Saturday football

[Coffee]

"MANCHESTER UNITED vs EVERTON (1230) The Toffees have five points and goal difference on their side in the ugly battle to avoid the drop. Will that be enough to keep them up? The Mancs are six points behind Spurs in fifth, not to mention a game in arrears. Still, there’s hope for the Reds, which probably means another defeat on the road for the visitors. Beads of sweat grow larger. Home win. BOURNEMOUTH vs SHEFFIELD UNITED (1500) The Cherries are safe, to all intents and purposes. The Blades are down, to all intents and purposes. Home win. CRYSTAL PALACE vs LUTON TOWN (1500) Luton have lost their last four and if they don’t rediscover their form of a month or two ago, they’ll be joining Sheffield and Burnley sooner rather than later. Palace away must be worth a point, surely? Draw. WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS vs FULHAM (1500) A largely meaningless game to all but the two sides involved, and their supporters. Some may consider than an achievement, for both. Draw. ARSENAL vs BRENTFORD (1730) The Bees aren’t safe just yet, and goal difference could be a factor in the final analysis. Arsenal have the league’s best goal difference by a substantial margin, thanks most recently to our generosity and that of Burnley and Newcastle. Not an ideal time to be playing them, particularly when a mere two points are all that keep the top three apart. Anything less than 6-0 will surely be seen as a disappointment. A home win will see them back at the Premier League summit and if there’s no winner in tomorrow’s game at Anfield, they’ll stay there for the next three weeks at least. Home win. *SUNDAY* ASTON VILLA vs TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (1300) Fourth play fifth with a better goal difference and an advantage of five points. A Champions League place is at stake. A good, if nervy, game in store. Think B-List Gladiators. Home win. BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION vs NOTTINGHAM FOREST (1400) Despite being in 9th spot, things aren’t all rosy for the Seagulls. Forest are in danger, great danger if Luton beat Palace yesterday. What can the bearded zen master do? Draw. WEST HAM UNITED vs BURNLEY (1400) A team isn’t relegated until the arithmetic says they are. And often it’s only then, when the shackles are released and discarded, that they start playing freely. But until then, you can usually depend on the crap form that’s brought them to this position. I said usually. Not a fixture that inspires the greatest excitement or anticipation. No corner flags in the centre circle today (with luck). Home win. LIVERPOOL vs MANCHESTER CITY (1545) Will this be the game, between two of the genuinely great Premier League managers, that decides who gets to wear the Premier League crown? Quite possibly. Will this be when the German’s English swansong starts to be set in stone? Or will Pep pip Klopp to the title once more? A draw is not what either will want, but it’s virtually impossible to separate them. Meanwhile, Arteta will be watching with hands clasped fervently for the draw. This should be a game and a half and an early goal from either side will really set the cat among the pigeons. How many red cards? Draw. *MONDAY* CHELSEA vs NEWCASTLE UNITED (2000) Two sides that have underperformed again this season. There’s little to suggest that either side starts as favourites. Draw. *CHAMPIONSHIP* When once Leicester held a double-figure points advantage over the best of the rest, now there are just two points between them and Leeds in second. The Tractor Boys, sponsored by Lamborghini, start the day’s action in third place as they make the trip to Cardiff who are still in with a hope of making the play-offs. They’re not alone in that, though; Preston, Coventry, Hull and Norwich are all in the chase for the final play-off place. Leicester have a tricky appointment at hungry Hull tis afternoon and it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that they’ll end next week out of the automatic promotion places. That would be some turnaround. Southampton, who not so long ago seemed a decent bet for runners-up, look to have given up on that happy outcome and today host sorry Sunderland who have lost their last five on the trot. In the nether reaches, things are as tight as ever with a mere six points keeping Bristol City in 14th out of the relegation zone. Don’t look away."

[Manuel]

"Talking about Pickford, Shaw is out for the season and Chilwell has morphed into Andy Carroll, who else is there at LB?"

