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LEEDS UNITED vs CHELSEA (1230 ko)
Leeds were perhaps unlucky not to get anything from the London Stadium last week, so they’ll be looking to make amends against a Chelsea side that’s added a good deal of steel and points, and have remained unbeaten, since Tuchel’s arrival. The hosts’ record against teams in the top half of the table makes dismal reading and there’s little to suggest that’s going to change today. Away win.
CRYSTAL PALACE vs WEST BROMWICH ALBION (1500)
Palace are all but safe, while the Baggies are all but down. Neither side inspires excitement in the neutral, or probably even in their own fans, and this one has dreary writ large all over it. Draw.
EVERTON vs BURNLEY (1730)
Speaking of dreary, this one runs Palace and West Brom a close second. Everton are better than their visitors and should win this at a canter. But there’s a niggling sense that boring Burnley could steal a point today. Wishful thinking? Why not. Draw.
FULHAM vs MANCHESTER CITY (2000)
Fulham’s attempts to escape the clutches of what was once inevitable have been admirable. A sizeable proportion of football fans up and down the land may be hoping the home side can pull it off come May. They’ll have to wait a bit longer, though, because pluck doesn’t always go with luck, which they’ll need in bucketloads if they’re to deny Citeh all three points this evening. Away win.
*SUNDAY*
SOUTHAMPTON vs BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION (1200)
With Danny Ings still out, the Saints may find the going tough against a disciplined and often miserly Brighton defence. The visitors’ main problems lie in finding the goal, although they’re done so with success against Liverpool, Leeds and Spurs in recent weeks. At their best, Southampton can give a game to anyone. Home win.
LEICESTER CITY vs SHEFFIELD UNITED (1400)
At the time of writing, Chris Wilder remains manager of the Blades, despite reports of his departure having circulated for the last 24 hours. Strange times at Bramall Lane, the more so as he does seem a decent kind of boss who many believe offers a good chance of an immediate return to the top flight. How will all this affect ‘his’ players? Will it drop them further into the footballing doldrums, or will it act as an incentive for them to play to their best? With luck it will be the latter, albeit against a team in search of the division’s runners-up spot. Home win.
ARSENAL vs TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (1630)
A mid-table fixture of little consequence. Come on you Gooners. Draw.
MANCHESTER UNITED vs WEST HAM UNITED (1915)
Currently in second spot, there’s something about Man U that just doesn’t inspire confidence. Yes, at their best they’re a decent outfit, as they should at the Etihad, but you feel they remain vulnerable and far from the all-conquering sides of the Fergie era. Sadly, Lingard won’t be featuring for us today, but there’s still enough firepower – plus defiance and confidence – in the Irons’ ranks to match them. Ogbonna’s still out and Moyes referred to ‘behind-the-scenes’ injuries to other, unnamed, players. Rashford, Cavani and Martial are doubts for Man U. Redcafe.net users’ opinions make for strangely encouraging reading. Such as: “Not a chance in hell of scoring against them,” and “You guys are brave predicting wins. This has a draw written all over it.” Let’s hope they’re right on both counts. Draw.
*MONDAY*
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS vs LIVERPOOL (2000)
Two sides that have failed miserably to live up to the season’s expectations. Liverpool’s fall coincided with the death of Jurgen Klopp’s mother, but a win against Leipzig suggests there’s still some fight in the Anfield team. The trouble is that you just don’t know which Wolves or which Liverpool will turn up. Play it safe. Sit on fence. Draw.
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