Good day everyone,
I hope you are all well and had an excellent week, welcome to CryptoGod-1’s blog on all things sports. This weekend will see eight games due to the FA Cup semi finals, as Arsenal have the choice to widen the gap at the top, strugglers Everton face a tough trip to Palace, Liverpool will look to get back on track against Forest, and Newcastle battle with Spurs in the race for fourth.
Fixtures — Times are shown as U.K. Time
This weeks round of fixtures will see eight games kicking off on Friday evening until Sunday evening, with two matches postponed due to the FA Cup semi finals.
Friday 21st April 2023
Arsenal - Southampton 8pm KO (Kick Off)
Saturday 22nd April 2023
Fulham - Leeds 12.30pm KO
Brentford - Aston Villa 3pm KO
Crystal Palace - Everton 3pm KO
Leicester - Wolves 3pm KO
Liverpool - Nottingham Forest 3pm KO
Sunday 23rd April 2023
Bournemouth - West Ham 2pm KO
Newcastle - Tottenham 2pm 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.
Arsenal - Southampton
Top of the table faces bottom here as Arsenal, on 74 points, host Southampton who has amassed 23 points so far this campaign. Arsenal have stumbled in their last two games, blowing two goal leads against both Liverpool and West Ham to see Manchester City climb to within four points of them and having a game in hand. Prior to that they were on a seven game winning streak. Even if Arsenal win and have that cushion of seven points, they face their title rivals away from home next weekend, meaning they can afford no more slip ups. Their home record is the second best in the league but facing a Southampton side fighting for their life may not be as easy as it seems on paper. The Saints have managed to gather 13 of their points this season away from home, including four wins. With games running out and their Premier League status in danger, they will need to get some points on the board having lost four of their last five. They are four points from safety are actually unbeaten in their last two games against Arsenal, having picked up four points in the process. Arsenal will be missing Saliba, Tomiyasu, and Elneny, while Zinchenko is a doubt. As for Southampton, they will be without Larios, Orsic, Salisu, and Maitland-Niles, while Adams and Livramento are doubts. Arsenal have four wins and two draws in their last six league games, while Southampton have two draws and four defeats in their last six in the league. These sides played out a 1-1 draw when they faced off back in October. This one could be a huge banana skin for Arsenal, especially after their recent results. Is the pressure getting to them in the title race? The Saints will hope so and if they can get anything from this game it will be a huge result. I think Arteta will have drilled his side this week to ensure they do not slip up again before the crunch game away to City. Therefore, I think it will be close and a dogged game but Arsenal should win at home with a 3-1 result on Friday night.
Fulham - Leeds
The Cottagers are currently in tenth with 42 points as they welcome sixteenth placed Leeds, who have 29 points, to Craven Cottage. Fulham have impressed beyond all belief this season, with many expecting they to be in the midst of a relegation battle at this stage of the campaign. While they have dropped off of late, they are safely sitting mid table thanks to a win over Everton last time out which ended a run of four straight league loses. Their last two home games were defeats where Fulham failed to score, and the loss of Mitrovic is being felt throughout the team. All being said they have more than out passed any expectations and can be assured of their place in the league next season. Leeds on the other hand are not so confident and were torn apart at home by Liverpool on Monday evening. They have conceded a total of 60 goals from their 31 matches, with 20 of those coming in their last six games. They are two points above the bottom three and Gracia will be desperate for them to improve their away form having only picked up nine points on the road all season. They could be right back in the bottom three after this round of games if things go against them and the feeling of late is they are incapable of holding it together once they go behind. Fulham will be missing Kebano, Mitrovic, James, and Kurzawa. Leeds meanwhile will be without Adams and Dallas, while Bamford is a doubt. Fulham have one win and four defeats in their last six league games, while Leeds have two wins and three defeats in their last six in the league. Fulham managed a 3-2 away win back in October when these two played the reverse fixture. Leeds have managed to score in each of their last six in the league, but have been a mess at the back to dent their survival hopes. Fulham may have taken their foot off the gas now they have more than accomplished their status in the league, but Silva is likely to push them back to their high levels here. Therefore I am going to back Fulham for a narrow win against a struggling Leeds side, with the final score being 2-1.