[paul6565]

"I did not mind watching Arsenal play in the past but under this total fucking scumbag nutter they are awful to watch, diving, cheating etc… When you have someone like that in charge the players can do whatever they like. Cheats.."

[Haz]

"The last and only time it happened kylay, was poor old Lanzini."

[kylay]

They might as well get rid of stimulation as a foul. Can't remember the last time it was given and happens all the time. Arsenal should have about 5 yellows this match for it.

[Fauxstralian]

"With Pope still injured & Grimsdale shot Southgate must be hoping Pickford stays fit Who else is there ... Henderson , Johnstone?"

[Mike Oxsaw]

More Grimsdale than Ramsdale.

[Fauxstralian]

"Superb blunder by the dithering Ramsdale gives Brentford an equaliser U18's 2-0 down at Villa this morning after 3 mins 2-1 Rigge 40 2-2 Rigge 90 2-3 Rigge 90 + 4 (pen) 2-4 Halim 90 + 7 Right to the end, boys! Top on 40pts after 18 games ahead of Chelsea on 34 (4 games in hand) & Tottenham 32pts after 17"

[Sir Alf]

Now we know why Ramsdale was not trusted. Funny though :-)

[Mex Martillo]

"My predictions MAN win (that one is looking good ?üëç), BOU win, CRY win, WOL win, ARS win, Villa win, BHA win, WHU win, MAN C win, CHE win. I might watch Liverpool v City, should be interesting."

[Sir Alf]

"Watching the Mancs and lLiverpool and of the top teams they are the most entitled but I think its the pundits, media,commentators that make it seem so irritating. They will be aware of the worldwide scarfers for these historically successful sides and big them up almost making it sound like they are entitled to win every game or incredulous that they are a bit shit and trying to make excuses for them. United particularly. Spent billions but a bit shit That said Everton have thrown this away with 2 schoolboy challenges for pens to Mancs"

[lowlife]

"Manchester United 1 up, but they look absolutely shit. Everton should have had a few, if only they had better options up front. Strange that when they broke through the offside flag went up straight away. Thought they were supposed to do a slow flag? It was offside but by no means and obvious/daylight one."

[cheesebgt]

MAN U vs EVE Home BOU vs SHE Home CRY vs LUT Home WOL vs FUL Home ARS vs BRE Home *SUNDAY* AST vs TOT Home BHA vs NFO Home WHU vs BUR Home LIV vs MAN C Away *MONDAY* CHE vs NEW Draw

[Fauxstralian]

To be honest Everton have been a dull team for years as they've circled the bowl and would be happy to see them finally flushed. They SHOULD get a second larger points deduction as they made no attempt to claw back their previous year losses. Open and shut case Agree about Leeds. Great support and hope they come back. Might mean they buy Phillips which would stop us doing it Reckon will be all home wins today Same on Sunday though think Liverpools luck in patching up their team might catch up with defeat by Man City Any Fantasy Footballers might want to captain Solanke ... Bournemouth have a double game week with home games against Sheff Utd & Luton

[With Kind Regards]

Thank you Coffee.

[Manuel]

"Coffee - It appears many would love Everton to go, or so they say, and I can understand that viewpoint, but also understand yours. For good or bad they bring something to the party and the PL would be poorer without them imo, many no doubt would disagree. Similar reasoning why I want to see Leeds come back up."

[Coffee]

"Happy You're right, that is lazy. If I'd done that - or better still, 10 draws - Manuel would be having kittens. Manuel It certainly will be a shock if Everton pull anything out of the bag against the Mancs. There's something perversely entertaining about Everton's woes, but I hope they can stay up."

[happygilmore]

Cheers Coffee I am going to be lazy and predict 10 home wins

[happygilmore]

Cheers Coffee I am going to be lazy and predict 10 home wins

[Manuel]

"The new Palace manager surely has to win today or there will be early question marks. Surprised to see you stick your neck in the Villa Spurs game, well done. Hopefully you're right. Hoping Everton pull off a shock, if so I think we can go above the Mancs if we win, not sure though and I can't be bothered to look for the table."