Premier League Matchweek 31: betPawa BIG match insights
Every weekend is a BIG weekend from now on, especially for some of the teams battling to escape relegation. It can be argued that 8 of this round’s 10 matches have a direct bearing on the fight to avoid the dreaded drop from England’s top flight. However, we start this preview with a match between 2 sides flying high on form and confidence, as well as Chelsea vs Brighton, where both would love to finish inside the European places.
Saturday 15th April
Emery proving his pedigree
Things didn’t work out for Unai Emery at Arsenal for one reason or another but, as they say, form is temporary and class is permanent. His Villa side have climbed up the table since a late 4-2 defeat at Villa Park to the Gunners in February. Since that result against his former employers, Emery’s men have won 6 out of 7 matches, drawing the other 1-1 with West Ham.
Newcastle’s place in the top 4 looks more secure now with both results and momentum on their side. This trip to Villa Park is one of the BIGGEST remaining hurdles for Eddie Howe’s men this season though. A win for Villa, amazingly, would put them just 6 points behind the Magpies, although they have played a game more.
Newcastle boast the best defensive record in the league with just 21 goals conceded and they’ve won 5 league matches on the bounce, while Villa boss Emery is working defensive wonders with his throwback 4-4-2 formation, giving up just 2 goals in 7 matches. Goals might not be guaranteed in this early Saturday kick-off, but it should be an intriguing battle.
Did you know?
Villa have scored in each of Emery’s 17 Premier League matches in charge
Seagulls back in the capital with scores to settle
Things change awfully quickly in football. Graham Potter didn’t end up being around long enough at Chelsea to try and exact revenge this weekend for their 4-1 defeat to his old club Brighton back in October.
There’s been plenty of change at Stamford Bridge since. Bruno Saltor oversaw a 0-0 draw with Liverpool and Frank Lampard’s tenure as interim boss began in the next match with a 1-0 defeat at Wolves. Although a wonder goal settled that contest, Lampard clearly has work to do in order to get this team clicking again. Chelsea haven’t scored in their last 3 league matches, 2 of which were at the Bridge.
Brighton have their own regrets and grievances after losing in controversial fashion at Tottenham, a result leaving them 7 points adrift of 5th-placed Spurs, although Roberto De Zerbi’s team have 2 games in hand.
Can they put things right against another troubled capital club to keep their hopes of finishing in the European places alive? De Zerbi saw red last weekend, in more ways than one. His side must keep their cool at the Bridge as they attempt to pile more misery on the Blues.
Did you know?
4 of the last 6 Premier League meetings between these sides were draws, and Chelsea’s last win over the Seagulls came back in September 2020
Home form key if Toffees are to get out of a sticky situation
A quick glance at Fulham’s results doesn’t make good reading for Cottagers fans. They’re winless in their last 5, with their last win in the Premier League coming on 18th February.
It’s difficult to escape the conclusion that they’ve let complacency slip into their work. Unlikely to finish in the European places and not far from being mathematically safe from relegation, they’re as mid-table as it gets right now. To make matters worse, key striker and attacking focal point Aleksandar Mitrović is suspended for at least another 6 matches. The Cottagers have also failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 5 encounters.
Everton’s need is much more urgent. They’re only above the relegation zone on goal difference ahead of the weekend, so will need to continue their recent strong home form.
Did you know?
Everton have won 3 of their 5 Premier League home matches under Sean Dyche (all by identical 1-0 scorelines), losing just once against Aston Villa
Eagles find their fluency
Rock-bottom Southampton were made to pay for their wastefulness in front of goal against Man City. They fashioned a few clear-cut openings against the champions in the first half last weekend, but Pep Guardiola’s team punished them for not converting those opportunities. The Citizens eventually ran out 4-1 winners at St. Mary’s.
Southampton’s home form is the worst in the division with just 2 wins there all season. They need to pick up wins urgently, starting on Saturday. That won’t be easy against a Palace side that stuck 5 past Leeds. After failing to score in 4 consecutive matches between 25th February and 15th March, Roy Hodgson’s side have now bagged 8 goals in their last 3 outings.
Did you know?
With his hat-trick of assists against Leeds, Michael Olise became the youngest ever player to claim 3 assists in a single Premier League match from open play (via OptaJoe)
Top 4 no longer in Tottenham’s hands
Controversy shrouded Tottenham’s 2-1 win over Brighton last time out, with the Seagulls being denied a penalty when Pierre-Emile Højbjerg fouled Kaoru Mitoma. Even the PGMOL came out after the game to admit a mistake was made by the officials and to apologise to Brighton and De Zerbi.
Bournemouth have won 3 of their last 5 in the Premier League to give themselves a real chance of survival.
