Saido Mane leads Southampton to win; Mesut Ozil and Arsenal take victory – The National’s EPL predictions

The National
  • Manchester City v West Bromwich Albion: West Brom have kept a clean sheet in four of their last five games and have become a tough team to beat under Tony Pulis. They key here is for City to score an early goal. Strike in the first 20 minutes, or at least before half time, and win is theirs. PREDICTION: Man City, 2-0. (Photo: Carl Recine / Reuters)
    Manchester City v West Bromwich Albion: West Brom have kept a clean sheet in four of their last five games and have become a tough team to beat under Tony Pulis. They key here is for City to score an early goal. Strike in the first 20 minutes, or at least before half time, and win is theirs. PREDICTION: Man City, 2-0. (Photo: Carl Recine / Reuters)
  • Aston Villa v Swansea City: Villa have found their scoring boots since Tim Sherwood took over but Sunderland were so bad in Villa’s 4-0 away win last week that it is hard to gage how much improvement has been made since Paul Lambert vacated the managerial hot seat. Swansea have won more away games than Villa have won home games and will be tough to beat. PREDICTION: Draw, 1-1. (Photo: Jan Kruger / Getty Images)
    Aston Villa v Swansea City: Villa have found their scoring boots since Tim Sherwood took over but Sunderland were so bad in Villa’s 4-0 away win last week that it is hard to gage how much improvement has been made since Paul Lambert vacated the managerial hot seat. Swansea have won more away games than Villa have won home games and will be tough to beat. PREDICTION: Draw, 1-1. (Photo: Jan Kruger / Getty Images)
  • Newcastle United v Arsenal: Newcastle struggle to impose themselves at home and, against an Arsenal side who place exceptional passing football, they will be lucky to get a point on Saturday. Newcastle had just 32 per cent possession in their last home game, a defeat to Manchester United. Expect a similar story here. PREDICTION: Arsenal, 2-0. (Photo: Stefan Wermuth / Reuters)
    Newcastle United v Arsenal: Newcastle struggle to impose themselves at home and, against an Arsenal side who place exceptional passing football, they will be lucky to get a point on Saturday. Newcastle had just 32 per cent possession in their last home game, a defeat to Manchester United. Expect a similar story here. PREDICTION: Arsenal, 2-0. (Photo: Stefan Wermuth / Reuters)
  • Southampton v Burnley: Burnley will come back to earth with a bump after last week’s home win over Manchester City against a Southampton side who could easily have beaten Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in their last match. Sadio Mane, the Senegalese forward, was brilliant in that match and should star again. PREDICTION: Southampton, 3-0. (Photo: Tony O'Brien / Reuters)
    Southampton v Burnley: Burnley will come back to earth with a bump after last week’s home win over Manchester City against a Southampton side who could easily have beaten Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in their last match. Sadio Mane, the Senegalese forward, was brilliant in that match and should star again. PREDICTION: Southampton, 3-0. (Photo: Tony O'Brien / Reuters)
  • Stoke City v Crystal Palace: This Palace side, with wingers Wilfried Zaha and Yannick Bolasie, seems set up for counter attacking football at a tough ground like the Britannia Stadium. They should have some joy, especially with so much pace, but Stoke are too strong at home to give up three points. PREDICTION: Draw, 1-1. (Photo: Tim Ireland / AP)
    Stoke City v Crystal Palace: This Palace side, with wingers Wilfried Zaha and Yannick Bolasie, seems set up for counter attacking football at a tough ground like the Britannia Stadium. They should have some joy, especially with so much pace, but Stoke are too strong at home to give up three points. PREDICTION: Draw, 1-1. (Photo: Tim Ireland / AP)
  • Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City: It's that time of year, with teams fighting relegation, when you see more shock results. All signs point to a Spur win here, but Leicester are capable of expansive attacking football and will come away from White Hart Lane with a point. PREDICTION: Draw, 2-2. (Photo: Craig Brough / Reuters)
    Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City: It's that time of year, with teams fighting relegation, when you see more shock results. All signs point to a Spur win here, but Leicester are capable of expansive attacking football and will come away from White Hart Lane with a point. PREDICTION: Draw, 2-2. (Photo: Craig Brough / Reuters)
  • West Ham United v Sunderland: Sunderland have a new manager, in Dick Advocaat, but unfortunately the same set of players and West Ham – on their own bad run with no win in seven – will be thanking their lucky stars for such a match-up. Even West Ham old boy Jermain Defoe won’t help the visitors. PREDICTION: West Ham, 3-0. (Photo: Mike Hewitt / Getty Images)
    West Ham United v Sunderland: Sunderland have a new manager, in Dick Advocaat, but unfortunately the same set of players and West Ham – on their own bad run with no win in seven – will be thanking their lucky stars for such a match-up. Even West Ham old boy Jermain Defoe won’t help the visitors. PREDICTION: West Ham, 3-0. (Photo: Mike Hewitt / Getty Images)
  • Hull City v Chelsea: After successive 3-0 defeats in January, Hull have shored up at the back. They haven’t conceded more than once in six matches, with three clean sheets. Add that to some relative Chelsea struggles in front of goal – they have scored only once in five of their last six – and this could be the result of the week for Hull. PREDICTION: Draw, 1-1. (Photo: Glyn Kirk / AFP)
    Hull City v Chelsea: After successive 3-0 defeats in January, Hull have shored up at the back. They haven’t conceded more than once in six matches, with three clean sheets. Add that to some relative Chelsea struggles in front of goal – they have scored only once in five of their last six – and this could be the result of the week for Hull. PREDICTION: Draw, 1-1. (Photo: Glyn Kirk / AFP)
  • Queens Park Rangers v Everton: QPR are almost certainly going down and, because of their woeful away record, their only hope is to take wins at home. But Everton, suddenly back in form, are followed by Chelsea at Loftus Road. Romelu Lukaku is a fine shout to score against a poor back four. PREDICTION: Everton, 2-0. (Photo: Alex Morton / Reuters)
    Queens Park Rangers v Everton: QPR are almost certainly going down and, because of their woeful away record, their only hope is to take wins at home. But Everton, suddenly back in form, are followed by Chelsea at Loftus Road. Romelu Lukaku is a fine shout to score against a poor back four. PREDICTION: Everton, 2-0. (Photo: Alex Morton / Reuters)