Good day everyone,

I hope you are all well and having an excellent start to the week, welcome to CryptoGod-1’s blog on all things sports. This round of games will see huge relegation battles between Leeds and Leicester and also Southampton and Bournemouth, Liverpool will look to continue their running form away to Wet Ham, United and Arsenal battle it out in the race for top four, while at the top of the table the title battle between Manchester City and Arsenal is the standout fixture this week.

Fixtures — Times are shown as U.K. Time

This weeks round of fixtures will see ten games kicking off on Tuesday evening until Thursday evening.

Tuesday 25th April 2023

Wolves - Crystal Palace 7.30pm KO (Kick Off)

Aston Villa - Fulham 7.45pm KO

Leeds - Leicester 8pm KO

Wednesday 26th April 2023

Nottingham Forest - Brighton 7.30pm KO

Chelsea - Brentford 7.45pm KO

West Ham - Liverpool 7.45pm KO

Manchester City - Arsenal 8pm KO

Thursday 27th April 2023

Everton - Newcastle 7.45pm KO

Southampton - Bournemouth 7.45pm KO

Tottenham - Manchester United 8.15pm 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 week matches. Remember this is just my fun analysis and should not be taken as advice or a guarantee.

Wolves - Crystal Palace

Wolves are in fourteenth with 34 points as they face twelfth placed Crystal Palace who have 37 points. Lopetegui saw his side crumble against Leicester last time out and will need an immediate response as he looks to guarantee their safety in the league. They are six points clear of the drop entering their final six matches, but they have managed to scored in each of their last seven league games. They were on a three game winning run prior to the Leicester game and will look to get back on track here, knowing they are too close to let it slip now. They have been strong at home, with five wins from their last seven league games at Molineux. Palace meanwhile drew with Everton last time out as the perfect start for Hodgson came to an end. His side are by far in the best position of the relegation candidates, with nine points between them and the bottom. A win against Wolves would make it three away wins in the league for the first time since May 2019 and Hodgson will be keen to continue their impressive run of winning each of their last four against Wolves. Lopetegui will be without Kalajdzic and Francisco Oliveira, while there are doubts over the fitness of Boubacar Traore and Lemina. Hodgson meanwhile will be missing Ferguson while both Clyne and Zaha remain doubts. Wolves have two wins and three defeats in their last six league games, while Palace have three wins and two defeats in their last six in the league. Palace beat Wolves 2-1 when these sides met earlier this season. This is likely to be an interesting one as both side can as good as ensure their league status with a win here, and with them so close to each other is the standing this is likely to be an even contest. I think it could be decided by a single goal for either side, but a draw is the most likely outcome and both sides will settle for a 2-2 draw.

Aston Villa - Fulham

Sixth placed Aston Villa with 51 points welcome ninth placed Fulham who have 45 points. Villa managed to secure a point against Brentford last time on as their push for Europe continues, although they were not at their best and it took a late goal to savage a point. They have continued their incredible run of scoring in every game under the Spaniard, although their five game winning run in the league came to and end. Eight points off fourth might make the Champions League a push too far but they could easily secure a place in the Europa League with Spurs only two points ahead of them. They have won their last four at Villa Park and didn't concede in any of those games. Fulham meanwhile managed to secure a win against Leeds last time out. They had struggled without Mitrovic but seem to have discovered the formula of scoring without him. Their struggles seem to be more focused at the back, currently on a run of seven games without a clean sheet. They have also only managed to win two of their previous six away games in the league as their surprise bid for Europe seems to be stumbling at the last. Emery will be without Steer while Martinez, Coutinho, Bailey, Boubacar Kamara, and Cash are doubts. Silva will travel to the midlands without Kurzawa and Mitrovic, while James is a doubt. Villa have five wins and a draw in their last six league games, while Fulham have two wins and four defeats in their last six in the league. Fulham comfortably beat Villa 3-0 when they faced off earlier in the season, albeit Gerrard was in charge of Villa back then. While Fulham have found a way to survive without their focal point in Mitrovic, I feel Villa might be too strong for them here. Assuming Villa show up, unlike their last game, then they should be able to control this game and get another win in their push for Europe. Fulham wont make it easy, but I can see this one ending 3-1 to Villa.