Tottenham were not entirely convincing in their win over Brighton but when you’ve got Son Heung-min and Harry Kane, you’ve always got a chance. Spurs will need both of them to fire from now until the end of the campaign if they’re to have a hope of hauling in Newcastle or Man Utd for a top-4 place.
Did you know?
Son Heung-min is the first player from Asia to score 100 Premier League goals
Molineux a tricky place to go for out-of-sorts Bees
Wolves are up to 13th thanks to their 1-0 win over Chelsea settled by a stunning Matheus Nunes volley from a prohibitive angle.
With no wins in their last 4 matches, Thomas Frank will need to get a performance out of his players here, otherwise the season could peter out with Brentford finishing safely in mid-table. Still, the fact that they’re on course for a top-half finish speaks volumes about the progress they’ve made.
Wolves probably need a couple more wins at least to secure their status in the top flight. They have won 4 of their 6 Molineux league games in 2023 and are in good enough form to make it a difficult visit for Brentford.
Did you know?
Brentford striker Ivan Toney failed to convert a Premier League penalty for the first time last weekend against former club Newcastle
Foxes have been in freefall
Leicester could hardly ask for a more difficult fixture, considering their current form and predicament. They initially struggled to appoint an interim manager for the remainder of the campaign after being linked with Jesse Marsch and Rafa Benítez, but ex-Norwich and Aston Villa boss Dean Smith has been confirmed as the man for the job.
His first task? Try and get something at the Etihad against a Man City side that have won 9 matches on the bounce and often seem to get stronger during the home straight. They are hunting Arsenal down for the Premier League title and can’t afford to show any mercy to the Foxes.
This is a match which affects both ends of the table. City can cut the gap between them and leaders Arsenal to 3 points, whereas Leicester could climb out of the relegation zone if they were to snatch the unlikeliest of wins and other weekend results go their way.
Man City’s Erling Haaland, a seemingly unstoppable force of nature and scorer in midweek against Bayern Munich in the Champions League, now has 45 goals this season. That’s the most ever by a Premier League player in a single season across all competitions.
Did you know?
Kevin De Bruyne recently became the fastest player to reach 100 Premier League assists (237 matches), beating Cesc Fàbregas’ mark of 293 (via SkySportsStatto)
Sunday 16th April
Arteta needs to boss another capital clash
Like the clash at the Etihad the day before, Sunday’s London Derby between the Hammers and the Gunners has plenty on the line. West Ham have created a tiny bit of breathing space for themselves with 2 clean sheet wins in their last 3 league matches. Meanwhile, Arsenal’s stunning sequence of 7 straight league wins came to an end with a thrilling 2-2 draw at Anfield which threw a spanner in the works of their title push.
Arsenal have been dominant against London sides this season though, dropping just 2 points all campaign against fellow capital clubs (that was in a 1-1 draw with Brentford at Emirates Stadium). Another 3 points here would keep them clear of the Citizens, for now.
They might look to top scorer Gabriel Martinelli as a lucky charm in this fixture. The Brazilian has scored in 2 of his last 3 appearances against the Hammers, and also got on the scoresheet against them at the London Stadium back in December 2019 as an 18-year-old.
Did you know?
Gabriel Martinelli has followed teammate Gabriel Jesus to become the second South American player to reach 25 Premier League goals while 21 or younger (via OptaJoe)
Relegation would be expensive for Forest
Steve Cooper’s Tricky Trees are now winless in 9 matches and back in the relegation zone. Their last Premier League win came in early February, and they haven’t scored more than once in any of their last 5 outings.
Man Utd playmaker Bruno Fernandes excelled in a deeper-lying midfield role in the Red Devils’ 2-0 win over Everton last time out but, with Casemiro returning from suspension and Christian Eriksen fit again, it’s unclear whether manager Erik ten Hag will persist with that tactic against Forest.
After all of their recent expenditure, dropping down a division is a worrying thought for Forest. With a daunting schedule ahead of them between now and 28th May, it’s getting tense.
Did you know?
Nottingham Forest have conceded the most penalties (8) of any Premier League side this season
Monday 17th April
Defensive deficiencies may produce action at both ends
Monday night’s match sees Leeds aim to bounce back from a shock 1-5 defeat to the previously goal-shy Crystal Palace.
Liverpool showed both sides of their 2022/23 personality in a 2-2 draw with leaders Arsenal at Anfield. Outplayed and forced into defensive mistakes for the majority of the first half, they came out a totally different team in the second period and might feel as though they should have won. Only a trio of outstanding Aaron Ramsdale saves stopped them from doing exactly that.
Almost unbelievably, Leeds remain the only visiting Premier League side to claim all 3 points at Anfield this term. An unlikely double would provide their survival hopes with a considerable shot in the arm. Meetings between these clubs have been goal-filled affairs since Leeds’ top-flight return in 2020.
Did you know?
Their last 5 Premier League H2Hs produced 21 goals, with Liverpool scoring 15 of those