Good day everyone,

I hope you are all well and having a great start to the weekend, welcome to CryptoGod-1's blog on all things sports. Today we will be looking at the upcoming weekend games in the Premier League after the recent international break. This round see's the league entering its final stretch with key clashes ahead all over the table.

 

Fixtures - Times are shown as U.K. Time

This weekends round of fixtures take place over 3 days, from Saturday lunchtime until Monday evening.

 

Saturday 2nd April

Liverpool - Watford 12.30pm KO (Kick Off)

Brighton - Norwich 3pm KO

Burnley - Man City 3pm KO

Chelsea - Brentford 3pm KO

Leeds - Southampton 3pm KO

Wolves - Aston Villa 3pm KO

Man Utd - Leicester 3pm KO

 

Sunday 3rd April

West Ham - Everton 2pm KO

Tottenham - Newcastle 4.30pm KO

 

Monday 4th April

Crystal Palace - Arsenal 8pm KO

 

Predictions

Now for the most exciting part, as I go through the latest info regarding each team to make an attempt at predicting the results for this weekends matches. Remember this is just my fun analysis and should not be taken as advice or a guarantee. 

 

Liverpool - Watford

This will be a huge game to kick off the weekend, as relegation strugglers Watford head to in form Liverpool. The Reds have the chance to move to the top of the table with a victory, while the Hornets are currently three points from safety. Liverpool have kept clean sheets in their last four games in the top flight, and have scored 23 in a winning run of nine league victories in a row. The Reds have also managed to win their last nine league home games, meaning Watford are in for a tough challenge. Cucho Hernandez could be the key for Watford getting anything from their trip to Anfield, as he has been in excellent form prior to the international break. The Hornets have seen an upturn in form and have only lost twice in their last seven games away from home, although still sit in 18th. Liverpool beat the 5-0 in the reverse fixture this season so I imagine the Reds will add to Watford's relegation struggles. As for injuries, Liverpool will welcome back Milner and Robertson from recent Covid-19 infections, while Keita needs assessment after a minor knee issue on international duty and Trent Alexander Arnold is back in training but this match might be too soon for him. Watford should have a fully fit squad available with Ngakia and Nkoulou both back after recent absences. With Mané and Salah having played 120 minutes in their international playoff during the week, expect some rotation from Klopp for this one. I think Liverpool will still have more than enough about them and the reward of going above City, even if only for a few hours, will be one they will relish. A final score of 4-0 to the home side ahead of their Champions League Quarter Final on Tuesday.

 

Brighton - Norwich

Brighton are currently on a six game loosing run as they host bottom side Norwich. The Seagulls have slipped to 13th in the table after their excellent start to the season, but they still sit comfortably 11 clear of the relegation zone. They have only scored once in those six games, and conceded at least twice in each encounter. To make matters worse, they have not scored at home in four matches and not managed a home victory since the turn of the year. Norwich meanwhile are on a loosing streak of seven games in all competitions, and are eight points adrift of safety having played two games more than 17th-placed Everton. They have managed to conceded almost three per game on average in their last six league defeats. The Seagulls will be without Lallana and Webster, while Norwich will be missing Idah, Aarons, Williams, and Omobamidele. Neither of these sides will want to suffer another defeat, and with so much on the line they will both be desperate for points. I think this game will finish as a 0-1 to the away side, with Brighton continuing to struggle scoring while Norwich will just sneak it.

 

Burnley - Man City

This match sees 19th placed Burnley host top of the table Man City. Burnley sit four points behind Everton in 17th, having played the same number of games, and sit eight points behind 16th-placed Leeds United with three games in hand. Their destiny is very much in their own hands if they can start collecting points, although City will prove a tough challenge, having not beaten Man City since March 2015 while they have lost each of the last nine matches between the two sides. City were held to a goalless draw with Palace last time out and will know Burnley can be stubborn, especially at Turf Moore. The Citizens have the best away record in the Premier League this season, picking up 36 points from 15 matches, but have a difficult Champions League clash with Atletico in the midweek so made need to make some rotation for this fixture. The Clarets will be missing Collins through suspension, while Pieters, Mee, and Gudmundsson are all injured. City will be without Dias for the foreseeable future, while Ederson, Stones and Sterling should all have recovered from illness and injury over the international period. Burnley will be competitive against Man City and make their life difficult, while Weghorst will certainly cause the City defence problems. All in all I still cannot look past City for this one, and I think they will collect the three points with a 0-2 away victory.

