Updated:
Apr 28, 2023 7:55 pm
We take a look at this week’s Premier League action, ranging from Saturday to Tuesday night, as we look at key games including a huge clash between Liverpool and Spurs, Man United and Aston Villa, and Arsenal against Chelsea.
This Week’s Premier League Fixtures
Crystal Palace v West Ham
Brentford v Nottingham Forest
Brighton v Wolves
Bournemouth v Leeds
Fulham v Man City
Man United v Aston Villa
Newcastle v Southampton
Liverpool v Spurs
Leicester v Everton
Arsenal v Chelsea
Bournemouth v Leeds
Bournemouth have been looking good in recent weeks, that was until they hosted West Ham. The Cherries could not deal with West Ham’s fast start, with 2 goals in the opening 12 minutes giving The Hammers a massive advantage. Further goals from Declan Rice and Pablo Fornals contributed to yet another Bournemouth hammering this season.
Bournemouth responded well, however, as they travelled to St Mary’s to face Southampton. The game had lots of action, with both sides registering over 10 shots each, but only 2 of these were on target. The tight game swung Bournemouth’s way, as Tavernier scored his 5th goal of the season, earning them a crucial 1-0 win.
The result puts Bournemouth up to 14th, 7 points clear of Leicester in 18th. It has been a remarkable turnaround. They looked like a certainty for relegation a few months back, but now, they look to be cruising to safety, with games to spare. Their focus should soon turn to how they are going to cope in their second season, which will be an even tougher one for them.
Leeds should be fortunate that there are at least two teams below them in the table that look much worse than they do at the moment. After they struggled against Fulham, they hosted Leicester, a massive game for both sides. Leeds needs a win to put some distance between them and the drop zone, and Leicester needs a win to climb back out of the bottom 3.
It was a game of little goal mouth action. Both sides registered a plethora of shots, but not many of these found themselves on target. Sinisterra opened the scoring for the home side, but Leeds could not hold on to their lead, as Jamie Vardy equalised with 10 minutes to go.
There was still time for more drama, as Patrick Bamford produced the miss of the season, slicing wide at the back post, completely unmarked, just a few yards out. They sit just a point above the relegation zone, and if some of the teams below them can start to pick up some points, they will be in massive trouble.
This should be a very entertaining game. Bournemouth looks good at the moment, and Leeds loves to attack. I think Bournemouth will win, especially considering their form coming into this game, and Leeds really struggles to defend. Leeds will make it a contest though, they will fight back, but I do not think it will be enough.
Prediction: Bournemouth 2 – 1 Leeds
Man United v Aston Villa
Man United kept clear of Spurs, and strengthened their position in 4th with a 2-2 draw against their immediate rivals. The result keeps them 6 points clear of them, with 2 games in hand. It is imperative for United that they win these games, and keep Spurs out of the picture.
United were at their best in the first half. They scored early on through Jadon Sancho before Marcus Rashford doubled their lead just before halftime. It was an impressive 45 minutes at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but it did not stay that way.
In the second half, United let their 2-goal lead slip, conceding 10 minutes into the second half thanks to a goal from Pedro Porro, and with 10 minutes to go, Son ensured Spurs came away with a point.
The game came after Brighton took United all the way to penalties after drawing 0-0 with them after 120 minutes of football. Ten Haag came out in his press conference and said that United have ‘the worst schedule in the Premier League’, and that players are exhausted, and that is why they let their lead slip against Spurs.
Aston Villa did well to earn a draw away against Brentford last week. Ivan Toney opened the scoring just after the hour mark, with Douglas Luiz equalising for the visitors with just a few minutes to go.
It was an uncharacteristic performance from Villa. They did not create much, generating only 2 shots on target, with one of those being the late equaliser. But the most important thing for them is that they managed to stay in the game, and made their chances count.
The result keeps them level on points with Spurs, and 6 points behind Man United in 4th. They have a very slim chance of achieving a top 4 spot, but a win in this game would give them, and their fans, the belief that it can happen.
This is a hard game to call. If United’s players are exhausted, Villa could run them ragged with Emery’s style of play, but if United turn up, it could be a very interesting game. I think this one will end in a score draw, but it could really go either way.
Prediction: Man United 1 – 1 Aston Villa
Liverpool v Spurs
After Liverpool’s nervy win over Nottingham Forest, they travelled to West Ham, in what was always going to be a tricky game for them. They were coming up against a David Moyes side who were in great form and were looking more and more confident each game.
West Ham started well, opening the scoring after just 12 minutes through Lucas Paquetá. Their lead did not last long, however, as Coady Gakpo levelled the scores just 6 minutes later. From there on out, Liverpool dominated the ball, registering 72.6% possession, but they only managed 4 shots on target.
Matip put Liverpool ahead with around 20 minutes left to play, which ultimately won them the game. The result puts Liverpool 1 point behind Villa and Spurs, and 7 behind Man United. It may be too late for a Champions League spot, but they can certainly put some pressure on the teams above them.
Tottenham Hotspur has endured an indifferent week as a football club. First, they travelled to Newcastle United and found themselves 5-0 down within 21 minutes. Newcastle ran them ragged in the first half, but the defending on display from Spurs was criminal. The teams have defended better in League 2 than Spurs did that day.
