The Premier League schedule in week 32 throws up a real mixture of teams from the top of the standings playing against teams from the bottom.
The Premier League isn’t just about the glamor matchups, as this weekend is about to illustrate. Week 32 in England’s top flight will see a host of teams from around the top of the standings, squaring off against teams from the bottom third of the division.
The great thing about the Premier League, of course, is that these matchups are far from predictable. The bottom teams can, and do, pull of shock results against the big boys.
On Sunday, Manchester United will travel to take on the team currently bottom of the table, Sunderland. The Black Cats look to be heading for relegation this year, but this clash will see David Moyes going up against his former club.
Other matchups of top teams going up against bottom teams this weekend include Manchester City vs. Hull City and Crystal Palace vs. Arsenal. Also, Tottenham play Watford, Stoke City play Liverpool and Bournemouth host Chelsea.
The league leaders had a slip up last week when they lost to Crystal Palace, but got right back on track with a win over Manchester City on Wednesday. A game we correctly predicted the score of as we registered six correct results and four correct scores in our midweek predictions.
This weekend could prove to be the weekend of the upset in England’s top division. The weekend may lack that signature game, but that just means there is more opportunities for the smaller teams to spring a surprise.
Here are predictions for every game in the Premier League this weekend.
Tottenham Hotspur vs. Watford
Tottenham are fighting to try and reel in Chelsea at the top of the Premier League table. Spurs looked like they were heading for defeat on Wednesday against Swansea. However, three goals in the final minutes turned a potential defeat into a vital win.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men currently sit seven points behind Chelsea, and are waiting to pounce on another mistake from the Blues. Tottenham just need to take care of their business, though. Despite beating Swansea in the end, it was far too close for comfort.
Pochettino has some injury issues to deal with right now, too, but Harry Kane could return to the side very soon. It’s one game at a time for Tottenham at present, and Watford are just the next team up on the schedule.
The Hornets are poor away from home, so Tottenham should be able to take advantage of that. Spurs will probably keep a clean sheet in this one. it’s just a case of, without a fully fit Kane, how soon can they get that first goal?
If it’s early, then this game should be a fairly comfortable win. If it drags on, though, it might take another late drama show to secure the three points. Watford have won their last two games, but both were at home. The Hornets last away win was back in January.
Prediction: Tottenham 2-0 Watford
Manchester City vs. Hull City
Manchester City are in good form right now, although you wouldn’t know it looking at the three draws and one defeat in their last three league outings. Pep Guardiola’s team tend to play well in most games, but waste far too many chances and allow too many soft goals at the other end.
The game against Chelsea on Wednesday was another good example of that. Playing Hull this weekend, City will dominate another game in possession. Hull will be fairly well organized and will try to stifle the home team.
More from The Top Flight
- Barcelona identify Newcastle star as Robert Lewandowski replacement
- Arsenal injury news: Mikel Arteta confirms “rapid” attacker suffered injury
- “600 days” Fans make SHOCK Chelsea revelation – They really are poor
- Arsenal transfer news: Mikel Arteta rivals Manchester United for wonderkid
- Manchester United: Erik ten Hag pinpoints 4 players amid Brighton loss
City will need to be wary of the counter attack, which they are vulnerable to. Ultimately, Guardiola’s team just have to take their chances. The defense is poor, and until the summer arrives, that is not going to change.
But what can change is City scoring from the chances that they create. Six draws at the Etihad in the Premier League this season is far too many. Most of those draws came about through defensive errors or missed goalscoring opportunities.
This game could be another draw if those issues come to the fore once again. Hull are fighting for their Premier League lives. The Tigers are not about to make things easy for the home team. City could win 5-0 or they could lose 1-0 – that’s City in a nutshell this season.
In the end, however, Guardiola’s team should have too much offensive firepower.
Prediction: Manchester City 3-1 Hull
Middlesbrough vs. Burnley
Middlebrough‘s Premier League future is looking bleaker by the game at this point. No win in 13 league games, time is running out. One win could still spark a run for survival, with the club being seven points from safety.
But that win needs to come very soon and looks nowhere in sight yet. Burnley are terrible away from home, so in theory, this should be a great chance for Boro. But even in defeat, Burnley are not exactly a complete walkover on the road.
Burnley will be defensively sound, and with Middlesbrough’s goalscoring record, that already sounds like a mountain too high for the home team.
