The National's Deputy Sports Editor Thomas Woods makes his predictions for the May 8-9 Premier League weekend, including Manchester United solidifying their top-four place and Leicester City continuing their great escape pace. Click the arrows below to scroll through the picks.
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Crystal Palace v Manchester United: United badly need to get back to winning ways, but first they have to at least find the net after three games without a goal. Encouragingly for them, Palace's mini run of form is over and both West Brom and Hull have won at Selhurst Park in recent weeks. Expect Robin van Persie to make up for lost time with a goal or two. PREDICTION: Man United, 2-0.
Leicester City v Southampton: Southampton's end-of-season blip (three defeats in five games) should not detract from what has been a fine 2014/15 for them. Earlier in the season, a trip to Leicester would have brought three points for them, but they will have to settle for a draw against a team who are likely to avoid the drop. PREDICTION: Draw, 1-1.
Everton v Sunderland: If Sunderland are to stay up, they need to focus on reaping as many points as possible from this game and their home match with Leicester, before two daunting trips to Arsenal and Chelsea. Everton were brilliant in their last home game – a 3-0 thumping of Manchester United – but their home form has been fairly patchy this season. Sunderland, the draw specialists, to get a point. PREDICTION: Draw, 1-1.
Aston Villa v West Ham United: Villa are 14th, but only two points from the relegation zone in a five-way battle to avoid the drop. They need one more win for comfort and, with Christian Benteke in red-hot form, they should get it against a West Ham team with just three away wins. PREDICTION: Villa, 1-0.
Hull City v Burnley: Burnley's season is ending in a whimper. They showed some life mid-season but two awful runs this season have sealed their fate. At the start of the campaign, they went six games without a win, scoring just once. And now they are in the middle of a six-game losing streak without a goal. PREDICTION: Hull, 2-0.
Newcastle United v West Bromwich Albion: What else could go wrong at Newcastle? The manager has lost the dressing room, the players have lost their fight, fans have lost patience. Eight defeats in a row sees them lurching towards the drop and the only solace is that, on paper, their run-in is easier than other clubs. But can anyone see them beating West Brom, fresh from victory at Old Trafford? No. PREDICTION: West Brom, 1-0.
Stoke City v Tottenham Hotspur: This has end-of-season goalless draw written all over it. Spurs ran out of steam in the second half of last week's defeat to Manchester City, with Christian Eriksen unusually subdued. Stoke really only have a top-10 place to fret about. PREDICTION: Draw, 0-0.
Manchester City v Queens Park Rangers: City should run riot here, against a QPR side who are just waiting for relegation to be confirmed. Sergio Aguero against the visitors' leaky defence? No contest. PREDICTION: Man City, 3-0.
Chelsea v Liverpool: Title won, job done. Chelsea can take their foot off the gas but Jose Mourinho is hardly likely to go about throwing points away either. He may rest a couple of players – Eden Hazard is a prime candidate to start on the bench having played every league game this season – but Chelsea will still go for the win, just maybe not a full pelt. Liverpool have been fairly toothless up front in recent weeks and will find it tough to penetrate a defence led by John Terry. PREDICTION: Chelsea, 1-0.
Arsenal v Swansea City: Arsene Wenger's men are in pole position to clinch second place with a game in hand on Manchester City. In Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal have one of the players of the season and he is in top form at the moment. Expect Arsenal to score at will. PREDICTION: Arsenal, 3-0.
