Premier League Predictions: Matchweek 32

FRIDAY:

WEST HAM V WOLVES

West Ham went out of the FA Cup to Leeds via penalties last weekend despite a spirited late comeback in normal time.

Their full focus will now be on Premier League survival and winning games of football following just one win from their last five games.

Wolves have already beaten West Ham twice this season in the Carabao Cup back in August and at the turn of the year in the Premier League with the latter being their first win under Rob Edwards.

They have to some extent kicked on since that result in that their performances have improved and are showing more fight than they did earlier in the season.

They'll be looking to show that same kind of fight in this one as they'll want to end the season as strongly as they can.

But I think West Ham will just edge them here as they have a bit more in quality.

PREDICTION: 2-1

SATURDAY:

ARSENAL V BOURNEMOUTH

Arsenal needed that win against Sporting in midweek to settle the nerves and they had David Raya to thank as his saves kept them in the game.

He showed how big difference he makes when he's in the team and his performance got a lot of people asking if he's the best keeper in the world.

He's certainly been one of the best in Europe over the last few seasons but I wouldn't say he's the best in the world as there are other keepers out there who have been right at the top for a number of years.

Bournemouth haven't lost since losing to Arsenal in the reverse fixture back in January at the turn of the year and although the run they've been on since has been incredible, their last five games have all ended in draws.

They will look to give Arsenal a tough game like they did in the reverse fixture when they lost 3-2 and like they had done when taking on the so-called bigger teams.

But I think Arsenal will come out on top here and I think they'll again call on their bench to win them the game like they did in midweek.

PREDICTION: 2-1

BRENTFORD V EVERTON

Very few people had this game down as a European decider at the start of the season because no one expected both teams to be where they are.

Brentford were widely tipped for relegation at the start of the season after losing two or three of their best players and manager Thomas Frank.

But Keith Andrews has come in and done an incredible job by proving his doubters wrong and putting the Bees in the mix for Europe.

Everton were at least expected to stay up after spending the last few seasons battling relegation but have been nowhere near the relegation battle all season.

David Moyes deserves a lot of credit for the job he's done since returning to the club as he's taken them from being relegation battlers to being a competitive side.

Brentford have had one of the best home records in the league this season but haven't won any of their last four at home.

Everton meanwhile have been strong on the road and come into this game in decent form following three wins from their last four games.

Because of this I'm backing them to come out on top and overtake the Bees in the table.

PREDICTION: 1-2

BURNLEY V BRIGHTON

Burnley have shown a lot of fight in their home games this season but they haven't been able to see results over the line.

Them not seeing results over the line has been the story of the line and why they are where they are because they haven't scored enough goals and have conceded a lot of goals as well.

Brighton found some much needed form before the international break and they looked very good last time out in their win over Liverpool.

The Seagulls haven't been as good away as they have been at home this season, but I still fancy them to come out on top here because of the recent form they're in.

Burnley will look to make it difficult for them and especially as they're at home.

But Brighton should still have enough to beat them here because of the quality they have and Burnley's failure to see games out.

PREDICTION: 0-2

LIVERPOOL V FULHAM

Liverpool were second best all over the pitch against PSG in midweek and were lucky not to lose by more given how dominant PSG were and the amount of times they broke through them.

Arne Slot surely has to go back to a back four for this game after his back five experiment failed in midweek and he has to because that system left the reds very open both in defence and in midfield.

The reds have to show a reaction in this one after what happened in each of their last two games and being at home will certainly help because the fans are always behind them when they play at home.

Fulham have taken points off Liverpool in their last three games against them including the 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture back in January which was sealed by a Harrison Reed rocket.

But their record at Anfield is poor and their away form this season hasn't been as good as their home form.

They will make it difficult for Liverpool as they do whenever they take on the so-called bigger teams, but I think Liverpool will do enough to earn a point despite the recent form they've been in.

PREDICTION: 2-2

SUNDAY:

CRYSTAL PALACE V NEWCASTLE

Palace come into this game of the back of playing in Europe during the week and they have struggled in games after playing in Europe due to a lack of squad depth.