Leeds - Leicester

Leeds are in sixteenth placed with 29 points and face fellow relegation rivals Leicester, who are in seventeenth and a single point behind their hosts. Leeds fell to a 2-1 defeat against Fulham last time out, following their 6-1 dismantling against Liverpool. The Elland Road faithful will be getting anxious as they slip closer to the relegation places, suffering with three defeats in a row. They have the second worst defence in the league, conceding one less that Bournemouth at 62 goals. While plenty have been shipped in their last two home games against Palace and Liverpool, Leeds have been able to score as they are on a run of seven games in a row where they found the back of the net. What they need is to stop conceding. Leicester meanwhile got their first win under Dean Smith as they beat Wolves last time out. A relieved King Power Stadium crowd saw their first win in ten league games, and a vital one at that. They managed to move back out of the bottom three, albeit on goal difference. They did concede, which makes it thirteen games in a row without a clean sheet in all tournaments, and ensuring they are more solid at the back will be vital to staying up. Their away form is also a worry, having collected just one point from their previous five away games and Smith will have plenty of work to do in reversing this trend. Leeds will be without Dallas and Adams for this one. Leicester will travel without Vestergaard, Pereira, and Justin, while doubts remain over the fitness of Vardy, Evans, Barnes, Maddison, and Bertrand. Leeds have two wins and four defeats in their last six league games. Leicester meanwhile have one win and four defeats in their last six in the league. The last time these sides met Leicester managed a 2-0 win. Everything is on the line here in this one. Both these sides need points and likely neither would be happy with a draw. With both the defences is such poor form I expect plenty of goals here, with both sides going for it. Leicester will have that spring in their step following their win over Wolves, and it could prove the decider in this one. I think an end-to-end open game will suit these sides and it will be one goal in it, but I am backing Leicester to have that bit more about them and secure a 2-3 win at Elland Road. 

Nottingham Forest - Brighton

Forest find themselves in nineteenth with 27 points as they battle it out against eight placed Brighton on 49 points. Cooper saw his side fall to a 3-2 defeat away to Liverpool last time out but they put up an excellent fight. They have only 18& possession but managed to come back and level the scores twice, and now find themselves one point from safety. Their form has been poor, with three draws and eight defeats since their last win in the league. However, their home form is strong with only two defeats in their last twelves at the City Ground. They have seen positive results at home against the likes of Liverpool, City, and Chelsea, so will always have that belief when in front of their own fans. Brighton meanwhile lost their FA Cup semi final against Manchester United on penalties over the weekend, seeing their amazing cup run come to an end. They have plenty still to play for, sitting ten points off top four but having up to three games in hand over their rivals. They have also only lost one of their last seven league games, and two of their last 13 in the league. Brighton have also scored at least twice in nine of their previous twelve league fixtures and are well poised to make a late surge for the European places. Cooper will be without Biancone, Wood, Boly, Aurier, Yates, Kouyate, Richards, McKenna, and Henderson, while they also have doubts over the fitness of Scarpa and Colback. De Zerbi meanwhile will be without Lallana, Mwepu, and Sarmiento, with doubts over Ferguson and Welbeck. Forest have one draw and five defeats in their last six in the league, while Brighton have three wins and two draws in their last six league games. When these sides faced off in the reverse fixture it was a nil all draw back in October. Brighton may well be drained from their extra time game against United on Sunday, but they can also be proud of their display. They will be ready to get back into the action here and show they are capable of mixing it with the big boys in Europe by securing a win away to Forest. It wont be easy at the City Ground and Forest have so much to play for, but I think Brighton will just about manage a 1-2 away win here.

Chelsea - Brentford

Chelsea are in eleventh with 39 points and face the team above them, Brentford, who have 44 points. Things have not gone quite to plan since Lampard arrived back in the manager hotseat, with Chelsea still looking for their first victory under his stewardship. Four games, four defeats, and just one goal scored since he returned makes for poor reading. They are 20 points off top four and 11 points off top seven so their chances of European football next season are gone. They are also in danger of their worst league finish in 27 years as Chelsea sit in the bottom half of the table. Their 30 goals scored is the fifth worst in the league and there over bloated squad looks like a big mistake from Boehly. The fans are beginning to question what is happening at the club and there seems like no quick fix solution. Brentford meanwhile have seen their European hopes take a knock recently as they have slipped down the table into tenth. They draw with Villa last time out and are on a winless run of six league games. The positives are there for all to see as they have more than outperformed expectations, with Toney getting his 19th league goal last time out. They are on course for their highest-ever Premier League finish and a win here over Chelsea would help to ensure they finish the season in the top half. Their away form would not give much hope for that though as they have only managed three away wins from sixteen in the league this season. Lampard will be missing Koulibaly and Broja for this one. Brentford meanwhile will be without Ajer, Lewis-Potter and Jansson, while they have doubts over the fitness of Norgaard. Chelsea have one win and three defeats in their last six in the league, while Brenford have three draws and three defeats in their last six league games. The reverse fixture saw these sides play out a nil all draw back in October. Brentford have conceded in nine of their last twelve league games, while Chelsea cannot score for love nor money these days. It should be an interesting game, albeit not a goalfest. I think Chelsea will struggle here as they still search for an identity, and Thomas Frank will need to take advantage of that. The Bees have the players to cause Chelsea problems and therefore I think they could cause a shock result with a 0-2 away win here.

