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We're shifting our attention back to the Premier League after what was an interesting set of results in the third round of the FA Cup. Arsenal were knocked out on penalties by Manchester United and I actually think that result could work in favour of the Gunners.
It can always go the other way too, but when you think of it, Arsenal can just focus on the Premier League now. An extended FA Cup run may have become a distraction further down the line. Don't get me wrong, a club like Arsenal should be competing for all trophies. But they're a bit thin on resources at the moment and there is this need to prioritise in terms of what they go after.
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Mikel Arteta and his men will now face rivals Tottenham Hotspur in what is quite easily the standout fixture of the midweek games coming up. Without further ado, let us dive straight into my predictions for gameweek 21 in the Premier League:
Chelsea vs Bournemouth
This is a massive game for Chelsea because they're now in the middle of a bad run of form. Six weeks ago, this game against Bournemouth may have looked like an easy one. But at the moment, if I'm a Chelsea fan, I don't like this game at all! Bournemouth are one of the most difficult teams to beat in the Premier League.
So I'm actually worried for Chelsea here. None of the main players were actively involved in Chelsea's win over Morecambe in the FA Cup. I know they are well rested but sometimes when you're in a bad run of form, all you need is regular football to go out there and make a difference.
Chelsea are winless in their last four league games. All of them fixtures were winnable games if you ask me. Chelsea fans will be over the moon if they finish inside the top four and win the Europa Conference League now. But considering how well Nottingham Forest and Newcastle are playing, it feels like Chelsea will have to battle hard to finish in the top four.
Enzo Maresca is in desperate need of a win, however, I'm not sure Chelsea can get three points here.
Prediction: Chelsea 2-2 Bournemouth
West Ham United vs Fulham
Graham Potter has come in at West Ham and it's an appointment which really fits the club. He's a manager who loves playing his football on the front foot and West Ham have some talented players who can do that for him. Even though it's a positive development at West Ham, I just don't think they can beat Fulham.
This will be a really tough game for the Hammers. Fulham are a team that make life difficult for even the big boys in this division. It's not the ideal game for Potter to begin his Premier League journey with West Ham after replacing Julen Lopetegui.
When you think of Lopetegui, he did not have it all plan sailing due to injuries and suspensions. There were too many forced changes and he couldn't fix his mind on a reliable playing XI due to it. I thought he was a foreign David Moyes! He's someone who wants to ensure his team won't lose, before they can go and try to get the win. Lopetegui had too much talent in that West Ham squad to be using that approach, that was the problem for me.
Both Fulham and West Ham went ahead with naming strong teams in their FA Cup games at the weekend, but the latter got knocked out by Aston Villa. I expect a draw here.
Prediction: West Ham United 2-2 Fulham
Brentford vs Manchester City
I thought it was a shocking result for Brentford in the FA Cup when they lost to Plymouth Argyle. You're not going to get relegated, so I just don't know how you can't play your strongest team! Surely that was a more important game than the clash against Manchester City here.
I'm flabbergasted because Brentford's season is now over. Even if they win against City, what difference does it make to their season? Brentford losing was the biggest shock for me, not just the result but them not playing their best XI.
Manchester City have now won three games on the trot, but I don't think they are back to their best. Against West Ham, they were a bit lucky. It wasn't a 4-1 game, they could have even been 3-0 down in that one! I don't think City have turned the corner.
Pep Guardiola's men still look very open at the back and Brentford can cause them problems. I think this will be another draw because City do not look invincible anymore.
Prediction: Brentford 2-2 Manchester City
Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest
If you were Liverpool at the start of the season, you would be looking at this fixture and thinking, "Forest away on Tuesday after a cup game, that's alright". But now you can't find a team more in form than Nottingham Forest! There's a lot riding on this game not just for Liverpool and Forest. For obvious reasons, Arsenal will be hoping Forest can win, while Manchester City and Chelsea will want Liverpool to get the three points.
A win for Nottingham Forest and you would have to think they are finishing in the top four this season. They are a team bang in form, having won seven games on the trot now. If Liverpool end up securing the win, I would think that's the title won there! Beating the most in-form team from the chasing pack will send out a huge statement. When you do that, the others will be resigned to losing the title!
Diogo Jota looked good in the cup game against Accrington Stanley, but I don't think he will start here. Arne Slot is likely to persist with Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah as the front-three.
Some section of Liverpool fans want Conor Bradley to start ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold? Don't get me wrong, I like Bradley. But no one would want Alexander-Arnold sitting on the bench in a game like this, let's be honest. You have to play him in my opinion. He's not the best defender in the world, but what he gives while going forward is just from another planet.