Their squad has more depth now than it did earlier in the season after bringing in some players in January which should give them a boost in their chances of ending the season strongly.

Newcastle have had a rather frustrating season and especially away from home as their form on their travels has been terrible all season.

The good news for them is that they could have Bruno Guimaraes back after a long spell on the sidelines and his return is without a doubt a major boost for them because of how important a player he is for them.

Palace may feel a bit tired in this one after playing in Europe during the week but with Newcastle having such a poor record away from home, I can see the points being shared here.

PREDICTION: 0-0

NOTTINGHAM FOREST V ASTON VILLA

Both sides were involved in Europa League Quarter Finals during the week and it will be interesting to see how many changes they'll both make for this game.

They won't want to make too many because they both have something to play for in the Premier League with Forest fighting to stay up and Villa fighting to qualify for the Champions League.

Forest got a much needed and massive win before the international break against Spurs which will have done their confidence the world of good.

Chris Wood was back in their squad for their Europa League Quarter Final against Porto and his return is a much needed boost because they've really missed his presence and goals up top.

Villa also got a much needed win before the international break against West Ham and they look good as set to finish in those Champions League as they've got key players back from injury and a winnable run of games between now and the end of the season.

I fancy them to pick another win in this one because I think they'll have just enough quality to see the result over the line.

They might make changes for this game with the second leg of their Europa League Quarter Final against Bologna in mind, but they should still have enough in them to come out on top here.

PREDICTION: 0-1

SUNDERLAND V TOTTENHAM

Sunderland had arguably the best home record in the league not that long ago but have lost every home game since their unbeaten run at home ended.

Their form has dropped off a lot since the turn of the year as it was expected to because no one expected them to be as good as they were earlier in the season.

But they're still having a tremendous season and if Mikel Arteta wasn't doing what he's been doing with Arsenal, Regis Le Bris would probably be the manager of the season.

Spurs will have Roberto De Zerbi in charge for the time in this game and he arrives with a big task on his hands in trying to keep Spurs in the Premier League.

I personally would've appointed Sean Dyche instead of De Zerbi because Dyche was better suited to the current situation they're in.

Many people thought that De Zerbi was the right appointment at the wrong time and I agree with that because his brand of football is not the kind that will keep a team in the league.

This is not the start he will have wanted because Sunderland are a tough team to beat and have been strong at home despite their recent drop off in form at the Stadium of Light.

I'm backing the Black Cats to return to winning ways at home this one and to carry the confidence gained from their derby day win over Newcastle before the international break.

PREDICTION: 2-0

CHELSEA V MAN CITY

Chelsea showed their quality against Port Vale in the FA Cup last weekend which was a result they needed given their poor league form.

The blues won just one of their previous five league games before the international break and haven't won at home since beating West Ham at the end of January.

City blew Liverpool away in the FA Cup last weekend and it was good to see Erling Haaland back on the score sheet and net a hat trick after going a handful of games without a goal.

This game is one City can't afford to drop more points and especially with their next game being against Arsenal, who they are nine points behind.

They dropped points in back-to-back league games against Nottingham Forest and West Ham before their success in the Carabao Cup final and win over Liverpool in the FA Cup, and the pressure will be on them to win this game because of this.

They'll come into this game full of confidence following their wins against Arsenal and Liverpool from the respective cup competitions and I can see them carry that confidence in to this one.

I fancy them not just to win this game, but to win it fairly comfortably.

PREDICTION: 1-3

MONDAY:

MAN UNITED V LEEDS

The reverse fixture turned out to be Ruben Amorim's last game in charge of Man United and the improvement they've made since Michael Carrick has taken over has been incredible.

He's got players playing in their best positions and in a formation that suits them and they look more settled as a team.

They now look nailed on to qualify for the Champions League and finish 3rd which could in turn give Carrick the job full time.

Leeds have an FA Cup semi final look forward to in a few weeks time and they now need to transfer their cup form into the league.

They haven't won any of their last six games in the league and their drop off in form and brought them right back into the relegation battle.

United are unbeaten at home since Carrick took over and I'm expecting them to keep up that record in this one and especially with Leeds not being as good away as they are at home.

PREDICTION: 3-1