Premier League Predictions: Matchweek 21

TUESDAY:

WEST HAM V NOTTINGHAM FOREST

West Ham won the reverse fixture 3-0 back in August when Nuno Espirito Santo was in charge of what was his final game at Forest.

The chances of the Hammers repeating that result in this one are very slim because they're low on confidence and out of form following a run of nine games without a win.

Forest are also not in great form following four straight defeats after making a promising start under Sean Dyche.

Goals have been a big problem for both sides this season and especially Forest who are the second lowest scorers in the league with 19.

Chris Wood has been a massive miss for them up top and they need to get him back because they're lacking that clinical no.9 up top.

Sean Dyche does however still have players in his squad who can score goals and I can see one or two of them stepping up here to give Forest the points.

PREDICTION: 0-2

WEDNESDAY:

BOURNEMOUTH V TOTTENHAM

Bournemouth are still without a win since the end of October but they have looked more like their old selves in their last two games against Chelsea and Arsenal.

Their performances from both games will give them a great deal of confidence heading into this one as will the fact that they've won their last two games against Spurs including the reverse fixture back in August.

Spurs have fared much better on the road than they have at home this season with their away record being one of the best in the league this season.

But their season overall has still been disappointing as they're 13th in the league and have lacked quality all seasons and especially in the final third.

They need to get Dominic Solanke back because they're lacking that out and out no.9 up top who can score goals and Richarlison is not that player.

Bournemouth will probably be the better side in this one as they have performed well recently. But Spurs do have a good away record and because of that and the Cherries without a win in 12 games, I'm going for a draw here.

PREDICTION: 1-1

BRENTFORD V SUNDERLAND

Brentford were excellent against Everton on Sunday where Igor Thiago marked his return to the score sheet with a brilliant hat trick.

The Bees have been strong at home this season as I have mentioned a number of times and it's because of their strong home form I'm backing them to win this game.

Sunderland are a resilient side as they showed against Spurs on Sunday by staying in the game and putting Spurs on the back foot towards the end of the game before getting their equaliser.

But they haven't been as good away as they have been at home with just two wins on their travels all season.

They will be in the game like they have been all season, but I still think Brentford will have enough to come out on top because of their strong home record.

PREDICTION: 2-1

CRYSTAL PALACE V ASTON VILLA

Palace have won their last three games against Villa including the FA Cup semi final last season which they won comfortably 3-0 before repeating that performance in the reverse fixture back in August.

Villa looked leggy in that FA Cup semi final and leggy is how Palace are feeling at the moment because of the amount of games they've had to play in a short space of time and their lack of squad depth.

The Eagles could give Brennan Johnson his debut here following his arrival from Spurs and he is someone who will definitely bolster the depth of their squad as well as give the team more quality.

Villa will certainly be the more confident team heading into this one with the form they're in and they put in an assured and dominant display to beat Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

But they are without a win in any of their last six games against Palace and because of this and the fact that I can see Palace put in a performance here despite their tiring legs, I'm going for a draw here.

PREDICTION: 1-1

EVERTON V WOLVES

Everton have not been in good form at home lately having won just 2 of their last 5 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium after making an impressive start at their new ground.

They got ripped apart by Brentford on Sunday and I couldn't believe how open they were as they're usually so organised and compact defensively.

Wolves finally got that first win they were craving for against West Ham on Saturday and they got it by putting in an incredible performance which I and probably many other people didn't see coming.

They're still going down unfortunately, but it's good that they have that first win under their belt to give them something to cheer about.

Their confidence will have definitely been boosted by getting that first win, but I think they'll be brought back to reality in this one as I'm backing Everton to win the points here.

PREDICTION: 2-0

FULHAM V CHELSEA

Fulham are usually competitive when they take on the so-called bigger teams as they were against Liverpool on Sunday.

They were the better team in the first half of that game which I thought they would win because of how well they've played against tough opposition in the past and their strong home form.

