PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH PREVIEWS SATURDAY APRIL 16 – MONDAY APRIL 18

Norwich City v Sunderland - Saturday 1245

Positions: Norwich 17^th, Sunderland 18^th

Form (last six matches – league matches only – earliest results first):

Norwich

LLDWWL (7pts)

Sunderland

LDDDDL (4pts)

·         It is a far from unlikely outcome that the winner of this match will stay up, and benefit from the new TV riches on offer next season, while the loser will be relegated. Hence almost any amount of hype regarding this match is justified – this is a huge game. On recent form, perhaps Norwich enjoy a slight advantage.

Everton v Southampton – Saturday 1500

Positions: Everton 12^th, Southampton 7^th

Form:

Everton

WLLLDD (5pts)

Southampton

LDWWLW (10pts)

·         Everton’s poor home record and recent form in general, together with the likelihood their attention is already turning to next week’s FA Cup semi-final, means Southampton have to be fancied here.

Manchester United v Aston Villa – Saturday 1500

Positions: Man Utd 5^th, Aston Villa 20^th

Form:

Man Utd

WWLWWL (12pts)

Aston Villa

LLLLLL (0pts)

·         United fans were hugely disappointed by their showing against Tottenham in the last league match, but their performance at West Ham in the FA Cup was much better. As for Villa, they are probably wishing the season would end, and another defeat for the Midlanders appears to be on the cards here.

Newcastle United v Swansea City – Saturday 1500

Positions: Newcastle 19^th, Swansea 13^th

Form:

Newcastle

LLLDLL (1pt)

Swansea

WWLWDW (13pts)

·         Newcastle will be targeting a home match against a bottom half side with little to play for as one of the matches they need to win if they have any chance of survival. But after Swansea’s win over Chelsea last week, and given the manner of some of Newcastle’s recent defeats, no Magpies fan will walk through the turnstiles confident of bagging three points.

Watford v West Bromwich Albion – Saturday 1500

Positions: West Brom 14^th, Watford 15^th

Form:

West Brom

WDWLDL (8pts)

Watford

DLLLLD (2pts)

·         Possibly the match which has the least at stake this weekend. West Brom are in a good mood as they appear to be on course for their best Premier League finish to date, while the goals have dried up in recent weeks for Watford’s once prolific front two of Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney. With Watford likely to have half an eye on the FA Cup semi, the Baggies probably start as favourites.

Chelsea v Manchester City – Saturday 1730

Positions: Chelsea 10^th, Man City 4^th

Form:

Chelsea

WWDDWL (11pts)

Man City

LWDLWW (10pts)

·         Despite their loss to Swansea last week, one suspects that Chelsea will prove a very tough test indeed, and after their Champions League success in the week, City’s chances of qualifying for next year’s competition could take a dent here.

Bournemouth v Liverpool – Sunday 1330

Positions: Bournemouth 11^th, Liverpool 8^th

Form:

Bournemouth

WWWLLW (12pts)

Liverpool

WWWLDW (13pts)

·         If Liverpool produce the same level of performance as last week’s win over Stoke, they will surely win again here. Bournemouth have won four of the last six, but in the main their successes have come against teams in the lower half of the table, and they have often struggled against the bigger teams.

Leicester City v West Ham United – Sunday 1330

Positions: Leicester 1^st, West Ham 6^th

Form:

Leicester

DWWWWW (16pts)

West Ham

WWWDDD (12pts)

·         Despite Andy Carroll’s hat-trick last week, Leicester’s superb defensive record – five successive wins, all with clean sheets - means they have to be fancied to take another step towards the title here.

Arsenal v Crystal Palace – Sunday 1600

Positions: Arsenal 3^rd, Crystal Palace 16^th

Form:

Arsenal

LLDWWD (8pts)

Crystal Palace

DLLDWD (6pts)

·         Despite finally breaking their winless run last week, Palace will have their work cut out if they want to stop Arsenal collecting three points here.

Stoke City v Tottenham Hotspur – Monday 2000

Form:

Stoke

WDLWDL (8pts)

Tottenham

LDWWDW (11pts)

Positions: Stoke 9^th, Tottenham 2^nd

·         Tottenham responded superbly last week when starting their match 10 points adrift of Leicester. They may well have to do the same again here, and while Stoke’s season appears to be drifting to a mid-table finish, expect the Potters to be up for this one as they look to add to the list of big teams beaten at the Britannia this season.