Premier League predictions – Chelsea to get close to the title?

SoccerNews predictions

Birmingham are still something of a surprise package and continue to defy logic with some great results. Having said that, they had a bit of a reality check at the City of Manchester Stadium last week when Manchester City beat them 5-1. I expect them to bounce back from that.

Hull were showing signs of improvement but they too had a reality check last week when they lost 4-1 to Burnley of all teams. I don’t expect them to bounce back from that.

SoccerNews prediction: 2-0

Everton must still be wondering how they didn’t win at Aston Villa. The 2-2 draw was incredibly flattering to the home side whilst Everton continued to show that if they had their full squad available all season they would have been right in the battle for fourth.

Blackburn have drawn their last two games 0-0 but they were against the worst, Portsmouth, and the best, Manchester United. I suppose that shows that they are rightly in mid-table.

There won’t be many goals in this one but I expect Everton to win.

SoccerNews prediction: 0-1

Fulham are in mid-table comfortably and have half an eye on their Europa League semi-final coming up. Despite that they still battled away last week to get a draw at Anfield.

Wolves are almost safe but probably still need a few more points.

This could be quite a good game and I think the honours will be shared.

SoccerNews prediction: 1-1

City come into this one on a run of three wins that have seen them find the net on fourteen occasions. United come into this one after losing to Chelsea, going out of Europe and drawing at Blackburn. There is no doubt who the form side are.

Usually, in a derby, the form book tends to go out of the window, but on this occasion I think it might be decisive. For the first time in many years, City will go into this game thinking that they can and will beat United. That confidence, together with their exceptional goal scoring form might be too much for a wounded United who are stumbling towards the end of the season.

SoccerNews prediction: 2-0

Stoke continue to impress and sit proudly and comfortably in tenth place. They know their strengths and they play to them.

Bolton looked as though Owen Coyle was going to lead them to safety but a run of defeats have left them once again looking nervously over their shoulder. It will very tough to get anything in the intimidating atmosphere at Stoke.

SoccerNews prediction: 1-0

Burnley shocked everyone last week by winning 4-1 at Hull and picking up their first away win. They can see the teams just outside the drop zone and will think they have a chance of catching them.

Sunderland have been poor in the second half of the season and their tame defeat at West Ham was an example of that.

So can Burnley get their second away win and climb to safety? No, of course they can’t.

SoccerNews prediction: 2-0

This should be a great game. Tottenham are still looking for fourth place and they will be on a high after beating Arsenal. Chelsea are in fine form, although they weren’t great against Bolton in the week, and they know another win here will put the Premier League title within touching distance.

It should be an open game with plenty of good football, but if Chelsea can dominate Tottenham as much as Arsenal did, they won’t fail to make that count in the way that Arsenal did.

SoccerNews prediction: 1-2

Sunday 18th April

Pompey managed to pick up a point at Wigan in the week despite leaving out eight of the team that won the FA Cup semi-final. That could mean that their reserves are very good or that Wigan are bad. OK, let’s assume that Wigan are bad and that Pompey reserves are not as good as their first team. That’s all a bit confusing but all we need to know really is that whatever team Pompey put out, Villa will be better than them.

SoccerNews prediction: 0-2

Wigan are still deep in trouble and their 0-0 draw at home to Portsmouth reserves during the week just went to confirm that they are not very good. They’ll need a win before the end of the season to be safe and you really can’t see them getting it in this one.

Arsenal will be smarting from their defeat at Tottenham but they will know that they dominated that game and their form is still pretty good. The title might be out of the question now, but third place is a decent performance and they should get an easy win here.

SoccerNews prediction: 0-3

Monday 19th April

With a fading but outside chance of getting fourth place, Liverpool cannot afford to slip up in this one. The limp performance in the 0-0 draw with Fulham can’t be repeated and the club that is now officially up for sale will lose considerable value if they don’t qualify for the Champions League. Of course, even a win here may not be enough.

For West Ham the stakes are possibly even higher. They have given themselves four points of breathing space over the drop zone but that is hardly a significant gap. A defeat for the Hammers and a win for Burnley and/or Hull and West Ham are in big trouble. Unfortunately for them, I can’t see them getting anything here. On the positive side, I can’t see Hull or Burnley getting anything either.

SoccerNews prediction: 2-0