 

Chelsea - Brentford

Chelsea head into this match hoping to secure their seventh win in all competitions in a row. The Bees lost the last time out when they played Leicester, and have slipped to 15th in the table. With Chelsea playing Madrid on Wednesday in the Champions League, Tuchel may decide this is a game where he can rest some players. The Blues are currently 3rd, and sit five points clear of the chasing pack. They have only conceded once in the five games they won in a row in the league during their current run, and have the second best home defensive record in the league this season. Prior to the Leicester defeat, the Bees had recorded back to back league victories and are clearly benefitting from the signing of Eriksen. They are eight points above the relegation places although Watford in 18th have a game in hand. They have only won once in their previous 11 away league games, and have failed to keep a clean sheet in 12 away league fixtures. Chelsea will be missing Chilwell and Hudson-Odoi, but James and Christensen could return. Saul and Kepa are both potential returns to the squad after recent illness. Brentford will be missing Dasilva and Jeanvier through injury, while Ghoddos and Eriksen should be back after missing the Leicester game with Covid-19. With Chelsea in form and wanting to wrap up third spot in the table, I think they will prove too much for Brentford, even with Eriksen showing threat from set pieces. The final score will be a 2-1 home victory.

 

Leeds - Southampton

After Leeds astounding comeback to beat Wolves before the international break, they will hope to continue that form against a Southampton side who lost 2-1 to Watford last time out. With four players gone via injury it was a large price to pay for Marsch's side, but Leeds have opened up a seven-point gap to Watford in 18th although have played three games more than Everton and Burnley, in 17th and 19th. They have conceded 67 goals so far, the worst record in the league this season, and have failed to keep a clean sheet at Elland Road in the league since November. Southampton had a terrible March, with three defeats from three games in the league. They are in a strong position in 11th and shouldn't fear being dragged into a relegation battle this season being 13 points above the drop. Leeds will be welcoming back Kalvin Phillips, Cooper, Raphina, Llornete, Klick, and Meslier, but Bamford will remain out injured along with Firpo, Roberts, and Shackleton. Southampton should have all their players available after recent injuries to Smallbone, Romeu, and Tella. This will make for an interesting encounter, with Southampton possibly needing the break from action, and Leeds hoping to continue their new found form. Expect the fans to make plenty of noise and this to be end to end, therefore I will go for a 1-1 draw as the final result.

 

Wolves - Aston Villa

Both these sides suffered defeats before the international break, with Wolves loosing to Leeds United and Villa suffered a defeat to Arsenal. Lage's side will hope this game is not as frantic as the one against Leeds, having let their 2 goal lead slip and registering a fourth defeat from six to all but end their Champions League qualification hopes. They sit in 8th, two points off the European places so will still have some hopes of European football next season. Any hopes of catching up to the European-chasing pack are seemingly dead and buried for Villa, who will aim to consolidate their top-half spot as they remain ninth in the standings. Gerrard has done well to drag Villa up the table and while results have been inconsistent, they have not drawn away from home in the league in over 12 months. Neves, Jiminez, and Hoever will miss this game through injury, along with Neto and Semedo being doubts for Wolves. Nakamba is the only doubt for Gerrards side heading into this match. This will be a tough game for Wolves with their injury concerns, and with Villa having plenty of options to choose from, I can see Gerrard's side picking up the three points with a 1-2 away win.

