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MANCHESTER CITY vs NEWCASTLE UNITED (1230)
The sands of time have certainly improved the fortunes of both clubs as Abu Dhabi hosts Saudi Arabia, but with different accents. The visitors will want to reclaim fourth spot – they’ll need to overcome the four-point difference from their two games in hand to do that. Today may not be the right time to start, but will give a good indication of their relative strength. Home win.
ARSENAL vs BOURNEMOUTH (1500)
This is the sort of fixture that the likes of Southampton and Everton (and others) give thanks for. Home complacency, and only that, can prevent the inevitable. Home win.
ASTON VILLA vs CRYSTAL PALACE (1500)
Eleventh hosts twelfth, and you won’t find a more mid-table fixture than this today. It’s almost got an early end of season feel to it. Home win.
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION vs WEST HAM UNITED (1500)
This is a vital game that we cannot afford to lose. But the Seagulls have become something of a bogey side for us in recent seasons and are themselves pushing for a European spot. We’ve never beaten them (or kept a clean sheet) in the Premier League and this won’t be easy either. We’ll have to overcome the Old Trafford disappointment and show some real steel or iron or whatever other metal it takes to come away with something. We *can* do it. We’re good enough and have a set of strong and skilled players. It’s all in the head. Get that right and a point or more is there for the taking. Draw.
CHELSEA vs LEEDS UNITED (1500)
In the 1970s this was always an epic encounter. Not to mention a filthy one. Harris, Osgood, Bremner, the Greys and so on. But this isn’t the 70s, and both sides are having lousy seasons. The hosts should be too good for a floundering Leeds side. Let’s hope they rise to that billing. Come on, you Blues. And pass the Listerine. Home win.
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS vs TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (1500)
Having got themselves into the top four, the visitors will want to stay there. That should be incentive enough. It’s not often that you want Spurs and Chelsea to win on the same day – or indeed on any day. Away win.
SOUTHAMPTON vs LEICESTER CITY (1730)
One of two massively important relegation six-pointers this weekend. The Saints look set for the drop, but no side goes into that good night gently and self-respect should make them rage against the dying of the Premier League light. Draw.
*SUNDAY*
NOTTINGHAM FOREST vs EVERTON (1400)
The second non-WHU game that’s of vital significance to WHU. Will Forest’s drubbing last weekend give them a boot of encouragement or will it have knocked their confidence? They’ll look to build on a reasonably decent home record, while the Toffees’ away record offers zero encouragement for their fans. Despite the appointment of a competent boss, Everton’s predicament is dire. Third from bottom and having played one game more than the other drop contenders, they still show little sign of pulling themselves up the table. But there’s the sense that they’ve got more in the tank than their hosts. Draw.
LIVERPOOL vs MANCHESTER UNITED (1630)
Two years ago, the likely result of this fixture would scarcely have been in doubt. Today, Man U have to be favourites against a side that’s utterly lost consistency and belief in itself. Still, such is the depth of feeling between these two that no outcome can be predicted with confidence. Draw.
*MONDAY*
BRENTFORD vs FULHAM (2000)
Ninth plays seventh, and there aren’t many who’d have predicted when strawberries last grew. Draw.
*CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND-UP*
It’ll take a monumental disaster to stop Burnley making a decisive and immediate return to the top flight. With 12 games to play, they’re 16 points ahead of Middlesboro in third spot. Not so much a disaster as a surprise, the same applies to Sheffield United who have a seven point lead over Boro with a game in hand. The leaders visit sorry Blackpool, second from bottom, this afternoon, while the Blades face a tricky trip to Blackburn (4th) in the early kick-off. Having climbed to fifth, Millwall host Norwich, who are two points behind them and just outside the play-off-spots. Wigan, Blackpool and Uddersfield still occupy the bottom three places, each on 31 points, and all will be concerned at the widening gap – now at four points – either side of the dotted line.
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