Premier League Predictions: Matchweek 37
It's the penultimate weekend of the 2021/22 Premier League season, and still to be decided is the destination of the title, the final top 4 position, and the one remaining relegation spot.
Officially there are 9 Premier League matches in Matchweek 37. All of Sunday's seven matches, along with Newcastle vs Arsenal on Monday, and Liverpool's trip to Southampton on Tuesday.
Today, I'm just covering Sunday and Monday. I'll see how many Liverpool players are left standing after Saturday’s FA Cup Final before I preview their match at St Mary’s on Tuesday.
There's also a further three matches on Thursday that are catch up fixtures from previous weeks. I'll do a separate article for those matches in due course.
Spurs’ 3-0 win over north London rival’s Arsenal on Thursday night has blown the race for a top 4 finish wide open. In the latest Premier League betting, both Spurs and the Gunners are ⅚.
Arsenal has the 1 point advantage, but Spurs have the more appealing looking - shall we say - remaining fixtures.
At the bottom of the table it’s a huge day for Leeds United. After three crushing losses to Man City, Arsenal and Chelsea, Jesse Marsch’s side have a home fixture against Brighton.
Everton have a winnable looking match at home to Brentford, but Burnley are away to Spurs. Can Leeds salvage their season today by getting something against the Seagulls.
They will be relying on a favour from Spurs, and I think they will get one. And it’s at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, that I’m beginning this weekend’s match predictions.
Spurs vs Burnley Match Prediction - Sunday 12 noon
This has been a welcome fixture for Spurs over the last two years. Score lines of 4-0 and 5-0 will be most welcome again for Tottenham fans this Sunday
Antonio Conte's team will certainly have their tails up after getting a 1-1 draw at Anfield last Saturday, and then defeating Arsenal 3-0 on Thursday.
The short recovery time from the Arsenal match should be their only concern.
Both teams need to win this match for differing reasons. A win for Spurs will see them overtake Arsenal and go into the top 4, at least until Monday, when the Gunners take on Newcastle.
While for Burnley, a win would see them heap unimaginable pressure on Leeds. Truth be told, I feel Burnley (caretaker) boss Mike Jackson would gladly take a point here.
I don't see him getting it though.
Verdict - SPURS WIN
Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace Match Prediction - Sunday 2pm
The first of plenty of dead rubbers across the final two weekends of the season.
Although, if nothing else, midtable supremacy and bragging rights are up for grabs.
Villa put in a shift against Liverpool last Tuesday, but in reality they never looked like getting anything from the match.
While for Crystal Palace, they dominated Watford last weekend, but could only manage a 1-0 win.
It's a hard match to call, but I'm going with home advantage, and it's a Villa win for me.
Verdict - ASTON VILLA WIN
Leeds vs Brighton Match Prediction - Sunday 2pm
One of the supposedly easier matches for Leeds after matches against Man City, Arsenal and Chelsea.
I can't help feeling that Leeds have come out of those three matches totally demoralised though.
Can they regroup and start again? If they don't, they go down. They did demonstrate against Arsenal last Sunday that they can give it a go, but the Chelsea performance on Wednesday was woeful.
Unfortunately, Leeds will face a Brighton side flying high.
They're into the top half of the Premier League, and that comes off the back of a 3-0 win over Wolves, and last Saturday's 4-0 thrashing of Manchester United.
I'm finding it hard to make any case for Leeds.
Verdict - BRIGHTON WIN
Watford vs Leicester Match Prediction - Sunday 2pm
Can Watford make it two matches in a row at Vicarage Road without defeat?
Yes, miracles do happen, Watford didn't get beat at home when they took on Everton last Wednesday.
The 0-0.draw stopped the rot, but I'm not sure it really achieved anything at this stage. I suppose it helps in respect to not finishing bottom of the table, but I'm not sure where else.
Leicester are now out or Europe, so have no reason to be resting the likes of Jamie Vardy or James Maddison.
I also think Brendan Rodgers will be keen to impress on his players how important a strong finish to the season can be.
Remember what happened the following year, the last time Leicester finished a season on a decent winning run?
Anyway, back to the match in question. Unfortunately for Hornet's fans, I think Watford's Vicarage Road curse will return on Sunday.
Verdict - LEICESTER WIN
West Ham vs Man City Match Prediction - Sunday 2pm
Right, Liverpool fans, I feel this is your last chance. I don't see City dropping all 3 points at home to Villa next week, so you need West Ham to do the business here.
The Hammers will be up for this in my view. They've been in Europe up until recently, and they will feel they are one of the top sides in the Premier League, so therefore won't want to get rolled over by City.
Will Man City have a defence of any sort to put out on Sunday?
Already without Kyle Walker, John Stones and Ruben Dias for the remainder of the season, City now have doubts about Aymeric Laporte and makeshift defender Fernandinho.
If there is going to be a slip from City, this is where it's most likely to happen.
I can only see Pep's team playing one way here though. They've scored 19 goals in their last four league games, and although I don’t see them racking up another four or five against West Ham, I have to take them to win.
Although, nothing would surprise me in this match.
Verdict - MAN CITY WIN
Wolves vs Norwich Match Prediction - Sunday 2pm
As bad as Wolves have been lately, Norwich have been far worse.
I expected the Canaries to show a bit more fight in relegation over the past few weeks than they have done. But instead they've rolled over meekly.
Wolves haven't been great either. They took advantage of Chelsea's apathy last Saturday to get a draw, but apart from that, they've been awful of late.
I'm not massively confident in this prediction, but I have to go with Wolves.
Verdict - WOLVES WIN
Everton vs Brentford Match Prediction - Sunday 4.30pm
The Bees have had an excellent season and are finishing the season strongly.
They've won four of their last six, as well as drawing with Spurs, and somehow losing to Man Utd! What?
Everton's home form is probably what's going to keep them up. They also might feel they owe the Bees, after losing 1-0 to them back in November, the match that cost Rafa Benitez his job.
It’s fair to say the Spaniards appointement was never a welcome one!
Come to think of it, Everton may think they owe Brentford a debt of gratitude!
Again, I'm not convinced by this one, and I have had a mare predicting Brentford this season. But it's a home win and PremierLeague survival.
Verdict - EVERTON WIN
Newcastle vs Arsenal Match Prediction - Monday 8pm
They don’t get any easier to predict, do they! Are Arsenal on the verge of getting themselves to the brink of the Champions League, and hitting the self-destruct button? They quite possibly are!
At the same time, they need 6 points from two matches against mid to lower placed teams in the Premier League. Surely they can’t blow this!
Sometimes I look at a match, and can’t see one outcome, and am unsure between the other two. But I can’t even say that about this match.
This looks more like one of those matches where all three outcomes are possible. In those circumstances, I tend to go for the draw. For the Arsenal fans out there, I hope I’m wrong!
Verdict – DRAW
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