• SATURDAY - Chelsea v West Brom (3.30pm kick-off UAE): Momentum is a wonderful thing for any football club. Chelsea are through to the Champions League quarter-finals, FA Cup semi-finals, into the Premier League top four and are unbeaten in 14 games under manager Thomas Tuchel. The second-bottom Baggies, with three league wins all season, will not provide much of a challenge to Chelsea's current trajectory. Prediction: Chelsea 3 West Brom 0. Reuters
    SATURDAY - Chelsea v West Brom (3.30pm kick-off UAE): Momentum is a wonderful thing for any football club. Chelsea are through to the Champions League quarter-finals, FA Cup semi-finals, into the Premier League top four and are unbeaten in 14 games under manager Thomas Tuchel. The second-bottom Baggies, with three league wins all season, will not provide much of a challenge to Chelsea's current trajectory. Prediction: Chelsea 3 West Brom 0. Reuters
  • Leeds United v Sheffield United (6pm): In what has already been a long, grim slog for Sheffield United - bottom of table, 15 points from safety, recently sacked manager - this Yorkshire derby has all the hallmarks of kicking someone when they're down. Leeds, while erratic in terms of consistency, have the attacking capabilities to blow teams away. This could well be one of those occasions. Prediction: Leeds 4 Sheffield United 1. AP
    Leeds United v Sheffield United (6pm): In what has already been a long, grim slog for Sheffield United - bottom of table, 15 points from safety, recently sacked manager - this Yorkshire derby has all the hallmarks of kicking someone when they're down. Leeds, while erratic in terms of consistency, have the attacking capabilities to blow teams away. This could well be one of those occasions. Prediction: Leeds 4 Sheffield United 1. AP
  • Leicester City v Manchester City (8.30pm) It is hard to believe that City - currently 14 points clear at the top - were 13th in the table in September having just been trounced 5-2 by the Foxes. Few envisaged at the time how much of a relentless win-machine Pep Guardiola's side would quickly become. Leicester are third and clearly a quality side, but if they score five again here I will happily retire and/or eat my special forecasting hat. Prediction: Leicester 1 Man City 2. Reuters
    Leicester City v Manchester City (8.30pm) It is hard to believe that City - currently 14 points clear at the top - were 13th in the table in September having just been trounced 5-2 by the Foxes. Few envisaged at the time how much of a relentless win-machine Pep Guardiola's side would quickly become. Leicester are third and clearly a quality side, but if they score five again here I will happily retire and/or eat my special forecasting hat. Prediction: Leicester 1 Man City 2. Reuters
  • Arsenal v Liverpool (11pm): The second potential humdinger of a battle in a row sees two sides both unhappy with their current league predicament. The Gunners drew their last match 3-3 at West Ham, having been three goals down after 32 minutes, which sums up why they are currently down in ninth place. Reigning champions Liverpool are seventh, five points shy of the top four. Prediction: Arsenal 2 Liverpool 3. PA
    Arsenal v Liverpool (11pm): The second potential humdinger of a battle in a row sees two sides both unhappy with their current league predicament. The Gunners drew their last match 3-3 at West Ham, having been three goals down after 32 minutes, which sums up why they are currently down in ninth place. Reigning champions Liverpool are seventh, five points shy of the top four. Prediction: Arsenal 2 Liverpool 3. PA
  • SUNDAY - Southampton v Burnley (3pm): Two sides with identical points tallies and goal difference sitting an uncomfortable seven points above the bottom three. The Saints might have sealed an FA Cup semi-final spot before the international break but their league form of 10 defeats in 12 games is woeful. Burnley, who won away to Everton last time out, will be targeting another tight win here. Prediction: Southampton 0 Burnley 1. Reuters
    SUNDAY - Southampton v Burnley (3pm): Two sides with identical points tallies and goal difference sitting an uncomfortable seven points above the bottom three. The Saints might have sealed an FA Cup semi-final spot before the international break but their league form of 10 defeats in 12 games is woeful. Burnley, who won away to Everton last time out, will be targeting another tight win here. Prediction: Southampton 0 Burnley 1. Reuters
  • Newcastle United v Tottenham (5.05pm): It is a surprise to many that Steve Bruce will still be in the Newcastle dugout for this one. Just two wins in 20 games - the last of which saw a humiliating 3-0 defeat at relegation rivals Brighton - would have seen most managers booted out of the exit. But the Magpies' owners have stood by their man and Spurs are set to be the latest club to reap the rewards of taking on Bruce's rudderless ship. Prediction: Newcastle 0 Spurs 2. AFP
    Newcastle United v Tottenham (5.05pm): It is a surprise to many that Steve Bruce will still be in the Newcastle dugout for this one. Just two wins in 20 games - the last of which saw a humiliating 3-0 defeat at relegation rivals Brighton - would have seen most managers booted out of the exit. But the Magpies' owners have stood by their man and Spurs are set to be the latest club to reap the rewards of taking on Bruce's rudderless ship. Prediction: Newcastle 0 Spurs 2. AFP