Brentford - Aston Villa
Brentford are in ninth with 43 points as fellow European hopefuls Villa, who have 50 points and sit in sixth. Brentford have slipped down the ranking of late and their European dreams are beginning to fade, having lost their last three in the league including last time out against Wolves. They have managed just one clean sheet in their last ten games but despite their recent diminishing form, they are one win off matching last seasons points tally. They have also only failed to score in two of their last seventeen home games and the Gtech Community Stadium will be hoping for more goals this weekend. Villa meanwhile have soared up the table under Emery, beating Newcastle last time out and they have now managed to win seven of their last eight matches. They have five wins in a row and have won six of eight away games under Emery in the league. Despite the difficult start to the season, Villa can have real hopes of getting into a European competition next season while they pin their hopes on Watkins, who has 11 goals in his last twelve league games. Brentford will be missing Jansson, Lewis-Potter, and Ajer. Villa meanwhile will be without Cash, Kamara, Coutinho, Bailey, and Steer. The Bees have won one and lost three of their previous six in the league, while Villa have won five and drawn one of their previous six league games. When these side met in the reverse fixture Villa comfortably won the game 4-0 last October. Both these teams will be more than capable of creating a spectacle here, and I dont expect either side to sit back in this one. It will be a close and tight game, and with the pressure off in both camps, I expect goals in this one. Therefore I am going for a narrow Villa win in a goal fest, with the final score being 2-3.
Crystal Palace - Everton
Hodgson has done an excellent job since coming in and has Palace sitting in twelfth with 36 points. They welcome Everton to Selhurst Park but Dyche will be aware his tenure has not gone as smooth, with Everton sitting in seventeenth with 27 points. Palace have managed three wins in a row under Hodgson and look a team capable of beating anyone, as showed in their recent wins over Leeds and Southampton. While they are not mathematically clear of relegation just yet, they are in the best position of the teams in the dogfight. A win here would see them draw level with Chelsea and all but ensure their safety, and they also ended a run of six games without a clean sheet in their win over Southampton. Everton meanwhile lost to Fulham last time out and it was a poor performance in truth. They are four league games without a win and just above the relegation zone on goal difference. They have also gone a staggering eleven away games without a win in the league, dating back to Southampton in October. Only Forest have a worse away record and the Toffees have also conceded at least twice in all of their away league games in 2023. Past encounters are with Everton though, as Palace have only managed to beat the Merseyside outfit once in their previous sixteen meetings. Palace will be without Zaha, Clyne, and Guaita, while Ferguson is also a doubt. Everton will be missing Onana, Alli, Coleman, Doucoure, and Townsend, while Vinagre and Calvert-Lewin are doubts. Palace have won three and lost three of their last six league games, while Everton have won once and drawn three times in their previous six league matches. The reverse fixture this season saw Everton win the game 3-0 back in October. I cannot see Everton doing the double over Palace this season, and with Eze and Olise in such good form, I can only back one side here. Hodgson will drag his side level with Chelsea to put more pressure on Boehley's team, while Everton will be in real trouble in terms of fighting relegation. A 3-1 home win is on the cards here.
Leicester - Wolves
The Foxes are in trouble as they sit in nineteenth with 25 points and face Wolves, who have 34 points and sit in thirteenth, at the King Power Stadium. Leicester are looking to stop the rot and avoid a tenth league game in a row without a win, having lost to Manchester City last time out in Dean Smith's first game in charge. It was the Foxes 20th defeat of the season in the league and twelve of those have taken place in their last sixteen games. They are two points from safety and are yet to keep a clean sheet since the World Cup break. Wolves meanwhile have won their last two against Chelsea and Brentford after a run of three games without a win. Those victories have seen them climb up the table and they sit a comfortable seven points above the relegation places. Lopetegui has a tough fixture list for the run in but they will be looking at this game as the one to get them ever close to the magic 40 point mark. However their away form against Leicester is quite poor, having only managed one win in their last 25 away league visits. Leicester will be missing Ricardo Pereira and Justin, while Barnes and Bertrand are doubts. Wolves will be without Kalajdzic, Francisco Oliveira, Ruben Neves, and Jonny Otto, while Diego Costa and Boubacar Traore are doubts. The Foxes have one draw and five defeats in their previous six league games, while Wolves have three wins and two defeats in their last six in the league. Leicester managed a 4-0 win over Wolves when these side faced off last October in the league. Both sides have it all to play for, as Wolves winning would put them within two points on Fulham in tenth place and a possible push into the top half. Leicester meanwhile need to drag themselves away from the relegation zone. While this could easily end up as a draw with both sides putting their all into it, I think Wolves will be too good for Leicester and therefore I am going for a 1-2 away win.
