Soccer English Premier League Prediction

Manchester City vs Liverpool - Match Preview

⚽ 1 April 2023 - 15:30 GMT +0

With their presence being felt in the Premier League (PL) title race, the FA Cup semi-finals, and the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, a potentially historic season awaits Manchester City if their impeccable form continues. Pep Guardiola’s men have secured victories in each of those competitions during their current six-game winning streak, where they’ve scored a mammoth 23 goals and kept five clean sheets!

After a thumping 6-0 FA Cup win against Burnley before the break, the Citizens refocus their attention on their PL aspirations, where securing a fourth consecutive league win for the first time this season will aid their pursuit of league leaders Arsenal. That attempt coincides with their fourth meeting with Liverpool this season, a side who City have struggled against lately after their 3-2 EFL Cup win back in December snapped a five-game winless H2H streak (D2, L3).

This time last year, Liverpool was in a similar position to their hosts, except they were in pursuit of an unprecedented quadruple crown. Now, the Reds sit five points behind the top five and their fall from grace is perhaps best highlighted by their last two PL results, which saw them descend from the highest of highs after their historic 7-0 victory over Manchester United, to the lowest of lows with a dismal 1-0 loss to relegation-threatened Bournemouth.

It, therefore, remains to be seen which version of Jürgen Klopp’s men will arrive in Manchester. Will it be the version that’s won only one of their last 13 PL matches at the Etihad (D5, L7)? Or Liverpool that’s beaten the reigning PL champions of the prior season more often than any other side in the competition's history with 23 wins.

📋 Players to watch: City’s Kevin De Bruyne ran the show with his goal and two assists securing Belgium a 3-2 win over Germany in midweek, and a similar performance here would see him become only the fifth man to notch up 100 PL assists (currently on 98 - five against Liverpool). Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah will attempt to counteract his threat, having scored in each of the three H2Hs this season, while recording ten goal contributions in his last ten encounters with City (G7, A3).

⚡ Hot stat: Manchester City has only lost one of their last 51 PL matches where they’ve opened the scoring (W45, D5).

Manchester City vs Liverpool - Match Preview

⚽ 1 April 2023 - 18:00 GMT +0

By beating Crystal Palace 4-1 before the international break, Arsenal claimed their 22nd Premier League (PL) win of the season - even their 2003/04 title-winning ‘Invincibles’ didn’t win that many of their first 28 league fixtures! Their sixth consecutive PL victory (five of which saw them score at least three times) put them well clear of second-placed Manchester City and seemingly on course to emulate Arsène Wenger’s side by winning the title.

Only Man City has beaten them here in the league since early April last year (W14, D2), which shows how used the Gunners faithful have become to celebrating victories at the Emirates Stadium. They’re also accustomed to seeing their side beat Leeds United as they haven’t lost a home H2H since May 2003 (W6, D1) and were 2-0 up inside ten minutes during this fixture last term (W 2-1).

Javi Gracia has lost just one league game (W2, D1) since taking over the Leeds hot seat and that ‘new manager bounce’ has lifted the Yorkshire club out of the relegation zone. However, he might not relish this match-up as he’s lost all three previous managerial H2Hs against Arsenal ‘to nil’, although this will be the first time he goes up against compatriot Mikel Arteta.

And after Elland Road was closed during the international break due to reports of a security threat and Wilfried Gnonto and Max Wöber suffered injuries on duty for Italy and Austria respectively, preparations haven’t been ideal for the Whites as they look to build on a first league away win since October when beating Wolves 4-2 last time out.

📋 Players to watch: After becoming the first man to register ten PL goals and ten PL assists this term, Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka then added one of each in a man-of-the-match display for England against Ukraine. In opposition, Jack Harrison scored in each of Leeds’ last two fixtures and hasn’t lost a goalscoring outing since September 2020 (W16, D2)!

⚡ Hot streak: Arsenal are unbeaten in the league this term after leading at half-time (W13, D1).

Manchester City vs Liverpool - Match Preview

⚽ 1 April 2023 - 20:30 GMT +0

A disappointing 2-2 draw against a struggling Everton side before the international break shouldn’t detract from the fact Chelsea had won the three matches prior as they continue to try to turn a corner under Graham Potter. Threatening to further hinder their progress, the injury-ravaged Blues could now be without as many as five regular starters for the visit of Aston Villa, a side Chelsea have beaten in nine of the last 11 Premier League (PL) H2Hs (D1, L1).

Chelsea would dearly love to extend that run with another victory, but having won just three of their last nine PL home games (D3, L3), Stamford Bridge isn’t the impenetrable fortress it once was. It certainly isn’t the premier spot if entertainment is what fans are after either, with Stamford Bridge producing the fewest total goals (26) of any PL ground this season!

Aston Villa’s form across their last four games mirrors that of Chelsea’s (W3, D1), and they’re similarly tough to separate in the league table too, with both sides locked on 38 points. One has to go back to 1995/96 for the last time Aston Villa ended a PL season above Chelsea in the table and considering they’ve lost on six of their last seven PL visits to Stamford Bridge, they may be playing catch-up again come the close of play on Saturday.

Historical travelling deficiencies ought not to put Villa off as they’ve been rejuvenated on the road of late by winning four of their last six away league games (D1, L1). Only high-flying Manchester City managed to beat Villa in that time, and despite boss Unai Emery’s wretched managerial record against Chelsea (W1, D1, L4), his side should travel to London confident after going unbeaten in their last two PL trips to the capital after losing the three prior.

📋 Players to watch: With several big-hitters potentially out, added emphasis perhaps falls on João Félix who has seen both his Chelsea goals serve as game openers. Bidding to re-write the record books, Ollie Watkins could become the first Villa player ever to score in five successive PL away games if he finds the net here.

⚡ Hot stat: Stamford Bridge is the only ground not to have seen a goal scored in the opening 15 minutes of a PL game this season.