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 an exciting European Quarter Finals week which saw Liverpool and Man City progress to the Semi-Finals of the Champions League. There will only be six league fixtures taking place this weekend as Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea, and Crystal Palace head to Wembley to battle it out for a place in the FA Cup final.
Fixtures - Times are shown as U.K. Time
This weekends round of fixtures take place over 2 days, from Saturday lunchtime until Sunday evening.
Saturday 16th April
Tottenham - Brighton 12.30pm KO (Kick Off)
Manchester United - Norwich 3pm KO
Southampton - Arsenal 3pm KO
Watford - Brentford 3pm KO
Sunday 17th April
Newcastle United - Leicester City 14.15pm KO
West Ham - Burnley 14.15pm 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.
Tottenham - Brighton
Spurs will look to tighten their grip on fourth this weekend as Potters team look to claim successive league victories. Spurs tore Villa apart last weekend, with Son showing scintillating form in front of goal to score a hat-trick. Arsenal are three points behind them with a game in hand, Spurs have a greater goal difference which could prove pivotal at the end of the season. Spurs are on fire in front of goal, having scored 25 times in their last seven games. After the Seagulls run of six successive defeats and a goalless draw to Norwich City, they overcame Arsenal last weekend. That victory pulled them level on points with Crystal Palace, who occupy 10th in the table. Doherty, Tanganga, and Skipp will all be out missing for Spurs, while Brighton only have a concern with Moder. While both sides will be in high spirits, Spurs should be comfortable at home in this one and take the three points with a 3-0 victory.
Manchester United - Norwich
United know anything less than a win and their fans will turn on them, especially after a protest at their training ground. They are currently sitting in seventh in the table and six points off Spurs in fourth with the same amount of games played. Norwich are bottom of the table and seven points from safety, having played a game more than 17th placed Everton. With United facing Liverpool, Arsenal, Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion, Chelsea and Crystal Palace in their final games, it would be a disaster not to beat the bottom side in their uphill challenge to get into the Champions League again. Smiths side are odds on for the drop but are always capable of an upset, but their struggles up front having only scored twenty times this season mean they are unlikely to pull of a miracle. They have the second-worst away record in the league this season but face a United side very low on confidence. The Red Devils will be without Cavani, Varane, Shaw, Fred, and McTominay due to injury, while Greenwood is suspended by the club. Idah, Kabak, Sargent, and Omobamidele will be out for the Canaries. Williams will also be unable to play against his parent club. While Rangnicks side are not the best at keeping shutouts, I think this is the perfect game for them to get a clean sheet. They should manage a home victory with a score of 2-0.
Southampton - Arsenal
Arsenal will need to pick up their form again after their loss to Brighton last weekend, especially if they have any ambitions left to secure top four. They face a Southampton side who were torn apart last weekend by Chelsea and will hope to record a similar sort of result. Hasenhuttl will need to pick his side up and find a way to reignite their winter form, as they find themselves down in 14th in the table amid their current awful run. They are one point off 10th place and will hope to climb up the table with a result at home by ending their three game loosing streak at St. Marys. After back-to-back losses to Crystal Palace and Brighton suddenly Arsenal are no longer favourites for fourth, although it seems to change every week. They have big games with Chelsea, Spurs, and United left this season so picking up points against the teams down the table is a must for Arteta's side. Romeu should be out after being taken off injured last weekend, but Long, Lyanco, and McCarthy should be in line to return for the Saints. Arsenal meanwhile will be without Tierney, Partey, and Tomiyasu. Lacazette is on an open play goal scoring drought, having not scored since December, so Arsenal will need to find the goals from somewhere. The Gunners should prevail in this game, especially with Southampton's form. but anything is possible in these games. I will back Arsenal to win this one with a 1-2 result.
Watford - Brentford
The Hornets are almost certainly bound for the drop, having not tasted victory since their win over United which cost Ole his job back in November. They welcome high flying Brentford who are in an excellent position in the league for their first season, especially having beaten Chelsea in their last away game. Watford are now in 19th, six points off Everton having played a game more. They have lost 21 times this season, last time against Leeds, and have conceded 60 goals in the top flight this campaign. They have also lost their last nine at home in the league, with their dismal form meaning another home defeat would equal the league high record. While the Bees had questionable form over the winter period, a run of four victories in their last five matches has seen them move up to 13th in the table and 12 points clear of relegation. Toney has been in fine form as he has scored eight goals in his last eight league games. For this encounter Watford will be missing Cucho through injury. Brentford will be Onyeka and Dasilva, while Jansson is doubtful. If this game had taken place a few months ago I would have back Watford, but Eriksen has helped transform Brentford and because of that I will back the Bees to secure an away win with a score of 1-3.