I can see them put in another competitive performance in this one as they do whenever they take on the so-called bigger teams.

Chelsea could have Liam Rosenior in charge by the time this game comes around and I am not convinced that he's the right man for them.

He has done a good job at Strasbourg, who are also owned by the same company that own Chelsea in Clearlake Capital, but he's still a young manager who has never managed a big club like Chelsea.

Whoever is in the dugout for this game, I don't see either manager getting a win here because the blues are not in the best of form and with Fulham being strong at home and in better form, I'm backing Marco Silva's side to come out on top here.

PREDICTION: 2-0

MAN CITY V BRIGHTON

Man City have lost some ground in the title race following back to back draws against Sunderland and Chelsea, who both got men behind the ball limited City to very few clear cut chances.

This game might actually suit them as Brighton will be more open and expansive which will allow City to hit them on the counter when they win the ball back.

Fabian Hurzeler's side did win the reverse fixture back in August and have put in some decent performances when taking on the so-called bigger teams this season.

They beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge earlier in the season before giving both Liverpool and Arsenal a tough game last month.

But I'm backing City to bounce back and put the pressure on Arsenal before they face Liverpool on Thursday.

PREDICTION: 3-1

BURNLEY V MAN UNITED

Burnley have been a competitive side when they've played at home this season and they came close to nicking a point in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford back in August.

But they need to be more than competitive to stay up because winning games are what keep a team in a league, not performances.

Ruben Amorim got himself sacked by Man United with his comments in his post-match interview after their draw with Leeds which were no doubt directed at the club hierarchy.

It was very much like Enzo Maresca's departure from Chelsea and even Nuno Espirito Santo's sacking by Nottingham Forest in that both manager spoke about their difficult relationship with the hierarchy at their respective clubs.

But I also felt there were other factors that led to Amorim getting sack such as his inability to adapt by constantly sticking with his favoured 3-4-3 formation.

I said earlier in the season that the players didn't suit the system which their performances at the time backed up and although their results did improve from that point onwards, I still stand by what I said.

I did have my doubts about him when he got the job as he was and still is a young manager and I was proven right.

Darren Fletcher will be in charge for this game and he might end up being in charge till the end of the season because I have no idea who will take over.

United are still missing players through AFCON and injury, but I do think they'll get the win here no matter how well or poorly they play.

PREDICTION: 0-1

NEWCASTLE V LEEDS

Newcastle's win over Crystal Palace on Sunday was only the second time they've won back-to-back games this season and they'll be looking to build on that in this one.

Leeds come into this game on a seven game unbeaten run and Daniel Farke deserves a lot of credit for this as it wasn't that long ago he was a man under pressure.

But whilst he deserves credit for turning things around, his side have only won just twice during their seven game unbeaten run and if they want to push themselves further away from the relegation zone, they need to win more games.

Newcastle have been strong at home this season whereas Leeds haven't been as good away as they've won just once on the road all season.

Because of this I've got to back Newcastle to claim the points here.

PREDICTION: 2-0

THURSDAY:

ARSENAL V LIVERPOOL

Arsenal have been criticized for not going for it more in the big games this season including the reverse fixture at Anfield back in August which they lost 1-0.

I'm hoping that they got for it more in this one because Liverpool have looked vulnerable defensively this season,

The Gunners will want to keep it tight at the back, but with Liverpool's defensive vulnerabilities and the fact that they haven't been convincing this season, Mikel Arteta's side will hopefully go for it more.

Liverpool come into this game on an eight game unbeaten run and whilst this run has got them back up the table and into the top four, their performances haven't exactly been convincing.

They have got results which have reinstilled their confidence and got them back into the top four and if they can stay there between now and the end of the season it would be it would go down as a good season.

But their performances still need to improve for that to happen because they've been far from convincing for most of the season.

Arsenal have had stick for not being positive enough in these kind of games, but I think they'll put in a more than convincing performance and win this game without too many problems.

PREDICTION: 2-0