Premier League predictions

Arsene to close the gap on Sir Alex?

It is said that there is no such thing as an easy game in the Premier League. It is also said that the beauty of football is that you can never confidently predict the result of a game. This match is one that seriously challenges both of these statements.

Arsenal are good and are still in with a serious chance of winning the league. Blackburn are not very good and under Steve Keane they are getting worse. They are in with a serious chance of relegation.

The prediction is not a matter of whether or not Arsenal will win, but by how many they will win by.

Soccernews prediction: 3-0

Times are tough for Birmingham at the moment. Their magnificent Carling Cup triumph seems a long way away as they find themselves second from bottom and staring down the barrel of relegation to the Championship.

Bolton still have an outside chance of Europe and continue to impress in the league as well as the FA Cup where a semi-final awaits. Owen Coyle will be high on the list of managers in the frame for manager of the year award. His team have had a wonderful season and he has done a remarkable job.

Soccernews prediction: 0-1

This is a game between a team who have under performed and a team that have seriously under performed. Everton have clawed their back to having an outside chance of European qualification, which would be a remarkable achievement after the first half of the season they had. Villa, on the other hand are lurching from bad to worse and find themselves just a point above the drop zone.

I do fear for Villa a little bit and I can’t see anything looking much better for them after this one.

Soccernews prediction: 2-1

This is a massive game for both teams. One win in ten has seen Newcastle slip to being on the fringes of a relegation struggle. A win here would ease growing nerves. Wolves are fighting for their lives and would get to within a point of their opponents should they win.

The loss of Kevin Doyle to an injury picked up on international duty is a massive blow to Wolves, but Newcastle also have a lack of fire power, having not adequately replaced Andy Carroll.

Soccernews prediction: 0-0

They are still a difficult team to play against at their home ground but Stoke are not quite as formidable as they have been over the past couple of seasons. Chelsea have started to pick up their results, but not necessarily their form. They are just about still in the title race and another three points here will keep up the pressure on the two above them.

Soccernews prediction: 0-2

A chance for Roy Hodgson to send a metaphorical v-sign to the Liverpool fans and players who never gave him the support or respect that he felt he deserved. With West Brom embroiled in a relegation struggle and Liverpool now looking like having a chance of qualifying for Europe, the game is about much more than that, but the stories will be all bout Hodgson.

West Brom aren’t bad at home and Liverpool aren’t always great away. A draw wouldn’t really suit either side but would allow everyone to come away with some satisfaction.

Soccernews prediction: 1-1

A few weeks ago this would have been an away banker, although having said that, Manchester United have been poor away from home all season. However poor they have been though, West Ham were far worse. Now, West Ham have pulled out of the drop zone and look like a totally different team. Manchester United are still top but the gap has closed and they are still struggling away from Old Trafford.

It’s a tough one to call but I fancy that West Ham might just pick up a point.

Soccernews prediction: 1-1

I’m afraid that bottom club Wigan are now red hot favourites to go down. They probably are one of the three worst sides so that is right and proper. They play some nice stuff at times but simply don’t have the necessary quality in their ranks.

Tottenham are slipping away from the top four and will have their sights firmly set on Real Madrid rather than Wigan. That may allow Wigan to get a surprise result. I don’t think it will though.

Soccernews prediction: 0-2

Sunday 3rd April

Neither of these sides are safe from the drop but I’m afraid to say that as much as I love them and their manager, Blackpool are the team who are likely to be deep in trouble after this clash tomorrow.

Soccernews prediction: 3-1

It looks as though City are now likely to finish in the top four and a win in this one will go some way to confirming that. They are still inconsistent and can switch from champs to chumps for no discernible reason. If they play as they can, Sunderland won’t live with them.

Sunderland are a mid-table team. They have done well but don’t have anything like the quality of their opposition.

Soccernews prediction: 2-0