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WE$T HAM UNITED vs CHEL$EA (1230)
For a club that’s spent the better part of a billion pounds on players this season, you wouldn’t expect to find Chelsea languishing in mid-table. By the same token, albeit of reduced value, we shouldn’t be anywhere near that bleeding dotted line. What does that say about today’s game? Not much, to be frank. Both sides should be higher than they are and with fewer points separating them. Does that mean this could be a close game? It might do. For the visitors, Broja is out, as are Pulisic and Kante. But they’ve got plenty in reserve, with the likes of Enzo Fernandez ready to make his mark on the Premier League. For us Aguerd is showing his class at the back while Paqueta’s looking hungry. Steak and chips all round. Draw.
ARSENAL vs BRENTFORD (1500)
Arsenal dropped points last time out for just the second time this season. Brentford won’t make things easy for them this afternoon, but you have to fancy the hosts to extend their lead at the top of English football. Home win.
CRYSTAL PALACE vs BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION (1500)
The closest to a local derby for both sides. Palace just haven’t fired as expected this season, while Brighton have exceeded expectations. The invariably raucous home crowd may just stop the Seagulls from nicking this. Draw.
FULHAM vs NOTTINGHAM FOREST (1500)
Two sides that have confounded the odds to pull well above their weight this season. It wasn’t so long ago that Forest were rock bottom with points impossible to come by. Fulham’s recent dip in form has seen them drop out of the European places, but they’ll be pleased with this opportunity to climb back into the. Home win.
LEICESTER CITY vs TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (1500)
Spurs are a point behind fourth-placed Newcastle and will wan to keep pace with the top pack. Leicester, in fourteenth, are still very much in the relegation dogfight and one weekend with results going against could easily see them renew their acquaintance with the dotted line. Captain and keeper Lloris is out for the visitors. Away win.
SOUTHAMPTON vs WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS (1500)
Some Saints’ fans seem to have resigned themselves to relegation, as some Forest fans had done a couple of months ago. Wolves have pulled two points clear of the bottom three, but this really is a six-pointer that neither side can afford not to win. Could be a nervy afternoon at St Mary’s. Draw.
BOURNEMOUTH vs NEWCASTLE UNITED (1730)
This one’s all about Eddie Howe. Rightly so, because England’s foremost manager has performed wonders at both clubs. But there’ll be little room for sentimentality once things get going at the Vitality this evening. The Cherries need points to get out of the bottom three, the Barcodes need them to get into the top three. And that should make for an interesting contest. Away win.
*SUNDAY*
LEEDS UNITED vs MANCHESTER UNITED (1400)
Leeds got a bump at Old Trafford last week, but Man U won’t be in a hurry to extend their generosity particularly as they have their noisy neighbours in their sights. Leeds have Everton and Southampton coming up next. Away win.
MANCHESTER CITY vs ASTON VILLA (1630)
Perhaps not such a bad time to be visiting the Etihad. How will the prospect of massive financial scandal affect the City players? You kind of suspect that Pep’s as good at the siege mentality as at anything else he does, so Villa will still have to play their best game. Home win.
*MONDAY*
LIVERPOOL vs EVERTON (2000)
You wait for ages for a bump and then two come along at the same time. But not today. Liverpool fans will be salivating at the prospect of their Stanley Park neighbours hosting the likes of Rotherham in the near future, and will give the Reds an extra dose of backing this evening. Home win.
*WEDNESDAY*
ARSENAL vs MANCHESTER CITY (1930)
A game that could go a long way to deciding the outcome of the title. Pity it wasn’t on at the weekend. Draw.
*CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND—UP*
Burnley and Sheffield Utd continue as pace setters, with little indication that’s going to change in the season’s remaining months. There are 10 points between the Blades and Boro in third. West Brom missed a golden opportunity to consolidate their spot in the play-off places with defeat at Birmingham last night. That leaves the way open for Blackburn and Millwall, who have games in hand, to leapfrog them. Wall visit QPR, while Blackburn go to Watford. There is a possibility, nasty but unlikely, that Millwall are promoted to the Premier League as we slip into the Championship. Wigan, Blackpool and Huddersfield, all Premier League clubs not so long ago, fill the bottom three places.
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