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All eyes will likely be on the Etihad on Sunday afternoon as Pep Guardiola’s Premier League champions entertain an under-fire Purple Devils aspect for the 192nd Manchester derby.
However United’s journey to their very noisy neighbours is only one of quite a lot of intriguing top-flight fixtures this weekend, as battle strains are drawn and narratives play out at each ends of the desk.
Recent from their Carabao Cup triumph and a midweek defeat of Southampton within the FA Cup, league leaders Liverpool look to carry off their title rivals with victory away to a Nottingham Forest aspect hovering simply 4 factors above the drop zone.
Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea, in the meantime, purpose to bounce again from their disappointment at Wembley with a second win on the trot after seeing off Leeds within the FA Cup on Wednesday night time. The Blues may rise to as excessive as ninth ought to outcomes go their means over the approaching days.
Newcastle will hope to get their pursuit of European soccer again on monitor at dwelling to Gary O’Neil’s in-form Wolves, whereas Aston Villa goal their third straight win within the league versus Luton.
Elsewhere, Spurs and Crystal Palace do battle in an all-London affair on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, third-placed Arsenal journey to lowly Sheffield United, Everton host West Ham and Fulham head to Brighton after gorgeous Manchester United at Previous Trafford.
Previewing the weekend’s fixtures for Sportskeeda, former England, Arsenal and Aston Villa star Paul Merson delivered his predictions and pinpointed the place every sport might be received and misplaced.
Merson’s prediction: Newcastle 3-2 Wolves
Newcastle went to Arsenal and bought completely battered as I predicted. That they had an awesome outcome within the FA Cup in midweek however are set to play in opposition to Man Metropolis within the quarterfinal, in order that’s the tip of their cup run, you possibly can say.
Wolves, then again, are a really underrated soccer workforce and have been a superb workforce to look at underneath Gary O’Neil. I believe there will likely be targets on this one however I believe Newcastle will simply nick it at dwelling. I’m solely saying that as a result of whereas Wolves are a superb workforce, they’re at their greatest once they aren’t anticipated to win, which isn’t essentially the case right here.
The Magpies bought into the highest 4 final season and that got here as an enormous shock. By way of their performances within the present marketing campaign, I’m not likely shocked with their present predicament as they collectively overachieved final season, so everybody knew it could be inconceivable for them to maintain that up. We shouldn’t choose them primarily based on that as all of us knew that wasn’t going to occur once more!
Merson’s prediction: Tottenham 3-1 Crystal Palace
It is a good sport for Tottenham as Palace have a brand new supervisor in Oliver Glasner and are set to be with out Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise, with out whom they’ve actually struggled this season. Spurs play a sure sport and this may have been a harmful sport if each Eze and Olise have been match, however with out the pair, Palace don’t have sufficient firepower to safe a constructive outcome.
Ange Postecoglou’s aspect should win this sport as Aston Villa have ramped it up a little bit bit in current weeks, so I believe they’ll get a cushty win in entrance of their dwelling followers.
Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool
Merson’s prediction: Nottingham Forest 1-2 Liverpool
Individuals may say it’s a blessing in disguise for Forest to get knocked out of the FA Cup, however I don’t agree with that. So far as Liverpool are involved, they’ve a lorry load of accidents with a handful of younger children that includes commonly for them, however ultimately, it is perhaps a sport too far for the younger lads.
It is a exhausting sport, however I believe Liverpool may have a bunch of senior gamers again within the squad for this one, with Darwin Nunez, Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Wataru Endo anticipated to play some function on this sport. I doubt Klopp will rush his key gamers again, particularly with the Manchester Metropolis sport on the horizon, however he’ll have them on standby in case this sport doesn’t go as deliberate.
Their younger gamers have been excellent thus far, however they will’t play in opposition to Man Metropolis, with all due respect to them, so it stays to be seen how Klopp approaches this sport when it comes to his choice. Nonetheless, I’m going for a Liverpool win, however this isn’t going to be easy for the Reds.
Brentford vs Chelsea
Merson’s prediction: Brentford 1-2 Chelsea
Brentford have an honest file in opposition to Chelsea and are in a spot of trouble after Everton’s factors deduction was lowered to 6. Their squad has been lowered to its naked bones as a consequence of accidents, so I believe Chelsea will get the job completed right here.
