Good day everyone,
I hope you are all well and had an excellent week so far, welcome to CryptoGod-1’s blog on all things sports. This weekend will see Liverpool travel to Brentford, Arsenal visit Burnley, Newcastle host Bournemouth, United visit Luton, Everton host Palace, and Manchester City welcome Chelsea to the Etihad Stadium.
Fixtures — Times are shown as U.K. Time
This weeks round of fixtures will see the games spread out across three days from Saturday morning until Monday night.
Saturday 17th February 2024
Brentford - Liverpool 12.30pm KO
Burnley - Arsenal 3pm KO
Fulham - Aston Villa 3pm KO
Newcastle - Bournemouth 3pm KO
Nottingham Forest - West Ham 3pm KO
Tottenham - Wolves 3pm KO
Manchester City - Chelsea 5.30pm KO
Sunday 18th February 2024
Sheffield United - Brighton 2pm KO
Luton - Manchester United 4.30pm KO
Monday 19th February 2024
Everton - Crystal Palace 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 week matches. Remember this is just my fun analysis and should not be taken as advice or a guarantee.
Brentford - Liverpool
The Bees occupy fourteenth with 24 points while Liverpool sit top of the table with 54 points.
Brentford won 2-0 away to Wolves last weekend and got revenge for their FA Cup exit back in January. The Bees trip to the West Midlands saw them end a run of 14 games without a clean sheet, while also moving six points clear of the relegation places. They sit nine points off the top half and the Bees have a match in hand over all but one of the six teams below them but that game is against Manchester City. At the Gtech they have been prone to conceding, especially of late, but Frank's side have also managed to score in all but one of their previous 25 games in front of their own fans.
Liverpool comfortably beat Burnley 3-1 at home last weekend and the Reds sit two points clear of City, with their game in hand, and Arsenal in the league standings. After flu ruled out a number of players last weekend Klopp will hope to welcome back some of his stars, such as Alisson, for this encounter. The main focus will be on Salah, with fans eager to see his return but the question of whether or not Klopp starts him remains to be seen. In the league barring their loss to Arsenal, Liverpool had won four away league games on the bounce. With the Carabao Cup final on the horizon Klopp will want his players giving their all for a place in the final starting line-up.
Frank will be without Henry, Hickey, Mbeumo, Schade, and Dasilva, while they also need to assess the fitness of Onyeka and Wissa. Klopp will travel to London without the services of Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Bajcetic, Szoboszlai, and Thaigo.
Form Last Six League Games:
Home: LLWLLW
Away: WWWWLW
Liverpool beat Brentford 3-0 at Anfield back in November but the Reds have yet to overcome Brentford away from home in the Premier League since their promotion in 2021. At the Gtech Stadium Brentford managed a 3-1 win over Liverpool in the league last season, and a 3-3 draw the season before. Klopp will need his side to overcome that streak if they are to maintain their lead at the top of the table. Brentford wont make it easy, and Toney will want to impress, but I think Liverpool should have enough about them to secure their first Premier League win at the Gtech Stadium.
Final score: 1-3
Burnley - Arsenal
Burnley are in nineteenth with 13 points while Arsenal sit in third with 52 points.
Kompany watched his side lose 3-1 at Anfield last weekend and they remain seven points from safety. Burnley sit level on points with Sheffield United and are only off bottom spot thanks to goal difference. They have seen 50 goals fly into their net so far in the league, but the Clarets have managed to score in each of their last five games as they look for their first win of 2024. While Turf Moor offered little home comforts in their opening seven home defeats of the season, they have taken 5 points in their last three league games in front of their own fans.
Arsenal managed a convincing 6-0 away win at West Ham to reassert themselves as title contenders following their win over Liverpool the weekend before. The win was emphatic and moved Arsenal level with City on points and goal difference, only behind on goals scored. The title race is fully alive for Arsenal and Arteta has seen his side win all four league games in 2024 so far. Their away form has seen them concede a division low of 11 goals on their away travels, so they will want to keep the pressure on the sides around them here with their attacking flair.
Kompany will be missing Redmond, Foster, Koleosho, and Beyer, while they will also need to check on the fitness of Taylor. Arteta will be without Timber, but will also need to check on the fitness of Partey, Zinchenko, Jesus, Vieira, Tomiyasu, and Smith Rowe.
Form Last Six League Games:
Home: LLDLDL
Away: LLWWWW
Arsenal beat Burnley 3-1 at home back in November and are on a ten game unbeaten streak at Turf Moor, but they did draw in five of those games. While Burnley are looking better at home, they are still amiss in terms of matching the big sides in the league. They will put up a solid fight, but like in their game against Liverpool, I think Burnley will come up short and Arsenal will leave with the three points.
