As focus shifts from the Uefa Champions League games to the weekend Premier League action, Thomas Woods provides his predictions for all 10 fixtures.
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Burnley 0 Manchester City 2
Why? After shipping four goals at West Bromwich Albion on Monday, it’s hard to imagine Burnley keeping a clean sheet against City at Turf Moor. As ever, the fact City played European football in midweek is the only issue that puts the result here in any doubt.
Hull City 1 West Brom 0
Why? West Brom may have struck four past Burnley, but they are usually good for a goal a game maximum. Hull can bounce back from defeat at Sunderland and keep them goalless here.
Leicester City 1 Middlesbrough 1
Why? Leicester are playing so poorly this season that whispers of relegation have emerged. That would be incredible, having won the title last season, but they need to get some wins under their belts. Boro have the capacity to frustrate the home side and should grab a goal.
Liverpool 4 Sunderland 1
Why? The failure to score in last week’s draw at Southampton was a one-off for Liverpool and they should get back on track with a bang against Sunderland. If David Moyes sets Sunderland up in his usual 4-4-2 formation then Liverpool’s attacking players – rested having had no European football – will have a field day. There will be space galore for Philippe Coutinho to run the show.
Swansea City 0 Crystal Palace 0
Why? This is a clash of the two teams at the bottom of the league’s form table. Swansea have two points from their last six, Palace just one. Alan Pardew’s job is coming under serious threat for the London side – they have earned the fewest points of any side in England’s professional leagues in 2016. With so much at stake, there won’t be much quality around.
Chelsea 2 Tottenham Hotspur 1
Why? If this game is anything like last season’s ‘Battle of the Bridge’ – when a draw handed Leicester the title – then it will be well worth tuning in. Tottenham will surely have a bit of revenge on their mind given the way Chelsea acted ahead of that game. The seemingly put extra effort into that one game and the chance to stop their London rivals winning something. Unfortunately, Chelsea are in better shape than Spurs at the moment. Expect a home win and a few yellow cards.
Watford 2 Stoke City 1
Why? The 3-4-3 formation that manager Walter Mazzarri is using for Watford is paying dividends with some exciting football and a run of results that has seen them move to ninth in the table – just a point behind Everton and Manchester United. If they play as well as they did last week in beating Leicester, they should be able to produce the same result.
Arsenal 1 Bournemouth 0
Why? After the 0-0 draw at home to Middlesbrough a month ago, the visit of Bournemouth feels like a major chance of another slip-up. Arsenal haven’t played well anyway in their last three games and were in European action in midweek. However, surely someone like Mesut Ozil will come up with one moment of brilliance to break Bournemouth down?
Manchester United 2 West Ham United 0
Why? Manchester United were unlucky not to take three points last week against Arsenal, but the performance was encouraging. West Ham arrive with the third worst away record in the league, having conceded more than two goals a game on average. With Juan Mata in top form and pace down the flanks, it is hard to see how United don’t score at least a couple.
Southampton 2 Everton 1
Why? We haven’t seen much of Southampton’s record signing Soufiane Boufal due to injury, but the Moroccan is fit and has been handed the No 10 role by manager Claude Puel. This could be his breakout game. Everton are struggling a bit defensively and, while Romelu Lukaku against Southampton’s hefty centre-backs will be a battle to watch, Boufal will cause plenty of problems at the other end.
