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Up to date:
Feb 18, 2023
We check out a few of this weekend’s Premier League fixtures, together with 2 huge video games on the backside of the desk, when Everton host Leeds, and Wolves welcome Bournemouth.
This Week’s Premier League Fixtures
Aston Villa v Arsenal
Brentford v Crystal Palace
Brighton v Fulham
Chelsea v Southampton
Everton v Leeds
Nottingham Forest v Man Metropolis
Wolves v Bournemouth
Newcastle v Liverpool
Man United v Leicester
Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham
Brighton v Fulham
Brighton have an incredible shot of reaching a end inside European spots right here. They sit in sixth, 4 factors behind Spurs, however with 2 video games in hand. Spurs are arduous to foretell this season and drop factors in video games the place they actually shouldn’t be, whereas Brighton are doing the other.
Brighton’s staff will not be full of huge names or costly gamers, however they work for one another. Brighton preserve unearthing hidden gems, corresponding to Mitoma, Ferguson, and extra lately along with his present type, Solly March, he has been sensible of their previous couple of video games.
Final trip Brighton had been held to a 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park in opposition to Crystal Palace. Brighton will really feel fully robbed. They managed 17 photographs, with 7 of these being on course, and took the lead by means of March. However Palace scored by means of James Tomkins, with what was their solely shot on course all through the 90 minutes, to salvage a degree.
There are thrilling occasions forward for Brighton. They’ve some huge video games between now and the top of the season which is able to present everybody whether or not or not they’re deserving of European soccer subsequent season. They should rise to the problem right here and shut the hole on Spurs while they’re faltering.
Fulham are one other facet who’ve stunned everybody and exceeded everybody’s expectations this season. Regardless of being on of the percentages on favourites to go straight again all the way down to the Championship, they sit degree on factors with Brighton, having performed 2 video games greater than them.
The distinction for Fulham this season is that their recruitment has been proper, and Mitrovic has lastly been capable of regulate to life within the Premier League. His 11 targets within the Premier League have been important in steering Fulham in the direction of a doubtlessly prime 6 end.
Fulham have been on an odd run of their final 5 video games. They’ve gained 2, misplaced 2 and drawn the opposite. In each recreation they’ve scored in, they haven’t conceded, and in each recreation they’ve conceded in, they haven’t scored, together with their 0-0 draw at Chelsea.
Final trip, nevertheless, they gained 2-0 in opposition to a resurgent Nottingham Forest, with targets from Willian and Solomon securing 3 factors. They restricted Forest to simply the one shot on course, however solely managed 3 themselves inside the 90 minutes. A win is a win nonetheless, but it surely was removed from convincing.
This recreation must be an absolute cracker. Two groups pushing for a shocking European spot, each exceeded expectations, and each degree on factors. I feel Brighton’s house benefit will give them a giant increase right here, and their latest type has been a lot better than Fulham. An entertaining house win right here.
Prediction: Brighton 2 – 0 Fulham
Everton v Leeds
Everton’s honeymoon interval got here to an abrupt finish of their Merseyside derby in opposition to Liverpool final week. They might not preserve maintain of the ball, solely managed a shot on course, and seemed second greatest all through the 90 minutes.
Dyche will need to put that recreation behind him. Not many individuals can have been anticipating Everton to go to Anfield and are available again with 3 factors. Their focus now turns to an important match in opposition to Leeds.
I nonetheless imagine Dyche is a superb appointment for a facet within the backside 3. He ensures factors, whether or not the staff performs nicely or not. He’ll drag Everton out of the underside 3. He’ll flip them right into a stable staff which are arduous to beat, which we noticed in opposition to Arsenal.
This recreation in opposition to Leeds will probably be a very good recreation to evaluate Everton. No one anticipated them to get something in opposition to Arsenal or Liverpool, but this can be a recreation the place they might, and doubtlessly ought to, get factors from. If Dyche will get one other win right here, I feel Everton will cruise to security.