Final score: 1-3
Fulham - Aston Villa
The Cottagers are currently twelfth with 29 points while Aston Villa are sitting in fifth with 46 points.
Fulham beat Bournemouth 3-1 at home last weekend and will hope for more of the same this time around. It was their first Premier League victory of 2024 and ended a six match run of no wins in any competitions. Having won five of their last seven at Craven Cottage in the league Fulham should be looking to extend their run of always winning at home in the league this season when they score. Sitting ten points off the relegation zone, Fulham should be aiming to bridge the five point gap to the top half to ensure they have a memorable season.
Villa lost 2-1 at home to United last weekend and their top four hopes are beginning to fade. They have lost in each of their last three home games, but sit only a point off Spurs in fourth while United have closed the gap to five points. Villa have managed a clean sheet in each of their last four away games, meaning they are yet to concede in 2024 away from Villa Park. Their victory over Sheffield United was their only win in their last six in all competitions, and Emery has his work cut out to ensure this squad makes it comfortably into the Europa League at a minimum, with big ambitions at the club of winning the Europa Conference League this season intact.
Silva will be without Raul Jimenez while they also need to assess Bassey and Iwobi. Emery will be missing Boubacar Kamara, Buendia, Mings, Duran, Konsa, and Diego Carlos.
Form Last Six League Games:
Home: LWLDDW
Away: LWDLWL
Aston Villa secured a 3-1 win over Fulham at Villa Park back in November and have won four of their last five encounters with Fulham. Villa are out of sorts at the moment and if Fulham can get a goal, they have every chance of winning this one. I think it will be close, and Villa could easily rediscover their form to win this game, so a draw is most likely the outcome.
Final score: 2-2
Newcastle - Bournemouth
Newcastle currently sit in seventh with 36 points while the Cherries are sitting in thirteenth with 27 points.
Howe's side managed a 3-2 away win over Nottingham Forest last weekend and moved themselves up to seventh in the table. Sitting 11 points off the top four means Champions League is unlikely next season, but Manchester United occupy sixth and sit only five points ahead of the Magpies. Seven points from their last three games has been decent form but Howe's side have conceded 16 goals in their last six league matches. They have also conceded three in each of their last three home games so a robust defence will be required to maintain their European push.
Bournemouth lost 3-1 away to Fulham last weekend and Iraola's men have slipped down in thirteenth with their recent poor run of form. Without a league win in five games, they sit seven points off the top half and eight points off relegation. They have been lethal in front of goal, scoring at least once in 14 of their last 15 league games, while scoring in each of their last eight away league games. Finding their previous form which saw them propel up the league will be imperative for the Cherries to push on towards the upper half of the league.
Newcastle will be missing Wilson, Tonali, Pope, Joelinton, Anderson, and Targett, while they also need to assess Willock, Isak, and Murphy. Bournemouth will be missing Billing, Adams, Hill, Fredericks, and Aarons. They will also need to check the fitness of Faivre.
Form Last Six League Games:
Home: LLLWDW
Away: WLLDDL
Bournemouth managed a 3-2 win over Newcastle at home back in November and Newcastle have only managed three wins against the Cherries in their previous ten league encounters. Bournemouth are on a three game winless run at St. James Park but there should be plenty of goals in this one. I think both defences will struggle here but Newcastle should emerge victorious in this clash.
Final score: 3-2
Nottingham Forest - West Ham
Forest are sitting in sixteenth with 21 points while West Ham are sitting in eight with 36 points.
Forest were beaten 3-2 at home against Newcastle last weekend and Forest are now four league games without a win. It was their thirteenth league defeat this season and they sit only two points off the bottom three. The Tricky Trees have only managed 11 clean sheets in their previous 62 league games as they have constantly shown their weakness in defence since their return to the Premier League. At home they have looked poor recently, losing six of their last seven at the City Ground and they have conceded in each of their last 13 league games.
Moyes witnessed his side getting destroyed in a 6-0 loss against Arsenal at home last weekend. It was a tough defeat for Moyes, with his side slipping to eight and sitting ten points off the top five. No wins in 2024 following an end to 2023 with 9 wins in 13 means their chances of returning to the Europa League next season are not as clear cut as they seemed. Their next four games are against teams below them in the standings and the club will need to address their poor form if they want to succeed in closing the five point gap to sixth placed Manchester United.
Nuno Santo will be missing Wood and Montiel, while they also need to check on the fitness of Sangare, Aina, and Boly. Moyes will only have to worry about the fitness of Paqueta going into this one.
