Senior Sports Editor Steve Luckings offers his predictions for the May 15-16 Premier League weekend, including Manchester United with a commanding win over Arsenal and Newcastle United continuing to flounder near relegation territory. Click the arrows below to scroll through the picks.
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Manchester United v Arsenal
This clash is usually a blood-and-thunder affair, but with both sides assured of a top-four finish there is a nagging feeling this match will be little amount to little more than a scratch and spot of rain. Arsenal are still chasing Manchester City for second, but I see United overhauling them right before the finish line. PREDICTION: Man United, 2-1.
Southampton v Aston Villa
Southampton’s season is tailing off badly while Aston Villa are in the ascendancy. People laughed when Tim Sherwood said the club needed six wins from their final 12 games to stay up. They already have five under their new manager, and win No 6 is coming this weekend if Tom Cleverley can continue his run of goalscoring form and Christian Benteke can terrorise one of the league’s most lauded defences. PREDICTION: Villa, 2-1.
Burnley v Stoke City
What a rollercoaster of emotions for Burnley last weekend. A 1-0 win at Hull City, their first win in eight league games, wasn’t enough to keep Sean Dyche’s men in the top division. The pressure is off, so expect them to be close to unbeatable in their last two games. Any point garnered from Turf Moor will see Stoke finish with their highest Premier League tally. Charlie Adam is having a barnstorming finish to the season. The Scotland midfielder looks fit and can score spectacularly with either foot. PREDICTION: Burnley, 1-0.
Queens Park Rangers v Newcastle United
If you’re going to go down, go out with a roar, not a whimper. Last weekend’s 6-0 hammering at the hands of Manchester City consigned QPR back to the Championship, but if there is one team you want to be facing right now, it’s Newcastle United, a team arguably in more disarray than the West Londoners despite a point last weekend against West Brom all but guaranteeing their survival. Plenty of QPR players are out of contract this summer, an ideal match to remind rival clubs of their talents. PREDICTION: QPR, 2-0.
Tottenham Hotspur v Hull City
It would require a defeat at White Hart Lane and all the teams above them winning to confirm Hull’s relegation this weekend. But even a victory in North London would still need to be backed up with at least a point away at Old Trafford in their final fixture of the season to give Steve Bruce’s men any chance of staying up. Tottenham are stumbling over the line. One could be forgiven for cynicism in thinking they don’t want to qualify for the Europa League places. Should still have too much for a feeble Hull defence. PREDICTION: Tottenham, 3-1.
Sunderland v Leicester City
One more victory and Leicester will have pulled off the greatest act of escapology since Harry Houdini. Nigel Pearson’s side have spent more days on the bottom of the league than any other team this season, but a win at Sunderland would be an eighth in their last seven outings. Sunderland face the usual problems of putting the ball in the goal. Steven Fletcher and Connor Wickham owe their club a performance. PREDICTION: Leicester, 2-1.
West Ham United v Everton
Truly a season to forget, for both clubs, despite Everton’s foray into the Europa League. Victory in the capital will see Roberto Martinez’s side leapfrog West Ham into 10th place, and that’s about as much excitement as you can muster for this fixture. The one shinning light for West Ham is the enforced absence of Everton left-back Leighton Baines, who underwent ankle surgery on Wednesday and will not play again this season. PREDICTION: Draw, 1-1.
Liverpool v Crystal Palace
If you thought you had heard noise before, wait until you hear the Kop’s rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone as club captain Steven Gerrard takes to the field for his final game at Anfield before departing for Major League Soccer. It will be an emotion-charged day for the inspirational midfielder; will he get revenge on the team that crushed his hopes of a first league championship with his hometown club last season? Yes, he will. PREDICTION: Liverpool, 2-1.
Swansea City v Manchester City
Garry Monk’s Swansea have already accrued their record total of points in a Premier League season but their win away at Arsenal on Monday showed they have no intention of letting up as they approach the finish line. Wilfried Bony may not get the chance to get reacquainted with his former teammates, the Ivorian striker’s move to Manchester in January proving less than spectacular so far. Sergio Aguero can put more daylight between him and Harry Kane for the race for the Golden Boot. PREDICTION: Draw, 2-2.
West Bromwich Albion v Chelsea
Is it me or does Chelsea’s final run-in have the feeling of an endless parade of “draws” written all over it. Take the game at The Hawthorns against West Brom: Tony Pulis’s side don’t have the firepower to blow the champions away and Chelsea probably won’t be that fussed about opening a can of a certain whooping brand on their opponents either. PREDICTION: Draw, 1-1.