Spurs took immediate action after that 6-1 loss, by sacking Stellini and giving Ryan Mason temporary charge. His first game in charge, a home game against Man United, the team keeping them out of the top 4.
The first half was woeful. They found themselves 1-0 down within the first 10 minutes and then conceded again just before halftime. They turned it around in the second half, with goals from Pedro Porro and Son salvaging a draw. It was a good point in the end for Ryan Mason’s men, but they need to build on this if they have any hopes of sneaking into the top 4.
This could be an absolute cracker of a game, or it could be a dull 0-0 affair, there will be no in-between. Liverpool may be starting to feel a bit more confident after a few wins on the bounce, but every time I have said this, they have gone and lost their next game. Will Ryan Mason be able to bring some stability to Spurs? I am not convinced, but it will be interesting to see what he can do with them.
Prediction: Liverpool 2 – 1 Tottenham Hotspur
Leicester v Everton
This is by far the biggest game of this game week. 18th v 19th, a draw does nobody any favours, both sides desperately need to come out and get a win, not only for 3 points but for a confidence boost as well.
After Leicester’s vital 2-1 win over Wolves, they travelled to face Leeds in another huge game. The game did not see much goalmouth action, and it ended 1-1. Leicester fell behind in the 20th minute due to a goal from Sinisterra, before Vardy equalised with 10 minutes to go.
The draw did not entirely do Leicester any favours. It keeps them in 18th place, 1 point from safety with 5 games to go. Relegation would be an absolute disaster for The Foxes, and this is a huge game for them. They need 3 points.
It is a big game for Leicester, but it is even bigger for Everton. 117 years in the top flight and all of that is at risk. History will be made if they get relegated this season, but staying up will mask the plethora of problems at the club.
After the Toffees’ 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace, they faced Newcastle at home. It was always going to be a tough game to get something out of, especially after Newcastle had just hammered Spurs 6-1.
Callum Wilson took the lead for the visitors after 28 minutes, giving Newcastle a 1-0 lead at halftime. The game did not really kick into life until the 70th minute, when Joelinton and Wilson scored again, before Dwight McNeil pulled one back for the hosts, only for Jacob Murphy to score just a single minute after, condemning Everton to a 4-1 defeat.
The defeat will not have shocked many Everton fans, but the manner will have. There was no fight in the team, there was no confidence that they would get a positive result. The team just collapsed. They are in big, big trouble.
A win for either side here could decide who stays up. The teams at the bottom of the table are in terrible form at the moment, so a win here could change everything. Both teams need to attack this, Everton cannot afford to sit back because they are away from home. I think Leicester will be too strong for them though.
Prediction: Leicester 2 – 0 Everton
Arsenal v Chelsea
The title race has certainly reached its climax now. Arsenal has been dropping points everywhere lately, and they may have cost themselves the title now with their result last week. After sitting top of the league all season, not winning it may feel like a massive failure for Arsenal, but they should be proud of how far their team has come compared to last season.
Against Man City, they really struggled. They had their fair share of the ball, but could not create many attempts, generating just 2 shots on target. De Bruyne got City off to the perfect start, scoring within 7 minutes before John Stones doubled their advantage on the stroke of halftime.
De Bruyne scored his second 10 minutes after halftime before Rob Holding pulled one back with 4 minutes of normal time to play. Haaland had the last laugh, however, finally getting his goal in the 95th minute, condemning Arsenal to a 4-1 defeat.
The result is damaging, to say the least, for Arsenal. It puts Man City 2 points behind The Gunners, with 2 games in hand to play. It puts City in the driving seat and even allows them to stumble along the way. It has been a good season for Arsenal, but it was always going to be tough going toe to toe with Man City.
Arsenal fans will be great full that they are not in the position that Chelsea finds themselves in. Their season took yet another turn for the worse when they hosted Brentford. They dominated the ball and managed to create 4 chances on target, yet lost the game 2-0 to a Brentford side who mustered a single shot on target throughout the 90 minutes.
Azpiliceuta put through his own net after 37 minutes, and Mbeumo added a brilliant second 12 minutes from full time, condemning Chelsea to their 13th loss of the season. They now sit 10 points off the relegation zone, and it is looking more and more likely that they will finish in the bottom half of the table.
The Frank Lampard signing has been an absolute disaster for them, as everyone knew it would be. His stint did not work out well the last time he was there, and he did not do a good job with Everton. He is ruining his reputation at the moment by being at Chelsea. I do not see it getting any better for him either.
Will Arsenal be able to bounce back from a couple of draws and a defeat which could put them so far behind in the title race? Or will Chelsea be able to spring a surprise and show some fight? I want to say this will end in a draw, but Chelsea has been so poor lately I cannot see anything other than an easy Arsenal win.
Prediction: Arsenal 2 – 0 Chelsea
Other Predictions
- Crystal Palace 1 – 1 West Ham
- Brentford 2 – 0 Nottingham Forest
- Brighton 1 – 0 Wolves
- Fulham 1 – 3 Man City
- Newcastle 3 – 0 Southampton
