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 midweek full of European Semi Finals. With Liverpool and City fighting on both the domestic and European fronts, they will both be hoping for victories this weekend. United are effectively out of Champions League contention thanks to their midweek draw with Chelsea, while Everton, Burnley, Watford, and Leeds all fight for survival.
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 30th April
Newcastle - Liverpool 12.30pm KO (Kick Off)
Aston Villa - Norwich 3pm KO
Southampton - Crystal Palace 3pm KO
Watford - Burnley 3pm KO
Wolves - Brighton 3pm KO
Leeds United - Manchester City 5.30pm KO
Sunday 1st May
Everton - Chelsea 2pm KO
Tottenham - Leicester City 2pm KO
West Ham United - Arsenal 4.30pm KO
Monday 2nd May
Manchester United - Brentford 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.
Newcastle - Liverpool
A trip to St. James park is no easy feat for Liverpool, fresh from their Champions League victory over Villarreal, as they head to another of the leagues in form sides at lunchtime. Newcastle have managed to climb into the top half of the table, a long way since their relegations fears before the January transfer window. Currently on a four game winning streak, they are still in with a chance of securing a top seven finish and a European place for next season. The Reds meanwhile will be celebrating the news of Klopp extending his contract, Liverpool head into this game on the back of wins over Manchester City, Manchester United, Everton, and now Villarreal. With the quadruple still very much a realistic aim, they are yet to loose away from home in 2022. A victory would see them climb above Manchester City for the time being, with the Reds not loosing against Newcastle in 10 league games dating back to the 2015-16 campaign. Howe's will be planning for this game without Trippier, Wilson, Lewis, Hayden, and Fraser. Liverpool are fully fit besides Firmino, who is nursing a knock and will not feature. Although both these sides are on fine form, it is difficult to look past Liverpool for this one. Klopp has his side playing some of the best football around and they seem impossible to beat, with more to play for than their opponents. That drive and determination will help the Reds over the line in this one and get Liverpool a 0-2 away victory.
Aston Villa - Norwich
Dean Smith heads back to his old club this weekend knowing a loss could effectively relegate his new side Norwich from the league. They face a Villa side who managed to end their loosing streak with a draw to Leicester last time out, and Gerrard will be hoping to go one better this time around. That was their first point in the last five games, which has seen Villa drop to 15th in the table. Add to that their inability to convert chance, only scoring twice in those games, and Gerrard will be demanding much more as they take on the bottom side Norwich. The Canaries can still avoid the drop, but it seems increasingly unlikely. With five games to play they face teams in the top half after Villa so the odds are against them. They have lost four of their last five away games meaning form is not on their side for this trip. Sanson, Hause, and Digne are all unlikely to play for Villa due to injuries, while Smith has to deal with Idah, Kabak, and Omobamidele missing for Norwich. Although Norwich will put up a fight, its likely that Villa will find their scoring boots again in this one and should seal the victory at home with a 3-1 result.
Southampton - Crystal Palace
Both these sides drew last time out and while they are both in the bottom half of the table, they should be alright in terms of relegation fears. The Saints have just one win in their previous eight league games, although they do possess dead ball specialist Ward-Prowse amongst their squad. They managed to end a run of three straight home losses with victory over Arsenal, and will hope to continue that upturn in home form for this game. Palace are on a run of three defeats and a draw from all competitions, although it is understandable after the FA Cup semi final defeat to Chelsea that the club has somewhat switched off for the season. They have only won three away from home all season and Vieira knows his side are not confirmed to be safe just yet. Livramento will miss this game after his injury last weekend, while McCarthy is building up his match fitness. Palace should have a fully fit squad to choose from for this encounter with no fresh injury concerns. With both these sides looking to see out the season without getting dragged into a relegation scrap, I can imagine this game ended all square with the score being 1-1.
Watford - Burnley
A huge encounter in terms of the relegation battle, 19th placed Watford host 17th placed Burnley. If the Clarets win they will be taking a huge step towards safety, while the Hornets could pull themselves back into contention for avoiding the drop if they pick up three points. With Hodgson's side nine points behind Burnley, this is definitely a must win however they have lost four in a row and this will be a tough task as they have suffered 11 straight defeats on home soil. Amazingly, since Dyche was sacked Burnley have gone on to secure back to back victories and secure their league status. Its been three years since they managed three wins in a row but face the perfect opposition for this to happen. Watford will be without Cucho upfront once again for this match, while Burnley will be without Westwood, Gudmundsson, Pieters, and Mee. Rodriguez and Cornet are both requiring assessment before the match begins. While Watford will need to dig deep and find their scoring touch, I feel Burnley will have too much for them. Their upturn in form should see them continue their push to drag themselves away from the drop zone and do so by recording a 1-2 away win here.
Wolves - Brighton
Wolves will be hoping to make it two home wins in a row as they welcome a Seagulls side looking to make it three away wins from four. With Wolves currently in 7th and having lost three of their last four, their hopes of European football for next season have started fading. The defeats came against teams below them in the table, meaning Brighton will take plenty of confidence going into this. Wolves are 15 games without a draw, while Brighton have managed 14 draws so far this season, including their last outing against Southampton. The Seagulls have, however, won only one of their last 11 league visits to Molineux meaning a draw could very much be on the cards here. Lage's side will be without Kilman, Neves, and Podence, while Potters side will travel without Moder while Lampety is a doubt. Bissouma will however be back after his two game suspension recently. With both sides keen to return to winning ways, this should be a closely fought game meaning it will most likely end up as a 2-2 draw.