Form Last Six League Games:
Home: WWLLDL
Away: WDDDLL
Moyes oversaw his side winning 3-2 at home against Nottingham Forest when these sides met in November, and both sides have looked weak at the back recently. I have a feeling there will be goals in this game, while the final outcome should be a sharing of the points.
Final score: 2-2
Tottenham - Wolves
Spurs are currently sitting in fourth with 47 points while Wolves are sitting in eleventh with 32 points.
Spurs managed a 2-1 home win over Brighton last weekend to move back into the top four. The Lilywhites made it a dramatic win and welcomed Son back from the Asian Cup. They have won five home league games in a row and scored multiple goals in each of them, ensuring that Postecoglou's side are once again showcasing their impressive early season form. Their defensive game has been lacking, with eight games passing since Spur last kept a clean sheet at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Sitting only a point ahead of Villa, the priority for Ange's side will be to establish themselves as a mainstay in the top four.
Wolves lost 2-0 to Brentford last weekend and fell out of the top half in the process. O'Neil's side had a devastating first-half injury when Cunha had to go off and the club will be missing his quality upfront. Wolves sit only four points off seventh placed Newcastle with Europe still in their sights, and they are unbeaten in their last five away matches across all competitions. They have lost their last two at Molineux but an away day could be exactly what the West Midlands Club require to push back into the top half.
Spurs will be missing Forster, Udogie, Porro, Solomon, and Sessegnon, while Lo Celso is also a doubt. Wolves will be without Cunha.
Form Last Six League Games:
Home: LWDWDW
Away: WWDLWL
Wolves managed a 2-1 home win over Spurs in November and Wolves have not lost against Spurs since back in August 2022. The Lilywhites will want to ensure Wolves don't secure a third league win in a row over their club, which would be the first time in their history for Wolves to achieve that feat if they win. Postecoglou will have options with his injury list getting lesser, and Spurs should see another three points on the board with a home win.
Final score: 2-0
Manchester City - Chelsea
City are currently second with 52 points while Chelsea are tenth with 34 points.
Pep's side beat Everton 2-0 at home last weekend and put the pressure on Liverpool in their title race. They followed that up with a midweek Champions League 3-1 win away in Copenhagen. This game will be a test for Pep, as his side look to continue a run of 11 wins in a row in all competitions. Defensively they have not looked so solid, conceding in 11 of their last 13 league games. City are unbeaten in their last 22 games at the Etihad in the league as their home fortress should help to push City on as they have Haaland firing in the goals once again.
Chelsea secured a 3-1 win at home against Crystal Palace last Monday night and Pochettino has seen his side score 8 time in their last three league games. Chelsea have been inconsistent and are languishing in mid-table for their struggling form, but they are 13 points off top four and realistically their best chance of getting into Europe may be their Carabao Cup final against Liverpool. For now Pochettino will need his side to demonstrate some consistency and ensure they can find goals against this rampaging City machine.
Manchester City will be missing Gvardiol and Grealish, while Silva and Gomez are doubts. Chelsea will be without Wesley Fofana, James, Badiashile, Lavia, Cucurella, and Ugochukwu. They will also need to assess Sanchez, Thiago Silva, and Chukwuemeka.
Form Last Six League Games:
Home: WWWWWW
Away: WWWLLW
These sides produced a thriller in a 4-4 draw back in November but City have won six of their last eight top-flight home meetings with Chelsea and will be confident going into this one. Chelsea have not beaten City since they met in the Champions League final back in 2021, and everybody will want another goal thriller like when these sides last met. I think City could teach Chelsea a lesson here, but I also feel that Chelsea could have enough youth and fire in them to secure a point before their Cup Final. It will be close, but a draw is on the cards.
Final score: 2-2
Sheffield United - Brighton
The Blades are bottom with 13 points while the Seagulls are ninth with 35 points.
Sheffield United beat relegation rivals Luton 3-1 away last weekend and moved level on points with Burnley in the process. Wilder's side have seven points to move level with Luton and away from the relegation zone, but the Blades know their awful goal difference will always be against them in the standings. They have not managed back-to-back Premier League wins since July 2020, with each of their 9 Premier League victories since immediately followed by defeat. A miracle is required to save their season and moving off the foot of the table will be seen as progress given their situation.
Brighton were unfortunate to lose 2-1 late on away to Spurs last weekend and fell to ninth in the standings. They now sit six points off the top six and De Zerbi's side have taken just two points from the last six on offer away from home. They have also failed to score in three of their last five away days in the Premier League, but they did show their scoring touch in the FA Cup against the Blades. Brighton have a comfortable sixteen point gap to the relegation zone but De Zerbi's side are in poor form and need to improve before they restart their Europa League adventure next month.
