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Up to date:
Apr 1, 2023 2:18 am
We check out a few of this weekend’s Premier League video games after the worldwide break, together with a high-stakes sport at The Etihad the place Man Metropolis entertain Liverpool, and a few crunch video games involving a number of the sides on the backside of the desk.
This Week’s premier League Fixtures
Man Metropolis v Liverpool
Arsenal v Leeds
Bournemouth v Fulham
Brighton v Brentford
Crystal Palace v Leicester
Nottingham Forest v Wolves
Chelsea v Aston Villa
West Ham v Southampton
Newcastle v Man United
Everton v Tottenham Hotspur
Man Metropolis v Liverpool
What a sport to kick the Premier League again off with. These two sides have a lot latest historical past, and while circumstances could also be completely different for Liverpool this season, we should always nonetheless see a extremely entertaining and feisty encounter this time round. Metropolis wants factors to cease Arsenal from opening up a possible 10-point hole, and Liverpool must claw their manner into the highest 4.
Metropolis signed off earlier than the worldwide break with a slender 1-0 win away towards Crystal Palace. It was a routine win, proscribing Palace to no pictures on the right track, however they didn’t make their dominance pay. They relied on a 78th-minute penalty to win the sport, regardless of creating a large number of possibilities. They should be higher than this towards Liverpool.
That is the explanation Metropolis introduced Haaland in, to make the distinction in these tight video games. Sure, he scored from the penalty spot, as you’d anticipate him to, however many gamers earlier than him have missed in these conditions. He carries and thrives off the strain. It’s an unbelievable effort from him to attain 28 targets thus far this season, and I might anticipate him to simply clear the 30-goal mark earlier than the tip of the season.
The strain is not only on Haaland, nevertheless. It’s on the squad as a complete. They can’t afford to drop factors on this title race, particularly not when Arsenal play Leeds at dwelling after Metropolis’s sport towards Liverpool. Any dropped factors between now and the tip of the season might deal a deadly blow to Metropolis’s title hopes. They should play this one rigorously as Liverpool will pay attention to their state of affairs.
I’ve mentioned it time and time once more this season, however Liverpool is such a complicated facet this season. One week they beat one of many inform groups within the league, and their fiercest rivals, Man United. Not solely do they beat them, however they completely demolish them 7-0, making it seem like males towards boys. On the again of that top, they journey to strugglers Bournemouth and go and lose 1-0.
The dearth of consistency is extraordinarily regarding, particularly contemplating their previous couple of seasons the place they have been so laborious to beat. Sure, Liverpool has struggled with accidents this 12 months, however each group goes by way of a section of coping with blows to key gamers. Van Dijk, and the remainder of their defence, haven’t been the identical. They’ve been simple to beat, and nowhere close to as strong as in earlier years.
I’ve little question that Klopp will have the ability to flip their fortunes round, however he wants this to occur quick. If Liverpool finishes outdoors the highest 6 this season, it represents an enormous step again for them. They solely actually have the Premier League to give attention to now, so we might even see one of the best of Liverpool once more. It is a powerful sport for them to choose up some much-needed type, nevertheless.
I by no means wish to predict a sport that entails Liverpool, because it by no means seems nicely for me. I feel Metropolis have this one. Towards Liverpool in earlier seasons, Metropolis has been so wasteful with their possibilities, however with Haaland, this could change. The detached type of Liverpool provides Metropolis a bonus, however The Reds all the time flip up for these sorts of video games. I’m going to go along with a Metropolis win, however Liverpool ought to make this an entertaining tie.
Prediction: Man Metropolis 2 – 1 Liverpool
Brighton v Brentford
Each these sides have been the ‘shock package deal’ of the season, alongside Fulham. I don’t assume anybody anticipated both of those sides to be the place they’re at this stage of the season. They’re each enjoying good soccer and have picked up some good wins alongside the way in which. This must be an intriguing sport of soccer.
Brighton earned a slender 1-0 win towards Crystal Palace of their final sport earlier than the worldwide break, due to a Solly March aim. That is what I’ve loved about Brighton this season. They’ve gamers that you wouldn’t usually anticipate to carry out overly nicely within the league, not to mention for a group preventing for a European spot. But gamers like March and Mitoma are performing week in and week out for them.
I assumed Brighton might need dropped off barely after Trossard left within the January switch window for Arsenal, however this has not occurred. They is perhaps much less artistic, and the targets is probably not coming as fluently as they did when Trossard was within the group, however they’re nonetheless profitable video games, and on the finish of the day, that’s all that issues. With Brighton’s scouting group, I imagine any participant of their squad might go away, and they’d have a alternative sorted immediately who would impress.
I might like to see Brighton in Europe subsequent season. I feel they’ll fall simply brief, and thru no fault of their very own. It will likely be fascinating to see how they carry out subsequent season. Will they spend within the switch window to attempt to set up themselves as a group that may push for Europe every season? Or will they belief their present squad and scouting system? It will likely be an fascinating summer season for this Brighton facet.
Brentford has been spectacular this season. They’ve been tough to beat, particularly at dwelling. They’ve solely misplaced a single sport at dwelling all season, and have been so strong since then. Residence type is very large for any group, and if you find yourself not dropping at dwelling, you’re usually doing nicely within the desk. Simply how lengthy can this run go on for although? The actually solely ‘tough‘ video games they’ve left at dwelling are towards Newcastle and Man Metropolis.