Leeds United - Manchester City
The champions will head to Leeds with Liverpool's result fresh in their mind, and will do so after a tough match against Real Madrid during the week. Leeds were in action during a 0-0 with Palace last Monday, while City played their 4-3 Champions League semi final on Tuesday. Leeds sit five points above Everton who are in 18th, although the Toffees have a game in hand on the Whites. Marsch tightened up what once was a leaky defence, meaning Leeds only conceded four goals in their last five games, while keeping successive clean sheets in their last two. With games against Arsenal and Chelsea to follow this, Leeds know they will need to get whatever points they can in these tough games to avoid getting dragged back into the relegation battle. City dominated against Madrid but only won by a single goal, meaning the tie is far from over. City are on a 15 game run without loosing away in the league and will hope to extend it here. They know any dropped points will open the door for Liverpool, assuming the Reds beat Newcastle, and Pep will have decisions to make regarding resting any players ahead of their trip to Madrid. Leeds will be missing Bamford, Roberts, Summerville, and Forshaw for this one, while City will be without Walker and Stones. A hostile atmosphere from the Elland Road faithful is to be expected and will certainly be an interesting experience for the City team. While I would hope for the Whites to manage a result here, I think even a rested City side should not struggle to break them down and will leave with a 1-2 victory.
Everton - Chelsea
Lampard's Everton will welcome his former club Chelsea knowing he needs a victory to keep his sides Premier League survival dreams alive, especially as they will be aware of the Watford - Burnley result. Chelsea managed a draw with United during the week but they have been weak of late although remain in third six points ahead of Arsenal. Everton did well last time out and kept Liverpool at bay for an hour, before eventually becoming unstuck. Everton are the worst away side in the league this season, but under Lampard the Toffees have been strong at Goodison Park, securing seven points from the last nine on offer. Chelsea looked like real challengers before December but their place in the top three is not secured yet. They are the second best team on form away from home this season, so will hope to tighten their grip on third in this game. Lampard will be without Godfrey, Gomes, Davis, Townsend, Patterson, and van de Beek for this game, while Tuchel will be missing Chilwell, Hudson-Odoi, and Kovacic. Barkley and Christensen will be assed having missed the United game with illness. While Everton have seen recent success over Chelsea at Goodison, I think this will be a tough game for both sides. Tuchel will want his players to prove themselves, while Lampard will expect the same desire as showed at Anfield. I can see this game ended in a 1-1 draw and the points shared.
Tottenham - Leicester City
Conte will look to reignite his sides Champions League push as they host the Foxes fresh from their 1-1 draw against Roma in the first leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final. Spurs have failed to score in two and only taken one point from six, from a position where they had been favourites for fourth they are now two points behind Arsenal. Their dip is form is coupled with a lack of shots on target, and Conte will need to get Kane and Son firing again soon. They have also kept just one clean sheet in their last six league games at home, and will need to rectify their defence while they are at it. Leicester will be is high spirits have held Mourinho's side to a draw and given themselves a real shot at a European final, although it may come at a cost as Rodgers will likely make changes for this game. They sit 10th in the table and are 10 points off the top seven, but have a couple of games in hand on the teams above them. Likely to have a busy schedule due to all their games, Leicester will most likely prioritise European glory as their best route into the Europa League for next season. Spurs will be without Tanganga, Doherty, and Skipp for this match, while the Foxes will be missing Bertrand and Ndidi. Vardy is back but expect him to be rested for the trip to Rome. With Leicester likely to make a number of changes, Spurs must be the favourites here and expect them to secure the three points with a 3-1 home victory.
West Ham United - Arsenal
The Hammers head into this one having lost 2-1 to Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final in midweek, while Arsenal managed to beat United last weekend to boost their top four grip. With the Hammers in 7th spot, Moyes will be determined to ensure his side finish in at least the top seven to guarantee European football for next season, as their domestic fortunes have suffered a nosedive with two defeats and a draw from their last three. It will mean a tricky decision on team selection for this game, as he will want to rest his players in the hopes of making a European final. Arteta has his side sitting two points above Spurs but the fourth spot could easily swap hands again if his side don't perform. They have managed to win six of their last eight away games in the league and know West Ham will be distracted going into this one. Moyes will be without Diop and Ogbonna for this one, but will be able to welcome Zouma back to his defence. Arsenal will be missing Partey and Tierney but should have Saka back fit for this encounter. West Ham love to score at home and expect that to continue in this one, but Arsenal should have more about them and because of that I expect this game to end 1-3 for Arsenal.
Manchester United - Brentford
Ronaldo was to the rescue again on Thursday night as United came from behind to draw with Chelsea. The result means they are five points off fourth spot having played two games more than their rivals above them, all but ending their hopes of finishing in the Champions League places. With the new manager announced and Rangnick taking a consulting role alongside managing Austria, expect big changes at United next season. As for Brentford, they are 12th in their first season in the league and flying high having guaranteed their Premier League status with 40 points. Franks side have only lost one of their last seven in the league, and will be the fresher side going into this one. Rangnick will be without Pogba, Shaw and most likely Maguire, while Sancho and Cavani are both also likely to miss out. Greenwood is still suspended while Fred along with Wan-Bissaka are expected to be fit for this game. The Bees will be missing Onyeka, Zanka, and Canos, while Ajer and Norgaard are expected to return. In what is a nothing to play for game, I expect both sides to create chances but I can see Brentford having more about a United side low on confidence. With Ten-Hag arriving in the summer some players may see this as an early chance to impress for afar, but I expect Frank's side to win this game at Old Trafford to compound United's misery with a 1-2 win.
Have a great day, I hope you enjoyed the preview of the matches and get to see the league games over the weekend.
Peace. CryptoGod-1.
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