The Blades will be missing Basham, Norrington-Davies, Jebbison, Baldock, and Egan. They will also need to assess the fitness of McBurnie, Grbic, Hamer, and Brereton Diaz. The Seagulls will be missing March, Hinshelwood, Milner, Enciso, and Joao Pedro. They will also need to assess the fitness of Adingra.
Form Last Six League Games:
Home: LLDLLW
Away: WDDLWL
These sides drew 1-1 at the Amex in November while Brighton managed a 5-2 away win over Sheffield United in the FA Cup fourth round in January. Sheffield United have not lost against Brighton in the league since back in 2004/05 and will be hoping to keep that record intact here. Given the misery of Brighton away from the Amex this season I have a feeling the Blades can secure a point here.
Final score: 1-1
Luton - Manchester United
The Hatters sit in seventeenth with 20 points while United sit in sixth with 41 points.
Luton lost 3-1 at home against Sheffield United last weekend and in doing so ended their six-game unbeaten streak in all competitions. Before their loss against the Blades, Luton had managed to secure a nifty record of never losing at home in the Premier League by more than a single goal. The Hatters sit a point clear of relegation as they have surprised everyone in the league. They have scored in each of their last 11 league games and Edwards side have a game in hand over the sides below them.
United managed a 2-1 win away to Aston Villa last weekend and will be hoping to make it five wins in a row in all competitions as they visit Kenilworth Road. The rejuvenated Red Devils will have dreams of breaking into the top four, with six points separating them from fourth placed Spurs. They have scored at least twice in each game of 2024 so far while off the field the 25% purchase by Ratcliffe has been confirmed and approved. They go into this game looking for a fifth win in a row on the road and four league wins on the bounce.
The Hatters will be missing Nakamba, Andersen, and Lockyer, while Hashioka is also a doubt. United will be without Martinez, Martial, Malacia, Mount, and Wan-Bissaka, while they need to assess Shaw.
Form Last Six League Games:
Home: WLDWDL
Away: WLDWWW
Ten Hag's side managed a narrow 1-0 victory over Luton at Old Trafford back in November and United are unbeaten in their last 12 games with the Hatters. United have still shown defensive vulnerabilities but their attack is clicking, so while Luton should put up a good fight and get on the score sheet, United should managed to emerge with a victory.
Final score: 1-2
Everton - Crystal Palace
The Toffees make up the relegation zone sitting in eighteenth with 19 points while Palace are sitting in fifteenth with 24 points.
Everton were beaten 2-0 away to Manchester City last weekend and remain firmly in the relegation zone, sitting a point behind Luton having played a game more. Dyche's side sit five points off Palace and this will be a huge game in their relegation battle, with an appeal and potential further points deduction looming. Seven games without a win and another nervy end to the season awaits the Toffees, and they have failed to score in four of their last five league games to further add pressure on Dyche's troops.
Hodgson's side lost 3-1 away to Chelsea last Monday night and the manager has been taken to the hospital since after becoming ill at training. Palace were undone by late goals last time out and enter this game with two wins in their last six league games. Palace are winless on the road in their last six away league games, and another loss at Goodison would make it five away league loses in a row. Not since early November have Palace kept a clean sheet in the league, and sitting only five points above the relegation zone means they cannot afford another defeat.
Everton will be without Danjuma, Alli, and Gomes, while Godfrey and Doucoure will need to be assessed. Palace will be without Doucoure, Holding, Olise, Eze, Guehi, and Rak-Sakyi. There is also a doubt over the fitness of Hughes.
Form Last Six League Games:
Home: LLDDDL
Away: LWLWLL
Everton managed to beat Palace 3-2 at Selhurst Park back in November while also knocking Palace out of the FA Cup after a replay at Goodison in January. A win would be massive for Everton and move them to within two points of Palace, and I can see that happening here. The home crowd should spur their side on while injuries for Palace will ruin any chance of them gaining something from this match.
Final score: 1-0
Match Prediction Summary
Brentford 1-3 Liverpool
Burnley 1-3 Arsenal
Fulham 2-2 Aston Villa
Newcastle 3-2 Bournemouth
Nottingham Forest 2-2 West Ham
Tottenham 2-0 Wolves
Manchester City 2-2 Chelsea
Sheffield United 1-1 Brighton
Luton 1-2 Manchester United
Everton 1-0 Crystal Palace
Check out my 2023/24 Season Predictions here: Predictions 23/24 Season
Have a great day, I hope you enjoyed the preview of the matches and get to see the games.
Peace. CryptoGod-1.
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