West Ham - Liverpool

The Hammers are in thirteenth with 34 points as they welcome seventh placed Liverpool, who have 50 points, to the London Stadium. Moyes will be delighted with how his side demolished Bournemouth last time out, following on from their Conference League progress into the semi finals. They are now six points clear of the drop zone and have that comfort of knowing they are edging closer to safety while having a game in hand on most of their relegation rivals. They are unbeaten in their last five games in all tournaments and have lost just once in their last ten games across all competitions. They have also managed to score in all of their home league games so far in 2023, and only Fulham have been beaten them in their last 20 games against top half sides. Liverpool meanwhile twice allowed Forest back into their game at Anfield before finally scoring the winner to secure the three points. Their late push for the Champions League places could be in vain as they sit nine points off fourth, but their are certainly putting in the fight. The Reds' attack are firing on all cylinders but their defence has been suspect and will need adressing. However, with 11 goals in their last three Premier League matches they can rely on that end of the pitch, but Klopp will need to improve his sides away form which sees just two wins from their last nine away league games. Moyes will be missing Scamacca for this one, while Klopp will be travelling to London without Firmino, Ramsay, Keita, or Bajcetic. West Ham have managed to win three and draw two of their last six in the league, while Liverpool have two wins and two draws from their last six league games. Both sides have plenty to play for here as Liverpool still have belief of getting into the Champions League, or at the very least the Europa League, while West Ham will look to secure their league stats as soon as possible. This should therefore be an open and end-to-end encounter with plenty of chances and goals. Liverpool could rotate here but have goalscorers everywhere in their attack, and therefore I will back them to do the job and secure a vital away win with a result of 2-4.

Manchester City - Arsenal

The top two battle it out here it what could be a deciding factor in who wins the Premier League title, with second place City on 70 points, and with two games in hand, facing top of the table Arsenal who have 75 points. City are fighting for a treble and already have a FA Cup final and Champions League semi final booked, now all they need is a win at home to Arsenal to put themselves firmly in the driving seat for the league title. They comfortably beat Sheffield United in the FA Cup and beat Leicester last time out in the league. They are unbeaten in 16 successive matches across all tournaments, with 13 wins in that run. They have however only managed two clean sheets in their last ten league games and that will give Arsenal hope going into this one. Arteta saw his side drop points in their last three league games to allow City right back into the title race and lose their cushion at the top. Draws with Liverpool, West Ham, and recently Southampton has rocked the confidence in London and another other than a win away to City will give Pep's side control of the title race. They have also failed to keep a clean sheet in their last six league games but they are still the best performing away side in the league, with 36 points taken away from home out of the 48 available. They have also managed to score at least twice in each of their last eight league games, but their record against City is poor, having  lost each of their last 11 Premier League games against their title rivals. Pep will be without Ake for this one, while Arteta will be missing Tomiyasu, Elneny, and Saliba while there are doubts over  Xhaka. City have six wins out of their last six league games, while Arsenal have three wins and three draws from their last six in the league. City overcame Arsenal three times already this season, by 3-1 in the league and also in both domestic cups. While many neutrals are pushing for Arsenal purely due to the dominance City have shown over the last decade in the league, unfortunately I can only see one winner here. Pep will ensure his side dont slip up and give themselves that advantage over Arsenal. They will win and likely put up a big result against a confidence stricken Arsenal, while Haaland could also break the league's goal scoring record here so expect him to be on form. I am going for a 3-1 home win for City to put a huge dent in Arsenal's title hopes and push themselves forward for that elusive treble.

Everton - Newcastle

Struggling Everton, sitting in eighteenth with 28 points, will be up against it as they welcome third placed Newcastle, who have 59 points, to Goodison Park. The Toffees managed a draw with Palace last time out but find themselves in the relegation zone on goal difference. They could find that to be a very valuable point come the end of the campaign, as they have just one win in their last nine in the league. Being in the relegation places on goal difference alone means they have every chance of dragging themselves out of it, but their fixtures ahead are not kind. Games against Brighton and City will be their other tough tests, but fixtures with other relegation rivals Bournemouth, Wolves, and most importantly Leicester is where they need to gain maximum points to stay up. Dyche has seen his side fail to win in their last five but Goodison is still a resilient ground and their twelfth man. They will need the fans as they face a Newcastle side who put six past Tottenham last time out, with five of them in the opening 21 minutes. Howe has done better than anybody expected and they are ahead of United on goal difference, and crucially ahead of Spurs by six points. The Champions League is waiting for them and their free-scoring style is taking the league by storm. Howe will be aware that Dyche has beaten him in six of their nine league encounters, but the odds are in Newcastle's favour. For all their strong form at home, Newcastle did lose to Villa in their last away league game and will need to ensure they do not suffer a similar fate here, especially with Liverpol and Brighton having games in hand in their hopes of a late push into the top four. Dyche will be missing Vinagre, Alli, Holgate, Doucoure, Coleman, and Townsend, while there are also doubts over Onana. Howe will travel to Merseyside without Krafth and Fraser, while also having doubts over the fitness of Saint-Maximin and Schar. Everton have one win and three draws in their last six league games, while Newcastle have five wins and one defeat from their last six in the league. When this sides met in the reverse fixture it finished 1-0 to Newcastle. Everton will try to absorb the pressure here and stop Newcastle having the freedom which Spurs allowed them. Dyche will make sure they are compact and difficult to break down so Newcastle wont have it easy here. Even though it will be a tough match, I think Newcastle will be too strong and therefore they should be getting a 1-2 away win here to boost their top four hopes while putting further misery on Everton.

