Manchester United edge Liverpool; Arsenal stay top; Chelsea held – EPL predictions

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Ahead of another weekend of Premier League football, Graham Caygill attempts to predict the outcome of all 10 fixtures. Click on the arrows to view the next photo or just swipe on your mobile device.

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Stoke City 1 Arsenal 2

This has been traditionally a tough place for Arsenal to go and this is a real test of their title credentials. If they are serious about winning the league for the first time since 2004 then they need to win games at good sides such as Stoke, and with Olivier Giroud in a purple patch in front of goal they should have the firepower to do the job.

Tottenham Hotspur 3 Sunderland 0

This will be an interesting test for Tottenham’s resolve after losing to Leicester. Sunderland have had something of a renaissance, but beating sides such as Aston Villa and 10-man Swansea City is a different beast to facing Tottenham. Expect Harry Kane and Tottenham to bounce back in style.

Bournemouth 2 Norwich City 1

Both sides have continued to pick up points regularly, but they cannot afford to relax in their bids to avoid the drop. Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth are tough to beat on home turf, and that is what I think will swing it for them here.

Chelsea 1 Everton 1

While the performances have improved since Guus Hiddink took over in charge of Chelsea, they have yet to build any real momentum, despite Diego Costa finally beginning to play like the striker who spearheaded their title success 12 months ago. They have drawn three of their past four league games, and I expect another share of the spoils here as Everton, with their own in-form striker Romelu Lukaku, cause Chelsea problems with their inventive play.

Manchester City 3 Crystal Palace 1

City continue to have a frustrating season, their failure to beat Everton on Wednesday the latest case of this. Sergio Aguero is beginning to find his range though after his spell out with injury, and he and the rest of City’s forward line should have too much for Palace.

Newcastle United 1 West Ham United 2

With Dimitri Payet fit and healthy again he has transformed West Ham’s attack and they look as dynamic again as they did at the start of the season. Slaven Bilic’s side have played some of their best stuff on the road this season and that should continue against lacklustre Newcastle.

Southampton 2 West Bromwich Albion 0

It is a sign of how well Southampton have done in recent seasons that this year has felt disappointed with the team only 12th. But their 4-0 demolition of Arsenal last month, and Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Watford, which was far more convincing than the scoreline suggests, with Sadio Mane pulling the strings in midfield, gives hope a better second half of the season is ahead, starting against West Brom.

Aston Villa 0 Leicester City 2

Claudio Ranieri’s side continue to defy expectations, and their win at Tottenham has left them joint-top of the table again. Bottom-side Villa won for the first time since August in midweek but they do not have the quality to deal with Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy.

Liverpool 0 Manchester United 1

Liverpool have thrived against the top sides this season under Jurgen Klopp, but United and Louis van Gaal are unlikely to play the open game that has suited them against the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal. This probably will not be pretty, but United, with Wayne Rooney finally finding his goalscoring touch, can nick this.

Swansea City 1 Watford 1

Swansea continued to slip towards the relegation zone, and really must not lose here. Watford, one of the surprise packages of the season under Quique Sanchez Flores, are on a three-game losing streak, and will want to get their first points on the board since December 20. With both side anxious to avoid defeat expect honours to end even.