Newcastle United - Leicester City
The Foxes will be on a high after getting their club to their first ever European Semi-Final when they beat PSV on Thursday. They face a Newcastle team who dented Wolves European ambitions last weekend, and know another victory would all but guarantee them their top flight status. The Magpies ended their three game loosing streak and have a ten point gap over the relegation places. Those three defeats came away from home, as they have won their last four games on home soil. Leicester will most likely be prioritising their European adventure, with Roma up next, over their league position. They did however manage to beat Palace last weekend so Newcastle should not expect an easy game. Newcastle will be without Wilson, Hayden, Lewis, and Trippier, and Fraser is also a doubt after coming off injured last weekend. The Foxes will be missing Ward, Bertrand, Ndidi, while Vardy is still a doubt. This should certainly provide an exciting encounter, and it could really go either way. Leicester have been performing better over the recent weeks in the league, and this game has a draw written all over it. I will go for a final score of 2-2.
West Ham - Burnley
While the Hammers are celebrating reaching the Europa League Semi-Final, Burnley have shocked us all and letting Dyche go on Friday after ten years in charge. The Hammers are in a European Semi-Final for the first time since 1976 thanks to their victory over Lyon. Moyes has taken the club for relegation threatened to the brink of European glory, and victory in the Europa League would give them Champions League football next season. They are sixth in the table and six points off Spurs having played a game more, so that is possibly their best chance of securing Champions League football. The Hammers have scored in every top flight home game this season and will expect to continue that against manager less Burnley this weekend. Dyche was the third-longest serving manager in the Football League but he had lost five of his last six games in charge. With Burnley in 18th and four points from safety, the Clarets have decided to look elsewhere. They have failed to score in 15 games this season, and are likely to face the drop unless things improve. West Ham will be without Zouma and Ogbonna for this match, while Burnley are doubtful over Mee's fitness, while Pieters and Gudmundsson will miss out. While Burnley will hope their actions will lead to a bounce for their side, while West Ham will likely rest some players after their trip to France, it is most likely the Hammers who will win this one. They will have tired legs but they should win at home with a 2-0 result.
FA Cup Semi-Finals
Saturday 16th April
Manchester City - Liverpool - 3.30pm KO
Both these sides booked their place in the Champions League Semi Finals and now will aim to reach the FA Cup Final. They met last weekend and played out a thrilling 2-2 draw, but this game wont be allowed to end in a draw at Wembley. City had a difficult game in Spain against Atletico, and De Bruyne and Walker both got knock for their troubles. They have beaten Swindon Town, Fulham, Peterborough United and Southampton so far and now face their title rivals.
Liverpool rested many key players as they overcame Benfica with a 3-3 draw at Anfield during the week. Klopp will expect more from his side in this match and should have the fresher players. They overcame Shrewsbury Town, Cardiff City, Norwich City and Nottingham Forest so far and this will be their toughest test.
With City likely to be more tired after their exploits during the week and facing a fresh Liverpool side determined to make up for the draw last weekend, I expect this to be another thrilling game between these sides. With Dias back but De Bruyne, Walker, and possibly Foden unavailable, Guardiola will have to shuffle his pack. Klopp will bring back his key players like Van Djik and Alexander-Arnold, and because of this I think the Reds will get the win and reach another domestic Cup Final this season, with a 2-3 win at Wembley.
Sunday 17th April
Crystal Palace - Chelsea - 4.30pm KO
Chelsea suffered heartbreak in the Champions League away to Real Madrid, and had to play 120 minutes on top of Benzema putting them to the sword. Chelsea finished as runner ups in the FA Cup in 2020 and 2021 and will hope to go one step further this season. They beat Chesterfield, Plymouth Argyle, Luton Town and Middlesbrough to get their chance of domestic silverware this season under Tuchel.
Palace are battling for a chance at domestic glory, and European qualification if they win the FA Cup, under Vieira during his first season in charge. Having won the competition four times with Arsenal, he would love to win it as a manager. The Eagles have beaten Millwall, Hartlepool United, Stoke City and Everton so far and will be full of belief they can overcome a tired Chelsea on Sunday.
With Chillwell, Hudson-Odoi, and seemingly Lukaku all going to miss out, Chelsea will pin their hopes on the in form Werner for this one. Palace will be without Gallagher as he is not allowed to play against his parent club, but Olise could make a return. With Chelsea having scored 9 in their last two after conceding four to Brentford, anything is possible in this one. While I think Palace will have a good chance against a tired Chelsea, the Blues will win it although it could easily take extra time and penalties to decide this one. A 1-1 draw is my prediction before a shootout win for Chelsea.
Have a great day, I hope you enjoyed the preview of the matches and get to see the league and FA Cup games over the weekend. Enjoy the Easter weekend.
Peace. CryptoGod-1.
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