The Premier League offers up a monster clash this weekend, with Manchester United hosting Chelsea. Here are predictions for that clash, along with the other nine games in week 33.
The Premier League is the gift that just keeps on giving. This week, England’s top flight serves up a huge showdown between Manchester United and Chelsea. The game will see Jose Mourinho welcoming his former club to Old Trafford.
The Red Devils boss has enough on his plate at United, but would surely still love to try and throw a road block in front of Chelsea as they continue to, seemingly, march towards the Premier League title.
Speaking of road blocks, Arsenal just keep stumbling through most of the obstacles in their road right now. The Gunners will be travelling to face relegation-threatened Middlesbrough on Monday. After being embarrassed by Crystal Palace last Monday, could the following week be any worse?
Other games this weekend including teams at the top of the table are Tottenham vs. Bournemouth, Liverpool with a tough away game at West Brom and Manchester City being hosted by an in-form Southampton.
The relegation race is in the spotlight, too, as Sunderland welcome West Ham to the Stadium of Light, Hull City play away at Stoke City, Crystal Palace host Leicester City and Swansea City play Watford.
Last week we managed to predict a total of seven correct results, but just one correct score. Will this week be better or worse?
Here are predictions for every game in week 33 of the 2016-17 Premier League.
Tottenham Hotspur vs. Bournemouth
Tottenham reacted fantastically well after losing Harry Kane to injury last month. All the doom and gloom that some were predicting has proved to be totally inaccurate. Spurs have proved that they are not a one-man team.
Kane is back now, too. The striker made his return last week as Tottenham dispatched Watford 4-0 at White Hart Lane. Mauricio Pochettino now has the option to ease Kane back into the team from the bench over the next few games if he wishes. Spurs are under no real pressure, really.
Bournemouth, meanwhile, are just seeing out the season at this point. Eddie Howe’s team have struggled away from home all season, and this game should not see any change to that. Spurs are in a good rhythm right now and should blow the Cherries away in this one.
Prediction: Tottenham 3-0 Bournemouth
Crystal Palace vs. Leicester City
Crystal Palace are probably just four or five points away from being absolutely safe this season now. A win over Leicester would be a big step in that direction, and the Eagles have a good chance of getting another crucial win.
Palace are in good form after winning five of their last six games. Leicester have hit form themselves recently, but will come into this game on the back of a Champions League quarterfinal in Madrid on Wednesday.
Leicester are virtually safe themselves at this point, so the Champions League is really their priority. In this game, Palace will be the more desperate team, the more refreshed team and the home team, and that should make for the winning team, too.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 2-0 Leicester
Everton vs. Burnley
Everton continue to win the games they should, after notching a 4-2 home win over Leicester last week. This week, a game against Burnley offers up another chance for the Toffees to keep up their recent good form.
It’s still the bigger games that seem to be an issue for Ronald Koeman’s men. Games like this one against Burnley don’t seem to trouble Everton too much at this point. It will also help that Burnley continue to be the worst away team in the Premier League.
The Clarets still haven’t won an away game yet this season, and don’t expect that to change this weekend.
Prediction: Everton 3-0 Burnley
Stoke City vs. Hull City
It’s been two steps forward and one step back for Hull since Marco Silva arrived. Right now, that looks like it might be enough to keep the Tigers in the Premier League. They’re just inching towards safety ever so slowly week after week.
Silva’s team could take another step in that direction this weekend as they visit Stoke. Usually a tough away trip for anybody, Stoke just can’t buy a win right now. The Potters are pretty much safe from relegation, and don’t really have any goals higher up the table, so their season is just drifting away into nothing.
Hull will be compact and pose a threat on the counter-attack, so the game should be tight between the two. Even an away draw here wouldn’t be too bad for Hull.
Prediction: Stoke 0-0 Hull City
Sunderland vs. West Ham
Sunderland are quickly running out of games and look certain to be relegated at this point. If the Black Cats are to have any chance of surviving, then this game at home to West Ham is definitely a must-win. It seems every game is like that for Sunderland now, but eventually time will run out.
The Hammers have been in terrible form themselves lately, but managed to pull out a vital 1-0 win over Swansea last week. Will the Hammers draw confidence from that win and now look for another victory? Or is it job done and time for the summer holidays now? West Ham’s approach will be key.
Sunderland haven’t scored a goal for over two months at this point, so that would be a good place to start if they are to win. Jermain Defoe is the team’s only genuine goalscoring hope, but even Defoe is struggling given the scraps he is being fed.
However, eventually, Defoe will break that goalless streak. Why not this weekend?
Prediction: Sunderland 1-0 West Ham
Watford vs. Swansea City
Swansea have hit a brick wall lately, just as teams around them have had an upturn in form. Paul Clement needs to find a way to fire his team back into action before other teams potentially pull away from them.
