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Burnley v West Ham
Prediction: Burnley 0-1 West Ham
This game comes at very different moments for the two sides. Burnley look in serious trouble after a heavy 3-0 defeat to Sunderland last week and performances suggest they are sliding towards relegation. Confidence is low and goals are proving hard to find.
West Ham, meanwhile, have turned their form around and arrive with momentum. They know a win here is crucial in their push to close the gap on Nottingham Forest and strengthen their league position. Recent performances have been more organised and assured.
Given Burnley’s struggles and West Ham’s upward trend, a narrow but deserved 1-0 away win looks the most likely result.
Fulham v Everton
Prediction: Fulham 1-1 Everton
Everton are becoming specialists in tight matches, having drawn four of their last five Premier League games. They are structured, disciplined and very comfortable turning fixtures into low-scoring battles.
Fulham remain unpredictable. They were excellent at Old Trafford last week and unlucky to lose after a strong performance, but consistency continues to elude them.
With Everton happy to keep things compact and Fulham capable of creating chances at home, this feels like a contest where both sides have spells without either fully taking control. A 1-1 draw makes perfect sense.
Bournemouth v Aston Villa
Prediction: Bournemouth 1-2 Aston Villa
Bournemouth arrive in very good form and have been one of the league’s most impressive sides over the last month. Their high-energy approach and attacking intent make them a tough opponent at home.
Aston Villa, however, need a response after back-to-back Premier League defeats at Villa Park. Interestingly, they have been far stronger on the road, beating Newcastle 2-0 in their last away match. Villa often thrive when teams attack them and leave space to exploit.
With Bournemouth likely to play on the front foot, this sets up nicely for Villa to counter and edge a close game 2-1.
Newcastle v Brentford
Prediction: Newcastle 1-1 Brentford
Newcastle are going through a difficult period. They are without a win in their last four matches, have been dealing with a packed fixture schedule and suffered a draining League Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester City in midweek. Fatigue is clearly becoming an issue, and the injury to Anthony Gordon only adds to their problems.
Brentford, on the other hand, will take confidence from an excellent away win at Villa Park, even if that result came slightly against the run of play. They remain organised, resilient and dangerous on the counter attack.
Given Newcastle’s heavy legs and Brentford’s belief, this has all the signs of a hard-fought draw.
Brighton v Crystal Palace
Prediction: Brighton 2-0 Crystal Palace
Brighton’s home form has been outstanding. They are unbeaten in their last five at the Amex and, before that, went 13 home games without defeat. Confidence and structure at home continue to be major strengths.
Crystal Palace are in a very different situation. They are without a win in 12 matches and have struggled badly since losing key players Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze. With the manager also announcing he will leave at the end of the season, uncertainty is clearly affecting performances.
All the momentum is with Brighton, and a comfortable 2-0 home win looks the most realistic outcome.
Liverpool v Manchester City
Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Manchester City
This is the headline game of the weekend and rarely fails to deliver drama. Both teams have the quality to score and both are capable of dominating long spells.
At Anfield, Liverpool tend to raise their level for matches like this. Manchester City will still have plenty of possession and chances, but fixtures between these two are often decided by fine margins and key moments.
With the atmosphere and home advantage in Liverpool’s favour, plus having a longer rest, a hard-fought 2-1 win for the Reds feels like a very plausible result.
