Soccer English Premier League Prediction

Leeds vs Newcastle - Match Preview

⚽ 13 May 2023 - 11:30 GMT +0

There was no room for sentiment as ‘Big Sam’ Allardyce began his four-game Leeds tenure by controversially dropping goalkeeper Illan Meslier for Joel Robles in a hard-fought 2-1 defeat at the hands of Manchester City. Keeping the likely champions to just a single goal margin is arguably an achievement in itself, with Allardyce leaving the Etihad with “a lot of hope” following that dogged performance.

Results elsewhere meant that Leeds dropped into the bottom three, but with their relegation rivals playing later, Leeds had an opportunity to provisionally move above Everton to a position of relative safety with a win over Newcastle. The Yorkshire club can take heart from a goalless draw in the reverse H2H, but they really need to score their first goal against the Tynesiders since their Saudi takeover (D1, L1) to boost their quickly fading hopes.

Newcastle’s own hopes of securing Champions League group stage football for the first time since 2002/03 took a blow last round as forlorn title chasers Arsenal ran out 2-0 winners to end a three-game winning run. Magpies boss Eddie Howe was left to rue some missed chances, but has called for the faithful supporters to “stay united” as fate ultimately remains in their own hands with 12 points left to play for.

Playing away from home is unlikely to faze Howe’s men after they picked up 12 of the last 15 points available on their travels (W4, L1). Providing a further boost to the Toons’ away day joy is the fact they’re unbeaten against every side placed ninth or worse in their own backyards heading into this round (W7, D3), which includes scoring 3+ goals against four of the five lowest-ranked sides.

📋 Players to watch: Rodrigo recorded the first Leeds goal of the Allardyce era, yet it was the fourth game from his last six scoring appearances that his team failed to win (W2, D2, L2). As for Newcastle, Callum Wilson has registered doubles in two of their last three games (G4), yet he’s never enjoyed a goal or victory in five personal meetings with Leeds (D1, L4).

⚡ Hot stat: Leeds have won just one home league game as pre-match home outsiders this season (W1, D2, L4).

Aston Villa vs Tottenham - Match Preview

⚽ 13 May 2023 - 14:00 GMT +0

“The next match is our final,” Aston Villa manager Unai Emery said following their 1-0 Premier League (PL) defeat to Wolves on Saturday as he kept the club’s sights on European qualification. Trailing visitors Tottenham Hotspur by three points following two consecutive league defeats by a 1-0 scoreline, it certainly has a must-win feel about it considering Villa has recently lost ground on the top seven.

As both of those defeats came away from home, the Villans should be more comfortable returning to familiar surroundings having just won five consecutive home PL fixtures ‘to nil’ for the first time. However, they must overcome a worrying trend to stay in the hunt for European qualification as they haven’t beaten Tottenham here since January 2008 (D2, L10)!

Harry Kane has had much to do with that, scoring four goals in those fixtures, and after netting against Crystal Palace (W 1-0) he became the PL’s second-highest scorer behind Alan Shearer. With him on form, Spurs are now seeking a strong finish, having ended a four-game winless run (D1, L3) by keeping their first league clean sheet since late February.

Villa Park may be one of Tottenham’s favourite venues, but they haven’t won a PL road game since late January (D2, L4), although that sequence has certainly provided plenty of entertainment, producing an eye-catching average of 4.67 goals per game! If that continues, the North London outfit could extend a run of scoring at least twice in each of the last eight H2Hs here, all of which they won.

📋 Players to watch: Villa’s Ollie Watkins has scored twice against Spurs, both strikes in games that produced precisely three goals. Tottenham talisman Kane’s 209th top-flight goal took him past Wayne Rooney in the PL goalscorer standings and his last three goals all arrived between the 35th and 50th minute.

⚡ Hot stat: No team has conceded more often inside the opening 15 minutes of PL games this term than Tottenham (13 times).

Chelsea vs Nottingham - Match Preview

⚽ 13 May 2023 - 14:00 GMT +0

Winners for the first time in ten competitive outings on a historic Saturday for the UK, underachieving Chelsea finally reached the 40-point mark with a 3-1 success at Bournemouth. But they may still need a perfect climax to avoid finishing in the bottom half of a Premier League (PL) table for the first time since 1995/96.

As such, they’ll be desperate to win for just a third time in home league action this calendar year (W2, D3, L5). And while the Londoners are obvious favourites here, any win might not be entirely straightforward, with both of those victories coming after tension-packed goalless first halves.

Visitors Nottingham Forest have newfound momentum after overcoming Southampton 4-3 on Monday to go three points clear of danger. A first win at Stamford Bridge since January 1995 might also prove significant in more ways than one, as it could put them within just one point of confirmed safety, though this depends on losses for Leeds and Leicester.

But even a draw would be hugely welcome for Forest, given that Steve Cooper’s men travel to London after seven straight PL away losses. The bulk of those seven defeats also form part of an abysmal return from away league games to see Forest concede first this campaign (D1, L11).

And worse still, there’s also been nothing but losses for the Reds in five visits to the capital after clinching Championship promotion 12 months ago, including four beatings that saw a multi-goal margin.

📋 Players to watch: Super sub-João Félix put the seal on Chelsea’s coronation weekend win, making all of his three prior PL goals the first or last on the day. But after scoring Monday’s winner against Southampton, Forest midfielder Danilo will not lack a sense of bloodlust either, as he could become the first Brazilian ever to score in four straight PL rounds!

⚡ Hot streak: Forest has managed a first-half clean sheet in their previous three battles on hostile turf.

Manchester Utd vs Wolves - Match Preview

⚽ 13 May 2023 - 14:00 GMT +0

For the first time since August, Manchester United have had an empty week to prepare for a Premier League (PL) match, a relief for manager Erik ten Hag, who has seen his side slump to back-to-back defeats. The Dutchman gave his players two days off to rest after their lacklustre 1-0 loss at West Ham, a decision he’ll be hoping pays off as the Red Devils hold just a one-point buffer over the chasing pack inside the top four, albeit while retaining a game in hand.

Ten Hag was keen to remind his side that ‘everything’ is in their hands, and with three of their four remaining PL games coming at Old Trafford, there’s every reason to believe they will play in the UEFA Champions League next season. That’s backed up by an unbeaten 26-game run in home matches (W22, D4), with their last home PL defeat on home soil coming against Brighton on the opening day of the season, indicating that the fear factor may well have returned to the Theatre of Dreams.

Visiting Wolves have only won once at Old Trafford since 1980 (D3, L10), but that sole victory did come last season, and Julen Lopetegui’s side should be full of confidence after a 1-0 win over Aston Villa last week mathematically confirmed their safety. They’re just the fourth side in PL history to be bottom at Christmas and survive, so it’s little wonder Lopetegui describes it as his ‘most difficult achievement in football’.

With the pressure lifted from their shoulders, perhaps Wolves can now target an improvement on the road as they’ve won just two of their last 21 PL away matches (D6, L13). To do that, they’ll likely have to build on their measly one-away clean sheet in the league as only one of the last eight H2H meetings with Man Utd has seen both teams on the scoresheet.

📋 Key battle: The focus of criticism after his West Ham blunder, United veteran David De Gea looks set to be offered a new contract by the club. Despite leading the race for the PL Golden Glove, no player in the division has made more errors leading to a goal in all competitions this term (four). Former international teammate Diego Costa may be looking to take advantage of any hesitation, but he’s netted just once in five H2Hs against the Red Devils.

⚡ Hot stat: Man Utd have opened the scoring in 11 of their 16 PL home matches.