Watford can relax at this point sitting in 10th position. That could be good news for Swansea, or it could be bad news. The Hornets have been steady at home all season. This should be the club’s eighth home win of the season.
Prediction: Watford 2-1 Swansea
Southampton vs. Manchester City
Claude Puel has done extremely well to keep his Southampton team motivated and winning, despite the club losing the EFL Cup final and having nothing to really play for in the Premier League.
The Saints are unbeaten in their last three games and Manchester City will have a difficult challenge on their hands come Saturday. Pep Guardiola has been generally happy with his team’s performances this season, but not always with the results. This could be another of those games.
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City should control the game, but if they don’t take their chances once again, then Southampton could take advantage. City need to be clinical and efficient, but that’s one thing they haven’t been all season. They also need to defend well, and that’s another thing they haven’t done too often this year.
Manolo Gabbiadini has been lethal upfront since joining Southampton in January. Fortunately for City, the Italian has been sidelined with an injury the past few weeks and will certainly not be match fit for this game, even if he is healthy enough to return.
In Gabbiadini’s absence, Southampton have found goals from elsewhere in the team, with a few different players chipping in. That’s what Saints are – a good, rounded, solid team. If Puel’s men can defend as a unit, then they should at least get chances against City’s defense.
City should win, but with the way their season has gone so far, a draw would not be a surprise.
Prediction: Southampton 1-2 Man City
Manchester United vs. Chelsea
Jose Mourinho has had a ton of injury concerns, as he now prepares to welcome his former club, Chelsea, to Old Trafford. Manchester United are getting close to a point where they prioritize the Europa League over the Premier League. So how will Mourinho treat this game?
United will be playing their second game in four days when they take to the field against the Blues, after playing a Europa League quarterfinal against Anderlecht in Belgium on Thursday. It remains to be seen just how Mourinho will approach this clash with his former club.
For Chelsea, there is no such doubts. It’s all systems go for Antonio Conte’s side. They’re on a one-way trip towards the Premier League title, and this is just another stop along the way. There has been that one blip lately, against Crystal Palace, but predominantly Chelsea just continue to win.
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Tottenham continue to try and apply some pressure from behind, but Chelsea are showing no real signs of faltering at this point. This game could end up being a tight, tense affair, or even much simpler for Chelsea. It will all depend on United and what kind of team Mourinho fields.
A full strength United is a difficult away game for anybody. The Red Devils have drawn too many home games, but they’ve only lost one game at Old Trafford all season. Given United’s Europa League commitments, however, that will likely be a factor in this game in some form or another.
Chelsea should take advantage of the timing of this fixture and United’s injury concerns.
Prediction: Man United 0-1 Chelsea
West Brom vs. Liverpool
Liverpool have found their groove again after what was a disastrous start to 2017. However, stylistically, West Brom are the exact type of team that Jurgen Klopp’s men suffer against. A team with tough, gritty defense, who sit deep, play on the counter-attack and focus on set-pieces.
Liverpool like to press teams high up for the ball, but they’ll get no such joy in this game. Tony Pulis will be fully aware of how his team need to play in this contest. It will be a good barometer to see just how Liverpool are evolving in their current style.
The Reds can be hit and miss on the road, whilst the Hawthorns is one of the tougher grounds to play at in the Premier League. Despite Liverpool’s improved form, their defense is still letting in too many goals.
That will be something Pulis will be looking at and thinking his team can profit from. If West Brom can keep Liverpool’s attack fairly quiet, then there will be chances to score at the other end. Liverpool cannot be trusted at the back yet. Far from it.
West Brom will score a goal in this game. The question is how well can they shutdown Liverpool’s attack? Enough for a win, a draw or a narrow defeat?
Prediction: West Brom 2-2 Liverpool
Middlesbrough vs. Arsenal
Arsenal’s season looks pretty grim right about now. Champions League qualification looks out of reach, but it is the team’s performances that are most disturbing. The Gunners were humiliated by Crystal Palace last week, and given the pressure on the club and Arsene Wenger, it’s staggering that the players still seem to have zero fight.
How much does it take to exert some aggression and pride out of these Arsenal players? At this point, it has to be questioned whether they are even still playing for Wenger. Have they thrown in the towel on the Frenchman?
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This game will be another opportunity for the players to give a reaction to recent events. To show some pride. Fortunately for Arsenal, Middlesbrough are struggling mightily and this might be just the right game, at just the right time.
Boro will scrap and try to make the game physical because that’s the textbook on Arsenal at this point. It’s a simple formula for anybody. You do need some quality, though, to see the job through and it’s doubtful whether Boro, even at home, will have enough quality to put the Gunners to the sword.
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Arsenal must surely show some kind of reaction? Even just a mild one? If they do it should be enough to overcome Boro. Although what happens in the games following will remain must-watch TV.
Prediction: Middlesbrough 0-2 Arsenal