It’s a huge and long weekend in the Premier League, with attention firmly back on the title race for both Arsenal and Manchester City after the latter switched focus to the FA Cup last weekend.
The 10 games are spread across four days, with beaten FA Cup semi-finalists Leeds United kicking things off against relegated Burnley on Friday.
Arsenal will look to pile the pressure on City in the title race on Saturday evening when they host Fulham, two days before Pep Guardiola’s side round off the bank holiday weekend’s fixtures at Everton.
Manchester United host Liverpool as the two old rivals look to take another step towards Champions League qualification, while Tottenham’s uphill battle to avoid the drop takes them to fifth place Aston Villa.
Fellow strugglers West Ham and Nottingham Forest also have games against sides with European ambitions, and Crystal Palace and Newcastle United will each be seeking results that will put any talk of them being sucked into the relegation battle to bed.
101GreatGoals predicts every fixture from what is sure to be a fascinating weekend in the Premier League.
FRIDAY
Leeds United v Burnley
A win would almost certainly be enough to confirm Leeds’ survival, and they will be clear favourites against a Burnley side that parted company with Scott Parker on Thursday following their relegation.
Still, Leeds were far from impressive in the FA Cup semi-final last weekend and there could be a hangover from that defeat to Chelsea. Nerves will jangle at Elland Road if a Burnley side that beat Leeds in the reverse fixture take the lead, but Daniel Farke’s men should have enough to claim the points.
Prediction: Leeds 2-1 Burnley
SATURDAY
Brentford v West Ham
There was a degree of fortune about West Ham’s win over Everton last week, but the Hammers will see the short trip to West London as an opportunity to take another huge step towards survival. Brentford’s European charge has stalled significantly. It has gone under the radar that they have not won since a 4-3 victory at Burnley in February, with the Bees winless in seven games since, including a penalty shootout defeat to West Ham in the FA Cup.
Brentford have won three of their last four Premier League home games against West Ham, the exception being a 1-1 draw last season. Nuno Espírito Santo’s men would probably be happy with the same result again.
Prediction: Brentford 1-1 West Ham
Newcastle United v Brighton and Hove Albion
Newcastle are desperate to stop the rot and put any lingering relegation fears to bed. Eight points clear of the bottom three, the Magpies have likely already done enough, but a win here to end a run of five four successive defeats by a single goal would make everyone on Tyneside breathe a little easier.
Brighton have been a bogey team for Newcastle and are in excellent form, having swept aside Chelsea last time out. Remarkably, Fabian Hurzeler’s side have a chance of Champions League qualification and have lost just two of their last 17 Premier League games against Eddie Howe’s team, though both of those defeats were at St James’ Park.
Still, Newcastle were improved in a 1-0 defeat at Arsenal last weekend, and with the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton back in the side, it feels like the perfect time for them to lift the mood.
Prediction: Newcastle 3-1 Brighton
Wolves v Sunderland
Despite losing 5-0 at home to Nottingham Forest last Friday, Sunderland are still very much in a position to push for European football, and they will be grateful for the trip to rock bottom Wolves.
Rob Edwards’ men rediscovered some of their fight last week as they made life extremely difficult for struggling Tottenham, but the reality is that the momentum they had a few weeks ago is gone.
Sunderland aren’t likely to produce a repeat of their defensive collapse against Forest, and this should be an enjoyable away day for their travelling fans.
Prediction: Wolves 0-2 Sunderland
Arsenal v Fulham
Arsenal may be a little weary following their Champions League exertions against Atletico Madrid, while Fulham are coming off an impressive victory over Aston Villa last time out.
Still, the Cottagers’ record in this fixture does not inspire confidence that they will give City a helping hand in the title race.
Indeed, Arsenal have not lost in 32 home league games against Fulham, that is the most any side has faced another without defeat in English football league history.
The Gunners’ win over Newcastle was edgy rather than impressive and, after a hard-fought game in Madrid, another workmanlike victory looks likely for Mikel Arteta’s side.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Fulham
SUNDAY
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace
Bournemouth have had a long time to stew on the late equaliser they conceded against Leeds in their most recent fixture, while Palace will be coming off a long trip to Poland to face Shakhtar Donetsk in the Conference League semi-finals.
Much like Newcastle, Palace need one more result to be entirely sure of their top-flight status for next season, but it’s unlikely they will prioritise this fixture ahead of the second leg with Shakhtar.
As such, expect Bournemouth’s push for Europe to rediscover momentum.
Prediction: Bournemouth 3-0 Crystal Palace
Manchester United v Liverpool
Arne Slot’s visitors head into this game on the back of three successive league wins, a run that has put them in a very comfortable position heading into a game with their arch rivals.
Barring a remarkable drop off in form, United will be playing Champions League football next season, and the lack of pressure should make for a frenetic, highly charged and entertaining affair at Old Trafford.
The difference between the two sides is injuries. Liverpool are without Hugo Ekitike and Mohamed Salah and, while Alexander Isak broke his scoring duck against Palace last time out, it’s difficult to envisage the Reds producing enough to claim victory over Michael Carrick’s side.
Prediction: Manchester United 3-1 Liverpool
Aston Villa v Tottenham
Spurs’ win over Wolves was a Pyrrhic victory, as Xavi Simons was lost for the season to a knee injury while Dominic Solanke suffered a hamstring injury.
Tottenham are left with just three fit attackers going into the trip to Villa Park, with their lack of options likely to mitigate the impact of any fatigue Villa may feel from their Europa League semi-final against Nottingham Forest.
Villa could secure Champions League football with a win if results go their way and they’re much better equipped to punish the defensive frailties that were still there for Tottenham against Wolves last week.
Tottenham have lost six of their last 10 Premier League games against Villa. Another defeat here would leave them with a mountain to climb to escape a first relegation since 1977.
Prediction: Aston Villa 4-1 Tottenham
MONDAY
Chelsea v Nottingham Forest
Forest will be glad for the extra day of rest in the wake of their European tie with Villa and, regardless of how that game plays out, figure to be in confident mood after their last away performance against Sunderland.
Forest have not lost at Stamford Bridge since returning to the top flight in 2022, but they face a Chelsea side that looked markedly more assured in the FA Cup semi-final following the sacking of Liam Rosenior.
The Blues still weren’t overly convincing against Leeds, but they will be the fresher of the two teams, and their quality should tell against a side they beat 3-0 in the reverse fixture.
Prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Nottingham Forest
Everton v Manchester City
City could be six points behind Arsenal, albeit having played two games fewer, by the time they kick off at the Hill-Dickinson Stadium, but that is unlikely to faze Pep Guardiola’s side.
In Guardiola’s tenure with City, they have only lost once away at Everton, a 4-0 defeat to Ronald Koeman’s Toffees in the Spaniard’s first season in 2017.
Since then, it is a fixture that City have dominated. Winless in their last three games, there is little to suggest an Everton side that endured a defensive drop-off during that run will be able to do Arsenal a favour.
Prediction: Everton 0-2 Manchester City
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