Liverpool - Nottingham Forest
A resurgent Liverpool, who are currently eight with 47 points welcome eighteenth placed Forest with 27 points to Anfield. The Reds breezed past Leeds on Monday night, in doing so putting six past them and recording their first win over a bottom six team this season. According to Klopp it was their best counter-pressing and possession performance of the season and Liverpool are now nine points off Newcastle in fourth. They have a game in hand and the race is far from over, but it will be tough. They are unbeaten in seven home league games and will need to continue winning after a run of five games without a win, dating back to their win over United, they only face Spurs from the teams above them between now and the end of the season. A returning Diaz will also boost Liverpool hopes further, as will the impressive sight of Alexander-Arnold in midfield. Forest meanwhile lost to United last time out and are right back in the relegation mix. They are without a win in ten league games and have lost each of their last three. Goal difference has them behind Everton and just below the dotted line, and they have also gone ten games without a clean sheet in the league. Their last five away games have also ended in defeat as the odds seem against the Tricky Trees here. Liverpool will be without Keita, Ramsay, and Bajcetic for this one. Forest meanwhile will be missing Richards, Kouyate, Henderson, Biancone, Wood, and Boly, while Aurier, Yates, and Scarpa are doubts. Liverpool have two wins and two draws in their last six league games, while Forest have one draw and five defeats in their last six in the league. Forest managed a surprise 1-0 home win when these two faced off in the league last October. There can only be one winner in this one. While this season has been full of false dawns for Liverpool, it has generally been a win over one of the top side followed by a poor showing against one of the bottom teams. However, in dismantling Leeds, Liverpool are now poised to put another of the relegation battling teams to the sword. They should win, and win comfortably here, with a final score of 4-0.
Bournemouth - West Ham
The Cherries are currently fourteenth with 33 points and face a Hammers side sitting in fifteenth with 31 points. Bournemouth have managed wins over Leicester and Spurs recently to push themselves up the table and six six points clear of the relegation zone. Their home form is strong, having scored in nine of their last eleven home games while winning four in their last ten at home across all competitions. Having record back to back wins for the first time this season Bournemouth will look to make it three wins in a row here, but their return of 15 league goals at home is only better than two other sides in the league. West Ham meanwhile booked their Europa Conference League semi final place on Thursday night after drawing against Arsenal in the league last weekend. They have only lost one of their last five matches, winning two of those five games. Their away form leaves a lot to be desired, with only Forest picking up less than West Ham's nine away points this season. Moyes will know his side are not out of the relegation battle yet, sitting four points above the drop, and he will be keen not to allow their European adventure to distract the players in these final weeks. Bournemouth wont have Fredericks or Stanislas available, while they will need to assess Traore ahead of this one. The Hammers meanwhile will be without Scamacca, while Aguerd and Ogbonna are doubts. The Cherries have four wins and two defeats in their last six in the league, while Moyes has seen his side win two and draw two of their last six league matches. West Ham won the reverse fixture 2-0 back in October. Bournemouth will be the fresher of the two sides but West Ham will have their tails up, especially after talking a point off Arsenal last time out. The Cherries are well poised to stay up if they can navigate their final few games of the season, and every point will be a step closer to survival. Therefore I am going for a 1-1 draw in this game.
Newcastle - Tottenham
A huge clash as fourth place Newcastle, with 56 points, face off against fifth place Spurs who have 53 points. Newcastle will look to return to winning ways here having been surprised by Aston Villa last time out. Their quest for Champions League football is still very much alive as they sit three points above Spurs in this crunch match. Prior to their lose last weekend Howe's side had won five league games in a row and they have showed an unwavering resilience in their quest to realise their dream of Champions League football. Isak has been their key man, with five goals in his last six games since returning from injury. As for Spurs, their have only won one game with Stellini in charge having replaced Conte and their stuttering form is putting top four in doubt. They are winless in their last four league away games, and lost their last league fixture against Bournemouth last time out. The discontent is obvious and the dressing room is clearly low on confidence. A defeat here could all but end their hopes of another year in the Champions League, while they also face the prospect of stars such as Kane considering his options in the summer. Newcastle will be without Saint-Maximin, Fraser, and Krafth, while Spurs will be without Lenglet, Bentancur, Bissouma, Davies, Sessegnon, Lucas Moura, and Emerson Royal. Newcastle have managed to win five and lose one of their last six in the league, while Spurs have two wins and two draws in their last six league games. Newcastle won the reverse fixture 2-1 back in October. This is one of the more interesting games this weekend, as not only these two sides will have an interest in the result, so will all the teams in and around them chasing European football. A loss for either side could really damage the other in terms of getting into the top four, and a draw would not do much for them either. As low as Liverpool in eight still have a chance of top four and therefore the pressure will be on for this one. I think it could go either way, but I feel that Newcastle will wobble once more and allow Spurs into this one, with the final score being 2-2.
Check out my 2022/23 Season Preview and Predictions here: Premier League 2022/23 Prediction
You can also find my updated predictions after the Round of 16 Champions League draw here: Champions League 22/23 Round of 16 Draw & Prediction
Have a great day, I hope you enjoyed the preview of the matches and get to see the games.
Have a great day.
Peace. CryptoGod-1.
Referral Links and Follow Me:
