PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH PREVIEWS – SATURDAY APRIL 30 – MONDAY MAY 2

Everton v Bournemouth – Saturday 1500

Positions: Everton 11^th, Bournemouth 14^th

Form (League matches only – earliest matches first):

Everton

LLDDDL (3pts)

Bournemouth

WLLWLL (6pts)

• Everton have a very poor defensive record in home matches, and still have injuries in defence; while Bournemouth’s goals against tally is the third highest in the division. So there could well be goals here, more likely than not arising from mistakes rather than moments of outstanding skill.

Newcastle United v Crystal Palace – Saturday 1500

Positions: Newcastle 19^th, Crystal Palace 16^th

Form:

Newcastle

DLLWDD (6pts)

Crystal Palace

LDWDDL (6pts)

• Newcastle are unbeaten in three, but remain in serious trouble in second bottom spot. They came from 2-0 down to draw against Liverpool last week, and will need more of the same spirit during the rest of the season if they are to survive. Palace’s form remains poor – in the league at least – and the Magpies are likely to see this as a ‘must win’ game.

Stoke City v Sunderland – Saturday 1500

Positions: Stoke 10^th, Sunderland 17^th

Form:

Stoke

LWDLLL (4pts)

Sunderland

DDDLWD (7pts)

• Sunderland still have a lot of work to do to preserve their Premier League status, and like local rivals Newcastle, this is one of the matches they will be targeting for a win. Three successive defeats, conceding four goals in each, suggests a lot about how Stoke are approaching their end of season dead rubbers.

Watford v Aston Villa – Saturday 1500

Positions: Watford 12^th, Aston Villa 20^th

Form:

Watford

LLLDWL (4pts)

Aston Villa

LLLLLL (0pts)

• Watford have won just one of their last eight league matches, and also lost their FA Cup semi-final last weekend. However, any team playing hapless Aston Villa at present is likely to win. Gabriel Agbonlahor has resigned as Villa club captain after a series of adverse headlines in recent weeks.

West Bromwich Albion v West Ham United – Saturday 1500

Positions: West Brom 13^th, West Ham 6^th

Form:

West Brom

LDLLLD (2pts)

West Ham

WDDDDW (10pts)

• The form table massively favours West Ham, but things many not be quite as easy for the Hammers as one might think. In drawing four successive matches recently, Slaven Bilic’s side conceded nine goals. If West Brom can reproduce their second half display from Monday’s match with Tottenham, they could make life awkward for another top six side here.

Arsenal v Norwich City – Saturday 1730

Positions: Arsenal 4^th, Norwich 18^th

Form:

Arsenal

WWDDWD (12pts)

Norwich

LDWWLL (7pts)

• Norwich suffered a potentially damaging defeat to Sunderland last time out, but may still stand a chance here. Arsenal are unbeaten in seven, but four of those have been draws, and the fans are making the Emirates far from welcoming for their team at present. Arsenal were held by Crystal Palace in their last home match, and another banana skin awaits here in the shape of a Canaries side fighting for survival.

Swansea City v Liverpool – Sunday 1200

Positions: Swansea 15^th, Liverpool 7^th

Form:

Swansea

LWDWLL (7pts)

Liverpool

LDWWWD (11pts)

• Two matches ago, Swansea defeated Chelsea, but the joy was short lived as they conceded seven goals in losing their next two matches. Although Liverpool will have played their Europa League semi-final only three days later, their better recent form makes them favourites here. Liverpool’s Mahmadou Sakho will be suspended from this match – and probably many more – after his positive drugs test.

Manchester United v Leicester City – Saturday 1405

Positions: Man Utd 5^th, Leicester 1^st

Form:

Man Utd

LWWLWW (12pts)

Leicester

WWWWDW (16pts)

• This could be the day when the title is decided. After winning seven of their last nine matches, surely Leicester will claim the one win they may still need to clinch the title at some stage in their remaining three matches? But will it be here? With United having won six of the last seven in all competitions; with Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford posing a huge threat upfront; and with Jamie Vardy suspended for an additional match, this will be a very tough assignment for Leicester. However their recent results and recent defensive records suggests they can claim at least a point here. Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri recently said that it was ‘now or never’ for his team, and logic is on his side. The Foxes will not start next season as a 5,000-1 bet for the title but star players (and possibly their manager) may move on in the summer in search of higher wages; they may not be as lucky with injuries next year; Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United may all be stronger next year; and no one will ever make the mistake of underestimating them again!

Southampton v Manchester City – Saturday 1630

Positions: Southampton 8^th, Man City 3^rd

Form:

Southampton

WWLWDW (13pts)

Man City

LWWWDW (13pts)

• City cannot let their league focus slip, given they are yet to confirm their Champions League place for next season. However, the fact that this match takes place in between the two legs of City’s semi-final with Real Madrid must increase the chances of a Southampton side who are themselves in good form.

Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur – Monday 2000

Positions: Chelsea 9^th, Tottenham 2^nd

Form:

Chelsea

DDWLLW (8pts)

Tottenham

WWDWWD (14pts)

• Even if Leicester do not finish the job the previous day, defeat here will spell the end of Tottenham’s title challenge. Spurs will do well to come through this test in a spicy London derby atmosphere and keep the title race alive. At time of writing, retrospective action had not yet been taken against Dele Alli for his alleged punch against West Brom.