 

Man Utd - Leicester

Another big game for this weekend, with the Red Devils sitting sixth, four points behind fourth-placed Arsenal, having played a game more than their rivals. Leicester are 10th, sitting14 points behind their opponents heading into the game. United have not played since being knocked out of the Champions League, and know they need to focus to have a chance of qualifying for next season. Rangnick will have freshness on his side for the remainder of the season but they need to show more performances like they did against Spurs last time out in the league. The Foxes are 10 points off eighth-placed Wolves and have no chance of European football next season, but will be facing PSV in the Europa Conference League Quarter Finals this week. They have the fourth-worst away record in the league this season, but have managed to beat United in their last three matches against them. United will be without Greenwood due to a club suspension, while Cavani is also out. Both Fred and Telles are also doubt with knocks. Leicester will be missing Vardy, Ward, and Bertrand, while Thomas is a doubt but Albrighton and Barnes should be fit. This is a must-win fixture for the Red Devils in their battle to secure a top-four spot but Leicester will hope to cause them problems. A tight encounter, I expect United to win it with Ronaldo most likely scoring from a set piece. I will go for 3-2 to the home side at Old Trafford.

 

West Ham - Everton

The Hammers will still have hope of European qualification for next season when they face struggling Everton at home. They sit in 7th, having played a game more than all of the teams above them. They have lost four of their last six matches in all competitions, but managed to book their spot in the quarter-finals of the Europa League where they will play Lyon. Sitting six points behind Arsenal in 4th, winning the Europa League seems their best chance of getting into next season Champions League. They will take hope from the fact they have the fifth-best home record in the league this season, with Everton sitting at the opposite end of the table in 17th. Lampard's side have two games in hand on Watford in 18th, and they have won just once on their travels in England's top flight this season. Moyes is hopeful that Lanzini, who was in a car crash, and Bowen will be available this weekend along with Coufal. Ogbonna will remain out with injury though. Everton will be without Mina, Davies, Delph, and Townsend for this game, while Allan is banned. With West Ham having an eye on Europe I think they might rest some key stars, but with Everton so poor away from home I cannot see them winning this one. Another tough result for Lampard is on the cards, with the Hammers winning this on 2-0.

 

Tottenham - Newcastle

Spurs will be hoping for their third league win in a row as they aim to secure Champions League football for next season. Conte's side sit 5th, three points off Arsenal in fourth who have a game in hand. Having won four of their last five in the league, they are very strong at home having won nine of their 14 league games and collecting 28 points at New White Hart Lane. Newcastle meanwhile are 14th, and have managed to get themselves nine points clear of the relegation zone, having manged to win six league games since the turn of the year, but have lost their previous two. Howe's team have lost eight of their 15 away league matches this term, and have not beaten Spurs since August 2019. They have big games left against Liverpool, Man City and Arsenal before the end of the campaign, but should be clear of any relegation fear. Conte will be without Skipp, Tanganga, and Sessegnon for this game, while Newcastle will be missing Wilson, Trippier, Hayden, and Lewis. Saint-Maximin should be back which will be a big boost to the away side. With Spurs still in a race for Europe, I can just see them winning this one at home. Newcastle will be missing their top performers and even though Saint-Maximin is back, I think Conte will ensure his team win this clash 3-1 with Kane and Son on fire once again.

 

Crystal Palace - Arsenal

The Gunners entered the international break on the back of a victory over Aston Villa, .and face a Palace side who managed to hold City to a draw. Arsenal sit 4th and are they favourites for the final Champions League spot, three points clear and a game in hand on the chasing pack. Vieira meanwhile will be welcoming his former side to Selhurst Park, and facing a side similar in their focus on developing youth and playing progressive football. palace have an FA Cup semi final against Chelsea later this month and this will be a good test for them ahead of that. Arteta will be without Ramsdale with a hip injury, while Saka and Tomiyasu are both doubts, although the English man is hoping to be recovered from his Covid-19 illness. Zaha and Olise are doubts for Palace after picking up injuries over the international break, while McArthur and Ferguson could both also miss out. Palace are a dangerous prospect for anyone at home and Arsenal cannot afford to slip up in their race for fourth. Neither of these sides have European commitments, so will put their all into this and a draw seems reasonable. I will go for a 2-2 as Vieira and Arteta share the points.

 

 

Have a great day, I hope you enjoyed the preview of the matches and get to see the games over the weekend. 

Peace. CryptoGod-1.

 

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