Premier League predictions – Top three to win?

Still in it

What has been a great season for Birmingham has just started to hit a bit of a downturn. Defeats to Sunderland and Blackburn have ended any outside hopes they had of a European qualification place and their season is in danger of petering out.

Arsenal, on the other hand, have really come good. All of a sudden they are many people’s favourites for the Premier League title. Being drawn against Barcelona in Europe has slightly dampened hopes of a double, but it could still be a great season. At the moment, I can’t see them slipping up here.

SoccerNews prediction: 0-2

A local derby between one of the haves and one of the have nots in Greater Manchester. The teams are not far apart geographically and they are both managed by talented Scotsmen. That is just about where the similarity ends.

Owen Coyle has guided Bolton to almost certain safety whilst Fergie is still on course to guide United to a record breaking fourth successive title. It’ll be tough for United but I think they’ll just scrape the three points.

SoccerNews prediction: 0-1

Chelsea got back on course thanks to David James and his Portsmouth colleagues the other night whilst Aston Villa disappointingly drew their second match in a row.

A few weeks ago I would have fancied Villa to get something from this game but now I am not so sure. If Chelsea can deal with the in-form John Carew, they shouldn’t have too many problems.

SoccerNews prediction: 2-0

A Hull team fighting for their life under new manager Iain Dowie against a tired Fulham side with little to play for. There can only be one result. A Fulham win.

SoccerNews prediction: 0-1

If this game wasn’t likely to be so one-sided it would have a bit of spice. With Harry and all the Portsmouth old boys at Tottenham it would have been interesting if Portsmouth weren’t so bad.

Tottenham are in the driving seat for fourth place and are unlikely to slip up here. Portsmouth’s 5-0 defeat to Chelsea in the week put an end to any vain hopes of any sort of amazing recovery for them.

SoccerNews prediction: 3-0

This could easily be Gianfranco Zola’s last game in charge at West Ham. It won’t take the fans long to turn on him and the players if they don’t make a good start and you can be sure that Tony Pulis will have Stoke fired up to go at them right from the kick-off.

It is a crucial game for West Ham and their manager and they must avoid defeat. Stoke have nothing to play for but their very nature means they know other way than to give 100%.

SoccerNews prediction: 1-1

Wins against Burnley and West Ham and a draw at Villa have given Wolves a seven point cushion over the bottom three. That could easily be enough for them to be safe.

Everton have climbed to eighth in the table and their win at Manchester City on Wednesday showed everyone what might have been if they hadn’t been so terribly unlucky with injuries in the first half of the season.

SoccerNews prediction: 0-1

Sunday 28th March

A local derby that is as full of hatred and passion as any you could name. This one will have a huge amount at stake for the home side as well. They are desperate for a win because defeat will be another nail in their relegation coffin. Defeats to Wigan and Wolves in their last two games have been disastrous and they can’t afford too many more.

Blackburn are safe in mid-table and have had great results against Chelsea and Birmingham in their last two games. Whilst they don’t have a lot to play for their fans will be desperate to heap more misery on everyone at Turf Moor.

SoccerNews prediction: 0-1

Liverpool will be looking to bounce back from their defeat at Old Trafford. Although the score was only 2-1, it was painfully clear for all to see that Liverpool are a long, long way behind the top teams. They still have a good chance of fourth place, however, and victory is crucial in this one to keep that chance alive.

Sunderland beat Liverpool earlier in the season courtesy of a deflection from a beach ball. After that it all went horribly wrong for Steve Bruce’s men and they have only recently steadied what was a quickly sinking ship. I fancy them to maintain their recovery and inflict more woe on Rafa and the rest.

SoccerNews prediction: 1-1

Monday 29th March

It is absolutely crucial for City that they get back to winning ways after their damp squib of a defeat at home to Everton on Wednesday. They have fallen behind Tottenham in the race for fourth place and have Liverpool and Aston Villa breathing down their necks. What they need is for a really poor team to visit the City of Manchester stadium…

Wigan are usually a poor team. Obviously, on a couple of occasions this season, for example against Chelsea and Liverpool, they have looked good. Most of the time, however, their away record of ten defeats and conceding thirty-nine goals in fifteen games is a more accurate reflection. They will struggle here.

SoccerNews prediction: 3-1