I head back to the murky world of Premier League predictions after a remarkable performance of nine correct predictions in twelve during international week. I don’t expect that sort of success rate here!
Saturday 4th April 2009
Arsenal have opened up a three point lead over fifth placed Aston Villa. They are unbeaten in sixteen league games, in the FA Cup semi-finals and the Champions League quarter-finals. They are a looking good at the moment and a trip to the Emirates is a daunting prospect for anyone.
It could be particularly daunting for a Manchester City side who have still only won once away from home this season. They have slowly crept up to tenth place and are only three points short of seventh, but their away form is still holding them back.
SoccerNews prediction: 2-0
Blackburn have edged two points clear of the drop zone. With only three defeats in their last thirteen league games, Sam Allardyce has made them a tough side to beat. Having said that, they have drawn five of those games and need to turn some of them into wins.
Tottenham’s revival has seen them climb up to eleventh place, nine points clear of relegation and only ten points short of a European place. They are unbeaten in seven and their last two games have seen them beat third placed Chelsea and then fourth placed Aston Villa.
SoccerNews prediction: 1-2
Bolton have managed to open up a five point gap on the bottom three. Gary Megson is still far from being a popular manager amongst his own fans but to an outsider, he is doing a pretty good job with a pretty average team.
Middlesbrough are in a desperate situation four points adrift from safety. The brief flicker of hope a few weeks ago when they beat Liverpool is but a distant memory as that game remains their only win in their last eighteen league games.
This game will certainly not be a classic but I expect Bolton to edge to safety and Middlesbrough to sink nearer the drop.
SoccerNews prediction: 1-0
Fulham find themselves in the rarefied heights of ninth place in the table. After a minor blip of four games without a win, they have bounced back with two wins in a row including the 2-0 defeat of Manchester United last time out.
Liverpool know that victory or even a draw in this game will put them top of the table for at least twenty-four hours. You don’t get a much bigger incentive than that. This will be a real test of whether Fergie was right or Liverpool have the mental strength to see the job through. This is the first time for a while that Liverpool have had the chance to go top.
Will they stand up to the pressure?
SoccerNews prediction: 0-2
Hull have slipped to within four points of the relegation zone and are desperate for some points in this one. With only one win in their last fourteen games they are still in freefall. Defeat here would leave them in a perilous position.
Portsmouth have steadied the ship a little and whilst they are a point behind Hull at the moment, they are in a far better run of form. They have only lost one of their last five and last time out they beat high flying Everton.
SoccerNews prediction: 0-1
What effect will the Alan Shearer appointment have on Newcastle? They are currently third from bottom two points away from safety. The run of form they are in has seen them win just once in fourteen outings. Shearer will give hope to the fans and belief to the players, but sadly for him, he can’t make his team into better players.
Chelsea have slipped to four points behind the leaders but will still consider themselves as serious contenders for the Premier League title. Prior to their defeat at Tottenham they had gone nine games unbeaten and will fancy their chances of starting another run in this game.
SoccerNews prediction: 0-2
West Brom are probably doomed. They are rock bottom and some seven points from safety. They have drawn their last two games but it is some two and a half months since they tasted the joy of victory.
Stoke are still fighting for their lives. They are three points clear of the drop zone and will see this game as a real chance to move closer to keeping their Premier League status. They have only lost twice in their last seven and had a crucial win over Middlesbrough in their last game.
SoccerNews prediction: 1-1
Gianfranco Zola has guided West Ham into eighth place in the table. They have lost just twice in twelve games and are unbeaten in four.
Sunderland’s mini-revival under Ricky Sbragia has somewhat hit the rocks. They are only three points clear of the bottom three and they need to start picking up some points. Five games without a win means that these are worrying times at the Stadium of Light.
SoccerNews prediction: 2-1
Sunday 5th April 2009
Everton have probably scuppered their chances of a top four finish as they are now seven points behind Arsenal. Defeat at Portsmouth last time out was probably the end of their hopes. They should still qualify for Europe and have had a fine season. Their reversal at Portsmouth was their first defeat in nine.
Wigan have made it to seventh place in the table. Either they are better than they look or the quality of the Premier League below the top six is not great this season. They have only lost twice in eight and are coming off the back of two straight victories.
SoccerNews prediction: 1-0
United may well go into this game in second place in the table. They are coming off the back of the very rare situation of back to back defeats. Off course, prior to that they had only lost once in thirty games!
Villa’s wonderful season is in danger of crashing around them. They are now three points adrift of the fourth Champions League spot and could do with playing somewhere other than Old Trafford as they look to get three points and get back on track. They come into this game with no wins in eight and after suffering a humiliating 5-0 defeat at Liverpool.
SoccerNews prediction: 2-0
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