AFTER last weekend’s FA Cup madness, it’s back to the bread and butter of the Premier League and some key games in the relegation dogfight.
…Why is it always a “dogfight”, anyway?
Then there’s what’s left of the title race on display, too.
It begins at Stamford Bridge tomorrow lunchtime as Antonio Conte takes a well-deserved break from berating Jose Mourinho to lead his Chelsea side into a game against the team they took the title from, Leicester.
And it will doubtless end with Mourinho blaming the referee/Stoke’s tactics/Brexit/the weather for United’s result against Stoke on Monday night.
Enjoy!
CHELSEA v LEICESTER
If Chelsea fans are a little bit disappointed by their title defence, they can at least take solace from the fact that they are still the best team in London.
Every cloud and all that.
While the Blues can point to a head-to-head record with Leicester that boasts only one defeat in their last 11 league meetings (W9, D1, L1) they’re up against a Foxes side that have got a goal or two in them, especially with Jamie Vardy leading the line.
The England striker has also scored more goals against the so-called “big six” than any other player since August 2014.
How many? Only 22 goals in 41 appearances, that’s how many.
SUNSPORT PREDICTION: HOME WIN
CRYSTAL PALACE v BURNLEY
After that sensational start to the season, Burnley have been stuttering of late and they’re now without a league win in five (D3, L2).
That said, they seem to have a strange hold over Palace, having beaten the Eagles in each of their last three league games.
They also seem to have shrugged off their capital hoodoo too.
Having lost 13 of their previous 15 trips to the capital, Burnley are now on a run of form that’s seen them unbeaten in their last three games in London (W2, D1).
As for Palace, well, I got proper pelters on social media for having a pop at Jason Puncheon.
So I’m just going to say they’re a lovely club with terrific supporters and wish them all the very best for the remainder of the season.
SUNSPORT PREDICTION: AWAY WIN
HUDDERSFIELD v WEST HAM
There were many raised eyebrows, not to mention foul-mouthed outbursts, when David Moyes was given the job at West Ham.
But he’s slowly turning things around and the Irons have only lost on in their last seven league fixtures (W3, D3, L1).
They’ve also won five points from their last three away games (W1 D2 L0) and that’s two more than their won in their opening nine on their travels in 2016/17.
Huddersfield are in one of their mini-slumps again and while they’ve only lost one of their last four matches they’re failing to convert draws into victories.
Still, a position of 11th place with 24 points at this stage is still beyond what any Terriers fans could have realistically expected at the start of the campaign.
SUNSPORT PREDICTION: HOME WIN
NEWCASTLE v SWANSEA
Though Swansea are still rooted to the foot of the table, there have been signs of improvement under new manager Carlos Carvalhal.
And there’s every chance they might get something here too.
The Swans have won three of their five Premier League visits to St James’ Park (D1, L1) and their last-gasp win away at Watford ended a run of seven defeats on the spin on their travels.
But the hosts have found a little bit of form of late and given that they’ve won their last two fixtures against Swansea, they too will see this as three much-needed points for the taking.
SUNSPORT PREDICTION: DRAW
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WATFORD v SOUTHAMPTON
It’s a sign of just how poor Southampton have been recently that Mauricio Pellegrino is now favourite to be the next manager for the chop in the Premier League.
Saints are now winless in nine Premier League matches (D4, L5) and there’s only West Brom in the top-flight that are on a longer run.
But if there’s one man who can bag them the three points here it’s Nathan Redmond.
He’s bagged four goals and provided one assist in his five PL appearances against Watford, netting more against the Hornets than he has any other opponent in the competition.
No pressure then.
SUNSPORT PREDICTION: DRAW
WEST BROM v BRIGHTON
The reverse fixture earlier this season was Brighton’s very first win in the Premier League as they ran out 3-1 winners at the Amex.
While a repeat of that scoreline would be more than welcome down in Sussex, it’s not looking likely.
…Not least because the Baggies have faced the Albion in more home matches without defeat than they have any other side in their long history (nine times if you wondering).
Add to that the Seagulls’ chronic lack of goals on their travels – they haven’t scored in their last five on their travels in the league – and you have an uphill task for Chris Hughton’s side, even if they are playing West Brom.
The Baggies, meanwhile, still haven’t won under new boss Alan Pardew and it’s a winless streak in the league that stretches back 20 games.
How bad is that in the grand scheme of things? Well, only the calamitous Derby County team of 2007/08 have gone longer without a victory.
Yep, it’s that bad.
SUNSPORT PREDICTION: DRAW
TOTTENHAM v EVERTON
Is Big Sam’s magic wearing off? Everton are now without a win in four games and have lost their last two league games.
It doesn’t help that they’ve only won eight points from 27 on the road this season too – and that’s the lowest ratio in the competition.
Will that win come at Wembley? Unlikely.
Spurs are unbeaten in their last ten Premier League matches against Everton (W5 D5) and Harry Kane likes nothing better than sticking it to the Toffees.
The England man has nabbed a brace in each of his last two league games against Everton.
Keep an eye (or two) out for Son Heung-min too.
He could become only the second Tottenham player, after Jermain Defoe in 2004, to score in five home league matches on the spin.
SUNSPORT PREDICTION: HOME WIN
BOURNEMOUTH v ARSENAL
Fact. You can now get the same odds (250/1) on Prince William and Kate calling their third child “Nigel” as you can on Arsenal winning this season’s Premier League title.
That says it all, doesn’t it?
Still, the Gunners should pick up three points here as the hosts always seems to struggle on a Sunday.
In fact, the Cherries have lost 10 of their 13 Premier League games that they’ve played on the Sabbath.
And while Eddie Howe’s team of triers did win last time out at home, beating Everton, they’ve not won back-to- back league games at the Vitality since March 2017.
SUNSPORT PREDICTION: AWAY WIN
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LIVERPOOL v MANCHESTER CITY
The game of the weekend and we’re calling it.
Manchester City are going to lose… there, we’ve said it.
Why? Well, not only have City not done the double over Liverpool in over 80 years but their one and only striker, Sergio Aguero, has never scored at Anfield either.
And that’s not all.
The Reds are also unbeaten in their last 14 league home games against City, winning the last four on the spin and they’ve kept nie clean sheets in an unbeaten home run stretching back 13 games.
Even without wee Philippe Coutinho, I still fancy them to do it and close the gap on City to a mere 15 points.
SUNSPORT PREDICTION: HOME WIN
MANCHESTER UNITED v STOKE
It’s unlikely Martin O’Neill will be in place for this game and that’s probably a good thing.
After all, the last thing he’d want is to start his latest managerial adventure with a proper pasting.
And that’s what it will be.
United, you see, have won eight and drawn one of their last nine home league games against the Potters while Stoke haven’t won in their last 17 trips to Old Trafford in all competitions (D2, L15).
In fact, their last win at the Theatre of Dreams was way back in the April 1976.
The only thing Stoke can cling to is that they’ve never lost a Premier League match on a Monday.
Mind you, United have only lost one of their 29 too.
SUNSPORT PREDICTION: HOME WIN
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