Liverpool were poor when they lost to Forest earlier in the season after an international break. The Reds also needed a late winner from Darwin Nunez in this fixture last season. Liverpool weren't great the other day against Manchester United either, in fact, they were very fortunate to get a draw. It will be disrespectful to Forest if I go against them here, such a tough game for Liverpool.
Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Liverpool
Newcastle United vs Wolves
Newcastle are playing some amazing football with all their main players firing at the moment. They're a team that's absolutely flying! Newcastle have one eye on the Carabao Cup final after beating Arsenal 2-0 in the first leg of the semi-final last week. I bet they wish they could play the return leg this week instead of next month because by that time, they risk having injuries or losing steam.
I still expect Newcastle to win here though. Wolves enjoyed a kick-start when the new manager came in. But then they lost to Nottingham Forest and I can see them losing again in this one! It should be back to reality for Wolves.
Prediction: Newcastle United 3-0 Wolves
Everton vs Aston Villa
Everton have brought David Moyes in thinking it's going to kick-start something new. But he's an experienced Sean Dyche if you ask me! I like Moyes, but I don't understand what he offers more than Dyche. He left the club 11 years ago and you can't tell me Everton hasn't changed in that time. Moyes is going to set Everton up exactly like Dyche and that's the problem.
I believe Everton are in trouble this season because nothing much changes with this appointment. Dyche made them hard to beat, but when you look at Ipswich and Leicester, they are still scoring more goals and playing better than Everton despite the results.
If they got rid of Dyche and went for something different, I would understand. But they have gone with someone very similar in Moyes. Aston Villa win for me!
Prediction: Everton 0-1 Aston Villa
Leicester City vs Crystal Palace
If Leicester go on and win this, it really sets the cat among the pigeons. This is a cup final for them. It's that stage of the season where Leicester should now be looking at games and prioritising the games they have a chance at winning. This is one such game in my opinion.
I don't think Crystal Palace will get relegated. But I have a feeling they will lose this game. Leicester looked good when they played Manchester City and if they can repeat what they did in that game, they can get a positive result here.
Prediction: Leicester City 2-1 Crystal Palace
Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur
What I watched yesterday was just mind-blowing, I cannot believe that it happened and Arsenal were ultimately knocked out of the FA Cup! It's a shame Gabriel Jesus got injured but that has now surely got to make Mikel Arteta go and buy a centre-forward. They need someone to lead that line and they need him quick. You either break the bank for Alexander Isak or get Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt before Manchester City.
You look at Isak the other day against Arsenal, he got one chance and he scored. He had hardly touched the ball until that point but he still put it away. When you compare that to Arsenal, their forwards need four or five chances to score! I expect them to beat Tottenham, but they desperately need a new centre-forward.
Spurs are too up and down and I just don't see how they can win here. A trophy would keep Ange Postecoglou in the job. If they finish eighth in the Premier League and win the Carabao Cup, where they have a 1-0 advantage ahead of the semi-final second leg at Anfield, that's still good in my opinion. Some top teams could finish in the top four this season and not have a trophy. And this is Spurs by the way, they have never won anything!
If Arsenal win and Forest manage to get a draw or win against Liverpool, suddenly the gap at the top doesn't look that big. Liverpool's game in hand over Arsenal is also a different thing now because it's David Moyes in charge at Everton. If Liverpool end up drawing that game, Arsenal are in with a huge chance. Everything has to start with a win here against Spurs, though.
Raheem Sterling did alright when he came on the other day. It doesn't help that Ethan Nwaneri also got injured. So I would play Sterling at right wing against Tottenham.
Prediction: Arsenal 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Ipswich Town vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton played their strongest team in the FA Cup third round clash and won. It shows they are prioritising the competition like they should, which is always nice to see. They will face Chelsea in the next round and that's not the best draw they could have got though.
If you are Ipswich, you will look at this and think this is certainly a winnable game. Ipswich are a team that can score goals against anyone and are now playing some decent football. So they will not go down without a fight, that's for sure!
Brighton are without a win in their last six league games. I think this will be a draw but I'll say this again, this is a winnable game for Ipswich.
Prediction: Ipswich Town 1-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
Manchester United vs Southampton
It's all about what Manchester United turn up, that's the way it is with them now. You would expect them to wipe the floor with Southampton, but they have to turn up for this game feeling like that and that's been a problem with this group in the past! They've had two good results against Liverpool and Arsenal, but they got ripped apart by Bournemouth and Wolves before that. Doesn't that sum it up?
Manchester United should win this game. If they don't win it, oh my god that would be an absolute disaster! Southampton might end up setting a new record for the lowest points by a team in a Premier League season. I just don't see how they can win a game, so I wouldn't be surprised if they register fewer points than Derby County (11) back in 2007/08 season.
It's still a long way to go for Manchester United under Ruben Amorim and they cannot be happy with anything less than three points in this game.
Prediction: Manchester United 3-0 Southampton