Leeds are in hassle once more. Jesse Marsch has been sacked, they sit one level above the drop zone and are in horrible type. They haven’t gained of their final 9 video games, drawing 4, dropping 5. They’ve picked up some good factors alongside the way in which, corresponding to their 0-0 draw away in opposition to Newcastle, the 0-0 draw with Brentford and the 2-2 draw away in opposition to Man United.
Leeds want to start out turning a few of these attracts into wins. They had been 2-0 up in opposition to Man United, and dropped 2 factors, conceding twice within the second half, after which misplaced 2-0 from 2 late targets in opposition to Man United once more simply days later.
Gnonto appears just like the sort of participant that Leeds have to get themselves away from the underside 3. He causes points. He’s highly effective, fast, can simply take a person on, and has a watch for objective.
Leeds want to rent proper when using their new supervisor. They want somebody who can stabilise them on the again, while benefiting from their attacking gamers. The mistaken choice right here will ship them again to the Championship. It will likely be fascinating to see what occurs right here.
A powerful efficiency from a Dyche staff ought to win this in opposition to a staff with no supervisor, no win in 9, and a staff that sometimes wrestle defensively. A win for Everton right here can be large as they’d leapfrog their opponents, and climb out of the relegation zone. A stable house win must be on the playing cards right here.
Prediction: Everton 2 – 0 Leeds
Wolves v Bournemouth
Wolves continued their upturn in type with an excellent 2-1 win in opposition to bottom-of-the-table Southampton. The primary half ended up being a complete nightmare for Wolves. Carlos Alcaraz scored his first objective for The Saints, and issues went from unhealthy to worse when Mario Lemina acquired a crimson card, forcing Wolves to play with 10 males for the remaining 60 minutes.
The second half proved extra fruitful for Wolves. A Bednarek personal objective hauled Wolves again degree with 18 minutes to play, earlier than João Gomes scored his first objective for Wolves, giving the ten males all 3 factors.
Wolves are actually 5 factors away from the underside 3, and have an incredible probability of accelerating that hole once they face Bournemouth. Their staff is way too good to be lingering across the backside of the desk, and Lopetegui has fully remodeled their fortunes. They seemed like a staff that had been useless and buried, struggling to attain targets and leaking them on the again, however now they give the impression of being a lot stronger.
Bournemouth are an especially arduous watch at occasions this season. After they might rating targets for enjoyable, their defence caved in and price them outcomes, however now, it appears the precise reverse. They don’t seem to be conceding as many, however are struggling to attain, particularly away from house.
Of their final 7 video games, Bournemouth have solely scored in 2, each which resulted in attracts. They haven’t scored a Premier League away objective since they performed Leeds firstly of November, the place they misplaced 4-3. The week, when Bournemouth ran riot in opposition to Everton twice, appears a very long time in the past now.
It’s not totally all doom and gloom regardless of their lowly place and poor offensive and defensive document. Their January signing Dango Ouattara has hit the bottom successful, claiming 2 assists of their final 3 video games.
He appears like a key participant for them going ahead into this relegation battle. If they will preserve him match, and get again to their objective scoring methods, we might see Bournemouth climb out of the relegation zone.
They did handle to carry Newcastle to a formidable 1-1 draw of their final recreation. Regardless of being dominated on the ball they greater than matched their opponents and had been nicely definitely worth the level they gained.
This recreation must be a routine house win for Wolves right here. Their type is best, their document in entrance of objective and defensively is best, their supervisor has crammed his staff with confidence and perception, and Bournemouth are terrible away from house.
Prediction: Wolves 2 – 0 Bournemouth
Newcastle v Liverpool
Who would have thought that both of those groups can be within the place they’re in for the time being? Newcastle pushing for a prime 4 end and a Champions League place, and Liverpool sat in ninth, 8 factors behind Spurs in fifth. It will likely be an fascinating end to the season for each these sides.
Newcastle have hit a little bit of a stumbling block as of late. They’ve drawn their final 3 video games, one 0-0 and two 1-1s. Newcastle dominated the ball at Bournemouth final week, but fell behind from Sensei’s first objective for Bournemouth. Newcastle stored pushing and received their equaliser by means of Almiron, his tenth of the season.