Ivan Toney received his first England cap the opposite day, which was good to see. He completely deserves it, particularly after netting 16 targets this season. I absolutely anticipate him to interrupt the 20-goal barrier this season, and I might like to see him get a correct run within the England squad sooner or later, whether or not that be in friendlies or in a aggressive context.
It is a laborious sport to name. Either side doing brilliantly, enjoying good soccer, and are laborious to beat in the mean time. Residence benefit might give Brighton the sting right here, however we now have seen Brentford journey to Man Metropolis and win. This all comes all the way down to who turns up on the day. I’m going to stay my neck out and say Brighton will nick it, with Mitoma to proceed his wonderful type and get on the scoresheet.
Prediction: Brighton 1 – 0 Brentford
Nottingham Forest v Wolves
One other huge sport this week, however on the reverse finish of the desk. Two groups who are usually not within the relegation zone, however making an attempt to place some much-needed factors between themselves and the underside 3. This might present the springboard for both facet to push on and end away from the relegation zone.
Nottingham Forest has disenchanted me deeply within the second half of the season thus far. They bounced again from a poor begin shortly earlier than, and after, the World Cup break, and appeared like they have been on for a mid-table end. They made themselves laborious to beat and floor out outcomes. Now, they seem like a shadow of their former self. They’ve gone again to how they have been firstly of the season. Straightforward to beat, toothless up entrance, and unable to choose up a win.
They have been fairly unlucky to not get something out of their sport with Newcastle earlier than the worldwide break. They misplaced 2-1 at dwelling courtesy of a 93rd-minute Isak penalty. They managed to create few possibilities on this sport, and the probabilities they created, weren’t taken. Brennan Johnson has gone fairly quiet just lately, and he must step it up once more to assist Forest stand up the pitch, and get again to profitable methods.
Wolves alternatively, spent a very long time within the backside 3, and now seem like the almost definitely group to get away from a relegation battle earlier than the tip of the season. Lopetegui has are available and reworked Wolves to an extent. He has received them again to profitable methods, and they’re truly able to scoring targets now.
Their type earlier than the worldwide break exhibits some trigger for concern. Again-to-back losses towards Newcastle and Leeds halted their slight progress. The outcome towards Leeds will damage extra, as they completed the sport with 9 males, with Jonny and Nunes each receiving purple playing cards in that sport. In a sport the place that they had an opportunity to place one other 3 factors between them and a relegation rival, they bottled it and threw the sport away.
Each these sides have misplaced their manner just lately, which makes this sport much more essential. A draw represents a very good level for each side, nevertheless it is not going to assist both of them. They each want 3 factors to pull themselves additional away from the underside 3, however I can not see both facet going all-out for a win on this sport. Both a bore 0-0 or a rating draw is on the playing cards right here.
Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1 – 1 Wolves
West Ham v Southampton
Speaking about large video games on the fallacious finish of the desk, that is completely big for each side. 18th v twentieth, with a win, nearly guaranteeing both facet finishes the day outdoors of the relegation zone, relying on different outcomes. It is a must-watch this weekend.
West Ham picked up a vital level after drawing 1-1 with Aston Villa of their final sport. They created sufficient possibilities and will have felt unlucky to not come away with all 3 factors, however some extent is healthier than none if you find yourself within the backside 3 and struggling. They should comply with this up with a win, as a loss right here would knock their confidence massively.
I’ve mentioned all season about West Ham performing nicely in Europe and never with the ability to switch that type over to the Premier League, they usually have achieved it once more. They smashed AEK Larnaca 6-0 on combination. They misplaced 4-0 towards Brighton then bounced again and gained 2-0 away from dwelling towards Larnaca. Then after drawing with Villa, they beat Larnaca once more 4-0 at dwelling.
These outcomes should present them with a springboard to profitable within the Premier League. This sport is an ideal likelihood, towards the underside of the league, to proceed their good type. It’s critical that they get a constructive outcome out of this sport.
Southampton lastly confirmed a little bit of battle of their final sport, which is able to give them, and their supporters, confidence going ahead. They drew towards Spurs, in a frantic sport which completed 3-3. They got here from behind early within the second half to make it 1-1, earlier than Kane and Perisic gave Spurs, what appeared like, a routine 3 factors. Southampton had different concepts, as Theo Walcott diminished the deficit, with James Ward-Prowse netting a 93rd-minute penalty, securing Southampton an unlikely level.
Like West Ham’s European performances, this wants to offer Southampton with a springboard to go on and win video games within the Premier League, and this sport presents a very good alternative to try this in. Sure, they’re away from dwelling, however they might simply nick a win right here if West Ham doesn’t flip up.
This can be one other sport the place each side is not going to go all out for a win. Neither facet can afford to lose this sport, however each side desperately must win it. After beating Larnaca 4-0, I can solely see West Ham profitable this sport, holding Southampton rooted to the underside of the desk for an additional week of fixtures.
Prediction: West Ham 2 – 0 Southampton
Different Predictions
- Arsenal 2 – 0 Leeds
- Bournemouth 0 – 1 Fulham
- Crystal Palace 0 – 1 Leicester
- Chelsea 2 – 1 Aston Villa
- Everton 1 – 1 Tottenham Hotspur
- Man United 2 – 1 Newcastle
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