By way of their hopes of staying up, I believe Ivan Toney’s return to the workforce will get them over the road. He’s solely going to get fitter because the season goes on, whereas the remainder of the gamers will get drained, which is an enormous benefit.
Everton vs West Ham
Merson’s prediction: Everton 2-1 West Ham
Everton bought a fully large increase earlier this week as their factors deduction was lowered to 6 from ten, which can permit them to play with out worry between now and the tip of the season. They aren’t secure but, however their state of affairs isn’t as unhealthy because it was earlier than, so they simply have to make sure they don’t lose too many video games.
Sean Dyche and Co have some good fixtures developing and Goodison Park will likely be completely bouncing forward of this sport. I believe they are going to make it depend and safe an enormous win that may take them one other step nearer to Premier League security.
Fulham vs Brighton
Merson’s prediction: Fulham 1-1 Brighton
Fulham have been by far the higher workforce in opposition to Manchester United and deservedly bought a stoppage-time winner by means of Alex Iwobi. Brighton, then again, are so up and down and a enjoyable little workforce – they’re completely inconceivable to foretell. Roberto de Zerbi’s aspect are a pundits’ nightmare, they make you look so foolish!
Neither of those two sides is enjoying for something when it comes to the Premier League, so I believe they are going to cancel one another out.
Luton vs Aston Villa
Merson’s prediction: Luton 1-2 Aston Villa
I’ll go for an Aston Villa win right here as they’re a stable, well-coached aspect in the intervening time. Luton will trigger groups issues at dwelling and have been actually good at Kenilworth Highway this season, however their confidence will likely be shot after conceding six in opposition to Manchester Metropolis and Elijah Adebayo’s absence will likely be an enormous issue as properly.
I believe Manchester United are 1,000,000 miles off the race for a top-four spot in the intervening time, so it’s between Tottenham and Villa. In the mean time, I believe I’ll go for Villa to safe UEFA Champions League soccer subsequent season as Spurs are too open on the again for my liking.
Burnley vs Bournemouth
Merson’s prediction: Burnley 1-2 Bournemouth
I used to be shocked by Bournemouth’s loss in opposition to Leicester Metropolis within the FA Cup. They’re just about secure within the Premier League so it was the proper time for them to have a proper swing on the FA Cup, however they blew it! In the event that they lose this one, their season type of fizzles out and folks may neglect how spectacular they have been in the midst of the marketing campaign, which is unlucky for Andoni Iraola and his workforce.
After Everton’s factors deduction was lowered to 6, I believe it’s curtains for Burnley and Sheffield United. It’s not like Burnley aren’t attempting, however they don’t have the gamers to make their model of soccer work, and the gulf of sophistication between these two sides and the remainder of the Premier League is totally large.
If Dom Solanke is match for this one, I believe Bournemouth will get all three factors.
Manchester Metropolis vs Manchester United
Merson’s prediction: Man Metropolis 3-0 Man United
If Rasmus Hojlund was match, I’d have given Manchester United an opportunity on this sport because the away aspect would have had numerous tempo in assault with the Danish striker enjoying alongside Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford. Now that Hojlund is out injured, I believe it could be one-way site visitors in favor of the house aspect. I truly suppose Manchester United are going to the Etihad Stadium in damage-limitation mode – so I’m going to be form and go for a 3-0 dwelling win however I wouldn’t be shocked if it was so much worse.
Erling Haaland scoring 5 targets away from dwelling in opposition to a Premier League aspect within the FA Cup is just not regular, however we are inclined to take him as a right. I can’t put into phrases how extraordinary a feat that’s – it was mindblowing and I imply it. He’s completely ruthless in entrance of purpose and doesn’t care if he scores a tap-in or a diving header, that’s what I really like about him!
I personally suppose Liverpool’s sport in opposition to Forest is a more durable one to name than this one, so I’m going for a cushty dwelling win.
Sheffield United vs Arsenal
Merson’s prediction: Sheffield United 0-3 Arsenal
I can’t see something however an Arsenal win right here. After successive defeats to Fulham and West Ham United in late 2023, I assumed the Gunners’ title problem would fizzle out, however they’ve been completely magnificent because the flip of the 12 months and are scoring targets for enjoyable!
Once more, I’ll cease at three, however I believe it might be any scoreline right here. Arsenal have a superb stability to their workforce and can look to attain early as they’ve in most of their video games in current weeks.
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