Southampton - Bournemouth

Bottom of the table Southampton, with 24 points, face off against fifteenth placed Bournemouth who have 33 points. The Saints are up against it to remain in the division, and let an amazing lead against Arsenal slip last time out. However, a point against the league leaders could be invaluable come the end of the season. That followed a run of three straight defeats but they put in a valiant display to earn a point with Arsenal. Now they need to build on that, but they are winless in seven league games and have lost each of their last four home league games. Their ten defeats at St. Mary's in the league this season is the highest rate of home loses in the division, and their joint-most in a single league campaign. Bournemouth meanwhile will be looking for their third away win in a row for the first time in the Premier League, and to move past their drubbing against West Ham on the weekend. It was their seventeenth defeat of the season and only five points off the relegation zone. After this they play another relegation rival in Leeds and ensuring they take as many points as possible will be key to staying up. O'Neil knows they have their fate in their own hands and wins would ensure their safety, while anything less than that could see them dragged back into the mix for the drop. The Saints will be without Maitland-Niles, Larios, and Salisu, while they have doubts over Adams, Bednarek, and Livramento. Bournemouth will be missing Stephens, Fredericks, and Stanislas, while they have doubts over Traore. Southampton have two draws and four defeats in their last six league games, while Bournemouth have three wins and three defeats in their last six in the league. It finished with a narrow 1-0 win for Southampton when these sides faced off earlier in the season, while Southampton also beat the Cherries in the FA Cup. This is a massive game for both sides, there is no doubt about it. Southampton cannot afford to lose again at home while Bournemouth will know the away team has been the victor in these fixtures the previous four times they faced off. I think that will change this time, although I don't think it will be a win for the home side either. Both of these sides have vulnerabilities and could easily be out done by the other, but all in all I think it will end as a 2-2 draw.

Tottenham - Manchester United

Fifth placed Spurs who have 53 points welcome fourth placed United for this one, who have 59 points on the board. Its been a difficult couple of days for Spurs, having been played off the park by Newcastle before Stellini was relieved of his position, leaving them without a manager once again. Ryan Mason will take charge for the time being as Spurs look deflated in their top four bid. Both United and Newcastle are six points ahead of them and anything less than a win here will all but signal the end of their Champions League qualification ambitions. With two wins taken in their last nine games in all competitions, they also need to watch for Brighton and Liverpool closing in with games in hand. Their five game winning run at home ended against Bournemouth but they have both scored and conceded in each of their last six games, so sorting the defence seems the biggest issue at hand. As for United, Ten Hag saw his side overcome Brighton on penalties on Sunday to reach the FA Cup final. They are six points above Spurs thanks to a three game winning run, and not since Sir Alex Ferguson's final season in 2012/13 did they succeed in winning four top-flight games on the bounce without conceding. They will be tired from the 120 minute game on the weekend but the elevation of reach a second domestic cup final will likely have them soaring, and help rid the disappointment of their Europa League defeat against Sevilla. Spurs will be missing Bentancur, Lloris, Bissouma, Sessegnon, and Emerson Royal, while they have injury concerns over Lucas Moura. Ten Hag meanwhile will be without Martinez, van de Beek, Varane, Heaton, Jones, Garnacho, Fernandes, and Greenwood, while also having doubts over McTominay. Spurs have managed two wins and two draws in their last six in the league, while United have three wins and two defeats in their last six league games. United managed to beat Spurs 2-0 when these sides met last October, but United have an awful record away from home against sides in the top half of the table. Spurs may just prove a tough opposition here. Unlike Conte or Stellini, Mason will demand passion from his players and wont be afraid to make big calls. He will only have a bit of time to instil his instructions but the players will likely give him the respect he commands. Ten Hag wont have it easy here and with Fernandes likely out it could be a huge loss. Only time will tell but I am backing Spurs to put up a better fight here and therefore I can see them getting a narrow 2-1 home win against United.

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.

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