Premier League Predictions; Matchweek 27

SATURDAY:

ASTON VILLA V LEEDS

Villa could put themselves back in the title race if they win this game as victory will move them to within five points of leaders Arsenal.

Their chances were probably dismissed a few weeks ago but Arsenal dropping points recently has allowed them a way back in.

Leeds haven't been as strong away as they have been at home this season as they've won just once on the road all season and they're facing a Villa side have who have a strong home record.

But Villa have lost two of their last three at Villa Park and are missing one or two key players through injury which should give Leeds a chance of getting something here.

But I still think Villa should have enough to come away with the points here and especially as they're at home despite recent results.

PREDICTION: 2-1

BRENTFORD V BRIGHTON

Brentford made a lot of changes against Macclesfield in the FA Cup on Monday where they just got over the line as their performance wasn't exactly brilliant.

The players they rested for that game should come back into the fold for this one and especially as this is a league game.

Brighton are one of the out of form teams in the league at the moment and they really could do with a win here so they can build some confidence.

1 win from 12 league games has put Fabian Hurzeler under a lot of pressure and I fear he could lose his job soon if his side's form doesn't improve.

I can only see this game ending one way and that is with a Brentford win because they're in better form and have been strong at home all season.

PREDICTION: 2-0

CHELSEA V BURNLEY

Chelsea put in a professional display against Hull in the FA Cup even though it didn't feel like they won 4-0 as Hull did have some chances and were in the game.

The pressure is back on Burnley boss Scott Parker following their FA Cup exit to Mansfield for which they made nine changes.

The pressure on him appeared to have been eased after they won at Crystal Palace in their last league game but now the pressure is very much back on him.

I can only see Chelsea increase the pressure on him further as I'm backing them to win this game and fairly comfortably because of the quality they have.

PREDICTION: 3-0

WEST HAM V BOURNEMOUTH

West Ham have turned a corner in recent weeks and are looking like a side who believe that they can stay up.

They were written off over a month ago because they looked like a side who had zero confidence on board.

But three wins from their last five games has given them a fighting chance and and confidence that they can beat the drop.

Bournemouth are also a side who have turned a corner since the turn of the year as they're unbeaten in their last six games with four of them ending in wins.

They lost Antoine Semenyo during that run and for them to go on that kind of run without him deserves a lot of credit.

Both sides have poor home and away records respectively this season and because of this I think the points will be shared.

It was a 2-2 draw they met in the reverse fixture and I can see this one ending the same way.

PREDICTION: 2-2

MAN CITY V NEWCASTLE

Man City beat Newcastle in the Carabao Cup semi finals when the two sides last met with City dominating both legs.

This game is one City simply have to win and especially after Arsenal dropped points against Wolves on Wednesday.

A win for City here would really put the pressure on Arsenal as it would cut the gap to two points heading into the Gunners game against Spurs on Sunday.

Newcastle put in a ruthless display against Qarabag in midweek which should be enough to put them in the last 16 of the Champions League because of the margin they won that first leg by.

The Magpies won the reverse fixture back in November but their chances of repeating that in this one are very slim because of their poor away record.

Because of that and the way City dominated them in both legs of their Carabao Cup semi final, I can see this being another comfortable win for Pep Guardiola's side.

PREDICTION: 3-1

SUNDAY:

CRYSTAL PALACE V WOLVES

Palace let a two goal lead slip last time out in the league against Burnley and in a matter of minutes as well after looking comfortable before they conceded.

Their current form is a cause for concern for them at the moment as they've won just once since the turn of the year and are a shadow of the team they were earlier in the season.

The reverse fixture at Molineux was Rob Edwards' first game in charge of Wolves and although they may still be bottom, they have improved as his time at the club has progressed.

They showed character to come from behind a nick a draw against Arsenal in midweek and character is something that you would not have associated with them a few months ago.

Palace come into this game off the back of playing in Europe during the week and will probably feel tired as a result of it as they've struggled to cope with the Thursday-Sunday schedule.

Because of this I can see Wolves nick another point by pouncing on Palace fading towards the end of the game.

PREDICTION: 1-1

NOTTINGHAM FOREST V LIVERPOOL

Forest will have Vitor Pereira in charge for the first time in the Premier League in this one after sacking Sean Dyche which I felt was the wrong decision because he was the best man to keep them up.

Will Pereira keep Forest in the league? I'm not sure he will because they've struggled for goals all season and when he was at Wolves, he had a player who knew where the back of the net was in Mattheus Cunha as well as Jorgen Strand Larsen.

Forest do have players in their team who can score goals like Morgan Gibbs-White for example, but they don't have someone who can do it on a regular basis because Chris Wood is injured and has been a massive miss for them.

Liverpool put in good performances in each of their last two games against Sunderland and Brighton which will give them a lot of confidence heading into this game.

The reds were dismantled by Forest at Anfield earlier in the season and I might've gone for a Forest win in this one had Dyche still been in charge.

But as he's not and Forest coming into this game having played in Europe during the week, I'm backing Liverpool to pick up another win here.

PREDICTION: 0-1

SUNDERLAND V FULHAM

Sunderland saw their unbeaten run at home come to an end last time out in the league when they lost to Liverpool over a week ago.

But that defeat shouldn't have too much of an affect on them because they've had an incredible season and will still look to make it difficult for teams when playing at home.

Fulham come into this game off the back of three straight defeats in the league, but they did win their last game against Stoke in the FA Cup where they had to come from behind to win the game.

They won the reverse fixture back in November through Raul Jimenez's late winner but I don't see a repeat of that in this one as they haven't been as strong away as they have been at home, and Sunderland have of course been very strong at home.

I think both teams will go for it as they both like to play on the front foot. But I think this game will be too close to call so I'm going for a draw.

PREDICTION: 1-1

TOTTENHAM V ARSENAL

Spurs will have Igor Tudor in charge for the first time in this one following the sacking of Thomas Frank which was the right decision.

I hear that Tudor is a manager who comes into clubs and makes a difference in the short term as he did at Juventus towards the end of last season.

He'll no doubt have a big job on his hands in trying to steer Spurs away from the relegation zone because they're seriously low on confidence and are a team lacking quality as I have said all season.

I'm starting to think that the pressure might be beginning to get to Arsenal after they dropped points against Wolves in midweek.

The dropping points in that game could've been down to a variety of reasons including sitting off Wolves after going 2-0 up or maybe the pressure of being top of the league getting to them.

There will be pressure on them to win this game and especially if Man City win their game against Newcastle as it will cut the gap at the top to two points.

The Gunners have responded well to set backs this season and I can see them do the same in this one because of Spurs' terrible home form and the Gunners' good record against them in this fixture from recent seasons.

PREDICTION: 0-2

MONDAY:

EVERTON V MAN UNITED

Everton are in poor form at home as they're without a win in their last five league games at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

They've fared much better away than they have at home as most of their wins this season have come on the road.

Michael Carrick saw his 100% start as Man United boss come to an end against West Ham last time out in the league where they needed a late goal from Benjamin Sesko to rescue them a point.

United have played with more confidence and freedom since Carrick has been in charge and he's also given certain players a new lease of life including Casemiro, Kobbie Mainoo and even Luke Shaw.

Because of Everton's poor home form, I fancy United to return to winning ways and come away with the points here.

PREDICTION: 0-2