EGGHEADS Premier League predictions: Big weekend for Manchester United

Liverpool will want to keep up with City when they entertain Spurs, United and Chelsea know anything but a win simply isn’t good enough while Palace will look to put some daylight between themselves and the relegation zone.

Last weekend saw the final international break of the season so it’s all systems go for the final stretch of the League we all love so much.

Fulham v City

This is a great position for City, playing first they have a really good opportunity to pile the pressure on Liverpool. I feel a little for Fulham, Scott Parker doesn’t seem like a bad manager, he’s young and it looks as though he has a lot to offer – would be nice to see him get the role on a full-time basis. I can’t see anything but a rather simple City win.

Prediction: 1 – 3 

Brighton v Southampton

There was a point in the season where Brighton looked to be quite a competitive team, things seem to have begun to go downhill for Chris Hughton’s men as they have plummeted down the table. Their home form hasn’t been great but their victory at Selhurst might have given them some much-needed confidence.

Southampton are a little inconsistent recently – and I’m almost talking myself into going for a draw – but I’ll back the home side to edge this by the odd goal

Prediction: 1 – 0 

C Palace v Huddersfield

You wouldn’t think this given their performances but Palace aren’t exactly a team out of the woods just yet. Their defeat to Brighton has made this a massive game for the Eagle’s. Huddersfield have nothing really to play for and that makes them dangerous, very dangerous.

Prediction: 1 - 1 

Manchester United v Watford

The race for top four really does look like it will go down to the wire. Assuming United win and Spurs slip up against Liverpool, the top four spots are blown wide open.

READ: Solskjaer named permanent Man Utd manager

But Watford are a team who on their day can cause an upset. On their day the Hornets can go and give anyone in the League a game so United will have to be up for it. Playing at home, their newly appointed manager in the dugout and Old Trafford buzzing, it seems unlikely United won’t pick up all three here.

Prediction: 2 – 1

 Burnley v Wolves

This could be a really entertaining game.  Burnley has had a really up and down season this year, they struggled early on but eventually finally looked like the side who achieved a spot in a European competition.

Wolves have been fantastic this season but I think going to Turf Moor is going to be difficult, they won’t be able to press high up the field and will find it tough to impose their game – which just adds to the intrigue in my opinion.

Prediction: 2 – 2 

Leicester v Bournemouth

Leicester have never looked like repeating their historic title-winning season, but have certainly become topflight regulars since then and kudos to them. Brendan Rodgers is a brilliant get for the Foxes, it’s going to be interesting to see how he sets them up to defend though. Striking that balance between defence without compromising a team’s attacking threat is an often underappreciated art.

Prediction: 2 – 1 

West Ham v Everton

How else do you describe West Ham’s season except for incredibly frustrating? You just never know which West Ham side is going to show up. Everton have also been really inconsistent but you’ve got to assume their win last time out against Chelsea is going to give those players some real confidence.

I was watching the game in a local pub and Chelsea was all over them in the first 45 minutes, the lights went out and when they came back on in the second half it was like a completely different Everton side! They had their tails up and looked like they just wanted it more.  

For the punter, I would have a go on many goals in this one…

Prediction: 2 – 3 

Cardiff v Chelsea

This is the game where I’m sticking my neck out and making a really bold call. Cardiff have been relegation favourites by most punters – and although they remain in serious danger of going down – they have managed to put in some seriously good performances.

Coming into the last stretch of the season they find themselves just two points from safety and with a game in hand over 17^th place Burnley.

Chelsea’s form is dreadfully inconsistent at the moment, how they are such short-priced favourites is ludicrous. The Blues went down 2-0 to Everton before the international break leaving them three points off top four and in the worst form of the top six in the League.

Maurizio Sarri’s tenure at the bridge must surely be heading towards the point of demise and things just don’t seem positive in that Chelsea camp right now.

Chelsea haven’t been incredibly convincing away from home and if I’m honest the mere odds on offer for anything but a Chelsea win, justify going after a double chance. Dabble at your local bookmaker!

Prediction: 1 – 1   

Liverpool v Spurs

This is going to be a tough game for Liverpool. We can assume City are going to beat Fulham which means anything but a win for Jurgen Klopp’s men simply won’t be good enough. The longer Spurs stay in the game the more the pressure builds on the home side, if you’re Spurs you want Anfield to become a melting pot of nerves forcing Liverpool to come out and play which will then allow Spurs to create opportunities on the counter.

Prediction: 1 – 1   

Arsenal v Newcastle

Newcastle could prove to be a banana skin game for  Arsenal but I think Unai Emery’s men will just have to much quality. If Arsenal were a side who you could have some confidence in to see off the ‘so-called’ lesser teams in the League, they would be a shoe in to finish in the top four considering their remaining fixtures…but its Arsenal and just when you put the rent money on them to beat a Cardiff they go and drop points.

Prediction: 2 – 0