Middlesbrough 1-1 Burnley
Stoke City vs. Liverpool
Liverpool are fighting for their lives in the top four right now, and dropped two crucial points after a late goal saw the Reds draw 2-2 with Bournemouth on Wednesday. That’s Liverpool’s Achilles heel after all, right? Conceding soft, costly goals?
Jurgen Klopp’s team are extremely dangerous when attacking, but find themselves in similar danger when defending in their own half. Fortunately, Stoke aren’t in great form right now and possibly low on confidence.
The Potters played okay against Burnley midweek but wasted so many chances to score. Liverpool might need them to be as wasteful in this game. If Stoke push, they will create chances against this Liverpool team.
But can they keep a clean sheet at the other end?
Stoke City 2-2 Liverpool
West Brom vs. Southampton
Two teams who really have nothing to play for will be squaring off when West Brom host Southampton at the Hawthorns. The Baggies have had a phenomenal season currently sitting in 8th place. Whilst Southampton have overachieved sitting in the top half of the table.
Both teams have been in decent form lately, and the pair could make for a good end-of-season game. West Brom are not known as entertainers, but Tony Pulis’ side have been scoring a few goals in recent games.
Southampton, too, have been scoring goals. It shouldn’t be too open, but might be more entertaining than would be expected if this game was earlier in the season.
Prediction: West Brom 3-1 Southampton
West Ham vs. Swansea City
If West Ham didn’t think they were in a relegation fight last week, two defeats in five days now sees the Hammers just five points outside the relegation zone. The team have terrible momentum at present, and if Slaven Bilic cannot reverse it soon, then the West Ham might just be relegated.
Nobody is in worse form than West Ham over the last five games. The Hammers are the home team here, but that might not necessarily be a good thing. The home team will get more and more nervous the longer this game goes without taking the lead – and that includes the home crowd.
Swansea, too, are struggling for wins after some initially good results when Paul Clement arrived. But the London Stadium is the one away ground Swansea might not mind going to right now.
Prediction: West Ham 1-1 Swansea
Bournemouth vs. Chelsea
Chelsea showed the character necessary on Wednesday to bounce back from last week’s shock loss to Crystal Palace. It wasn’t pretty, but the Blues put Manchester City to the sword to put their title march right back on track.
Antonio Conte’s team don’t seem to be in the best of form right now. However, it is that ability to win when not playing well that sets them apart from the rest of the chasing pack. City don’t always win even when they play fantastically well. Chelsea don’t necessarily need that.
The Blues can just churn out win after win, and this game should be another one for the would-be champions. Bournemouth are in good form themselves, but can be defensively susceptible. And against a machine like Chelsea, that weakness will be exposed eventually.
Prediction: Bournemouth 0-2 Chelsea
Must Read: Man City win showed why Chelsea will win Premier League
Sunderland vs. Manchester United
It had looked like Manchester United’s chances of finishing in the top four were ebbing away. However, with neighbors Manchester City suffering as of late, a place in the top four is not out of the question just yet.
United are not in free-flowing form right now, but they need to press on regardless. Sunderland are the worst team in the Premier League and have only mustered one draw, in addition to five defeats, in their last six Premier League games.
United should pick up a narrow win here, even if they rotate the team ahead of Thursday’s Europa League quarterfinal.
Prediction: Sunderland 0-1 Manchester United
Everton vs. Leicester
You don’t know what you’re going to get in this game. Which Everton will show up? Which Leicester City will show up? The Foxes have a Champions League quarterfinal away to Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. Will they be resting players?
Everton were in great form until they stepped up their competition recently. A top four finish is out of the question now, but the Toffees still need to finish strong after what has been a generally positive season overall so far.
Neither team are desperate for the points, but with Everton being at home, and Leicester perhaps looking ahead to Madrid, the Toffees should come away with the win.
Prediction: Everton 2-0 Leicester
Crystal Palace vs. Arsenal
This is the wrong game, at the wrong time for Arsenal. After a poor spell of form recently, Arsene Wenger could do with a few wins and a bit of quiet time. There will be no chance of that, though, if the Gunners lose this one.
Crystal Palace are still in a relegation fight and desperately need three points to take one more step towards safety. Over the years, Sam Allardyce has done well against Arsenal. And given Wenger and the Gunners rarely adapt, there’s no reason for that to change.
Next: Everton need to find fearless big-game approach
Palace have been in good form lately, and will obviously play physical with Arsenal and focus on set pieces. Allardyce has shown in the past that he knows how to hurt Arsenal, and it would be no surprise if his Palace team did so again in this game.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 2-1 Arsenal