AS a neutral, it would be nice to think that Manchester City’s draw at Turf Moor last weekend has blown the title race wide open, as they say.
But it hasn’t.
So, assuming Manchester United take one of the other Champions League places, it seems to be the battle for the other two spots where the action really is with Liverpool, Chelsea, Spurs and Arsenal all fighting it out.
Even my maths tells me four into two won’t go.
But this first game of the weekend’s Premier League action, at Wembley Stadium, may go some way to sorting some of it out.
Tottenham vs Arsenal
WHAT better way to start the weekend than with a North London derby?
And you really can’t call it.
Spurs may have lost only one of their last seven Premier League matches against Arsenal but that just happened to be against the Gunners earlier in the season when they went down 2-0 at the Emirates.
Still, in Harry Kane they have a striker who seems to genuinely love playing Arsenal.
He’s scored six goals in six matches against the Wenger boys and the only time he failed to find the net was in that defeat in November.
If Arsenal do manage to snatch all three points it’ll be the fourth time in the Premier League that they’ve done the double over Spurs, having beaten them home and away in 2004-05, 2007-08 and 2013-14.
SUNSPORT PREDICTION: AWAY WIN
Everton vs Crystal Palace
AS the mediocre magic of Sam Allardyce wears off quicker than a cheap Cologne, here’s one game that Everton really need to win, lest they slip back into the mess that is the bottom half of the Premier League table.
Their case will be bolstered by the absence of Wilfried Zaha from the Eagles’ line-up after the Ivory Coast international injured his knee against Newcastle at the weekend.
The Eagles have played six league games without Wilf this season and have lost the lot.
But they have a decent record at Everton, winning at Goodison Park in the Premier League on four occasions and that’s more than they’ve managed than against any other club.
And the last time they lost there was under the managerial genius that is/was Iain Dowie in April 2005.
SUNSPORT PREDICTION: DRAW
Stoke vs Brighton
AFTER Bournemouth came from behind to pip the Potters last time out, new gaffer Paul Lambert will be hoping that Stoke get back to winning ways against fellow strugglers Brighton.
And if he isn’t then he’s in the wrong job.
A few weeks ago you would have put your house on Stoke winning this game but Brighton will be buoyed by that terrific win over West Ham and if Glenn Murray scores again it’ll be six in eight games and four in his last four.
Not bad for a 34-year- old. It’s also a game that could see the long-awaited debut of Brighton’s £14million record-signing Jurgen ‘Not a German’ Locadia.
He’ll be on the bench though, you watch.
SUNSPORT PREDICTION: AWAY WIN
Swansea vs Burnley
EIGHT points from their last four games have given Swansea every chance of avoiding the drop this season just when everybody, me included, had them nailed on to go down.
So I apologise and, while we’re at it, congratulate manager Carlos Carvalhal on the frankly incredible job he’s done since he stepped in to replace Paul Clement.
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And they might just get another three points here too.
The Swans have won each of their last three home league games against Burnley, including two at the Liberty, and when you consider that Burnley are also on the longest winless streak in the division, having drawn five and lost four of their last nine, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if Swansea’s fine run continues here.
SUNSPORT PREDICTION: HOME WIN
West Ham vs Watford
A mid-table clash of truly average proportions as 11th place Watford visit 12th-placed West Ham.
West Ham were simply woeful against Brighton at the Amex last weekend and the rumblings of discontent, not so much with the gaffer but with the board grow louder by the day. Or is it the hour?
That said, they are unbeaten in four home games in all competitions (W2, D2) and David Moyes, managerial genius, has never lost a home match against Watford either.
Home win then, right?
Wrong.
Watford will buzzing after that 4-1 battering of champions Chelsea and if they can play half as well as they did at Vicarage Road on Monday then there’s every likelihood they could pick up back-to-back wins in the league for the first time since November.
SUNSPORT PREDICTION: AWAY WIN
Manchester City vs Leicester
THAT draw against Burnley might suggest that City are struggling to cope with their position as frontrunners but their home record suggests otherwise.
In fact, Pep’s princes are unbeaten in their last 25 home Premier League matches (W20, D5).
There’s a chance here for Sergio Aguero to set a new personal record here too. The wee man has scored in each of his last six matches at the Etihad in all competitions, notching a nifty 10 goals in the process.
If he gets on the scoresheet today then it will be the first time he’s scored in seven homes on the spin for City.
As for Leicester, well, they’ve haven’t won a single point in any of their last nine league games that they’ve played against those sides starting the day at the top of the table.
You have to wonder if the return of Riyad Mahrez – if it materialises – can turn around their fortunes.
That’s bad enough, sure, but consider this. They’ve also lost the lot of them by an aggregate score of 3-20.
SUNSPORT PREDICTION: HOME WIN
Huddersfield vs Bournemouth
That dream start that Huddersfield enjoyed back in the sunnier days of August and September now seems like a distant memory as they endure a run of five straight defeats and eight games without a win.
Now in the relegation zone for the first time this season, the Terriers need an instant response but that’s a big ask against a Bournemouth side that have won four of their last six Premier League matches.
It doesn’t help that Huddersfield have failed to score in 14 of their 26 league matches this season and that’s more than any other side in the competition.
They’d take a point here, certainly.
SUNSPORT PREDICTION: DRAW
Newcastle vs Manchester United
My head says that the visitors should win this comfortably and, for that matter, so does my heart.
Yes, United have an enviable record at St. James’ Park, winning nine of their last 13 league games there and losing just the one, back in January 2012.
Factor in the worrying stat that the Magpies have conceded more Premier League goals against United than they have against any other club (92).
And Romelu Lukaku averages a goal every 65 minutes against Newcastle. It all adds up to what could be another difficult day at the office for Rafa’s rabble.
SUNSPORT PREDICTION: AWAY WIN
Southampton vs Liverpool
LIVERPOOL’S latest scouting mission to St. Mary’s comes off the back of that thrilling 2-2 draw with Spurs last week and, despite winning only two of the eight matches they’ve played against Saints under Jurgen Klopp, they’ll expect to return to Merseyside with all three points tucked safely in their man bags.
Southampton may have ended their 12-match winless run last week against West Brom but they haven’t won back-to- back league wins this season and if the Reds terrific trio of Firmino, Salah and Mane click here it could get ugly.
Much like the reception ex-Saint Virgil van Dijk will doubtless receive.
SUNSPORT PREDICTION: AWAY WIN
Chelsea vs West Brom
SO it’s crunch time for Conte.
After those disastrous losses to Bournemouth and Watford and you can bet that anything other than a comprehensive win against the league’s bottom side will see the Italian on the first easyJet back to Italy.
Surely they can’t lose again, can they? It’s unlikely, not least because the Blues have won all three of their league games against the Baggies under Antonio Conte without conceding a single goal.
There’s also the not insignificant matter of West Brom’s dismal record in the capital where they’ve won just two of their last 18 games in London (D6, L10).
But there is a ray of hope, or at least a hint of one poking through the clouds.
Why? Because Alan Pardew has won twice at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League with Newcastle and Crystal Palace, although no visiting gaffer has ever done it with three different clubs.
SUNSPORT PREDICTION: HOME WIN
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