The Premier League once again dominates our screens this weekend, and we make five predictions that we expect to happen in the coming days.
It was a breathless midweek of action in the top-flight, with drama in the title race, top-four battle and relegation fight.
Leicester extended their lead at the top, despite drawing with West Brom, with Tottenham, Arsenal and Man City all losing. The Foxes are now three points clear.
City’s 3-0 defeat to Liverpool saw Jurgen Klopp‘s men produce a superb performance, and they are now only six points off fourth spot.
We have reached the point in the season when matches become that little bit more tense, and there is sure to be plenty of drama over the weekend.
Here are five predictions that we believe will have materialised come Sunday evening.
Liverpool end Selhurst Park hoodoo
Trips to Selhurst Park have been horrific experiences for Liverpool in recent times, from the heartbreaking 3-3 draw in 2013/14 to the insipid 3-1 defeat last season.
Klopp takes his side to Selhurst Park fresh off the back of that resounding victory over City, though, and they will be confident of three more points.
Palace are without a win in 11 league matches, drawing 2-2 at Sunderland in midweek, and their fans will head home miserable once again on Sunday.
Liverpool have been guilty of not being consistent and building on big wins this season, but this weekend will be different.
Don’t blame me when we get battered.
Genius or incompetence the difference at White Hart Lane
Saturday’s north London derby between Spurs and Arsenal is one of the biggest ever showdowns between the two sides, and could play a pivotal role in the title race.
Derbies of such magnitude can often be very tight affairs, with the chance of a game-changing sending off always very high.
Moments of pure brilliance or a defensive mishap can also make all the difference, and that will be the case on Saturday lunchtime.
Whether it be a stunning Alexis Sanchez strike, a Per Mertesacker howler or a late Harry Kane beauty, a tight game will be decided by a one-off moment of class or ineptitude.
More dropped points for Leicester
It would be harsh to say that Leicester‘s 2-2 draw with West Brom on Tuesday was signs of the pressure getting to them.
They dominated the match, and on almost any other occasion, they would have buried more of the endless chances that came their way.
Saturday’s trip to Watford is a tough game, however, and with midfield inspiration N’Golo Kane out injured, it makes winning at Vicarage Road an even trickier task.
Claudio Ranieri’s side may not lose on the day, but they also won’t win. Where that puts them in the grand scheme of things will be determined by the result in the Spurs-Arsenal match earlier in the day.
Annihilation for Villa at the Etihad
Aston Villa have look doomed for a fair chunk of the season, and there is now an inevitability about their relegation to the Championship.
They head to Man City on Saturday, and although there may be sides playing better than Manuel Pellegrini’s team, there is nobody in the Premier League more likely to hand out a real mauling.
Villa are playing as though they already know their fate – their 6-0 drubbing at the hands of Liverpool was proof of that – and it could get ugly for them at the Etihad.
Sergio Aguero must be licking his lips at the prospect of facing the Villans, and City will prevail by at least four goals.
Pulis and Van Gaal bore us all
Following Liverpool’s, hopefully successful, trip to Palace on Sunday lunchtime, the second offering of the day comes at the Hawthorns, as West Brom host Man United.
Could there really be a more boring match on paper?
Both Tony Pulis and Louis van Gaal are known for their negative style of play, with goalless draws and a lack of shooting seemingly high priorities for both.
It is almost impossible to see this being anything other than a contender for worst game of the season, and United will no doubt nick it with a deflected effort in the 88th minute.
Expect no more than one goal in the game.
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