Newcastle couldn’t discover a winner, as they’ve been unable to do in latest weeks, and their objective scoring contact appears to be evading them as of late. Of their final 6 video games they’ve solely scored 3 targets, which is uncharacteristic of them.
Bruno Guimarães has definitely been a giant loss for Newcastle. Since his harm, Newcastle have struggled to win video games, have struggled to attain targets, and preserve clear sheets. They are going to be hoping he comes again and performs as he did earlier than his harm.
Liverpool ended their 4 recreation winless run with an excellent derby day win in opposition to Everton, cruising to a 2-0 win. Their new signing Coady Gakpo received his first objective for the membership, with a easy faucet in on the again put up, to make sure Liverpool got here away with 3 factors.
This win must kickstart Liverpool’s season. They should keep on from right here, and end the season strongly. They are going to be counting on the groups above them to slide as much as allow them to complete inside the Champions League locations, however they should give attention to their very own outcomes first.
There are lots of rumours surrounding Klopp and his staying or leaving Liverpool on the finish of the season. I imagine he’s the most effective man for the job, regardless of their struggles this season. He latest few years with Liverpool, and his success, can’t be forgotten. If there’s one man to drag Liverpool out of this, it’s Jurgen Klopp.
That is an intriguing tie. Which Newcastle will flip up, and which Liverpool will flip up? The reply to this query in the end decides the end result of this recreation. If Liverpool are even barely off their recreation, Newcastle will take full benefit. One other draw right here for me.
Prediction: Newcastle 1 – 1 Liverpool
Man United v Leicester
Man United come into this recreation off the again of a double header in opposition to Leeds. United began at house, and had been sluggish from the beginning, conceded round 40 seconds after the beginning of the sport, by means of an effort from Leeds star Gnonto. Issues went from unhealthy to worse after the half time while, when Varane put by means of his personal web to make it 2-0 to Leeds.
United undoubted participant of the season thus far hauled them again into the sport, Marcus Rashford getting on the scoresheet once more with simply wanting half an hour to be performed. Forgotten man Jadon Sancho rescued United a degree simply 8 minutes later, hauling United degree in an especially entertaining encounter.
United then travelled to Leeds, and clearly learnt their classes from the earlier recreation in opposition to them. There was not a sluggish begin or an early objective for Leeds this time spherical, however United did go away it late to safe all 3 factors. Rashford scoring his second objective in opposition to Leeds in every week, earlier than wonderkid Garnacho sealed the three factors, and ensured a cheerful return again to Outdated Trafford.
Are Man United within the title race? They’re solely 5 factors behind Arsenal and Man Metropolis, and with Arsenal dropping factors in latest weeks, and Man Metropolis having blips all through the season, I’d not rule them out simply but.
Are Leicester Metropolis again? They adopted up their beautiful 4-2 win in opposition to Aston Villa with a convincing 4-1 win in opposition to a hopeless Tottenham Hotspur. Regardless of falling behind for the second recreation working, they managed to show it round earlier than the top of the primary half.
Iheanacho and Maddison each continued their objective scoring type, scoring in opposition to each Villa and Spurs. Now Leicester’s stars are getting back from harm, they’re definitely again to their attacking greatest.
They now sit in thirteenth, following 7 factors from a doable 9, and while a prime 6 end is virtually out of the query, they are going to be hoping for a robust finish to the season in hope of ending within the prime half of the desk, moderately than being dragged again into the relegation battle.
This must be a incredible recreation. United are performing nicely, Leicester are again to their greatest, and each groups are scoring freely for the time being. This might go both means, relying how either side turns up, however a rating draw must be on the playing cards right here.
Prediction: Man United 2 – 2 Leicester
Different Predictions
- Aston Villa 0 – 2 Arsenal
- Brentford 2 – 1 Crystal Palace
- Chelsea 2 – 0 Southampton
- Nottingham Forest 1 – 4 Man Metropolis
- Tottenham Hotspur 1 – 1 West Ham
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