  • Aston Villa v Fulham (7.30pm): Third-bottom Fulham - two points from safety having played a game more than Newcastle who are directly above them - are running out of time and matches to secure their top-flight status. One win in five is not good enough, despite the Magpies' own wretched form. Villa talisman Jack Grealish is back in full training after injury and looks set for a return to the team. Prediction: Villa 2 Fulham 1. EPA
    Aston Villa v Fulham (7.30pm): Third-bottom Fulham - two points from safety having played a game more than Newcastle who are directly above them - are running out of time and matches to secure their top-flight status. One win in five is not good enough, despite the Magpies' own wretched form. Villa talisman Jack Grealish is back in full training after injury and looks set for a return to the team. Prediction: Villa 2 Fulham 1. EPA
  • Manchester United v Brighton (10.30pm): The Seagulls are flying after two wins on the spin that lifted them six points clear of the bottom three. United at Old Trafford, though, are a different kettle of fish to struggling Southampton and Newcastle. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side suffered a disappointing FA Cup exit at Leicester in their last game and should rediscover their winning touch here ... if only just. Prediction: Man United 1 Brighton 0. AFP
    Manchester United v Brighton (10.30pm): The Seagulls are flying after two wins on the spin that lifted them six points clear of the bottom three. United at Old Trafford, though, are a different kettle of fish to struggling Southampton and Newcastle. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side suffered a disappointing FA Cup exit at Leicester in their last game and should rediscover their winning touch here ... if only just. Prediction: Man United 1 Brighton 0. AFP
  • MONDAY - Everton v Crystal Palace (9pm): One step forwards, then two steps back for Everton this season. Three wins in a row for Carlo Ancelotti's men was quickly followed by two defeats that gave their top four hopes a body blow. Five points shy of fifth-place Chelsea, three points here is a must for the Merseysiders. Prediction: Everton 3 Palace 1. EPA
    MONDAY - Everton v Crystal Palace (9pm): One step forwards, then two steps back for Everton this season. Three wins in a row for Carlo Ancelotti's men was quickly followed by two defeats that gave their top four hopes a body blow. Five points shy of fifth-place Chelsea, three points here is a must for the Merseysiders. Prediction: Everton 3 Palace 1. EPA
  • Wolves v West Ham (11.15pm): The Hammers will be kicking themselves after throwing away a three-goal lead against Arsenal before the international break, costing them a win that would have seen them level on points with fourth place Chelsea. But David Moyes have already secured this season's "surprise packages" tag and victory against a Wolves team who really just want this struggle of season to be over would be no surprise. Prediction: Wolves 1 West Ham 2. PA
    Wolves v West Ham (11.15pm): The Hammers will be kicking themselves after throwing away a three-goal lead against Arsenal before the international break, costing them a win that would have seen them level on points with fourth place Chelsea. But David Moyes have already secured this season's "surprise packages" tag and victory against a Wolves team who really just want this struggle of season to be over would be no surprise. Prediction: Wolves 1 West Ham 2. PA

Football

Premier League predictions: Chelsea wallop West Brom, Liverpool edge a thriller at Arsenal

We pick out the winners and losers as the English top-flight fixtures returns from the international break

Gareth Cox

April 02, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

The final international break of the season is over and we are heading into the Premier League campaign's home straight.

The title will, bar a collapse of incredible proportions, heading to the blue half of Manchester with City top by a mammoth 14 points.

Chelsea, another in-form side, kick-off the latest round of fixtures when they play host to relegation-bound West Bromwich Albion at Stamford Bridge. The Yorkshire derby between Leeds United and Sheffield United is next up, followed by the game of the weekend with Leicester against Pep Guardiola's City at the King Power Stadium. Another potential cracker, Arsenal versus Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium, complete's the day's action.

Southampton and Burnley on the south coast begins Sunday's schedule, followed by Newcastle United's clash with Tottenham Hotspur at St James' Park, Aston Villa playing host Fulham and then Manchester United's home game against Brighton.

Monday night sees Everton taking on Crystal Palace on Merseyside, then Wolves versus West Ham at Molineux.

Predictions for the games are in the photo gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows, or if using a mobile device simply

Manchester UnitedTottenham HotspurFulhamManchester City