Chelsea boost top four hopes with Tottenham triumph as Manchester City close in on title while Liverpool and Arsenal win: Premier League predictions

In other matches, West Ham United and Newcastle United will boost their hopes of beating the drop with victories

BARCELONA, SPAIN - MARCH 14:  Eden Hazard of Chelsea is chased by Sergio Busquets of Barcelona during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg match FC Barcelona and Chelsea FC at Camp Nou on March 14, 2018 in Barcelona, Spain.  (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
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After a three-week break for some times, and two for others, the Premier League is back for the final stretch of eight games that will complete the 2017-18 season.

Here is a look at the fixtures and what to expect from the action.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool vs Watford - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - March 17, 2018   Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates with the match ball after the match    Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith    EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.  Please contact your account representative for further details.     TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Liverpool will look for more goals from Mohamed Salah at Crystal Palace. Lee Smith / Action Images via Reuters

Crystal Palace 0 Liverpool 3

Why? Palace got a big win at Huddersfield Town before the international break to alleviate some of the pressure on them, but Liverpool will be too strong for them with Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane continuing to prove too hot for most defences to handle.

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Soccer Football - FA Cup Quarter Final - Leicester City vs Chelsea - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - March 18, 2018   Leicester City's Jamie Vardy celebrates scoring their first goal with team mates      REUTERS/Andrew Yates     TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Leicester City's Jamie Vardy will be their main goal threat at Brighton. Andrew Yates / Reuters

Brighton and Hove Albion 1 Leicester City 1

Why? Brighton have done superbly to be in a position where they are six points clear of the relegation zone with eight games to go. Chris Hughton's men are tough to break down but this could well end up as honours even with Jamie Vardy in good form for Leicester.

epa06593595 Marcus Rashford of Manchester United  celebrates scoring the second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Liverpool held at the Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain,  10 March 2018.  EPA/PETER POWELL EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications
Manchester United's Marcus Rashford, centre. Peter Powell / EPA

Manchester United 2 Swansea City 0

Why? United are not firing at full cylinders but despite Swansea being rejuvenated the pace of Marcus Rashford and the strength of Romelu Lukaku should mean that Jose Mourinho's men maintain their grip on second place in the Premier League.

Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez gestures prior to the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle United,  at Anfield, in Liverpool, England, Saturday March 3, 2018. (Anthony Devlin/PA via AP)
Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez will be confident of three points against Huddersfield Town. Anthony Devlin / PA via AP

Newcastle United 2 Huddersfield Town 0

Why? Rafa Benitez has done a fine job of ensuring his players forget the off-the-field problems at Newcastle with a gritty season that should see them clinch survival comfortably. Another three points against Huddersfield should all but make them safe.

Soccer Football - Premier League - AFC Bournemouth vs West Bromwich Albion - Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth, Britain - March 17, 2018   Bournemouth's Junior Stanislas celebrates scoring their second goal   Action Images via Reuters/Tony O'Brien    EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.  Please contact your account representative for further details.
Junior Stanislas was Bournemouth's match-winner against West Bromwich Albion. Tony O'Brien / Action Images via Reuters

Watford 1 Bournemouth 1

Why? The past three league fixtures at Vicarage Road between the sides have ended in stalemates and this could be a fourth in a row. Javi Gracia has stabilised Watford's fortunes, though they come into the game after hefty losses to Arsenal and Liverpool, while Bournemouth all but clinched another season in the Premier League with their win over West Brom two weeks ago thanks to Junior Stanislas's late winner.

BURNLEY, ENGLAND - MARCH 03:  Ashley Barnes of Burnley celebrates scoring his side's first goal with Chris Wood during the Premier League match between Burnley and Everton at Turf Moor on March 3, 2018 in Burnley, England.  (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Ashley Barnes, right, is in good form for Burnley. Gareth Copley / Getty Images

West Bromwich Albion 0 Stoke City 2

Why? West Brom are effectively doomed already and it is now a question of just how few points they go down with. With Ashley Barnes in good goal-scoring nick at presence Burnley should pour more misery on their opponents here.

Soccer Football - FA Cup Third Round Replay - West Ham United vs Shrewsbury Town - London Stadium, London, Britain - January 16, 2018   West Ham United's Marko Arnautovic reacts                 Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley
Marko Arnautovic and West Ham United have had a tough time of things of late. John Sibley / Action Images via Reuters

West Ham United 1 Southampton 0

Why? Things went as badly wrong as they could for West Ham two weeks ago with the pitch invasion from fans and heavy defeat to Burnley. West Ham, with Marko Arnautovic particularly, do still have a little more quality then Southampton and they can give Mark Hughes a losing start as Saints manager.

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - March 15th, 2018: Manager of Manchester City Pep Guardiola during a training session in Abu Dhabi. Thursday, March 15th, 2018. Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Pep Guardiola will look for Manchester City to take a step closer to winning the Premier League title at Everton. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Everton 0 Manchester City 4

Why? After 19 days without a game Pep Guardiola's men return to action looking to take a step closer to their third Premier League title in seven years. With Gabriel Jesus back to full fitness, and Kevin de Bruyne impressing for Belgium in midweek, they should have too much for Everton.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal vs Watford - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 11, 2018   Arsenal's Mesut Ozil in action with Watford's Adrian Mariappa    REUTERS/Eddie Keogh    EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.  Please contact your account representative for further details.
Arsenal's Mesut Ozil in action. Eddie Keogh / Reuters

Arsenal 3 Stoke City 0

Why? Stoke desperately need the points in their bid to avoid relegation. But Arsenal have built up some confidence with their Europa League success over AC Milan and Mesut Ozil will fancy his chances of doing some damage to the Stoke backline.

Soccer Football - FA Cup Quarter Final - Leicester City vs Chelsea - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - March 18, 2018   Chelsea manager Antonio Conte   REUTERS/Andrew Yates
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte. Andrew Yates / Reuters

Chelsea 2 Tottenham Hotspur 1

Why? Chelsea realistically must win to stay in the hunt for a top-four finish in the Premier League and they can do it against a Tottenham side they beat in August in the league. Eden Hazard will be again the man they look to for inspiration as Tottenham look to soldier on without Harry Kane.