighton last night and I'm sure they'll be kicking themselves for not taking them. Missing chances like they ones they missed could be what sends them straight back down.


Man City allowed Brentford back into the game in midweek after going 2-0 up by not putting them under any sort of pressure.


We've been used to seeing them win the ball back the moment they lose it, well that no longer seems to be the case with them anymore for whatever reason that is.


They are an ageing team and are missing one or two key players, but they still have have some quality players in their squad who are more than capable of putting in performances week in week out.


On the plus side it was good to see Phil Foden back on the scoresheet and put in a very good performance. I'm hoping that will be the turning point in his season, which so far has been disappointing.


City should have no problems in winning this one as I don't see Ipswich posing a threat.


Kieran McKenna's side will try their best to keep the score down, but I think City's quality will be too much for them here.


PREDICTION: 0-3


MONDAY:


CHELSEA V WOLVES


Chelsea put six goals past Wolves earlier in the season with Noni Madueke scoring a hat trick to earn Enzo Maresca his first win as blues boss.


The blues were being talked about as potential title contenders around this time last month, now they're in a battle to finish in the top four after dropping out of it and being replaced by Newcastle, following their draw with Bournemouth in midweek.


Wolves got off to flyer when Vitor Pereira took over from Gary O'Neil, but that honeymoon period is now well and truly over following back to back 3-0 defeats to Forest and Newcastle.


Their upcoming fixtures aren't getting any easier with their next three after this one being against Arsenal, Villa and Liverpool.


Chelsea have hit a bump in the road recently, but I think they'll return to winning ways here and secure a straight forward win.


PREDICTION: 3-1

 
 
 

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