Premier League predictions – United and Chelsea to stay toe to toe?

SoccerNews predictions

After defeats to Tottenham and Wigan, instead of looking up at the title, Arsenal are suddenly looking behind them hoping to hang on to third place. They have a bit of a gap but another defeat here could leave things interesting.

Manchester City were looking good for fourth place until Paul Scholes headed home an injury-time winner that took absolutely all of the wind out of their sales.

Arsenal need the points for third and City need the points for fourth. Both teams will be looking to bounce back and it could be a classic. Neither side will be thrilled with the draw.

SoccerNews prediction: 2-2

Owen Coyle has just about dragged Bolton to safety. Matt Taylor’s late double to give them the win at Stoke last week took a huge weight off their shoulders.

Portsmouth as a club are spiralling down in a sea of misery at the moment and the forthcoming FA Cup Final is the only light on the horizon. Even that is dimmed by the fact that they can’t play in Europe next season and will probably be absolutely annihilated by Chelsea.

I don’t see any joy for Pompey here.

SoccerNews prediction: 1-0

Hull’s 2-0 defeat to Villa on Tuesday has all but done for them. According to their chairman, things don’t look too bright off the field either. A win here is absolutely essential if they are going to have the faintest chance of surviving.

Sunderland are an up and down side but even on their down days I think they are too good for Hull.

SoccerNews prediction: 0-1

This really is a difficult one to call. United were having a poor run but an injury-time header from Paul Scholes and a poor performance from Chelsea later and they are looking like champions again.

Tottenham’s chances of fourth place looked pretty bleak when their next three fixtures were Arsenal, Chelsea and United, but two-thirds of the way through them, they have picked up maximum points.

I’m not sure about this at all, but I just fancy United’s experience to see them through.

SoccerNews prediction: 2-1

If Hull or Burnley were likely to win a game this one would be a real six-pointer. As it is, both of these teams will probably be safe due to the incompetence of the bottom three. Having said that, a win for wither team here will all but make them safe.

West Ham need to bounce back from a pretty woeful display at Liverpool last week whilst Wigan will be on a high after their late victory over Arsenal.

Although you never know which Wigan will turn up, I expect them to maintain the momentum the win against Arsenal has given them.

SoccerNews prediction: 0-2

Wolves aren’t totally safe but the poor standard of teams behind them means that they probably are. Blackburn are safe in mid-table and just going through the motions until the end of the season.

A team needing points against a team that don’t. There can only be one winner.

SoccerNews prediction: 1-0

Sunday 25th April

The second city derby is always a passionate affair. Villa have got their fourth place challenge back on track with wins against Pompey and Hull, but they will find this a much more difficult proposition.

Birmingham are ninth and still looking good although their form has dipped of late.

Although Villa are the team hungrier for points, neither side will need any motivational speech from the manager. I fancy them to battle out a draw.

SoccerNews prediction: 1-1

Liverpool aren’t very good at the moment and without Fernando Torres they look pretty toothless. They still have an outside chance of fourth place and their 1-0 defeat in Madrid leaves them with a reasonable chance of a Europa League final, so the season could still have a happy ending for them.

Burnley aren’t very good. Nothing else to say really.

SoccerNews prediction: 0-2

I’m not sure whether knowing how Manchester United got on is good or bad for Chelsea. Last week, United’s late win at Manchester City seemed to leave Chelsea feeling the pressure in their game at Tottenham.

If United have managed to beat Tottenham, Chelsea will be a bag of nerves going into this one.

Stoke are a team who smell fear and then go for the jugular. Having said that, their last two games have seen a draw with Wolves and defeat to Bolton. I don’t suppose they’ll make it easy for Ancelotti’s men but they won’t have enough to stop them.

SoccerNews prediction: 2-0

Fulham will be absolutely knackered after their long journey to Hamburg and their defensive efforts during that game. Something has to give for this small but excellent squad at some point and I fancy that it might happen here.

Everton are playing like a top four team and they should win this one in relative comfort.

SoccerNews prediction: 2-0